To put it simply, the main columns of Lin Biao's Northeast Field Army ( Fourth Fields ) are very distinguishable, that is, the columns with the first-class main divisions are all the famous main columns of the Fourth Fields.
There are seven first-class main divisions in Dongye, namely the 1st and 2nd divisions in the first column; the 5th division in the second column; the 7th division in the third column; the 10th division in the fourth column; and the 16th and 17th divisions in the sixth column. Among them, there are two first-class main divisions in the first and sixth columns.
During the Northeast Liberation War, Lin Biao attached great importance to the role of the first-class main divisions, and often drew these first-class main divisions individually from the columns and used them in key positions. I found that such a deployment was a major feature of Lin Biao's combat command.
So, does Su Yu's East China Field Army (Sanye) have a first-class main division? I checked the relevant historical materials and found that there was no such thing. There is no record of first-class main divisions in Huaye's columns. Su Yu's combat deployments were based on columns, and he did not allocate a division from a column for a certain battlefield. The two "gods of war" Lin and Su have different ways of using troops.
In the Liaoshen Campaign , when Lin Biao was deploying the attack on Jin, he placed the column with the first-class main division in the key place of the battle. For example, Lin Biao deployed five columns to attack the Jin Dynasty: 2nd, 3rd, 7th, 8th, and 9th columns. Among them, the 5th division of the 2nd column and the 7th division of the 3rd column were the two top main divisions of Dongye. This is true for the 5th Division in the 2nd Column and the 7th Division in the 3rd Column. They are particularly good at attacking fortresses, especially the 5th Division in the 2nd Column, which were highly praised by General Lin.
So, with this deployment, is it over? No, Lin Biao single-handedly transferred the first-class main division from the Sixth Column - the 17th Division to increase the offensive strength. The other two divisions of the Sixth Column were used to block the Dahu Mountain area in Montenegro. A column split in two.
Looking at Tashan, Lin Biao's deployment was to defend Tashan with four columns, 11 columns and two independent divisions. The 10th Division, the first-class main division of the fourth column, was again placed at a key position in the eastern part of Tashan. Lin Biao's deployment is all about using good steel on the blade.
Also, Lin Biao deployed the 1st and 2nd divisions of the first two main divisions of the First Column at the key position of Gaoqiao between Tashan and Jinzhou. In fact, the Kuomintang newspapers at that time threatened to capture Gaoqiao to reinforce Jinzhou (see the memoirs of the fourth column political commissar Mo Wenhua). Lin Biao transferred the 3rd Division of the 1st Column (not the first-class main division) to Heishan and Dahu Mountain to cooperate with the 10th Column and 6th Column. Waiting to block Liao Yaoxiang's regiment.
The book "Fourth Field Army" records that in the deployment of attacking Jin, Lin Biao ordered the 1st Division and the 2nd Division of Yizong to form a defensive position at Gaoqiao, using the 1st Division to defend the enemy from Tashan, and the 2nd Division for Defend Jinzhou's fleeing enemies. At the same time, the main force of the first column deployed at Gaoqiao served as the strategic reserve for the campaign.
Later, when Dongye attacked Tianjin, it turned out that the 17th Division of the Sixth Column was deployed along with the column to block the enemy who came for reinforcements. But then Lin Biao separately deployed the 17th Division of the Sixth Column as a strategic reserve to attack Tianjin. When the officers and soldiers of the 17th Division heard that Mr. Lin loved the 17th Division so much, they all cheered and were filled with enthusiasm.
What is a little interesting is that shortly after the Tianjin attack on began, the 17th Division of the Sixth Column, which was a strategic reserve, actually rushed to the front of the main attack column. The leader of the second column of the main attack column was baffled and greatly puzzled. How could anyone use the strategic reserve so quickly? Later I learned that Liu Yalou, the commander-in-chief of the siege, saw that the siege was progressing smoothly and asked the 17th Division of the Sixth Column to immediately invest in deep expansion. The strategic reserve force rushed into the main offensive force. This has never happened in the history of the PLA's war. (laughing)
Well, let me finally say that Lin Biao and Su Yu’s methods of using troops are somewhat different!
The war history of the People's Liberation Army is full of stories.
