In the spring of 1943, the Japanese army in Jiangsu in East China concentrated more than 10,000 troops and launched a large-scale "sweep", with two targets for attacking, one was the Yanfu anti-Japanese base area of the New Fourth Army, and the other was the Huai'an area where the Kuomintang Han Deqin was located.
Although Han Deqin was the chairman of the Kuomintang Jiangsu Province, he thought that he could not defeat the Japanese army, so he had to send someone to the 3rd Division of Huang Kecheng of the New Fourth Army to make a request for "cooperation":
1. It is hoped that a commercial organization will be set up in Yilin Town, Funing, to eliminate the restrictions on the transportation between the Korean headquarters and the rear;
2. The two armies of the Communist Party of Northern Jiangsu cooperated together to counter the "sweep".
Division Commander Huang Kecheng warmly welcomed the visitors, and then revised a letter to Han Deqin, explaining to Han Deqin the position of the New Fourth Army in uniting to resist Japan, and saying that the cooperation between the two armies in the anti-"sweeping" could be further discussed.
Then, Huang Kecheng telegraphed the matter to the military department.
Chen Yi said: "Han Deqin's dispatch this time is a temptation, but we can still express a positive and cooperative attitude. ”
Therefore, the military department sent a telegram to Huang Kecheng and clearly pointed out that it was possible to cooperate with Han Deqin, but the other party was not allowed to engage in any sabotage, and relevant matters could be negotiated and studied together.
On February 8, Han Deqin sent three more representatives to the 3rd Division with his own handwritten letter to Huang Kecheng. Han Deqin said a lot of polite words in the letter, but there was not much substance. After reading the letter, Huang Kecheng said:
"Deputy Commander-in-Chief Han has a lot of matters to withhold the appointment, and the key point is that the Japanese puppets are about to sweep Caodian and Cheqiao, and we hope to get the understanding and consent of the New Fourth Army, and when the enemy sweeps up, the South Korean headquarters and provincial government organs can be transferred to the New Fourth Army defense area if necessary."
Huang Kecheng didn't dare to call the shots, and urgently telegraphed the military department to report.
On 10 February, Chen Yi sent a telegram, pointing out that if the Japanese puppets "sweeped" Han Deqin, we should do our best to help the war, so that he would have no worries about us and concentrate on fighting the enemy. However, the ROK side demanded that when the enemy "sweeped" us, the ROK side should make a reciprocal demand, not to engage in sabotage, and not to occupy our base areas.
As a result, Huang Kecheng negotiated with three representatives of Han Deqin, agreed on terms such as joint anti-"sweeping" and mutual assistance, and signed them.
Subsequently, Huang Kecheng promised in a letter to Han Deqin: If the enemy "sweeps" the South Korean area, 1. The New Fourth Army should cooperate in the operation to contain the enemy. 2. When it is difficult for the Han deputy headquarters and the provincial government to communicate with each other, they can transfer to the area controlled by the New Fourth Army in Funing.
Han Deqin's representative also promised that no matter how far the "sweep" goes, he will ensure that the following points will be achieved: 1. The enemy will "sweep" the New Fourth Army area, and the ROK will not move in the original defense. 2. In the event that the enemy "sweeps" the Korean area and the Korean government moves to the agreed area, the local government agencies and public organizations will not be infringed upon and protected. 3. The enemy's "sweep" stopped, and the ROK immediately returned to its original defensive position.
On February 15, Huang Kecheng sent a telegram to Chen Yi and Yan'an about the negotiations and a letter to Han Deqin, which was fully affirmed by the military department and the central government.
After the return of the South Korean negotiators, the Japanese army began to launch a "sweeping" attack on Han Deqin's station. As a result, Han's Deqin department collapsed at the first touch, and the whole line was defeated.
According to the agreement between the two sides, the 3rd Division of the New Fourth Army kept its promise and made frequent sorties to support the enemy. After the defeat of Han Deqin's department, he entered the control area of the 3rd Division of the New Fourth Army. The New Fourth Army treated each other with courtesy and helped them to recuperate. Huang Kecheng allocated a batch of grain, grass and funds to help Han's Deqin Department.
The move of the New Fourth Army also greatly moved the lower-level officers and men of the ROK department. Han Deqin himself wrote to Chen Yi and said gratefully:
"Thank you for your kindness, and never forget your kindness."
Subsequently, the Japanese army then "swept up" the Yanfu area of the New Fourth Army. Who knew that Han Deqin was treacherous, and he took revenge, and from March 1, he took the opportunity to attack the Huaibei base area of the New Fourth Army.
This angered Chen Yi and ordered: "Fight back by force and expel Han Deqin." ”
On March 17, the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Divisions of the New Fourth Army jointly launched the Battle of Shanzitou, which lasted 15 hours. They completely annihilated the headquarters of Han Deqin, its Sixth Independent Brigade and the Third Security Column, captured more than 1,000 officers and soldiers below Han Deqin, and killed Han Deqin's column commander Wang Guangxia and independent brigade commander Li Zhongshi.
After Han Deqin was captured, he had to make a note and promise not to be anti-communist again, so he was sent out of the country by the New Fourth Army.
Chen Guanren's "Ten Marshals of the Chinese People's Liberation Army: The Little-Known History of the Ten Commanders of the People's Liberation Army," published by the CPC History Publishing House, recounted the incident, which is the society's annual bestseller and once ranked first on China's military bestseller list (pictured).