When Liu Yimin and Luo Ronghuan entered the conference room, the cadres had already arrived.

The news of Liu Yimin's assassination shocked all the cadres of the Red Seventh Army, and if it were not for the iron discipline of the Red Army, I am afraid that these cadres would have flocked to Chengdu to visit. Seeing the corps commander appear in the conference room, the cadres all gathered around, saluting, shaking hands, and greetings. This time the newly appointed political commissar was left out in the cold.

After meeting with the cadres, Liu Yimin and Luo Ronghuan sat down.

Glancing at the familiar faces of these comrades-in-arms, Liu Yimin sighed in his heart, if it weren't for Ni Hua and Chen Tong, he and these comrades-in-arms would never see each other again. Cleaning up his mood, Liu Yimin said: "This time, I accidentally let the spies succeed and was mortally injured, and the comrades were frightened. I won't say anything about thanks, they are all comrades-in-arms, and they have to file bullets with each other on the battlefield, and it is hypocritical to say any kind words in this relationship. ”

The cadres burst into laughter, and the atmosphere in the conference room came alive at once.

Liu Yimin's face ended: "Just now, I found a very bad phenomenon. Everyone was busy talking to me, and no one paid attention to Commissar Luo. On the one hand, it was because everyone was concerned about my injury, and on the other hand, it showed that everyone had not yet become familiar with the political commissar as soon as possible. It's not good. On behalf of the party committee of the corps, I would like to make it clear to you that Comrade Luo Ronghuan is a veteran leader of our Red Army and has very deep qualifications. When [***] took the Autumn Harvest Uprising troops to Jinggangshan, he was one of [***]'s right-hand men. The fact that the Central Committee sent Comrade Luo Ronghuan to the Seventh Army Corps as political commissar this time is an affirmation by Vice Chairman Zhou, Commander-in-Chief Zhu, and the Central Committee of the Seventh Army Corps, as well as their concern and support for us. In the future, Political Commissar Luo's order will be the order of the corps headquarters and my order, and all units must resolutely implement it. That is to say, the political commissar is not only responsible for the ideological and political work of the whole corps, but also for military work, logistical work, and other work. All units asked the corps headquarters for instructions on combat and other work, and the telegrams were all headed by Liu and Luo. The regiment issued combat and other important orders, all of which were jointly signed by Liu and Luo. The Red Seventh Legion can also be nicknamed the Liu Luo Legion. Did you hear me clearly? ”

The cadres replied in unison: "Hear me clearly!" ”

Liu Yimin nodded with satisfaction: "Today's meeting has two meanings, the first is that the political commissar takes office, I am discharged from the hospital, and the two of us will meet with you." The second is that our army is about to launch a combat operation, and the chief of staff will make specific arrangements for the march. Commissar, you can tell you a few words. Comrades, applaud and welcome the speech of Political Commissar Luo! ”

After the applause stopped, Luo Ronghuan said in his thick Hunan accent: "Thank you comrades for your trust!" Time is tight, so I won't say much, but if we fight this battle well, we can realize the meeting with the four front armies and create new base areas. Very significant! The Seventh Army Corps is a unit that has made many meritorious achievements, and this time it will also rush to the front, bravely overcome the strong enemy, and make new contributions to our Red Army! As for me personally, I will definitely cooperate with and support the work of the regiment commander and fight together with my comrades! ”

After Luo Ronghuan finished speaking, Liu Yimin motioned to Feng Dafei to start making arrangements.

Feng Dafei had already hung a map on the wall, marking the situation of friend and foe. Seeing the signal from the corps commander, Feng Dafei immediately stood in front of the map, analyzed the situation of the enemy and us, and explained the operational deployment of the Red Army headquarters. Then he said: "According to the order of the headquarters of the Red Army and the operational concept of the corps commander, the corps decided that the whole army would set off at 7 o'clock in the evening and advance to Mianyang with the rearguard of the first corps. After arriving in Mianyang, he broke away from the marching sequence of the first legion, changed into the clothes of the Sichuan army captured all the way, disguised the Sichuan army, and entered Jiange County in concealment along the Shu Road, bypassing Jiange County from the north, to the ancient town of Hanyang in the south of Jianmen Pass to rest and wait. The target is the 1st Division of Hu Zongnan of the Central Army. The marching sequence was as follows: the cavalry battalion served as the vanguard unit, opening the way for the whole regiment under the guidance of the reconnaissance company, and the 11th division was the first echelon, moving behind the cavalry battalion; The 12th Division was the second echelon, in the center, and the corps headquarters and direct units followed it. The 13th Division is the third echelon. It is about 300 miles from Deyang to Jiange, and it is necessary to march rapidly this evening, and it is said that it will camp in concealment south of Zitong. Tomorrow night, bypassing Zitong, entering the Sword Pavilion, marching quickly to the designated place, blocking the news, and resting in concealment. Therefore, in order to ensure the speed of the march, the baggage regiment and the new regiment stayed in Deyang, escorted supplies, continued training, and after our first corps occupied Mianyang, they advanced to Mianyang to stand by. After the battle of the main force of the legion, they will meet again in the Sword Pavilion. ”

As soon as Feng Dafei finished speaking, Zhang Yicheng, chief of staff and head of the new corps, stood up: "Report to the chief of staff, the new corps is now fully staffed, and weapons and ammunition have been allocated, and they are completely ready to participate in the war." No amount of good training is worth a real battle. I ask the head of the regiment to consider sending a new regiment into battle. ”

As soon as Zhang Yicheng sat down, Cao Shengli, the head of the baggage regiment, stood up: "Report to the chief of staff, my baggage regiment has gone through the test of war, and after the training in Chengdu, it has replenished the personnel. A few days ago, Chiang Kai-shek's spies dared to assassinate the commander of the regiment, and the whole regiment screamed and went to the battlefield to take revenge, just waiting for this battle. I insisted that the leaders consider that the baggage regiment should leave three battalions to escort supplies, and I would lead the first and second battalions to participate in the battle. ”

Feng Dafei looked at the two people, a little embarrassed, and didn't know how to reply.

Liu Yimin said: "I understand everyone's desire to fight, but we can't give up so many materials we have seized, right?" Someone has to watch over it, right? Tell me about the two of you, if the baggage regiment and the recruit regiment are not left, which regiment will be left behind? ”

Cao Shengli's face turned red: "Report to the corps commander, the baggage regiment is now training very tightly, and it can be used as the main force." It is a waste of combat power to let the current baggage regiment serve as an escort for supplies. Please ask the corps commander to include our regiment in the main force sequence and form another baggage regiment. ”

Liu Yimin's face was blank: "Confused, it is precisely because I see that the combat effectiveness of your baggage regiment is okay that I gave you the task of escorting materials." If the baggage regiment is a second-rate or third-rate team, can such an important task be entrusted to you? Isn't it water in the brain? Not only materials, but also a part of intellectuals and skilled workers have been temporarily incorporated into your regiment, and after the end of this battle, we will have to establish a strong base area. If you escort these people and materials to the designated place safely, you have completed the combat mission. As for your suggestion of reorganizing the new baggage regiment, my suggestion is good, and I will seriously consider it. ”

Cao Shengli didn't have the slightest temper, so he had to sit down.

Liu Yimin continued: "This battle is of great significance, as long as we win, Chiang Kai-shek will sit down and negotiate with us, and no unit of the Central Army will dare to pursue us with the strength of an army or a division in the future, and our army will also win strategic space and establish a strong base area." The strategic shift since the retreat from the Soviet zone can come to an end. However, the enemy we are facing is very strong, and you may not know that Hu Zongnan's First Division, after the Tianshui retraining, had jurisdiction over the First Brigade, the Second Brigade, the Reading Brigade, the Northwest Supplementary Brigade, and a cavalry regiment, with three regiments per brigade, three battalions per regiment, and four companies per battalion, a total of 13 regiments, as well as artillery, engineers, and other troops, with a total of more than 30,000 people, which was much more than the number of the three divisions of the Hunan Army that we eliminated in Xiaoshui and Xikou. The combat effectiveness of the First Division is even stronger, and the Second Brigade of this division once won the first place in the Central Army's training competition, and He Yingqin, Jiang Dingwen, Liu Zhi, Xue Yue, and other famous generals have all served as division commanders or acting division commanders of this division, and they are veritable Chiang Kai-shek's starting troops. Therefore, once the battle starts, the whole army will go to the battlefield to completely eliminate the first division in the world, and hold a foundation stone laying ceremony for the establishment of our seventh army corps! ”

After hearing this, the cadres were all thinking.

Luo Ronghuan said worriedly: "Commander, I don't think the headquarters knows the situation of the First Division you mentioned. Shall we report to the headquarters and ask the first army to cooperate with us? ”

Liu Yimin shook his head: "No need, fighting is about comprehensive quality, not just firepower and numbers." When did we not win more with less, and the weak over the strong? The war is fought by the ace army, and the soft bones are boring. ”

Liu Yimin thought for a while, and then said: "However, if this force is insufficient, it is easy for the enemy to rush out." I look at it this way, adjust it. Wu Zheng led the new regiment to be responsible for escorting supplies, and the baggage regiment pulled up and formed a detachment with the infantry battalions of the engineer regiment and the artillery regiment, which was under the command of the chief of staff. Immediately after the dismissal of the baggage regiment, it was handed over to the new regiment to keep up with the main force. Commissar, what do you think? ”

Luo Ronghuan directly replied and agreed, and added: "In a big war, any more strength may overwhelm the other party." ”

At this moment, Xide Cao Shengli immediately jumped up and shouted loudly: "Please rest assured that the regiment commander and political commissar will ensure that the baggage regiment will complete the task!" ”

Liu Yimin waved his hand: "Separate implementation, disbandment." ”

After the cadres left, Liu Yimin asked Cai Zhong to arrange for the corps headquarters to set off, and then asked Luo Ronghuan: "Where does the headquarters live?" Let's go check it out and say goodbye! ”

Luo Ronghuan said: "The headquarters is located in the Temple of Literature. ”

Liu Yimin felt strange, why didn't he live in the county government and live in the Confucian Temple? Could it be that the conditions of the Temple of Literature are good? It is impossible, it is estimated that the Confucian Temple is more spacious than the county government.

Walking to the street, Liu Yimin found that Deyang at this time was much smaller and more dilapidated than Leshan and Yibin. On both sides of the street are low, ridged brick houses with adobe walls. Standing in the middle of the street, you can see the castle towers at both ends of the street. Thinking about the titles of the Pearl of Western Sichuan and the Oriental Ruhr in later generations, I can't help but laugh dumbly. Thinking about it again, this is still the hometown of the super-level combat hero Huang Jiguang, and I don't know if Huang Jiguang was born at this time, I sighed in my heart: "Vicissitudes of life"!

At this time, Deyang was simply a barracks, full of gray military uniforms, red epaulettes, and red hat badges. It was not early, and the Red Army began to move out of the city, and Liu Yimin knew that not only the Seventh Army Corps was moving, but also the troops of the First Army Corps who arrived in Deyang.

When he walked to the Confucian Temple, Liu Yimin was very surprised, although he originally knew that the Deyang Confucian Temple was very famous, but he did not expect that this Confucian Temple was so large that it was about to catch up with Qufu. A little look, you know that this Confucian Temple covers an area of about 30 acres, sitting in the north and facing south, the weather is solemn.

The guards at the gate saw that it was the commander and political commissar of the Seventh Legion, and after saluting, they let them in.

Entering the courtyard, only to know that the building here is distinctive, the symmetrical layout of the three-in-four courtyard, with the main hall Dacheng Hall as the center, the north and south into the central axis, along the central axis on both sides of the layout of the palace. The four ceremonial pavilions are arranged in a line, and the shapes and materials are of southern characteristics. There is a square in front and a garden in the back. The buildings are well preserved, which shows the extent to which the people of Deyang admired Confucius and were influenced by Confucian philanthropy and benevolence.

Liu Yimin pulled Luo Ronghuan and went directly to Dacheng Hall.

Dacheng hall is seven rooms wide, four rooms deep, heavy eaves rest on the mountain roof, and the yellow glazed tiles are used.

Entering the main hall to see, out of the Confucius statue, there are four matching, twelve philosophical statues are lined up left and right, as well as complete set of sacrificial vessels, ritual instruments and musical instruments.

Liu Yimin stood solemnly in front of the statue of Confucius for a while, then turned around and went to the General Staff with Luo Ronghuan.

Luo Ronghuan asked: "A few years ago, the New Culture Movement smashed Confucius's store, why did you still stand in front of the statue of Confucius to pay respects?" ”

Liu Yimin smiled: "What everyone is against is not necessarily incorrect; What everyone agrees with is not always true. Only practice is the criterion for testing all truths. Confucius educated all the people, opened up great causes, and made great contributions to the Chinese nation. Perhaps some of his views and ideas are now backward or even reactionary. But the vast majority are good. We are all literate people, and Confucius is our well-deserved teacher. It is appropriate to pay homage in front of the statue of the patriarch. ”

Luo Ronghuan said: "We [***] people believe in Marxism and advocate the science of boiling, which is not as good as Confucius's Confucianism? ”

Liu Yimin smiled again: "If Confucius had lived in modern times, I estimate that some of his students would have learned to build airplanes and drive ships." At that time, he only had horses and carriages, don't you see that his students learned to ride horses, drive cars, and shoot arrows? ”

Luo Ronghuan thought about it, so he stopped talking, and the two of them walked towards the General Staff together.

The General Staff of the Red Army was located in a courtyard in Dongyu, and Liu Yimin and Luo Ronghuan walked in after shouting their reports.

Seeing Liu Yimin standing in front of him well, several leaders were all happy.

With a smile on his face, he briefly asked Liu Yimin about his recovery from his injuries, then pulled him to the map and explained the combat intentions of the Military Commission to him carefully.

After the 1st and 9th Army Corps cleared the surroundings of Mianyang, they surrounded Mianyang with two divisions of the 9th Army Corps and forced the enemy to ask for help, and the 1st Army Corps led a division of the 9th Army Corps to turn around and go eastward to attack Langzhong and Cangxi on the Jialing River, and together with the 3rd and 5th Army Corps, encircled and annihilated the North Road troops of the Sichuan Army on the west bank of the Jialing River. Chiang Kai-shek was afraid that our army would advance north or west after occupying Mianyang, and at the same time he was also afraid of the collapse of the defense line on the west bank of the Jialing River of the Sichuan army, so he would definitely urge Hu Zong's southern part to go south to reinforce the Sichuan army, and urge Yang Hucheng's department and Zhang Xueliang's department to speed up the reinforcement of the Sichuan army besieging the Four Front Army. After the Seventh Army annihilated the southern part of Huzong, it quickly attacked and occupied Guangyuan, while the Ninth Army abandoned the attack on Mianyang, and the whole army crossed the Jialing River and cooperated with the Four Front Armies to encircle and annihilate Yang Hucheng. After that, the Northeast Army was pursued and annihilated. The key points of the battle were to eliminate or defeat the main forces of the 28th and 29th armies of the Sichuan Army on the west bank of the Jialing River, and the second was to completely annihilate the first division of Hu Zongnan.

Looking at [***] full of interest, Liu Yimin thought to himself, he is really worthy of a great strategist, there are attacks and abandonments, this side is to surround Mianyang and not take it, and there is the Sichuan army's river defense in full bloom, if Hu Zongnan does not come to reinforce, there will be no reason. However, you must also be careful of the southern route troops of the Sichuan Army.

seemed to see Liu Yimin's worries, [***] said: "Don't worry, now Liu Xiang's main force on the South Road is competing with Xue Yue to see who will occupy Chengdu first?" Can't get here. When we finish the campaign plan, he won't come to us, we still want to go to him! Ha ha! ”

Luo Ronghuan thought about it and felt that he should still report Hu Zongnanbu's troop changes to the chairman. He said: "Chairman of the report, Vice Chairman Zhou, and Commander-in-Chief Zhu: The situation of Hu Zongnan's First Division has changed, and he is no longer the two brigades and six regiments in the past, but the four brigades and thirteen regiments, with a total strength of more than 30,000 people. ”

When several leaders heard this, they immediately became alert. [***] pondered for a long time: "More than 30,000 people, when did this guy become so powerful?" It's stronger than an army! ”

Mr. Zhu said: "In this case, the strength of the Seventh Army is thin, and this bone is not easy to gnaw." ”

[***] asked Liu Yimin: "What do you think?" ”

Liu Yimin replied: "It's not easy to bite, this first division is Chiang Kai-shek's starting unit, it is well-equipped, and the officers are mainly Whampoa students. The last time we were in Yangping Town, the 90th Division, the division commander ran away, but the remnants refused to surrender, took advantage of the terrain to fight our army, and finally ran out of more than 2,000 people. This first division is estimated to be more tenacious than the 90th division. Still, I'm confident. The two armies are equal in strength, there is not much difference in equipment, and we are superior to them in terms of heavy firepower. With mental calculation and unintentional, attacking him unprepared, it is no problem to take him, but the casualties may be larger. If the mixed battalion of mountain artillery and mortars attached to the first corps could be rebuilt, the casualties would be even smaller. ”

Seeing [***] pondering, Liu Yimin said again: "This first division must be completely annihilated this time, and if it is not destroyed, it will not be able to deter Chiang Kai-shek's Central Army system." Besides, the equipment and personnel of this force are urgently needed by us. Please rest assured that our Seventh Army Corps is in urgent need of hard battles and vicious battles, and it will be the best in the world to fight. I promise to complete the mission! ”

After thinking about it, he said to Liu Bocheng: "Notify the First Army Corps, let the artillery battalion of the Seventh Army Corps be built, and order the cadres and regiments to prepare and be assigned to the Seventh Army Corps as a reserve." ”

When Liu Yimin heard this, he shook his hand again and again: "Chairman, you can't do it, the cadres and regiments can't move, anything can happen during the war, and only with the cadres and regiments guarding the central government can we fight with peace of mind." Besides, cadres and regiments are all cadres, and I would like to suggest to the central authorities that after the end of this campaign, a regiment from each regiment will be drawn from each regiment on the basis of the cadre regiment to form a new Red Eighth Army Corps, and we will replenish the prisoners to the Eighth Army Corps, or it will not be long before it will be a first-class main force corps. ”

[***] eyes are full of appreciation, this little guy, everywhere than others to see a few steps more, strategic awareness, overall situation awareness, theoretical level, command ability, that is really a first-class talent. The pillars of the country, the treasure of the Red Army!

Without waiting for [***] to speak, Mr. Zhu said: "Comrade Liu Yimin, your suggestion is very good. After this battle, we will reorganize the Eighth Army Corps. In this way, our Central Red Army can form a strategic grouping on three fronts at any time. When the time comes, if Chiang Kai-shek dares to attack us again, you will accompany me to him to drink tea and set up a dragon gate formation with him. ”

Mr. Zhu's words made everyone laugh.

[***] said with a smile: "Then it will become a play of Zhu Yujie playing Jiang Zhongzheng and Liu Yimin to enjoy Jinling City." Storytellers will make it into a record book and sing it everywhere. ”

Seeing that everyone was in a good mood, Zhou En said: "Comrade Liu Yimin, I have something to ask you, where is Ni Hua, the female doctor who operated on you, now?" ”

Liu Yimin hurriedly said: "Report to Vice Chairman Zhou, Ni Hua is now in the field hospital of our legion. ”

Zhou Enlai said again: "Do you know her identity and background? ”

Liu Yimin replied: "Report to Vice Chairman Zhou, I asked her and know a little. ”

Zhou Enlai confessed: "You must ensure her safety." If she is leaving, escort to a safe place. You know what? ”

Liu Yimin immediately reported: "Please rest assured, Vice Chairman Zhou, I will guarantee her safety!" ”

Seeing that the time is not early, the troops may have already begun to set off, and Liu Yimin and Luo Ronghuan said goodbye to the leaders.

Zhou Enlai confessed to Luo Ronghuan: "Comrade Ronghuan, you have to be responsible for the party." Be optimistic about Comrade Liu Yimin and must not let him get into danger. ”

Luo Ronghuan solemnly saluted: "Please rest assured Vice Chairman Zhou and the Central Committee, I will definitely complete the task!" ”

After coming out of the headquarters, it was already dark, and every household in Deyang City was lit with lights. The lights flickered in the thick night, giving the ancient city a layer of mystery and a touch of tranquility.

After Liu Yimin and Luo Ronghuan returned to the corps headquarters, Cai Zhong and Feng Dafei had already arranged everything, and the troops directly under the legion had also set off, leaving only the cadres of the guard battalion and the corps headquarters waiting in line.

Liu Yimin called Wu Zheng and Zhang Yicheng, who were waiting in the courtyard to say goodbye, into the house and told them that they could not go to Mianyang, because the Red First and Ninth Army Corps would not occupy Mianyang, and they would encircle but not take it, in order to attract enemy reinforcements. Tomorrow night, be sure to set off, camp near Mianyang, advance to Tongzi the night after tomorrow, camp in the north of Tongzi, enter the Sword Pavilion in concealment the night after tomorrow, camp in the north of the Sword Pavilion, and wait for orders. As soon as the main battle is over, it immediately converges with the main force. When camping, the village must be closed, martial law must be imposed, positions must be constructed, and a warning post at least 10 miles away must be released to strictly prevent the enemy from sneaking attack, and there must be no accidents. In case the enemy situation is discovered, it is necessary to hold on to asking for help, and the main force will send troops to rush to help. You can also ask for help from the 1st and 9th Legions. In a word, be sure to be safe.

Wu Zheng smiled and said, "You can go with confidence, if there is really an enemy coming, the soldiers of the new regiment will come in handy." Watching the main force go to battle, the cadres of the new regiment were about to drip blood. ”

Liu Yimin shook hands with Wu Zheng and Zhang Yicheng: "The journey is smooth, we'll see you in the Sword Pavilion!" Then he turned and walked out of the house, glanced at the procession, said "go," and mounted his horse and walked toward the gate.

(To be continued)