Northwest Years 西北岁月 Episode 25

After Hu Zongnan's troops entered Yan'an, many reporters came to interview him and asked him whether the Kuomintang army had abused the Communist Party. Hu Zongnan promised that he had always treated them well, but in fact he asked people to pretend to be Communist soldiers. As a result, because the other party was not fully prepared, they made many mistakes when answering questions.

Since Mao Zedong and others evacuated Yan'an, they have been to eleven villages. They have discussed many times whether the central government should stay in northern Shaanxi or cross the Yellow River to the east, but there has never been a conclusion. Liu Shaoqi and his group suggested crossing the Yellow River to ensure safety, and leaders of various regions sent telegrams hoping that the problem would be taken seriously.

However, Mao Zedong felt that the top priority was to hold on to the green mountains. Once he left, it would be right in the hands of the enemy. Chiang Kai-shek would also send Hu Zongnan to other battlefields, causing pressure on other battlefields. Only by staying in northern Shaanxi to hold Hu Zongnan back could the battlefields in North China and East China no longer have any concerns and completely let go to win a few victories. For this reason, Mao Zedong insisted that he would never cross the Yellow River to the east without defeating Hu Zongnan.

On March 29, 1947, Mao Zedong presided over a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee in Zaolinzigou, Qingjian County. The meeting decided that Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, and Ren Bishi would lead the central organs and the People's Liberation Army headquarters to stay in northern Shaanxi to preside over the central work. Liu Shaoqi, Zhu De, and Dong Biwu would form the Central Working Committee to go to northwestern Shanxi to carry out the work entrusted by the central government. Peng Dehuai, Xi Zhongxun and others were very excited when they learned that Mao Zedong stayed in northern Shaanxi, which further encouraged the army and the people.

The 29th Army of the Kuomintang went to Qinghuabian to search for the whereabouts of the main force of the Communist Army. Yan Ming, the commander of the 90th Division, believed that the guys in the Ministry of National Defense had made a stupid move. There was no accurate clue and they were allowed to wander aimlessly on the plateau. There was no other way except wasting time. At this time, Yan Ming received the news and found that the large Communist Army had fled. The location appeared in the northwest, which was contrary to them.

Mao Zedong and everyone deployed a plan to delay the 29th Army and named this column Kunlun. Everyone thought of a pseudonym to keep it confidential. On the other hand, Xi Zhongxun and his team received intelligence that the 135th Brigade of the Kuomintang also had a big move and would join the 29th Army to form a pincer attack from the north and the south, so they planned to avoid the two sides joining together and eat up the 135th Brigade before that. Peng Dehuai made more detailed arrangements.

Then the Central Committee instructed the Northwest Field Army to use the "mushroom tactics" well, relying on the superior mass conditions and favorable terrain in northern Shaanxi to attack Hu Zongnan's army and support the national battlefield. The Northwest Field Army analyzed the enemy situation and decided to fight another battle. Wang Shangrong's single brigade and a small number of other troops delayed Liu Kan's main force, while Wang Zhen and other main forces surrounded and annihilated the 135th Brigade of the Kuomintang Army preparing to reinforce in the Yangma River area. The battle of Yangma River was quickly won, and the brigade commander Mai Zongyu was captured.

After the victory, Wang Zhen was jubilant, and Wang Enmao, director of the Political Department, was also smiling. The two found Mai Zongyu and invited him to eat a bowl of noodles, saying that they didn't know each other until they fought, and there was no need to be enemies as Chinese. Mai Zongyu didn't expect that he was still fighting on the battlefield a few hours ago, but now he was eating at the same table and sleeping on the same kang. He came to northern Shaanxi and realized that the Kuomintang was unpopular. Looking back on the glorious days of the Northern Expedition, he never ended up in such a situation. He felt mixed emotions.

Hu Zongnan ordered the main force to be transferred to Panlong. Regardless of the fatigue and food shortage plan, the main force of the Communist Army was driven to the east of the Yellow River, and then blocked Suide and Mizhi, and divided the troops to "clear up". Mao Zedong wrote to Peng Dehuai and others, deciding to continue to use the past methods to deal with Di Ren in the existing area for a period of time, with the aim of making the enemy reach a very tired and very short of food.

Peng Dehuai, Wang Zhen, Xi Zhongxun, Zhang Zongsun and others met and made countermeasures according to Mao Zedong's instructions. Peng Dehuai asked Wang Zhen to be responsible for attracting Liu Kan and Dong Zhao, and continue to go north to buy time for the field army to capture Panlong. Wang Zhen took the opportunity to strive to change the soldiers into new shoes. Xi Zhongxun directly painted a big cake, and the atmosphere was particularly pleasant.