Chapter 28: A Fierce Assault on Gulin Draws Out the Enemy; Crossing the Chishui River Four Times

Chapter 28: Attacking Gulin to Lure the Enemy; The Fourth Crossing of the Chishui

The murky waves of the Chishui River slapped against the makeshift ferry, while the scent of liquor from Maotai Town was completely overwhelmed by the acrid stench of gunpowder and sweat. The soldiers of the Independent Regiment rowed in silence or huddled in the boat’s cabin, exhaustion clinging to them like heavy, damp quilts.

They had barely rested for a day after setting foot on the soil of southern Sichuan when an urgent order arrived from Corps Commander Dong Zhentang. Wang Lin unfolded the telegram, his eyes sweeping over the text. His tightly furrowed brows first registered shock, then slowly relaxed, a trace of comprehension curling the corners of his mouth.

"Comrade Wang Lin: Since our crossing of the Chishui, the enemy has been pressing in from the east, south, and north. To fully mobilize the enemy and create an opportunity for an eastward advance, the Military Commission assigns your regiment the following task: Disguise yourselves as our main vanguard and, with great fanfare, launch a fierce assault on Gulin County! You must ensure the enemy remains convinced that our intention is still to push west and cross the Yangtze River to the north. The Gulin garrison consists only of one battalion of Sichuan troops and a local security regiment of about two hundred men, with lax defenses. Your unit must break the city with the force of thunder and create a strong illusion of our main force pushing west. The core of this mission is to create a deception that lures the enemy westward! Once the task is completed, find an opportunity to link up with the main force. This mission concerns the overall situation; it must be executed decisively, rapidly, and realistically! Fifth Corps Headquarters, Dong Zhentang."

A feigned attack on Gulin was precisely the move needed to keep the Sichuan, Yunnan, and even parts of the Central Army moving west, creating an opportunity for the main force to unexpectedly cross the Chishui back to the east. The Independent Regiment, the only unit to have "cracked" Zhou Hunyuan’s shell at Lubanchang, was undoubtedly the perfect bait to deceive the enemy and make them believe the "main force of the Red Army is here." The Corps' task was clear: capture Gulin and create the illusion of a determined westward advance.

"Regiment, assemble!" Wang Lin’s voice was resolute, instantly dispelling the lethargy following the river crossing. "The Corps has issued an order! A tough battle! Target—Gulin County! Make a scene, take Gulin!"

The order was as firm as a mountain, and the Independent Regiment, that weary yet precise war machine, began to operate at high speed once more. A forced march! The target was Gulin! As he hurried along, Wang Lin mentally pulled up a 3D map; the contours of Gulin County became clear. The walls were not high, but the gates were heavy wood reinforced with iron plating. The garrison was undisciplined—just as the intelligence suggested, a ragtag battalion plus a mob of security troops, utterly lacking the tension of an impending battle.

"Zhong Guangbang! Liu Gensheng!" Wang Lin called out in a low voice.

"Here!" The two stepped forward immediately.

"How many of those 'iron pipes' from Lubanchang are left? What about the gunpowder and explosives?"

"Report, Regiment Commander! Five pipes are still in perfect condition! We have the reinforced iron hoops as well! We have enough black powder and captured explosives to pack a dozen big charges!" Zhong Guangbang replied.

"Good! Liu Gensheng, pick the best gunners, work with Quartermaster Zhong, and assemble three 'iron pipe cannons' immediately! Target: Gulin’s East Gate! Blow it open for me! We need speed and decisive action; the more noise, the better!"

"Yes! Guaranteed to complete the mission!" Liu Gensheng and Zhong Guangbang took their orders and left.

The Sichuan sentries on the walls of Gulin were nodding off, clutching their rifles, when they were suddenly jolted awake by the dust rising in the distance. They saw a unit flying red flags (deliberately carrying extra unit banners), marching in perfect formation, and equipped with high-quality gear (the captured Central Army equipment finally coming in handy), charging toward the city with the momentum of a main force!

"Red... Red bandits! The Red bandits are here! Quick! Close the gates! Beat the drums!" The sentries were terrified out of their wits. The walls were instantly thrown into chaos, and sporadic gunfire broke out.

Wang Lin reined in his horse and watched the confusion on the city walls through his binoculars. "Hmph, a mob!" he sneered, waving his hand toward the "iron pipe cannon" position: "Fire!"

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Three dull roars like the growl of the earth! Three mortar-sized, custom-made explosive charges were thrust out of the crude iron pipes by violent blasts of air, whistling with bone-chilling intensity as they slammed into Gulin’s East Gate!

"BOOM—!!!"

Earth-shattering explosions erupted almost simultaneously! The heavy, iron-clad wooden gates disintegrated instantly under the terrifying shockwaves! Blistering heat mixed with rubble, wood splinters, and shrapnel swept through the city! Half of the gate tower collapsed; thick smoke and flames soared into the sky!

"Charge—!!!"

Before the dust of the explosion had settled, the First Battalion of the Independent Regiment, led by Chen Ahai’s roar, surged through the gaping hole in the gate like a breached dam, bayonets fixed, stepping over the burning ruins! The guard company and reconnaissance company followed, thrusting deep into the city. The remaining defenders on the walls were utterly demoralized by this earth-shattering method of breaking the city and the fearless charge of the Red Army soldiers; after minimal resistance, they threw down their weapons and surrendered. The battle was unbelievably short; from the first blast to total control, it took less than an hour!

Mission accomplished! Gulin was theirs!

"Old Zhong! Take your men, now! Search the whole city! Focus on enemy warehouses, the granaries of the wealthy, cloth shops, and pharmacies! Cotton clothes, grain, medicine, salt! If it’s something we can carry and keep us alive, don't leave a single item behind—find it all for me!" Wang Lin, mounted on his horse, issued orders rapidly through the smoke-filled streets, his tone iron-clad. He knew too well that after crossing the Chishui for the fourth time, the Red Army would embark on an even more arduous journey. The cold of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and the long supply lines meant these supplies were the life-saving talismans that would keep the soldiers alive to continue the fight! They were far more practical than the heavy machine guns captured at Lubanchang! The Corps' task was to feign an attack and lure the enemy, but Wang Lin intended to seize this "life-saving treasure" for the Independent Regiment’s upcoming Long March!

"Political Commissar, organize the men to comfort the people and maintain order! Make it clear that we only fight the reactionaries and do not harass the civilians! Zhou Zhiming! The Third Battalion is responsible for city defense and vigilance! Huang Musheng! The Second Battalion is to clear out the remnants and guard the prisoners! Especially those Central Army captives from Lubanchang and the newly captured Sichuan troops and security regiment men—keep them all together, don't let them run! I have a great use for them!" Wang Lin’s mind was clear, his orders precise.

Soon, reports of victory flooded in:

"Regiment Commander! The Sichuan army’s logistics warehouse has been found! It’s stacked with brand-new grey cotton uniforms! Enough for everyone in the regiment to have two sets with plenty to spare!"

"The granary! It’s all high-quality rice! Plus plenty of cured meat and salt!"

"The cloth shop still has plenty of sturdy homespun fabric and cotton!"

Watching the supplies pile up, a heavy weight lifted from Wang Lin’s heart. "Good! Organize the packing immediately! Mules and horses prioritize heavy loads and ammunition! Cotton clothes, grain, and medicine are to be carried by the men! Not enough hands?" His gaze turned toward the prisoner camp, where a dense crowd of dejected captives sat—between those from Lubanchang and those from Gulin, there were nearly six hundred of them.

For the next two days, Gulin County served as the Independent Regiment’s temporary logistics base and a massive site for "grievance-sharing and transformation." Under the efficient organization of Political Commissar Wang Guangdao and the political officers, the prisoner camp reached a fever pitch of "grievance-sharing." Red Army soldiers took the lead, recounting their own hardships and those of their families, denouncing the evils of warlord infighting, landlord exploitation, and officers who skimmed off military pay while drinking the soldiers' blood. These tragic stories resonated deeply with the captives. Many broke down in tears, stepping forward to recount their own experiences: how their family land was stolen, how they were "conscripted," how they were beaten and scolded in the army, left hungry and cold, and how their officers embezzled their pay...

The fire of class hatred was ignited; the numbness of "being a soldier for a meal" was shattered. "The Red Army is the army of the poor!" "Down with the warlords! Down with Chiang Kai-shek!" "We want to follow the Red Army!"—these slogans echoed throughout the camp. After strict screening (weeding out the bullies and officers) and voluntary sign-ups, nearly six hundred strong, ideologically transformed captives were selected.

Wang Lin stood on a makeshift platform, looking at the six hundred excited, expectant new faces below, and spoke in a clear voice:

"Brothers! From today on, you are no longer prisoners, nor are you cannon fodder for the warlords! You are soldiers of the Logistics Battalion of the Independent Regiment of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army! Your mission is to carry our grain, clothing, and ammunition! Carry the capital of our revolution! Follow the main force, and together we will build a new world where the poor are the masters! Put on these cotton clothes (referring to the captured uniforms being distributed), and we are one of our own! Do you have the confidence to complete the mission?"

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" The roar of six hundred men merged into a torrent, shaking the city walls of Gulin.

The Independent Regiment’s Logistics Battalion was officially established! These "liberated soldiers" changed into the cotton uniforms the Red Army desperately needed (old uniforms dyed grey or wearing the captured grey cotton directly) and, led by veteran cadres, immediately threw themselves into the work of bundling and loading supplies. Heavy cotton clothes, grain, medicine, fabric, and salt were systematically distributed and packed, forming a massive team dedicated to logistics. This team would become the indispensable lifeline for the Independent Regiment on its long journey ahead.

Meanwhile, Wang Lin strictly followed the Corps' "create an illusion" mission. He ordered the unit to increase guards on the walls, fly more flags (even deliberately hanging some captured Sichuan army banners to confuse the situation), send out small detachments during the day to conduct armed reconnaissance toward the west and north of Gulin with great fanfare, and light multiple bonfires outside the city at night. The regimental radio station also frequently communicated, deliberately using plain text or low-level codes to send fake intelligence such as "requesting instructions for the westward route," "urging follow-up units to speed up," and "requesting ammunition replenishment in preparation for a forced crossing of the Yangtze River."

News that Gulin had been captured by the "Red Army main force" and that they were "actively preparing for a westward advance" spread like wildfire in all directions. Sichuan generals Pan Wenhua and Guo Xunqi, along with the Yunnan forces and parts of the Central Army pursuing them, who were deploying troops west and north of the Chishui River to block the Red Army’s "westward flight," became even more convinced after receiving the reports: the Red Army was indeed determined to break through from Gulin to head north and cross the river! Commanders of various enemy fronts adjusted their deployments, urging their troops to accelerate their encirclement toward the area west and north of Gulin, attempting to annihilate the "Red Army main force" on the south bank of the Yangtze.

Standing on the walls of Gulin, watching his troops and the massive logistics battalion preparing for departure in an orderly fashion, Wang Lin looked toward the Chishui River to the east, a smile of strategic mastery playing on his lips.

"Done."

"The bait has been cast, and the big fish are being lured to the west... and we have plenty of 'life-saving treasure' to show for it." He whispered to himself, a sharp light flashing in his eyes. "It is time for the 'golden cicada to shed its shell,' and with these solid assets in hand, go and join the main force!" The "Iron-Blooded Rearguard Tiger Regiment" banner on the Gulin city walls snapped in the wind of southern Sichuan, as if waiting for the next, even more thrilling game of chess.

{Historical Note: From March 16 to 17, 1935, the Red Army crossed the Chishui for the third time from Maotai Town, entering the Gulin area of southern Sichuan and feigning a northward crossing of the Yangtze River. Chiang Kai-shek misjudged the Red Army's intentions and hurriedly deployed heavy troops (including the Zhou Hunyuan and Wu Qiwei columns) to assemble in southern Sichuan, building blockhouses to blockade the west bank of the Chishui River.

At this time, the main force of the Kuomintang army was drawn to southern Sichuan, leaving the defense of northern Guizhou (northern Guizhou) empty, which created conditions for the Red Army to return.

The Red Army’s third crossing of the Chishui was actually a strategic feint aimed at luring the enemy westward. On March 20, the Central Revolutionary Military Commission issued a secret order requiring the Red Army to "turn east," taking advantage of the enemy’s lack of preparation to cross the Chishui for the fourth time and return to northern Guizhou.

Historically, the mission of Wang Lin’s Independent Regiment to attack Gulin County was actually carried out by a unit of the First Army Corps of the Red Army.

At 17:00 on March 20, the Central Committee issued the "Action Deployment for the Fourth Crossing of the Chishui River" to each corps, which stated: "(5) In order to confuse the Sichuan and Yunnan enemies, the main force of the First Army Corps should leave one regiment at Zhenlong Mountain and send troops to approach the enemy in the direction of Gulin for guerrilla warfare, disguising our main force as pushing west. After carrying out this mission, the regiment shall follow the main force’s route tomorrow morning, limited to crossing the Taiping Ferry tomorrow night."

The Kuomintang general Zhou Hunyuan described this in a telegram on March 21. Meanwhile, the elite team of the Luo Guoxiang militia that had fled earlier and the Liao Jiu-fu regiment of the Sichuan army stationed in Gulin County fled in a panic to Xiangnaba and Guihuachang. At this time, Wei Kai’s unit, stationed in Xuyong and responsible for Gulin’s city defense, was shocked to learn that the Red Army was launching a major offensive on Gulin and approaching the county seat, and could only urgently report: 'The Communist army is besieging Gulin very urgently; requesting reinforcements with all speed.'}