In the long river of history, there are moments like lightning that pierce the quiet night sky, illuminating the entire era. In 1979, in the morning after the self-defense counterattack against Vietnam, the 43rd Army of the Chinese People's Liberation Army was silently marching along the mountain road in the Lang Son area of Vietnam, silently on the way home.
The air was filled with the smell of earthy after the rain and the smell of gunpowder smoke that had not completely dissipated, and the tranquility of the mountains and forests was only broken by the sporadic birdsong. However, this tranquility was abruptly halted by an urgent piece of information that the 338th Division of the Vietnamese Army was secretly following them, ready to attack.
The soldiers quickly adjusted their formation, their eyes flashing with the light of a decisive battle. For a moment, the air in the mountains and forests seemed to freeze, and everyone was waiting for the fierce battle that was coming.
Zhang Wannian's military wisdom and Lang Son withdrawal
March 6, 1979, was a day destined to go down in China's military history. The Chinese People's Liberation Army has reached a turning point in its self-defense counterattack against Vietnam. The sky was slightly bright, and the morning glow reflected on the resolute faces of the soldiers, who were slowly retreating along a rugged mountain road from the Lang Son region of Vietnam.
General Zhang Wannian, dressed in military uniform, stood at the front of the team, his eyes firmly looking at the road ahead, and every step looked calm and powerful. The retreat was supposed to be carried out calmly, but the plans of the 338th Division of the Vietnamese Army added tension to the process. Intelligence showed that this ace division of the Vietnamese army intended to take advantage of the retreat of the Chinese army to carry out a sneak attack.
This news quickly reached Zhang Wannian's ears. He immediately summoned the staff officers around him, quickly analyzed the situation, and issued an order to deal with it. During the emergency meeting, Zhang Wannian's eyes shuttled from map to intelligence documents, and his fingers slid back and forth on the route from Lang Son to Luping on the map, looking for the best way to respond.
He made a quick decision: adjust the withdrawal route and set up an ambush. He ordered the 43rd Division of the 127th Army to set off immediately and go to the 390 heights in the Luping area to take advantage of the terrain to set up an ambush.
Urgently adjust tactics and ambush strategies
Under his command, the 43rd Division of the 127th Army was rapidly mobilized. As night fell, the army set off silently, through the jungle and mountains, and made a rapid advance in the direction of Luping. The soldiers marched in the dark, each with a mission in mind, and their steps were firm and fast.
Although the night made the march difficult, everyone maintained a high level of alertness to ensure that the troops were not detected by the enemy. The 127th Division finally reached the 390 heights in the middle of the night. The terrain is steep, making it an ideal location for an ambush. Soldiers quickly spread out on the high ground, using rocks and trees as shelter, quietly deploying guns and mortars.
Their movements are fluid and show the fruits of their long-term training. In the darkness of the night, each soldier becomes like a cheetah, quietly waiting for the arrival of its prey.
At the same time, Zhang Wannian personally commanded the rest of the troops to continue the normal withdrawal. He followed the original route, but with a more cautious pace, making sure not to attract the attention of the Vietnamese army. He keeps an eye on the dynamics of the troops and the surrounding environment to ensure that they can respond quickly in the event of an emergency.
Zhang Wannian's resolute decision and counterattack
On the crucial day of March 8, 1979, as the troops led by General Zhang Wannian crossed the 390 heights of Luping, the 338th Division of the Vietnamese Army followed closely. It was a moment of tension and strategic confrontation, with both sides preparing for the upcoming battle.
The 338th Division of the Vietnamese Army, considered the elite unit of the Vietnamese army, quietly advanced through the dense woods, trying to find the right moment to attack. And not far from them, General Zhang Wannian and his troops were steadily advancing along the mountain road, and their every step seemed calm and orderly.
Just as the 338th Division of the Vietnamese Army was slowly approaching the Chinese troops, Zhang Wannian suddenly made a bold decision. He calmly pulled out his pistol from his waist and fired three shots into the sky, which was a pre-agreed signal that the whole army was about to turn and counterattack. As the gunshots rang out, the whole valley seemed to be shaken by this sudden change.
Immediately, Zhang Wannian loudly ordered the whole army to turn around and counterattack. His voice echoed through the valley, and the soldiers quickly responded to his order, and the entire formation changed in an instant. What was originally a marching unit was transformed into a battle-ready team. The soldiers quickly shifted their positions and turned their guns on the Vietnamese soldiers who were following closely behind.
This abrupt shift and attack completely disrupted the deployment of the Vietnamese army. They thought they could take advantage of the retreat of the Chinese army to sneak attack, but they did not expect the other side to react so quickly. The Vietnamese soldiers were instantly thrown into confusion, and they hurriedly tried to reorganize their formations and prepare for a counterattack by the Chinese army.
And on the 390 heights, the 127th Division of the Chinese Army, which had been ambushed in advance, began their attack with absolute superiority. They occupied favorable terrain and formed a high level of suppressive fire against the Vietnamese army. Dense bullets and artillery fire poured down from the heights, dealing a heavy blow to the Vietnamese army.
At this time, General Zhang Wannian was still standing on the front line, personally commanding the battle. His orders were precise and decisive, allowing the troops to quickly adapt to changes on the battlefield. Under his command, the Chinese army demonstrated great combat efficiency and coordination.
Tactical superiority switch and the defeat of the Vietnamese army
The 338th Division of the Vietnamese Army was completely caught off guard in the face of a sudden counterattack by the Chinese People's Liberation Army. The trump card division, hailed as the Vietnamese army, was supposed to be able to deliver a fatal blow as the Chinese army retreated, but now it was in chaos and panic. With the heavy fire of the Chinese army, the soldiers of the 338th Division of the Vietnamese army began to flee in all directions, trying to find cover.
Their originally compact formation was forced to disrup, and the soldiers lost their sense of direction amid the sound of explosions and gunfire. They tried to fight back, but in the chaotic environment, there were even cases where they accidentally injured their own companions. Some soldiers, in a panic, mistook their comrades for enemies, leading to internal scuffles.
On the other side of the battlefield, the Chinese army demonstrated remarkable tactical flexibility and firepower superiority. Under the command of General Zhang Wannian, they quickly moved from a state of retreat to an offensive. The soldiers carried out the orders accurately, and the fire was concentrated and orderly. Taking advantage of the terrain they occupied, they launched a fierce attack, leaving the Vietnamese army in a passive position.
At this time, the commander of the 338th Division of the Vietnamese Army tried to reorganize the ranks, but in the environment of constant fire suppression and chaos, this was almost impossible. Communications were cut off in the sound of explosions, and the soldiers could not receive effective orders and had to rely on instinct to fight. As the fighting continued, the Vietnamese resistance became increasingly weak.
At the same time, the 127th Division of the Chinese Army on the heights played a key role in the battle. They hid on the high ground like hunters, firing accurately at the Vietnamese troops below. Every bullet and shell caused great damage. The Vietnamese soldiers fell one after another under heavy fire, and the number of casualties increased rapidly.
In this sudden firefight, the soldiers of the 338th Division of the Vietnamese Army began to realize that they had fallen into an elaborate trap. Their offensive plan completely failed, and now they could not even retreat effectively. The commanders of the Vietnamese army struggled in the confusion to find an opportunity to break through, but under the tight encirclement of the Chinese army, any attempt to break through seemed futile.
The end of the battle and the completion of the withdrawal
In the fierce battle, General Zhang Wannian showed outstanding military talent. His decisive command on the battlefield enabled the Chinese People's Liberation Army to gain an overwhelming advantage in the engagement with the 338th Division of the Vietnamese Army.
As the 338th Division of the Vietnamese Army retreated under the fierce offensive of the Chinese army, Zhang Wannian was faced with a decision: whether to completely defeat the 338th Division of the Vietnamese Army, or stick to the overall retreat strategy originally planned.
Taking into account the strategic objectives and overall situation of the entire campaign, Zhang Wannian decided not to further pursue the 338th Division of the Vietnamese Army. He is well aware that although he has achieved an advantage on the battlefield, the continuous fighting will consume a lot of manpower and material resources, which may affect the overall retreat operation. Therefore, he promptly ordered the troops to stop the offensive, reorganize the formation, and continue to carry out the retreat plan.
In the ensuing retreat, the PLA faced several attacks by Vietnamese troops. These attacks, although fierce, were successfully repelled by the tight defenses and orderly command of the Chinese army. The Chinese soldiers maintained a high level of alert during the retreat, responding quickly to any potential threat.
They were mobile and flexible in the mountains and forests, and made effective use of the terrain and environment, which provided a solid guarantee for the safe retreat of the troops. Along the way, the soldiers of the People's Liberation Army overcame many difficulties. They traverse treacherous mountains and trek through complex and varied terrain. Not only do you have to face the pursuit of the enemy, but you also have to deal with bad weather and a difficult living environment.
But their morale was always high, they were united, and they showed great fighting power and strong will. On March 11, the 43rd Army led by Zhang Wannian finally succeeded in withdrawing to Chinese territory. This marked the successful conclusion of the campaign. The soldiers, although tired, had the joy of victory written on their faces.
They know that they have not only successfully completed the mission, but also earned respect and honor on the battlefield. With the return of the last PLA unit to Chinese territory, the entire combat mission of the self-defense counterattack against Vietnam was also completed.
The entire retreat not only demonstrated the efficient command and strong combat effectiveness of the Chinese army, but also demonstrated the army's adaptability and perseverance in the complex battlefield environment.
Finally, on March 16, the Chinese government officially announced that the self-defense counterattack against Vietnam was officially over. The battle was not only a demonstration of the tactics and command art of the Chinese army, but also a testament to the perseverance and courage of the soldiers.
Resources:
- Research on the Historical Facts of the Self-Defense Counterattack War against Vietnam
- Historical Review of the Chinese People's Liberation Army