Chairman Mao was born in troubled times. Since 1927, the cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party broke down. Chairman Mao commanded the Autumn Harvest Uprising, led the 25,000-mile Long March, resisted Japanese invasion, won the Liberation War, and finally led the people to establish a new China has experienced many battles.
After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Chairman Mao took command of the self-defense counterattack against India and the Sino-Soviet border conflict. He commanded countless wars in his life, and they all ended in victory. I believe everyone is familiar with these wars led by Chairman Mao.
However, when it comes to the last battle of Chairman Mao’s command in his life, perhaps everyone does not know it too well!
Let’s talk about the last battle of Chairman Mao’s decision-making command- Xisha naval battle .
This battle is the last battle of Chairman Mao's decision-making and command. It is also the first battle directly led by Deng Xiaoping after his comeback. The two generations of great leaders cooperated and cooperated with each other. Moreover, it is the first time that the New Chinese Navy has fought a foreign navy. It can be said to be of extraordinary significance and full of highlights!
Figure｜Old Chairman Mao
Chairman Mao: Not fighting a battle is not enough to safeguard China's maritime rights and interests
In 1974, Chairman Mao was 81 years old and his body was not as strong as before. Due to the influence of senile cataracts, Chairman Mao's eyesight is not very good, and after many operations, his health is not good. As early as 1972, even a mild coma occurred. Stomach disease, bronchitis, and insomnia were common diseases that Chairman Mao had in his later years.
In fact, if you look for the root cause of these diseases,They are all related to Chairman Mao’s overwork and overwork. As early as during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the War of Liberation, Chairman Mao often stayed next to the map for more than 20 hours a day because of the tension in the war. He was very nervous and smoked a lot. After the founding of the People’s Republic, the country was awaiting prosperity, and the chairman worked hard day and night and stayed up all night.
Excessive work in the past has brought a lot of hidden dangers to the chairman's body. Chairman Mao has repeatedly laughed at himself in public: "I am going to see Marx."
Figure | Old Chairman Mao_ p5p
Even if he is in poor health, Chairman Mao is still sober and wise, and he is always concerned about national affairs. As early as 1972, Chairman Mao discovered the illegal acts of some countries in the South China Sea by embezzling islands, sending people to the island secretly, and surveying and mapping.
Every time he encounters this kind of problem, the chairman will take a puff of cigarette slowly and look at the map, thinking.
According to Chairman Mao’s character, he would never sit back and watch foreign countries encroach on our country’s territory. However, from 1972 to 1974, our country did not take too strong measures. On the one hand, it was because of our naval equipment. It is really too bad, and it takes a certain amount of time to equip the weapons. On the other hand, I hope that the countries concerned can rein in the brink of repentance.
But these countries not only kept advising, but intensified their efforts and wantonly embezzled Chinese territory.
In January 1974, at 10 o'clock in the morning, the weather was extremely cold. A report signed by Premier Zhou and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Ye Jianying was placed on the chairman's desk. This report enumerated South Vietnam's embezzlement of Chinese islands_ span3span, related crimes endangering China's sovereignty, the report contains a lot of content, but in the final analysis is one sentence: it is time to teach some South Vietnam!
Picture｜Chairman Mao and Ye Jianying
See this report,Chairman Mao hurriedly asked the secretary to bring a map of the South China Sea. As a politician who was familiar with historical books, Chairman Mao had long been familiar with the situation in the South China Sea.
Maybe everyone is not too clear about the composition of the South China Sea. The South China Sea is composed of the Dongsha Islands, and the Paracel Islands, the Zhongsha Islands, and the Nansha Islands. This area is rich in oil and natural gas resources and is called the No. Two Persian Gulf. So many countries have coveted hearts.
This vast sea of islands belongs to China is an undisputed fact:
As early as thousands of years ago, the ancients of China arrived here by sea and developed islands here. In the Song Dynasty, China’s navigational technology was already very developed and it was able to exercise effective jurisdiction over the islands in the South China Sea. During the Ming Dynasty, Zheng He went to the West and passed through the South China Sea many times. In order to prove that these islands were Chinese territory, Zheng He’s fleet handled these islands. The islands are named one by one, and the "Yongle" and "Xuande" islands in the Paracel Islands are named after the Ming Dynasty.
Figure｜Zheng He's voyages to the West
After entering modern times, the country perished, Western powers and Japanese invaders, during this period, the Paracel Islands were occupied by France and Japan, but after the war, these islands And the territory has been returned to China.
Beginning in the 1950s, the South Vietnamese regime, at the instigation of the United States, began to engage in affairs in the Paracel Islands. In the 1970s, South Vietnam began to set up a "sovereign stele" and land on the Paracel Islands in spite of my country's repeated warnings and tolerance. Surveying and mapping, sending warships to hit our fishing boats, and dispatching troops to station on the islands to carry out crazy provocations.
Facing the crazy provocations of South Vietnam, Chairman Mao advocated courtesy first and then soldiers. He expressed China’s position on safeguarding sovereignty to the international community and the Vietnamese people. However, the South Vietnamese government ignored China’s warnings. On January 15, South Vietnam sent 3 ships. Destroyer,They are: "Chen Qingyu", "Chen Ping Heavy" and "Li Changjie". There is also an escort ship "Nujiang".
South Vietnam’s fleet came in fiercely. When they saw Chinese fishing boats, they collided and shelled the Chinese flag on Ganquan Island , causing many Chinese fishermen casualties.
On January 17, South Vietnam occupied Treasure Island and Ganquan Island in Xisha, China by force, and took off the Chinese flag from the island and replaced it with the South Vietnamese flag.
Figure｜The United States helps South Vietnam train the navy
Seeing this report sent by Zhou Enlai and Ye Jianying, the 81-year-old Chairman Mao took a deep breath and muttered: _p5quote blockquote129
It seems that not fighting this battle is not enough to safeguard China's maritime rights and interests. Enlai and Jianying's opinions are very right.
So, he picked up his pen and solemnly stated two words on this report: Agree!
Don't underestimate these two words, let Xiao Nanyue drink a pot yourself!
The last war made by Chairman Mao, and the first foreign naval battle after the founding of the People's Republic of China kicked off.
Figure｜Chairman Mao's review of documents in his later years
It severely damaged 4 ships in South Vietnam in one hour. Deng Xiaoping: We should eat
January 17, after Chairman Mao's instructions, the central government issued an immediate decision command,The South China Sea Fleet and the militia of the Hainan Military Region stationed on the three islands including Jinqing and entered a state of combat readiness. At the same time, they sent naval aviation units to perform patrol missions in the Xisha waters.
At 20 o'clock on the 17th, Premier Zhou Enlai presided over a meeting on the Paracel Islands, which was attended by representatives of the party, government, and army. At the meeting, it was decided to establish a five-person leader headed by Ye Jianying, including Deng Xiaoping, Wang Hongwen, Zhang Chunqiao, and Chen Xilian. The team is headed by Ye Jianying and Deng Xiaoping.
From top to bottom, we are all prepared. It can be said that everything is ready. We only owe the east wind. The "East wind" this time is the first provocation by South Vietnam.
On the early morning of the 19th, the "East Wind" came!
South Vietnam once again sent 3 destroyers and an escort ship into the waters of my country’s Yongle Island and opened fire on Chinese fishermen who were working, causing casualties on our side.
Figure｜South Vietnam Navy "Chen Pingzhong"
The news that South Vietnam fired its first shot quickly spread to the Central Command Headquarters, just returned, and was appointed as Vice Chairman and Chief Military Commissioner of the Central Military Commission on January 5 Deng Xiaoping, the chief of staff, became excited when he heard the news. He was flexible in mind, sharp in thinking, and capable of action. He was good at dealing with such difficult problems.
After Deng Xiaoping arrived at the General Staff, the first sentence was: first report the situation. The second sentence is: to clarify the relationship of war command, all sea, land and air forces are under the unified command of Xu Shiyou, commander of the Guangzhou Military Region.
After that, a letter of combat order was issued to Xu Shiyou, commander of the Guangzhou Military Region.
At that time, China's naval equipment in the South China Sea did have a certain gap compared with that of South Vietnam, and it was in a state where the enemy is strong and we are weak.
South Vietnam’s three destroyers and one escort ship,The largest is more than 1,770 tons, the smallest is 650 tons, the total tonnage is more than 6,000 tons, and there are more than 50 127 mm artillery on the ship. These ships are all aided by the United States to South Vietnam, and the soldiers on the warships are also trained by the United States Navy, so the actual combat capability is not bad.
In comparison, our military’s naval equipment is relatively poor. The largest is only 570 tons, which is not as big as the smallest warship in South Vietnam. The smallest is only 300 tons, and the total tonnage is only 1,760 tons. The four ships combined have only 16 artillery pieces of 85 mm caliber.
Figure｜Comparison of Sino-Vietnamese naval ships
It is not too much to say that the two sides are in a state of being strong and weak, because our army’s equipment is not very good, so the South Vietnam Navy did not take our army The ship is in the eye. One of the largest destroyers, the "Li Changjie", advanced at full speed and swaggered towards the Chinese fleet, as if into an uninhabited territory.
The soldiers of our South China Sea Fleet were not afraid. The 396 and 389 minesweepers greeted them, issued a warning to the incoming enemy and ordered them to leave the Chinese waters immediately.
The South Vietnamese army can be said to be extremely arrogant. It not only kept advising, but also relied on its thick iron plate to ram into our army No. 396 minesweeper head-on, causing serious damage to the No. 396 ship.
This is not over yet, the South Vietnamese fleet arrogantly passed through the middle of our warships. Under the full view of the public, it released four rubber boats and swaggered in front of our warships to land and occupy the Chinese islands.
is tolerable or unbearable!
Our soldiers defended the island immediately fought back. The 40 landing soldiers of the South Vietnamese army looked bad and wanted to escape back to the ship.It's not that simple to run.
Picture | Xisha naval battlefield
Our army guarding island soldiers cooperated with naval soldiers, and many Vietnamese soldiers were beaten into sieves.
After the exchange of fire between the two armies, the South Vietnam Fleet attempted to keep a distance from our fleet, using its advantage of the long range of its artillery to suppress our fleet.
Our army has already seen the mind of the South Vietnam. Small ships are our disadvantage and our advantage. Because of their small size, we are very mobile and move fast.
The South Vietnamese fleet wants to stretch the distance, we have to stick to them, as long as the distance is close, the advantage of the South Vietnamese fleet will be lost. In addition, the South Vietnamese warships are relatively heavy and are bitten by our warships. No fight back.
Since the battle started at 10:25 am on January 19, it took only one hour. Three of the four South Vietnamese warships were hit hard and left the combat area one after another. Only one South Vietnamese ship remained intact, insisting on fighting.
At 11:32, the East China Sea Fleet came for reinforcements, and the last South Vietnamese ship was sunk. The battle was won at the expense of 18 Chinese people and 4 ships injured.
After the news arrived in Beijing, Ye Jianying was very excited. Looking at the battle report, she said repeatedly: Good fight, good fight.
, Comrade Xiaoping, who is commanding in Beijing, took a deep breath after receiving the news, then squeezed out the cigarette in his hand, and said, "We should eat now." His expression was natural, as if nothing happened. .
Picture｜Chairman Mao and Deng Xiaoping
The three islands were recovered in less than 20 minutes,The South Vietnamese army surrendered with white pants
Deng Xiaoping and Ye Jianying reported their achievements to Chairman Mao, and the elderly Chairman Mao also repeatedly applauded. A long-lost smile appeared on his face. Afterwards, Chairman Mao discussed with Deng and Ye and decided to expand the results of the battle, take advantage of the victories, and recover the three islands of Coral, Ganquan, and Gold and Silver.
On the morning of the 19th, Xu Shiyou of the Guangzhou Military Region formulated a combat plan and sent three companies to land on naval vessels. Recover the coral, sweet spring, and gold and silver islands from the hands of South Vietnam.
On the 20th, at 9:35 in the morning, the landing operation began. At this time, the South Vietnamese navy had been repelled by our army. The South Vietnamese army stationed on the island became a turtle in the urn and lost the cover and support of the navy.
thought that the South Vietnamese troops stationed on the three islands would resist desperately, but they did not expect that their mental defenses had already collapsed and became "lambs to be slaughtered". The South Vietnamese soldiers on Ganquan Island surrendered after resisting for only 10 minutes. Up.
Figure｜South Vietnamese soldiers raised their hands and surrendered
The South Vietnamese troops on the coral and gold and silver islands were even more "unsatisfied". They built solid fortifications and bunkers on the island, which was originally a difficult one. Hard bones to gnaw.
As a result, the soldiers on the two islands were shocked after learning that Ganquan Island was breached in ten minutes. Hearing the gunshots of the Chinese army, their first reaction was not to shoot back, but to unfasten their pants, take off their white pants, provoke them with a bayonet, and then raise their hands to surrender. There were also some South Vietnamese soldiers hiding in the grass. In the woods, shivering with fright.
The three islands of Coral, Ganquan, and Treasure were recovered in this way. With the preparation time, the total is less than 4 hours. Excluding the preparation and waiting time, the total combat time is less than 20 minutes.
So far,The Xisha naval battle is over!
In this battle, the Chinese army used inferior weapons and equipment to sink 1 enemy ship and severely damage 3 enemy ships (in short, none of the warships in South Vietnam returned completely). More than 100 officers and men under the captain of the South Vietnamese "Nujiang" were shot dead. In the battle to recover the three islands, the capture of South Vietnam Major Fan Wenhong and 48 officers and soldiers, and the capture of the United States Liaison Officer in South Vietnam Kosh, can be described as an outstanding record.
Figure｜South Vietnamese captives
It is said that there is an interesting episode in this battle
Due to the emergency, the Central Military Commission dispatched 3 missile frigates from the East China Sea Fleet to support, but the East China Sea Fleet Whether the fleet has to go through the Taiwan Strait has become a big question.
Because of the hostile relationship between Taiwan's Chiang Kai-shek and the mainland, the East China Sea Fleet used to bypass the Taiwan Strait before going south (going to Ryukyu Islands and going south through the Bus Strait), which was a waste of time. But this time the southward war is urgent and time is precious. Which route to take has become a big problem.
Chairman Mao ordered at a critical moment: Walk the Taiwan Strait and go south!
Figure｜Later Chiang Kai-shek
I heard that the mainland ships will go south, regain the land, and teach South Vietnam, Chiang Kai-shek has nothing to say, the unprecedented sign of "please pass through the Taiwan Strait" !
Although there are some minor contradictions and frictions between the two sides of the strait, but when it comes to issues of national justice and territorial sovereignty, the two parties have always cooperated sincerely. The War of Resistance against Japan is a clear example.The Xisha Sea Battle also proved this tradition.
It can be said that brothers work together to guard against foreign humiliation!
After this war, China began to strengthen its military deployment in the South China Sea and strengthened its naval construction. South Vietnam (including later Vietnam) has not had trouble in Xisha for more than 40 years. (Later, Vietnam created conflicts in other areas of the South China Sea, and China was another fat beating!)
In 1976, Chairman Mao passed away. This war became the last battle of Chairman Mao’s decision-making and command. This is a magnificent life. It's a full stop!
Figure｜The death of Chairman Mao
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