Courtyard House: I Rely on Time-Space Trade to Build a Nation

December 6, 1948, early morning, the 12st Armored Division's base.

The urgent beeping of telegram decoding echoed in the division's communications center. The duty officer glanced at the translated message, then grabbed the phone, his voice trembling slightly with excitement: "Receive the division commander! Urgent military intelligence!"

When Zhao Pingan, Lao Xu, Zhao Dongliang, Zhou Liang and others gathered in the operations room, the large map of North China on the wall had been updated with striking red and blue arrows by the staff officer.

"Breaking news!" Old Xu, who was on duty, was the first to know the news, so he started explaining.

"With the end of the Liaoshen Campaign and the entry of the Northeast Field Army into the pass, Fu Zuoyi could no longer sit still."

Guo Jingyun's elite 35th Army, his direct subordinate unit, had been ordered to move from Fengtai to Zhangjiakou to provide reinforcements several days ago.

However, they encountered fierce resistance from the Third Army Corps of North China during their advance.

Meanwhile, Fu Zuoyi received news from Nanjing that a batch of new American-aided equipment was about to arrive in Beiping.

He feared the 35th Army might be annihilated while out there, yet he was also eager to have this trusted force return to re-equip and maintain appearances. Therefore, he urgently telegraphed the army early this morning to withdraw to Beiping immediately!

Old Xu's pointer struck a pivotal point on the map: "The only way for the 35th Army to retreat—Xinbao'an."

There is a railway and a highway here, which are key to locking down this force of more than 20,000 people.

The Military Commission judged that Fu Zuoyi's move was intended to consolidate his forces and hold the line in Beijing and Tianjin. "We absolutely cannot allow the 35th Army, this 'tiger,' to return to its cage!"

Zhao Dongliang stared at the map, took the staff officer's analysis, and said in a deep voice:

"The Third Army Corps of North China is pursuing and chasing, but its current strength is insufficient to annihilate the enemy in open field battles."

Normally, the Second Army Corps of North China should be urgently deployed to the vicinity to construct blocking positions in the Xinbao'an area.

Then the two army corps joined forces and annihilated the 35th Army!

"That's the usual procedure," Zhao Ping'an changed the subject, pointing to the Central Military Commission's instructions.

"But the Central Military Commission gave us a chance." He took the order telegram and read it aloud.

"Order: The newly formed 1st Armored Division shall immediately depart from its current location and move to the new security area at the fastest speed."

The mission was to catch up with the vanguard of the Second Army Corps of North China, which had been ordered to advance urgently to the area, and to coordinate with them to block the enemy's 35th Army in the Xinbaoan area.

On December 8th, a surprise attack was launched against the enemy's 12th Army in Xinbao'an, aiming to annihilate a portion of it, slow its retreat, and create conditions for the main force to encircle it.

After Zhao Pingan finished reading the order, the operations room fell silent, and then a strong fighting spirit erupted.

Everyone understood the weight of those few lines—this was the first real-world test of this brand-new unit and its new tactics!

At a critical moment when the Huaihai and Pingjin campaigns were being conducted simultaneously, the Central Military Commission selected this "experimental" unit for a blocking mission.

Its intention to "verify" and "demonstrate" is self-evident.

"Time is of the essence!" Zhao Ping'an strode to the map, his finger sweeping from the base to the new security guards.

"Our base is about 150 kilometers away from the new Bao'an area."

The Central Military Commission required us to catch up with the vanguard of the Second Army Corps of North China, which was rushing to its destination, and complete the operational coordination by the afternoon of December 7.

And on December 8th, the attack was launched precisely on time!

Zhao Ping'an's gaze swept over the key commanders: "This means we have less than thirty hours left to maneuver. This is an extreme test of our mobility, command efficiency, and combat capabilities!"

"Commander, give the order!" Zhou Liang was the first to stand up, rubbing his hands together in anticipation.

"Alright!" Zhao Ping'an no longer hesitated and decisively issued the operational order: "This operation, based on the characteristics of our division's organization, will be carried out in echelons and with different tasks assigned!"

"First echelon: Light Motorized Infantry Brigade, Brigade Commander Zhou Liang!" Zhao Ping'an looked at Zhou Liang.

"arrive!"

"Your mission is: the entire brigade to immediately begin final battle preparations, and depart first one hour later!"

Abandoning all unnecessary baggage, the entire crew traveled light, relying on the mechanized mobility of jeeps and trucks to rush straight to New Security at top speed!

Your objective is to reach the outskirts of New Bao'an by midnight on December 7th, seize or completely destroy New Bao'an Railway Station and key railway sections in the surrounding area, and control nearby highway passes.

Your core mission is simple: block the 35th Army's escape route eastward along the railway line, pinning them down like nails in Xinbao'an! Any questions?

"Mission accomplished!" Zhou Liang straightened his back, his eyes gleaming. "Even if the train falls apart, we will not let a single soldier of the 35th Army slip across the railway!"

"Second echelon: Mechanized brigade, Brigade Commander He Jun," Zhao Ping'an continued, calling out names.

"Present!" He Jun was a newly promoted brigade commander, but he had participated in many battles and had risen through the ranks. Therefore, he surpassed Wang Dahai and Wang Dashan, two newly promoted regimental commanders, to become the brigade commander of this mechanized brigade.

"Follow up one hour after the light motorcycle brigade departs. The division command and I will depart with you. Our mission is to advance in combat marching posture, and after Zhou Liang's brigade opens up the situation and pins down the enemy, quickly engage the enemy, establish a solid blocking line with the support of the vanguard of the Second Army Corps of North China, and prepare for the first assault on the enemy who has not yet established a firm foothold."

"Yes, mission accomplished!" He Jun replied loudly.

"Third echelon: Heavy Assault Brigade, Commander Zhao Dongliang!" Zhao Ping'an looked at his elder brother.

"Here!" Zhao Liangdong stood ramrod straight.

"Your 'iron lumps' are the heaviest and consume the most fuel. As the assault force of the entire division, you will depart after the mechanized brigade. You must maintain the integrity of your marching column and remain as concealed as possible. After arriving in the combat zone, you must not expose yourselves too early. Only after the enemy and our situation is clear and I give the order can you move into the designated attack positions."

"yes!"

"The fourth echelon: the logistics support column and the division's directly subordinate units, under the unified command of Comrade Xu Yuanshan." Zhao Ping'an finally looked at Old Xu.

"You will carry the division's main fuel, ammunition, spare parts, and maintenance personnel, advancing in stages to establish forward supply points. Your stability is the guarantee that the first three punches can be delivered and withdrawn!"

"Yes, I guarantee I'll complete the mission!" Old Xu nodded in agreement.

The tasks have been clearly assigned, and time is of the essence.

Zhao Ping'an looked around at everyone one last time: "Comrades, this is the first battle since the establishment of my newly formed First Armored Division!"

The leaders of the Central Military Commission are watching us, our brother units are watching us, and history is watching us!

We must prove with this battle that our army, armed with new ideas and new equipment, can not only win, but win decisively, win swiftly, and win the complete respect of all sides! Now, prepare yourselves and move out immediately!

"Yes!" The crowd responded in unison and quickly dispersed.

Just an hour later, the roar of engines filled the air at the base.

Zhou Liang's light motorized infantry brigade was the first to move. Jeeps, light trucks equipped with machine guns, and vehicles carrying 107mm rocket launchers and mortars formed a massive steel torrent, kicking up clouds of dust, and sped towards Xinbao'an in the northwest like arrows.

Although the soldiers on the vehicle had serious expressions, their eyes were filled with excitement and determination.

Two hours after the meeting concluded, an even larger mechanized brigade, led by He Jun, set off. Wheeled armored vehicles, Dongfeng trucks loaded with infantry, truck-towed 122mm howitzers…

This team appeared more substantial, moving with a steady and powerful force.

Zhao Ping'an led the division command, along with the guard regiment and the supporting artillery regiment, and they also set off.

Following them was Zhao Dongliang's heavy brigade, whose deep, powerful roar of 100 Type 59 tanks shook the earth, followed closely by 150 second-hand BTR-80 tanks, embarking on their journey under the cover of dawn.

Old Xu then began to nervously coordinate the final logistics vehicle assembly.

The entire 1st Armored Division, like a sophisticated and massive war machine, began operating at high speed under the impetus of urgent orders, advancing towards the designated battlefield.