Preface
In June 1946, Chiang Kai-shek unilaterally tore up the " Double Ten Agreement " and launched a full-scale attack on the liberated areas. In order not to let the fruits of the revolution fall into the hands of the Kuomintang reactionaries, the People's Army in the liberated areas decided to fight back. Since then, the civil war between broke out.
In March 1947, Chiang Kai-shek ordered Hu Zongnan to lead his troops to gather in Yan'an and launch a key attack on the Liberated Area of Shaanxi, Gansu and Ningxia. After discussion, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China decided to adopt the method of luring the enemy into depth and voluntarily evacuate Yan'an . At the same time, from the overall perspective of the entire Liberation War, Chairman Mao decided to continue to lead the central organs to stay in northern Shaanxi with Zhou Enlai, firmly saying that it was not Yellow River and stayed to deal with the enemy.
From then on, Chairman Mao led the central government to continuously transfer in northern Shaanxi, with a total itinerary of more than 1,000 kilometers and passing through 12 counties. This operation is also called "Transition to northern Shaanxi".
During the transition to northern Shaanxi, Chairman Mao and the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China dragged Hu Zongnan's troops here after hardships and obstacles, life and death tests. The complex terrain in northern Shaanxi makes both sides dangerous in their respective tasks. Sometimes, Chairman Mao and the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China pass by the Kuomintang army, and sometimes they are attacked by the Kuomintang army, and their lives are hanging on the line. Sometimes, both sides are only four or five miles away or a mountain pass.
On March 29, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China held an important meeting in Zaolingou, Qingjian County. At the meeting, it mainly discussed the actions of the central organs after evacuating Yan'an. Chairman Mao once again emphasized: "The Central Committee of our Party and the People's Liberation Army Headquarters must continue to stay in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region."
After the meeting ended, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China announced to the whole country that "The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China remains in northern Shaanxi" , and completely crushed the rumors spread by the Kuomintang that "the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China has crossed the Yellow River to the east and evacuated Yan'an" and "the Communist Party is vulnerable."
During the more than a year of transition to northern Shaanxi, the hardship and danger were even more painful than the Long March . This can be seen from the following passage:
"When everyone was dragging their tired bodies and struggling to walk on the uneven, slippery and muddy mountain road, suddenly a sound came from behind: 'Come, come on!' We looked back, Chairman Mao was covered in water and his legs, his long hair was sticking to his face and dripping water constantly. With the help of two guards, he walked towards us with difficulty..."
Dangers one after another. Chairman Mao calmly commanded the battle
When the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China made the decision to evacuate Yan'an, the Central Committee and Military Commission were actually divided into three parts. partly was led by Chairman Mao and Premier Zhou to move to northern Shaanxi, partly was formed by Liu Shaoqi and Zhu De and others, and the Central Working Committee was transferred to Pingshan County, Hebei to carry out the work entrusted by the central government. The last part was to let Ye Jianying and Yang Shangkun form the Central Rear Committee, stationed in Lin County, northwest Shanxi, and fully coordinate the work in the rear.
Before leaving Yan'an, cadres of the Northwest Field Corps came to bid farewell to Chairman Mao. Chairman Mao sincerely explained the future combat direction of our army:
"Our army's war is not about gains and losses in one city and one place, but about eliminating the enemy's living forces. If people have lost land, people and land will exist; if people and land will be lost, people and land will be lost."
"We want to exchange one Yan'an for the whole of China."
In April 1947, Chairman Mao led the central government to transfer to Wangjiawan Village, Jingbian County, where the conditions are arduous. When Chairman Mao, Premier Zhou and Ren Bishi were working, they sat on wooden piers to handle official business and front-line battle reports. If their legs were numb, they would climb on the pot to continue working.
The winter in northern Shaanxi is cold and windy, and vegetables have become the biggest problem. During his days in Wangjiawan Village, the central government bought pickled cabbage from local villagers, and later, the pickled cabbage was gone. Chairman Mao mobilized the soldiers to dig wild vegetables, so that the logistics personnel could reduce the feed of their horses by half, and said that he would walk more and ride less horses in the future.
switched to northern Shaanxi. In addition to the difficulties in life, another fatal difficulty was to avoid the siege of the Kuomintang army.At that time, Hu Zongnan issued an order: "Even if two divisions are lost, they must catch the head of the Communist Party of China!"
The Party Central Committee was stationed in Wangjiawan for 56 days. During this period, a new plan by Chairman Mao on national strategic deployment was gradually brewing and forming. He asked armies to fight on the inside, with the main goal of annihilation of the enemy's live forces, and proposed to make the move to the strategic counterattack stage after smashing the key attack of the Kuomintang army and began to lead the battlefield to the Kuomintang-ruled areas.
It can be seen that Chairman Mao already knows the future battle to liberate the whole of China. According to his combat deployment, he will fundamentally shake Chiang Kai-shek's reactionary rule step by step.
2
On June 6, the Kuomintang dispatched four brigades of the 29th Army to form a vanguard and rushed towards Wangjiawan where the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China is located. On the morning of June 8, the Kuomintang troops had arrived 15 miles away from Wangjiawan, and the situation in the central government was not optimistic. When it was completely dark, it started to rain heavily. Chairman Mao immediately decided to move to the northwest direction in the rain. along the way, the road was muddy and it was difficult to walk. Chairman Mao and everyone walked hand in hand and slowly moved forward. walked until just dawn, and arrived at Xiaohe Village, Jingbian County, more than 40 miles away from Wangjiawan.
But just now I was preparing to set up a pot to make a fire here. I took a break and when I sent a telegram, the sound of the Kuomintang reconnaissance plane hovering at a low altitude came from above them. Not long after, the scouts also sent news that the enemy gradually became after all. Therefore, with the help of local villagers, Chairman Mao and the central organs immediately moved quietly.
arrived in Tianciwan Village on June 10. The conditions here are even more difficult. Chairman Mao, Premier Zhou and others squeezed into a cave to live in . Just as we were about to cook, we heard bad news that the enemy was approaching in this direction. This made everyone's relaxed heart suddenly raise up again.
At that time, the Central Guard had only 300 people. If he had confronted the Kuomintang army head-on, he would probably have no confidence in winning. At this time, Chairman Mao immediately took out the map and carefully analyzed the enemy situation. He judged that the enemy's target was the security direction, and this place should be just passing by. Chairman Mao boldly predicted "The enemy did not find any trace of us and might leave after 12 noon."
Sure enough, in the afternoon, the scout sent back a message saying that the enemy had been getting farther and farther away from us and headed towards the security guard. The comrades once again marveled at Chairman Mao's wisdom. They saw a smile on the face of the chairman, pointing to the map and explaining to everyone: "We happen to be at the junction of Hu Zongnan and Ma Hongkui defense line. It is well known that the two of them have intrigues, which leaves us with a gap. They all want to preserve their own strength, so no one will come here."
From this small matter, we can see that when Chairman Mao considers strategy and tactics, he is not only limited to the comparison of combat forces between the two sides, but also comprehensively considers the situation in politics, economy, culture and other aspects, so as to make the most correct and practical choice. This is also the principle that Chairman Mao has always implemented in command of operations.
Starting from the evacuation of Yan'an, the Party Central Committee headed by Chairman Mao went through thousands of difficulties and dangers, overcame countless tests of life and death. While insisting on moving to northern Shaanxi and fighting wits and courage with Hu Zongnan's troops, it also calmly commanded the combat operations of the People's Liberation Army on all battlefields across the country. It can be said that "planning in the middle and winning a decisive victory thousands of miles away" , which inspires the people's army's will and confidence to persist in fighting until victory.
Premier Zhou sent Peng Dehuai late at night, and the central government's safety was on the verge of death
On the evening of August 16, 1947, the central government agencies that moved to northern Shaanxi arrived in the areas of Caojiazhuang and Bailong Temple. At this time, the Kuomintang army Liu Kanzhi 29th Army and the Central 36th Army of Zhong Song 4, which were advancing in the north and south, were about to merge, only a hundred miles apart.
Once the Kuomintang army controls the Yellow River Ferry, Wuding River , Mizhi , and Jiaxian, then the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China will be blocked in a narrow area between Jiaxian, MIzhi and Yulin , and fall into a desperate situation.
In this critical situation, Premier Zhou sent an urgent telegram to Peng Dehuai late at night, which told the telegram about the life and death despair that Chairman Mao and the central organs are currently facing. and asked him to send a capable general to rescue him.
When Peng Dehuai received the message, he knew the situation was urgent. While sending a reply to the Party Central Committee, he suggested that they immediately move to the northwest of Jia County, and immediately sent an urgent emergency telegram of 100,000 to the third column led by Xu Guangda, asking his troops to rush to Wulongpu and Caozhuang areas to be responsible for responding and covering the safe transfer tasks of the central organs.
After receiving the order, Xu Guangda immediately convened a pre-war mobilization. He shouted loudly to the soldiers: "Comrades, the safety of the central organs is all about our third throne. Even if the enemy's shells fall on us, we must not take a step back!" All the soldiers of the Column realized the importance of this mission from the serious tone of Commander Xu Guangda, and a heavy stone was pressed on their hearts.
When the veterans who participated in this operation recalled the scene at that time, they all sighed in their hearts, saying that despite the storm and rain, the road was muddy, everyone was twisting in their hearts and moved constantly towards Chairman Mao and the Party Central Committee:
"Crank from the top of the tower to the bottom of the ditch, got up, and ran forward again. They were soaked, like a mud monkey, and in the mud and water, no one took it seriously. Everyone was full of energy, said nothing, and ran in one direction without any life. Commander Xu said that that was the direction of the Party Central Committee and Chairman Mao!"
Xu Guangda introduced the current situation of the CPC Central Committee to the officers and soldiers of each brigade, and then explained that the radio station should maintain uninterrupted contact with the headquarters, and at the same time, each brigade should closely observe the enemy's movements.
8, it was a day with a lot of rain and weather. There were many gullies on the northern Shaanxi Plateau. The rain was getting heavier and heavier, rolling down with loess, and water was flowing everywhere. The horse and the people were struggling, and Xu Guangda and the soldiers rolled around in the mud and water, firmly moving towards the direction where the central organs were. Until dawn, Xu Guangda and the soldiers of the third column were still rushing forward quickly.
By the early morning of August 18, under the command of Xu Guangda, the Third Column and the Fourth and Sixth Regiments of Suide Garrison Area had already been inserted into Dangchuan Temple between Wulongpu and Shajiadian. Xu Guangda in the command center stared at the map and thought about combat strategies...
Suddenly, Chief of Staff Wu Shiheng walked in quickly and reported: "An urgent telegram, the central government was unable to move north as planned because the water level of the Jialu River rose sharply, so he had to move north along the river side to the west..."
emergency situation made Xu Guangda frown together. He looked at the location sign on the map, slowly opened his mouth, and issued a combat order:
"Telection to each brigade and the Fourth Regiment of the Suide Division, The 6th Regiment, the Second Independent Brigade is north of Wulongpu, and the 5th Independent Brigade and the 4th and 6th Regiments are south of Wulongpu. They quickly occupy the favorable terrain and must not let the enemy approach Jialu River half a step! We must sacrifice at all costs to cut off the contact between the 123rd Brigade of the enemy and the 144th Brigade, the 50th Brigade and the 12th Brigade. In addition, the column command immediately approach Jialu River! "
"The enemy is large and we are few. If the command is too close, the commander may..."
"Resolutely execute the order!" Xu Guangda's tone is not negotiable.
Chief of Staff stood there hesitantly, and Xu Guangda immediately said: "Now you are fighting hard! What the enemy wants is our heads." Immediately afterwards, he ordered again in a sonorous tone: "If the central authority loses a hair, you and I and all the officers and soldiers of the Third Column will never have a way to survive."
Xu Guangda's words shocked Staff Wu. He made a trembling voice and said: "Yes".
At this time, Liu Ziqi's troops, who were advancing alone, ordered to move closer to the 144th Brigade. Once the two sides met, it meant that the enemy would cross the Jialu River and meet with the central authorities head-on.
In order to protect the central organs, Xu Guangda ordered the troops to attack the unprepared Liu Ziqi, and a battalion of People's Liberation Army suddenly rushed out to fight with the Kuomintang army. As the commander, Liu Ziqi was panicked for a moment and opened fire without saying a word, completely ignoring whether it was his own or the People's Liberation Army. His behavior made his own people think that the People's Liberation Army had occupied the command center, and the Kuomintang soldiers who were still fighting with the People's Liberation Army actually started to roll to the bottom of the mountain with their guns in their arms.
At about 10 a.m., the 19th Regiment started a war against Jialu River. close combat is a taboo for military strategists. However, Xu Guangda knew even more that at this time, one mountain must be pushed forward by one mountain, leaving a large gap for both sides of the Jialu River, so that the central authorities have a relatively large safe space when evacuating.
is like this. Under the command of Xu Guangda, the third column rushed overnight to capture the commanding heights, creating favorable conditions for the safe transfer of central agencies as much as possible.
The central government transferred along the Jialu River also walked about 100 miles in circles this day, and it was not until around 11 o'clock in the evening that he found a place where he could barely shelter from the rain.
Xu Guangda ran day and night, fighting for one day to build a steel Great Wall for Chairman Mao and the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China
Due to the complex battlefield situation, Xu Guangda only had a rough judgment on the specific location of the central organs, and could not be determined. That night, after introducing Yeshi's combat intentions, he looked at the commanders sitting in a circle around the map and whispered:
"The next day and night will be a test of life and death for each of us! Comrades, now, the leaders of the Party Central Committee, Chairman Mao and the Central Military Commission are not far from us. The east is the enemy, the west is the enemy, and the south is the enemy, and there is a Jialu River in the north. The water is fast and the waves are high, so they cannot pass. Can they escape from danger today and tomorrow? Whether Yeshi's combat plan in Shajiadian can be completed depends on whether everyone can withstand Liu Kan's entire 29th Army headquarters and his three brigades, and whether they can hold back Liu Ziqi's 123rd Brigade. If we hold back and hold back, Yeshi's combat plan will be successful and the central organs will be safe! "
The next day, Xu Guangda issued a combat order, and at the same time, Liu Kan also launched a large-scale attack, taking the lead in launching a overwhelming artillery bombardment at the People's Liberation Army. Then, the enemy began to approach our position. As the rain kept falling, the river water level soared, and it also caused flash floods. Under various factors, the two sides were in a stalemate. This made Xu Guangda very anxious. He told the commanders that he would launch a more fierce attack and resolutely protect the safety of the Party Central Committee. When the battle reached dusk, the enemy was finally defeated.
At the most difficult moment, Xu Guangda commanded his troops to fight desperately many times, which made it impossible for Liu Kanmen and Zhong Songmen, who were only more than 30 miles apart, unable to meet. He successfully covered the safety of Chairman Mao and the central organs to Liangjiacha , 80 miles north of Zhenchuan Fort, and successfully met with the main force of the Northwest Field Army, who had just won a great victory in the Shajiadian Battle. The central organs of turned danger into safety, ending the thrilling transfer.
Shajiadian Battle reversed the situation in the northwest in one fell swoop, and the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China highly praised the battle, saying:
"After this battle, the situation can be changed."
Chairman Mao also pointed out at the meeting of cadres above the brigade and above held by the Northwest Field Army:
"The battle of Shajiadian is indeed good, and it has decisive significance for the situation in the Northwest War. The most difficult period has passed. In our Hunan dialect, if this battle is fought, it will be over the depression."
Since then, Chiang Kai-shek's key attack on northern Shaanxi has been completely shattered by the People's Liberation Army, and the Northwest Field Army has begun to shift from inside defense to inside counterattack, and the situation in the enemy and us has basically undergone a fundamental change.
On March 23, 1948, when the situation of the national Liberation War was in great prosperity, Chairman Mao, Premier Zhou and Ren Bishi led the central organs and the People's Liberation Army headquarters to finally cross the Yellow River eastward and finally arrived at Baipo, Pingshan, Hebei.
After that, it was in the smallest command center in the world that Xibaipo , telegrams were sent from here to the front line, commanding the three strategic decisive battles. It is precisely because Xu Guangda led the Third Column to fight to the death to protect the Party Central Committee that the Party’s mind can always be able to take charge of the overall situation of the National Liberation War and win victory as soon as possible.
