A Brief History of Shiyan: The Central Plains Breakthrough Force Enters Yunyang

At the end of June 1946, more than 200,000 Kuomintang troops besieged the Liberated Areas of the Central Plains and launched a nationwide civil war. The main force of the Central Plains Military Region, led by Commander Li Xiannian and Political Commissar Zheng Weisan, under the unified leadership and deployment of the Party Central Committee, broke through the heavy siege on the night of June 26, 1946, dividing the north and south roads, and smashed the dream of the Kuomintang authorities to "encircle and annihilate" our Central Plains troops.

Under the leadership of Comrades Li Xiannian, Zheng Weisan, and Wang Zhen, the Breakthrough Force of the North Road entered YunXian County from Henan Li Xiannian and marched toward southern Shaanxi via Abalone Ridge, Meipu, Baisangguan, and Nanhuatang. On the way, the march broke the siege and blockade of nearly 100,000 Kuomintang troops. In particular, the fierce battle between Nanhuatang and Jingziguan opened the door to southern Shaanxi. In late July, he arrived in southern Shaanxi, joined the local guerrillas, and successfully completed the great strategic transfer.

Under the leadership of Wang Shusheng, deputy commander of the Central Plains Military Region, the South Road Breakthrough Force forcibly crossed the Xiang River at Yicheng Liushuigou and Yakou, entered northwest Hubei, and on August 27, at Shanggong in Fangxian County, rendezvoused with the troops of the Jianghan Military Region who had broken through to Yunyang first, and also successfully completed the strategic transfer task.

After the Central Plains troops successfully reached the vast areas of southern Shaanxi and northwestern Hubei, they waged an extremely arduous struggle in accordance with the instructions of the central authorities that "it is the glorious task of the Central Plains troops to contain a large number of enemies from creating base areas behind enemy lines." A total of 14 county-level political powers and more than 200 township powers were established, eliminating a large number of Kuomintang forces. In the nearly one year from July 1946 to May 1947, a total of 24 regular divisions of the enemy were contained, making important contributions to supporting operations in other liberated areas and winning overall victories, while also making great sacrifices. In this struggle, the people of Yunyang sacrificed their lives and forgot their deaths, supported their children and soldiers, and safeguarded the people's power. Like many commanders and fighters of the Central Plains troops, many outstanding sons and daughters of the people of northwestErn Hubei have spilled their blood on the yang and are buried in the vast Shennong Forest Sea and on both sides of the mighty Han River.