In 1955, Xu Guangda was awarded the rank of general. According to common sense, it is a happy thing to receive such a high honor, but Xu Guangda has always been uneasy in his heart and feels that he is ashamed of it.
So, Xu Guangda hurriedly found his old chief, Marshal He Long, and he said to Mr. He: "Mr. He, I, a general, deserve it! If Senior Commander Duan is still here, he is a well-deserved general!"
This division commander Duan who Xu Guangda has always remembered is Duan Dechang, a famous general during the Red Army.
Duan Dechang is a native of Nanxian County, Hunan, born in 1904, at the age of ten by the neighbors praised as a prodigy, poems and couplets into chapters, even the teacher praised him as a genius, will have a great achievement in the future.
He is also a teacher and friend of Chairman Mao
In the spring of 1921, Chairman Mao came from Changsha to Nanxian County to inspect the education situation as a provincial school inspector. In a conversation with Yan Shijie, the superintendent of Nanxian County, Chairman Mao overheard the name "Duan Dechang" and felt a little impressed, but he couldn't remember it for a while.
Yan Shijie said that this Duan Dechang is the famous "child king" of the first high school in Nanxian County. A while ago, the original inspector was seriously corrupt and made a mess of the school cafeteria, and Duan Dechang led the students of the school to rebel. In the end, the inspector was dismissed, and Duan Dechang was also punished.
When Chairman Mao heard this, he finally remembered that he had received a report letter signed "Duan Dechang" a while ago, and it was estimated that it was the same person. So, he decided to meet this hot-blooded young man.
Soon, a spirited young student in a blue robe was led to Chairman Mao, who was 17 years old at the time.
When he learned the identity of Chairman Mao's provincial inspector, Duan Dechang's eyes lit up, and he quickly stepped forward to hold his hand, and finally saw the real person today.
The two soon had an in-depth exchange on the current student movement and educational innovation. In the course of the conversation, Chairman Mao found that although Duan Dechang was not very old, he was mature and steady, and his views on things were even more penetrating, so he took out a few of the latest "New Youth" and other progressive publications from the package to show him. After Duan Dechang opened the book, he quickly immersed himself in it.
Chairman Mao looked at him like this, and secretly rejoiced in his heart, because Duan Dechang was too much like himself when he was a student, and as soon as he got a good book in his hand, he couldn't take care of other things at all.
The two talked all night, and before they knew it, the next morning. As the saying goes, heroes cherish heroes, Chairman Mao admired Duan Dechang's talent, and Duan Dechang also benefited a lot from the conversation with Chairman Mao, especially his views on the current national education. Therefore, at the end of the conversation, Duan Dechang still held Chairman Mao's hand tightly and was unwilling to let go. At this moment, the two seem to be confidants for many years.
In the autumn of 1922, after graduating from the No. 1 Higher Primary School in Nanxian County, at the suggestion of Chairman Mao, he was admitted to Changsha Jacob Middle School. During this period, he organized students from Nanxian County and Huarong County to study in Changsha to create a Marxist study group together, and got acquainted with He Changgong, a member of the Communist Party of China who returned from studying in France and studying in France.
In June 1925, Duan Dechang joined the Communist Youth League and became a member of the Communist Party in two months. In July of the same year, under the recommendation of Chairman Mao, Duan Dechang was admitted to the fourth phase of the Whampoa Military Academy for further study.
There are quite a lot of famous generals in the fourth phase, in addition to Duan Dechang, Zeng Zhongsheng, Lin Yurong, Liu Zhidan, Wu Zhonghao, Guo Tianmin, Tang Tianji, Li Yunchang, Zhang Lingfu, Xie Jinyuan, Hu Lian, Li Mi, Liu Yuzhang, Qiu Weida and so on.
Duan Dechang's grades in the military academy were very top-notch, and even Zhou Enlai, director of the Political Department, called him a "civil and military all-rounder". It is worth mentioning that after the "Zhongshan Ship Incident", Duan Dechang was expelled from school by Chiang himself because he wrote a letter openly accusing Lao Chiang of sabotaging the cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party. Before Duan Dechang, there was another person who was also expelled from school by Chiang himself, and he was Xuanxia's father, a Communist Party member in the first phase of Whampoa.
After leaving the military academy, Duan Dechang met Chairman Mao again. After learning of Duan Dechang's situation, Chairman Mao suggested that he first go to the Central Political Workshop sponsored by Li Fuchun to study. In fact, Chairman Mao was also one of the leading members and lecturers of the workshop, and Duan Dechang became a student of Chairman Mao.
Introduce Peng Dehuai to the party
After graduating from the workshop, Duan Dechang participated in the Northern Expedition and successively served as the party representative of the 5th Regiment of the Sixth Army, the chief of the Propaganda Section of the General Political Department, and the secretary general of the Political Department of the 1st Division of the Eighth Army.
While working in the Political Department of the First Division of the Eighth Army, Duan Dechang became acquainted with Peng Dehuai, who served as a battalion commander in the First Division. Duan Dechang soon discovered that Peng Dehuai was different from other old officers, he was a decent person, had no other vices, and stood out for the poor everywhere, so he was a target who could be recruited into the party.
During an opportunity to spend time alone, Duan Dechang and Peng Dehuai talked freely for about two hours. According to the description in "Peng Dehuai's Self-Statement", this conversation between him and Duan Dechang is the most meaningful, and it is still fresh in his memory even after more than 40 years. He expressed his admiration and gratitude to Duan Dechang and pointed out the direction for his future revolutionary road.
In April 1928, under the collective introduction of Duan Dechang and the South China Security Special Committee, Peng Dehuai officially joined the Communist Party of China, opening a new chapter in his revolution.
Later, Peng Dehuai led the Pingjiang Uprising and led the uprising team to Jinggangshan, while Duan Dechang also raised a team in western Hunan and Hubei and became the "victorious general" in the Weizhen Honghu Soviet District.
After the failure of the Nanchang Uprising, Duan Dechang returned to his hometown of Nanxian County, Hunan, and was later sent to the Hubei Public Security by his superiors to organize the peasant self-defense force to launch the "Public Security Riot". During this period, Duan Dechang's military talents were fully displayed.
Duan Dechang has a very good set of tactics in guerrilla warfare, and he summed up the tactics in 16 words, that is: "When the enemy comes, I will fly, when the enemy goes, I will return, if there are many enemies, we will run, and if there are few enemies, we will fight." This is similar to Chairman Mao's 16-character principle for guerrilla warfare, and it is very practical in the struggle against the enemy.
Relying on this set of guerrilla tactics, by the winter of 1928, the Honghu guerrillas led by Duan Dechang had grown to more than 1,000 people, more than 500 guns, and established a small base area in Bailihong Lake, where rivers, lakes and ports were intertwined.
In addition to military command, Duan Dechang also made considerable achievements in the construction of base areas, and he placed the greatest emphasis on the discipline of the troops, and specially compiled a "Red Army Discipline Song" for this purpose. In his spare time, Duan Dechang often organized soldiers to help the masses farm, carry water, and sweep the ground, which is the mass policy that Duan Dechang has always emphasized, that is: the army and the people are not separated, the army is the fish, and the people are the water. This was also one of the main reasons why the Red Army was able to gain a foothold in Honghu.
In February 1930, the Red Army led by Duan Dechang was expanded into the Red Sixth Army, and the superiors appointed Sun Deqing as the commander (soon resigned due to illness and was succeeded by Kuang Jixun), Zhou Yiqun as the political commissar, Duan Dechang as the deputy commander and commander of the first column, and Xu Guangda as the chief of staff. After that, the Red Sixth Army successively captured Longwan, Xingouzui, Qianjiang, Haoxue and other towns, and established a revolutionary base in western Hunan and Hubei with Honghu as the center, and the Red Sixth Army rapidly expanded from the original 6,000 to more than 12,000 people.
In early July of the same year, He Long led the Red 4th Army to join forces with the Red 6th Army in Public Security, and the two armies were combined into the Red Second Army, Duan Dechang served as the political commissar of the Red 6th Army, and the army commander Kuang Jixun was transferred to the Hubei-Henan-Anhui base area soon after, and Duan Dechang was reappointed as the commander of the Red 6th Army.
Hunan and Hubei West Changsheng General: "You He will not fall, and he will not be victorious"
With the establishment of the Second Red Army, the strength of the base areas in western Hunan and Hubei has been further consolidated and enhanced. At that time, there was such a folk proverb circulating in the Soviet area: "If you have a greeting, you will not fall, and you will not be victorious." ”
"He" refers to He Long, because He Lao is always a banner of the base area in western Hunan and Hubei and the Red Second Army, and with him, even if the Red Army is scattered, it can quickly gather together; and "Duan" refers to Duan Dechang, as long as Duan Dechang commands the battle, the Red Second Army will not lose.
From the beginning of January 1931 to June 1932, under the command of Duan Dechang, the military and civilians in western Hunan and Hubei smashed the enemy's encirclement and suppression three times in a row, and Duan Dechang was also named the "victorious general".
At the end of December 1931, the enemy concentrated a large number of troops and launched the third encirclement and suppression against the revolutionary base areas in western Hunan and Hubei provinces, of which the 12th Brigade of the 4th Division was the main force of the enemy.
In the cold wind, our army is short of ammunition, and every bullet is precious. In order to maximize the conservation of ammunition, Duan Dechang, commander of the 9th Red Division, ordered the soldiers of each squad to carry a bright red flag, an empty iron bucket and a string of firecrackers. These seemingly simple objects are the key to their victory.
As the enemy stepped into the trap-filled area, Duan Dechang gave the order, and the soldiers quickly planted the red flag all around, and then lit the firecrackers placed in the iron barrel. In an instant, the explosion of firecrackers echoed in the silent valley, as if hundreds of machine guns were firing at the same time, and the sound was amazing. This ploy deceived the enemy and made them mistakenly believe that our army was far superior to their own.
The enemy was so frightened by this sudden "fire" that the battle was almost impossible to break down. In this battle, our army almost completely annihilated more than 4,000 enemy troops at a very small cost, and also captured a large number of weapons and ammunition. This victory not only strengthened our military strength, but also greatly boosted the morale of the soldiers.
Soon, due to the defeat in this battle, He Chengjun, the head of the Wuhan Pacification Office, was furious and gathered more powerful troops to counterattack. In the face of the new threat, Duan Dechang did not choose to resist head-on, but adopted the strategy of avoiding the real and attacking the weak, and shifted the focus of the attack to the weaker 48th Division.
In a battle at Wenjiadun, our army adopted the tactics of encircling the point to send reinforcements, and quickly surrounded the 48th Brigade of the 144th Division of the enemy. After fierce fighting, more than 1,000 people of the 144th Brigade were killed, more than 2,000 people under the brigade commander Han Changjun became prisoners, and more than 3,000 rifles, more than 50 light and heavy machine guns, and more than 10 artillery pieces were captured at the same time. These two victories not only ensured the security of the revolutionary base areas in western Hunan and Hubei provinces, but also accumulated valuable experience for subsequent battles.
In June 1932, the enemy once again launched a fierce encirclement and suppression of the Honghu Soviet District, led by Fan Shaozeng, a general of the Sichuan Army with a "stupid commander".
Early one morning in June, the 4th Division of the 21st Army led by Fan Shaozeng set out from Shashi, and the sound of their iron hooves shook the entire Jiangling area, successively capturing Laoxinkou, Longwansi and Zhangjinhe, and then surging towards Xingouzui like a tide. At this time, in the Soviet area, except for the sporadic troops of the Red Army Guard Regiment, there were almost no other troops, and the situation was precarious.
However, just as Fan Shaozeng was confidently preparing to further expand the results, a surprise counterattack was quietly brewing. Duan Dechang led the Red 9th Division, under the cover of night and strong winds, the rapid march broke through a distance of more than 200 miles, secretly arrived at the south bank of the Dongjing River north of Xingouzui, and set up a deep ambush circle here.
On June 13, when Fan Shaozeng led his troops to be stationed arrogantly on the banks of the Dongjing River, Duan Dechang had quietly completed the deployment. He skillfully used the guard as a decoy to lure Fan Shaozeng's army into the barbed wire fence he had set. As soon as the enemy troops stepped into the dead ground, the Red 9th Division quickly launched a deadly combined attack.
Immediately afterward, just as the confrontation between the two sides was at its most intense, Duan Dechang issued a decisive order, and a commando team composed of brave Red Army cavalry rushed out like lightning, and the flashing sabers in their hands were like the sickles of death, cutting the enemy off their horses, and the scene was extremely spectacular. The enemy army was crushed by this sudden and fierce blow, and suffered heavy casualties.
The battle of Xingouzui established Duan Dechang's prestige as a "victorious general", and our army killed and captured more than 5,000 enemies and more than 4,000 guns. And Fan Shaozeng himself, after the defeat was decided, disguised himself as a civilian, rode a buffalo, and fled for his life in embarrassment.
In the third anti-encirclement and suppression, Duan Dechang commanded the Red 9th Division to win successive victories in three major battles, including Longwangji, Wenjiadun, and Xingouzui, and destroyed more than 10,000 enemies in total, including the capture of two enemy brigade commanders.
It's a pity that after leaving Deng Zhongxia, Xia Xi came again, and Duan Dechang, the "winning general", was unfortunately killed on May 1, 1933, at the age of 29.
After learning the news of Duan Dechang's murder, the people of the western Soviet area of Hunan and Hubei wept bitterly, and they planted 29 green pines in front of Duan Dechang's grave to commemorate him.
The "First Martyr" of the Republic
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Chairman Mao wrote the words "Duan Dechang" in the blank certificate with the serial number "One", and Duan Dechang became the "No. 1 martyr" of the Republic.
In 1955, the People's Liberation Army held an official award ceremony. During a report work, Chairman Mao specially asked Peng Dehuai: "How many of the comrades who are to be awarded generals or above are Huangpu students?"
Peng Dehuai listed some people, and said the names of the martyrs, and finally mentioned his own introduction to the party, Duan Dechang.
Hearing the name "Duan Dechang", Chairman Mao was stunned for a moment, unconsciously lit a cigarette in his hand, his eyes were already full of tears, and he kept muttering to himself: "Duan Dechang!
When Peng Dehuai saw this, he was also full of emotion in his heart, because Duan Dechang was not only his friend, but also his revolutionary guide.
Not only Chairman Mao and President Peng, but also General Xu Guangda also remembered his old comrade-in-arms Duan Dechang.
Xu Guangda once served as the chief of staff of the Red Sixth Army (deputy commander Duan Dechang), and after the Red Second Army was reduced to the Red Third Army, Xu Guangda was reappointed as the political commissar of the Red Ninth Division, and the division commander was Duan Dechang.
They once slept in the same bed, talked about life, revolution, battles, and ideals, and agreed to wait until the day when the revolution succeeded, and then each of them would go back to build their hometowns well.
However, Xu Guangda was sent to the Soviet Union for treatment of his injuries in the summer of 1932, and Duan Dechang was unfortunately killed the following year.
In 1955, when Xu Guangda learned that he was about to be awarded the rank of general, his heart could not be calm for a long time, he remembered the comrades-in-arms who had sacrificed, and familiar faces passed through his mind.
Xu Guangda directly found the old chief He Long, and he said to Mr. He: "Boss, I am a great general, I deserve it! If Master Duan is still here, he is a well-deserved general!"
In Xu Guangda's mind, Duan Dechang's image will always be tall and majestic, because with Duan Dechang's ability, if he is not sacrificed prematurely, he will definitely become a hero reused by Chairman Mao in the future, and his future is limitless, and this rank of general is well deserved to be awarded to him.