New China was founded in 1949, but Vietnam, a neighboring country separated by a thin strip of water, is still suffering from French imperialism. Therefore, Ho Chi Minh sneaked across the border into my country, and went to Beijing to discuss with Mao Zedong whether it could provide some assistance to the Vietnamese people.
At the request of the Vietnamese comrades, Mao Zedong generously donated his money to provide training and ammunition support for the Vietnamese army, and plans to send a Chinese military advisory group to Vietnam composed of 40 divisions, regiment-level officers and confidential personnel. Vietnam helps work.
On June 20, 1950, Mao Zedong, Liu Shaoqi, Zhu De and other leaders believed that it was not enough to send a military advisory group. A senior commander with a high enough level must be sent to Vietnam to directly engage with Ho Chi Minh, , and Wu Yuanjia. touch. Speaking of candidates, Mao Zedong first asked Zhu De: "President Zhu, who do you think is appropriate to send?"
Zhu De replied, "Should Lin Biao go?"
Mao Zedong shook his head, and he pointed out: "Lin Biao" He is good in military command, but he can’t serve as a staff member. If he does, it’s not that he was a consultant to Ho Chi Minh, but Ho Chi Minh was a consultant to Lin Biao."
Liu Shaoqi also proposed: "What about Deng Xiaoping?"
In terms of seniority and military command level, Deng Xiaoping is naturally sufficient. However, Zhou Enlai objected: "No, New China has just been established, and many jobs have just started. If Deng Xiaoping goes to Vietnam, no one can pick up his job." In the end, Zhou Enlai put forward his own views-let Chen Geng Go out.
General Chen Geng is the founding father of the country we are very familiar with. He is a literary and military genius. He was engaged in the work of in the early days. After 1931, Chen Geng began to serve as a battlefield commander and performed extremely well. As Chen Yi said:
"I think there are not many military strategists trained by the CCP. Recently, Su Yu Chen Geng came to the fore.Step forward side by side with Peng Liulin.
Obviously, Chen Yi compares Chen Geng and Su Yu on the same level. He has a well-rounded, well-versed experience, and has created countless cases of winning by odds and winning more with less. His most prominent commanding feature is Bold and decisive, mobile and agile, good at mastering the battle situation, capturing fighters, never fighting dead, and good at concentrating superior forces to annihilate the enemy.
Therefore, it is better for Chen Geng to go to Vietnam. Only two days later At that time, Chen Geng, the commander of the Fourth Corps at the time, received an urgent call from the Central Military Commission, that he was ordered to mobilize personnel and quickly formed a central delegation, and rushed to Vietnam by train on July 7.
After arriving in Vietnam, Chen Geng was affected by Ho Chi Minh and Wu Yuanjia. At the military meeting, Chen Geng learned that the Vietnamese side hopes to launch a battle on the Sino-Vietnamese border to liberate Gaoping, a big city, and establish direct land contact with New China. Chen Geng agrees with the Vietnamese’s ideas. Yes, he is also confident about the future development of war.
After entering Vietnam, Chen Geng carefully inspected the combat effectiveness of the French army. In the Nanshan area, 15 kilometers away from Gaoping, Vietnam once set up an arsenal here. The French army has attempted three times. The capture was unsuccessful due to the resistance of the Vietnamese army. In the attack, the French army used heavy artillery and aircraft, and the force reached as many as 1,000. The main resistance force of the Vietnamese army was only a battalion of factory workers and infantry. As a result, the attack After four days, the French army was unable to move forward. Therefore, Chen Geng wrote in his diary:
"The weakness of the French emperor can be seen from this. So I feel that Gao Ping's attack is more confident.
However, in studying how to capture Gaoping’s military plan, Chen Geng found that among senior Vietnamese officers, there is always an aura of eagerness, loftiness, and weaponism.
First of all, the Vietnamese army’s focus The point is to seize towns and occupy more territories. Seizing more territories means more fiscal revenue. As for how to annihilate the enemy’s vital forces, they don’t seem to care. In terms of how to attack Gaoping, the Vietnamese commanders insisted that,You must first capture Gaoping and occupy the big city.
However, Chen Geng learned that in the previous battle, the Vietnamese army had not even won a victory in annihilating the French army. In Gaoping, how could the French troops stationed in three battalions be able to fight? Therefore, Chen Geng told the Vietnamese commanders:
"The enemy fortifications in Gaoping are strong, with water and mountains on all sides, easy to defend and difficult to attack. According to the current combat power of the Vietnamese army, it is very difficult to capture Gaoping in one fell swoop, even if it is fully taken. The cost of taking Gaoping is very high. Therefore, the first battle of this battle is not to capture Gaoping, but to attack Dongxi, which is weakly guarded by the enemy. If Dongxi is occupied, the overall battle will survive and the French of Gaoping will be easy to solve. Now."
Our army has always concentrated its superior forces in combat, regardless of the gains and losses of one city or one place. For a strong enemy, our army tends to follow the attack sequence of weak first, then strong, slashing its wings first, and then attacking its roots. Dongxi is an important stronghold outside Gaoping City, and it echoes with Gao Pingyao and is a horn of each other. Attacking Dongxi can not only annihilate the enemy's vital forces, but also may lure the enemy out of the strong fortifications of the big city, and then annihilate it in the wild.
Many Vietnamese commanders simply cannot understand the subtle tactics described by Chen Geng. They raised three questions: Why did they attack Dongxi? Why not play Gaoping first? Why do we have to fight continuously?
In the eyes of the Vietnamese, the attack on Dongxi is undoubtedly an act of horror. It will inevitably make Gao Ping vigilant and strengthen his defense. This is an act of sacrificing everything.
However, Chen Geng retorted: "The reason for attacking Dongxi is very simple. One is that our army is sure to win, and the other is that attacking Dongxi can cut off the connection between Dongxi and Gaoping and dismember the enemy's defensive deployment. The real purpose is not to occupy the town, but to beat the enemy at this point, mobilize the enemy, and create conditions for the movement and destruction of the enemy."
Some Vietnamese officers still want to refute Chen Geng's opinion. However, with Wu Yuanjia's strong support, Chen Geng's battle plan was passed.However, even so, some Vietnamese military officers are still full of doubts: "Can China's soil consultants really win the war?"
In fact, while looking for the help of the new China, Ho Chi Minh also went to Moscow to ask for help from and Stalin. . However, Stalin reasoned that the revolution in Asia was under the guidance of New China and Mao Zedong, so he did not answer. It can be said that asking China to send military advisers is the second best choice. And this is also the source of their doubts about Chen Geng.
The Vietnamese cannot understand Chen Geng's plan, but Mao Zedong can see the subtleties of Chen Geng's command at a glance. He replied to Chen Geng:
"Agree with your battle plan. To ensure the victory of this battle, you should be prepared for continuous combat in your mind to deal with enemy reinforcements. If Langshan is annihilated towards enemy reinforcements , The enemy command may quickly correct the underestimation of the Vietnamese power and order the enemy of Gaoping to flee, or order the enemy of Gaoping to abandon the city to reinforce the enemy and attack the Vietnamese... "
Really smart chess players all learn from one another. The Vietnamese army has concentrated 7,000 troops, with advanced heavy artillery aided by China, and started to move in the direction of Dongxi. In the east, there is a battalion of French troops stationed with about 400 people. Obviously, the Vietnamese army has an absolute advantage in both firepower and number. In Chen Geng's view, the rapid elimination of the enemy of Dongxi is a certainty. However, unexpected circumstances that Chen Geng hadn't expected occurred continuously.
On September 16, the Vietnamese army took the lead and cleared the breakout strongholds north and northwest of Dongxi, and then occupied the attack starting position. On the other hand, the 209th regiment, the main offensive unit, lost contact with the front-line command. It was not until the afternoon to figure out its specific location, and the total attack time was forced to be postponed to dusk.
The sun gradually set, the horn of the total offensive sounded, and the three Vietnamese artillery battalions responsible for fire support launched a fierce fire assault on the enemy highlands.Defending the enemy caught off guard and made a chaotic regiment. Then the 209th regiment, 194th regiment, 426th and eleventh battalions of the Vietnamese army launched attacks on the city from different directions.
At midnight, Chen Geng received a call, saying that the Vietnamese army had penetrated into the enemy's core fortifications, and the overall situation had been determined. So Chen Geng went to bed with confidence. What I didn’t expect was that when Chen Geng woke up the next day, he received a call from Wu Yuanjia:
"Our army did not penetrate into the enemy’s core fortifications. We are now at a stalemate with the enemy."
Chen Geng was stunned. Yesterday, the overall situation was not settled. Why did you change your mind today? At this time, the sky is already bright, and if a intensive charge is launched, it is likely to become a living target of the enemy plane. Therefore, Wu Yuanjia believes that he should immediately withdraw from the city.
However, Chen Geng hurriedly emphasized to Wu Yuanjia: “You must stick to the occupied position, otherwise you will not only give up your previous efforts, but also a slight carelessness when retreating, you will cause undue losses.”
However, the commander of the Vietnamese army who is self-sufficient. Without heeding Chen Geng's advice, the troops that invaded the city began to retreat. Due to the lack of strict organization, it was bombed and strafed by enemy aircraft, and the losses were very large.
Regardless of fatigue, Chen Geng came to the front line headquarters of the Vietnamese army after breakfast. After interviews with Wu Yuanjia and others, Chen Geng learned that the attack failed because the troops did not strictly follow the regulations and did not follow the launch time of the combat plan. What made Chen Geng even more angry was that the commander of the Vietnamese army battalion, never dared to move forward, and hid far behind safely. If the commander does not take the lead, how can he expect the soldiers to march forward bravely and fight the enemy bravely?
Our Chinese revolutionary commanders have always been in front of the command. When it comes to combat, it will take the lead and take the lead in fighting. During the civil war, Chen Geng himself took the lead in the charge with the shell gun . Chen Geng believes that once the headquarters is too far behind, it will not be able to find our troops for action, let alone effective command of the troops.
From this, Chen Geng helped the Vietnam Army’s front-line command to sum up the experience and lessons.Re-adjusted the attack deployment. In the evening of the same day, the Vietnamese army once again attacked things. By about 12 midnight, it had already occupied part of the city, but it was still unable to get close to the enemy's core fortifications.
7000 people dealt with 400 defenders, it is impossible to fight like this in any case. After Chen Geng's investigation, it was discovered that the Vietnamese army was still the same old problem: after the artillery bombardment, the Vietnamese infantry refused to attack and patrolled. For this reason, Chen Geng, who was anxious to get angry, urged all ministries to launch an attack immediately. After all the talk, the Yue army launched its offensive at nine o'clock that night. The battle hit 24 o'clock, but still failed to break in.
At this moment, there was another news from the front that General Le Bagère commanded 2000 soldiers and horses to leave the nearby Qixi stronghold, preparing to attack Dongxi. Wu Yuanjia called Chen Geng:
"According to the judgment, the two enemies will be able to reconcile soon, and the strength will be strengthened. The troops have been fighting for several days and are already quite tired. It seems that it is difficult to completely wipe out the enemy. The troops should withdraw and rest for a while?"
Chen Geng immediately sternly replied:
Still fighting? If this happens again, I will roll up the bedding and go away. At this critical moment, the command will be shaken, and the great opportunity for victory in the battle will be ruined! "
Later, Chen Geng analyzed the reasons why the Vietnamese army was too late to succeed. He found that when the Vietnamese army was attacking the city, they did not distinguish between the primary and the secondary, but only attacked one side. The French army only used one side to gather forces, so Can easily block the attack of the Vietnamese army. So Chen Geng immediately adjusted his deployment:
One is to hit where it is like a nail, and to be boldly entangled with the enemy to make the enemy plane come helpless; second, to change the side The assault is a four-sided attack, the west and east forces are assists, and the north and south forces are the main offensive, making it impossible to parry the defending enemy.
After the Vietnamese army quickly adjusted its deployment accordingly, it was at 2 a.m. on September 18th. Launched a general offensive. This time, the French army began to be stretched out and was eventually defeated.In this battle, the Vietnamese army wiped out so many enemies for the first time, and couldn't help being ecstatic. Ho Chi Minh enthusiastically gave him a poem written in Chinese by : Take a stick to climb high to see the position, thousands of miles of mountains are surrounded by thousands of clouds. The righteous soldiers swallowed the bulls and strove to destroy the invading wolves. After reading this, Chen Geng said excitedly: "Chairman Hu made such a determination, and no enemy can run away!
Excited and excited, but during this battle, Chen Geng also discovered many defects in the Vietnamese army. The battle of Dongxi wiped out the enemy. Less than 400, but he suffered more than 500 casualties. Chen Geng wrote in his diary:
"The enemy of Dongxi is less than 400, and our army has nearly 10,000 attackers. After two days and three nights of fighting, almost halfway through Forced to retreat. I had more than 500 casualties, and the enemy still escaped more than 20 people. Our troops and firepower are absolutely superior. With such combat power, if we hope to attack the Qixi where 2,000 people are guarded, it is nothing more than a tree for fish. Therefore, I think the Vietnamese army still needs to find small strongholds in order to gradually improve its combat effectiveness, especially to correct its leadership style, improve organization, and step up cadre training. Otherwise, the battle plan is empty, and it is difficult for a clever woman to cook without rice.
After the Vietnamese army captured Dongxi, the French army was not idle, and the Lebarge regiment of more than 2,000 people was attacking Dongxi. For this, Chen Geng couldn't ask for it, thinking it was a piece of fat that was delivered to the door. Therefore, Chen Geng called Wu Yuanjia and asked him to put up a pocket array and annihilate the French army on the spot.
However, at this time, Chen Geng heard another heady message. The 308th Division had been in ambush for several days, and the food and grass were inadequate and did not report. To the headquarters, half of the troops were withdrawn from the position and went to the rear to carry food. When Chen Geng heard this, he was so anxious that he only slapped his thigh:
"Oh, isn't this self-conflict?
So he immediately called the 308 division and immediately urged the soldiers carrying the grain to return. After returning the establishment, he immediately set off to encircle the enemy, set off from one battalion to one battalion, and set off from one company to one company. There was no delay in one minute.
Subsequently, Chen Geng warned Wang Chengwu, the commander of the 308th division: "Reorganize the troops,How many people are there, sticking up from behind the French army, trying hard, must drag the French army back, and the situation may change after the food transport troops come back.
Under the resistance of the 308th Division, the food transport troops gradually returned to the battlefield from all directions. By 10:4, the French army was gradually invincible. However, at this critical moment, the Vietnamese army began to lose the chain again. The army had never conducted such intensive combat, with heavy casualties and lack of physical strength. Therefore, some commanders of the Vietnamese army began to talk strange words again, hoping to withdraw the troops for a rest.
In the diary on October 4, Chen Geng reluctantly Wrote:
"Vietnam and the French are really a pair of wonderful opponents, the battle on both sides is comparable. The French army has never taken the initiative to charge, every time it put on the air of being beaten. The slowness and inactive actions of the Vietnamese troops were beyond my expectation. Therefore, in every battle, almost a stalemate..."
Chen Geng said to the commander of the Vietnamese army: "Although the situation is very severe, the enemy is already at the end of the battle. As long as you keep fighting, you will surely win. At present, we must not tolerate the emotions of the troops. Instead, we must mobilize the troops to overcome the difficulties, fight with a fierce force, overwhelm the enemy in momentum, and win victory at any cost.
At this moment, Mao Zedong sent another affirmative instruction telegram. After reading Chairman Mao's telegram, Chen Geng, Ho Chi Minh, and Vietnamese commanders at all levels were all morale up, and then the third and eighth divisions and the No. The 209th Regiment carried out a general offensive against the Lebar Corps.
By the evening of October 6, the French army collapsed across the board, Le Bagge and his staff retreated to a cave to continue their resistance. Early the next morning, a Vietnamese army The assault team entered Le Baige’s hiding place. In desperation, Le Baige had to reach out to the Vietnamese army to surrender.
Later, Le Baige was brought to the Chinese advisor by the Vietnamese army. The Chinese advisor screamed. Said: "Your troops have been annihilated, and everything must be under our command. "Le Barge did not understand Chinese, nor did he know that the person here was a Chinese. He just raised his head and said:
"You Vietnamese do not have such good weapons.It was given to you by the Chinese, I know! "
After the LeBage regiment was completely annihilated, Chen Geng’s ’s strategic concept of encircling and fighting aid was an unprecedented success. The commanders of the Vietnamese army who had previously questioned him were convinced. After this battle, the French army in the North The mobile force was lost, and the border area had to be withdrawn hastily. Subsequently, the Vietnamese army pushed forward in a big way and successively liberated important cities such as Cao Ping, Lao Cai, Lang Son, and so on. From then on, the traffic between China and Vietnam began to flow unimpeded, and the end of the French colonists Here we are. Such a glorious result is far beyond the imagination of Vietnamese comrades.
However, at this time, Chen Geng's work is almost over. On November 1, Chen Geng set off to return home, while Wei Guoqing stayed here to continue to help the Vietnamese army. Command the next battle. Chen Geng is about to go to the next battlefield, which is the Korean battlefield. A more powerful enemy is waiting for this wise general.
. Concentrating superior forces and annihilating the enemy’s vital forces has always been the living soul of Mao Zedong’s military thought. General Chen Geng is one of the best students of Mao Zedong’s military thought. Under his command, the weak Vietnamese army finally defeated the powerful French colonialists. It won an unprecedented victory. In 1954, the French army sullied out of Indochina, ending its colonial rule for more than half a century.
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