At the end of 1942, the Japanese army launched a large-scale sweep of the base areas in Central China, and the situation was critical. Rao Shushi, secretary of the Central China Bureau, held a meeting to deploy an anti-sweeping strategy. He planned to give Zhang Aiping unified command of the anti-sweeping struggle in the base area, and gave Zhang Aiping a number of important posts. However, unexpectedly, Zhang Aiping said three words coldly in front of everyone, "I won't do it". The venue was in an uproar, and Chen Yi had to come forward to distract... Why did Zhang Aiping react in this way? Did he finally accept this important task, and how will he start the anti-sweeping struggle in the base area next?
Zhang Aiping initially refused to lead the anti-sweep
At the end of 1942, the Japanese army launched a large-scale "sweep" operation against the base areas in Central China, dispatching the 17th Division, the 15th Division, the 35th Division, and the 12th Brigade of the Independent Mixed Army, as well as several divisions of the puppet army. In the face of the enemy's heavy pressure, the Central China Bureau held an emergency meeting to study countermeasures.
At the meeting, Rao Shushi, on behalf of the party committee of the Central China Bureau, made arrangements: First, in order to protect the security of the military headquarters of the New Fourth Army, the military headquarters was transferred to Huainan and protected by the Second Division; second, Huang Kecheng led the main force of the Third Division to jump out of the encirclement and fight against the enemy on the outer line; and third, the anti-sweeping struggle in the base area was under the unified command of Zhang Aiping, deputy commander of the Third Division.
Undoubtedly, this is the most arduous and dangerous task entrusted to Zhang Aiping. Rao Shushi thought that as a brave warrior, Zhang Aiping would be impassioned and ambitious, expressing her determination to live and die with the base area.
Who knows, when Rao Shushi conveyed this decision to Zhang Aiping, Zhang Aiping unexpectedly said three words coldly: "I won't do it!"
The venue was in an uproar, and countless people were stunned. When Zhang Aiping recalled this scene in her later years, she couldn't help laughing and said: "Ha, when I said these three words, they were all dumb. ＂
It turned out that Zhang Aiping was deeply skeptical of the deployment of her superiors. On the one hand, he believed that the situation in the base areas in northern Jiangsu had improved a lot at that time, and that the troops had been tempered and had the strength to deal with the Japanese sweeps; "No matter how many devils there were, as long as I entered the base areas, I had the confidence to deal with them." On the other hand, he couldn't understand why his superiors were so panicked, as if "the world is too peaceful, and now it's a little bit of a storm, and it's panicked like this." ＂
More importantly, Zhang Aiping has always adhered to her own principles. He explained the reason for his refusal to Chen Yi: "Some people usually don't listen to what they say, as if the world is too peaceful, and now they are a little troubled, and they are panicked like this." ＂
Zhang Aiping has always been outspoken, love and hate. He was deeply dissatisfied with his superiors' usual deaf ears to his opinions, but now he was flustered and had no idea when he encountered something, which made him even more disappointed. As a battle-hardened veteran general, Zhang Aiping has her own judgment and decision, and it is difficult to fully accept the arrangements of her superiors.
In front of everyone, Zhang Aiping was so outspoken and straightforward, which was really unexpected. The meeting couldn't go on for a while, so Chen Yi had no choice but to come forward and announce the adjournment.
The meeting was interrupted, and the atmosphere was very awkward. As the acting commander of the New Fourth Army, deputy secretary of the New Fourth Army Branch of the Central Military Commission, and member of the Central China Bureau, Chen Yi naturally cannot sit idly by. He pulled Zhang Aiping aside, half loving, half reprimanding, and said, "Why do you talk like this?"
Chen Yi knows Zhang Aiping well. As a battle-hardened veteran general, Zhang Aiping has always been clear and outspoken. He knew that Zhang Aiping's outspoken remarks were out of dissatisfaction and questioning of the decisions of his superiors. However, at the moment when the situation is grim and the enemy is present, unity and unity are particularly important.
Chen Yi continued to persuade: "Let the past pass, now that the enemy is present, unity is the most important." Chen Yi hopes that Zhang Aiping can put aside her prejudices and obey the overall situation.
Zhang Aiping respected three people most in her life: Chairman Mao, Peng Dehuai and Chen Yi. Listening to Chen Yi's words, he lowered his head, as if reflecting on whether his words and deeds were too extreme.
During the recess, Chen Yi spared no effort to do Zhang Aiping's work. He explained to Zhang Aiping the intention of his superiors to deploy the anti-sweep, and promised to pay attention to Zhang Aiping's opinions and suggestions in the future.
Chen Yi said sincerely: "Commander Zhang, you are the heroic general of our party and our army, and we see and admire your achievements in establishing a base area in northeastern Anhui. This sweeping and blocking battle is indeed a difficult task, but I believe that as long as you are wise under your command, you will be able to reverse the passive situation. ＂
In the face of Chen Yi's sincere persuasion, Zhang Aiping's attitude began to ease. He knew very well that this anti-sweeping struggle was a matter of life and death in the base areas, and that the entire army must not be annihilated because of his own opinions.
Seeing this, Rao Shushi also made some concessions and adjustments. In order to enable Zhang Aiping to devote herself wholeheartedly to the anti-sweeping struggle, Rao Shushi further stressed: In the anti-sweeping struggle in the base areas, the party's unified leadership should be implemented, and Zhang Aiping, deputy commander of the Third Division, concurrently served as the commander and political commissar of the Eighth Brigade, secretary of the Yanfu Prefectural Party Committee, commander and political commissar of the Yanfu Military Sub-district, and unified command of some units of the Eighth and Seventh Brigades in the struggle against the enemy.
Through this adjustment, Zhang Aiping's power and authority in the base area have been greatly concentrated, and she can command the anti-sweeping campaign with a high degree of autonomy. This is undoubtedly a great trust and trust for Zhang Aiping.
After Chen Yi's sincere persuasion and Rao Shushi's redeployment, Zhang Aiping finally accepted this important task. However, he still maintained his usual style, and half-jokingly said: "Don't give me this set! After the battle, it is better to take back these hats for me." ＂
Zhang Aiping's remarks revealed that he did not fully agree with the decisions of his superiors, but at the same time, they also showed his discipline as a communist and a soldier. As a heroic general of the party, he understood that the troops were the party's troops, and the actions of the troops must be subordinated to the party's command.
Although she had doubts about the arrangement of her superiors, Zhang Aiping did not rest on her laurels, but finally accepted this important task in line with the principle of absolute loyalty to the party. His stance also revealed a bold and generous style, and even if he had opinions on his superiors, he would not be blindly stubborn, but could humbly listen to the opinions of other comrades and consider them.
Of course, Zhang Aiping's sentence "Give me less of this" also revealed some of his dissatisfaction with the decisions of his superiors. He hoped that after the end of the war, he would be able to step down from these temporary positions and concentrate on military command. This straightforward style is where Zhang Aiping's personal charm lies.
Zhang Aiping resisted the enemy with all her might
After accepting the task, Zhang Aiping threw herself into the anti-sweeping struggle in the base area. As a battle-hardened general, he has a precise judgment of the balance of power between the enemy and the enemy.
In the face of the heavy pressure of the Japanese army, Zhang Aiping did not retreat timidly, but actively organized troops to carry out guerrilla warfare. He skillfully used the terrain and features to set up numerous ambushes to deal a powerful blow to the Japanese army. At the same time, he also mobilized and organized the people to join the guerrillas, forming a general situation of the people's war.
Under the wise command of Zhang Aiping, the anti-sweeping struggle in the base area won a phased victory. Despite the heavy casualties, the core area of the base area remains intact. This laid a solid foundation for the subsequent protracted war.
In this arduous battle, Zhang Aiping once again demonstrated his outstanding military command ability. He was quick-witted, resolute, and well-directed, and gave full play to the advantages of guerrilla warfare to save the base areas from being completely destroyed. This campaign also further strengthened his prestige and prestige inside and outside the party.
After Zhang Aiping accepted the heavy task and threw herself into the anti-sweeping struggle, some new changes also appeared in the situation in the Central China base areas.
As the war continued, the Central China Bureau realized that the strength of Zhang Aiping's troops alone was far from enough, and it was necessary to send additional reinforcements from the main force from the outside line. As a result, Huang Kecheng was ordered to lead the 344th Brigade and the New 2nd Brigade of the Eighth Route Army, a total of 12,000 people, to cross the east of Jinpu Road and enter northeast Anhui for reinforcements.
Huang Kecheng has always agreed with Peng Xuefeng's strategic vision of westward development. When passing by Xinxingji, the capital of Henan, Anhui and Suzhou, he deliberately left the 344th Brigade and handed it over to Peng Xuefeng to drive, and he only led the new 2nd Brigade to continue to advance.
After Peng Xuefeng suffered a fiasco in the battle west of Jinpu Road, Huang Kecheng was extremely distressed. He asked Zhang Aiping to lead the Ninth Brigade to meet Peng Xuefeng, supplement the Ninth Brigade to Peng Xuefeng, and at the same time transfer the 344th Brigade back to northern Jiangsu to recuperate. In a word, Huang Kecheng wants to exchange the Ninth Brigade created by Zhang Aiping for his 344th Brigade.
Zhang Aiping is an excellent conductor
Regarding Huang Kecheng's arrangement, although Zhang Aiping was unwilling, she still obeyed the order. He was witty and decisive, commanded well, and led the Ninth Brigade to join Peng Xuefeng, supplementing Peng Xuefeng's troops with important combat forces.
Under the excellent command of Zhang Aiping, the Ninth Brigade cooperated with the rest of Peng Xuefeng's command and fought a beautiful guerrilla war. They set up numerous ambushes and dealt powerful blows to the Japanese army, putting the enemy in a situation of passive struggle in the base areas in Central China.
As a result of this adjustment, the revolutionary friendship between Peng Xuefeng, Huang Kecheng, and Zhang Aiping has also deepened. The three of them fought side by side in the flames of war, sharing life and death, and established a deep combat friendship.
After the 344th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army returned to Huang Kecheng's leadership, it was organized as the 10th Brigade of the 3rd Division of the New Fourth Army. Due to the loss of the base area in Luxi, Henan, Anhui and Suzhou, the northeast of Anhui was changed to the Huaibei Jiangsu-Anhui Border Region, and the Huaibei Military Region was established, and the main leaders were Deng Zihui, Liu Ruilong, and Peng Xuefeng.
end
Zhang Aiping was appointed deputy commander of the Northern Jiangsu Military Region and deputy commander of the Third Division, and jointly managed the Northern Jiangsu Border Region with Huang Kecheng. Soon, the military headquarters of the New Fourth Army and the Central China Bureau were also set up in northern Jiangsu, and Chen Yi and Liu Shaoqi both arrived in northern Jiangsu, so the border area of northern Jiangsu had greater development.