In 1936, when the Red Army's Long March had just arrived on the Loess Plateau in northern Shaanxi, a Red Army regiment political commissar froze this moment in front of the camera. In the photo, he is wearing a military uniform, with solid leggings tied under his feet and a row of bullet clips tied around his waist. Although this is a black and white photo, his temperament deeply touches every viewer. His eyes were firm and profound, revealing the perseverance and courage of the old Red Army who had experienced the test of life and death.
This political commissar's name is Zhang Lixiong, and he is the hero of our story today. Although he was only 23 years old this year, he was already a veteran with six years of military experience. He has experienced countless bullets and bullets, experienced a hundred battles, and has already sharpened his excellent military quality.
After a short rest in northern Shaanxi, Zhang Lixiong received a new task - an expedition to the "Hexi Corridor". It turned out that at that time, in order to break the enemy's blockade and relieve the pressure on the base areas in northern Shaanxi, the top level of the Red Army decided to organize the Western Route Army to go deep into the frontier and open up the channel of communication between China and the Soviet Union. Zhang Lixiong was brave and fearless, and was incorporated into the Red Fifth Army and embarked on a new journey.
At that time, the situation of the Western Route Army could be described as extremely difficult. On the one hand, logistical supplies have almost come to a standstill, and the lack of support from a solid base makes their operations difficult. What is even more serious is that weapons and ammunition cannot be replenished in time, and every battle is particularly difficult. What makes them even more troublesome is that the Hexi Corridor area where they are located is Ma Jiajun's sphere of influence. These bandits were known for their ferocity and cunning, and they had a strong force and were very strong in combat, which was undoubtedly a great threat to the Red Army.
Despite the difficulties, the Western Route Army was not discouraged. At the beginning, they were overwhelmed, liberating the two county towns of Linze and Gaotai in succession, and dealt a heavy blow to the enemy. However, the good times were short-lived, and soon they were counterattacked by the bandit forces. The Red Army was not firmly established, and the walls of the two small county towns were already in tatters, making it impossible to provide an effective defense. It was a cold winter, and the cold weather exacerbated their predicament.
As the political commissar of the regiment, Zhang Lixiong stuck to Gaotai County, he wore single clothes, braved the cold, and commanded everyone to stick to the position. When the ammunition ran out, he and his warriors picked up broadswords and spears and engaged in a desperate struggle with the horse bandits. Zhang Lixiong was undaunted, he took the lead and repelled the enemy's attacks several times in a row. However, the battle was more tragic than they could have imagined. More than 2,000 soldiers, including army commander Dong Zhentang, were all killed, and the remaining Red Army soldiers were also slaughtered by horse bandits. Some of the surviving female warriors were even bullied by the horse bandits, and for a while, blood flowed in Gaotai City.
In this battle, Zhang Lixiong was wounded in the leg, but he did not give up. With the help of a local fellow sympathetic to the Red Army, he evaded the enemy's hunt, recovered from his wounds, and after a long journey, finally found the organization. Zhang Lixiong can be said to be blessed with great fortune, and he made great achievements in the later Anti-Japanese War and the War of Liberation. In 1955, he was awarded the rank of colonel and a few years later promoted to major general. Zhang Lixiong was open-minded and strong-willed all his life, and finally passed away at the age of 111, and his heroic deeds will forever be engraved in people's hearts.