Chairman Mao has two favorite generals, one is Xu Shiyou, and the other is the protagonist of this article, Han Xianchu, who is known as a militant. General Xu Shiyou is the most legendary among the founding generals of New China. One of his biggest characteristics is that he refuses to admit defeat. He is invincible and unstoppable on the battlefield. Someone once asked Xu Shiyou with a smile: "Among the many generals in China, who do you admire the most?"
Xu Shiyou
According to his character, everyone guessed that he would definitely say it was himself. What they never expected was that, What he actually said was: "Han Xianchu." When he asked him why again, Xu Shiyou said without hesitation: "He is brave and resourceful."
General Han Xianchu
Han Xianchu, In February 1913, Han Xianchu was born in Hubei Province From a poor peasant family in Huang'an (Hong'an) County, he worked as a cowherd, learned as a bamboo stripper, and worked as a day laborer in Wuhan. In November 1927, when the Jute Uprising broke out, he joined the Farmers' Association in his hometown, participated in the Anti-Imperialist Alliance, and served as a land committee member of the rural Soviet. In October 1930, he joined the Xiaogan local guerrillas and joined the Communist Party of China. Since 1931, he has successively served as the commander of the independent battalion and regiment, and carried out guerrilla struggles in Huangpi, Xiaogan, and Luoshan areas. From that time on, Han Xianchu began his lifelong military career. The battle to liberate Hainan Island became the most commendable achievement in Han Xianchu's life. On May 1, 1950, the People's Liberation Army successfully completed the Hainan Island Campaign. Not long after the war ended, the Korean War broke out on June 25, and then the U.S. Seventh Fleet sailed into the Taiwan Strait, which made it difficult for the People's Liberation Army to liberate Taiwan. When Chairman Mao heard that the US Seventh Fleet was blocking the Taiwan Strait, he couldn't help but sigh: "Two months late, Hainan may become the second Taiwan!"
When talking about liberating Hainan Island, we have to mention Qiong. Cliff Column , Starting from the peasant uprising on Hainan Island in September 1927, the armed force led by the Communist Party of China in Hainan Island gradually developed into an armed force with approximately 20,000 people. is called "Qiongya Column" . He assisted Han Xianchu's 40 army , and cooperated internally and externally to finally defeat Xue Yue.
Qiongya Column
In late October 1949, the People's Liberation Army launched a cross-sea landing operation plan on Kinmen Island . However, due to various reasons such as insufficient preparation and crude sea-crossing tools, the People's Liberation Army's troops engaged in cross-sea landing operations were completely annihilated. This battle caused the People's Liberation Army to suffer nearly 9,000 casualties. Some of them died under enemy fire while crossing the sea, were ambushed by the enemy on the beachhead on the coast, or were surrounded and captured by the enemy after landing. The Battle of Kinmen was the highest battle loss ratio of our army since the War of Liberation. After the battle, it attracted the attention of the central government's top management, and they were quite cautious about the upcoming battle on Hainan Island.
At the same time, the Kuomintang established the Hainan Defense Headquarters in Haikou City in December 1949. The commander of the battle was the famous general Xue Yue who commanded the Battle of Changsha during the Anti-Japanese War. In order to cooperate with Xue Yue in guarding Hainan Island, the Chiang Kai-shek government at that time specially equipped Xue Yue with 5 army corps and a special forces unit; there were also 31 regiments of the Navy's Third Fleet and the Marine Corps; 50 ships of various types; and 4 Air Force units. A brigade with a total of 45 fighter jets, bombers and transport aircraft, with a total strength of 100,000 in the navy, army and air force. The 100,000 troops, as well as the military strength of the navy and air force assembled on Hainan Island were comparable to the entire military strength of a small country at that time.
The famous general Xue Yue
Compared with the arrogance of Xue Yue, the commander of the Hainan Guard Force, the military generals of the People's Liberation Army are much more rigorous.At that time, there were two main forces to liberate Hainan, namely Han Xianchu's 40th Army and Li Zuopeng's 243th Army. In addition to the hesitation of the leaders at to attack Hainan Island, the troops below also had a negative attitude towards the war. The reason was that most of the country had been liberated at that time, and many soldiers in the army had either changed jobs and returned home, or had received Rest. After fighting for so many years, who wouldn’t want to live a good life in peace and quiet for a few days? At that time, some people even said: "The troops are living a good life, but we are the only ones who still have to fight, from Changbai Mountain to Hainan Island. This time the revolution is really going to be carried out to the end, and the revolution has reached the bottom of the sea!"
Han Xianchu mobilized everyone , and sent a telegram to the central government. In the telegram, Han Xianchu said: "The conditions for large-scale sea-crossing operations are mature, and I request to launch the Hainan Island campaign as soon as possible!" Han Xianchu's request finally received a response. After repeated discussions, our army has determined four major advantages in the operation on Hainan Island:
First, the coastline of Hainan Island is too long, and Xue Yue's defenses cannot be as airtight as the Japanese island defense during World War II Breathable.
Second, the Qiongya Column has been operating in Hainan for many years and is very familiar with the situation on Hainan Island. With the support and response of the Qiongya Column, it is completely possible for the two to cooperate to establish a temporary tactical position after the landing force forces a landing.
Third, at this time, our army has the support of the people of the country in many aspects such as material support and logistical supplies. The fourth and most important point of
is. Compared with the People's Liberation Army, the Kuomintang defenders have already become frightened after experiencing three major battles. They can definitely fight against our army while its morale is still intact.In 1950, at around 18:00 on April 16, an east wind blew on the sea. Han Xianchu personally led his soldiers in more than 300 sailboats and landed on Hainan Island across the sea to launch an attack. At three o'clock in the morning that night, Han Xianchu and the vanguard waded into the water to seize the beach and successfully occupied the Lingao point on Hainan Island.
Chief of General Staff Nie Rongzhen, who was in Beijing, was waiting anxiously in Beijing. He asked: "Where is Han Xianchu?" The soldier in the combat duty room said: "Han Xianchu has already arrived on the island." Hearing this, Nie Rongzhen breathed a long sigh of relief: "Han Xianchu landed on Hainan Island, which means victory." Han Xianchu took the greatest credit for the liberation of Hainan.
The people of Haikou City celebrated the liberation
Mao Zedong lamented afterwards: "If (the battle to liberate Hainan Island) had been fought two months later, (Hainan) might have become the second Taiwan."
On April 22, 1950, the situation was over. The Kuomintang defenders carried out the retreat order issued by Xue Yue, and Xue Yue himself could only fly to Taiwan angrily.
After the liberation of Hainan Island, the Korean War suddenly broke out, and the US military actually sent the Seventh Fleet to blockade the Taiwan Strait. Our army engaged in a brutal fight with U.S. imperialism, which was armed to the teeth. The outcome was that New China fought the founding battle and defended the peace we have enjoyed until now.
Han Xianchu's family
General Han Xianchu, with his sensitive political sense and brave military strategy , liberated Hainan Island. Without him, there would be no South China Sea today. History is not that long ago, our Taiwan is still wandering abroad!
Taiwan
