What is history: it is the echo of the past to the future, the reflection of the future on the past. - Hugo
General Zhang Aiping, although he had been the political commissar of the Red Army, was a "militant" who was full of fierce blows and fierce attacks, and was known as "Desperate Sanlang". In the War of Resistance Against Japan, he led the 9th Brigade of the 3rd Division of the New Fourth Army, so it became a well-known strong brigade, and the Japanese army was frightened.
In 1941, the 10th Brigade of the 4th Division of the New Fourth Army fought a battle in the west of Jinpu Road, but it did not fight well, the losses were huge, and the whole brigade was left in the first battle, leaving only two regiments and four battalions. Only 3200 people.
The 10th Brigade was originally the 344th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army, which was brought by Huang Kecheng, commander of the 3rd Division of the New Fourth Army, from North China. When Huang Kecheng learned of this, he was immediately distressed, so he proposed to the military headquarters that the 9th Brigade of Zhang Aiping of the 3rd Division be transferred to the 4th Division, and the 10th Brigade, which had been transferred out of his own hands, be replaced.
Huang Kecheng's suggestion was completely acceptable and reasonable for Peng Xuefeng's 4th Division in Huaibei.
Why?
Because Zhang Aiping's 9th Brigade was strong and strong, and it was also a native of northeastern Anhui; after the defeat of the 4th Division in Luxi, it was urgently needed to strengthen, so that the 9th Brigade could return to Huaibei, and the time and place were favorable, which was conducive to the immediate recovery of the 4th Division.
The situation in northern Jiangsu led by Huang Kecheng was relatively stable, and after the 10th Brigade arrived in northern Jiangsu, it could recuperate and recuperate, which was also beneficial to the construction of the troops.
Therefore, his decision to propose this proposal was immediately agreed by the 4th Division and the Military Headquarters.
The 9th Brigade was assigned to the 4th Division, so what about Brigade Commander Zhang Aiping?
Huang Kecheng wanted to keep him and proposed that he be his deputy, the deputy commander of the 3rd Division.
Why did Huang Kecheng transfer Zhang Aiping to be his deputy division commander? Later he explained:
"I considered my actual situation, weak physique, high myopia, which are all disadvantages as a military commander. Moreover, I am a cautious person, and when choosing fighters, I sometimes lack decisiveness in combat operations that may cause greater sacrifices, which is the disadvantage of being a senior military commander in commanding large corps operations. ”
What does that mean?
Actually, it's pretty simple.
Huang Kecheng believes that he is too cautious in commanding battles and not decisive enough in his decision-making; zhang Aiping is a person he is very familiar with. Starting from the Red Army, Zhang is a famous "desperate sanlang", who will not die when he fights, and his personality is still very stubborn, and he will never give in to the things he believes in. According to Zhang Aiping's son Zhang Sheng, he later said: "Huang's old scheming is deeply calculated, and my father's flesh and blood are Fang Gang." ”
Huang Kecheng chose Zhang Aiping as his deputy, and what he used was one of Zhang Aiping's shortcomings: fanggang, belligerent, persistent, and daring to be a desperate sanlang.
As a result, when Zhang Aiping came to the division headquarters, although the personalities of the two were very different and sometimes "not very harmonious" (Zhang Aiping's wife Li Youlan's words), they formed a very good complement in the decision-making of the 3rd Division leadership team. The two often quarreled, and even slapped the table, but after the quarrel, they were as close as brothers, and the two worked together to bring the 3rd Division to a scream. As soon as Huang Kecheng had a big battle against the "sweeping," he sent Zhang Aiping to take command. And Zhang Aiping seems to be fierce Zhang Fei, but when she fights, she has a special calculation in her heart, and every time she fights, she makes Huang Kecheng smile happily.
Decades later, Zhang Aiping's son Zhang Sheng looked back at this period of history and said with great emotion:
"It should be said that there is an optimal combination between them. Huang Lao, this person, is indeed not simple. ”