Why did Chiang Kai-shek appoint Herry Liu as commander-in-chief of Xuzhou suppression?

The Huaihai Campaign can be said to be a turning point in the War of Liberation. The victory of Huaihai Campaign gave the PLA an absolute advantage, and the Kuomintang's rule in Jiangbei also collapsed. From then on, the initiative of the war was completely in the hands of the People's Liberation Army. When we mention the Huai Hai Campaign, we have to mention Herry Liu, the commander-in-chief of Xuzhou.

The full name of Xuzhou suppression general is Xuzhou suppression general. How good is it? Now let's have a look. Xuzhou suppression headquarters has seven regiments and three appeasement areas, with about 920,000 troops on the ground. These are not included. In addition, a considerable number of air forces stationed in Nanjing, Bengbu, Xuzhou and other places were also directly commanded by the Xuzhou suppression headquarters or directly mobilized through the air force command organs. In other words, Xu's suppression at that time almost assembled the absolute main force of the national army, with amazing strength. Then let's see who Xu's general commander is. The commander-in-chief is Li Shuzheng, the chief of staff, and the deputy commanders are Du, Liu Ruming, Han Deqin and Sun Zhen. Du and others are all famous anti-Japanese soldiers and can only be deputy commanders. So, how did Liu Hezhide become the general manager of Xuzhou suppression?

First, Herry Liu is a clique of Chiang Kai-shek's cronies.

President Jiang generally likes to hire people from his hometown or Huangpu. Although Herry Liu graduated from Baoding Military Academy, he worked as an instructor in Huangpu and has followed Chiang Kai-shek since then. He was loyal to Chiang Kai-shek, especially in the Gui Jiang War and the Central Plains War, and he always stood by Chiang Kai-shek. Chiang Kai-shek called him a blessing general because of his outstanding military exploits. He was one of Chiang Kai-shek's five generals and the first one, and won the trust of Chiang Kai-shek. Ability is not important, what matters is seniority and loyalty. Such people are more in line with Chiang Kai-shek's employment habits.

Second, I got a bargain.

Herry Liu is very famous. He was a lucky general in the Northern Expedition and a victorious general in the Central Plains War. But in War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, he became a long-legged general who was good at escaping. Why was such a man appointed by Chiang Kai-shek as the commander-in-chief of the general suppression? In fact, he gained a great advantage. Chiang Kai-shek just wanted to appoint Bai Chongxi as the commander-in-chief of Xuzhou suppression, in order to find Zhuge's reputation and record. This position was originally suitable for him, but Bai Chongxi refused, and Chiang Kai-shek appointed his confidant Herry Liu. Herry Liu may not want to. He privately complained: "Bai Chongxi is a widow remarried, can argue with the elderly, and does not listen to the dispatch; It seems that I have been a child bride since I was a child, and my bones are so big. My mother-in-law feels clear that obedience is unconditional. " But he got a big bargain.

Third, the lame choose the general.

Bai Chongxi, one of the three outstanding men in Guangxi, could not obey Chiang Kai-shek's orders and not be the commander-in-chief of Xuzhou suppression, so Chiang Kai-shek had to choose someone else. It is said that there were two candidates for Chiang Kai-shek at that time, one was Herry Liu and the other was Chiang Kai-shek. This Chiang Kai-shek was more retarded than Herry Liu, so Chiang Kai-shek had to choose Herry Liu. It can be said that the lame pick the general. Someone inside the Kuomintang once sarcastically said: "Xuzhou is the gate of Nanjing, and there must be a tiger guard; Don't send tigers, but send dogs to watch the door. I can only send one pig now, and I can't keep the gate. "

Herry Liu served as the general commander of the suppression, but as Bai Chongxi said, the national army is a proud soldier, and it is impossible without Chiang Kai-shek's warrant. Herry Liu, commander-in-chief of the general suppression, was largely unable to make decisions, and the battlefield situation was fleeting. On September 6th, 1946, troops in front of the third division in Zhao Xitian advanced, surrounded by troops crossing the river in Liu Deng, and were completely annihilated. After the news reached Lushan, Chiang Kai-shek flew into a rage, deprived Herry Liu of his military post, transferred back to Nanjing, and appointed him as the general committee member of Lushan Conference.