In those years of gunpowder, many heroic feats were drowned out by the long river of history, but some stories, like bright stars, shine brightly and never fade. In 1946, an elite unit, known as the "first brigade in the world", was wiped out in a legendary battle.
This unit is the First Brigade of the First Division of the Kuomintang, and the hero who became famous in one fell swoop was the Red Army general Chen Geng. In this seemingly unequal showdown, how did Chen Geng strategize and skillfully use tactics and intelligence to wipe out this ace force of the Kuomintang?
Looking back to China in 1946, it was in a critical period of civil war between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party. The struggle between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party intensified, and war was on the verge of breaking out. Against this backdrop, Chen Geng, a Communist general in the Shanxi, Hebei, Shandong, and Henan regions, became a key figure in this struggle. He was not only witty, but also brave and good at fighting, and was a bright star in the Red Army at that time.
The 1st Brigade of the 1st Division, known as the "No. 1 Brigade in the World," is known for its well-equipped and rigorous training. Hu Zongnan, a famous Kuomintang general, had high hopes for this unit, hoping that it would show its strength and defeat the Communist forces in one fell swoop.
Heaven did not fulfill people's wishes, what Hu Zongnan never expected was that his trump card troops were about to encounter unprecedented challenges.
In July 1946, the Fourth Column of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army led by Chen Geng and some troops of the Taiyue Military Region began to emerge on the battlefield.
Not only did they win many battles on the battlefield, but more importantly, Chen Geng showed his extraordinary talent for using intelligence and conducting psychological warfare. Through prisoners of war and captured radio equipment, he carefully laid a wide net, and gradually figured out the mode of action of the Kuomintang army.
Hu Zongnan had planned to join up with Yan Xishan's forces to fight the Communists together. But under Chen Geng's careful planning, this plan gradually failed. Through the monitoring of the enemy's communications, Chen Geng learned that Hu Zongnan would mobilize the 1st Brigade of the 1st Division to Yuncheng, and immediately prepared to ambush him.
In order to ensure the success of the plan, Chen Geng not only took advantage of the terrain, but also skillfully used the instability factors within the enemy army. He found that Yan Xishan did not fully trust Hu Zongnan, which became the key to Chen Geng's layout. Through a series of well-designed ambushes and roundabout tactics, Chen Geng gradually weakened the combat effectiveness of the "First Brigade in the World".
On the evening of September 20, intelligence came into play again. Chen Geng learned that the "First Brigade in the World" would pass through a narrow valley at night. It was a godsend, and he decided to strike a fatal blow here. As night fell, the silence in the valley was replaced by a tense atmosphere, and the Red Army soldiers stood still, waiting for the arrival of the enemy.
As Chen Geng expected, Hu Zongnan's troops entered the ambush circle unsuspectingly. Taking advantage of the terrain of the valley, the Red Army launched a surprise attack on the enemy from a height. Due to limited visibility and unfamiliarity with the terrain, the soldiers of the 1st Brigade of the 1st Division, which was reorganized, were in disarray and could not effectively organize resistance. In addition, the previous intelligence war had weakened their morale and combat effectiveness, and the "First Brigade in the World" at this time was like a tired prey, and it was difficult to escape the hunters' round-up.
The battle lasted all night, and by dawn, the dust of the battle had gradually settled, and the former "First Brigade in the World" had already existed in name only. On the battlefield, the captured weapons, scattered supplies, and soldiers with heavy casualties all testify to the fierceness and cruelty of this battle. In this battle, Chen Geng not only demonstrated his military talents, but also used his wits to lead the enemy into an elaborate trap.
Hu Zongnan was furious when he learned of the destruction of the "First Brigade in the World", and he also had to reassess the military confrontation strategy with the Communist Party. The battle was not only an ordinary military victory, but also a victory in psychological and intelligence warfare, marking the tactical and tactical maturity of the Red Army.
For Chen Geng, this is not only a military victory, but also a proof of his command ability. Through this victory, Chen Geng's name became a well-known combat hero in the Red Army, and his tactical wisdom and decision-making courage became an important case of research and teaching in many military academies in later generations.
Through this shocking historical event, we can not only get a glimpse of the cruelty and complexity of the war in that era, but also feel how military talents like Chen Geng strategized and turned things around in the face of adversity.
His story teaches us that true victory often comes from a deep understanding of the enemy and precise strategic deployment. And history is from these radiant moments, gathered into a magnificent epic that has been passed down through the ages.