The year 1941 was a critical period in the War of Resistance Against Japan. In this year, the Battle of the Hundred Regiments under the guidance of Peng Dehuai achieved remarkable results, bringing an unprecedented blow to the Japanese army. This victory also aroused the full attention of the Japanese army to the Eighth Route Army, and the commander of the Japanese North China Front, Okamura Ninji, mobilized a large number of troops in an attempt to eliminate China's anti-Japanese forces in one fell swoop. Against this background, the top leadership of the Eighth Route Army had to face a more severe strategic situation and repeatedly carried out difficult retreats and transfers. Yang Chengwu, as the commander and political commissar of the First Army Subdivision of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region, his choices and actions are directly related to the life and death of hundreds of soldiers.
At the end of the summer of 1941, more than 700 soldiers led by Yang Chengwu were advancing north from Tang County, and the destination was Huata Mountain, which was dangerous. This location was chosen because of its defensive terrain and its distance from the main roads, making it an ideal hiding place.
Early one morning before dawn, with the first rays of dawn in the sky, Yang Chengwu stood on the ridge of the mountain and looked around with a telescope. His staff officer, Staff Officer Zhou, stood beside him, and the breath of the two turned white in the cool air.
"Commander, we have a wide field of vision here, and the terrain is steep, even if the Japanese army finds us, it will be difficult to attack us directly." Staff Officer Zhou tried to comfort Commander Yang.
Yang Chengwu frowned, he knew that things were not so simple, "The high ground is certainly difficult to attack, but it is also easy to be trapped. Once the enemy surrounds us, we will have no way to escape. ”
As the two were talking, they were interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps. The intelligence officer panted and reported: "Commander, there is urgent news from the Dapingdi intelligence station, the Japanese army has begun to assemble here, and the number is expected to be no less than five thousand. ”
This news was like a thunderbolt from the sky, and Yang Chengwu's heart sank. He immediately summoned all the cadres and deployed an emergency evacuation plan. Just as they were preparing to evacuate, they received an even more heartbreaking news: more than 200 students at Bethune's school, most of them girls under the age of 18, were also retreating towards Huata Mountain.
Yang Chengwu's mood was extremely complicated. He ordered that food and water sources be prepared immediately, and at the same time send reconnaissance teams to look for possible routes to break out. In a tense atmosphere, the sky was completely bright.
Suddenly, a scout came running and reported, "Commander, the tents of the Japanese army have surrounded the entire foot of the mountain, and we are completely surrounded. ”
Yang Chengwu took a deep breath, he knew that the next decision might be related to everyone's life and death. "Gather everyone, we must fight a bloody way out, no matter what the cost."
The battle began. The soldiers of the Eighth Route Army engaged in a fierce confrontation with the Japanese army. Under the firm command of Yang Chengwu, although the breakthrough operation was tragic, it was extremely decisive. Taking advantage of the favorable terrain of the mountains, they set up ambushes and dealt heavy blows to the enemy. In the firefights again and again, the team of more than 700 people showed unparalleled courage and perseverance.
After the day and night battle, despite heavy casualties, Yang Chengwu and his troops managed to break through the Japanese encirclement and lead the surviving soldiers and the schoolgirls to another hidden mountain area safely. Although they were physically and mentally exhausted, their hearts were filled with a firm belief in the future victory of the war.
In this history of blood and fire, Yang Chengwu and his soldiers showed an indomitable spirit of resistance. Their stories are not only vivid memories of the brutal war, but also a strong call for the continuous struggle for the future. In them, we see not only the fighting spirit to survive, but also the embodiment of a deep desire for freedom and peace. This history should not be forgotten, as it reminds us of how the value of peace has been forged again and again with flesh and life in the flames and smoke of gunpowder. Everyone who perseveres and sacrifices in the struggle is an eternal hero in our memory, and their stories are a continuous inspiration for future generations.