When the Central Plains broke through, which unit performed "eye-catching"?
There is no doubt that this is the 1st Column and 1st Brigade of the Central Plains Military Region led by Pi Dingjun, and the brigade is tasked with containing the enemy and finding the direction of breakthrough on its own. After several fierce battles, the leather brigade broke through to the east and finally arrived at the Suzhou-Anhui base area.
The troops were temporarily incorporated into the Central China Army to participate in the organization, and were reorganized into the 13th Brigade of the Central China Army, Pi Dingdu was the brigade commander, Xu Zirong was the political commissar, Fang Shengpu was the deputy brigade commander, and Guo Linxin was the director of the Political Department.
In January 1947, after the establishment of Huaye, the 13th Brigade was reorganized into the East China Independent Division, which was assigned to the 1st Vertical Yefei Column in the Laiwu Campaign and the Menglianggu Campaign. At this time, the leadership of the independent division was adjusted, and Pi Dingjun was transferred to the 6th Column as deputy commander and was promoted. Fang Shengpu served as the division commander, the political commissar was still Xu Zirong, and the director of the political department Guo Linxiang.
In December 1947, the independent division received an order to return to the establishment and went to the Shanxi, Hebei, Shandong, and Henan Military Regions to persist in fighting on the inner line. After the arrival of the troops, the military region formed the 13th column with independent divisions and local troops of the Taihang Military Region, and appointed Zeng Shaoshan as commander, Xu Zirong as political commissar, Guo Linxiang continued to serve as director of the political department, and Fang Shengpu was transferred from the field troops to the Taiyue Military Region as deputy commander and chief of staff.
At this time, Zeng Shaoshan was not in the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Military Region, but followed Liu Deng's main force to open up a base in western Anhui in the Dabie Mountains, serving as the deputy commander of the third column and the commander of the Western Anhui Military Region, and there was the focus of the battlefield, and he did not arrive in the end. It is said that the main force of the 13th column is an independent division, why can't Fang Shengpu be the commander of the column, and he has to be transferred?
Maybe the qualifications are not enough, which can be confirmed from two points.
First, in the formation of the 13th Column, the commander did not choose the cadres of the Independent Division, nor did he choose the cadres of the Taihang Military Region, but chose Zeng Shaoshan, the deputy commander of the 3rd Column. He has been fighting in the main combat force for a long time and has rich combat experience, and his appointment as commander can enable the troops to be rapidly promoted in terms of command. His qualifications are not low, and he has served as the deputy commander of the column for a long time, so he can take charge of his own position in terms of position.
Second, Zeng Shaoshan did not arrive, and he changed from Wei Jie of the 14th Column to the commander of the 13th Column. Wei Jie was the deputy commander of the 6th Column, and together with Wang Jinshan, he commanded many tough battles, such as the Battle of Longhai and the Battle of Dingtao. The Northern Henan Campaign, the Southwest Lu Campaign, and the Battle of the Dabie Mountains fought many tough battles with Du Yide. He was originally transferred to the 14th Column, but because Zeng Shaoshan did not arrive, it was changed to the 13th Column.
In other words, the commander of the 13th Column arranged by the higher authorities needs to be a commander with old qualifications and rich combat experience. Zeng Shaoshan and Wei Jie are both generals who can take charge on their own.
In terms of position, Fang Shengpu was changed from division commander to deputy commander of the military region, which can be regarded as a promotion. Assist Commander Liu Zhong and participate in internal operations.
Not long after, the main force of the Taiyue Military Region was changed to the 15th Column, with Liu Zhong as the commander and Fang Shengpu as the deputy commander, and returned to the combat unit again.