The beacon of youth

From Xining in Qinghai to Zhangye in Gansu, the straight-line distance is 350 kilometers. This 350 kilometers is the distance on the map at that time. In fact, you need to climb mountains and cross rivers to walk, turn left and take the wrong road. The real marching distance is can never be calculated.

This is an uninhabited road. The so-called road is just stepped on by looking at the map and the compass in your hand. There are no roads without people.

After listening to the introduction of the left-behind personnel in Xining, Li Yong was so impatient that he ordered the troops to set off immediately and catch up with the troops at the fastest speed. It is best to catch up with the main force of the army before passing Qilian Mountain.

The brigade commander's anxiety made everyone very puzzled, and even Wang Chengde, the political commissar, couldn't help asking: "Dayong, don't be in such a hurry, do you still not believe in the combat effectiveness of our second army? Even if the enemy has two armies, so what, we don't Fear him, fight and win as usual."

Wang Chengde is very confident in his old army. The enemies the Second Army will face are the 91st Army and 120th Army of the Kuomintang. The frightened bird, fearing the encirclement of our army's large forces, did not dare to stand up even if it faced it head-on.

There is a reason why Li Yong is so anxious. He does not believe in the combat effectiveness of the Second Army. The Second Army is the main force of the Northwest Field Army and the First Corps. It is an old Red Army unit. Even if the ** brigade exceeds [-], it is simply impossible for the enemy to eat them with such a force. Li Yong is worried for another reason.

"Old Wang, the combat effectiveness of our Second Army is nothing to say. What I am worried about is how they will pass Qilian Mountain. The biggest threat to our old army is not the Kuomintang army, but the low temperature on Qilian Mountain."

The lack of logistical support has always been a shortcoming of the People's Liberation Army, and it can also be said to be a weakness. It has been like this since the Red Army period, and it failed to reach the level of the Kuomintang army during the War of Liberation.In particular, the Northwest Field Army is the poorest and worst of the several major field armies. Most of the materials have to be transported by animal power. After entering the depths of the Hexi Corridor, it is getting farther and farther away from the rear base.The problem of insufficient supplies has become more and more prominent.

When Li Yong said this, Wang Chengde also understood that the Second Army has been fighting continuously for more than two months since the Battle of Fumei, and has never been well rested. A tired army, coupled with thin clothes, has difficulty in food after the battle line is stretched.The soldiers don't have much food in their stomachs, which will cause great trouble to the troops.

Wang Chengde is a veteran, and he is very aware of the importance of equipment to the army. He knows that if there is no food in his stomach, he will not be able to withstand the cold.There will definitely be losses if you just bite the bullet and go up the mountain.

"Dayong, what do you think should be done?"

"There is no way. It is impossible to rely on the local government to supplement food and supplies. Even if they want to supply it now, it is too late. There is no one in Qilian Mountains. The only way is to catch up with the troops and stop the main force. Take out all the supplies in our brigade and equip the main force, so as to reduce losses, this is the only way."

Li Yong wanted to catch up with the main force of the Second Army as soon as possible, and use the wealth saved by the ** brigade to supplement the army.Don't look at Li Yong, it depends on when, it should be used when it is critical, everything is based on the overall interests, this is the overall concept, and Wang Chengde really only has this trick when he thinks about it.The Second Army has three divisions and one brigade. In terms of the abundance of material reserves, the main divisions are really not as good as the ** brigade.

The ** brigade set off after only having a hot meal in Xining. According to the order of the brigade headquarters, it advanced at full speed and tried every means to catch up with the main force of the army.

At this time, the benefits of mechanized marching are reflected. The wheels are rolling, and the marching speed is getting faster and faster. After crossing Datong and Nantan, they finally caught up with the troops at the foot of Qilian Mountains in a small place called Ebao.

The Qilian Mountains are located on the border between the northeastern part of Qinghai Province and the western part of Gansu Province in China. It consists of several parallel mountains and wide valleys running from northwest to southeast.Because it is located on the south side of the Hexi Corridor, it is also known as Nanshan.The western end meets the Altun Mountains at the Dangjin Pass.From the east end to the Yellow River Valley, it is connected with Qinling Mountains and Liupan Mountains.Nearly 1000 kilometers long.It is a fold fault block mountain.The widest point is between Jiuquan City and the Qaidam Basin, reaching 300 kilometers.From north to south, it includes Daxue Mountain, Tuolai Mountain, Tuolai Nanshan, Yema Nanshan, Shule Nanshan, Danghenan Mountain, Turgen Daban Mountain, Qaidam Mountain and Zongwulong Mountain.Most of the peaks are 4000-5000 meters above sea level, and the highest peak, Tuanjie Peak in Shule Nanshan Mountain, is 5808 meters above sea level.The peaks above 4000 meters above sea level are covered with snow all the year round, and the valleys between the mountains are also between 3000 and 3500 meters above sea level.

It is time to cross the Snow Mountain. Some of the commanders at all levels of the Second Army are old Red Army veterans who have experienced the Long March. They have experience in climbing snow mountains. As a way to resist the cold, Army Commander Guo Peng, Political Commissar Wang Enmao, and Deputy Army Commander Chen are all leading the soldiers around to collect food and clothing, but the problems encountered by the troops are not easy to solve.

There is no local government, no base, no enthusiastic people in the old districts, and a large army of tens of thousands of horses. How can we raise the supplies needed by the army under the uninhabited snow mountain? The limited reserve is a drop in the bucket. At that moment, a little soldier hurried over: "Chief——Chief, signal, signal, signal from the ** brigade."

**trip?Commander Guo Peng and the others were all stunned. Recently, the ** Brigade has been frequently mobilized by the headquarters and the head of the Corps to perform tasks alone. The Second Army has not included them in the plan for a long time when performing combat tasks.

"Really? Did your communications company make any mistakes?" Commander Guo Peng asked in disbelief.

"Chief, there is really no mistake. The ** brigade is only a dozen kilometers away from us now. After a while, you can talk to them directly with a walkie-talkie." .

Commander Guo Peng looked at Political Commissar Wang Enmao, then at Deputy Commander Chen. Several people looked at each other and laughed again. Commander Guo Peng shouted loudly: "Damn, these boys came at the right time, let the reconnaissance company Go get them."

With a distance of more than ten kilometers, with the marching speed of the ** brigade, it only took more than half an hour to arrive. When the truck of the vanguard of the ** brigade appeared in the sight of the soldiers, the Qilian Mountains suddenly boiled. After going out for so many days, the ** brigade finally found his old troops and found his home. They haven't been together for a few months. It is said that the time is not long, but in the war years, it is possible to sacrifice every day Under such circumstances, the period of several months seems extremely long.

Cheers, yelling, laughing and cursing, the two troops huddled together in an instant, everyone was looking for old comrades and old comrades, everyone was asking each other about the recent situation of old comrades, the scene was so lively that it was like celebrating the New Year, Of course, there are joys and sorrows among them, and they are all okay with each other, laughing and scolding together: he nainai, why are you still alive, and then exchange souvenirs, and those who know that there are comrades who sacrificed can only be Wipe away my tears.

The Second Army and the ** Brigade have been fighting frequently in the recent period. A large number of cadres and soldiers have died. They will never see each other again after a few months. Grief is a long-lasting human feeling. I am used to sacrifice and death. Although these tough guys are indifferent to the casualties on the battlefield, but that is only on the battlefield, when there is no way to do it, they appear that way. Once the battle is over, sadness will shroud their hearts for a long time. War is indeed Cruel.

Li Yong and Wang Chengde, led by soldiers from the reconnaissance company of the Second Army, arrived at the headquarters of the Second Army immediately. Just a table and a few stools.

From a distance, I saw the figures of several old chiefs. Li Yong and Wang Chengde were excited, and rushed over at a trot. Several army chiefs greeted them early. Commander Guo Peng gave Li Yong and Wang Chengde who stood in front of him a salute. Everyone fisted, and then shouted loudly: "Just come back, I know you have done a good job, come on, don't stand around outside, come in and talk."

Still go back to my old army to be kind, to see everything well, without any sense of restraint, the two of them came to the tent with several chiefs, political commissar Wang Enmao introduced to Li Yong and Wang Chengde proudly: "How about it, let's This military department is okay? It’s not much worse than your ** brigade. Look at this big tent. They were all seized from Ma’s army. It’s said that Ma’s army is old and poor. I don’t think so. .”

Commissar Wang Enmao was really right. Whether it is the Qingma Army or the Ningma Army, although the weapons and equipment are not very good, but because there are many cavalry in the army, tents are a kind of military supplies that must be prepared. There are self-made ones. There are also imported goods. The military headquarters of the Second Army is just a few big American-style tents.

Deputy Commander Chen was the old brigade commander of the original fourth brigade, and he was also the direct leader of Li Yong and Wang Chengde. At this time, he hurriedly pulled them over and asked about the situation of the troops in detail. Whether the casualties were serious or not, Li Yong and Wang Chengde answered one by one.

The happy time passed quickly, and it was almost noon in a blink of an eye. Commissar Wang Enmao told Li Yong and Wang Chengde that you two are having lunch at the military headquarters today, and there are good things to entertain you. (to be continued..)

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