As we all know, during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Eighth Route Army fought many tough battles, the most famous of which was the battle of hundreds of regiments. The battle was not only on a grand scale, but also dealt a major blow to the Japanese army, but General Peng was subject to considerable controversy after the war. Why is a general criticized after a victory? Is it a tactical mistake or is there something else hidden behind it? Let's uncover the real reasons behind this today.
When it comes to the Battle of the Hundred Regiments, it was a massive military operation. In August 1940, the Eighth Route Army mobilized 105 regiments and about 200,000 troops to launch a fierce attack on the Japanese army, directly destroying the enemy's communication lines and supplies, and greatly frustrating the arrogance of the Japanese army. This battle not only killed more than 50,000 Japanese soldiers, but also greatly encouraged the confidence of the Chinese people in the War of Resistance.
But the war was brutal after all, and our losses were very heavy, amounting to 17,000 casualties, and more than 20,000 soldiers were injured by poison gas. It was the price of this victory that plunged General Peng Dehuai into a whirlpool of controversy. Some people say that such losses are not the result of tactical mistakes.
Of course, Mr. Peng is not a vegetarian, and he has no way to defend himself in the face of this kind of criticism. So soon after the war, Peng Dehuai directly approached Chairman Mao and Premier Zhou, hoping to discuss things clearly face-to-face.
The scene at that time should have been very tense, but Chairman Mao was a smart leader after all, and he quickly realized that if this internal contradiction was not handled well, it might affect the overall situation of the entire Anti-Japanese War. So, the three of them had a small meeting in a cave, not only to solve the problem, but also to communicate with each other.
Chairman Mao proposed three so-called "gentlemen's agreements" at the meeting. First, we have to speak thoroughly, and we have to spread out whatever dissatisfaction we have in our hearts; second, it is understandable that we can complain and even scold our mother; third, we must self-examine, and we must not hold grudges because of disagreements, let alone affect other work.
This kind of open and honest approach has indeed achieved good results. Chairman Mao not only first criticized himself at the meeting, but also affirmed the strategic significance of the Hundred Regiments War, which made the stone in Mr. Peng's heart finally land. He also understood that although there were mistakes, under the overall situation, every step they made was for the benefit of the country and the nation. From this meeting, Mr. Peng not only gained relief, but more importantly, the trust and cooperation between the three of them was also strengthened.
But the impact of this war was much more than that, although we inflicted heavy losses on the Japanese army in the Battle of the Hundred Regiments, the Japanese army's reaction was also extremely violent. They not only strengthened their military suppression of North China, but also began a new round of "sweeping" operations, which directly led to the loss of some anti-Japanese base areas. The strong performance of the Eighth Route Army also made the Kuomintang feel pressure, and it began to worry about the possible political impact of the expansion of the Eighth Route Army.
In this situation of domestic and foreign difficulties, the strategic significance and subsequent impact of the Battle of the Hundred Regiments have become the focus of research. On the one hand, it has strengthened the anti-Japanese people's will, but on the other hand, it has also brought new challenges to both the enemy and us. The effect of this double-edged sword also makes it necessary to be more cautious in subsequent strategic deployments to avoid once again creating a situation in which the enemy is strong and we are weak.
For Mr. Peng, this meeting is not only a simple problem-solving process, but also a profound self-reflection and growth. He realized that as a military leader, it was important to think not only about tactical success, but also about strategic implications. This all-round consideration from the battlefield to policy to personal cultivation undoubtedly made him play a greater role in the follow-up War of Resistance.
The story between Mr. Peng and Chairman Mao also shows us how important sincerity and understanding between leaders are under suffering and pressure. In the face of external enemies, unity and cooperation are also another force to fight against strong enemies.
The Battle of the Hundred Regiments was not only a military contest, but also a political trial. General Peng Dehuai showed his broad-mindedness in post-war criticism and reflection, and Chairman Mao also provided wisdom for resolving internal contradictions. This battle and what happened behind it is not only a part of history, but also a revelation for us today. In the face of difficulties and challenges, unity and wisdom are the only way to victory.
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