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The background of the establishment of Zhang Yexi and the key team
At the beginning of 1943, a new administrative body was established in Cheng, Ping, and Ning counties in order to more effectively coordinate and strengthen anti-Japanese actions in the region. Zhou Zhiguo was appointed director of the United County Office, responsible for the administrative and strategic deployment of the entire organization. Under his leadership, the region was divided into six districts, each with its own backbone units, whose main tasks were intelligence gathering, skirmishing guerrilla warfare and sabotage.
Zhang Yexi was appointed as the captain of the backbone team of the 5th and 6th districts. In this position, he not only had to direct the anti-Japanese actions in these two districts, but was also responsible for organizing the anti-Japanese education and mobilization of the local masses. The remote, mountainous and densely forested nature of these two areas provided a natural advantage for guerrilla warfare. But at the same time, because of its proximity to enemy-occupied areas, it was often subjected to strict blockades and frequent sweeps by the Japanese army.
In order to better cope with these challenges, Zhang Yexi and his team are constantly moving within the region, avoiding long stays in any one location. They often move at night and during the day hide in safe houses provided by villagers, or hide in forests and caves.
In order to strengthen the strength of the basic team, Zhang Yexi also organized regular military training for the team members, including tactics such as night fighting, ambush and rapid retreat. In addition to military training, political education is also part of daily training, with the aim of improving the will to fight and loyalty to the cause of fighting against Japan.
Wei Zhanzi Incident: Early warning of the first encounter with the enemy
One night in June 1943, the moonlight was thin and the sky was covered with heavy clouds, providing a covert cover for the backbone team led by Zhang Yexi. They set out from the southwest of Lingyuan, aiming to pass through the area of Wei Yanzi and finally reach the Lama Cave near Sanjiazi. This mountainous area is dense and forested, making it ideal for covert movements and temporary hiding.
The nocturnal team marched in a tight array, with light and orderly steps, each member of the team trying to keep their bodies down and avoid any sounds that might attract attention. They walked through dense woods, and occasionally in sparsely wooded areas, the team had to be more careful to cover themselves in the moonlight.
As the base team approached the Wei Zhanzi area, the plan to move along the railway line was suddenly unexpectedly challenged. Their planned route, which was once an important link to the hamlet but is now used by the Japanese for military transport and patrols, was to be partially retained by abandoned railroad tracks.
Just as the team was quietly moving along the railroad tracks, suddenly, four rail cars came from the direction of Lingyuan in front and the direction of Poplar Ridge on the left. The lights of these vehicles are particularly dazzling at night, and the light reflects off the railroad tracks, making them appear particularly bright. Sitting on the train were heavily armed railway police officers, their weapons glistening under the headlights, threatening.
This sudden encounter made the whole team tense up instantly. The team members quickly followed the pre-trained emergency plan, some of them quickly lay down and hid their bodies, while others quickly observed the surrounding terrain and looked for a location where they could quickly evacuate or ambush.
Due to the thicker shrubs and low trees on both sides of the railway, this provided temporary cover for the backbone team. They took advantage of this geographical advantage and carefully disappeared from the sight of the railway police force, avoiding direct conflict. At the same time, Zhang Yexi ordered several team members who were good at shooting to be ready to deal with possible conflicts at any time while remaining hidden.
After making sure that all the team members were not exposed, Zhang Yexi and his deputy quickly analyzed the situation. They realized that this nighttime railway police patrol was not accidental, but the result of the intensive conscious monitoring of these areas by the Japanese army. Obviously, the Japanese army has established an extremely efficient intelligence gathering and rapid response mechanism in the region.
Faced with this situation, Zhang Yexi decided not to move forward along the railway line anymore. He quickly adjusted his route and ordered his troops to bypass the railroad tracks and take a more rugged mountain route that effectively avoided enemy surveillance.
Qinglong River Encounter: The enemy's rapid response
In a well-planned in-depth operation, the backbone team led by Zhang Yexi prepared to pass through the dense woods west of Liu Yanzi, aiming for Fox Mountain, which was located in a remote mountainous area. The terrain of the area is complex, and it is often used by key units as a temporary hideout or a starting point for planning operations. The purpose of the operation was to set up an ambush near Fox Hill to strike at small detachments of Japanese troops that were constantly operating in the area.
During the march, the members of the key team maintained a high level of vigilance and were ready to deal with possible unexpected situations. They weave through the woods, using thick trunks and low-hanging foliage as cover. The team moved cautiously, and everyone was as gentle as possible to avoid the cracking sound of dead branches in the woods that would attract unwanted attention.
When approaching the Qinglong River, the river became a natural obstacle that they had to pass. The Qinglong River is fast-flowing, and the banks are covered with rocks and mud, so the team needs to find a place that is relatively easy to cross. At a bend in the river, the current was relatively gentle, and the team began to cross the river cautiously. With the help of a long stick in their hands, they test the depth of the water to ensure that every step is solid and reliable.
Just as most of the members of the base team had just crossed the river and were about to regroup on the opposite bank, there was a sudden roar of machinery from the upstream direction. As the sound gradually increased, four Japanese railcars equipped with powerful search lights quickly approached along the tracks parallel to the river. The railcars were armed with heavy machine guns and other armaments, apparently for rapid deployment and mission.
Seeing this, Zhang Yexi immediately reacted and signaled the team to quickly withdraw from the riverbank and look for more shelter. The members of the team responded quickly and scattered in search of a hidden place to avoid the Japanese search lights and possible shooting. This sudden circumstance forced them to abandon their original plans and instead seek a safe retreat route.
Since the Japanese railcars could reach any position along the railway line in an extremely short time, the movement of the base team was greatly limited. They had to look for new hiding places in the woods, while sending several scouts back to the river to observe the movements and numbers of Japanese troops.
Reconnaissance & Discovery: In-depth exposure of the enemy's intelligence network
In order to thoroughly understand and deconstruct the Japanese intelligence network in the area, Zhang Yexi decided to send a reliable team member to go deep behind enemy lines to conduct reconnaissance. He chose Li Anping, the leader of the third squad, a member of the team who was familiar with the terrain and had repeatedly proven his ability and courage in past operations, to carry out this dangerous mission in the area of Song Zhuzi. Song Zhuzi is located west of Lingyuan, a key point on the railway line, and the station here has always been heavily guarded by the Japanese army and a hot spot for intelligence activities.
Li Anping set out in the darkness of night, carrying the necessary equipment, through dense forests and mountains, avoiding regular routes to reduce the risk of being discovered by the enemy. Along the way, he observed changes in the terrain and the activities of the Japanese army, recording every possible observation point and patrol pattern. This kind of reconnaissance mission deep behind enemy lines requires extremely high concealment and endurance, and any small mistake may lead to mission failure or even life-threatening.
Arriving near Songzhuzi, Li Anping hid in an abandoned farmhouse and used a telescope to observe activity in and around the station. He noted that the Japanese had a strict shift system at the station, and that the level of security seemed to increase every time a train came in or out, and it was clear that the strategic position here was not trivial. In addition, he observed that some plainclothes personnel frequently entered and exited the station office, interacted with uniformed Japanese troops, and behaved markedly differently from ordinary soldiers.
Through a few days of observation, Li Anping collected more and more information, gradually revealing a complex intelligence network. He found that there were often villagers in the small villages on both sides of the railroad who communicated with the Japanese army, and these villagers could be used by the Japanese army to gather information about the anti-Japanese forces. In addition, some seemingly ordinary traders may also be informants planted by the Japanese army, who observe and record past anti-Japanese elements and activities while selling goods.
With the help of these clues, Li Anping further determined Ma Chang's identity and role. Ma Chang is nominally the station's police chief, but in reality he is a high-ranking spy sent by the Jinzhou Railway Bureau, responsible for coordinating and handling intelligence gathering throughout the region. He not only had his own intelligence team, but also formed an extensive intelligence network through the establishment of the so-called "Aihu Village" and the reconnaissance team, which was as impenetrable as a spider's web, and firmly controlled every anti-Japanese activity in the area west of Lingyuan.
Song Zhuzi Station Night Attack: Strike at the enemy's intelligence core
At 11 o'clock in the evening of July 19, 1943, on the basis of careful preliminary reconnaissance and intelligence analysis, the basic team launched a well-planned operation, aiming directly at Song Zhuzi Station, aiming to eliminate Ma Chang, a key figure in the Japanese army's intelligence network, in one fell swoop. Under the command of Zhang Yexi, the 2nd Squadron took the lead in carrying out this raid mission, and at the same time arranged for precise ambush points at Twenty Lipu and Gaozhuzi Bridgehead to cut off possible enemy assistance.
At night, there was no moonlight in the sky, providing additional cover for the operation. Members of the Cadre Team painted camouflage on their faces and hands to reduce the risk of detection during night operations. All team members were told to maintain absolute silence, and all action was to be conducted in whispered communication.
The members of the 2nd Squadron were the first to arrive at the preset ambush site. At Twenty Mile Fort, the team took advantage of the terrain and hid in the bushes on the side of the road, closely monitoring the road leading to the station. At the head of the High Stick Bridge, another group of team members was deployed at both ends of the bridge to control the route on the bridge and prevent any enemy reinforcements from passing.
At the same time, the main forces quietly approached the Songzhuzi station. The group, commanded by Zhang Yexi himself, bypassed the main road and chose a lesser-used trail to advance in order to avoid possible enemy sentinels. As they approached the station, every step was taken carefully, and the team members were always ready to deal with unexpected situations.
After approaching the station, the key team used night vision equipment to observe the situation in the station and determine the specific location of Ma Chang and his men. They found that Ma Chang appeared to be having a nighttime meeting, with several Japanese officers and plainclothes personnel gathered in a small office. After confirming the target, Zhang Yexi quickly assigned the assault task, arranging grenades and blasting experts to be in place.
At the beginning of the operation, the first was the Demoman who placed explosives at the station's electrical facilities and communication lines, which were detonated at almost the same time, successfully cutting off the station's power from the outside world. Immediately, the main assault team quickly rushed into the office and attacked with grenades and submachine guns. Ma Chang and his men were completely caught off guard, and the firepower and speed of the basic team completely suppressed the enemy.
The operation was swift and decisive, and in less than an hour, Ma Chang and all his men had been effectively eliminated. After ensuring that there were no other enemies in the station, the base team quickly withdrew from the scene and returned to the predetermined rendezvous point.
Reference: From Pingquan Old Area Construction Promotion Association. History of the development of the old revolutionary base area of Pingquan City[M]. 2019