In October 1947, the Second Column of the East China Field Army, under the leadership of commander Wei Guoqing, advanced to the area west of the Jiaohe River to block the troops under Fan Hanjie, the commander-in-chief of the enemy Jiaodong Corps.
After in-depth study, Wei Guoqing and others decided to entrust the most arduous battle to the Sixth Division, which was good at fighting hard battles, and ordered them to adopt the unexpected and rapid attack method, detour back to the flank of the enemy's 211st Brigade, capture the 288 heights on the east bank of the Weihe River, control the Weihe River crossing, cut off the enemy's return route, and then join forces with the Fourth and Fifth Divisions to encircle and annihilate the enemy in Shanyang.
After accepting the task, Teng Haiqing, commander of the Sixth Division, led his troops to assemble at 8 p.m. on October 7 in the drinking horse area.
The troops of the Sixth Division were deployed as follows: the Sixteenth Regiment attacked Shanyangzhuang; the Eighteenth Regiment attacked the 288th Heights and commanded 1 battalion of the Seventeenth Regiment to control the pontoon bridge on the west side of the 288th Heights; and the Seventeenth Regiment was responsible for blocking and preventing the enemy of Shanyangzhuang from fleeing westward.
Before the battle began, the commander of the column, Wei Guoqing, came to the command post of the Sixth Division. He said to Teng Haiqing, "This battle depends on your Sixth Division; the key to the Sixth Division depends on how well the 288 Highlands are fought." ”
Teng Haiqing replied, "We have ordered the Eighteenth Regiment to take 288 heights before dawn." ”
Wei Guoqing said, "Didn't your Eighteenth Regiment reduce its number a lot?" Do I need to replenish my troops? ”
Teng Haiqing said confidently: "The determination of the Eighteenth Regiment Changsha Feng is very great, this commander has a good brain, he has a way to fight a war, and he must accomplish this extremely arduous combat task. ”
After Wei Guoqing left, Teng Haiqing and political commissar Kang Zhiqiang went to various regiments to visit the troops.
At the assembly area of the Eighteenth Regiment, Wei Guoqing and Kang Zhiqiang saw the regimental commander Changsha Feng and said to him bluntly: "Comrade Sha Feng, the key to this battle depends on whether you, the regiment, can occupy the 288 highlands before dawn!" ”
Sha Feng said emphatically: "Division commander, political commissar, if we fail to attack, we must also attack it!" ”
Kang Zhiqiang nodded and said, "But I know that your regiment has consumed a lot in battles such as Sanhushan and Linjiazhuang, how many troops are there now?" ”
"Report to the division commander, and 5 companies..."
"Only 5 companies left?" Teng Haiqing was stunned and said with a little hesitation, "I know that your regiment has lost a lot of personnel, but I didn't expect that there were only so many people left." or...... Or another person to fight? ”
"No need to change people!" Sha Feng hurriedly said, "There are not many soldiers but fine, although I only have 5 companies in my hand, I can play the momentum of 10 companies." Division commander and political commissar, if you don't believe it, just wait and see our performance! ”
"This battle is very important, it concerns the enemy's plan of the entire column, and nothing can go wrong!" Teng Haiqing's tone was tinged with hesitation.
Sha Feng was anxious: "Commander, I know that you are provoking the general." But I promise you, I can't take 288 highlands, and I'll see you in my old Shatitou! ”
Wei Guoqing laughed, "It's not that I don't believe in the combat effectiveness of your Eighteenth Regiment, nor that I deliberately want to use any Radical Technique." Rather, the battle is really difficult. In particular, you must be prepared to fight backwaters, because you are taking a detour to the enemy's flank and are closer to weihe than the enemy..."
Sha Feng said firmly, "The enemy wants to drive us into weihe, it is not so easy!" We guarantee to get the job done! ”
"Good! Good news awaits you! Teng Haiqing and Kang Zhiqiang said in unison.
At 23:00 that night, the troops of the Sixth Division began to move, and the Eighteenth Regiment detoured to the 288th Heights in a rapid march.
Sha Feng knew that the locals called the 288 heights Lushan, but because they did not understand the enemy situation on the highlands, the specific deployment of the attack was difficult to determine.
To this end, Sha Feng asked the vanguard detachment to find a way to grab a "tongue".
The "tongue" was really caught, and it was a search platoon leader of the enemy's 211st Brigade.
The captured enemy platoon commander confessed to the strength and fortifications on the high ground.
With a height of 288 meters, Lüshan Overlooks ShanyangZhuang and Weihe Bridge, and its geographical location is very important. The west and southwest slopes of the highlands are steep, and the southern slopes are gentle and have large fruit forests.
In order to ensure the safety of his main flank, the enemy sent 1 company to garrison Lüshan, and 1 reinforced platoon to control the Weihe Bridge.
The main force of the Eighteenth Regiment marched through 20 kilometers and reached the south side of Lüshan at 4:20 on the 8th.
After more than 20 minutes, the second battalion launched an attack on Lüshan, and the first and third battalions assembled in the fruit forest to wait.
Due to the rapid and stealthy action of the Eighteenth Regiment, the lack of preparation for the attack on the enemy, and the fact that the enemy's fortifications were not strong, it captured Lüshan in only 1 hour and eliminated the defending enemy. Immediately after that, another force destroyed the reinforcement platoon at the mouth of the Weihe Bridge and controlled the bridge mouth.
At dawn, Sand Wind found a shadow of about a hundred people high underground, inferred to be enemy reinforcements.
Ignoring the guards' obstruction, Sha Feng personally ran to the edge of the high ground with a platoon, boldly and wittily shouting, "Brothers, come up, hurry!" Just now there was a small group of communist attacks..."
The enemy was deceived, and the sand wind waited until they approached, led the soldiers to rush forward, first captured the enemy company commander, and forced the reinforcements of the enemy 1 company to surrender.
At this point, the Eighteenth Regiment successfully completed a series of tasks entrusted to them by Teng Haiqing, creating conditions for the entire column to finally annihilate the enemy's 211st Brigade and the Sixty-fourth Division, and was commended by the superiors.
After the battle, Kang Zhiqiang said to Teng Haiqing: "Commander, your radical method is used well, and the sand wind really hit 10 companies or even 20 companies with these 5 companies!" ”
Teng Haiqing said: "The key is that Sha Feng is good at fighting a hard battle, although the Eighteen regiments have few people, such a difficult task, only they can complete it so cleanly and neatly!" ”