In late May 1948, the Central Plains Field Army (i.e., Liu Deng's army), with the cooperation of the First Army of the East China Field Army, launched the Battle of Wandong, which was famous for its military history, and a few days later surrounded the enemy's integrated 58th Division in the area of Maliuying.
On June 2, our army launched a general offensive against the besieged enemy, and the 2nd Column and 6th Brigade of the Central Plains Field Army were responsible for attacking and advancing from the northwest.
By the evening of the second day, the fierce battle had come to an end, and the nationalist reorganized Fifty-eighth Division had all been annihilated, totaling more than 10,000 people, and a number of officers, including Xiao Benyuan, deputy commander of the enemy major general's division, and Yang Molin, chief of staff of major general, were taken prisoner.
Interestingly, in this battle of swords and guns, life and death, but because of a pen to lead to a touching story.
After the general offensive battle began, the seventh company of the third battalion of the sixteenth regiment of the sixth brigade rushed to the forefront of the whole regiment as the main attack assault company, and the combat group led by Tan Yushui, deputy squad leader of the ninth squad, was like a sharp knife and took the lead in inserting itself into the enemy position.
Because the battle was launched so suddenly, most of the enemy was crushed before they could organize a revolt.
Tan Yushui, the combat group, slammed all the way into a compound, and the sentry at the door saw that the People's Liberation Army was coming, and quickly threw down their guns and raised their hands to surrender.
Tan Yushui casually asked a few words, but he did not expect that the prisoner's answer surprised and delighted him, it turned out that this was actually the brigade headquarters of the enemy's 183rd Brigade, and the enemy brigade commander Wei Peicang was in the courtyard.
The warriors were all very happy: "Haha, I didn't expect to catch a big fish all at once!" ”
They rushed into the courtyard, encountered no decent resistance, and captured all the enemies inside.
An officer-like man was escorted by the warriors, who walked with his hands held high and asked, "We surrender, all surrender!" Please spare the LIVES of the Plaster! ”
"The People's Liberation Army gives preferential treatment to prisoners, and does not kill them with guns!" Tan Yushui stared at him and asked, "It seems that you are an official, report your name and position!" ”
"I... My name is Wei Peicang, and my position is brigade commander of the 183rd Brigade, Major General..."
"Oh, it turns out that you are Wei Peicang!" Tan Yushui said happily, "What about your division commander Lu Daoyuan?" ”
"Commander Lu has already run!" He ordered me to lead my troops to resolutely resist, but he himself escaped without a shadow..."
Tan Yushui nodded and said, "He can't run very far either." There are still many of your people nearby, you let them all surrender, there is no need to give the fleeing division commander another life! ”
"Of course, of course."
Wei Peicang's words turned sharply and tentatively asked, "I heard that the People's Liberation Army will not confiscate the personal belongings of prisoners, is this really the case?" ”
Tan Yushui blurted out, "That's right! As long as it is your personal belongings, we will not take a single penny! ”
"That's good... That's good..."
Wei Peicang's face suddenly smiled, and then, like a trick, he took out several valuable things from his body, including gold pocket watches, gold rings, and gold-shell watches, as well as a few gold bars and a bunch of guanjin tickets (a currency issued by the Kuomintang "central bank"), all of which were put into a bag and tightly covered on his body.
As if he suddenly remembered something, he took out a Parker gold pen from his chest pocket, handed it to Tan Yushui and said, "This pen will be given to you!" ”
At that time, a Parker gold pen was worth a lot, and Tan Yushui even waved his hand to refuse: "You collect your own things, we don't want it!" ”
Wei Peicang hurriedly explained, "Please rest assured, Sir, this is what I am willing to give you!" ”
"Don't just don't, now you go with us!" Tan Yushui urged.
Wei Peicang saw that Tan Yushui had a resolute attitude and had to take back the Pike pen.
By this time the battle was over, and the enemy's brigade commander was an important figure after all, and Tan Yushui personally escorted him to the brigade headquarters.
Liu Huaqing, political commissar of the Sixth Brigade, was very happy to learn of this, and immediately instructed the Enemy Engineering Section of the Brigade's Political Department to send someone to transfer Wei Peicang to the Second Column Headquarters. Interestingly, Wei Peicang did not stay long at the Second Column Headquarters and was sent to the Political Department of the Central Plains Military Region.
Wei Peicang experienced these several transfers, and all he saw on the way were the fact that the People's Liberation Army strictly observed discipline and was deeply supported by the people, and his heart was greatly shaken.
When he finished being transferred for the last time, he took out the parkar gold pen from his pocket and said to the soldier in charge of the transfer: "Since I surrendered to the PLA, I have gained a real and profound understanding of the PLA's practices, and let me realize that the PLA is really a benevolent and righteous teacher, and will be invincible to the world!" This pen is still for you to take back, although it is not a tribute, but I hope to leave a small souvenir in your troops. ”
Worried that the soldiers would still refuse to accept it, he hurriedly explained: "Please don't misunderstand, I know that the People's Liberation Army does not accept personal belongings from prisoners, but I just hope to express my heart, please don't resign no matter what!" ”
The warrior saw that Wei Peicang was very sincere, and could not bear to refuse his kindness, so he said, "Well, the pen can be accepted, but I will not receive it myself, but I will bring it back and hand it in." ”
"It's all right, it's all right!" Wei Peicang said happily.
After the soldier returned to the unit of the Second Column, he indeed handed this pen to the political department of the column, and truthfully relayed Wei Peicang's words.
The leadership of the Political Department approved of the soldiers' acceptance of the pen, because, as he reflected, Wei Peicang's insistence on leaving a pen in the PLA units had a certain symbolic significance—a materialized testimony that a Kuomintang officer never fully recognized the PLA, and it was worth publicizing.
However, this pen still had to have a belonging, and after studying, the political department of the column decided to give the pen to Tan Yushui's seventh company to deal with.
So the pen began a "journey" from the second column to the sixth brigade, to the sixteenth regiment, to the third battalion, and finally to the seventh company. The commander of the Seventh Company handled this branch with a very cautious attitude, and for this reason held a special democratic seminar, and the result of the discussion was that this Parker pen award was given to Tan Yushui, who had captured Wei Peicang alive.
The Political Department of the Column was very satisfied with the outcome of the matter and commended it in the whole column. Tan Yushui not only received honors, but was also promoted to deputy platoon leader of the third platoon.
It can be said that this small Parker golden pen turned a large circle and completed a peculiar trip, which led to a touching story and was also of exemplary significance for winning more Kuomintang officers and soldiers to surrender to the People's Liberation Army at that time.
Note: The facts described in this article are real people and real events, which are mentioned in the "History of the Second Field Army of the Chinese People's Liberation Army" and "The Conquest of Liu Deng's Army".