In May 1947, under the chairmanship of Chen Yi, Su Yu, and Tan Zhenlin, the Huaye Front Command held an operational meeting in Xiwangzhuang and decided to attack the elite division of the Kuomintang army, the 74th Division. The key to the success or failure of this battle lies in whether Huaye's interspersed troops can successfully go around the back of the 74th Division and cut off its connection with other units of the Nationalist Army. This arduous task was finally handed over to Ye Fei's column.
Although the First Column had just returned from the battlefield in southwest Lu and was very tired, Ye Fei took the initiative to ask for battle after learning that there was a battle to be fought, saying that the First Column could complete the most difficult task. His determination and confidence were appreciated and trusted by Mr. Chen, who also transferred the Huaye Independent Division to strengthen the strength of the First Column.
During the battle, the first column encountered an extremely thrilling situation. At that time, the 74th Division was shrinking in the direction of Menglianggu, and the 1st Column 2nd Division led by Ye Fei also happened to be marching near Tianma Mountain. The positions of the two armies were close, but fortunately, due to the cover of fog and sky, the 74th Division mistook a column for friendly troops and did not attack. Ye Fei calmly directed the troops to advance at a normal marching pace, successfully avoiding a possible conflict, and finally moved to the designated area.
Ye Fei did not choose to attack the 74th Division, this was because he knew the fierceness and combat effectiveness of the 74th Division, and he also understood the strength and limitations of his own troops. More importantly, he understands that any rash action may disrupt the entire operational deployment and affect the victory or defeat of the entire campaign. Therefore, he strictly complied with the orders of his superiors and successfully completed the interspersed tasks, laying the foundation for victory in the entire campaign.
At dawn on the 14th of the same month, the 1st Independent Division successfully seized the commanding heights near Tianma Mountain, completely cutting off the connection between the 74th Division and the enemy's 25th Division. Subsequently, the 74th Division launched a counterattack on the 285 heights of Tianma Mountain and engaged in a fierce battle with the Huaye Independent Division. This battle fully demonstrated the combat power of the 74th Division as an elite unit, and its skillful use of tactics, rapid action, and tacit cooperation caused a lot of pressure on the Huaye Independent Division.
However, under Huaye's tight deployment and stubborn resistance, the 74th Division ultimately failed to turn the tide of the battle. The victory in this battle not only demonstrated the bravery and wisdom of the Huaye soldiers, but also proved Ye Fei's determination and execution at the critical moment. Their success made an important contribution to the victory of the entire liberation war.
