The picture shows the monument to the West Road Army of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army. (File photo)
On the morning of August 20, General Secretary Xi Jinping came to Gaotai County, Zhangye City, Gansu Province, to visit the Monument to the West Road Army of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army and the Cemetery of the Martyrs who Died in Battle, visit the Memorial Hall of the West Road Army of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, and present flower baskets to the revolutionary martyrs. He stressed: We must tell the story of the party, the story of the Red Army, and the story of the Western Route Army well, and pass on the red gene well.
Revolutionary ideals are higher than heaven, and everything in the revolution is for the people. Since the founding of the Party in 1921, the Chinese Communists have not forgotten their original intentions for more than 90 years, seeking happiness for the Chinese and the People, and seeking rejuvenation for the Chinese nation, and countless revolutionary martyrs have sacrificed their precious lives for this purpose.
Among them was such a martyr, who was evaluated by Mao Zedong as a "resolute revolutionary comrade." As a senior general of the Red Army, he led his troops to fight with an enemy six or seven times his own, until he died heroically, at the age of 42. Although his life will always remain in the Hexi Corridor, his great contribution to the Chinese revolution has not been forgotten by the people, and his heroic deeds are still touching and admirable. His name is Dong Zhentang.
Do not love glory and wealth, single-mindedly yearn for the light
Dong Zhentang was born in 1895 to a peasant family in Xinhe County, Hebei Province. As a young and brilliant boy, he was admitted to the Qinghe Army Middle School in Beijing in 1917 and graduated from the prestigious Baoding Army Officer School in 1923. After graduation, he joined Feng Yuxiang's Northwest Army, and because of his outstanding military achievements, he was promoted from platoon commander to division commander. In 1930, after the Central Plains War, he was absorbed by the National Revolutionary Army and served as the brigade commander of the 73rd Brigade of the 26th Route Army.
In 1931, Dong Zhentang was transferred to Jiangxi to "suppress the Communist Party". After the September 18 Incident, he opposed Chiang Kai-shek's policy of "taking care of the outside world before settling the inside", and his thinking became more and more inclined to revolution. On December 14 of the same year, together with Zhao Bosheng and Ji Zhen, more than 17,000 officers and men of the 26th Route Army held the Ningdu Uprising and announced their joining the Red Army, writing a glorious page in the history of the Chinese revolution.
At that time, the Red Army actually had only more than 28,000 troops, and the 26th Route Army had more than 17,000 troops, more than half of the Red Army's strength. Coupled with the fact that it was at a critical moment after the third anti-"encirclement and suppression" campaign, this front-line uprising was of great significance to the Chinese revolution at that time.
The insurrectionary forces were organized into the 5th Army of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, which, in addition to inflicting psychological blows on the Kuomintang army, also boosted the spiritual morale of the cadres and masses in the Central Soviet Region. More than 17,000 people, 1 military headquarters, 2 division headquarters, 6 brigade headquarters, 11 whole regiments, more than 20,000 pieces of light and heavy weapons, 8 radio stations and a large number of equipment and materials... The strength of the main Red Army in the Central Soviet Region has been greatly strengthened, from more than 30,000 people to 50,000 people, more than 20,000 weapons have effectively improved the equipment of the Red Army, and various materials have also enabled the difficult Central Soviet Region to be supplied in a timely manner. What is even more precious is that the 8 radio stations and more than 40 communication technicians brought by the rebel troops enabled the Red Army's radio communications industry to develop by leaps and bounds.
Later, Dong Zhentang personally wrote "The Story of Ning Riot". There is a sentence in the text: "I have clearly seen the deception, oppression, and exploitation of the Kuomintang, and I have clearly recognized that only the Communist Party can finally seek liberation for the workers and peasants to the end." Dong Zhentang let the high-ranking officials of the Kuomintang not do it, did not covet the wealth and glory that could be enjoyed at hand, but chose a difficult road of "bearing hardships and suffering", firmly followed the Communist Party of China, vowed to liberate the workers and peasants from the toiling masses to the end, and ran forward on this right road on earth.
After the Ningdu Uprising, Dong Zhentang took the lead in tearing off the hats, badges, and collar badges of the Kuomintang troops, and successively led his troops to participate in the battles of Ganzhou, Zhangzhou, and Nanxiong Shuikou and the fourth and fifth anti-"encirclement and suppression" operations in the Central Soviet Region, and made many military achievements. He was awarded the Order of the Red Banner by the Provisional Central Government of the Chinese Soviet Republic. As a medal of the highest honor during the agrarian revolution, the Order of the Red Banner rewards the commanders and fighters of the Red Army who made outstanding contributions to the heroic struggle of Soviet power. It can be seen from this that Dong Zhentang made outstanding contributions and meritorious deeds to the revolution.
In 1932, Dong Zhentang joined the Communist Party of China. He handed over all the 3,000 silver dollars he had accumulated over the years as party fees. The act of donating so much money spread among the Red Army and alarmed Mao Zedong. Mao Zedong personally talked to him and asked him to leave some money for himself and send something to his family. He said: "Now that I am a Red Army and have joined the Party, there is no use in keeping this money, I want to dedicate everything to the Party, even my life!" Under the persuasion of Mao Zedong, he only left 300 silver dollars, and the rest was all used as party fees.
Be a pious warrior and be a defender of the iron stream
In early October 1934, the Kuomintang army advanced to the hinterland of the central base area. On the evening of October 10, the Central Red Army began to carry out a strategic shift. The organs of the CPC Central Committee and the Central Revolutionary Military Commission also set out from Ruijin and marched to the assembly area. On 16 October, the troops were assembled in the area north of the Yandu River. Starting from the 17th, more than 86,000 people from the five main armies of the Central Red Army, as well as the organs of the Central Committee and the Central Military Commission and directly subordinate units, embarked on the journey of strategic transfer and began the Long March. Dong Zhentang led the Red 5Th Army as the most arduous rearguard task.
The Battle of the Xiangjiang River was the most tragic battle in the Long March of the Red Army and a battle that had a bearing on the life and death of the Central Red Army. The Central Red Army fought hard for five days and nights, and finally broke through the fourth blockade line of the Kuomintang army and crushed Chiang Kai-shek's attempt to encircle and annihilate the Central Red Army east of the Xiang River. The Red Army paid a very heavy price for this. After breaking through the first three blockade lines, the Central Red Army had more than 64,000 people, but after crossing the Xiang River, it plummeted to about 35,000 people.
At that time, the strategic deployment of the Red Army across the Xiang River was as follows: Lin Biao led the Red 1Staffle Army to the left road, Peng Dehuai led the Red 3rd Army to the right road, and the two corps opened the way in front; Luo Binghui led the Red 9th Army to follow after the Red 1st Army, Zhou Kun led the Red 8th Army to follow behind the Red 3rd Army, the two corps covered the safety of the left and right flanks, the Central Military Commission column was in the center, and Dong Zhentang led the Red 5th Army behind the palace.
After the Battle of Xiangjiang, the 34th Division of the Red 5th Army was completely destroyed, the political commissar of the division, Cheng Cuilin, and the director of the Political Department, Cai Zhong, both died heroically in the battle, and the division commander Chen Shuxiang was seriously wounded by the enemy's pursuit and died heroically after being captured. The Red 5Th Army, as the rear guard of the Red Army, was reduced from more than 10,000 people in two divisions to less than 5,000 people in one division. The regimental commander Dong Zhentang did not rest for several days and nights, and personally went to the forward position to direct the battle.
On the Long March Road, Dong Zhentang personally led the Red 5 Legion behind the palace. In the face of the enemy's heavy encirclement and step-by-step pursuit, Dong Zhentang's pressure and difficulties can be imagined. In May 1935, during the Battle of the Jinsha River, due to the lack of ferries, in order to cover the brother troops crossing the river, the Central Military Commission had to repeatedly order the 5th Army to extend the date of withdrawal. From 3 days and 3 nights, to 6 days and 6 nights, all the way to 9 days and 9 nights. The Red 5Th Army, which had less than 5,000 men, dragged more than 10,000 enemies to the front of the position. Dong Zhentang ordered: "Even if there is only one person left, we must hold the position, and we will never withdraw without orders to ensure that the main force crosses the river safely." ”
In the baptism of fire, Dong Zhentang and the Red 5 Corps under his command gradually formed a combat style of fighting defensive warfare and blocking warfare. After completing the task of blocking the Kuomintang army many times and making great achievements in ensuring that the main force of the Central Red Army went north, the Red 5th Army was awarded the honorary title of "Iron Stream Defender".
Bloodshed and sacrifice are for the future of children
Dong Zhentang has been fighting with the army and separated from his family throughout his life, after many fierce battles. In June 1935, after the First and Fourth Fronts met the divisions, the 5th Army was renamed the 5th Army, and Dong Zhentang was appointed as the commander. In October 1936, after the three main forces of the Red Army met in Huining, the Red 5th Army was incorporated into the Western Route Army and marched towards Ningxia, Gansu and Xinjiang. On January 12, 1937, Dong Zhentang led his troops to fight with the enemy in Gaotai County, Gansu Province, for nine days and nights, fighting until the last man was shot. In the end, Dong Zhentang and more than 3,000 soldiers all died heroically.
Dong Zhentang was one of the highest-ranking generals in the Red Army who died. After the founding of New China, the central authorities sent people to Gaotai to search for his remains, but although they tried hard, they finally found nothing. He left only one photo. At that time, when Japanese devils raided the house, Dong Zhentang's nephew Dong Guangquan secretly hid his uncle's photo in the cracks in the wall of the Dong family's old residence. After the founding of New China, Dong Guangquan returned to the old mansion and found the photos from the cracks in the walls of the ruins. When removed, the bottom third of the photo was already moldy, and most of the figure had become a bust. This black-and-white bust photo was also taken by Dong Zhentang when he was in the Northwest Army. This is also the only original photo of Dong Zhentang found so far.
In the face of the enemy, Dong Zhentang has never flinched; regarding faith, Dong Zhentang has never wavered; for life and death, Dong Zhentang has long ignored it. He never talked to the organization about conditions, and even if he was wronged, he had no complaints. During the fifth anti-"encirclement and suppression" campaign, due to the wrong command of Bogu and Li De, the Red Army fought with the enemy against the fortress and suffered a crushing defeat. After losing Guangchang, Dong Zhentang proposed that the enemy's bunker should not be attacked with the flesh and blood of the Red Army, and as a result, Li De was furious and put the responsibility for the failure on Dong Zhentang and Peng Dehuai and others.
It was also during the fifth anti-"encirclement and suppression" campaign that the enemy played a "counter-plan" and threw some materials on the battlefield, saying that Dong Zhentang wanted to "oppose the water" and pull the troops back to the Kuomintang camp. At the critical moment, Dong Zhentang still firmly believed in our party, and in the end, the party organization also proved his innocence.
We have been exploring Dong Zhentang's original intention of joining the party and participating in the revolution. What was he revolutionizing all his life for? Is it worth it to devote his life to the cause of revolution? Perhaps, this little thing below is the best interpretation of his glorious life.
During the Long March, when the Red Army crossed the Chishui River four times and went north to the Yangtze River, Chen Huiqing, the wife of Deng Fa, director of the State Political Protection Bureau, was in labor. At that time, the central column was passing through a mountain pass in Guizhou at the speed of a rapid march, and Chen Huiqing was carried to a grass hut on the side of the road. Because of the difficult birth, she rolled on the ground in pain and made a heart-rending cry. There were only a few small warriors by her side, not even a single paramedic. Not to mention surgery, not even the most basic disinfection and medicines.
Dong Biwu and Hou Zheng, the commander of the Cultivation Company, were anxiously waiting to the side. As the gunfire drew nearer, Dong Biwu said to the guards, "Tell Dong Zhentang that there will be a child here and let him hold the enemy back!" ”
The difficulties in front of him made Dong Zhentang a little worried, and it was also difficult for this veteran who had always been good at commanding operations to choose. He understood that it was not difficult to get rid of the enemy, but this soldier was in chaos, and it was difficult to ensure the safety of Chen Huiqing's mother and son. If the safety of mother and child is to be ensured, the battle must be prolonged, because if the enemy's reinforcements arrive, more comrades will be bloodied and sacrificed.
After thinking about it again and again, Dong Zhentang gritted his teeth and made up his mind. He immediately called wu Kehua, the leader of the 39th regiment, and told him, "As long as it takes to have a child, you will give me as long as I can!" Wu Kehua nodded firmly and threw himself back into the fierce battle.
Just 1 kilometer away, Dong Zhentang fought with the Red Army soldiers to the death. Seeing that he could not resist, Dong Zhentang rushed back with a gun and asked: How much time can I give birth to a child? But no one could answer. Therefore, Dong Zhentang rushed into the position again and shouted loudly: "You must play a time to give birth to a child!" As a result, the warriors held out for two hours, waiting for Chen Huiqing to give birth to the child.
The child was finally born, but many heroic Red Army soldiers fell. The troops were anxious to get rid of the enemy, and Chen Huiqing was also unconscious due to physical weakness. Soon, after Chen Huiqing woke up, she knew everything, and her heart was full of bitterness and guilt.
After the battle, some of the fighters who witnessed the bloody sacrifice of their comrades were quite critical of Chen Huiqing, and when they passed by her, they all showed an unfriendly look, and even glared at her. Some complained that it wasn't worth it to have a regiment fight for a child. Dong Zhentang was furious when he heard this. He said: "Isn't it for their tomorrow to fight in the revolution today?" ”
Dong Zhentang followed the Communist Party of China all his life, did not regret the revolution, in order to let the toiling masses get rid of the embarrassing life, in order to create a better tomorrow for the children, he gave up his external glory and wealth, left his family, did not leave wealth for his lover and children, and embarked on the revolutionary road without hesitation, not afraid of hardships and dangers, and died on the battlefield.
After Dong Zhentang's death, the Party Central Committee held a memorial service at the foot of The Pagoda Mountain in Shaanxi. At the memorial service, Mao Zedong said affectionately: "He is a good comrade, a resolute revolutionary comrade ... The road knows the horsepower, and the people's hearts and minds are seen over time, and our revolutionary contingent needs such comrades..."
In September 2009, Dong Zhentang was selected as one of the "100 Heroic And Exemplary Figures Who Made Outstanding Contributions to the Founding of New China" by 11 departments, including the Central Propaganda Department and the Organization Department of the Central Committee.
"The heavens and the earth are heroic, and the thousand autumns are still awe-inspiring." A nation with hope cannot do without heroes, and a country with a future cannot do without pioneers. General Secretary Xi Jinping once pointed out that the motherland is the most solid reliance of the people, and the hero is the most shining coordinate of the nation. All national heroes are the backbone of the Chinese nation, and their deeds and spirit are a powerful force that inspires us to move forward.
Remembering the martyrs and honoring the heroes is the right time. Dong Zhentang is loyal to the party, and his spirit and deeds will always inspire future generations to forge ahead bravely and contribute their share to the party and the country, the people, and the Chinese nation.
Source: History of Phoenix
(Zhang Wenliang, Author Affilications:Central Academy of Party History and Documentation)