228 Battle Southwest Up

228 Battle Southwest (Part 1)

On the streets of Changsha City, there were gongs and drums and firecrackers everywhere, and the people of the city sent the army marching to the southwest.

Starting from Changsha, the movement of the leadership organs and commanders of the Yangfan Legion has received special attention from Beijing. Under the order of Yuan Shikai, Lei Zhenchun, the head of Beiyang Special Agents in the Military and Political Law Enforcement Office of the Beijing Division, activated all the latent spies along Changsha and Yuezhou to monitor and report every move of the leading organs of the Yangfan Legion day and night, in order to analyze and judge the opponent's next action in the clues. Because of this, Tan Renfeng asked his subordinates to perform the finale of this last scene!

The whereabouts of the leading organ of the Yang Fan Legion were deliberately exposed clearly. On the way from Changsha to Yuezhou, on the large and small docks passed by the fleet, the special train transporting the organs and troops of the Yangfan Legion was warmly welcomed by the local people.

Yang Fan and Tan Renfeng appeared again and again, received local party and government cadres and mass representatives, and publicly announced that the mission of the legion was to turn to Hanzhong and march southwest.

After the large army entered the vast Dongting Lake, they stole the dragon and turned the phoenix, and quietly waited for the militia who had just changed into military uniforms in Dongting Lake to change boats, and followed Yang Fan's flagship to become militia.

After Yang Fan arrived in the famous city of Hanzhong, Yang Fan's leading organ held a party with the people of Hanzhong, and Yang Fan and Tan Renfeng delivered speeches.

At the meeting, a female student's impassioned speech led this unprecedented "final show" to **: "Dear comrades, please move forward! The people in our rear will work hard to produce and fully support you. Comrades, move on! Bashan Shushui is calling for you, the people in the southwest are looking forward to you, and the people in the rear are waiting for the news of your victory. I wish you success!"

On the same day, Xinhua News Agency reported in detail the grand event of the farewell conference.

The news soon reached the ears of Yuan Shikai in Beijing.

The Grand Presidential Palace in Zhongnanhai held a series of operational meetings to discuss the offensive direction of the Hubei army and study the combat plan and troop deployment. Yue Jia affirmed the decision of the Hubei army to enter Sichuan from the north. The information collected and the results of speculation were quickly sent to Chen Yan in Chengdu.

Chen Yan held a military meeting at the governor's office in Chengdu. Zhou Jun; Liu Cunhou; Huanghu; Zhong Tedao and other new and old generals of the Sichuan army gathered together.

Chen Yan first cheered up his subordinates and said, "The domestic crisis is everywhere, and the third revolution is imminent. The situation in Henan and Jiangxi is still unpredictable. If our army can stick to the southwest and wait for the change of the domestic situation, we will be able to reverse defeat and win."

Chen Yan's words are also implying that they threaten those unruly troops of the Sichuan army to fight well. When Yuan Shikai settles the mess in Henan and Jiangxi, it is when Li Xiang is unlucky, everyone has contributed today. That is the meritorious official, glorious and rich, and great. If you have a different mind, then wait for Yuan Shikai to deal with the madman Li, and everyone will go abroad to accompany Sun Dapao.

This really confuses many people. After all, they all believe that the Beiyang Army, which has been operating for more than 20 years, is more powerful than the Hubei Army, which has been operating for more than two years. The final winner must be Yuan Shikai.

It's just that the madman Li is not easy to get with each other. When his Hubei army borrowed from Sichuan to conquer Tibet, they also saw the strong and strong soldiers of the Hubei army. That kind of murderous, hundreds of soldiers hit the proud aura, which scared them to sleepless all night.

When they heard that they were going to fight with the madman Li, their calves and stomachs cramped. Before Yuan Shikai dealt with the madman Li, the madman Li cleaned them up first!

When everyone's mind didn't know where to go, Chen Yan spoke again.

Chen Yan introduced the information sent by Yuan Shikai this time. He said, "According to all kinds of reconnaissance, since the end of January and the beginning of the second month of the New Year, the Hubei army in Guanzhong, Shaanxi Province has been mobilized frequently. The waterway from Changsha to Hankou, on the Huguang Railway, the northbound section from Changsha to Wuchang, there are many troops going north. According to the competition report, the main force entering the Guanzhong area is the main force of the Hubei army to march to the southwest. In addition, in the recent period, the first division of the Sichuan army in Hanzhong has been continuously attacked by the main corps of the Hubei army on the front line against the entry of the Hubei army into Shu.

When Chen Yan introduced the situation, the generals at the meeting talked about it.

When Chen Yan asked, "Where do you think the main attack direction of the Hubei army points?"

The venue immediately fell into silence.

To judge the direction of the main attack of the Hubei army, this responsibility is too great, and no one dares to express their position easily.

When everyone was silent, Huang Yu, a proud disciple of Chen, made a speech and said, "From historical examination, most of the generations of Sichuan came from the north of Sichuan, and there are also back to Jiangxi, but the terrain is dangerous and inconvenient to use soldiers. The transportation of Sichuan-Shaanxi Road is convenient, and it is easy for the Hubei army to expand. Based on the above reasons, I advocate the deployment of four divisions in Sichuan in the area of the Sword Pavilion in the north of Sichuan to thwart the attempt of the Hubei army to enter Sichuan.

Chen Yan couldn't help nodding. The telegram taken by Yuan Shikai is also judged in this way: the main direction of the Hubei army entering Sichuan is more likely to be north or east or north. He believes that in eastern Sichuan, due to the dangerous terrain, sparsely populated and inconvenient transportation, the operation of the large corps is very difficult. Moreover, Hunan, the wing of the east of Sichuan, has just been occupied, while Guizhou is still controlled by Tang Jiyao. What about the direction of north Sichuan? Although the terrain is also very complex, there are Qinling Mountains and Daba Mountains across Sichuan and Shaanxi, making it difficult to pass. However, this road has been taken from the Central Plains to the southwest since ancient times. Although the road between Sichuan and Shaanxi is dangerous, after all, there are ancient official roads connected. Especially in the Guanzhong area north of the Qinling Mountains, Li Xiang built a new smooth railway line (because the rich mineral deposits in the northwest were found, Li Xiang encouraged the capitalists of the Yangtze River Consortium to build a large artery leading to the west), which can solve the supply of the battle of the large corps. So Yuan Shikai decided that if the Hubei army entered Sichuan, it was bound to come from the north.

At present, Lei Zhenchun's information also proves his judgment in the previous period, so Chen Yan did not hesitate at all and still adhered to the established plan.

Chen Yan affirmed: "From all aspects of the situation, the northern direction of Sichuan is still the focus of the Hubei army's attack, and the defense in this direction must be strengthened. Bandits must be rejected outside the Sichuan border, that is, Longnan and southern Shaanxi as the decisive battle zone, and do not deal with the bandits within the Sichuan territory. Therefore, the Qinling defense line must be guarded. Without my order, you are not allowed to retreat without authorization. In addition, in addition to the Qinling defense line, a second defense line must be built along the Bailong River, Micang Mountain and Daba Mountain. At the same time, the east direction of Sichuan should not be taken lightly. Huanghu must strengthen its defense. In addition, the second mixed brigade of Zhongtai Road should be quickly deployed in the Nanchong and Dazhu areas to prepare for the north or east of Sichuan.

Chen Yan is also selfish and let the Sichuan army stand on the front line in the north of Sichuan. His two newly compiled mixed brigades are placed on the second line of safety. He sinisterly wants to consume the unruly Sichuan Legion first, but he doesn't know that the direct line placed on the second line is already standing on the edge of the cliff.

After discussion, the governor of Sichuan, General Chengwu, and the Sichuan patrol envoy, Chen Yu judged: "The Hubei army may attack the southwest on all sides (from Sichuan-E Road, Chuanxiang Road, Qian Road, North Sichuan, Northeast Sichuan), and enter Xikang with a detour Yushu, blocking the back door on the southwest side. The main force goes straight from Sichuan to Chengdu and from Xiangqian Road. Kunming, cut off the contact between Sichuan and Guangxi to include the southwest.

Based on this, Chen eunuch decided to slap the table and said, "For the purpose of defending the chaos base in Sichuan, striving for the opportunity, waiting for domestic changes, and striving for long-term durability and mobile defense as the strategy, from the line of Daba Mountain and Micang Mountain to the skyscrapers in the north, use the terrain to block and annihilate the bandit forces abroad, carry out lasting resistance, and actively fight against the enemy. After the development of guerrilla, the east cooperated with the friendly army attack in Central China, and strived to annihilate the bandit army in western Hunan, so as not to enter Guining and Sichuan.

In order to ensure the southwest region, Chen Yan decided to take six measures: "1. Self-reliance, self-funded grain and military salaries, do not rely on the central government to maintain, and continue to fight. 2. Actively build a new army. 3. Sichuan is divided into several security areas. For example, two or three counties have set up joint defense headquarters to actively train the people, mobilize human and material resources to eliminate bandits, and maintain public security in the rear. 4. From the border of Sichuan and Hubei, it has passed through Wulu, Qigu Mountain and Daba Mountain. The line from Micang Mountain to Motianling implements a large-scale deep destruction of the road (its length is about five days), control the water source, empty room clear field, so that the enemy cannot pass through (by Chen Yan sent people to supervise the progress). 5. With Kang Dian as the rear, he had no choice but to retreat to the two provinces. 6. The underground chaos party in Sichuan will be eliminated within three months from the 15th of this month.

It can be seen from the above that Chen Yan divided his troops to ensure Sichuan, and placed the main force of the Sichuan army in the direction of Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu, while the strength in Hubei, Sichuan and Guizhou is relatively weak, which creates conditions for the main force of the Hubei army to break through from the east, and then carry out a large roundabout encirclement, and gather and annihilate the main force of the Sichuan army in the Sichuan Basin.

Although Chen Yan focused on the "defending the southwest" in the north of Sichuan, he also stepped up his defense deployment in Sichuan, Hubei and Guizhou.

The Sui Department of the Sichuan-Xiang-E Border Area of Huanghuju is located in Enshi. The first new mixed brigade of the 14th regiment of Zhong Bin is located in the Wufeng area, two regiments are located in the Badong and Ye Sanguan areas, and two regiments are located in the Shiluguan area north of Enshi; the three battalions of its 20th regiment of Chen Kefei are located in the Xuan'en area. The three battalions of the 15th Regiment are located in the north of Laifeng, and the two battalions of the 18th Regiment are located in Qianjiang and Youyang. These are the sick man of the patrol camp left by the former Qing Dynasty, and they have no combat effectiveness.

There are also two brigades in the Kaijiang area; one brigade is located north of Wuxi; the troops of the three patrol battalions are located in the Guandukou, Wushan and Fengjie areas, and the troops of the three patrol battalions are located in the west of Zhenping.

Liu Xianshi, who trained in Guizhou, is the envoy of the Guizhou army. The two regiments of Guizhou are located in Zhenyuan and its northeast region.

Yuan Shikai's three regiments directly under the jurisdiction of Guizhou Patrol General Long Jianzhang are located in Kai County, north of Wanxian County, and cooperate with Chongqing to strengthen the defense force of the Sichuan-E Sui Department. Xieyu, Guizhou, this is an old tradition left over from the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom of the pre-Qing Dynasty.

Chen Yan tried to form a line of defense along the border from Daba Mountain, Wushan and Wuling Mountain to Hunan and Guizhou through the above deployment to prevent the Hubei army from entering Sichuan.

At the end of the first month, Yang Fan's 3rd and 5th Corps successively entered the western Hunan region to gather, and Yang Fan and other legion leaders also secretly flew to an airstrip outside Changde City.

Everything is prepared to start a big detour to south Sichuan in early February according to the scheduled plan.

At this time, in order to calm down the anti-revolutionary areas in the southwest of Hubei and cooperate with Yang Fan to march to the southwest, Li Xiang was ready to launch the battle against Huang Huju while launching the battle of the West Hubei to completely annihilate the Hubei reactionaries.

Li Xiang decided to concentrate the strength of nine regiments of the three Xue Corps of the Hubei Army, two independent regiments, and two regiments of the 42nd and 47th Divisions, under the unified command of Li Xiping, the first deputy commander of the military region, and Zeng Gao, the chief of staff. At the end of the month, he launched the Battle of West Hubei to seek the annihilation of Huanghu Group.

The specific deployment is that the 139th and 141st Regiments of the 47th Division set out from the first line of Dayong and Sangzhi, bypassed Enshi through Laifeng, occupied Lichuan, and cut off the west retreat road of the Yellow Department. If it does not retreat, the second step is to attack from west to east. At the same time, the 1st and 2nd Regiments of Hubei Independence and the 155th and 136th Regiments of the 42nd Division, From Zigui to the beginning of crossing the river. Enshi advanced; the 50th Division all crossed the river from Yichang Ziguijian, and attacked Enshi from east to west through the Ziqiu area.

In order to seek the stability of the Southwest Campaign, Li Xiang sent the "Forbidden Army to Defend the Central Committee" to fight. Because he also said before that the troops preparing for the Central Plains War cannot be mobilized, which is a strategy and morale.

According to the above situation, Yang Fan decided to cooperate with the Western Hubei Campaign launched by the "Central Army" and issued the "Supplementary Order for the Battle of Sichuan and Guizhou" on the 29th of the first month: the 3rd Corps should be the first army now, all lightly loaded, along the right side of the main force of the 47th Division, to act quickly, straight out of Pengshui and Qianjiang. (Key points), intercept the yellow bandits who may escape, and assist the 47th Division to annihilate the stubborn bandits on the right. The main force of the 3rd Corps adjusted its deployment accordingly, and quickly followed up with Zunyi and the tail first army according to the original plan. The 10th Division of the 5th Corps and the 3rd Corps still left Guizhou as soon as originally planned.

In this way, on the northern line, the battle of western Hubei launched by the "Forbidden Army" and Yang Fan's march into Sichuan and Guizhou were fully coordinated in combat deployment. The 50th Division, the two independent regiments of the Hubei Division and the 155th Regiment of the 42nd Division are the right group, and the main force of the 47th Division and the 11.12th Regiment, the main force of the 3rd Corps are the left group. With a clamp-shaped joint attack posture, the main force of the Huanghuqi Group is in the east of Qianjiang and Pengshui. On the southern line, the 5th Corps and the 10th Division took the flight straight out of Guiyang and Zunyi.

War drums are like thunder!

Although the "Forbidden Army" was the main student army, it launched the battle of western Hubei and launched a fierce offensive.

Yang Fan's main force launched a campaign in Sichuan and Guizhou, which is also not much.

Under the command of Yang Fan, the main force of the legion, with the cooperation of the "forbidden army", launched a full-scale attack on the southwest garrison of the Sichuan army from the front line 500 kilometers from the north to Tianzhu in the south.

The straight distance between Badong in western Hubei and Tianzhu in Guizhou is about 500 kilometers, which is one of the most complex terrain conditions on Chen Yan's "Southwest Defense Line". In the northern part of this section, the Yangtze River crosses Wushan Liuren Hubei from the east of Wanxian County, and passes through the canyon area of more than 200 kilometers from Fengjie in the west to Yichang in the east. The terrain is extremely dangerous. In the southern part of this section, the Wuling Mountains are densely forested and sparsely populated. There are cliffs everywhere, and it is extremely difficult to pass.

From the beginning of the war, the 50th Division of the Right Group and other parts made three routes to Yichang. Zigui, Xiangzi and other places crossed the river to attack the southwest of Hubei. On the 3rd, it broke through the defense of the 124th Regiment of the Sichuan Army and other former Qing patrol troops, and captured Badong, Lvcongpo, Ye Sanguan and other places.

The main force of the 47th Division of Zuo Group started from Yongshun and Dayong and entered the area south of Longshan in 2 days.

At the same time, Yang Fan's 3rd and 5th Corps will advance westward from Shimen, Cili, Zhijiang and Qianyang respectively from February 1, and officially began the battle of Sichuan and Guizhou.