Have you ever heard the story of how the People's Liberation Army (PLA) cracked down on bandits? That was in 1950, and not long after the liberation of the country, bandits were everywhere, and the people were struggling to make a living. In particular, in the Qinlian area of Guangdong, bandits ran rampant and domineering, colluding with the remnants of the Kuomintang forces, and turning the local area upside down. At that time, the 43rd Route Army of the People's Liberation Army received an order to eliminate these scourges in one fell swoop. However, the climax of the story came, when the troops marched to a certain village, a group of villagers held red flags, beat gongs and drums to warmly welcome. Let's uncover the story behind this.
Back to that turbulent era, at the beginning of the founding of New China, although the overall situation had been decided, the bandits in various places had not been completely quelled. Especially in Guangdong Province, according to incomplete statistics, there are more than 450 bandit forces, with more than 30,000 members. These people were more or less petty in the past, and they were unwilling to submit to this, so they took up arms and continued to dominate in the remote mountainous areas. Not only did they loot property, but they even colluded with the remnants of the Kuomintang to fight against the newly established people's government.
An important reason why these bandits are difficult to eradicate is the complexity of their geographical location. The Chinlian area is mountainous and inaccessible, and the bandits take advantage of the terrain to change places with one shot, making the government army defenseless. Moreover, the local government has just been established and its foundation is weak, so it is difficult to have enough strength to completely eradicate these forces.
It was at this time that the central government decided to exert its efforts to solve the problem in one fell swoop. The 127th Division of the 43rd Route Army was ordered to go to the Qinlian area of Guangdong to carry out the task of suppressing bandits. Division commander Wang Dongbao is an iron-blooded soldier, and as soon as he heard about this mission, he knew that this was not a simple battle, but a test of justice. He decided to adopt the tactic of encircling on three sides, attacking from three different directions, and striving to catch them all.
The soldiers of the 127th Division are rigorously trained, and their combat effectiveness should not be underestimated. The three regiments were the 379th, 380th and 381st regiments, each responsible for a different area. They were well aware that every minute of delay could lead to the loss of innocent people's lives and property, so they marched extremely fast and acted decisively.
Just as they were approaching their destination, that unforgettable scene appeared. A group of villagers, holding red flags and beating gongs and drums, warmly greeted the PLA. This kind of scene was rare during the war years, because everyone was living in dire straits, so how could they still be in the mood to beat gongs and drums? At this time, the company commander's intuition told him that there was something strange in this.
It turns out that these "welcoming" villagers are not simple. After investigation, the company commander found that some of these people were disguised as bandits. Their purpose is to confuse the public and take the opportunity to carry out a surprise attack on the PLA. If it weren't for the vigilance of the company commander, it might have brought considerable losses to the troops. This behavior shows the cunning and cruelty of the bandits, who even sacrifice the safety of the villagers to achieve their own goals.
After this discovery, the PLA acted more cautiously. They had to fight not only the bandits, but also try to avoid causing harm to innocent villagers. In this case, the difficulty of the battle has undoubtedly increased a lot. However, the soldiers of the People's Liberation Army did not flinch, and they had a firm belief in their hearts, that is, to protect the safety of people's lives and property and to safeguard the authority of the nascent people's government.
The battle soon began. The three regiments of the People's Liberation Army cooperated tacitly and launched an attack on the bandits' lair from different directions. Although the bandits were numerous, they gradually lost their previous arrogance under the strict tactics and firepower suppression of the PLA. The battle lasted for several hours, and most of the bandits were annihilated, and the few who escaped were captured one by one in the follow-up purge.
This battle is not only an ordinary military operation, but also a contest between good and evil. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) has used its actions to tell people that New China will not tolerate the existence of any forces that undermine peace and stability. This victory also greatly enhanced the prestige of the local government, allowing the people to truly feel the security and order brought by the new government.
But behind this battle, there is a deeper meaning. It is not only a material annihilation, but also a kind of appeasement and education of people's hearts. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) has not forgotten to educate the villagers in their ideological education, telling them the benefits of the new government, making them realize the true face of the bandits and strengthening their determination to support the new government.
The anti-bandit operation that took place in 1950 was not only a simple military operation, but also a far-reaching social reform. Through this operation, the PLA not only eliminated the factors of instability on the ground, but also strengthened the people's trust and support for the new government. It was a victory forged with blood and fire, but it brought us not only the cruelty of war, but also the dawn of peace and hope. Today, when we look back on this period of history, we should not only remember the smoke and battles, but also the heroes who worked tirelessly for peace. With their actions, they have won us a better today.