If history is a play, then every turning point is enough to rewrite the ending. The Southern Anhui Incident in January 1941 was such a worrying historical moment. This time, the New Fourth Army was almost facing the crisis of total annihilation, but at this critical moment, an inconspicuous hero used his wisdom and courage to write an indelible mark on the history of China's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. Who is he? Let's go back to that era and uncover this little-known heroic story.
At the end of 1940, when the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression was in full swing, the New Fourth Army, under the leadership of Ye Ting, shouldered the heavy task of defending Central China. At this critical moment, the diehards of the Kuomintang were suspicious, ignoring the overall situation, and attempting to exterminate the Communist Party by force. Chiang Kai-shek even ordered the New Fourth Army to withdraw to the north of the Yellow River under the pretext of "New Fourth Army Rebellion". In the face of such unreasonable demands, the New Fourth Army, for the sake of the overall situation, chose to tolerate and carry out the order to retreat north.
In the early morning of January 5, 1941, Ye Ting led the military headquarters of the New Fourth Army and several regiments, a total of more than 9,000 people, from the Yunling defense area and marched north. When our army crossed the Qingyi River and arrived in the Maolin area of Jing County, it was suddenly besieged by seven divisions of the Kuomintang. At this time, the situation of the New Fourth Army was extremely dangerous, almost embattled, and in danger.
At this life-and-death juncture, the calmness and resourcefulness of Ye Ting and his staff officer Cao Danhui are particularly crucial. Cao Danhui, a young officer who was then deputy chief of the Third Section of the General Staff Office of the New Fourth Army and deputy chief of the Radio Corps, was responsible for ensuring communication between the military headquarters and the outside world. As soon as the battle was about to break out, Ye Ting immediately drafted two telegrams, one directed at Chiang Kai-shek and Gu Zhutong, asking why they had provoked infighting, and the other urgently sent to Yan'an, asking for instructions from the Party Central Committee.
Just when the Kuomintang army was pressing the border and the situation of the New Fourth Army was precarious, Cao Danhui and his communications team protected the only radio station in the midst of heavy artillery fire and ensured contact with Yan'an. This radio station has become the lifeline of the New Fourth Army. After receiving the telegram, Mao Zedong immediately responded, instructing the New Fourth Army to concentrate its forces, look for the enemy's weak points, and resolutely break through the encirclement.
In such a desperate situation, Cao Danhui and his comrades continued to operate the rudimentary radio station and keep in touch with Mao Zedong, regardless of life and death. And on the opposite side of the radio station was dense enemy artillery fire and endless attacks. For a time, bullets rained down and artillery roared. However, Cao Danhui and the others stuck to their posts, and they knew that only by continuous communication could it be possible to inform Chairman Mao of the true situation of the army, and only then could they get more support and correct guidance.
In the continuous exchange of fire, the New Fourth Army led by Ye Ting and Cao Danhui took advantage of the terrain and night to skillfully intersperse the siege of the enemy army. In the life-and-death decision, they successfully broke through the enemy's encirclement at a very low cost. This heroic act not only preserved the lifeline of the New Fourth Army, but also left valuable strategic wisdom for the history of China's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.
Cao Danhui's performance in this operation was enough to impress any military strategist. He not only persevered in the task of communications in extremely difficult conditions, but also showed extraordinary military talent in tactics. He and his team, almost in the encirclement of the enemy, completed one reversal of life and death after another.
But behind the story is the sacrifice and persistence of countless officers and soldiers of the New Fourth Army. According to later statistics, the New Fourth Army suffered heavy losses in the Southern Anhui Incident, but the surviving soldiers still insisted on fighting, and their heroic deeds are still praised today. And Cao Danhui's wisdom and courage have become a glorious page in this history.
Not only that, but the impact of this incident on the entire Chinese War of Resistance was also far-reaching. Within the KMT, the incident exposed its internal contradictions and problems, which made more people begin to reflect on and redefine their attitude towards the Communist Party. The adventure of the Communist Party not only strengthened its prestige among the people, but also laid a more solid foundation for subsequent cooperation in the War of Resistance.
In the long river of history, the deeds of Cao Danhui and his comrades may be only the tip of the iceberg, but it is these seemingly inconspicuous heroes who used their wisdom and courage to write the indomitable spirit of the War of Resistance. From a more macro point of view, this adventure of the New Fourth Army is not only a simple military breakthrough, but also a reminder to future generations that no matter how great the difficulties and challenges we face, hope and victory always belong to those who dare to face reality and have the courage to shoulder responsibilities.
Looking back on Cao Danhui's feat in the Southern Anhui Incident, it is not difficult for us to find that every turning point in history is not accidental. Behind it lies the blood, tears and sacrifices of countless heroes. These stories remind us that courage and wisdom are the tools to overcome difficulties, and that true heroes are often ordinary people who can step up when it matters most. The deeds of Cao Danhui and his comrades are not only a contribution to the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, but also a kind of spiritual inheritance.