The Flames of Resistance Against Japan in Jiangnan

Liang Guanyin, the commander-in-chief of the White Army's anti-communist campaign in Hubei, Henan and Anhui, originally intended to deploy a large force in Qianshan and Yingshan to annihilate the main force of the Red Army in one fell swoop. However, after months of exhausting and costly pursuit, they finally discovered the main force of the Red Army and prepared to immediately tighten the encirclement to completely destroy it. But unexpectedly, the main force of the Red Army slipped out from under their noses overnight and disappeared without a trace.

The pursuing troops quickly telegraphed this news to Liang Guanyin. Liang Guanyin was furious. She slammed her hand on the table, tore the telegram to shreds, and plopped down in a chair, panting heavily.

After a long while, Liang Guanyin stood up from his chair in frustration. He shook his head, stood quietly beside the map, stared at it for a long time, his mind still blank, still unable to figure out where the main force of the Red Army had gone.

"Pass on my order: immediately telegraph the 25th Route Army to intensify the construction of fortifications in the Yingluo, Lihuo, Xiqi, and Huang areas. Even if it means trapping the Red Army, we must trap them to death in the mountains. Order the Independent 15th Brigade to continue pursuing the main force of the Communist bandits at the junction of Huoyingqian County. Do not fail to do so!"

"Yes!"

The adjutant quickly sent a telegram.

For a time, the White Army's garrison searched everywhere for laborers and worked day and night to repair the bunkers and fortifications. In less than a month, they built more than 3800 bunkers in the area, spanning more than 1000 kilometers.

White Army soldiers would seize anyone they saw, regardless of gender, and force them to build fortifications. White Army soldiers would stand around them, and if they were negligent in the slightest, they would be severely beaten with leather whips.

Almost every intersection and every larger village had a bunker built. The bunkers were guarded by more than 20 people, and even the ones with fewer than 10 people were guarded. Patrols were also specially stationed around the bunkers.

The dense network of bunkers and the constant patrols day and night severely hampered the Red Army's operations.

Before they knew it, it was deep winter again, and the weather was getting colder day by day. Fang Shuihua led the main force of the 28th Red Army, but their activities in northwestern Anhui were thwarted. They had no choice but to break through the encirclement and return to Qichun County to join Cao Wenting, who was fighting there.

This time, the 28th Red Army fought on the border of Hubei and Anhui for two months. Although it annihilated hundreds of enemy troops, the army also suffered more than 200 casualties, which can be described as a major blow to its strength.

Cao Wenting had just recovered from his illness and still seemed weak and listless. Seeing Fang Shuihua return, he didn't show any unusual excitement, but instead said indifferently:

"Let's have a short meeting today and discuss this carefully before making a decision!"

The next day, Cao Wenting convened a meeting of officers above the battalion level in the 28th Red Army at Sanjiaoshan in Qichun.

The meeting summarized the experience of the previous phase of guerrilla warfare, analyzed the advantages and disadvantages, and assessed the situation. Cao Wenting said at the meeting:

"Comrades, for more than a year, our 28th Red Army has mainly relied on 'ambush warfare' to tie down a large number of enemy troops. In the course of flanking maneuvers, we have also adopted the strategy of striking the enemy with a counterattack, long-distance raids, and clever tactics of disguise. We have achieved significant results in our struggle and have initially formed a policy and strategy for fighting the enemy. We must continue to develop this experience..."

During the meeting, while discussing plans for further troop operations, Cao Wenting suddenly said:

“We have been fighting in western Anhui for more than a year, and we know nothing about the situation in northeastern Hubei. I have decided to take a small detachment to northeastern Hubei to take a look. What do you all think?”

When Cao Wenting said this, everyone stared at him in astonishment, their faces full of confusion and bewilderment. They knew that at this moment, the sudden departure of the main leader of the 28th Red Army could mean something serious, and if not handled properly, the consequences could be quite severe.

"Commander, you absolutely cannot leave us now!"

"Commander, you can't abandon us!"

Cao Wenting looked at everyone and said:

"Northeast Hubei and western Anhui were originally one entity. To carry out the revolutionary struggle in western Anhui well, northeast Hubei must not be lost. I am going there to inspect the work. I did not say I would not come back. My purpose in going there is to strengthen the local party organization and leadership in northeast Hubei. After the inspection, I will come back immediately. During the period after I leave, all military and political affairs of the 28th Red Army will be fully handled by Political Commissar Fang Shuihua!"

"After Political Commissar Gao left, I wonder when he will return?"

Fang Shuihua still asked a question.

"I'm just going to check on some work; I'll be back soon, no more than two months!"

"I hope Political Commissar Gao will return soon!"

Fang Shuihua finally asked for instructions.

"Of course, I'll leave things here to you. If there's anything urgent, just send someone to northeastern Hubei to let me know as soon as possible!"

Fang Shuihua nodded.

People were still discussing it, still not understanding or agreeing with Cao Wenting's actions. Seeing Cao Wenting's firm attitude, they did not want to openly express their opposition.

After the meeting, Cao Wenting led pistol squad leader Gu Shiduo and Chen Wendong, along with more than 100 soldiers, on a journey that took them day and night to northeastern Hubei...

Fang Shuihua led the 244th Regiment, the Special Service Battalion, and two other detachments of the Pistol Regiment to continue guerrilla warfare in the dense forests of Huangmei, Qichun, Xishui, Huanggang Susong, and Taihu.

Leaving aside the activities of the 28th Red Army in western Anhui, let's discuss the revolutionary struggle situation in northeastern Hubei.

Since the 25th Red Army's westward expedition and Fang Shuihua's more than 300-strong Northeast Hubei Independent Regiment marched eastward into western Anhui, the revolutionary struggle in Northeast Hubei became increasingly severe day by day. Many revolutionary masses, revolutionary cadres, and wounded and sick Red Army soldiers were captured and killed; some Red Army cadres' families were sold off by the Kuomintang army to other places. The Northeast Hubei base area was under a state of white terror. Under the leadership of Xiong Xianchun, the newly formed Northeast Hubei Independent Regiment had no choice but to seek survival and development in the White areas.

At the beginning of the year, Wang Xiaoming, a high-ranking official in the district, and Dong Wendong, a member of the district committee, were arrested and imprisoned by the White Army on their way back from a meeting in Huangyangzhai due to betrayal by a traitor. They refused to surrender and were later killed by the White Army, sacrificing their lives gloriously.

The work of the Northeast Hubei Regional Committee was once paralyzed.

After Lu Chongzhu, a high-ranking official in Guangshan County, succeeded Lu Chongzhu as a high-ranking official in the district, he led the plainclothes team in the base area and the Northeast Hubei Independent Regiment to avoid the enemy's sharp edge and seek opportunities to annihilate the enemy, thus initially opening up a new situation in the guerrilla war in Northeast Hubei.

However, not long afterward, the Beixiaobei County Committee and the Hekou County Committee were also severely damaged by the enemy.

Huang Xianyun, a high-ranking official in Beixiaobei County, was arrested and killed. The county party committee offices in Hekou County were raided. Dong Zhixing, a high-ranking official in the county, had no choice but to lead some guerrillas, including Qian Yunhua and Qian Yunyan, to the mountains around Xianjuding and Pengchendian to fight as guerrillas.

He Yaobang, Zhu Zhongcai, Zhang Tiansheng, Zhang Yikuan and other plainclothes officers from Xuanhuadian continued to wage guerrilla warfare in the Laojun Mountain area, and sometimes went south to the Xianju Peak area to carry out activities, constantly harassing the enemy.