The people of the whole country know that during the breakthrough in the Central Plains, the First Brigade of the First Column under the command of Pi Dingjun created a miracle; they marched alone to the east, attracted the enemy, and with a tenacious spirit of sacrifice, they were desperate to survive, and they actually became the most complete iron-blooded division after the breakthrough.
So, what about later? Where did the fur brigade go afterwards? Everyone may not believe that as the leader of the leather brigade, Pi Dingjun actually left the old unit. The leather brigade of that year later embarked on a long journey again, thousands of miles to fight.
What's going on?
In August 1946, the leather brigade that arrived at the battlefield of central China changed its affiliation, it was originally subordinate to the Central Plains Military Region, and Li Xiannian of Gao Fengliangjie took the initiative to send instructions, saying that since the leather brigade had reached the central China region, it should be changed to the command of the Central China Field Army and break away from the affiliation with the former Central Plains Military Region.
The brigade was reorganized into the 13th Brigade of the Central China Field Army, and the brigade commander was still Pi Dingjun. Pi Dingjun took the 13th Brigade and engaged Zhang Lingfu's Seventy-fourth Division for the first time, although Pi Dingjun resisted stubbornly, but in the end Huaiyin was still occupied by Zhang Lingfu. In the first confrontation, it should be said that Pi Dingjun had the upper hand. However, it is not too late for a gentleman to take revenge.
By 1947, the East China Field Army was established, and the 13th Brigade was reorganized into an independent division, commanded by Ye Fei's first column, and the brigade commander was Fang Shengpu. Fang Shengpu was Pi Dingjun's fellow villager in Jinzhai, Anhui, and also the deputy brigade commander of the Pi Brigade and Pi Dingjun's deputy.
So, what about Pi Dingjun? He was reappointed deputy commander of the Sixth Column of the East China Field Army. The commander of the sixth column was Wang Bicheng, Pi Dingjun was in the sixth column, and the thirteenth brigade was in the first column, that is, Pi Dingjun left the old troops.
Pi Dingjun reluctantly left the unit that had been fighting for four years, tearfully bidding farewell to many old comrades who lived and died together. He deeply analyzed himself in the Japanese army, and in his new post, he should pay attention to correcting the many remnants of warlordism in itself.
Pi Dingjun left, and most of the generals of the Pi Brigade were still in this old unit. For example, Wang Chenghan and Guo Linxiang, who were appointed generals in 1988. Under the leadership of Fang Shengpu, they came from the East China Battlefield to the North China Battlefield, and the troops were reorganized into the 37th Brigade of the 13th Column of Luyu in Jinji, who was the brigade commander? Wang Chenghan.
(Wang Chenghan)
From Pi Dingjun, to Fang Shengpu, to Wang Chenghan, he became the leader of this ace force in turn. Soon, the 37th Brigade was transferred to the command of the North China Military Region, and Wang Chenghan became Xu Xiangqian's subordinate, participating in a series of battles to liberate Linfen, Jinzhong, and Taiyuan.
The Eighteenth Corps was formed, and the 37th Brigade was reorganized into the 181st Division, which was subordinate to the 61st Army, and Wang Chenghan was also the commander of the division. After the liberation of North China, Wang Chenghan led his troops non-stop and joined the northwest battlefield, under the command of Peng Lao, fighting against the "Erma" and Hu Zongnan.
When the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea broke out, both Pi Dingjun and Wang Chenghan entered the Korean War. However, Pi Dingjun was the commander of the 24th Army, while Wang Chenghan was the commander of the 181st Division. In 1955, they were all planning to be awarded major generals, but Pi Dingjun was promoted by the chairman to lieutenant general, Wang Chenghan was a major general, and 33 years later, Wang Chenghan was awarded the title of general. Fang Shengpu is also a founding major general.