Rebirth from the Ashes: Rebuilding the Red Soviet Area

January 28, 1936, the 1th day of the twelfth lunar month, the traditional Southern New Year's Eve

The temperature in Fujian also dropped to around 10 degrees, and some places in the mountainous areas began to freeze.

But it can't stop every household from busying themselves with worshiping the kitchen god and cleaning the house.

Some large families have red lanterns hung at the gate, and everyone enters the ancestral hall to pay homage to their ancestors.

This is people's hope for the coming year.

Jishan, less than 5 kilometers away from Yong'an Center, is in stark contrast to the bustling city of the county.

very quiet

Who would have thought that there would be a hidden army here?

"Mason, is your artillery battalion ready?"

"I'm still worried about you"

This is where Zhao Wu and the stonemason

Ever since Li Yan issued the order to attack Yong'an

Everyone waited until Song Tao contacted the 19th Route Army inside Yongan before determining the specific combat strategy.

After thousands of days of preparation, they finally launched the attack on the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month.

Li Yan divided the troops attacking Yong'an into two groups

Starting from Hongtian Town, we ambushed at Jishan, southwest of Yongan.

There are two main battalions of Zhao Wu's regiment, Song Tao's special forces battalion and Shi Jiang's heavy artillery battalion and mortar battalion, responsible for the frontal feint attack

Li Yan led two battalions of the Sushan Fourth Regiment and the Longxue Special Operations Brigade to bypass Xiyang Town and arrive at Taoyuan Cave in the northeast of Yong'an to join the guerrillas there.

Once Zhao Wu and his men launch an attack, attract the enemy's attention

The 19th Route Army in Yong'an County will take the opportunity to open the eastern gate

Li Yan took the opportunity to rush into Yong'an County

Time passed by, and the sky began to darken.

Li Yan looked at his watch and stared at the west

"Boom" "Boom" "Boom"

The continuous explosions were deafening

Li Yan frowned: "The stonemasons' artillery opened fire."

"Su Shan asked the soldiers to be ready"

In Yong'an City

The 83rd Division Headquarters was in chaos.

Since the commander and deputy commander of the 83rd Division and the commander of the 247th Brigade were captured, and the chief of staff was killed in action,

The 83rd Division had almost no senior leadership, and the Nationalist Army Central Committee could not find a suitable replacement for the time being.

暂时任命249旅陈旅长暂代83师师长，原497团梅平任249旅旅长，原498团宋副团长任命247旅长，重建247旅

The commander of the 83rd Division, Chen, said angrily: "It's only been a short time."

"Why is someone attacking Yong'an again?"

Commander Song of the 247th Brigade was also puzzled: "Hasn't the 19th Route Army been completely purged?"

“Where did this person come from?”

Mei Ping thought for a moment and said, "It seems we guessed wrong. The two attackers were probably the Red Army from Meishan."

“We underestimated the opponent’s strength.”

Commander Chen of the 83rd Division asked, "Are you saying that the last time our division headquarters and the 247th Brigade were annihilated, it was the Red Army from Meishan?"

Brigade Commander Song said in disbelief, "How could it be?"

"When we first fought the Meishan Red Army, they didn't have such powerful artillery."

"Besides, although we lost nearly two regiments of troops, we also captured the Red Army's stronghold and they suffered heavy losses."

"How could they defeat our elite divisional troops and the 247th Brigade in just a few months?"

"There is still enough strength to attack Yong'an"

"Could they be heavenly soldiers and generals?"

Mei Ping shook his head: "I don't know if they are heavenly soldiers or generals."

"But they were able to attack Yong'an without us noticing."

"Only the Meishan Red Army, which is closest to us, has this possibility."

Commander Chen nodded: "This is the only explanation that makes sense."

Mei Ping continued, "Now the entire southwestern Fujian region, the former 19th Route Army has been cleaned up."

"Only the remnants of the Red Army were left: the Fujian-West Military Sub-district, the Fujian-Guangdong Border Military Sub-district, and the Meishan Red Army."

"After our repeated encirclement and suppression, only less than 2,000 people were left in the Western Fujian Military Sub-district and the Fujian-Guangdong Border Military Sub-district."

"We also squeezed it to the vicinity of Maozi Mountain south of Yongding"

"They are short of food and ammunition. Even the nearby security groups don't dare to provoke them easily."

"How could they have the time to come to Yongding to attack us?"

"Besides, they have to go through Longyan and Zhangping along the way, so it's not that easy.

"Even now I suspect that the Red Army from Meishan was the one causing the commotion in Zhangzhou."

Brigadier General Song took a deep breath and said, "If that's the case, how many troops does the Meishan Red Army have?"

"Our 83rd Division is not yet fully staffed, and its weapons and equipment are not yet fully in place."

"More than half of the soldiers have only trained for more than three months."

"The firepower outside is even stronger than last time. They are here with ill intentions."

"Commander, let's retreat."

Commander Chen's face was full of worry

I just got the position of commander of the 83rd Division through my cousin.

If I lose Yongan now, my career will be over, and I may even have to go to court-martial.

Thinking of this, Commander Chen said loudly: "No!"

"Mei Ping, go send a telegram to the Longyan Command Headquarters right now!"

"Just say we are under siege by tens of thousands of Red Army soldiers and it is extremely urgent. Please request immediate reinforcements from headquarters."

Mei Ping turned around and was about to leave after hearing this.

Commander Chen quickly shouted: "Wait!"

"Please note at the end of the telegram that our 83rd Division will defend Yong'an even if there is only one soldier left."

At this time, Division Commander Chen had already thought of retreating. The 83rd Brigade was so powerful that the 247th Brigade was annihilated by the Meishan Red Army. How could he have the strength to fight against the enemy?

The last sentence was just an excuse for the subsequent loss of Yongan.

This is not a crime of war

Longyan Nationalist Army Command Headquarters

The Chief of General Staff said: "Commander-in-Chief Li, the 83rd Division has sent urgent telegrams three times."

"Yong'an County was surrounded by tens of thousands of Red Army troops. The 83rd Division suffered heavy losses. Yong'an County was already in danger."

“They asked us when we could send troops.”

Commander Li's face turned pale: "It's the 83rd Division again!"

"Last time, we cleaned out the 52nd Division because of their urgent call."

"This has caused us to have constant conflicts with local forces."

"We also need to allocate some troops to take over the defense of Shanghang."

"Now they say Yong'an is under siege and there are tens of thousands of Red Army soldiers."

"This is bullshit. Where did the Red Army get so many people?"

"If the Red Army was so powerful, why didn't they attack Longyan and Zhangping, so as to open up contact with the Minxi Military Sub-district?"

"I think he is lying about military intelligence."

The Chief of Staff of the Fujian West Bandit Suppression Headquarters said worriedly: "Commander Li, Yong'an is under our jurisdiction."

"Also, the newly appointed commander of the 83rd Division, Chen, is the cousin of Commissioner Chen from one of the four most trusted families of the old man."

"If we do nothing to help, once Yongan falls..."

"It's not as simple as losing the city. We're just worried that the Chen family will take advantage of us."

“We can’t afford to offend”

Commander-in-Chief Li was in a dilemma: "The situation in southwestern Fujian is complicated now. We just lost a heavy artillery regiment and a flying squadron in Zhangzhou."

“Local forces are now ready to make moves again.”

"Our troops are everywhere maintaining local order"

“There aren’t enough people.”

"What if we support Yong'an and the Red Army in southwestern Fujian takes advantage of the situation?"

“We are attacked from all sides.”

The Chief of General Staff thought for a moment and said, "The Commander-in-Chief is not as good as us."

......