In February 1979, Viet Nam openly provoked and harassed our borders, and despite repeated dissuasions, it was unable to achieve a positive response. When our army was preparing to enter the border of Vietnam to start a war, Wang Bicheng, the commander who commanded the operation against Vietnam, was suddenly replaced by Deng Gong.
However, the imminent change of commander in the big war can be described as a taboo for soldiers, so what is going on here?
The party leaders planned to divide the PLA soldiers into two routes, along the southern border, and officially enter the territory of Vietnam.
In the early stage of this strategy, a general election was held for the selection of commanders, and Xu Shiyou, commander of the Guangzhou Military Region, was elected as the commander of the Eastern Front; on the other hand, Yunnan was another important strategic point in the war, and Wang Bicheng, as the commander of the Kunming Military Region at that time, naturally became the best candidate for commander of the Western Front.
However, under the order of Duke Deng, Wang Bicheng was replaced. In a military operation, a change of commander is undoubtedly a bold and risky decision. The reason behind this action has been full of speculation and controversy until now.
For the many questions from the outside world, for Deng Gong's decision-making, it is not a distrust of Wang Bicheng's ability. On the contrary, Wang Bicheng once enjoyed the prestige of "Wang Laohu" with his extraordinary military talent and bravery.
At that time, our country was in the period of the civil war between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, and when the 74th Division led by Lieutenant General Zhang Lingfu of the Kuomintang put great pressure on the People's Liberation Army in Lianshui, Wang Bicheng arrived in time and skillfully used the terrain to surprise Zhang Linfu, reversed the tide of the war, and finally completed the total annihilation of the 74th Division.
Based on such a brilliant record, ** personally awarded Wang Bicheng the rank of lieutenant general after the founding of the country.
So, in this counterattack against Vietnam, why did Deng Gong insist on replacing this veteran?At the military conference at that time, although the command of the Eastern Front was indisputably handed over to the experienced Xu Shiyou, the position of the commander of the Western Front became a key point of contention.
Since there was no general in the Southwest Military Region at that time, many people proposed to deploy marshal-level ** to command, but this proposal was ultimately vetoed by Deng Gong.
Among the many candidates, Qin Jiwei, the former commander of the Kunming Military Region, is seen as the ideal candidate. Qin Jiwei was not only experienced, but also had a high prestige in Yunnan, so everyone agreed, but he also had conflicts with some people because of this, and was transferred to Beijing.
In this case, Wang Bicheng appeared in the field of vision of the decision-making level. Although his seniority appeared a little shallow in front of many veteran generals, his performance and ability won universal recognition. Therefore, at a meeting, everyone tentatively decided that Wang Bicheng would be the commander-in-chief of the Western Front.
However, as Wang Bicheng prepared to take on this important task, the situation changed. After thinking deeply, Deng Gong decided to change the commander of the Western Front.
At the subsequent meeting, Deng Gong confessed his concerns. Although Wang Bicheng's resume is very good, in this Western Front operation, he will not command ordinary soldiers, but a group of generals with equal qualifications or even higher qualifications. Some of these generals are stubborn and difficult to navigate.
After many discussions, Deng Gong announced that Yang Dezhi would become the commander-in-chief of the Western Front. The decision was a surprise to the participants, who expressed doubts and confusion as to the reasons for the decision.
In fact, Yang Dezhi demonstrated outstanding military command ability as early as the Long March. In the fierce battle in Naola Town, the Red Regiment under his command showed bravery and won high praise.
During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, Yang Dezhi once again made great achievements, leading his troops to inflict heavy losses and defeat the Japanese Baiyuan Division. After the outbreak of the Korean War, he also achieved outstanding results in the Battle of Shangganling and the Battle of Jincheng.
Not only that, Yang has a very in-depth knowledge of Vietnam. In 1976, when the relationship between China and Vietnam was relatively friendly, Yang Dezhi went to Vietnam on behalf of the ** Military Commission to provide military guidance for his army, so that he was very familiar with the Vietnamese army and the local geography. And this is exactly what Wang Bicheng does not have.
In addition, Wang Bicheng was in poor health at the time and had suffered from cerebral thrombosis for many years. This, combined with the long hours of exertion before the war, made his physical condition worse.
Therefore, Deng Gong's order was recognized by everyone. Deng Gong himself also compared this military operation to a lesson in correcting disobedient children in a humorous tone.
Although Wang Bicheng, who learned that he had been replaced, felt regretful, he did not show displeasure. He regretted that he could not personally go to the battlefield to show his skills, so after careful consideration, he wrote a letter to his sons and daughters, encouraging them to participate in the war and contribute to the defense of the country with practical actions.
The children also expressed deep admiration for their father's sincerity. Therefore, without saying a word, they took up their guns and went into battle one after another. Even the pregnant daughter-in-law is determined to go to the front. Although the people around him were dissuading, after learning about it, Wang Bicheng strongly supported it, and praised: "Although I can't go to the battlefield myself, but with you and the child in my womb, there are three and a half people in our family who have contributed to the war!"”
It is undeniable that Wang Bicheng's profound understanding of righteousness is admirable. It is because of the example he has set in the family that the whole family has competed to support the motherland.
Quick. As soon as Deng Gong issued the order, Yang Dezhi quickly went to Yunnan, and Wang Bicheng, who had been replaced in command, did not hesitate and immediately rushed to Wuhan to temporarily take charge of the Wuhan Military Region.
On February 17, 1979, at dawn, PLA soldiers assembled at the Yunnan border and prepared to set off for the Vietnamese border. On this day, the wheel of history began to spin in a new way, and Commander Yang Dezhi became a key figure in pushing history forward. The force he led was huge and consisted of ten divisions.
As he was about to set off, Deng Gong gave clear instructions: the battle should be resolved quickly, and the Vietnamese army should be given a lightning speed, while avoiding leaving opportunities for other countries to take advantage of. Quick solutions have become a strategic goal.
Before the official start of the war, Yang Dezhi and Xu Shiyou decided to send an advance force to respond. The soldiers of the People's Liberation Army quietly reached the Red River on the border.
Unbeknownst to the enemy, the PLA completed the rapid crossing of the Red River.
The successful crossing of the Red River marked the completion of the first step of the campaign. Yang Dezhi immediately commanded the troops to establish a defensive position on the opposite bank and lay a pontoon bridge over the Red River to ensure the continuous delivery of follow-up troops and logistical materials.
The soldiers, who had crossed the river in advance, continued to penetrate deep into the territory of Vietnam, constantly breaking down the enemy's defenses. The army on the Western Front broke through to a depth of 40 kilometers over Vietnam in just a few days. In contrast, the offensive on the Eastern Front was a little slow, but it also hit a depth of 20 kilometers.
The intensity of the PLA's offensive exceeded the expectations of the Vietnamese side. A number of strategic points in northern Vietnam have fallen into the hands of the PLA, and the strategic deployment of the Vietnamese army is almost useless under the precise command of Yang Dezhi. Especially on the Western Front, the Vietnamese army collapsed after almost no effective resistance.
As the armies of the eastern and western fronts gradually approached Hanoi, the goal of the counterattack against Vietnam was initially achieved. Under the unified dispatch of the ** Military Commission, the troops began to withdraw from the battlefield in an orderly manner. Throughout mid-March, both main forces returned safely. This sudden war ended in the warm breeze of spring.
Looking back at the scene at that time, Deng Gong's calm and decisive decision to change the coach when the war was about to break out not only showed a keen insight into the current situation, but also highlighted his leadership style of daring to break the routine and act decisively in times of crisis.