The story of the Red 17th Army, although this unit existed for a short time, left a strong mark in the history of the Chinese revolution. Imagine an army that persevered in battle under extremely difficult conditions, with only 100 men, and in the end, despite heavy casualties, showed an indomitable revolutionary spirit. What's even more dramatic is that when the army is in a life-and-death situation, a military commander chooses to flee for fear of a strong enemy, while an ordinary soldier bravely leads the troops to break through, and later this soldier turns out to be the founding major general. What kind of team is this?
The name of the Red 17th Army may be only a glimpse in many history pages, but its story is full of legends. In 1932, at the time of the Kuomintang army's frenzied encirclement and suppression of the communist base areas, the leadership of the Red Army decided to form this new army to cope with the increasingly severe battlefield situation. The Red 17th Army had high hopes from the very beginning, but no one expected that its fate would be so ill-fated.
The Red 17th Army, which had just been established, showed extraordinary combat effectiveness in a battle near Huangshi Cave. In the face of the heavy siege of the Kuomintang, they stubbornly resisted and successfully stopped the enemy's pace. This battle not only bought precious time for the Red 17th Army, but also won it the trust and admiration of the soldiers. The good times did not last long, and the fate of the Red 17th Army soon suffered a turning point.
In the days that followed, the Red 17th Army, under the command of Zhang Tao, experienced a series of battles. Initially, they behaved quite well, repelling the attacks of the Kuomintang again and again. However, as the war deepened, Zhang Tao's command began to reveal problems. Especially in the battle of Mushigang, Zhang Tao hesitated, delayed the timing of the operation, and made the Red 17th Army fall into passivity.
The battle situation became more and more tense, and when the Kuomintang army was pressing the border and the situation was dangerous, Zhang Tao unexpectedly chose to flee. At this moment, the morale of the Red 17th Army was greatly hit. In this moment of crisis, an inconspicuous warrior stepped forward. He doesn't have the aura of a name, he doesn't have a flashy military rank, but he has a heart that is not afraid of strong enemies. This soldier's name is Ye Jinbo, an ordinary soldier, but he stepped forward at a critical moment and led the Red 17th Army to break through and defuse a possible catastrophe.
Ye Jinbo's heroic performance made him famous in the later years, and his military talents and leadership were fully affirmed and developed, and he was finally awarded the honor of founding major general. And Zhang Tao, who fled the battlefield, had a completely different ending. From a glamorous military commander to an ordinary peasant, his life trajectory has taught everyone a lesson: true courage is not only to fight on the battlefield, but also to not give up or run away in the face of difficulties and setbacks.
Although the Red 17th Army existed for a short time, the various trials and challenges it experienced undoubtedly provided valuable experience for the later Red Army. In the days that followed, whether it was breaking through the heavy encirclement of the enemy or persisting in fighting in a difficult environment, the spirit of the Red 17th Army inspired every Red Army soldier.
Let's go back to those years when the smoke of gunpowder was everywhere, and the Red 17th Army showed extraordinary courage and tenacity in countless battles that brushed shoulders with death. They not only showed their heroic qualities on the battlefield, but also forged an indomitable revolutionary spirit under extremely difficult conditions. This spirit not only shaped the legend of a contingent, but also profoundly influenced the spiritual outlook of the entire Red Army.
From the story of the Red 17th Army, we can see that history is not only the memory of the past, but also the revelation of the future. Every Red Army soldier who persevered in the face of adversity is an example for us to follow. They have taught us that no matter how great the difficulties and challenges we face, as long as we keep our faith and face them bravely, there is no difficulty that cannot be overcome.
In the historical picture scroll of the Red 17th Army, we have witnessed the gorgeous transformation from an ordinary soldier to a major general, and also seen the tragic exit from the army commander to the peasant. All this tells us that in the torrent of history, everyone's choice is crucial. It is these choices that have shaped their destiny and influenced the course of history.
Through the story of the Red 17th Army, we not only see the cruelty of war and the fragility of life, but also feel the most glorious parts of human nature, courage, tenacity and sacrifice. The comparison between Ye Jinbo and Zhang Tao makes us understand that the real hero is not the one who escapes difficulties, but the ones who stand up in difficulties. Although the Red 17th Army was short-lived, what it left us was a spiritual wealth that would never fade. Let us remember this spirit and let this unyielding strength continue to burn in everyone's heart!