When Liu Yimin led the main force to Zhouzhi, he received a report from Gao Yuan and Huangsu that the heavy firepower units of the 11th Division and the corps had arrived in Xi'an.

Liu Yimin ordered them to seize the time to rest their troops and prepare for battle.

Li Lingfeng and Wang Laohu reported one after another and completed the task. Liu Yimin immediately called back and ordered them to withdraw covertly.

Li Lingfeng called back again, seized 12 cars, abandoned them, and wanted to take them back to Xi'an.

Liu Yimin called back directly: "People are more important than cars." ”

Hong Chaoyuan reported that the troops had withdrawn from Tongguan in the morning, and now Huayin was hiding and waiting.

Zhang Hongtao reported that the troops had moved in place, rested for a while, and were determined to launch an attack on the enemy defending Longmen Ferry at 9 p.m.

Liu Yimin inquired in detail about the strength of the defenders at Longmen Ferry, and when he learned that the defenders had only one regiment, Liu Yimin ordered Zhang Hongtao and Liu Zhidan to concentrate their forces and resolutely attack. After succeeding, quickly move and hide near the ferry to observe the enemy's movements. If the enemy's main force is attacking in a big way, move quickly. If the enemy does not attack the ferry, they will attack Hanseong. The purpose is to give the enemy the illusion that we are ready to encircle and annihilate its main force, and to force the enemy to retreat.

After sending the telegram, Liu Yimin asked Zeng Zhongsheng if the vehicle that Wu Zheng had arranged to transport the troops had arrived.

Zeng Zhongsheng replied that he had arrived, there were no cars, all carriages. However, cars from the counties along the route can continue to be delivered.

After Liu Yimin heard this, he asked Zeng Zhongsheng to arrange for the troops to take a car, and if they could sit in a regiment, a regiment would be a regiment, and a division would be a division, and they would quickly advance to Xi'an.

The night march, at dawn, rushed to the territory of Huxian. Seeing that it was not far from Xi'an, Liu Yimin ordered the troops to camp and the radio station was turned on.

After contacting Zhang Hongtao, he learned that the Dusan Division had completely annihilated a regiment of the defenders of the ferry, and the main force of the Jin Sui Army then attacked the ferry. Now that the main force of the Jin Sui army is crossing the river, Zhang Hongtao asked for instructions if he could kill him.

Unexpectedly, overnight, Yan Xishan actually withdrew his troops, and he rushed back exhausted, but they ran away, will the Central Army also run? Could it be that they already know that their main force has returned to the division?

Liu Yimin, who felt that the development of the war situation was confusing, ordered Zhang Hongtao to attack his troops behind the palace after the main force of the Jin Sui army crossed the river. If the opponent is well defended, give up the attack if there is no chance to take advantage of it, and don't make unnecessary sacrifices.

Then Liu Yimin contacted Hong Chaoyuan, and Hong Chaoyuan reported that after the Central Army captured Tongguan, it only sent a small force to search, and the main force rested in Tongguan.

I really don't know what the Central Army is doing, occupying Tongguan is equivalent to knocking on the door of Shaanxi, and the next thing is Pingchuan, and there is no danger to defend. Why didn't the Central Army attack? Could it be that the casualties in Tongguan are too heavy and it is necessary to rest and reorganize the troops?

Thinking about it, Liu Yimin himself shook his head, the Second Division of the Duji Division fought well, and it severely damaged the enemy, but Jiang Ding's Ministry of Culture had a strong army, and it was impossible for them to stop because of the heavy casualties with a single Duer Division and the Red 25th Army.

So what is the reason? Could it be that Chiang Kai-shek suddenly had a good heart? Or is Jiang Dingwen afraid of being annihilated, so he deliberately stayed in Tongguan and couldn't enter?

Puzzled, Liu Yimin simply walked out of the camp at the army headquarters and went outside.

The main road was filled with mule, horse and ox carts organized by various task forces, and many soldiers fell asleep in the carts. Most of the villagers who drove the car were peasants who had just been allocated land, and they had high consciousness and great spirits.

Liu Yimin had a question, so he didn't want to talk to the villagers, so he walked to the Wei River. Several guards followed quietly behind him.

On a spring morning, the Wei River is misty and birds are singing in the woods. In the nearby villages, smoke wafts from cooking, and the occasional barking of dogs, barking and cowbells, accompanied by the shouts of farmers and cattle, is indeed a natural idyll.

Liu Yimin sat on a meadow, still thinking about the war.

Originally, Yan Xishan's withdrawal and the withdrawal of the Central Army were expected, and before the Battle of Tianshui began, several trends on the battlefield were predicted, one of which was that after the main force of the Seventh Army returned to the division, the Jin Sui Army retreated on its own, and the Central Army was afraid that the lone army would suffer a loss, so it immediately retreated. However, the current situation seems to be a bit abnormal, why did eastern Sichuan and northern Sichuan not fight seriously, but the Tongguan front line was fighting fiercely? What kind of medicine is in this Chiang Kai-shek gourd?

If I have the opportunity, I really want to meet Chiang Kai-shek, talk to him seriously, let him quickly come to his senses, and hurry up to prepare for the war of resistance, so as not to be in a hurry and suffer heavy losses.

was thinking about it, I felt that there were people around me, turned my head to look, Zhao Xiaoman didn't know when he sat next to him, and when he saw him turn around, he handed him a steamed bun and let him eat.

Liu Yimin felt really hungry, so he took the steamed bun and ate it after three times and divided it by two. After eating, he didn't feel full, so he reached out to Zhao Xiaoman to ask for more, Zhao Xiaoman smiled, took out another steamed bun and handed it to him.

After Liu Yimin finished eating, he asked Zhao Xiaoman why he didn't rest?

Zhao Xiaoman sighed and said, "I can't sleep." When I saw you going out for a walk alone, I was afraid that you would be hungry, so I came with me. ”

Liu Yimin smiled: "I can't imagine that our talented girl still knows how to care about people!" I remember these two steamed buns, we are about to go back to Xi'an, I will invite you to eat in Xi'an, and return these two steamed buns. ”

Zhao Xiaoman didn't speak, his eyes looked at Weishui, silently distracted.

Liu Yimin stood up and said, "Let's go, let's go back and prepare to go back to Xi'an." ”

Zhao Xiaoman said: "Wait a minute, I have something to tell you." ”

Liu Yimin had no choice but to sit down again.

When Zhao Xiaoman saw him sit down, he said, "I know you are very busy and tired, but if you don't say it now, I'm afraid you won't have a chance to talk about it when you return to Xi'an." Actually, I don't want to go back to Xi'an, I want to go out to fight with you. You tell me, after this battle, are you going to marry Don Jr.? ”

Liu Yimin nodded.

Zhao Xiaoman looked at Weishui again.

Liu Yimin thought to himself, how could he not know Zhao Xiaoman's heart, he was about to get married, and he had to tell her clearly, so that she broke her mind, such a good girl, are you afraid that she will not find her ideal lover?

Liu Yimin was about to speak, when he heard Zhao Xiaoman say: "Xiao Tang is a good girl, I bless you!" ”

Liu Yimin looked at Zhao Xiaoman suspiciously, did this girl want to talk to herself about this?

Zhao Xiaoman continued: "You should understand my thoughts, but you chose Xiao Tang, she loves you very much, I think, you will be very happy." ”

Liu Yimin felt that he needed to talk to this girl seriously, so he said: "Xiaoman, we didn't join the Red Army to fall in love. In my eyes, you are my good comrade-in-arms and comrade. I have no other thoughts about you. As for you, you may have a little affection for me. I think, this is all girlish feelings, very beautiful, very normal. But it's not love, it's just good feelings. You're so good, you'll definitely find your ideal partner in the future. You have nothing to do with Tang Xingying and them, if you meet a suitable person, you are embarrassed to say, you can let them help you. ”

Zhao Xiaoman shook his head: "You don't have to worry about my affairs, you can take the troops to fight." I thought about it, I'm going to fight devils on the front line of the anti-Japanese war, you can transfer me to the special combat team, I want to be a female special combat member. If I sacrifice in the future, if you have the heart, remembering the infatuation of a poor girl, you will engrave the words 'deceased wife Zhao Xiaoman' on my tombstone, and I will be content in this life. ”

Zhao Xiaoman said pitifully, and Liu Yimin was uncomfortable when he heard it, so he said: "Early in the morning, if you say such an unlucky thing, you should be slapped." Okay, don't go anywhere, take the art troupe with you. I hope that you will become an artist of our Red Army in the future, and when New China is established, maybe you will become the Taishan Beidou of New China's literary and artistic circles! Let's go, it's time to go. ”

After speaking, Liu Yimin turned around and left.

After Zhao Xiaoman said this, all the strength in his body was exhausted, coupled with the continuous march, he was overtired, and struggled to stand up, but he couldn't stand up.

Liu Yimin walked a few steps, saw that Zhao Xiaoman didn't move, came over to see that this girl couldn't stand up, and hurriedly stretched out his hand to pull her up. Helped her walk a few steps, let her slowly move her muscles, and return to the camp of the legion headquarters together.

After returning to the corps headquarters, I saw that the cadres and soldiers were still asleep, and I knew that everyone was too tired. Think about it, from Xi'an to Tianshui, from Tianshui to Xi'an, continuous rapid marching, even an iron man is tired and lying down.

But we still have to go, the Central Army is still occupying Tongguan, maybe there will be a tough battle!

Liu Yimin was ruthless and woke up Zeng Zhongsheng and asked him to notify the troops to set off.

In the afternoon, the troops finally returned to Xi'an. Liu Yimin asked Cai Zhong, Zeng Zhongsheng, and Wu Zheng to arrange for the troops to camp and quickly recover their strength. And he himself went to meet the chairman.

After meeting with the chairman, Vice Chairman Zhou and Mr. Zhu, Liu Yimin gave a general overview of the battle of Tianshui, and then talked about the situation in Tongguan and the withdrawal of the Jin Sui army.

Mr. Zhu said: "We all know these situations. What we wonder is, why didn't Chiang Kai-shek's Central Army move forward, and why did the Jin Sui Army suddenly withdraw? This is definitely not that I am afraid that the main force of our army will return to the division, you must know that there are 200,000 people in Jiang Ding's cultural department! ”

Liu Yimin said: "Not only these, but also doubts, why don't northern and eastern Sichuan fight, but only Tongguan and Hefang?" Did Chiang Kai-shek's 300,000 elites of the Central Army enter eastern Sichuan? There must be a ghost in this, but where is this ghost? ”

A few people were still puzzled, so they came to the map together, looked at Shaanxi, eastern Sichuan, and northern Sichuan, looked at it, and their eyes gathered on Qinghai.

At this point, the problem is clear. Liu Bocheng immediately went to send a telegram to [***], asking him to find out what kind of troops were on the other side, and where was Xue Yue?

[***] sighed: It's late!

Liu Yimin angrily took the chairman's cigarette and smoked two cigarettes in a row, before he said hatefully: "I didn't expect to be put on a position by Chiang Kai-shek like this, we worked hard to eliminate a warlord for him." This must be Yang Yongtai's idea, ordinary people don't have this level. ”

[***] immediately asked: "Is this Yang Yongtai you are talking about the person that Chiang Kai-shek called the contemporary Wolong?" ”

Liu Yimin replied: "It is this person." ”

[***] said: "This move is very clever, and the defeat is alive." Chiang Kai-shek blindly instigated Ma Bufang and Ma Hongkui to launch a civil war and attack Tianshui, but they were destroyed by us. Seeing that Gan Ningqing will become ours, this guy can actually use this trick at a time of crisis, to attack Tongguan and the Jin Sui army to attack Xi'an, to force the main force of our Seventh Army to come back to help. If we don't come back to help, he will take advantage of the situation to capture Xi'an. We came back to help, and he achieved his purpose of mobilizing us. I guess that Xue Yue must have led the army to Qinghai now, and I'm afraid that he is almost in Xining. In this case, I estimate that Zhang Qun will soon propose normal negotiations. ”

Zhou En said: "It's not that they are too clever, it's that our Red Army is still too weak and lacks troops. If we have another 100,000 troops, why do we need to go back and forth like this! ”

Mr. Zhu said: "Another point is that our main forces are all concentrated in northern and eastern Sichuan, wasting troops. From there, a bloc must be transferred to the Shaanxi-Gansu border and control the strategic points as soon as possible in order to facilitate negotiations. ”

[***] extinguished the cigarette butt and said: "East Sichuan handed over to Xu Xiangqian and them, the third and fifth army corps returned to defend northern Sichuan, and the first and ninth army corps were stationed in Shaanxi and Gansu. The 1st Army Corps set out immediately, and the 9th Army Corps waited for the 3rd and 5th Army Corps to arrive before leaving, and ordered the 7th Army Corps to read the 4th Division and immediately advance forward. At this time, without the enemy, a battalion could occupy a county. We must advance all the way to the Dingxi line and expand our control area. After the 1st and 9th Army Corps took over, the 4th Division of Reading Force withdrew to Shaanxi to rest. ”

Mr. Zhu went to confess to Liu Bocheng and sent a telegram. Seeing Liu Yimin's lonely face and low mood, he smiled and said, "Don't be in a bad mood and think you've lost to them." In fact, it was not like that, Chiang Kai-shek's move was forced by our Seventh Army Corps to have no choice, so he came up with a life-saving trick. Think about it, will Xue Yue be at ease in Qinghai and Gansu in the future? Can he not be afraid of when our General Liu will give him a total annihilation? He's alone! Besides, after the First World War eliminated the cruel and fierce Ma Jiajun of the warlords, who would dare to provoke our Red Seventh Army in the future? If Chiang Kai-shek had really sat down for negotiations this time, our Seventh Army would have made a great contribution. Not only did it expand the base area and eliminate the Ma Jiajun, but it also made great contributions to promoting a complete armistice and uniting to resist the war. After making such a great achievement, I am still unhappy, so change the line! Besides, even if we knew that Chiang Kai-shek wanted to do this, there was no way. We can't exchange Shaanxi for Qinghai and Gansu! ”

Liu Yimin had already thought about it, and at this time he had already begun to think about whether he could be cheap Yan Xishan, and he had to think of something to give him something to make up for it, otherwise, wouldn't he be too happy?

After finishing speaking, seeing that Liu Yimin didn't say a word, he said: "Comrade Liu Yimin, did you hear my words?" ”

Liu Yimin was taken aback and hurriedly said, "Thank you, chairman, for your enlightenment." I'm thinking, how could this Yan Xishan wade through this troubled water? We can't cheapen him, I'm going to write him a letter and ask him to order something more. ”

As soon as he said this, [***] and Zhou Enlai laughed at the same time. After laughing, Zhou En said: "You guy, you won't do less in Pingyao this time, right?" I guess Chen Yun and Fuchun are going to laugh again. You still have to find Yan Xishan again, that is a famous iron rooster, if you can get something out of his hand again, then I really admire you! ”

Mr. Zhu came in, and he was very happy to see a few people, so he said to Liu Yimin: "Don't talk about Yan Xishan, in front of you, Tongguan is still in the hands of the Central Army." We cannot allow them to occupy this strategic point. You hurry up and take a rest, and tomorrow you have to think of taking Tongguan back. Otherwise, it will take a lot of effort for them to negotiate! ”

As he was talking, He Zizhen called everyone to eat together. Liu Yimin followed the chairman, Vice Chairman Zhou, Mr. Zhu and Liu Bocheng to eat together.

A table, a few people sit in a group. Liu Yimin saw that there were white flour buns, yellow flour buns, sweet potatoes, and the dishes were a plate of red and white radish shreds, a plate of cabbage shreds, a plate of fried spicy seeds, a plate of braised pork, and a bowl of porridge per person.

Liu Yimin ate two steamed buns given by Zhao Xiaoman in the morning, and he was also hungry at this time. After eating, he also praised the eldest sister for not only her high level of work, but also the delicious food she cooked.

[***] said with a smile; "If it's delicious, you'll come back often in the future."

Mr. Zhu asked distressedly: "Have you not eaten for a day?" ”

Liu Yimin said: "I ate one meal yesterday and two steamed buns this morning. Along the way, I have been thinking about what Chiang Kai-shek is doing, and I don't feel hungry. Now that I'm free, I'm hungry. ”

He Zizhen coaxed the child on the side, and when he heard Liu Yimin say that he ate a meal yesterday and two steamed buns this morning, he said distressedly: "You are so young, your body has not fully grown, and you can't delay eating." By the way, when are you going to get married? There is someone around you who can take care of you. Save a day of hunger and a full meal. ”

Liu Yimin said: "It's not that I don't get married, isn't this Chiang Kai-shek's old troublemaker and won't let me get married?" When Vice Chairman Zhou talks with them, there will be no more wars, and I will get married. Besides, Tang Xingying participated in the land reform and didn't come back, and she was very busy there and couldn't take care of it. ”

Mr. Zhu said: "As soon as Tongguan is recovered, it can be cleaned for a while." Some things can be solved, and personal problems should be done. Besides, how did you deal with so many captives this time? ”

Liu Yimin said: "I think so, the soldiers and officers of the Ma Jiajun unit are very tough and can't let go. As soon as he was released, he would join the Kuomintang troops or become bandits. It is not possible to absorb them into our army, they all believe in Islam, and it is not easy for our troops to reform them in a short time. My idea is to work slowly and transform them slowly. Some of them participated in our cantonment activities and went to work on the farms of various troops; Some of them went to participate in road construction and tree planting. When the transformation is done, you can join our army or be released. ”

[***] asked: "What should Ma Hongkui do?" Is it possible to refer to Shao Lizi's model? He's also a provincial chairman! ”

Liu Yimin immediately shook his head: "How can Ma Hongkui compare with Mr. Shao Lizi, there is a world of difference!" If he were to be his father Ma Fuxiang, he would have to be a guest. This Ma Hongkui has not done anything good, and he should be shot. However, he is rich. I would like to suggest to the chiefs that we can let him go, but we must exchange gold, silver dollars, war horses, salt, and grain. The total value must not be less than 5 million silver dollars, otherwise he will be shot. ”

Zhou Enlai thought for a while and said: "It's not okay to be shot, when negotiating, the Kuomintang side will definitely ask for his release, after all, he is the chairman of Ningxia Province and has a certain influence." In my opinion, this matter should be handled by the Seventh Legion. What do you think, chairman, CEO? ”

[***], Zhu De agreed, Liu Yimin laughed secretly in his heart, if he doesn't agree, it's a ghost!

Liu Yimin thought for a while and said: "All the senior officers of the Ma Jiajun will be dealt with according to this method, and they must all pay money and release them. I want them to spit out all the money they have scavenged from the common people and hand it over to Kang Yueming to cook the political axe, and use the money to build schools, hospitals, roads and bridges. It can be regarded as accumulating virtue for them. ”

After the meal was finished, the matter of Ma Jiajun's prisoners was decided, and Liu Yimin said goodbye to the leaders. He was so tired that he couldn't support it anymore and went back to rest.

The next morning, as soon as Liu Yimin woke up, he received a telegram from Zhang Hongtao that the Jin Sui army had all withdrawn to Shanxi, and that the 3rd Division had planned to attack the troops behind its palace, but it was unsuccessful due to the enemy's fire cover on the other side of the river.

Liu Yimin put down the telegram and asked Li Xiaoshuai to invite Political Commissar Luo, Director Cai, and Chief of Staff Zeng to discuss how to recover Tongguan.

After a few people came in, Liu Yimin said his thoughts first. His plan was to scare the Central Army away. It was he and Zeng Zhongsheng who led the 11th Division and the regiment to ride heavily on horseback and quickly advanced towards Huayin and joined up with the Duer Division. The 12th Division, the 13th Division, and the Only Division took the train to Huayin to concentrate, creating a momentum of pressure from a large army. At the same time, a press conference was held in Xi'an, where Cai Zhong reported on the Tianshui War, and Luo Ronghuan was responsible for answering reporters' questions, the main meaning was to tell Chiang Kai-shek and Jiang Dingwen that the main force of the Red Seventh Army was now going to settle accounts with them.

Luo Ronghuan said: "This press conference is still held by the corps commander, and some words seem to be more deterrent when you say them. Chief of Staff Zeng and I will lead the troops first, and you just have to catch up after the press conference. ”

Liu Yimin thought about it for a while and felt that it was okay to do so, Political Commissar Luo was more introverted and couldn't say something. Let Cai Zhong immediately prepare to hold a press conference, explain to Luo Ronghuan and Zeng Zhongsheng, and let the Duer Division first reconnoiter Tongguan, and concentrate the main force in Huayin, and pay attention to air defense.

Zeng Zhongsheng smiled: "Luoyang Airport has been bombed, where did the plane come from!" ”

As soon as Liu Yimin heard this, he criticized Zeng Zhongsheng for being careless and underestimating the enemy. What if Chiang Kai-shek transferred planes from elsewhere? Even if there are no planes, you must be prepared for air defense. When a large army fights, everyone is happy if they win, but what if they are defeated? Ma Bufang and Ma Hongkui are examples. Just imagine, if Ma Bufang and Ma Hongkui decisively withdrew from the battlefield and retreated to Gangu to defend themselves after suffering heavy casualties in the night attack, wouldn't we have to run in vain?

Zeng Zhongsheng repeatedly said that the regiment commander was right in his criticism, and he was proud if he couldn't win the battle.

Liu Yimin asked everyone to go their separate ways.

(To be continued)