Yang Hucheng's Seventeenth Route Army, which once swept across the great northwest and captured Chiang Kai-shek alive, was truly a heroic force. Yang Hucheng's subordinates were also fierce generals, such as Zhao Shoushan and Feng Qinya. So, whose achievements came to be the greatest?
It should be Kong Congzhou.
Kong Congzhou, a native of Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, joined Yang Hucheng's troops at the age of 18, and it can be said that he grew up with Yang Hucheng's troops. Moreover, Kong Congzhou was a general of a special army, and Yang Hucheng handed over the most powerful artillery to him to command, which showed that he had considerable trust in Kong Congzhou.
Kong congzhou started as an artillery platoon leader and eventually became the commander of the artillery regiment and the commander of the garrison brigade. In the Xi'an Incident, Kong Congzhou played a crucial role, he was the commander of the garrison brigade. Before the incident, Yang Hucheng specially explained to Kong Congzhou that he must have a clear picture of Chiang Kai-shek's troops in Xi'an City, including the streets where they were located and the number of troops, so that they could know each other and win every battle.
Yang Hucheng also instructed Kong Congzhou to "keep an eye on one" according to the situation of Chiang Kai-shek's army's deployment, that they have a battalion, and that we must also arrange the strength of a battalion accordingly, and that there must be absolutely no mistakes.
Therefore, when the Xi'an Incident broke out, Kong Congzhou commanded the troops, and very accurately and very quickly disarmed Chiang Kai-shek's troops in the city, almost wiping out all the military and political personnel of the Kuomintang in the city. The reason why he is so efficient is because he is relatively well prepared. Kong Congzhou also mounted the cannon directly on the city tower, ready to bombard the foreign troops of the Kuomintang.
This is the role of Kong Congzhou. However, when Chiang Kai-shek was released, Yang Hucheng was unlucky, and Chiang Kai-shek ordered him to leave the army and go abroad to investigate. This was actually a disguised exile and the removal of Yang Hucheng's military powers.
Yang Hucheng is a responsible leader. Before leaving, he had already arranged everything, and assigned the troops to reliable generals to command, for important generals, Yang Hucheng wanted to talk one by one, parting words, of course, it was indispensable to love General Kong Congzhou.
However, to Kong Congzhou, Yang Hucheng said with regret that he did not stay with his brother, he did not leave you anything, neither left you a soldier, nor left you any funds and items, I hope you will not complain about me. Speaking of this, Yang Hucheng paused for a moment, and then continued, but I believe that I have left you the best things, which are more precious than giving you soldiers and money.
What is the best thing Yang Hucheng said? He made a great "friend" to Kong Congzhou, that is, the Red Army in northern Shaanxi. Kong nodded approvingly. Yang Hucheng said that if you encounter a crisis, you go to this "friend", and he will definitely help you.
Moreover, Yang Hucheng was very convinced that China's future lay in the Red Army and in this great "friend." History proves that Yang Hucheng's gaze is profound. He pointed out a bright path to Ai general Kong Congzhou, a shining golden avenue.
Kong Congzhou remembered Yang Hucheng's instructions and quickly rushed to the anti-Japanese battlefield. Chiang Kai-shek wanted Yang Hucheng's troops to be depleted by the Japanese army, so for the time being there was no movement of Kong Congzhou. When the War of Resistance Against Japan was won, Chiang Kai-shek was about to act. Kong Congzhou rushed to the Liberated Areas, announced a peaceful uprising, and came together with the great "friend".
Kong Congzhou then joined Liu Deng's army and served as the commander of the Thirty-eighth Army, the Chen Xie Corps that shocked the whole country, including Kong Congzhou's troops. The four major field armies were established, and Kong Congzhou served as the deputy commander of the special forces column of the Second Field Army and participated in the campaign to liberate the whole country.
After the founding of the people's republic, Kong Congzhou was awarded the title of founding lieutenant general. Among Yang Hucheng's generals, it should be said that Kong Congzhou's achievements are the greatest. Why? This is all due to the fact that Yang Hucheng made him a great "friend" and pointed out a bright path for him at the same time.