In 1935, the Red Army's Long March passed through Daliang Mountain, facing the dilemma of the Dadu River in front and the Kuomintang army in the relentless pursuit. At this critical juncture, Liu Bocheng and the local Yi leader Xiao Yedan became brothers with different surnames, and Xiao Yedan not only helped the Red Army pass safely, but also swore to protect the red flag given by Liu Bocheng. However, fate made people, Xiao Yedan died bravely, and Liu Bocheng was looking for his whereabouts until his death. What is the story of this revolutionary friendship that transcends nationalities? What is Liu Bocheng's great regret?
1. Liu Bocheng and Xiao Yedan bowed
In May 1935, the Red Army's Long March came to the Daliangshan area of Sichuan. At this time, the Red Army had already gone through thousands of rivers and mountains, but the current situation was still very difficult. With the turbulent Dadu River in front and the Kuomintang troops in pursuit, the Red Army was caught in a dilemma.
The two generals, Liu Bocheng and Nie Rongzhen, received orders to lead the leading troops to explore the road and open the way. They learned that the area was inhabited by the Yi ethnic group, and that the local Yi people had deep-seated prejudice and hatred against the Han Chinese. The reasons for this are: First, some profiteers deceived the Yi compatriots in the past, using shoddy goods, which harmed the interests of the Yi compatriots; second, during the warlord scuffle, some soldiers often bullied the Yi people and robbed property, arousing the disgust and fear of the Yi compatriots.
Liu Bocheng knew very well that in order to pass through the Yi area safely, it was necessary to first eliminate the prejudice of the Yi compatriots against the Red Army. He sent a small detachment into the mountainous area first, and repeatedly told the soldiers not to shoot no matter what situation they encountered, to convince people with virtue, and to let the Yi compatriots understand the Red Army with practical actions.
Sure enough, after the team entered the mountain, it was attacked by Yi compatriots, and some clothes and belongings were snatched, but under Liu Bocheng's order, the soldiers did not fight back. This scene surprised the Yi compatriots, who found that this team was very different from the previous Han troops.
The news reached the ears of Xiao Yedan, the leader of the Yi tribe. Xiao Ye Dan is a young and promising leader, he is educated and well-informed. When he heard that the Red Army had not harmed the Yi compatriots, he could not help but be moved. At this time, Liu Bocheng sent people to contact the Yi people, hoping to get the Yi people's understanding and help.
Xiao Yedan decided to give the Red Army a chance. He instructed his people not to attack the Red Army again, and personally met with Liu Bocheng's representatives. In the following contacts, Xiao Yedan found that the Red Army treated people sincerely and kindly, not only did they not discriminate against the Yi compatriots, but they were also very fair when exchanging food, and would rather suffer losses themselves than let the Yi people suffer. The words and deeds of the Red Army convinced Xiao Yedan that this was a different team.
In order to further understand the real situation of the Red Army, Xiao Yedan sent his henchman Shamalg to investigate. Shamalg, who was fluent in Chinese, learned about the difficult situation in which the Red Army was currently found in his conversation, and was also moved by the Red Army's feelings for the country and the people. Back in the village, Shamalg told Xiao Yedan what he had seen and heard, and Xiao Yedan was very emotional after hearing it, and decided to visit Liu Bocheng in person.
When they met for the first time, Xiao Yedan was about to kneel down and salute according to the etiquette of the Yi nationality, Liu Bocheng hurriedly helped him up and said sincerely: "We Communists pay attention to the equality of everyone, you and I are brothers who share weal and woe, so there is no need to be polite." These words made Xiao Yedan feel very cordial, and he felt true equal treatment for the first time.
In the ensuing long talk, Liu Bocheng confessed to Xiao Yedan the ideals and pursuits of the Red Army, and expounded the purpose of the communists to care for the people and relieve the people's difficulties. Xiao Yedan was fascinated by what he heard, and he realized that if he followed the Red Army, his Yi compatriots would no longer have to hide in the depths of the mountains and endure bullying.
At the end of the conversation, Xiao Yedan made a blood alliance with Liu Bocheng in accordance with the customs of the Yi nationality and became brothers with different surnames. Since then, Liu Bocheng has one more Yi brother who shares life and death, and the Red Army's itinerary has become smooth. At the time of parting, Liu Bocheng presented a red flag with the words "Guji Detachment of the Chinese Yimin Red Army" to Xiao Yedan to commemorate it. At the same time, he also left some weapons and ammunition for the Yi compatriots to use for self-defense.
Under the escort of Xiao Yedan, the Red Army successfully passed through the Yi area. When they separated, Liu Bocheng and Xiao Yedan agreed that after the victory of the revolution, they must meet again. Who knows, this parting is an eternal secret, and from now on the sky is separated.
Second, Xiao Ye Dan helped the Red Army cross the river
After Liu Bocheng and Xiao Yedan became brothers, Xiao Yedan kept his promise and led his clansmen to fully assist the Red Army in crossing the Dadu River. He first sent people to inquire about the situation on the official road, and learned that the Kuomintang troops had deployed heavy troops along the way to ambush the Red Army in the valleys, and these places were precisely the most dangerous places that were prone to ambushes.
After learning about the enemy's situation, Xiao Yedan made a decision and decided to lead the Red Army to a little-known path. This path was so rugged and difficult that ordinary people did not dare to walk at all, but it was better to be hidden, and the Kuomintang troops would not have thought that the Red Army would pass through here.
Before leaving, Xiao Yedan instructed the clansmen to prepare dry food and guides, and specially selected a group of strong young people to serve as vanguard officers and open the way to guard. Everything was ready, Xiao Yedan personally came to the Red Army base camp and reported the route to Liu Bocheng.
When the officers and men of the Red Army saw Xiao Yedan's arrival, they were all excited. They knew that with the help of the Yi brothers, half of the battle would be won. And Xiao Yedan's generosity made the soldiers full of gratitude to the Yi compatriots.
On the day of departure, Xiao Yedan and Liu Bocheng walked side by side at the front of the team. Xiao Yedan was familiar with the terrain and knew the road ahead well, while Liu Bocheng was given full authority to Xiao Yedan to command, and he concentrated on commanding the troops. In this way, the Red Army, under the leadership of Xiao Yedan, began a difficult march.
This path is really as Xiao Yedan said, rugged and difficult to walk. The mountain road was lined with thorns, and sharp thorns cut through the soldiers' uniforms and pierced into the flesh, and blood flowed. But the warriors gritted their teeth and continued to move forward without saying a word.
Halfway through, the troops encountered a steep slope with a near-vertical surface, on which everyone climbed as if they were playing with their lives. What's worse is that from time to time there are gravel rolling down the top of the steep slope, and the slightest mistake will be hit.
Just as I was about to cross a steep slope, an accident happened suddenly. A female Red Army soldier accidentally stepped on the air, fell down, and groaned in pain at the bottom of the slope. The situation was critical, Liu Bocheng didn't say a word, picked up his backpack and was about to go down to save people, but was stopped by Xiao Yedan.
"I'll go!" Xiao Yedan glanced at Liu Bocheng, and then used his hands and feet together, and quickly climbed down the steep slope. He slid to the side of the female warrior at breakneck speed, and picked her up to climb up.
At this moment, there was another rockfall above the head, and it was about to hit the two of them, and at the last moment, Xiao Yedan suddenly pushed the female warrior aside, and he was hit in the shoulder, and the blood instantly stained the placket red.
Liu Bocheng was shocked when he saw this, and hurriedly beckoned the soldiers to go down to the rescue. Fortunately, Xiao Ye Dan was only a flesh wound and was fine. After bandaging the wound, he rejected Liu Bocheng's suggestion to let him rest and insisted on continuing to lead the way.
"There is no room for delay on the road to revolution, and the suffering of flesh and skin is nothing. Xiao Ye Dan said firmly.
Seeing this, Liu Bocheng was both moved and admired in his heart. He knew that although Xiao Yedan was only a leader of the Yi tribe, his courage and responsibility were heroic spirit.
Under the leadership of Xiao Yedan, the Red Army finally crossed the Dadu River and successfully shook off the pursuit of the Kuomintang army. On the occasion of parting, Liu Bocheng specially presented a red flag with the words "Guji Detachment of the Chinese Yimin Red Army" to Xiao Yedan to commemorate.
"This red flag is a testimony of our friendship, I hope you will keep it well, and we will meet again after the victory of the revolution in other days!" Liu Bocheng said emotionally.
Xiao Yedan solemnly accepted the red flag, his eyes a little moist. He knew that this red flag was not only a token, but also Liu Bocheng's trust and expectation for himself. He secretly swore that he must guard this red flag until the day Liu Bocheng returned.
In this way, with the help of Xiao Yedan, the Red Army crossed the dangerous pass of the Dadu River and continued to embark on the revolutionary journey. And Xiao Yedan also began to spread the flame of revolution in the Yi area, leading the people to embark on a new road.
3. Xiao Yedan died bravely
The Red Army, with the help of Xiao Yedan, successfully crossed the Dadu River and continued to advance northward. However, Xiao Yedan couldn't wait for the day when Liu Bocheng returned triumphantly.
After Liu Bocheng left, Xiao Yedan did not rest on his laurels. In his conversation with Liu Bocheng, he has come to realize that only by following the Communist Party can the Yi compatriots live a good life. Therefore, he began to propagate revolutionary principles among his tribesmen and called on everyone to unite against the oppression of the Kuomintang.
Xiao Yedan's actions soon attracted the attention of the Kuomintang. When the Kuomintang army learned that it was Xiao Yedan who helped the Red Army cross the river, and saw that he was inciting revolution among his people, they were furious and decided that Xiao Yedan was a dangerous element and must be eradicated.
In June 1942, the Kuomintang army gathered forces and launched an attack on Xiao Yedan's stockade. In the face of enemies several times his size, Xiao Yedan did not have the slightest fear, he organized his people to resist and vowed to live and die with the village.
The battle was extremely fierce, and the Yi compatriots used the most primitive weapons to engage in hand-to-hand combat with the Kuomintang army, and Xiao Yedan rushed to the front and took the lead. However, outnumbered, the stockade was finally captured, and Xiao Yedan was also seriously injured and captured.
When the Kuomintang officer saw Xiao Yedan, he sneered and asked, "I heard that Liu Bocheng gave you a red flag when he left, as long as you hand it over, I can spare you from dying." ＂
Xiao Ye Dan's face did not change, and he raised his head and said: "That is a token of Commander Liu's alliance with me, how can I hand it over to you! I, Xiao Ye Dan, would rather die than give in!"
Seeing this, the officer was furious and immediately ordered Xiao Yedan to be executed. Before the execution, Xiao Yedan did not show the slightest fear, he stared into the distance, and said firmly: "I believe that Commander Liu will definitely come back with the Red Army and liberate our Yi compatriots! My death will not be in vain, and the revolution will definitely win!"
Before the words fell, the executioner's knife had already fallen, and Xiao Yedan fell in a pool of blood at the age of 28. He used his own blood to fulfill the oath he made with Liu Bocheng, and until the last moment of his life, he did not betray the revolution.
The news of Xiao Yedan's heroic death soon spread throughout Daliang Mountain, and tens of thousands of Yi compatriots spontaneously rushed to attend his funeral. People tearfully buried Xiaoye Dan on the hillside outside the village.
Xiao Yedan's sacrifice did not intimidate the Yi compatriots, but aroused their enthusiasm for resistance. More and more Yi youths began to embark on the revolutionary road, and they regarded Xiao Yedan as a role model and vowed to carry the revolution through to the end.
"Although Xiao Yedan is still alive and dead, the heroic spirit will never be extinguished!" people said of Xiao Yedan. Although he passed away, his deeds and spirit will always be engraved in the hearts of the Yi compatriots and have become a source of strength that inspires generation after generation.
Xiao Yedan is gone, but the revolutionary flame he ignited has not been extinguished. Under his inspiration, more and more ethnic minorities embarked on the revolutionary road and threw themselves into the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the War of Liberation.
Inspired by Xiao Yedan's deeds, the Tibetan compatriots in Xikang, Tibet, and other places formed their own guerrilla units to cooperate with the Red Army in carrying out struggles; the Turkish and Salar compatriots in Qinghai risked their lives to help the Red Army raise supplies and act as guides; and the Kazakh and Uygur compatriots in Xinjiang even joined the army directly and fought side by side with the Red Army......
The fire lit by Xiao Yedan with his life has illuminated the way forward for compatriots of all nationalities. People realized that only by following the Communist Party was the only way to the light. It is precisely because countless national heroes like Xiao Yedan have come forward and succeeded each other that the birth of New China has been brought about, and there is a good situation in which all ethnic groups are close to each other and share peace today.
Although Xiao Ye Dan sacrificed, his spirit will never die. Every year during the Qingming Festival, the Yi compatriots in Daliang Mountain will spontaneously come to Xiao Yedan's tomb to pay tribute to Hada and remember this national hero.
People often say that Xiao Ye Dan is a monument of Daliang Mountain, standing on the top of the mountains, showing the deep love of Yi and Han, and Xiao Ye Dan is a banner leading the Yi people from revolution to construction, from poverty to well-off.
More than half a century has passed, and the once closed and barren Daliang Mountain has now undergone earth-shaking changes. The highways extend in all directions, the schools are lined up one after another, and the Yi compatriots live a happy and healthy life. All of this embodies Xiao Yedan's hard work and sacrifice.
Whenever people recall the deeds of Xiao Yedan, they will spontaneously have a kind of respect. Yes, it is countless revolutionary martyrs like Xiao Yedan who shed their blood in exchange for our beautiful life today. We must bear in mind their great achievements, learn from their lofty qualities, inherit and carry forward their glorious traditions, and let the ideals of the revolutionary martyrs blossom and bear fruit in our hands.
Fourth, Liu Bocheng is looking for Xiao Yedan's family
In 1950, Xiao Yedan's widow Wu Jichang finally waited for the news of the liberation of Sichuan. She carefully took out the red flag that had been treasured for many years from her pleated skirt, and handed it into the hands of the local government with trembling hands. She knew that her husband's wish had finally come true, and the red flag, which symbolized revolutionary friendship, had finally returned to where it was supposed to be.
The news soon spread to Beijing, and Liu Bocheng was devastated when he learned all this. Only then did he know that the high-spirited young man of the Yi nationality had died heroically for many years. Liu Bocheng said with regret: "Without Xiao Yedan's help, the Red Army is likely to repeat the mistake of Shi Dakai." He made great contributions to the revolutionary cause, and we must not forget him!"
Liu Bocheng immediately sent people around to inquire about the whereabouts of Xiao Yedan's family, hoping to do his part to help them settle their lives. However, at this time, Lu Wu Jiyan had already returned to the depths of the mountains with her children, and she felt that she had fulfilled her husband's last wish and did not want to cause trouble to Liu Bocheng again.
Liu Bocheng's people searched all over Daliang Mountain, but there was no news of Wu Wuji's wife. The disappointment again and again did not discourage Liu Bocheng. In his opinion, Xiao Yedan is not only his sworn brother, but also a revolutionary martyr, and it is his bounden duty to take care of his family.
The years passed day by day, and Liu Bocheng never gave up searching. Every once in a while, he would send someone to Daliang Mountain to inquire about the news, even if there was only a little rumor, he would investigate it to the end. However, every effort was in vain.
In 1986, Liu Bocheng was already in his old age, and he knew that his time was short. Lying on the hospital bed, the marshal who had made great achievements in battle was already too weak to speak, but when it came to Xiao Yedan, he was still in good spirits. Liu Bocheng took the hands of his children and said earnestly: "I may not have the opportunity to go to Xiao Yedan's family in person, and this task will be handed over to you." Be sure to find them and tell them that Liu Bocheng has not forgotten the promise of the year!"
After Liu Bocheng's death, his children kept in mind their father's entrustment and continued to search for Xiao Yedan's whereabouts. They contacted governments at all levels in Daliangshan and inquired about the news through various channels, but each time they could only get a reply that "there was no such person". Seeing that hope is getting slimmer and fame, Liu Bocheng's children have gradually lost confidence.
The turning point came in 1995. By chance, when Xiao Yedan's grandson Guoji Ahe was working in other places, he overheard someone mention the "Yihai Alliance" back then. Only then did he know that his grandfather had such a good story with a Communist general. Back in his hometown, Guo Ji Ahe told his family about it, and everyone realized that the Commander Liu that his grandfather had befriended before his death turned out to be the famous Marshal Liu Bocheng!
The news soon reached the ears of Liu Bocheng's children. They were overjoyed and immediately sent people to Daliang Mountain, and under the guidance of Guoji Ahe, they finally met Wuji Yan. When the old man saw Liu Bocheng's children, he was so excited that he burst into tears. She took their hands and chattered about the events of the year, telling Xiao Yedan how much he missed Liu Bocheng.
It turned out that after Xiao Yedan sacrificed, Lu Wu Jichang raised several children alone, and life was very difficult. When the children grew up, they were forced by life to go out to work very early. Over the years, Wu Wujichang has been waiting for news from Liu Bocheng, and she believes that her husband's sworn brother will not break his promise. However, the people sent by Liu Bocheng never found this small mountain village. Now seeing the arrival of Liu Bocheng's children, the stone in the heart of Lu Wu Jichang finally fell to the ground.
Liu Bocheng's children also had mixed feelings when they saw Lu Wu Jichang. On behalf of their father, they expressed their deep apologies to the old man, feeling guilty that they had kept their mother and son waiting for so many years. At the same time, they also expressed Liu Bocheng's wish to take them to live in Beijing.
After hearing this, she waved her hand again and again, saying that she was old and could not leave this land. However, she hopes that Liu Bocheng's children can help her grandson complete his studies, and she knows that this is Xiao Yedan's greatest wish before his death.
Liu Bocheng's eldest son, Liu Taixing, immediately said that he would definitely help Xiao Yedan's descendants study, and would often visit the old man in the future. In this way, with the sponsorship of Liu's children, Xiao Yedan's grandchildren came to Beijing successively and entered universities for further study.
Since then, the two families have been in contact more frequently. Liu's children will go to Daliang Mountain every year to visit Wu Ji's wife, bring special products to Beijing, and inquire about the life of the elderly. Every time the old man saw them, he would talk about the story of Xiao Yedan and Liu Bocheng, and the corners of his eyes were moist and full of nostalgia.
Although Xiao Yedan and Liu Bocheng are no longer alive, their friendship has been continued in the interaction between the two families. With the help of Liu's children, Xiao Yedan's descendants have grown up to become the pillars of the motherland, and they vowed to contribute to the development of the country and the nation like their grandfather.
The story of the two national heroes has also become a good story passed down from generation to generation. People often say that the friendship between Xiao Yedan and Liu Bocheng is a model of national unity and a testimony that the blood of the Red Army officers and soldiers and ethnic minority compatriots is thicker than water. Every time I hear this story, everyone will be moved and admired.
More than half a century has passed, the smoke of gunpowder has dissipated, and the suffering of the past is gone. In today's Daliang Mountain, the Yi compatriots live a happy and healthy life. All this is a condensation of the hard work and sacrifice of revolutionary martyrs such as Xiao Yedan and Liu Bocheng. We must remember their exploits, learn from their spirit, and let the flower of national unity bloom with more brilliant brilliance in the new era!