【Text/Observer Network Columnist Amon】
On April 20, 1949, the Nationalist government in Nanjing refused to sign the Internal Peace Agreement (Final Amendment), and the peace talks between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party broke down. On the 21st, Chairman Mao Zedong and Commander-in-Chief Zhu De issued the "Order to March to the Whole Country."
Chinese People's Liberation Army launched a campaign to cross the river in accordance with the predetermined deployment of the General Front Committee. On the day the battle began, the masses on the north bank of the Yangtze River burned incense and prayed: "The army crossed the river, went with the wind and waves, hit Nanjing, and captured Old Jiang alive!" ”
At 20:00 on April 20, the Central Army took the lead in launching an offensive from Yuxikou to Zongyang Town, opening the prelude to the liberation of all of China. At four o'clock, the 80th Division of the 27th Army held an oath-taking meeting with the regiment as the unit, and the division commander and political commissar went to the 240th and 238th main offensive regiments to personally mobilize and call on the troops and shipwrights to work together to cross the Yangtze River, liberate Jiangnan, and liberate all of China!
Before the expedition, each boatman was also issued an "identity card" - on a cigarette box-sized oil paper (not afraid of immersion) with his name and address written on his body, once sacrificed, it was easy to find. After the meeting, the division commander and the political commissar came together to the front of all the shipwrights of the commando team and toasted with everyone to drink Zhuangxing wine.
The shipwrights were excited and began to prepare the ships, and all the ships in the stormtroopers were equipped with log stoppers, cotton wool, axes and water scoops, etc., in case the ships were clogged in time after they were shot through. After the preparations were completed, the captains of each boat changed their new clothes. Folk customs, when people are old, they must make a new set of clothes as "old clothes", and "old clothes" are changed by special servants before they die and are buried.
Zhang Xiaohua, a villager in Dongzhang Village, Fishing Township, Chaohu City, opened the cloth bag he had brought with him, took out the new clothes that he had not been willing to wear, and stepped on the bow of the boat with his chest. The Kuomintang troops found our army crossing the river and shouted, "The communist bandits are coming!" For a moment, bullets whizzed by Zhang Xiaohua's side, while he still held the rudder firmly and drove the ship straight into the enemy bunker.
The first group of stormtroopers landed, Zhang Xiaohua turned the bow of the ship back to the north shore and crossed the second ship, and when the ship reached the center of the river, Zhang Xiaohua's son Zhang Youxiang was hit and wounded by a stray bullet. Later, Zhang Xiaohua knew that his son was injured and said to Zhang Youxiang: "Son, you have to endure a little, the army is important to cross the river." When he returned to the north shore for the second time, the head of the army greeted him on the shore, asked him to accompany his son to the rear for treatment, and not to cross again, saying to him: "You are already the first boat to cross the river, and you have made great contributions to the people." ”
The 3rd, 4th and 5th Corps of the West Army Group crossed the river from 17:00 on the 21st in the section from Zhongyang Town to Wangjiang. After being prepared by strong artillery fire, the 12th, 11th, 13th, 15th, and 16th Armies, which served as the first echelon, boarded their ships one after another and crossed, and thousands of wooden boats competed to cross the river. The enemy on the south bank suddenly bombarded with intensive artillery fire, and the flares rose and fell over the river, like daylight. Our landing forces returned fire, but casualties continued to occur. Peng Siyi and all the officers and men of yuanpo village in rubble township were killed by the artillery fire of the Kuomintang army.
Li Henggao, Li Qigao, and Li Quankai (Li Henggao's son), the shipwrights of Xuling Township who belonged to the 13th Army, rode a large wooden boat together when they crossed the river. When approaching the south bank, the shipwright Li Henggao was unfortunately shot and killed, and his younger brother Li Qigao could not bear to be sad, so he hurriedly handed the bridge in his hand to the soldier next to him, to take charge of the rudder that his brother had just loosened, and just straightened the bow of the ship, and was also shot and fell.
Li Quankai, who was wounded in the leg and was still shaking hard, ran to the body of his father and uncle, took the helm, and continued to drive the boat to the riverbank. A bullet hit him in the abdomen, but he still clutched the rudder and shouted loudly to Liu Jingjing, a boatman on a nearby ship, to take the boat he was driving with him. It wasn't until Liu Jingjing advanced with his boat on top of his head that he released his hands that clenched the rudder and fell next to the bodies of his father and uncle.
Braved enemy fire
Boatmen like Li Henggao, Li Qigao, and Li Quankai who served the People's Liberation Army in crossing the river are not unique, and brothers and sisters, husbands and wives even have a family of six to participate in the river crossing team.
The 10th Corps of the Eastern Bloc was scheduled to attack at 19:00 on 21 April. On the afternoon of April 21, Duan Xiangfu, a boatman in Taixing County, northern Jiangsu Province, was making preparations for crossing the river on a boat, when Instructor Zhang of the People's Liberation Army came to inform: "Chairman Mao and Commander-in-Chief Zhu ordered us to start crossing the river at seven o'clock tonight." Duan Xiangfu said excitedly: "Old Zhang, I am finally looking forward to this day!" ”
Duan Xiangfu's boat is an eleven-ton boat, and the whole family of six lives on it. The Central China Prefectural Committee stipulated that the boats participating in the river crossing operation must not have family members, and local cadres, in order to ensure the safety of Duan Xiangfu's family, asked the family members not to be on the boat. But Duan Xiangfu's 54-year-old mother said to him: "Children, for the poor in the world can live a good life, I will also help you to rock the boat." ”
Duan Xiangfu's twelve-year-old daughter also followed suit: "Dad, I will also help you to take the helm." In this way, all six members of Duan Xiangfu's family boarded the ship to participate in the battle of crossing the river (under normal circumstances, those with family members on board did not participate in the commando team, and the first troops landed and then did follow-up transportation work).
Before the battle, the East Army was blowing the northwest wind for several consecutive days, and the boat people were dealing with the Yangtze River all day long, and when they saw the northwest wind blowing, they were very anxious in their hearts: this kind of wind could not cross the river at all, and even if it could pass, it was impossible to reach the predetermined destination, and ten boats crossing the river were afraid that they could only fall to two or three.
At dusk, the commanders and fighters of the 23rd Army used a lot of strength to pull the ship out of the harbor and into the river with a rope. At this time, the wind suddenly stopped, and an experienced ship boss said, "The wind is going to turn!" The southeast breeze began to blow, and the boat people said excitedly: "I think that Zhuge Liang set up an altar for seven days and seven nights to borrow the east wind, and today Chairman Mao sent it thousands of miles away, and Chairman Mao is even better!" Others said: "The People's Liberation Army crossed the river to obey the will of heaven and fulfill the wishes of the people, and God also helped the netherworld, it seems that 'Jiang should die', really damn it!" ”
At 19:00, the East Group Army began to cross the river according to the scheduled time, and the commandos who crossed the river were all party members or activists, and played a leading role in the process of crossing the river. On the evening of April 21, Comrade Yan Shengfu, a member of the Jingjiang Communist Party, commanded 95 boats and forcibly crossed the Yangtze River in the midst of bullets and fire, and on the 7-mile-wide river, his own boat sent 8 large armies across the river in one night, setting the highest record.
Our assault troops rushed to the beach and landed
On the surface of the Qinglonggang River, fishermen Sun Changsheng, Zhai Jinlin, Ni Zhenggui, Zhou Bajin, Wang Jiujin, Xia Liuliu, and several other party members, full of warriors who crossed the river, erected oars, pulled full sails, steered the bridge, and set up a good rudder, like an arrow off the string, rushing to the front of the river crossing fleet. Sun Changsheng's ship was at the forefront of the commando, and the ship reached the center of the river and was discovered by the enemy on the south bank. Suddenly, bullets were all over the place, and Sun Changsheng was not afraid, calmly and quickly driving towards Jiangnan. A shell fell on Sun Changsheng's boat, the river surface was bright red, Sun Changsheng's boat disappeared, and Sun Changsheng and the soldiers on board all died heroically.
Hu Yekui, a 46-year-old fisherman and special hero of the river crossing in Qinggang Township, the fifth district of Hudong County, invited 30 sailors from nearby villages to risk their lives to cross the river with a basin and drag back 18 civilian boats snatched by the enemy army next to the small sandbar on the south bank of the Yangtze River to support the river crossing army. When crossing the river, the boat ran aground, he jumped into the river, pushed the boat forward with both hands, and unfortunately was shot and killed.
There are many boatmen who gave their lives for the Battle of the River Crossing. The father and son of the Tonglu Bailiu family participated in the crossing of the river by the Western Group Army at the same time, and after the father's sacrifice, the son endured grief and drove a large army across the river 3 times a night.
Zhao Jiaxian, an old boatman in Guanjiawu Village, Wangjiang County, mentioned above, was with his brother in the 15th Army's River Crossing Commando, and Zhao Kejia was killed in the battle. Zhao Jiaxian said to the soldiers: "My brother died in the battle with the People's Liberation Army, which is the most glorious, as long as you cross the river and liberate all of China, you will avenge me." ”
Communists took the lead in supporting the front, and their families were not far behind. As soon as the martyr Sun Changsheng's fleet returned to the north shore, Xia Youdi, the wife of party member Wang Jiujin, secretly hid in a wheat field when the first boat crossed the river, and as soon as Wang Jiujin's ship returned, he immediately evaded the guard post and slipped onto the boat to help Wang Jiujin shake the bridge.
Wang Xiaoshan's mother, Xia Aibao, also stole a boat to support the People's Liberation Army in crossing the river. In the Battle of the River Crossing, there were many female heroes such as Xia Hedi and Xia Aibao, and they showed courage and wisdom that were not weaker than men in the battle.
Working women at the helm of a large army crossing the river
Zhu Songshi, an old lady in her fifties in Taihu County, took her son Song Xi to participate in the river crossing operation and drove a assault boat. Wang Fengying, sixteen years old in the Qiuhu District of the Lower River in the Jingjiang River, was very hungry to see the training of the boatmen and the People's Liberation Army, and wanted to join the former boatwork team, but not only her brother opposed even the district cadres also thought she was young.
She simply went to the headquarters of the 29th Army, and when she saw a commander, she offered him to join the river crossing fleet.
The head of the unit just looked at her with a smile and asked a little worriedly, "What if the ship is damaged and leaks?" Wang Fengying replied. "This is not afraid, there is a way, with cotton wrapped in a cork to plug the hole is it."
At 10:00 p.m. on April 21, Wang Fengying received the order to set off, hurriedly pulled the canopy, took the helm, and shook the bridge to point directly at Jiangnan. After Wang Fengying sent the soldiers of the first echelon to the south bank, he sent the troops back and forth to cross the river. In the middle of the night of the next day, Wang Fengying led the fleet back to Jiangbei against the wind and waves. Suddenly, a Kuomintang warship came from upstream and crashed straight into Wang Fengying's ship. Wang Fengying tilted his rudder and led the fleet to cleverly avoid the enemy ships. Subsequently, four more enemy ships pounced on them, knocking the fleet apart, and Wang Fengying's ship fell into the enemy's encirclement. Wang Fengying calmly maneuvered with the enemy, and the enemy ship could not bite her small boat, but she threw her behind. In the end, Wang Fengying led the fleet to return safely.
Grandma Han, a 49-year-old heroine, reported that she participated in the first-line assault and forced crossing, and on the river surface of seventeen or eight miles (high tide), she sailed from 7 o'clock that night and delivered three trips a night. The last boat to the shoal could not move, she first took the lead in launching, pushed more than three miles of road, completed the task; mei Lao'er, a first-class meritorious female boatman, personally took the helm five times in one night; Yao Dajie, who supported the 94th regiment of the 32nd Division of the 11th Army, crossed the river and was thrown into the river by the cannonball wave. She climbed aboard and continued to rock the bridge, encouraging the soldiers, "Comrades, go ashore and put out the enemy!" ”
With their bravery, hard-working, and supreme wisdom, the female shipwrights broke the prejudice of feudal ideas against women and won their own liberation.
Heroes are not born, and it is normal for ordinary people to be afraid of guns and bullets. When approaching the south shore, the enemy fired at the landing ships, especially when there were casualties, and some shipwrights heard the gunshots and saw that there were casualties, so they put down the poles. At this time, the cadres and party members ran to the front of the boatman, covered him with their bodies, and told the boatman, "It doesn't matter, even if you row, I can't hit you if you can't hit me." To fight, hit me first! ”
The boatmen were educated in military training, and when they crossed the river, they were infected by the soldiers' behavior of not being afraid of sacrifice, and they became more determined and brave.
After the Battle of the River Crossing, local governments and troops rewarded boatmen who contributed to the crossing of the river. Zhang Xiaohua was awarded the "Model of Crossing the River", and the boat he piloted was rated as the "First Boat to Cross the River", which was later collected by the Military Museum.
Northern Jiangsu Shipwright Duan Xiangfu's family of 6 with boat support, for 8 consecutive days and nights to and from the two sides of the Yangtze River. At the end of the campaign, Duan Xiangfu was awarded a first-class meritorious service and his mother was awarded a third-class meritorious service; Comrade Yan Shengfu was rated as a special meritorious service; Wang Fengying, who was only sixteen years old, was recorded for a special meritorious service and awarded a certificate, a medal, and a big red pennant with seven characters on the flag: "Wang Fengying, hero of crossing the river"; And awarded Wang Yongcai the title of special class shipwright hero.
Group photo of meritorious boatmen
In view of the shipwrights who died in the Battle of crossing the River, the wounded shipwrights, and the ship's equipment damaged during the battle, our army stipulates:
Those who supported the death of the boat workers on the river were considered to be revolutionary martyrs, and their immediate family members were martyrs and enjoyed the treatment of martyrs. Dead bodies are buried in coffins. If the whole family lives on this ship and the ship is destroyed and the owner dies, compensation is made according to the original ship and a living allowance is paid for one to three months. The family members of those who live on the employment of the deceased are regularly cared for by the local government in addition to the three months of living expenses, the family does not rely on the victims, the ships have no major losses, and relief food is distributed according to the specific circumstances. Employees who have died shall be issued a certificate of martyrdom jointly signed by the Shipping Authority and the Special Commission. And the government organizes the masses to make public sacrifices to commemorate the martyrs.
In view of the injuries and disabilities of the shipwrights in the Battle of the Crossing River, it is stipulated that:
All military organs shall send the former wounded and sick, migrant workers and boat workers served by them to various field hospitals or local health institutions for free first aid treatment. During the period of treatment, their medicine, diet, nursing care, etc., shall be treated the same as those of military organs. Former cadres, migrant workers and boatmen who are crippled shall be issued with supporting documents and sufficient travel expenses, escorted back to their hometowns, and notified to the local government to give preferential treatment in accordance with the ordinance on preferential treatment of the invalids and to give them the necessary care in daily life.
After the founding of New China, Comrade Zhang Xiaohua served as a warehouse keeper and canteen buyer for a certain unit, and the old man said that "every piece of wood in the public family is in his heart," and every year he was an advanced worker in the unit and joined the Communist Party of China at the age of 64; Comrade Wang Fengying recalled in his later years before he crossed the river branch, saying: "At that time, there were many models of shipwright heroes who contributed much more than me, and the daughters of the boatmen who were about the same age as me had them at all the ferry ports. I have done such a little thing that should be done with all my heart and I have won such a great honor from the party and the people. ”
In 1999, when the Wujiang River was flooded, the elderly Yan Hongying took clean towels to the PLA fighters who came to fight the flood, as if they had returned to their youth when they supported the army to cross the river...
At the helm of the river crossing troops was Yan Hongying's father, and it was Yan Hongying who was rocking the bridge, and her sister was in the cabin.
The heroic boatmen who crossed the river described in this article are less than the heroic boatmen who crossed the river in that year. As mentioned in the "Brief Description of the Pre-Support Work in Northern Jiangsu in the Past Three Years":
"The political consciousness of the people has been raised as never before, and the broad masses of peasants in China, in the eyes of the reactionary rulers, are a tame lamb, and as soon as they come into contact with the truth of Marxism-Leninism, they begin to awaken politically... They soberly realized that the People's Liberation Army is fighting to protect the interests of the people, that the war is for themselves, that supporting the front line is also for their self-defense, and that whether the peasants can achieve final liberation depends entirely on this war. So they are no longer lambs, but lions..."
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