May 26th.
Xiaojiang and his staff team flew from Chongqing to Rongcheng to personally supervise the "bandit suppression" military.
In the early morning of that day, after learning that "there were Red Army plainclothes teams disrupting Xiao Tuan's defense line in Anshun Field," Liu Wenhui immediately ordered Yuan Guorui, the commander of his fourth brigade, to send a team to the Digging Dam to reinforce Xiao Tuan.
In the evening of that day, because they were worried about the loss of Feiyue Pass on the Sichuan-Kangma Highway, they changed their deployment and ordered the main force of Yuan's army to go to Feiyue Ridge, Hualinping, and Haizi Mountain to deploy defenses;
On the morning of the 27th, Liu Wenhui "set off from Ya'an and personally rushed to the front to supervise the suppression."
On the evening of the 27th, Liu Wenhui, who was on his way to Hanyuan, learned that the Red Army was moving upstream along both banks of the Dadu River. He was worried that the Red Army on the west bank was advancing towards Kangding and Luding, so he urgently ordered Yuan Guorui to send the first unit of the Fourth Brigade to Luding. Fixed bridge to increase defense.
Yuan Guorui then ordered the 38th Regiment (headed by Li Quanshan) to rush to Luding Bridge to prevent the Red Army's left column from crossing the river.
At the same time, the 11th Regiment (Commander Yang Kaicheng) was ordered to block the 1st Red Division moving up the river along the Haizi Mountain and Lengqi areas on the east bank of the Dadu River, and the 10th Regiment (Commander Xie Hongkan) was ordered to station at the eastern foot of Feiyue Ridge. From Toudaoqiao to the top of Feiyueling is the general reserve team, and the brigade headquarters is stationed in Longbapu.
...
At 1 o'clock in the morning on the 28th, Zhongge, who had learned from the left and right columns about the deployment of the Sichuan troops on both sides of the Dadu River, sent a telegram to the heads of the troops on both sides of the strait, asking the leading troops of the Red 1st Army of the left column to speed up their advance. "If the distance is too long, If we can’t reach Luding Bridge today, we should arrive tomorrow on the 29th.”
As for the right column, "the second regiment should also quickly pursue the enemy's first battalion on the north bank in order to cooperate with the fourth regiment's operation across the river."
Dawn on May 28th.
In order to arrive at Luding Bridge on time before May 30, the Fourth Red Regiment decided to eat one hour earlier than the originally scheduled time. They finished their meal and set off at 5 a.m.
There are still two days left, and the Fourth Red Regiment is still 240 miles away from Luding Bridge.
Running 120 miles a day is a bit difficult, but it’s not impossible.
However, not long after they left, they received a telegram from the Red Army.
"Wang and Yang: There is a call from the Central Revolutionary Army, restricting the left route army to seize the Luding Bridge tomorrow. You must use the highest marching speed and resolute maneuvering to complete this glorious and great task.
In this battle, you must break through the past record of capturing Daozhou and the fifth regiment's record of capturing Yaxi by running 160 miles in one day, and arrive at Luding Bridge at six o'clock tomorrow morning. "
Looking at the telegram in his hand, Captain Wang's face instantly became serious.
This is such a difficult and demanding task.
At this time, there were less than twenty-four hours before the deadline, and they were still two hundred and forty miles away from Luding Bridge.
The two-day journey had to be completed in one day, and we had to break through layers of enemy blockades. Time was really tight.
But this is a major task related to the safety of the entire army, which must be carried out resolutely without allowing a minute or a second of hesitation.
Commander Wang hurriedly gathered the troops and notified the order.
After running two hundred and forty miles in one day, after hearing the news, the soldiers' expressions did not change and they still looked at Commander Wang firmly.
"Comrades, if we cannot get to Luding Bridge in advance, we will no longer be able to cross the river. I believe that our Fourth Red Regiment is a team that can overcome any difficulties and create miracles."
Looking at the soldiers with resolute expressions, Commander Wang shouted loudly: "After running 240 meters, take the Luding Bridge!"
"yes!"
This single word alone is enough to show the determination of the Red Fourth Regiment.
There is no impossible task, only people who don't want to complete it.
"Set off."
Following the order from Commander Wang, the soldiers began to march towards Luding Bridge.
The Menghugang Pass is 2,100 meters above sea level. On the top of the mountain are two companies of Chen Yuejiang, commander of the second battalion of the first regiment of the second brigade of the Chuankang Reclamation Command. Li Guojun company of the second brigade special agent battalion is stationed at the bend east of the northern foot.
The Red Army arrived at a time of heavy fog, and the enemy could not clearly see the Red Army's movements, but fired aimlessly in the fortifications.
The Red Army used the heavy fog as a cover to sneak up to the edge of the pass fortifications and fired a row of grenades and machine guns. The enemy abandoned their formation and fled. The defeated enemy joined Li Guojun's company in the east bend and continued to retreat towards Guihuaping.
Taking advantage of the victory, the Red Army pursued the enemy into Luding County, defeated the enemy again at Guihuaping, continued through Gonghe, Zandi, Moxi, crossed Mogaoling, and arrived at Kuiwu Village at dusk.
The Fourth Red Regiment opened roads across mountains and built bridges across rivers.
In this rapid march, an enemy battalion was defeated.
It was still ninety-five miles from Kuiwu to Luding Bridge. At this time, it was raining heavily and the road was muddy.
"Crash..."
The soldiers had eaten before dawn, but in order to save time, they decided not to wait for cooking. Everyone ate uncooked rice and drank cold water.
The cadres immediately mobilized separately in the company. The soldiers resisted hunger, thirst and fatigue and moved forward rapidly.
After running 240, we won the Luding Bridge.
This is the only thought in the minds of the soldiers of the Fourth Red Regiment at this time. They know that the military orders are like mountains and they must rush towards Luding Bridge non-stop.
Facing the heavy rain and walking on the muddy road, under such harsh conditions, soldiers kept falling, but the determined red soldiers still did not choose to give up. They supported each other and moved forward, eating raw food when they were hungry. Rice, drink rainwater when you are thirsty.
When dawn was approaching on the 29th, the Red Army soldiers were tired and hungry after a day and night of rapid marching. They were extremely tired and their clothes were soaked.
But they also miraculously reached Luding Bridge.
Fulfilling their slogan, they finished 240 and reached Luding Bridge.
However, their mission is not yet complete.
Take the Luding Bridge!
Facing the defenders at the west bridge, the Fourth Red Regiment moved forward without stopping. They divided their troops into two groups, marched up the river and outflanked them all the way to the left. They soon seized Haizi Mountain, the commanding heights that controlled the Luding Bridge.
Immediately afterwards, they occupied the west bridge of Luding Bridge.
...
Luding Bridge is located in the west of Luding City, spanning the surging Dadu River.
The bridge is 101 meters long and more than two meters wide. Thirteen thick iron cables are used to connect the east and west banks. The nine iron cables are the bottom cables. Each one is about one foot apart, and wooden boards are laid on top to facilitate the passage of people.
There are two iron ropes on each side as handrails. When people walk into the bridge, the bridge body swings left and right. If you look down, you will see the bottomless abyss which is terrifying.
Luding Bridge is the choke point between Sichuan Province and Kangzang area, and it is also the only place where the Red Army marches north.
However, Xiaojiang's judgment of the Red Army's crossing point was the Ningya righteous path of "one line of communication", and Luding Bridge was in a "corner position" in the defensive deployment.
Therefore, when he discovered that the Red Army was crossing the river from Anshun Field, he felt the threat to Luding Bridge and began to urgently mobilize troops to defend Luding Bridge.
In fact, the defenders of Luding Bridge arrived only one night before the Fourth Red Regiment.
In order to prevent the Red Army from crossing the river, they directly removed the wooden planks on the Luding Bridge, leaving only thirteen cold iron locks.
At the same time, fortifications were built near the east bridge head, and dozens of light and heavy machine guns were mounted, giving the Red Army no chance to cross the river.
...
The Fourth Red Regiment held a cadre meeting at the Catholic Church in Sapa and decided to select 22 heroes from the Second Battalion and Second Company to form a bridge-capture commando team.
"Comrades, the final battle is coming."
"Yesterday, the enemy thought that our straw sandals could not run out of time. They were wrong. Now we are standing here."
"Today, the enemy wanted to use these thirteen iron chains to stop and strangle us, but they were wrong again!"
"Because you are the heroic twenty-two warriors of the Red Army. For the comrades who sacrificed their lives along the way, for the survival of the Red Army, and for the ideals in our hearts, we must win this Bridge of Life."
The pre-war mobilization was completed, and just when Commander Wang was about to order an attack, the arrival of a telegram disrupted his deployment.
"Commander Wang, our Red 100 Regiment can reach near the east bank of Luding Bridge and launch artillery bombardment on the enemy at any time. When our troops are bombarding, you can seize the time to lay planks.
Please do not organize a commando. The lives of our Red Army soldiers are precious.
Red 100 Group, Yang Dingguo! "
Yang Dingguo, Red 100 Regiment!
There has been no news since they crossed the river. The consecutive days of fighting made them subconsciously ignore the existence of the Red 100 Regiment.
I didn't expect them to show up at such a critical moment.
"Well done, boy. You came just in time!"
...
On the other side, after Yang Dingguo led the Red 100 Regiment across the river, they headed towards Luding Bridge. In order not to be discovered by the enemy, they took small roads along the way.
Although it would take some detours, he would definitely be able to reach Luding Bridge before the 29th, but he was still discovered by the enemy.
I was slowed down, so I arrived now.
"Damn it, I almost didn't make it!"
Looking at the thirteen iron locks not far away, Yang Dingguo took a deep breath.
The feats of the Twenty-Two Heroes are certainly admirable, but if possible, Yang Dingguo does not want to see this happen.
He just wants these heroes to live well.
"Old Zhao, fire the cannon and blow these idiots up to the sky."
"yes."
"Boom boom boom..."
Fifty mortars roared angrily, and a large number of shells hit the enemy's position as if they were free.
Those fortifications, city walls... in front of the countless cannonballs, they were like paper, and were instantly wiped out.
Faced with such a large-scale artillery bombardment, the Sichuan Army troops, who were still confident, immediately asked for help from the Sichuan and Kang Fourth Brigade.
But they thought too much. At this time, the headquarters of the 4th Chuankang Brigade was being attacked by the 1st Red Division, and there were no extra people available to support them.
They had no choice but to retreat.
In this way, Luding Bridge, which the Red Army had to pay heavy casualties to capture, was easily captured.
...
PS: The heroic deeds of flying to seize the Luding Bridge are indeed tragic, but I believe that as long as a Chinese travels back to that era and has the ability, he will definitely prevent this kind of thing from happening.
So the author chose to change this paragraph, hoping it can be understood.
