In the summer of 1941, the Japanese army carried out a "great sweep" of the Yancheng and Funing areas in northern Jiangsu, and the tactics were still the usual technique of combined attack, with nanpu Xiangji, the commander of the independent 12th Mixed Brigade, as the former enemy commander.
In mid-July, the Japanese army "swept" the second sub-district of central Jiangsu and the first "swept" the central area of the fourth sub-district of central Jiangsu. Only for the three divisions, neither the increase in troops nor the action was observed.
Why?
This situation attracted the attention of Ye Fei, commander of the 1st Brigade of the 1st Division of the New Fourth Army. After analysis and reflection, he believes that there are two possibilities:
First, the Japanese army "comprehensively swept up" the Soviet Union and Central China, and the strength of the troops was insufficient, and it could only be concentrated in the second and fourth sub-districts, and the so-called "great sweep" was just a propaganda offensive.
Second, the target of Nanpu was not the second and fourth sub-districts of the Soviet Union, but to show the form of the south and attack the north, with the intention of using troops to the north to attack the headquarters of the New Fourth Army.
Moreover, Ye Fei thought that it was most likely the latter, so he firmly grasped the main force at hand.
Sure enough, as he expected, Nanpu Xiangji commanded more than 17,000 Japanese puppet troops, poured out of the nest, and the soldiers were dispatched at the same time on July 20, attacking Yancheng, and occupied Yancheng on the same day. The 3rd Division of the New Fourth Army in Yanfu District jumped out of the periphery. However, the military organs, especially other rear organs, are still in the encirclement, and the situation is very urgent.
At this time, the Kuomintang diehard Han Deloitte also sent troops to attack Yilin, trapping the New Fourth Army in the position of being attacked in the abdomen.
The military department is in a hurry, and the whole army is anxious. Because the military department is a big organ after all, it is not very adapted to the guerrilla environment, and it is a bit awkward. Ye Fei was worried. If the old military department loses the Kuomintang and the new military department suffers losses again, it will be a big problem! What to do? However, he was hundreds of miles away from the military headquarters and could not support the military headquarters. He believes that the best way is to "encircle Wei and save Zhao" - to attack the enemy's pseudo stronghold of Guxi.
Why hit Guxi? First, There is only one regiment of the puppet army in Guxi, with about 1,000 people. Second, it is close to the Yellow Bridge, which can touch the devils and may make the Japanese army return to reinforcements. Therefore, Ye Fei ordered preparations for battle and sent a telegram to the military headquarters and division headquarters.
Who knew the re-telegram of the division headquarters, but did not agree with Ye Fei's attack on Guxi, on the grounds that the attack was unfavorable, vulnerable to heavy casualties, and it might not be able to capture it, and it might not be able to get the Japanese army back to help.
This is a good idea, the division headquarters actually disagreed!
Ye Fei suddenly felt tremendous pressure, but the military department was in danger, and he could not help but save it, he wanted to save the military department, the road was far away, even if he could rush there, it was too late, and the troops were not enough! Ye Fei thought twice and ordered his regimental commander and political commissar to be summoned for a meeting to study.
However, the opinions of the subordinates were different, and they all finally said: "Fight or not fight?" Or listen to the brigadier general. The ball was still kicked to Ye Fei.
Ye Fei said: "It is very clear whether to fight or not, the question is whether it can be fought, whether it can be beaten or not!" ”
At this moment, his men became active, and the crowd said: "They are all puppet soldiers, afraid of something, they will definitely fight down, no problem!" ”
"No problem," Ye Fei said, "then fight!" As long as it is fought, there is no disobedience. ”
"Fight! Don't be afraid to get on the board! "The crowd took a stand.
Therefore, Ye Fei decisively issued the order to start a war.
As a result, as soon as the battle began, it was indeed a breakthrough in one fell swoop, and the battle was resolved in two hours, completely annihilating a regiment of the puppet army, and the puppet army leader fell into the water and was killed when he fled. The 1st Brigade suffered fewer than 100 casualties.
Ye Fei's disobedience was successful!
Therefore, he continued to sweep the rear of the Japanese army and chased after the city of Taixing. At this time, if the Japanese army did not return to help, even the location of the rear headquarters would fall into the hands of Ye Fei!
Nanpu could no longer care about annihilating the New Fourth Army, and hurriedly led his troops to rescue Taixing City. When the main force of the Japanese army was still half a day away from Taizhou City, Ye Fei ordered the evacuation of the siege of Taizhou, and Nanpu rushed over and pounced.
The danger of the New Fourth Army headquarters was thus defused by Ye Fei.