In the summer of 1947, 15 regular brigades besieged and eliminated Yan Xishan in Shanxi, liberated Shanxi, and put it on the plausibus combat schedule of the People's Liberation Army. This responsibility fell on Xu Xiangqian.
At this time, the enemy of Shanxi was already surrounded on all sides of the Liberated Areas. However, with superior equipment, they occupied important cities along the railway line and some counties in Central Jin, and continued to be enemies of the people. Among them, Yuncheng is located at the southwest end of the mountain, which is a place where soldiers must fight. It strangles the Longhai Railway in the south, tongguan to the north and the Yellow River ferry, and north to the "Woniu City" Linfen. By capturing Yuncheng, the People's Liberation Army sealed the gateway to southern Jin, and was able to relieve Chen Xie's army's worries about attacking eastern Shaanxi from western Henan, and cut off the passage for the enemy in Shanxi to flee south, which was also greatly beneficial to containing Hu Zong's southern part of Weibei and cooperating with the Northwest Field Army. Therefore, Xu Xiangqian decided to attack Yuncheng again, temper his troops in siege operations, and explore experience for the liberation of the whole territory of Shanxi.
Yuncheng defended more than 10,000 enemies, consisting of a regiment of the 36th and 17th Divisions of the Kuomintang Army, a regiment of the 6th Automobile Regiment, the 5th Regiment, the 11th Regiment and other miscellaneous armies of Yan Xishan's security forces, and built a solid defense system. The walls of Yuncheng are strong, and the open and dark forts are dotted with dots, forming a crossfire network. In order to hold on for a long time, the defenders also stockpiled a large amount of food and ammunition, and vowed to fight the People's Liberation Army to the end.
In May, the Taiyue forces attacked the city once, and after a fierce battle, occupied the airfield, Xiguan and Beitou, but the more difficult it was to fight inward, because the troops had to carry out the task of advancing south, they took the initiative to withdraw and move in. After four months, in late September, Xu Qianqian organized and formulated the second deployment for the attack on Yuncheng: with Wang Xinting's sixth column and The Taiyue Corps as the main attack; with one force deployed on the main road between Linfen and Yuncheng, to prevent the enemy from reinforcing from the south, and with another force to control the Yellow River crossings such as Sanmenxia, Maojindu, and Fenglingdu, to block Hu Zongnan's reinforcements.
On October 5, Xu Xiangqian sent an urgent telegram to Wang Xinting and Zhang Zuyu of the Eighth Column, pointing out: "As long as you are sure to capture Yuncheng, it is worth paying a thousand people or even more." You must not have any concerns about time and enemy situation, concentrate on the unified siege of the city, fully carry out the work of soil work, and inspire the whole army to fight bravely and make meritorious contributions to the people. Laying down Yuncheng not only solves the financial and economic problems in our region, but also is a major exercise for the Eight Verticals, especially to seize a large number of weapons and equipment for themselves. You are equipped with several field guns and slotted guns, and if there are not enough shells, you intend to send one to you immediately. ”
Xu Xiangqian's determination is great.
On October 8, the eight vertical defenders of yuncheng launched an attack on the enemy's positions on the outskirts of Yuncheng.
The second attack on Yuncheng began.
After a week of fierce fighting, the Eight Columns cleared the enemy's outlying strongholds, the Yuncheng defenders were already surrounded, and the enemy radio telegrams asking for help were sent one after another. Hu Zongnan knew very well that the loss of Yuncheng would also be extremely unfavorable to him, and his lips were cold and cold, so he sent 4 brigades of Zhong Song's division to cross the Yellow River from the Sanmenxia area to the north, and 100,000 people rushed to reinforce Yuncheng. The PLA reinforcements were unable to stop the enemy, so Xu Xiangqian had no choice but to urgently order the main force of the siege to withdraw and drive to the Pinglu area to provide reinforcements.
However, Zhong Songyi still broke through the defense line of the People's Liberation Army and sneaked into Yuncheng.
Xu Xiangqian said: "It is extremely unfavorable to me to continue to fight hard. "I had to cancel the siege plan for the time being."
The second attack on Yuncheng was still not ideal, and morale was greatly affected.
Xu Xiangqian said: "The leadership will assume the main responsibility, and everyone will step up training and actively prepare for the third attack on Yuncheng." ”
In early December, Xu Xiangqian prepared for a third attack on Yuncheng.
It just so happened that Wang Zhen led the northwest second column through Jinnan to rest. Xu Xiangqian took a fancy to this fresh force and invited Wang Zhen to discuss attacking Yuncheng together. Wang Zhen had a bold personality, and when he heard about the attack on Yuncheng, he laughed and said, "Okay! ”
Xu Xiangqian immediately reported the case to the Central Committee for approval.
As a result, Wang Zhen's column was deployed on the north bank of the Yellow River, responsible for blocking Hu Zongnan's 4 brigades and a cavalry regiment on the south bank of the Yellow River, ensuring that the enemy in Henan did not dare to cross north.
On the night of December 16, it was snowing heavily and the wind was chilling. Suddenly, under Xu Xiangqian's order, the third great battle against Yuncheng began.
Yuncheng was defended by Hu Zongnan and the main force of Yan Xishan, as well as some miscellaneous stubborns, a total of 1. More than 30,000 people. The PLA had limited artillery shells, and soldiers carried explosive packs to blast again and again. The siege forces braved the snow to break through the fort and swept through the outlying strongholds.
After a week of siege, the four defensive positions of the defending enemy were destroyed. In order to survive, the remnants of the enemy left their positions and fled into the city.
At this time, Hu Zongnan's four brigades gathered on the south bank of the Yellow River in an attempt to repeat the "good play" of crossing the river for reinforcements. If Xu Xiangqian did not quickly capture Yuncheng and completely annihilate the enemy, once the Hu enemy came to the aid of the north, the battlefield might lose its achievements again. On the 24th, the participating troops launched a fierce attack, fierce fighting for two days and two nights, and failed to break the city.
Xu Xiangqian said to Wang Xinting: "There is a bloody tug-of-war, and whoever persists until the end is the winner." I order you, hold on for the last five minutes, and be sure to take down Yuncheng! ”
Wang Xinting replied firmly, "Yes! Be sure to take down Yuncheng! ”
At dusk on the 27th, the 8th Column 23rd Brigade organized a demolition team and blasted with 3,000 kilograms of explosives, and with a heart-rending explosion, the north city was blown open by a large gap, and the commandos poured into the city like a tide. The west of the city was also broken through by the troops commanded by Wang Zhen. The enemy was in a panic, some stubbornly resisting, and some hiding to save their lives. After a night of street fighting, more than 10,000 defenders were completely annihilated, and Yuncheng was finally taken down by Xu Xiangqian. After the war, Mr. Zhu said:
"Xu Qiangqian's technique of attacking strong points cannot be stopped by Yan Xishan, and Hu Zongnan cannot be stopped, and no one can be defeated!"