Chapter 18 Chapter 5 The Difficult Journey

The 25,000-mile Long March of the Central Red Army is world-famous.Many old comrades who have experienced these difficult years have written many memoirs. Here, I don't want to go into too much detail, but just write down a few things that left a deep impression on me. On the evening of October 16, 1934, Battalion Commander Peng Shaohui and I were ordered to lead the teaching battalion of the Third Red Army from Gandu, Jiangxi, and leave the Central Soviet Area together with the regiment headquarters to carry out a strategic transfer.At that time, my foot injury had not fully recovered, and I was suffering from malaria, and my body was very weak. On the day before I set off, the malaria broke out again, and I had a high fever of over 39 degrees.Battalion Commander Peng Shaohui was very anxious. He was afraid that his superiors would find out that I was ill and leave me alone, so he quietly found a stretcher and sent five or six soldiers to carry me forward in turn.In this way, I bid farewell to the Central Soviet Area where I had fought for many years with my illness, and embarked on a difficult journey.

The next morning, my fever subsided, and although I was still weak, I was able to move about.Strange to say, after that, the marching and fighting became increasingly tense and arduous, until the end of the Long March, but I never suffered from malaria and never sat on a stretcher again.I really thank Peng Shaohui for taking me out of the Soviet area and not leaving me behind.Peng Shaohui sometimes jokingly said to me: "Lao Li, you are so lucky. The spirit of Marx in heaven blesses you and drives away the malaria." In the afternoon, the Legion Supply Department distributed a new set of cotton clothes to everyone, and also added a batch of bullets and grenades.The cadres and students were excitedly discussing: "There is going to be another big battle." Because October in the south is still the golden autumn season, and the weather is not cold, cotton coats were distributed so early and ammunition was replenished, so everyone relied on one, two, Judging from the experience of the three or four anti-"encirclement and suppression" campaigns, it is estimated that this transfer may be to "lure the enemy to go deep" or "mobilize the enemy" to wipe it out during the movement. preparation.However, due to the "Left" erroneous central leaders at the time, they had no idea about this strategic transfer, and there was no overall arrangement, that is, they made a hasty decision to transfer.Can't come up with a predetermined feasible plan.Moreover, they used the pretext of "strict secrecy" so that cadres at all levels (including some senior leading cadres) as well as soldiers and the masses did not know their strategic intentions. Next, guess wildly, and act blindly.Everyone only knows how to travel at night and stay at dawn, counting wherever they go, and obeying the command of the first level, and cannot exert enthusiasm and initiative.

Before the Long March, our three armies did not set up a logistics department, but only served the supply department and the health department; during the Long March, the supply department, the health department, the hospital, the teaching camp, and the mountain artillery battalion were temporarily organized into a logistics force, and Tang Yanjie was appointed as the commander. Command; our teaching battalion will serve as the guard cover task.The supply department is responsible for the supply of grain, oil, salt, clothing and equipment, as well as financial revenue and expenditure of the entire army. The porters have many burdens, the most important of which are the burdens containing silver dollars and banknotes.The Ministry of Health and hospitals also have a lot of bearers carrying medicines and medical supplies, and there are also a lot of stretcher teams carrying the seriously injured and sick.This logistics team had a heavy burden, and the wrong central leaders at the time carried out a "big house move" transfer, requiring them to take everything with them, even the heavy machines that repaired guns and made bullets from the arsenal seized in Dasha County. It has to be unloaded and carried away, which increases the burden on the logistics troops.In addition, the mountain cannons of the Legion Mountain Cannon Battalion originally had few shells and were not very useful. This kind of clumsy and heavy guy has no mule or horse to pull it, and it is all carried by manpower, which is even more exhausting. The superior ordered them all to be taken away, and they dared not lose them even if they wanted to, so they reluctantly carried them away.

What's even more annoying is that the central column formed by the central government has more luggage than our army. It carries file boxes, printing machines, coin machines, pots, pots and many other things. It moves slower than us. Make way for them, just stop and go like this, you can only walk dozens of miles a day, or even only ten or twenty miles, it is very difficult to move.Especially in the winter, the weather is cold and there is a lot of rain and snow. When we arrived in the mountainous areas of Guangxi and Guizhou, there were high mountains and rugged roads everywhere. The troops marched and fought continuously.I remember one night when we entered the Miao area in Guangxi, the troops climbed over a big mountain, and the Shanpao Battalion walking in front of us was just halfway down the mountain. The cannon bodies and carriages of the mountain cannons were blocked on the mountain road in a haphazard manner, and they slept next to each other.In this block, the teaching camp, the Ministry of Health, and the hospital behind us couldn't get through.At first we thought that the front troops would rest for a while before leaving. Unexpectedly, half an hour or an hour passed and there was still no movement.Battalion Commander Peng Shaohui waited anxiously, and sent a message to urge the troops in front to leave quickly, but the troops couldn't move.

I hurried to the front to check, only to realize that Shanpaoying was sleeping and blocking the way.I was so angry and anxious that I woke them up one by one, but just as one stood up, the other lay down again. I was too tired to drag on and there was nothing I could do.When I came back and explained the situation, Peng Shaohui was so angry that he stomped his feet and scolded, so I had to persuade him to wait until dawn and the troops stay put to rest.In the middle of the night, the rain gradually began to drip down non-stop, so we stood and squatted in the rain all night.After dawn, the troops continued on their way. The troops on the top of the mountain sent people down to report that three comrades froze to death on the mountain last night. My nose was sore, and tears rolled down the wet mountain road.I thought, if they went down the mountain last night, maybe they wouldn't freeze to death.But who is to blame?In the past two months, I have held my breath. I recalled that under the command of Comrade Mao Zedong, especially in the second and third battles against "encirclement and suppression", we marched thousands of miles, shuttled back and forth among the enemy's encirclement, and said that we would go Just go, hit when you want to hit, and be flexible. How about crawling like a tortoise like now, posing a posture of being beaten and angered?It's really puzzling.

After the Liping meeting, the Central Committee accepted Comrade Mao Zedong’s opinion, and the troops were lightly equipped, and the machines in the arsenal and some of the worn-out mountain cannons in the mountain artillery battalion and other heavy things and unnecessary burdens were sunk into the river or buried. The porters have been added to the combat troops, and the troops have become leaner and easier to move.After the Zunyi Conference, the leadership of the new Party Central Committee headed by Comrade Mao Zedong completely changed the strategy of the "Left" wrong leaders. Proceeding from the actual situation of our army, they flexibly interspersed among the "pursuing and suppressing" enemy groups, Crossed the Chishui River four times, crossed the Jinsha River skillfully, successfully passed through the Yi nationality area, crossed the Dadu River by force, captured the Huding Bridge by flying, got rid of hundreds of thousands of enemy troops, and won a decisive victory in the Long March. Misty, saw the spring, and the mood gradually became brighter.During this period, our teaching battalion participated in the battles of Tucheng, Lubanchang, and Huili. We all adhered to the principle of "destroying the enemy and preserving ourselves". Withdrew, fought very flexibly, with few casualties, and the morale of the troops rose again.

Here, I think of an interesting thing: it was March 15, 1935, when the Third Red Army was preparing to cross Chishui three times. That night, our teaching battalion and brother troops withdrew from Luban Field to fight and moved to Maotai In the town, the people in the town ran away because they were deceived and threatened by the enemy. A few soldiers were looking for a well in the town to carry water for cooking. They accidentally discovered the wine cellar where Moutai was stored. The aroma of the wine was overflowing and tangy, so they took a sip out of a tea mug out of curiosity and took a sip. It was really mellow and sweet, but they knew that the rules of the Red Army forbade drinking during the march, so they poured the wine back for fear of getting drunk. cellar.

At this time, a soldier remembered that baijiu can soothe the muscles and muscles. His legs were sore and numb after marching and fighting for days. In the middle of the day, everyone dipped their fingers in Moutai and rubbed their calves and feet. It was warm and comfortable. How could a mug of wine be enough for a class? They used washbasins to hold the wine, and the whole class came to wipe their feet.Now it spreads to ten, ten to hundreds, and the news goes without saying. They all use tea mugs and washbasins to find wine to drink Moutai, and some even put the wine in the washbasin, soak their feet in turn, and massage each other.My guard did not know where he got the news from, and he quietly poured half a washbasin of Moutai wine to soak my feet. I asked him, "Where did the wine come from?" He told me the situation, and I felt so bad. Criticized him for violating the discipline of the masses, but the guards still argued nonchalantly: "There are wine cellars everywhere, just like wells, just hit them casually. Brother troops have already used this method to soak their feet, and you still criticize me!" I think the wine has already arrived And put it in the washbasin (the washbasin was used for three purposes at that time: washing face, washing feet and serving food), and pouring it back made the wine cellar dirty, so I had to write a note and ask the guards to take it to the supply office, asking them to leave it tomorrow. A few silver dollars were given to the wine shop owner as compensation.

Then, according to the method taught by the guards, first soak the feet, then massage and rub them while soaking. Sure enough, the feet were warm and warm that night, and I had a good night's sleep. I walked very easily and comfortably the next day. .After the founding of the People's Republic of China, whenever I drank Moutai at a banquet, I often recalled the story of soaking my feet in Moutai during the Long March. On the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, the Long March team circled around the pursued and intercepted enemies like a dragon, which changed the situation of being passively beaten in the early days of the Long March, and greatly increased the mobility and flexibility of their actions. This is undoubtedly an inspiration for the entire army. It's a good thing, but for our troops who are responsible for the regiment's rearguard task, due to the drag of the logistics team, especially the wounded and sick in the hospital, it is very difficult to speed up the marching pace, and there is a danger of falling behind every day.One day, Boss Peng and Political Commissar Yang Shangkun called me and Peng Shaohui, and told us: "Now the troops are moving fast, and the enemy's situation is ever-changing. Your rear guard has a heavy task. If you are intercepted by the enemy, you will develop guerrilla warfare locally. Take root and gain a foothold." In order to strengthen the connection between the head of the army and our rear guard, Boss Peng specially equipped our teaching battalion with a radio station, asking us to keep in touch with the army headquarters, report the situation in time, and accept the instructions of the head of the army.At that time, the army had only a few radio stations, which were distributed by the head of the army to the units that had difficulties in communication according to the needs of the mission. Some divisions did not have any radio stations. Therefore, both Peng Shaohui and I felt the seriousness of the situation, and we also deeply felt the trust of the head of the army. and caring.As far as our wishes are concerned, we really don’t want to be intercepted by the enemy, because leaving the army and the head of the army is like a child leaving its mother and having no one to rely on; but the battle situation is very complicated, and anything can happen. When considering a problem, it is often necessary to think of the worst and prepare several sets of plans to deal with complex situations and sudden events.Fortunately, we kept in touch with the regiment commander during the following period of fighting and the arduous journey across the snow-capped mountains and grasslands, and we caught up with the troops in time after the battle without being cut off by the enemy.

The most difficult and difficult journeys during the Long March were climbing snow-capped mountains and crossing grasslands. On the morning of June 18, 1935, our guard troops of the Third Red Army followed the 11th and 12th regiments of the main force to climb Jiajin Mountain, the first snow mountain in Sichuan.This Daxue Mountain with an altitude of more than 4,900 meters looks like an old man with white hair sitting there, so the local people call it "Shenxian Mountain", saying that apart from the gods, even birds cannot fly over it. .I grew up in a big valley, and I have climbed many mountains over the years, but this is the first time I have seen such a tall snow mountain in my life.When the troops came to the foot of the snow-capped mountains and looked up at the snow-capped mountains surrounded by clouds and mist, they were also apprehensive from the bottom of their hearts.However, after mobilization and education, the soldiers all proudly said: "Our Red Army is like living gods. No matter how high the mountain is, it is not as high as the feet of our living gods; birds cannot fly, but our iron feet can step on it!" Everyone was determined. It is necessary to cross the "Shenxian Mountain" and join forces with the brotherly Red Fourth Army to establish a new revolutionary base.

During the journey, the comrades worked together to overcome the invasion of ice, snow, wind, and hail, and crossed this snow mountain in one day.When the sun was about to sink to the west, we camped in a ravine at the foot of the mountain.When I went to the company to check that no stragglers or casualties were found, and returned to the battalion headquarters full of joy, the guards had already arranged my "sleeping berth" under a big pine tree on the hillside.This big pine tree is tens of meters high, with thick trunk and luxuriant leaves. A thick layer of dry leaves has fallen from the tree, which is soft and fluffy.This night, I slept under the big pine tree with the guards and grooms (breeders). The air here is fresh, neither cold nor hot. The dry pine leaves exude a refreshing fragrance, which makes me fall asleep comfortably. .Over the decades, I have often recalled this night of sleeping more comfortably than at the "Beijing Hotel". The comfortable sleep of this night cannot erase the difficult journey of conquering Jiajin Mountain.Our teaching battalion followed the road opened by the vanguard and followed their footsteps without any loss; however, what a price the fraternal troops walking in the front paid for conquering this snow-capped mountain!Some comrades fell into the unfathomable snow nest and could not be rescued; some old, weak and sick comrades were exhausted after struggling to climb to the top of the mountain. Can survive.It is even more regrettable that when we went to the top of the mountain, we saw four or five soldiers from the vanguard lying on their backs next to the two bonfires. According to the doctor who inspected the remains, they told me that they did not understand the thin air and lack of oxygen in the mountains, and wanted to rest for a while on the top of the mountain. After warming up by the fire, they did not expect to light a bonfire, and there was less oxygen in the air. They had just climbed to the top of the mountain, and when they suddenly warmed up by the fire, they might suffocate due to lack of oxygen, or they might die from altitude sickness, freezing and starvation.I saw that the comrades who died were relatively strong, but their faces were pale and their lips were purple. It was obvious that they died accidentally, which made me feel very heavy.I thought to myself, if they knew a little scientific common sense of altitude sickness, they might not be sacrificed on this snow-capped mountain.In order to prevent the sacrificed comrades from being bullied by the wind and snow again, I took a few comrades to bury their remains on the spot, and sent a message to the troops: "You are not allowed to stay on the top of the mountain, and you are not allowed to enjoy the fire. Go down the mountain quickly and reach the destination. victory!" The next day, we entered the town of Dawei and joined forces with our brother's Red Fourth Front Army.Comrades from the 265th Regiment of the 88th Division of the Fourth Red Front Army warmly received us and gave us some grain (highland barley, corn). Everyone had a full meal and their energy gradually recovered.At this time, we heard that on the day we crossed Jiajin Mountain (June 18th), the First Red Army and the Fourth Front Army held a party in Maogong City to celebrate the victory of the reunion. Talking cordially with the comrades of the Red Fourth Front Army, there was a joyful atmosphere everywhere. We rested in Dawei Town for a few days and summed up the experience of crossing Jiajin Mountain.In the summary, I particularly emphasized the need to carry out education on preventing suffocation by the fire. After that, we climbed Mengbi Mountain, Changban Mountain, Dagu Mountain and Tuoluogang ( Also known as Cangde Mountain) there are four big snow mountains, although each snow mountain is more than 4,500 meters above sea level, one is steeper and steeper than the other, but the comrades have the experience of crossing Jiajin Mountain, the marching organization is more orderly, and the measures Be more specific.Each company and platoon organizes the old with the new, and the strong with the weak. When climbing the steep mountain road, they use leggings to tie each other and support each other.During the journey across the four snow-capped mountains, although there were no accidents of falling into the snow nest or suffocating by the fire, a few weak comrades exhausted their strength, extinguished like a lamp with no oil, and fell into a long sleep Among the snow mountains. Around July 10th, we crossed the fifth snow mountain - Tuoluogang and arrived at the Heishui Luhua area for rest. The head of the regiment gave us a special task for the teaching battalion. More than 300 yaks and more than 100 sheep were seized from the reactionary chieftain.It turned out that before the arrival of our Red Army, the Kuomintang reactionaries, in order to starve us to death, colluded with the reactionary chieftain, and forced the local Tibetans to fortify the wall and clear the country. Anyone who sells grain to the Red Army will be sentenced to death; if the wall is not cleared, all cattle, sheep, grain and other property will be confiscated." Under the deceitful propaganda and threats of the Kuomintang reactionaries and reactionary chieftains, some Tibetans were coerced to participate in the Most of the Tibetans hid in the mountains. Therefore, the villages we passed were basically uninhabited, which brought great difficulties to raising food.What's even worse is that the reactionary chieftain took the opportunity to plunder, snatched all the Tibetans' cattle and sheep, drove them into the mountains together, and organized reactionary armed forces to ambush and kill our small team that went out to raise food.During the battles with the reactionary armed forces blocking our army in Zhuokeji, Luhua and other places, the fraternal troops captured hundreds of cattle and sheep. Most of them stayed.The headquarters intends to let our three armies guard it for a few days, and ask them to claim it when the Tibetans return home.Therefore, the task of taking care of these three or four hundred cattle and sheep fell on our teaching camp. At that time, we had just climbed the five snow-capped mountains, and we were physically exhausted. When we arrived at Luhua, it was very difficult to raise food due to the large number of troops.To be honest, no one has seriously counted the three or four hundred cattle and sheep, and no one has issued a receipt. It is reasonable to slaughter a few casually so that everyone can improve their lives and increase nutrition. .However, our Red Army has self-conscious discipline. The head of the regiment trusted us and let us take care of this flock of cattle and sheep. We must not "guard and steal"; moreover, these are Tibetan cattle and sheep, and the superiors are ready to return them to the Tibetan brothers at any time, and slaughter them privately. , is also a violation of public discipline.The leaders of our battalion repeatedly mobilized and explained to everyone that they must consciously abide by discipline, and led everyone to go up the mountain to pick wild vegetables mixed with highland barley to cook batter, tighten their belts, and live a half-starved life. We took care of the cattle and sheep conscientiously. During the day, we went to the nearby hillsides to graze, and at night, we rushed back to the camp to fence up, guard against the enemy, and guarded them hard for three or four days without touching a single hair of the cattle or sheep. .Unexpectedly, in the early morning of the fifth day, the leading cadres of the Red Eleventh Regiment led ten or twenty soldiers to find Battalion Commander Peng and me, saying that the superiors had informed them that they could kill some cattle and sheep for jerky, and prepare pastures for dry food. There are a lot of cattle and sheep, let's borrow a few first, after all, I will pick the fat cattle and sheep by myself.After a while, comrades from the 10th, 12th, 13th Regiments, and the surrounding fraternal units also rushed to "borrow" cattle and sheep. Battalion Commander Peng, me and the comrades in the teaching camp couldn't stop them no matter what.I was angry and anxious, and shouted: "You are so disorganized and undisciplined, I will sue you at the army headquarters!" But the cadres and soldiers who came were not afraid, and smiled nonchalantly and said: "Okay, okay, hurry up!" Go sue!" Battalion Commander Peng Shaohui and I ran out of breath to the Legion Headquarters to file a complaint, only to learn that this was the decision of the Party Central Committee and the Central Military Commission.I heard that Comrade Mao Zedong went to the army to learn about the situation. He learned that the army had difficulty raising food, the soldiers were still starving, and they were about to cross the grass. What should we do?At that time, all the common people ran away, and the highland barley in the field was already ripe, and no one harvested it; the cattle and sheep robbed by the reactionary chieftain were confiscated, and no one dared to claim them.Therefore, Comrade Mao Zedong issued an instruction to "rescue the Red Army", and the Military Commission also issued a notice: In order to raise grain and beef and mutton from pastures, the grain, cattle and sheep of the reactionary chieftain can be confiscated; The cattle and sheep can also be borrowed; the barley and barley in the field can be harvested, and the IOUs must be paid first, and they will be returned later.This misunderstanding occurred because our teaching battalion was grazing far away on the side of the mountain and had not been notified by our superiors. We hurried back to the station, but when we got home, we found that the cattle and sheep had already been divided up. The soldiers were so angry that they scolded me, so I had to explain to them truthfully to settle the dispute.The next day, the fraternal troops learned that we had worked so hard to take care of the cattle and sheep for several days, and we didn’t even touch a single hair of the cattle. The cadres and soldiers who don’t know the taste of meat also taste a few mouthfuls of beef and mutton, and most of them are made into jerky, ready to be used as dry food for grassland.Of course, this number is not much, and the amount allocated to each soldier is even a pitiful little bit. Comrade Mao Zedong's instruction to "save the Red Army" at that time was indeed a "bad policy" adopted under the helpless situation.He knew that doing so violated our army's military discipline of "no offense in autumn" and damaged our army's reputation.However, at that time, Chiang Kai-shek, who was stationed in Chengdu, was dispatching troops and generals in an attempt to besiege and wipe out our army in the snow-capped grassland area west of the Minjiang River and north of Maogong; Joining with the Red Twenty-Fifth Army to create and expand new base areas, there is a danger of the entire army being wiped out.Considering the long-term interests of the people of all nationalities in the country, in order to "save the Red Army", I have to temporarily apologize to the Tibetan compatriots, and this debt will be paid back later.Sure enough, shortly after the founding of New China, when the central government sent a delegation to Sichuan and Xikang to condolence to the Tibetan compatriots, Comrade Mao Zedong specifically asked the comrades of the condolence team to apologize to the Tibetan compatriots in Zhuo Keji, Heishui, Luhua, and Aba, explaining that for the sake of To save the Red Army, I owe a debt to the Tibetans, and I am here to repay it today.Although 15 years later, most of the IOUs and IOUs written by the Red Army at that time have been lost, but the condolence team distributed a large number of condolences and relief food and materials, which has also expressed the concern of the Party Central Committee, the Central Military Commission, and Comrade Mao Zedong. a piece of mind. On July 21, 1935, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China held a meeting in Luhua. After the meeting, the troops were reorganized. I was transferred to the political commissar of the Health Department of the Red Army and the political commissar of the General Hospital.At that time, the Third Red Army was organized in the right line of the army and was on standby to go north at any time. I followed the regiment headquarters and stationed in the Maoergai area in early August, leading more than 100 medical staff and wounded and sick to prepare for the grassland.But during this period, due to Zhang Guotao's repeated obstruction and refusal to implement the central government's northward policy, in an attempt to split the Red Army and endanger the central government, the central government's northward policy was delayed for more than a month and could not be implemented. The regional break waited for more than a month.In mid-August, the central government decided to take the lead in the right army across the grass and continue northward.Most of our general hospital is wounded and sick, with limited mobility; a small number of medical staff are busy with treatment and nursing work. Although there is a month of preparation time, the regiment directly under the army and the regiments have tried their best to raise some food and dried meat. I made preparations, but our general hospital still had very little food, which made me rub my hands in anxiety.Just when we were anxious, a few days before departure, the political commissar Yang Shangkun of the Legion suddenly sent someone to send a batch of highland barley, which made me overjoyed.It solves a big problem for the wounded and sick of the General Hospital to pass through the grass, which is really "send charcoal in the snow"!I am sincerely grateful to Commissar Yang Shangkun for his care, and I also feel more deeply the class friendship and deep affection of the comrades in the headquarters of the Three Army Corps and the fraternal troops for the wounded and sick.Immediately after I received the highland barley, together with the cooks, I worked day and night to grind noodles, pancakes, and make dry food for the pasture. Around August 20th, we started to cross the grass with the regiment headquarters.The vast expanse of water and grass stretches as far as the eye can see; there are no birds in the sky, no insects singing in the ground, and there is not a stone or a big tree in sight for hundreds of miles.Some of them are clumps of aquatic plants of varying heights that grow densely under the feet. Rivers and ditches in the grass are criss-crossing, flooded with stagnant water, and the turbid and black stagnant water floating on the surface exudes a rancid smell.Walking on this boundless marshland, people can't tell the east, west, north, south, which is the feasible way, walking on thin ice, if you don't pay attention, if you step into the quagmire like a trap, you will sink deeper and deeper , was devastated.Fortunately, with the help of local Tibetan guides, the leading brother troops have explored a winding and winding passage, and set up road signs for us with wooden boards and branches along the way, so that we can travel along a safer route and reduce the Many unnecessary casualties.All these road signs were bought by the vanguard at the risk of risking and paying a heavy price.At this time, a feeling of sincere gratitude can't help but arise spontaneously. Not only is the road difficult on the grass, but the climate is harsh and unpredictable.Ordinarily, the end of August of that year was the end of July in the lunar calendar, and it was still the season of "end of summer". We in the south still wore shorts and jackets in summer, but there were often snowflakes and bitter rain on the plateau grassland. God really bullied us who wear thin clothes. Ragged Red Army!On the first night when we entered the water grassland, we had no experience. We still found a small, dry slope to camp like the night before when we camped on the edge of the grassland. Unexpectedly, it rained in the middle of the night, and the water soon overflowed. When we got to this slope, we had to stand up, put the tarpaulin on the ground to keep out the rain, snuggled up to each other and took a nap, and stood in the rain all night.The next day, the sky cleared, and we marched a little more easily, and gained experience in camping at night, and found a small high ground before we could lie down and sleep.However, the temperature was very low at night and it was unbearably cold, so we used the dry sticks we brought to light the fire, and some half-dried and half-wet withered grass roots were picked up by everyone to light a bonfire. I huddled with the guards and grooms to sleep. , by the bonfire, keeping each other warm, and finally warmed up a little. When it comes to camping on the grass, another interesting thing comes to mind.During the long journey, the medical staff of the General Hospital summed up a lot of experience with their scientific knowledge, especially how to protect the feet and restore the strength of the feet.On this night, they raised their heels with the dry firewood they carried or the hay stalks they could find, which is called "inverted foot movement".Because of walking for a long time, especially when the feet are soaked in water, the blood flow to the feet will increase accordingly, making the legs and feet feel heavy.When people lie down while sleeping, this "inverted feet" means that the feet are slightly higher than the head and upper body, so that the feet can be rested, normal blood circulation can be restored, and swelling of the feet can be avoided.Sure enough, this method is very effective.After inspecting the rest of the wounded and sick that night, I also learned the "inverted foot movement" with the guards and grooms. When I walked the next day, my feet seemed to be much easier.Afterwards, during the few days across the grass, everyone participated in the "backward movement", which greatly facilitated the continuous march on the grass. Originally, the organization allocated me a very strong black mule. Unexpectedly, a few days before we came to the grassland, the groom and I were busy baking dry food for the sick and wounded. Suddenly, someone stole it. The groom cried and looked around but couldn’t find it. .During the Long March, although I seldom rode a mule, I mostly let it carry my backpack, books, documents, comrades who were sick or weak, or comrades who were left behind with guns and backpacks, but there was a mule instead of manpower , marching is always much easier.Now that I lost my mule, I had to pack lightly again and again, and reluctantly disposed of a few beloved books and diaries to lighten the burden on the groom; after entering the grassland, no matter how deep the water grass was, I had to wade through it by myself.On the third day of the march, probably because his feet had been soaked in rotten stagnant water for several days, and the poisonous gas of the stinky water permeated the skin, a small sore suddenly appeared on his left ankle. My left leg hurts when I walk.During the noon break, I looked at the suppurated area of ​​the sore, and found that there was a red "line" extending from the sore along the inner side of the calf to the knee joint.That night, I looked at the campfire again, and the "red line" of small sores had extended up to the inner thigh, and the whole leg felt pain.At this time, I remembered that when I was at home, I heard people say that there is poisonous gas in the foot sores, and if the poisonous line leads to the heart, it will be life-threatening.But common people have a native method, which is to use ramie "moxibustion".I also tried to cut a section of ramie from the laces of the new ramie straw sandals, lit a fire on the campfire, blew out the flame, and moxibustion three times on the head of the "red line" on the inner thigh with a fire twist. The next day, sure enough, the "red line" dropped.At the same time, the military doctor sterilized the sore with iodine, and wrapped it with gauze, and the small sore was cured soon.Looking back now, this is also a "poor way" to cure the disease. Otherwise, at the critical moment of crossing the grass, a small abscess might be fatal. Healthy people have already encountered many difficulties when passing through the grass, let alone our team of wounded and sick!I encourage medical staff and stretcher bearers to carry forward the revolutionary humanitarian spirit of saving lives and healing the wounded, and to care for the wounded and sick; encourage the wounded and sick to fight tenaciously against the wounded.Some wounded endured the pain and kept silent; some wounded and sick struggled to walk by themselves as long as they could walk for a while with the help of their own, instead of sitting on a stretcher. In the hearts of comrades-in-arms.Everyone understands that in the march of this life-and-death struggle, one step forward means survival and victory; stagnation and retreat may lead to death and failure.Everyone worked together, encouraged each other, and helped each other to break through the obstacles on the grass. The wounded and the sick and I trekked hard on the grass for more than four days, and we will walk out of the grass in one more day.Suddenly, I found four soldiers hugging each other on a small sloping field beside the road. Each of them was pale, their hands and feet were cold, and their bodies were shivering.I hurried to find a military doctor, and after careful diagnosis, the military doctor did not find any illnesses in these soldiers.The military doctor said to me: "Political commissar, they are not sick, they are hungry." It turned out that these were four fallen soldiers from the brother army. It snowed last night, and they were frozen all night. They had finished eating, and they had no strength at all. They couldn't stand up even if they tried to stand up, so they had to cuddle up to each other, waiting for rescue.At this time, there were only three highland barley cakes left on me.I thought to myself, there is still more than a day's journey, and I am not enough. Moreover, if any wounded or stretcher has run out of food, what should I do?However, the four fighters in front of them would never be able to stand up without eating something. Thinking of this, I resolutely picked the largest barley cake weighing about half a catty from the dry food bag, broke it into four pieces, put one piece in each soldier's hand, and said to them kindly: "Comrade, get out of the grass!" Now, the central leadership comrades and fraternal troops are waiting for us in Brazil. Walking out of the grass is victory. Eat this piece of cake, let's go on the road together!" The four soldiers looked at me affectionately with eyes filled with tears, and then looked at the wounded and sick who were struggling to move forward tenaciously on crutches in front of them. .With tears in their eyes, they chewed the small piece of highland barley wheat cake carefully, as if this small piece of highland barley wheat cake contained tens of thousands of "calories" of heat energy, which immediately added infinite strength to them.I helped them up one by one, let them take a step slowly, and continued to move forward with the team. After the team arrived in Brazil, one day, I met these four fighters again.They have returned to the team, saluted me passionately and said: "Chief, you saved four of our lives with one cake!" I was very relieved to see that their physical strength had recovered, so I patted them on the shoulder and said: "No, this is your own hard work to get out of the grass." I didn't ask the fighters' names and units, but the image of these four lovely young fighters has always remained in my mind. Our General Hospital is on standby in Brazil. I took time to report to the Legion Headquarters. I heard from the comrades in the Legion Headquarters that when they were crossing the grass, Boss Peng learned that the troops had run out of food. Some companies dug grass roots to eat, and some cooked The belt satisfies hunger, and I feel very distressed, saying that the troops must be ready to fight at any time, how can they fight when they are hungry, and how can they walk out of the grass?Immediately ordered Adjutant Fang to gather all the six mules and horses of the Legion Department, kill the meat and distribute it to the troops.Boss Peng's old groom and guards couldn't bear to kill the big black mule assigned to Boss Peng, and persuaded Boss Peng to keep the big black mule.Because everyone knows that Boss Peng usually loves his fat black mule very much. Although he seldom rode it during the Long March, he used this mule to carry sick and fallen comrades, but he was still afraid that the mule would starve. Frozen, he would often secretly feed the mule the dry food he had saved from his hungry stomach.Now, he had the heart to order the mule to be killed.The old groom couldn't figure it out, so he pleaded with him again and again, saying that the mule had merit and could not be killed.彭老总有点生气了，反问说：“人重要还是牲口重要？”接着，他坚决地说：“现在人比牲口更重要，不要留下它！”要方副官长立即执行命令。方副官长只好遵命用机枪把六匹牲口全打死，杀了肉分给部队，而军团机关只留下一点杂碎，这六匹牲口救活了多少战士啊！彭老总以身作则，给我们作出了榜样，对我的教育很深。 巴西是个山谷中的小集镇，有上百户人家，藏胞的住房还比较好，大多是木头建造的两层楼房，上层住人，下层关牲口。这里还有一座建筑得很好的喇嘛庙，算是这一带比较热闹的地方。这时候，我们几千名红军一到，陆陆续续地经过巴西分散驻扎到周围的村庄，使这个偏僻的小集镇更加热闹起来。有一天，我上街去看看热闹，信步走到喇嘛庙前，只见庙门口雕梁画栋，金碧辉煌，庙虽不大，却很别致。到庙前来参观的红军官兵不少，但大家都自觉遵守纪律，尊重藏胞的风俗习惯，没有一个人闯进庙门，只在庙前一二十米远的地方看一看，不敢打扰喇嘛们的佛事活动。 从喇嘛庙往回走的路上，突然听到远处有人喊我的名字，我随着声音望去，只见一个大高个儿迈着蹒跚的步子跌跌撞撞地向我奔来，一时认不清是谁，待近前一看，才惊愕地认出是我的老乡张平凯。记得临长征前他从三军团调到中央干部团去，那时，他身材魁梧，体魄健壮，英气勃发，精神抖擞，才一年不见，怎么瘦弱成这个样子呢？只见他脸色蜡黄，两个腮帮深深凹陷，下巴尖削，高高的颧骨上面一双大大的眼睛也失去了昔日的光泽，真是判若两人。我急切地问他：“你怎么瘦成这样？”张平凯喘着粗气告诉我：他离开瑞金后就一直发着疟疾，勉强跟着干部团行军，不料过草地时又发烧又拉肚子，实在走不动了，掉了队，差点就出不了草地。我听了感到很心疼，就扶着他回到驻地，把他收容到总医院治疗。恰巧这时有个老战友给我送来一只五六斤重的獾子，这是他们在山上下套子抓到的，说是他看我身体不好，送给我补养的。当时整个红军经过一年的长征，大家都一样，拖得精疲力竭，饿得脸黄肌瘦，我虽然带病长征，身体也瘦弱，但比起伤病员来，自己还觉得是个“壮汉”。我想，伤病员比我更需要营养，于是，就把这只獾子交给伙房，请他们杀了煮给张平凯和几个重伤病员吃。说实话，这一点点獾子肉，要让一个人吃也能一口气全吃掉。煮好后分给重伤病员，一人只能吃几块肉，喝一小碗汤而已。不过，在这种情况下，一块獾子肉也就表达了我的一片心意了。建国以后，张平凯见到我还常提起这獾子肉的事，可见患难之时战友间的一点一滴恩情，都能令人终生难忘。 长征中的政治工作除了加强党的领导，发挥党员的先锋模范作用，带领广大群众以坚韧不拔的毅力去战胜重重困难外，还有一个很突出的特点，就是积极开展宣传鼓励工作，激发广大指战员的革命英雄主义和革命乐观主义精神。特别是在遵义会议之后，大家明确了“北上抗日”的前进目标，有了奔头，革命信念更加坚定，无论遇到什么困难，一心一意跟党走，革命热情高涨起来，更加感到虽苦犹荣，虽苦犹乐。 开展歌咏活动本是红军的优良传统，长征中，革命歌声更成为鼓舞斗志的一种精神力量。无论是跋山涉水，无论是休息宿营，哪里有红军，哪里就有革命歌声。有时，虽然由于过度劳累，嘶哑的声带和急促的喘息使歌曲走了调，乱了节拍，但透过这粗犷的沙哑的歌声，仍不难感触到一颗颗热情、滚烫的心。 当时，革命歌曲也作为一种教育的工具。由于连续行军、作战，没有更多的时间集中上课、作报告，上级提出个政治口号或提出一项重要任务，为了及时贯彻下去，政治部门就用“旧瓶装新酒”的办法，利用大家熟悉的曲调，填进结合当前任务的新词，教大家学唱。通过唱歌使大家领会党提出的政治口号，记住自己的战斗任务，贯彻到实际行动中去。翻过雪山以后，先头部队初次遭遇敌人的骑兵时，只见敌骑兵呼啸而来，行动迅捷，气势汹汹，一时竟束手无策，不知道先打马还是先射人，刚放一两枪，骑兵就逼到跟前，令人生畏。后续部队一听这种情况，也对骑兵产生一种恐惧心理。针对这种情绪，上级宣传部门很快就编了一首《打骑兵歌》教大家唱：指挥员和战斗员们，努力学习打骑兵。四个基本原则，一条一条记在心。 第一基本原则，沉着冷静、勇敢坚定，确实相信手中武器，一分一秒，不要放松，准备战斗打骑兵。 第二基本原则，如果发现骑兵，迅速警报大家，以便本队取得优势，一枪一个，落花流水，这些骑兵不顶打。 第三基本原则，沟墙工事，加强木层；行军注意，家屋森林，如果发现有了骑兵，依托地物同他拚。 第四基本原则，立射跪射，坐射卧射，投罢榴弹，接着刺杀，砰嘭砰嘭，砰嘭砰嘭，这些骑兵不顶打。 这四段歌词通俗易懂，既把藐视敌骑兵的必胜思想灌输到部队中去，又把打骑兵的要领和战术动作都教给战士。大家唱着唱着，打垮敌人骑兵的信心和勇气提高了，而且懂得用步枪排射阻击敌骑兵的战术要领，畏惧情绪一扫而光。我教三军团教导营的干部、战士唱过《打骑兵歌》，过草地时我虽然离开了教导营，但后来听说，他们快过草地时遇到敌人骑兵的袭扰，马上就疏开队形，第一排卧射，第二排坐射，第三排跪射，第四排立射，统一口令，步枪排射，把冲在前头的敌骑兵打翻下马，后面的骑兵一溜烟跑了。大家都兴高采烈地议论：《打骑兵歌》真灵！ 各部队的战士宣传队是行军中一支十分活跃的宣传鼓动队伍。他们大多是一些十五六岁的年轻“红小鬼”，聪明伶俐，能说会唱。宣传队往往在行军途中打前站，选择一块高坡设立鼓动棚，当行军队伍经过时，他们就唱歌，呼口号，说快板，表扬好人好事，给大家鼓动加油。在爬夹金山时，宣传队就大声宣传过雪山到懋功同红四方面军会师的意义，有的对行军队伍喊：“同志们，加油！山下就是懋功了，坚持下去就是胜利，赶快翻过雪山和四方面军会师！”有的则喊：“同志们，快下山去，千万莫停留，莫吃山上的积雪，不然会泻肚子，发高烧的。”过草地时，鼓动棚就鼓励大家说：“党中央首长已经在巴西等着我们了，我们咬紧牙，坚决走出草地！”大家听着，心底里一热，好象脚步也加快了。 说起宣传队，我们教导营宣传队还有一件宝——留声机，那是一九三四年一月东方军第二次入闽打下沙县时缴获的胜利品。宣传队把它当宝贝一直带在身边，在长征途中再苦再累，即使把自己心爱的乐器、衣物丢掉，也舍不得丢掉这台留声机。有时我看他们挑着、背着很吃力，让黑骡子帮他们驮上，他们还怕留声机给颠簸坏了。这台留声机缴获时还有八九成新，枣红色的盒子，绿呢子垫的转盘，还有一个黑色的大喇叭，式样好看，音量也大。宣传队经常把它放在鼓动棚里，让留声机哇啦哇啦唱着，他们在一旁作宣传鼓动，这样，留声机象在给他们伴奏似地，使鼓动棚的气氛更显得热闹。这台留声机只有十几张旧唱片，除了《渔光曲》等二三张歌曲和民乐曲外，大部分是京剧唱段，有梅兰芳的《贵妃醉酒》、，谭富英的《空城计》、《定军山》，程砚秋的、《青霜剑》，周信芳的《萧何月下追韩信》、《徐策跑城》等等。这些旧唱片与长征的艰苦环境虽然极不协调，有的片子因为反复地唱太破旧了，甚至有的还有裂痕，唱起曲子来产生不少吱吱嘎嘎或咔嚓咔嚓的杂音，但说来奇怪，战士们非常喜欢听这个“戏盒子”，一听到远处传来留声机的声音，好象前头就到了戏园子似地，不由自主地加快了步伐；到鼓动棚跟前总要仁脚休息片刻，听一会儿宣传，也听一会儿戏，有的还情不自禁地跟着哼起《空城计》：“我正在城楼观山景，耳听得城外乱纷纷”或哼起《徐策跑城》：“湛湛青天不可欺，未曾起事神先知，善恶到头终有报，且看来早与来迟”有的还边唱边学着“青衣”或“老生”摇摇摆摆、拂袖踱步的姿态，象上台演戏似地，逗得周围的同志开心地大笑。这样的听戏、唱戏，虽难说有什么现实教育意义，但它是一种难得的娱乐，哈哈一笑，扫除了大家沉闷的心情和疲劳的情绪，使部队活跃起来，体现了一种革命的乐观主义精神，这应该说也是政治工作的一种方法吧。 一九三五年九月二十二日，红一方面军突破天险腊子口进抵哈达铺，在哈达铺进行改编，改称为陕甘支队，原红一军团编为第一纵队，红三军团为第二纵队，军委纵队为第三纵队；我调任第三纵队保卫分局第二科科长，负责肃奸反特工作。十月十九日，陕甘支队越过六盘山，到达刘志丹、谢子长创建的陕北革命根据地的吴起镇。此时，紧紧尾随而来的敌骑兵四个团的二千人也逼近了吴起镇，从西北面向我陕甘支队发动进攻。我军为了把追敌歼灭或击溃在根据地之外，遂以第三纵队在吴起镇正面实施阻击，第一、二纵队在两侧向敌人反击。经过两个多小时激战，歼敌一个团，击溃三个团，缴获战马一百多匹，取得了长征途中最后一仗的胜利。 一九三五年十一月三日，中共中央为统一陕北地区红军的指挥，决定撤销陕甘支队，恢复红一方面军的番号，彭德怀任司令员，毛泽东任政治委员，下辖第一军团和第十五军团。原红一军团与红三军团合并为第一军团，下辖两个师：原红一军团部队编为第一师，原红三军团部队编为第四师。第四师师长陈光，政治委员彭雪枫，参谋长陈士榘，政治部主任舒同，下辖第十、十一、十二等三个团。此时，我调红四师政治部任组织科长，随部参加了十一月二十一日至二十二日的直罗镇战役。这次战役在毛泽东同志亲自指挥下，全歼了敌军第一零九师，彻底粉碎了敌人对陕北革命根据地的第三次进攻，给我们党把全国革命的大本营放在西北的任务，举行了一个奠基礼。至此，我们红一方面军也胜利地结束了二万五千里长征。 一九八六年十月二十日，中国人民革命军事博物馆举办了《纪念中国工农红军长征胜利五十周年美术书法作品展览》。事前，军事博物馆秦兴汉馆长约我写一幅书法作品。我有感于二万五千里长征艰苦卓绝的壮举，挥毫写下了《江城子·忆长征》词一首：