Chapter 5 Chapter Five: Ren Bishi and the Advance Team of the Red Army's Long March
When the Fifth Plenary Session of the Sixth Central Committee of the Communist Party of China was held in Ruijin in January 1934, Ren Bishi, secretary of the Hunan and Jiangxi Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, did not attend the meeting, but continued to serve as a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.At the end of March of the same year, Ren Bishi presided over an enlarged meeting of the Hunan and Jiangxi Provincial Party Committee to discuss the action policy of the Sixth Red Army.At that time, Wang Zhen, who participated in the "Second National Congress" of the Chinese Soviet, brought back two notebooks, one was the Central Revolutionary Military Commission's instructions on tactics, talking about tactical actions under fortress confrontation; the other was "the method of building support points."Wang Zhen said that the person in charge of the Central Revolutionary Military Commission told him in person that the Hunan-Jiangxi Red Army was required to build a bunker position and implement "short assault" tactics.Wang Zhen also talked about the situation when he met Mao Zedong at the conference.Mao Zedong asked how many people are there in Hunan and Jiangxi?How many guns?After Wang Zhen answered, Mao Zedong said to him: "Fortress against fortress, are you full? You can't fight like that, or you should concentrate your forces to fight mobile warfare, fight annihilation war, or use the 'Sixteen Characters'." Discussion process of the meeting Among them, Chen Hongshi, the political commissar of the Red 17th Division, advocated a short assault to attack Yongxin according to the instructions of the Central Revolutionary Military Commission.A few people advocated avoiding the war and resting because the Red 17th Division had just returned from the expedition.Most people believe that to occupy the enemy of Yongxin, in order to open up the communication lines from Yongxin to Lianhua and Yongxin to Anfu, there may be long-distance movements, which will easily expose weaknesses and create conditions for the Red Army to fight mobile warfare, which can be fought.Ren Bishi weighed the pros and cons and supported the opinions of the majority. He persuaded those who advocated avoiding war and resting, and also criticized the erroneous idea of storming Yongxin.So immediately arranged to closely monitor the movements of the surrounding enemies.
According to the order of the Central Revolutionary Military Commission in June 1933, the Red Army of Hunan, Jiangxi and Hubei and Jiangxi provinces were combined into two divisions, and the Sixth Army of the Chinese Workers and Peasants Red Army was formed in Shashi, Yongxin.The Red 8th Army in Hunan, Jiangxi Province was reorganized into the Red 17th Division, under the jurisdiction of the 49th, 50th, and 51st regiments, the division commander Xiao Ke, and the political commissar Chen Hongshi; Yan Tuge, political commissar Xu Hong; Hunan-Jiangxi Red 16th Army reorganized into Red 16th Division, division commander Gao Yongsheng, political commissar Wen Jinhui.Although the legion has established an organizational system, it has not set up a leading organ for the legion.
The enlarged meeting of the Hunan-Jiangxi Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China has just ended. Liu Jianxu, the commander-in-chief of the enemy army who "encircled and suppressed" the Hunan-Jiangxi Soviet Area, took advantage of the exhaustion of the Red 6th Army's expedition, and quickly launched an offensive in an attempt to wipe out the Red Army in the area north of Heshui and south of Yuanshui .A total of 4 enemy brigades, under the command of Wang Dongyuan, commander of the 15th Division, rushed towards the Red Army in three ways.
Ren Bishi discussed with Xiao Ke and decided to take advantage of the attack of the Hunan Army to lay an ambush in Shashi.Shashi is surrounded by mountains, with a canyon in the middle, which is an excellent place to set up an ambush. On the night of April 4, 1934, Xiao Ke led his troops into the ambush site and hid in the Camellia oleifera forest on both sides.
At 9 o'clock on April 5, the enemy's avant-garde entered the small highland east of Shashi.When all the enemy troops entered the ambush position, Xiao Ke gave an order, and the ambush Red Army opened fire together.At this time, it rained heavily again, and the commanders and fighters of the Red Army rushed to the Kuomintang army in the rain.Fighting until 1 p.m., Wang Dongyuan's 15th Division and 43rd Brigade were all wiped out, and brigade commander Hou Pengfei, brigade chief of staff Zhao Chuqing, and regiment leader Xu Benzhen were captured alive. This was the biggest victory since the fifth anti-"encirclement and suppression" campaign on the Hexi battlefield .The Red Army took advantage of the victory to regain Yongxin.The victory of this battle shocked the Hunan Army and boosted the morale of the Red Army.After the battle, the Hunan-Jiangxi Red Army retreated to the pictogram, and held a meeting of thousands of people to warmly celebrate the victory of the battle.
After the battle in Shashi, Liu Jianxu learned his lesson and changed his tactics. From then on, he adopted the tactics of fighting steadily, step by step, building forts everywhere, blocking layers, and "advancing and suppressing" step by step, in an attempt to consume the manpower and material resources of the Red Army and gradually shrink the revolutionary base areas in Hunan and Jiangxi. .
At this time, the power of the Central Revolutionary Military Commission had completely fallen into the hands of the adviser Li De. The Central Revolutionary Military Commission called several times to force the Hunan-Jiangxi Red Army to start a defensive battle with the enemy.Ren Bishi, Xiao Ke, Wang Zhen and others had no choice but to build blockhouses around Tailing in the northwest of Yongxin City, Lihuiqiao and Jinhua Mountain in the east of the city, and Songshan in the north of the city to resist the attack of the Hunan Army.
In late May, Liu Jianxu's blockade of bunkers in Yongxin and Lianhua was basically completed, and a new attack was launched against the Red Army.Ren Bishi and Wang Zhen called Zhou Enlai and Zhu De to report the movement of the Kuomintang troops in Yongxin, Anfu, Ninggang, Pingxiang and other places and the combat deployment of the Red 17th and Red 18th Divisions: the main force was assembled and hidden near Gaoqiaotou to flank the invading enemy; The independent regiments and battalions guarded key points respectively and intercepted the enemy's communication lines.
However, the Hunan Army became more and more powerful.Ren Bishi, Xiao Ke and others held an emergency military meeting and decided to keep the Red 18th Division to control the Jinhuashan position, and the Red 17th Division quickly moved to the Songshan area to prevent the enemy Li Baobing's 53rd Division from advancing westward.After the implementation of the combat plan, the enemy's 53rd Division, under the cover of artillery and aircraft, launched an attack on the position of the Red 17th Division.Under the slogan "to shed the last drop of blood to defend the Soviet area", the commanders and fighters of the Red Army fought with the Kuomintang army.Although the attacking Hunan Army was repelled time and time again, the Red Army had to withdraw from its position due to the disparity in numbers.At this time, the Red 17th Division and the Red 18th Division were attacked on three sides, and were in an extremely disadvantageous situation, so they had to be transferred again.The battle for Jinhua Mountain caused the Red Army to sacrifice more than 400 people.The central area of the Hunan-Jiangxi base area was also occupied by the Kuomintang army, and the rest of the area was also divided into several small pieces.Then, the Red 17th and Red 18th Divisions were crushed by the 8th Division of the Kuomintang Army in a narrow area of tens of miles in Niutian and Jindong.Seeing this, Liu Jianxu was overjoyed and ordered Peng Weiren, Tao Guang, and Wang Dongyuan to build blockhouses and fortresses, while coordinating with the Kuomintang troops on the eastern and southern fronts to prepare for a decisive battle with the main force of the Hunan-Jiangxi Red Army.
Ren Bishi led the Hunan-Jiangxi Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, the provincial Soviet government, and the provincial military region to move to the Niutian area in the southeast of Yongxin.Facing the serious enemy situation, Ren Bishi discussed with Xiao Ke, Wang Zhen and others, and everyone agreed: It is necessary to change the tactics of fighting head-on with the Hunan Army, take advantage of the opportunity when the Hunan Army has not yet completed the encirclement, and go to Jinggangshan to restore the Jinggangshan revolutionary base. Natural danger, dealing with the Hunan army.Afterwards, the Hunan-Jiangxi Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China formally decided to use Wang Zhen as the commander of the military region to re-demarcate the guerrilla zone. All units carried out guerrilla warfare in the designated area. At the same time, they sent the 49th Regiment of the 17th Red Division to Jinggangshan, and then sent Li Zhen to lead the Red Army School. Cadet reinforcements.
However, due to the "Left" policy implemented by the "Left" line, such as the landlords do not divide the land, the rich peasants divide the bad land, and damage the interests of the rich middle peasants, they do not pay attention to winning over the "rebellious" peasants, and treat the intellectuals as their own. The use of standards for resignation and so on caused the masses in Jinggangshan to have antagonism.Especially after the 4th Red Army went down to Jinggangshan in January 1929, they wrongly killed Yuan Wencai and Wang Zuo, the original leaders of the Green Forest Armed Forces in Jinggangshan, which further increased the antagonism of the masses.After the Red 49th Regiment went up the mountain, the common people hid and did not get close to the Red Army. The recovery work of Jinggangshan was not realized.
As early as the fall of Yongxin, the central area of the base area, in early March 1934, Ren Bishi sent the 4th Independent Regiment to Guiyang, Yizhang, Chenxian in southern Hunan and Lechang on the border of Guangdong and Jiangxi to develop guerrilla areas. In early July, the 1st Detachment of the 4th Independent Regiment came back and reported to the Provincial Party Committee and the Military Region Command that new guerrilla zones had been opened in 10 districts of Chenxian, Yizhang, and Guiyang with a population of 200,000. Five townships in the county established a temporary regime, and the number of independent 4th regiments has increased from more than 300 at the time of departure to more than 670 people. The Red Guards also began to be established.
On July 5th, Ren Bishi, Xiao Ke, and Wang Zhen called the main cadres of the Red 17th and Red 18th Divisions to a meeting in Niutian. Ren Bishi made a report on the preparation of the main force of the Red 6th Army to move to the southeast of the basic Soviet area and future tasks. Put forward a preliminary plan to make everyone mentally prepared.Ren Bishi said: "This shift is not about failure and retreat, but against all pessimism and wavering."
On July 8, Ren Bishi and Wang Zhen jointly reported to Zhu De: After the enemy's 16th Division attacked Jinhua Mountain and Shihui Bridge, it is now working hard to build blockhouses; the enemy's 53rd Division has completed the blockade from Jinhua Mountain to Yongxin; The 1st Division of the 63rd Division is advancing towards Yangxi.The main force of the 6th Army of the Red Army "could not develop a sports team" based on the high mountains in the west, and "it was difficult to surprise the enemy" when the enemy built towers and gradually advanced.If it moves to a new guerrilla zone, "the main movement cannot keep a secret".
On July 22, Ren Bishi and Wang Zhen called Zhu De and Zhou Enlai to give a comprehensive report on the situation of the troops: the 49th and 51st regiments of the 17th Red Division, the 52nd, 53rd, and 54th regiments of the 18th Red Division were concentrated near Hengshi, and the independent regiments were in the vicinity of Hengshi. Guard at Qiaotou, Jindong, and Gaojiaqiao.In order to consolidate the troops, the provincial party committee appointed Zhang Ziyi to lead a group of cadres from the political department of the military region to inspect and inspect political work, urge the troops to strengthen political education, improve political defense organizations, wash away wavering elements, and strictly guard the secrets of military operations.
In the middle of the night of July 23, Long Shulin, the chief of the confidential section, sent Ren Bishi a telegram, saying that the Central Revolutionary Military Commission appointed Ren Bishi to translate it himself.Therefore, with the assistance of Long Shulin, Ren Bishi translated the telegram, which was an "Instruction" issued by the Central Revolutionary Military Commission. The telegram first read: "The Central Secretariat and the Military Commission decided that the Sixth Army Corps should leave the current Hunan-Jiangxi Soviet Area and move to the Central Hunan should develop extensive guerrilla warfare and create new Soviet areas. At the same time, with the exception of the Sixth Army Corps, all independent units under the Hunan-Kiangsi Military Area Command and guerrilla units defending the Soviet areas should, without exception, stay in the existing Soviet areas and their surrounding areas to carry out extensive campaigns. Guerrilla warfare. This decision is based on the following political and military considerations.” The message is analyzed from four points: First, “The current general situation of the development of the Soviet movement is that there are consolidated Soviet areas in Jiangxi and Sichuan, while Hunan It will become a hub for the future development of the two provinces. Although Hunan has good objective conditions for our development, due to our weakness in Hunan, the Second Army (that is, the 3rd Red Army led by He Long-the quoter’s note) is in western Hunan. The lack of active action in the north and the lack of widespread guerrilla movement in Hunan allow the enemy in Hunan to concentrate their efforts on attacking the Hunan-Jiangxi Soviet area.”The second is "In crushing the enemy's five 'encirclement and suppression campaigns', the Hunan-Jiangsu Soviet Area was one of our auxiliary directions. In terms of restraining and attracting the enemy, the Hunan-Jiangxi Soviet Area has fairly completed its tasks. However, the Hunan-Jiangxi Soviet Area itself has been tightened. , the enemy is stepping up the blockade and siege of the Hunan-Jiangxi Soviet Area, especially its westward blockade and siege, in an attempt to prevent our forces from developing westward.”The third is "under such circumstances, if the Sixth Army Corps continues to stay in the present area, it will be in danger of being blocked and surrounded by the enemy layer by layer, and the supply of food and materials will become acute difficulties. The expansion of the Red Army and the Soviet area will be greatly affected. This made it difficult to preserve the vital forces of the Red Army and the basic tasks of defending the Soviet area.”Fourth, "there are two possibilities to change this situation: or to achieve a victory sufficient to prompt the enemy to change its strategic plan, forcing the enemy to abandon its existing plan. This is under the condition of the enemy's fortressist superiority, relying on Hunan and Jiangxi It is difficult to achieve the strength of the soviet areas themselves. Or the main force will leave the existing areas, move to larger areas where free maneuver is possible, and create new soviet areas. Develop active guerrilla activities around to defend the Soviet area. This decision is all the more appropriate due to the extreme weakness of the enemy in central Hunan and our general good side (as evidenced by the activities of the Red Army and guerrillas in southern Hunan).The purpose of the decision of the Central Committee and the Military Commission was stated in the telegram: First, "the Sixth Red Army Corps will use its active actions in central Hunan to eliminate individual enemy units, develop the local guerrilla warfare and agrarian revolutionary struggle to the greatest extent, and create a new Soviet area for the enemy in Hunan." As a result, the Red Sixth Army had to carry out operational and strategic redeployment, which would destroy the Hunan enemy's plan to gradually tighten the Jiangxi Soviet Area and assist the Central Soviet Area in operations.The second is to preserve the vitality of the Sixth Red Army to the maximum extent, and double the expansion of the Sixth Red Army in the active development of guerrilla activities.The third is to try our best to organize and develop the revolutionary struggle of the masses in Hunan.The Sixth Red Army Corps should redefine the environment in Hunan with its heroic struggle, and encourage and organize mass struggles in Hunan to develop into revolutionary guerrilla warfare, a thorough agrarian revolution, until the establishment of the Soviet regime and a large area of the Soviet area.To establish a reliable connection with the Red 2nd Army, the general premise is to create the two Soviet areas of Jiangxi and Sichuan.Fourth, in order to defend the Hunan-Jiangxi Soviet Area and prevent the Hunan enemy from attacking the Central Soviet Area along the east of the Ganjiang River, all military regions, independent action guerrillas and local armed forces should stay in the present Soviet Area and its surrounding areas to develop the most active guerrilla warfare.
The telegram again wrote in a stern tone: "The Central Committee and the Military Commission resolutely point out that it is absolutely not allowed to misinterpret this decision as abandoning the Hunan-Jiangxi Soviet Area and unplanned retreat and escape. Oppose any pessimism and disappointment in our ranks; and take all necessary measures in accordance with this instruction, carry out various specific preparations, strengthen guerrilla activities and political work in the army."
Regarding the timing of the Red Sixth Army's departure, the Central Revolutionary Military Commission asked the Red Sixth Army to "look at the level of the enemy's fortress and whether our operations are smooth or not, and then it will be decided by the various orders of the Military Commission."
The telegram confirmed that the troops preparing to leave the current Soviet area were: the 17th Division of the Red 6th Army, all of the 18th Division, students of the Red School, two radios, a field hospital, and a bomb repair factory.Instruct Ren Bishi and some party and government cadres to prepare to follow the army.Ren Bishi was the representative of the Central Committee, and together with Xiao Ke and Wang Zhen formed the military and political committee of the Sixth Army of the Red Army, with Ren Bishi as the chairman.Those who remain in the current Soviet area should be the provincial party committee, the provincial Soviet, the provincial military command and its divisions, local party and government organizations, local independent regiments and guerrilla units, the seriously wounded and sick, weak cadres, and the basic masses of the Soviet area. Continue to develop guerrilla warfare and party work.Chen Hongshi remained as Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee.After Zhang Yunyi arrived, Wang Zhen served as the political commissar of the Sixth Red Army Corps and the political commissar of the 17th Division.
The message pointed out that the route and area of the Red 6th Army's development to Hunan were as follows: transfer from Huang'ao, Shangxiaqi area or its south to the eastern Guangxi area where the 4th Independence Regiment now operates; rapidly develop the guerrilla area; the second step should be transferred to Xin Tian, Qiyang, and Lingling areas, and developed guerrilla warfare and established the base areas of the Soviet area; later, it developed to the mountainous areas between Xinhua and Xupu counties, and from this area to the north, it established contact with the Red 2 Army.
The final instruction in the telegram: "This instruction is limited to the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, the Red 6th Army and the head of the military region, and shall not be issued at all. All preparations and the first action should be disguised as an attack on the Hunan Army... All preparations will be limited to August. It's over in the middle of the month."
It turned out that at this time, the Red Army in the Central Soviet Area, due to the wrong combat policy guidance, suffered repeated defeats. The most serious was the Guangchang Battle, where 4,000 people were killed and 20,000 were injured, which caused the Red Army to suffer the heaviest blow.The Red Army was oppressed by the superior enemy to the Ruijin and Shicheng areas on the border between Fujian and Jiangxi.In addition, Chiang Kai-shek's economic blockade of the Soviet area made the situation of the Soviet area very difficult.Faced with this situation, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China asked the Red Army to use all its strength to defend the Soviet area, and at the same time began to make preparations for withdrawing from the Central Revolutionary Base.In this way, the Red Sixth Army was ordered to withdraw from the base area as an advance army and advance to central Hunan.
After Ren Bishi finished translating the telegram, he was silent.For this action of the Red 6th Army.Ren Bishi had a premonition, because the development of the war has become more and more unfavorable to the Red Army.After a long time, he asked Long Shulin, who was doing confidential and statistical work beside him: "How many local staff are there?" After Long Shulin answered, Ren Bishi asked again: "Are you going or staying?" Walk.Ren Bishi said "Yes", and then said: "A good man has ambitions everywhere!"
Ren Bishi found Wang Zhen and Xiao Ke and showed them the telegram. Wang Zhen and Xiao Ke also felt that the problem was serious.Ren Bishi said: "This task is very difficult. As long as we act, we will inevitably be blocked by the enemy. This is one thing; The old, weak, sick and disabled comrades should also be well arranged, and local work should also be arranged. The troops will pass through Jinggangshan when they move to battle. They should first occupy the important outposts of Jinggangshan to block the news, and then quickly enter Hunan to rush across the Xiangjiang River and the Xiaojiang River. In this way, we can reach the border of Hunan and Guizhou by surprise and join He Long's tribe."
Xiao Ke said: "Since Yuan Wencai and Wang Zuo were killed, some people in Jinggangshan have become estranged and suspicious of the Red Army. Whether we can guard the sentry post and keep the news from leaking is not very sure."
Wang Zhen said, "Send a small army to test it out."
Xiao Ke said: "Let the 4th Independent Regiment carry out this task." He also said: "We should prepare two sets of plans. If there is a problem in Jinggang Mountains, we will send the 5th Independent Regiment under the banner of the Legion to adopt the tactics of attacking the east and attacking the west to confuse the enemy; Our brigade took the opportunity to break through from the junction of Hunan and Guangdong."
Ren Bishi listened and agreed very much.
Immediately, Xiao Ke called Zhang Tong, head of the 4th Independent Regiment, and Liu Yaqiu, political commissar, and assigned them tasks.After Zhang and Liu accepted the task and left, Ren Bishi presided over the provincial committee and the Hunan-Jiangxi Red Army political and industrial meeting.
At the meeting, Ren Bishi made an important report "Strive for New Victory in the Decisive Battle, Eliminate the Enemy in Hunan, and Create a New Base".The meeting decided to adjust the local party organizations and leading cadres. Chen Hongshi, Kuang Guangming, Tan Yubao, Yao Houde, Kuang Yiai, Zhang Yunyi, etc. formed the Hunan Jiangxi Provincial Party Committee. Chen Hongshi was the Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, and Peng Minghui was the Commander of the Provincial Military Region.
At the same time, all kinds of preparatory work were intensified: adjusting the organization, reducing and merging directly affiliated troops, clearing up and resettling the wounded and sick, replenishing troops, deciding on the list of cadres who will leave and stay, and all the cadres and deputy cadres at all levels of the army.Under the premise of strict confidentiality, the troops were mobilized to prepare dry food, play straw sandals, replenish ammunition, conduct military exercises, and implement education on marching, reconnaissance, and vigilance.The whole army stepped up preparations day and night.By July 31, Ren Bishi and Wang Zhen jointly reported the situation to the Central Revolutionary Military Commission: the 17th and 18th divisions now have 6,830 people, and the 18th division has added the 54th regiment.As of August 15, the entire army can be replenished to 9330 people and 3752 guns.250 cadres were transferred from provincial agencies to join the army and prepare to do local work in the new district.The 350 seriously wounded who were unable to move were scattered and hidden in the southeast mountainous area of Yongxin.There are three factories for quilts, repairing equipment, and ammunition, with 330 personnel and 240 accompanying the army. Heavy materials are scattered and buried.The province now has a population of 130,000 in the Soviet area and more than 11,400 party members.The three county committees of Lianhua, Anfu, and Pingxiang were merged, Yongxin, Ji'an, and Jishui were the central county committees, and Xinxia and Qingyi counties were merged. Suiwantai New and Old Soviet Districts were divided into two counties, and the cadres of each county were not transferred.
Zhang Tong, head of the 4th Independent Regiment, and Liu Yaqiu, political commissar, led the troops to the Huangyangjie post overnight after accepting the mission.They found that the Hunan Army was moving in an orderly manner, the Huangyangjie fortifications had long been abandoned, and there was no crowd nearby, so it was difficult to hold the sentry post.Then they ordered to retreat, and arrived at the station of the Hunan-Jiangxi Military Region in Yongxin along the hidden path. The two reported the situation to Ren Bishi, Xiao Ke, and Wang Zhen.
The first plan seemed to be unfeasible, so Ren Bishi decided to implement the second plan.
On August 4, 1934, it was the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. In the land of Hunan and Jiangxi, the sun was still scorching red and the heat was steaming.At this time, the 5th Independent Regiment, which was newly incorporated into the sequence of the Red Sixth Army, suddenly appeared in the Shatang area on the west bank of the Ganshui River.The cadres and soldiers of this regiment waved flags and shouted all the way, and the dust was flying, claiming to be the "Red Sixth Army".Liu Jianxu had already been reported by a scout.Liu Jianxu heard about it and hurriedly reported it.For a time, the Hunan and Jiangxi armies that besieged the Hunan and Jiangxi Soviet areas panicked and rushed out one after another.The Hunan Army on the east bank of the Ganjiang River hastily strengthened its fortifications and blocked the river.When Chiang Kai-shek heard in Nanchang that the Sixth Red Army was going to forcibly cross the Ganshui River and march eastward, fearing that it would be close to the Central Red Army, he quickly dispatched troops, re-armed, and stepped up to narrow the encirclement.
This team called the "Red Sixth Army", along the banks of the Ganjiang River, appeared and disappeared from time to time, and continued guerrilla warfare for several days, sucking in all kinds of enemy troops.See that the deployment of the Kuomintang army has been completely disrupted. This "Red Sixth Army" team suddenly disappeared.The Kuomintang troops who were chasing them didn't know what to do for a while.
At 3 pm on August 7th, more than 9,700 members of the Red 6th Army bid farewell to relatives in the Hunan and Jiangxi bases with excitement, and began to break through from the southwest across the board and embarked on a new journey.
When the Red 6th Army set off, the Independent 4th Regiment was the front vanguard.Starting from the Xinjiangkou area, the brigade first broke through the two blockade lines of Liu Jianxu's department between Yaqian and Wudoujiang, and occupied the algae forest in Suichuan.Then, they broke through the blockade from Suichuan to Qiling of the Liu Department.Afterwards, the troops overcame the heat, fatigue and hunger, traveled day and night, and continued to advance.
At this time, Liu Jianxu and other enemies in Hunan, Jiangxi, and Guangdong were shocked to learn that the Red Army had broken through three blockade lines, and they woke up like a dream.After Liu Jianxu determined the true intention of the Red Army's westward expedition, he immediately reported to Chiang Kai-shek.Jiang Nai hurriedly ordered Wang Dongyuan's 15th and 16th Divisions to chase after the main force of the Red Army, and ordered the Cantonese enemy to march northward with 6 regiments, in an attempt to encircle the Red 6th Army in the area between Guangxi, Shangyou and Suichuan.
On August 9, the Red 6th Army broke through the last blockade of the Hunan Army at Monkey Ridge.At this point, they completely jumped out of the encirclement of the battle and arrived at Zhaiqianwei in Guidong County, Hunan Province at noon on August 11.
Zhaiqianwei is a small market town in the south of Guidong County, which is a guerrilla zone.The foundation of the masses here is better.When the common people saw the Red Army coming, they welcomed them very warmly. On the afternoon of August and December, the 6th Red Army held a military meeting in Zhaiqianwei to celebrate the victory of breaking out of the siege and vow to march west.
Ren Bishi, Xiao Ke, Wang Zhen, Zhang Ziyi and others, wearing leggings, straw sandals, and pistols around their waists, stepped up to the podium energetically.After the meeting began, Ren Bishi, as a representative of the Party Central Committee, declared discipline, further mobilized for combat, and officially announced the establishment of the leadership of the 6th Red Army: Xiao Ke was the head of the army and the commander of the 17th Red Division, and Wang Zhen was the political commissar of the corps and the 17th Red Division. Political commissars, Li Da is the chief of staff of the corps, Zhang Ziyi is the director of the political department of the corps; Long Yun is the commander of the 18th Red Division, Gan Siqi is the political commissar of the 18th Red Division, Tan Jiashu is the chief of staff of the 18th Red Division, and Fang Liming is the director of the Political Department of the 18th Red Division.At the same time, it was officially announced that Ren Bishi would be the chairman of the military and political committee, and Ren Bishi, Xiao Ke, and Wang Zhen would form the military and political committee of the Red Sixth Army.
After the swearing-in meeting, night fell, and Ren Bishi gave the order to set off.In the vast night, this 10,000-strong army, led by the 4th Independent Regiment, embarked on the journey of the Western Expedition.
On the same day, Ren Bishi, Xiao Ke, and Wang Zhen called Zhu De about the 6th Red Army's action plan, and reported the 6th Red Army's action plan: "We will advance to Chen County tonight, and we are expected to arrive at Tianzhuang on the 13th, 80 miles away. We will arrive at Chukou on the 14th." , Huangcaoping, 80 li. On the 15th, reach the vicinity of Chenxian County, 90 li. Cameras occupy Chencheng. If Chencheng is occupied, the first division will enter Guiyang on the 16th; .”
After the Red Army entered Hunan, the warlords of Hunan and Guangxi were greatly shaken.
On August 11, Chiang Kai-shek ordered He Jian and Yu Han to build blockhouses to intercept them.He Jian, Chairman of the Hunan Provincial Government of the Kuomintang and Commander-in-Chief of the West Route Army, panicked even more. Since the 6th Army of the Red Army had entered the Hunan border, the southern Hunan Plain was no longer safe to defend, and only the natural danger of the Xiangjiang River could be defended. Commanded by the former enemy, "Go to southern Shonan to actively fortify and block."After receiving the order, Liu Jianxu hurried to Hengyang to command the battle.
When the Hunan Army "pursued and suppressed" the Red 6th Army with all its strength, the 19th and 24th Divisions of the Guangxi Warlord's 10th Army were led by Liao Lei to move towards the border of Guangxi.
After the Red Army went west, the first difficulty they encountered was Bamian Mountain.Bamian Mountain is one of the branches of the Luoxiao Mountains. It is located in Zixing and Eastern Guangxi in the eastern part of Hunan. There are strange rocks standing horizontally on the mountain, ravines and valleys, and thorns.It is still difficult for empty people to walk, not to mention that when the Red Army set off, there was another big move, and the prisoners from the Provincial Security Bureau, hospitals, arsenals, lithography machines, etc. were brought with them.Especially the engine of the radio station is very heavy and needs several people to carry it.It is conceivable how difficult it is to walk on the small path with such a heavy luggage.The troops walked all night, and these bulky things could not move 20 miles, and they were reluctant to throw them away.
Just as the soldiers of the Red 6th Army crossed Bamian Mountain, Liu Jianxu's 15th Division guarded the main roads on the mountain. If the Red Army attacked from the front, the casualties would be heavy and it would be difficult to succeed;Ren Bishi, Xiao Ke, and Wang Zhen immediately discussed how to pass the mountain, and finally decided that Wang Zhen would lead a team to open a new road.
Therefore, Wang Zhen selected a group of elite soldiers, led by local natives, brandishing a big knife, and cutting through thorns and thorns in the deep mountains and dense forests, opened a new road, allowing the whole army to jump out of the enemy's encirclement overnight.
After the Red 6th Army jumped out of the enemy's encirclement, they continued to advance westward.When they arrived at the Zhujiang Bridge in Chenzhou, they joined more than a hundred people led by the guerrilla captain Zhang Dong sent by the Chenzhou underground party.At that moment, Ren Bishi met with Zhang Dong, and Zhang Dong introduced the situation of the enemy and other aspects.Afterwards, under the guidance of the guerrillas, the Red Sixth Army made great strides towards Chenzhou County. On August 17, Chenzhou defended the enemy and fled the city, and the Red Army occupied Chenzhou.
After the Red Army occupied Chenzhou, they did not dare to stop for a long time because the Kuomintang army was approaching, so they continued westward.The next day, the army arrived in Guiyang.Guiyang is an ancient city with a long history, where Zhao Zilong defended Guiyang City during the Three Kingdoms period.After the Red Army entered Guiyang City, there was a good harvest of pineapple. In the village and outside the village, on the hills and corners, pear trees were covered with pineapple.The soldiers are strictly disciplined, no one eats pears privately, and the common people call him the teacher of benevolence and righteousness.
After passing through Guiyang, the Red Army entered Xintian County.In Xiaoyuan Town, Ren Bishi, Xiao Ke, and Wang Zhen immediately held a meeting of cadres from each division and regiment.The meeting was held in the main hall of a temple.Ren Bishi pointed out at the meeting: Although the Red Army has broken through the encirclement of the enemy, it is still in a difficult situation.The enemy troops from all walks of life are encircling the Red Army from the east, south and north.To the west of the Red Army is the Xiangjiang River, which must be crossed quickly.However, the water is deep and the current is fast, and the Kuomintang is heavily guarded on the other side, so crossing the river is no easy task.Therefore, trying to get rid of the Kuomintang army and choosing the time and place to cross the river are the key points.
On August 24, after two days of marching, the soldiers of the 6th Red Army arrived at the right bank of the Xiangjiang River east of Caijiabu in Lingling County, and the sound of rushing water could be faintly heard.On the same day, Ren Bishi, Xiao Ke, and Wang Zhen called Zhu De, saying: "On the 1st, on the 23rd, our whole army marched in a hurry, traveled 140 miles, and arrived at Caijiabu on the south bank of the Xiangjiang River at 24:00 p.m. All the boats at Lengshuitan have been transferred, the water surface is wide, and the enemy on the south road has not yet crossed to the west...It is impossible to cross the west from Ling and Qijian, and it is also difficult to cross the Xiangshui between the four ditches. Yangmingshan and its surrounding areas have developed guerrilla activities, with Yangmingshan as the base. It is said that this mountain is more than eighty or ninety miles across, the terrain is favorable, and the mountain is dangerous. In the past, there were many bandits hiding."
Yangmingshan is located a hundred miles southeast of Lingling, between Lingling and Xintian counties.The main peak is 1520 meters above sea level, which is the watershed between Chunling River and Xiangjiang River.Its mountains are seventy or eighty miles long and wide, with many mountains and barriers on the mountain, reaching high into the sky. It is one of the famous mountains in Hunan.
Since the Hunan Army did not expect the Red Army to cross Yangming Mountain, it only sent 1 company to guard the pass on the mountain.Xiao Ke then commanded the troops to wipe out the defending enemy and remove the obstacles on the way forward.Afterwards, all the soldiers of the whole army worked hard and climbed Yangmingshan in only one day.After going up the mountain, Ren Bishi and others realized that Yangming Mountain was barren and the people were poor, and the Red Army could not gain a foothold.There is a temple on Yangmingshan. That night, it was raining heavily. Ren Bishi, Xiao Ke, Wang Zhen and others were in the temple talking with members of the local party organization.After some discussion, it was decided to leave some inconvenient weapons and some disabled wounded of the Red 6th Army to be resettled in the local area.
The next day, Ren Bishi led his troops down the mountain and took Baiguo City in Qiyang County.Baiguo City is a small mountain town.There are more than 400 security personnel in the town.These security regiments were caught off guard, and most of them became prisoners of the Red Army.
On August 25, Liu Jianxu sent a telegram to Duan Heng, commander of the 55th Brigade of the 19th Division of the Kuomintang and commander of the 5th District of Hunan Security, asking him to quickly arrange for troops to intercept the Red Army at Tongyoutingwei and prevent them from rushing across the Xiangjiang River.
When Ren Bishi, Xiao Ke, Wang Zhen and others were preparing to lead the 6th Red Army to cross the Xiangjiang River and march towards Xinhua and Xupu areas, scouts from the 17th Red Division came to report that two days ago, the Hunan Army had been on both sides of the Xiangjiang River The strength of two divisions has been increased, and they are rushing to repair fortifications. They also snatched large and small boats on the river, and erected barbed wire in the shallow water along the river.The three of them were naturally anxious when they heard this. Ren Bishi thought about it for a while, and then sent an order: "Stop advancing, and stand by immediately." After that, he ordered the staff around him: "Bring Yuan Renyuan here."
Not a moment later, Yuan Renyuan, deputy director of the Political Department of the Legion, came to Ren Bishi.Ren Bishi asked: "Comrade Ren Yuan, where did your 7th Red Army cross the Xiangjiang River when it marched northward from Guangxi?"
Yuan Renyuan said: "In Quanzhou, Guangxi."
Ren Bishi asked, "Is it possible to wade there?"
Yuan Renyuan said: "The river there is neither wide nor deep."
After Yuan Renyuan described the situation of the 7th Red Army going north to cross the Xiangjiang River, Ren Bishi ordered the troops to turn around and turn to the southeast, with the rear guard as the vanguard, and burst out towards Tongziping.When they arrived at Tongziping, the troops stayed overnight.Set off again in the morning.When the front guard regiment reached the watershed in Lingling County, it encountered the 15th Division of Wang Dongyuan of the Hunan Army. For a while, there was loud gunfire, and the two sides fought fiercely.When Ren Bishi learned of this, he immediately ordered his troops to return to the east and reach the western foot of Yangming Mountain, where the Hunan Army's defenses were weak.
After the Red 6th Army got rid of the Hunan Army chasing after them, they took Ningyuan again, intending to go straight from Yong'anwei to Quanzhou.During the march, I learned that the 15th Division of the Hunan Army had caught up again.Ren Bishi then ordered his troops to change the direction of the march again, captured Xintian County for the second time, and immediately entered Jiahe County.
Jiahe County is Xiao Ke's hometown. He is quite familiar with the geography and people here, so he led his troops to take a detour to avoid the Hunan army, and went straight to Lanshan and Dao County at a high speed.
After the Red Army entered Hunan, urgent documents from the Kuomintang governments in Guangxi, Chenzhou, Xintian, Lingling and other places flew to Changsha like a snowflake.He Jian took these "funeral posts" and kept polishing them in the room. He couldn't figure out the purpose of the Red Army's trip.At first, when the Red Army arrived in the area of eastern Guangxi, He Jian received a report and said to his left and right: "Xiao Bandit's move is a technique of attacking the West, and he wants to draw our soldiers and horses out of the bandit area they occupy, and then look for opportunities to wipe them out." Pass my order that the soldiers and horses in the occupied bandit area should not move rashly, and transfer other troops to step up their pursuit." Now, the Red Army's momentum doesn't seem like it's going to attack the west, but it seems to be transferred to another place.Thinking of this, I became busy, so I sent an urgent telegram to report to Chiang Kai-shek.
When Jiang saw the telegram, he immediately drafted an order.He ordered the "encirclement and suppression" troops in Hunan, Guangxi, and Guizhou provinces to attack the Red Army together; he also ordered 20 planes to take off and attack the Red Army together.
Since the Red Army's Western Expedition, they have been marching almost every day without rest. In addition to the hot weather, many people's feet were swollen from walking, and a series of large blisters were formed.Many people are left behind every day.Those company and platoon cadres worked even harder. In addition to walking by themselves, they also had to encourage the laggard soldiers and help the weak soldiers to carry their guns;The cooks are especially hard-working. When they arrive at the campsite and others are resting, they still have to find firewood and grass, boil water and cook.
After the soldiers of the 6th Red Army rushed to Dao County, on September 1, they waded through Xiaoshui, a tributary of the upper reaches of the Xiangjiang River, south of Dao County, and entered Yong'an Pass at the junction of Hunan and Guangxi provinces.This Yong'an Pass is guarded by a regiment of the Gui Army. When they heard that the main force of the Red Army had arrived, they immediately flew away like birds and scattered like beasts.The Red Army occupied Yong'an Pass without firing a few bullets.
After the Red Army occupied Yong'an Pass, people did not remove their armor and horses did not remove their saddles.That night, the vanguard troops captured Wenshi in Guanxian County, Guangxi.The troops crossed the Guanjiang River overnight and continued to advance westward.
When the 6th Red Army moved to southern Hunan, Bai Chongxi also sent the 7th Army, the main force, to "cooperative suppression".The Xingui faction and Chiang Kai-shek had a deep grudge, so they naturally refused to work hard, and at the same time were afraid of losing their old capital in a contest with the Red Army.Therefore, in fighting the Red Army, it is only false and real, and it is just to cover Nanjing's eyes and ears.But as soon as the Red Army entered Guangxi, Bai Chongxi was busy. He was deeply afraid that the Red Army would attack Guilin and smash its old nest;Panicked, he immediately ordered the militia groups in Lingchuan, Lingui, and Gongcheng counties to quickly gather on the east and north sides of Guilin to prevent the Red 6th Army from going south; ordered the fortification of Zhongshan County on the border between Guangxi, Hunan, and Guangdong. The 70th Regiment of the 24th Division rushed to Jieshou in Xing'an County in the starry night to prevent the Red Army from crossing the Xiangjiang River; ordered the 19th Division to pursue the Red Army.
The main force of the Red 6th Army, non-stop, without anyone getting off the saddle, advanced to the coast of the Xiangjiang River overnight, and successfully reached Jieshou in the early morning of September 4.Jieshou is located in the upper reaches of Xiangjiang River, under Tanming Ridge.The river here is not wide, the river water is clear, and the pebbles and fish can be seen all over the place.指战员们不顾行军劳累，纷纷跳人江中涉渡。后续部队又找来了几只渡船，及时地架起浮桥。近万人马，不到一天时间，便胜利渡过湘江。
在红6军团涉渡湘江的时候，廖磊第7军的覃连苏第24师第70团正在离界首不远的塘市蒙头睡觉，被红17师第51团打了个措手不及，一哄而散。第70团团长汪玉珊因失职而被罢免职务。
红6军团抢渡湘江之后，何键立即就“追剿”红6军团向第19师师长李觉、第1纵队司令刘建绪、第2纵队司令刘膺古、国民党军第1军军长兼“赣粤闽湘鄂剿匪军”西路军3纵队司令陈继承下达了追击命令。
此时红6军团指战员，经过数十天的紧张行军，都练出了铁脚板儿，真是越走越有劲儿。渡过湘江之后，一鼓作气向兴安县的西延急进，并迅速占领了西延。
9月8日，中革军委以“火急”电致任弼时。电文谓：“在中央局、军委7月23日训令中，规定的六军团第一步的动作，基本上是结束了。对6军团以后的行动，现有如下的补充训令。”“补充训令”首先介绍了敌情，尔后指出：“如六军团继续北进，则在敌人这种部署下可迫使我军于资、沅两源河套之间与之决战而消灭我军。”又指出：“目前六军团行动最可靠的地域即是在城步、绥宁、武冈山地。6军团应努力在这一地区内最少要于9月20号前保持在这一地区内行动，力求消灭敌人一旅以上的单个部队，并发展苏维埃和游击运动；以后则转移至湘西北地域，并与在川、贵、湘边境行动的红6军团取得联络。为避免渡大河的障碍与不利的战斗，应规定沿湘、贵边的前进路线如下，即由绥宁、通道至贵州之锦屏、天柱、玉屏、铜仁，再转向湘西之凤凰地区前进，这是9月20日后的任务。”并强调：“六军团即应协同二军团于湘西及湘西北地域发展苏维埃及游击运动，并于凤凰、松桃、乾城、永绥地域建立巩固的根据地，其后方则背靠贵州，以吸引更多湘敌于湘西北方面。”“补充训令”明确了五点任务：“一、每日行程应缩短到三四十里；二、要在有利的地形下，如隘路、山地、渡河场，伏击或袭击敌军单个的部队；三、当大敌来攻时亦利用优越地形，消灭敌人的先头部队；四、当敌人成并行路追击时，则应折转到侧面阵地，侧击前进之敌；五、为扰敌及发展游击战争，应暂由主力中抽出一团以上的兵力出去活动，并应派地方工作同志同行，以便在群众中进行政治工作。”“为要执行这两周内的任务，六军团可暂停留于西延西北山地行动，首先钳制桂敌，而侧击向城步前进之胡旅；在执行这任务后即钳制西进之湘敌主力，折转过来消灭桂敌先头部队；最后则向城步、武冈佯攻游击，诱敌北进，我则背靠城步西南山地，以保守我真正的企图。”“补充训令”最后说：“这一训令是绝对秘密的，只有中央代表与军团首长应知道并严禁下达。这是一般行动原则，详细行动得依情况变动由军委个别命令决定之。”
红6军团在西延稍事补充后，便西越蔡石界，向车田前进。当前锋红52团进到蔡石界顶时，几架敌机对红军进行疯狂的轰炸和扫射。国民党军的飞机欺红军无高射武器，肆无忌惮，竟越飞越低，越炸越疯狂。战士们气得暴跳如雷，亦无办法。一见飞机来了，人马只好就地卧倒，如此行行卧卧，行军速度大减。战士们气坏了，竟举枪对空射击，还真有一架飞机被打中，坠落在石溪的稻田内。战士们一拥而上，把飞机烧毁。其余敌机吓得钻入高空。
步枪能打下飞机的事儿，立时在军中传开。任弼时得知后，当即传令，组织一些好射手，专打飞机。各师团马上执行。这一招还真灵，那些飞机不敢低飞了。
9月13日，中革军委批评红6军团的行动，指出：“一、军委前令六军团袭击绥宁与侧击李敌，你们均未照军委命令执行。二、现六军团的行动，应以小部箝制绥宁李敌，集结主力突击尾追胡敌。如胡敌改由城步河绕道开绥宁时，则六军团应转移至绥宁以西山地，以一部取得通道为我托足地，主力则相机突击李敌向靖县前进”。
9月15日9时30分，中革军委又电示任弼时、萧克、王震，批评“红6军团近日行动与中革军委8日'训令'不合，不应强行军过早进入贵州，更不应该保持不打仗的战术原则，应求消灭绥宁、靖县及通道三角地带的敌人，并在城步、通道、绥宁、靖县地域广泛发展游击战争”。
在红6军团与桂敌周旋于广西之时，何键就命令其女婿李觉率19师和第32旅，共8团之众，开往绥宁、靖县一带，拦截红军。红6军团再度进入湖南时，李觉已率部进入绥宁，其第32旅也开进了城步。这时，红6军团前面有湘军8团之众阻挡，后面有桂军两师之众紧紧追击。这一带均是高山峻岭，茂密森林，人烟稀少，部队行动十分困难。9月16日，红6军团将士来到了大山中的一座小县城。
这座小县城名日通道县。县城不大，仅有一条青石板铺成的小街，居民多为侗族。住户和商店也不多，仅有一个保安队，几十名保安队员。红军先头部队到县城边儿时，乒乓放了几枪，就把保安队吓跑了。红军入城之后，正值中秋佳节到了，任弼时、萧克、王震决定在此休息过节。
当晚，中革军委发来敌情报告，说廖磊和李觉的桂、湘军正从两面奔来，要夹击通道县城。萧克对任弼时和王震说：“通道地僻人稀，不可久居，我军当迅速转移。”
任、王二人同意。当即，萧克指挥红6军团，兵分两路，沿着崎岖小道穿过深山老林，朝靖县新厂地区进发。
9月18日，任弼时等致电中革军委，提议李达为军团参谋长，苏杰为17师参谋长。
9月19日晨，漫天大雾笼罩着通道的山山岭岭。这雾别提多大了，人走对面都看不见。廖磊的先头部队进入通道城后，与湘军误打起来，双方都损失惨重。
任弼时率红6军团人马率部在靖县稍事停留，又踏着晨星晓月，急急西行，来到了渠水。这渠水乃是湖南四条大江之一的沅江上游的一条支流。适逢水涨，江面上有许多从山上顺流放下的木排。这些木排都是流向沅陵、常德等地的。工兵部队立即将上游漂下的木排连在一起，搭成了浮桥。大队人马顺利地过了江，继续西行。
9月20日，朱德电令红6军团“不应让敌人将我们压迫到所规定前进路线以西的地域”，情况许可时，“在途中可稍事停留，10月中旬以前到达新指定的地域就够了”。
这时，白崇禧给廖磊发来了一纸电文，令其率部队将红六军团迫入四川境内。廖接到此电后，即邀李觉至军中，商谈此事。二人计议一番，决定由李觉率湘军由靖县经会同、晃县、玉屏向蕉溪、镇远前进，从东侧堵截红军。廖磊率桂军人贵州黎平，尾追红军。这时，廖磊又拟好了一道电文，电请国民党贵州省主席王家烈迅速发兵，从西面堵截红军。廖磊拟好了电文，正要发时，机要副官送来了王家烈发来的电报，说贵州已发了兵，由王家烈亲自指挥，要湘、桂两军协同作战。
此时，王家烈令驻榕江之旅长周仁芳，率全旅人马开赴黎平；又令黔省公安局长王天锡为前敌总指挥，先率第1、第6两团，由贵阳出发，开赴施秉布防；再命万式炯率第8团在乌江北岸箐口一带扼守；又令驻铜仁之师长柏辉章及原驻思南之旅长李成章，率本部人马，协力对印江、沿河方面的贺龙部进行封锁，使其不能南进与红六军团会合。接着，王家烈又组织了第25军军部指挥所，任命刘名杰为指挥所参谋长。尔后，王家烈到达贵定县内的马场坪，在此设指挥所。何键又建议湘、黔两军组成湘、黔边区“剿匪”司令部，司令由黔军第1师师长何知重兼任，副司令由湘军第19师长李觉兼任。
红6军团人马进入贵州锦屏县后，遇到了周仁芳部的阻击。萧克遂指挥人马将周部击退，顺利通过锦屏，进入剑河县境内，到达清水江流域的南嘉地区。这一带是苗族、侗族的聚居区。由于历代官府对少数民族的压迫，苗、侗两族的民族仇恨很深，每有官府军队经过，两族人民都要手持利器，扼守山寨，遍山呼应。由于这里地形险要，曾一度为古战场。据史载，250余年前张秀眉、姜彦芳领导的苗、侗民族起义军，与清军血战，把清江水都染红了。所以，当红6军团人马经过这里时，这些少数民族将红军误认为是反动军队，都持刀剑守卫寨前。任弼时得知此情，急令红军各级政工人员对部队进行民族政策教育，尊重少数民族的风俗习惯，要执行红军的纪律，不入民宅，不侵犯群众一草一木，并在沿途张贴布告，散发传单，扶危济贫，对山寨主、土司头人进行争取工作。苗、侗两族同胞很快对红军消除了误解，并变敌对为支援。时任军事裁判员的何辉对此回忆说：“部队在贵州苗族地区时，有一次师部通讯连押送来一个老太婆，50来岁，虽然用绳子捆着手，但毫不示弱，说一口土话，可惜我们听不懂。据通讯连的报告和来人说，她不让红军在村里宿营，还想用刀砍杀红军战士。说着，来人将一把苗族人砍柴的刀递交给我。这刀长柄，钩头，非常锋利，是苗民上山劳动必带的工具。看来持刀行凶，人证物证俱在。如何处理？我去请示弼时同志。他看了报告，听了我的汇报后说：'少数民族人民受了国民党的欺骗宣传，对我们不了解，我们不能简单化处理！'他考虑半晌，说：'把人放了，刀还给她，向她表示红军是保护少数民族的，经过这里是过路，不侵犯他们的利益。'我照他的意思把老太太的绑松了，用手示意表示红军和他们是兄弟，把砍刀交还到她手里，准备送老太太回山寨。这一来，苗族老太太脸上表情突然变化，不像押来时那样气势汹汹充满着对抗情绪。”
9月20日，任弼时等接到以朱德名义发来的电报，指出：据尚未证实的情报，2军团的部队已占领思南、印江、清江并向石阡前进。为取得协同动作，依据我们8日的训令不变。而你们的前进路线特确定：由现地域经清江、青溪、思县到达省溪、铜仁、江口地域。然后设法与2军团首长取得联络，在前进中将要渡过两道河：（电文中指定的两道河一道是清水江，一道是沅水，均在黔东镇远以东地域）。来电还规定了渡河地点，强调渡沅水时，向西不得过镇远。电文又指出：“A、渡清水江时，如在锦屏附近便于渡河时，则可直经邛水到青溪，否则经过黎平之北于清江附近渡河；B、渡沅水应于青溪渡河，否则可于镇远对岸渡河，如再向西时，对于我们的行动是不利的；C、当在贵州东部前进时，应注意贵州敌人调动进攻二军团的部队。黔敌数量少，战斗力弱，没有与我作战的经验。当与贵州敌人遭遇时，应迅速坚决消灭之，以开辟自己前进的道路。”
其实，镇远以东的清、沅两水间正是国民党军企图围歼红六军团的地域。特别是镇远，是黔东门户，扼荆楚上游，据湘黔要道，山川险阻，历来是兵家必争之地。黔军早已调兵设防。中革军委遥控指挥，红6军团按这条路线北上，必将接二连三地与湘桂黔军遭遇，处处被动，但命令又必须执行。
红6军团人马离开清水江地区时，苗、侗同胞得知红军渡江有困难，便积极为红军侦察水势，收集船只，侦察敌情，绑结木筏，架设浮桥，协助红军在清江县（今剑河县）的南家堡渡过了清水江。红六军团大队人马渡过清水江之后，穿森林，越溪谷，日夜兼程，向北挺进，以期早日与贺龙部会合。
红6军团人马北进赶到八卦河时，因连日大雨，河水猛涨，无法渡河。这时，廖磊部队由锦屏压了过来，李觉部也凭借河险阻击红军先头部队。任弼时见红军有三面受敌之险，遂与萧克、王震商议。三人一番计议，决定绕过沅阳河，避开湘军，改由大广、小广西移，再伺机北上。不料9月26日当先头部队行抵大广时，遇到湘桂两军伏击，红六军团主力在红18师掩护下，进入大广偏西的大山；但担任前卫的红18师第54团却遭受严重损失，团长赵雄阵亡，红54团因此拆散，编入其余各团。这是红6军团入黔后第一次遭遇战。
时红6军团前临沅阳河，后濒清水江，处境非常不利。直到9月29日，中革军委领导才认为红6军团“在两大河间是绝对不利的”，要他们当晚渡沅阳河，迅速向江口前进。
9月30日，任弼时、萧克、王震致电中革军委，称：“一、我军25日由凯寨撤入八卦河、米溪。当时湘、桂敌集结南洞司至汉寨一线，且镇远以东不能徒涉，而沿河敌已有准备，故决定26日由大小广西移或南渡清水河脱离敌人。二、26日晨，18师之前卫团到大广即遇敌。当时52、54团进入战斗。因敌25日到达，已占居高临下之阵地，当时我们是两团，且南洞司之敌有由八卦河合击之，故决定以18师靠大广偏西大山掩护军团通过，到乌坪寨一带宿营。是役因敌伏击，我52团、54团遭敌猛烈火力射击，伤亡一百四五十，阵亡团长、营长各一，伤团政委2人，营长2人，且54团有一人失联络，并失机枪筒一挺。三、27日，我军到良上宿营。28日，整日行军，于29日早到施秉。下午至以西之石洞口宿营。30日拟向黄平、施秉前进时，准备1日在施、黄间渡河。四、我们所过地区，均系高山峻岭，道路很少。我们无黔省军用和较详的地图，居民多苗、侗人，少有知二三十里外道路，行军颇困难。以后布置之小地名望指明所靠近之大地名。”
致电后，红6军团撤到了沅水南岸。经过几天几夜的行军，接近了老黄平县城。
老黄平县城亦称旧州，位于蓼黄县的西北部，四周筑有高一丈五尺、宽六尺有余的坚固城墙。自古以来，这地方便是沟通内地与西南边境的交通要道。此时，守卫这里的为王家烈妻舅万碧斋。
10月1日，红军大队人马到了城下，万碧斋慌忙弃城逃走，那些团丁们也都四散而逃，萧克部队占领了旧州。红军入城之后，张榜安民，百姓见队伍秋毫无犯，才放下了心，第二日都照常营业。
旧州城内有一个教堂，教堂里有两名传教的神父，一个名叫薄复礼，一个名叫海曼。由于红军进占旧州行动神速，两名神父没来得及逃跑。红军进城之后，军团司令部就设在教堂之中。两名神父开始吓坏了，后来见红军没有难为他们，也没动用他们的东西，这才放了心。
在这教堂墙上，挂着一张一平方米大小的法文地图。萧克见了这张地图，真是喜出望外。红6军团一路西征，只有一张中学生用的地图，这图上只略标了些省会和较大的县城、河流、山脉，很不精确。如今见了这张地图，萧克自然高兴。可惜的是，图上标的均是法文，没有中文。萧克到薄复礼的房中，满面笑容地同他攀谈起来。薄复礼这时已对红军不怎么畏惧了，便用半生不熟的中国话同萧克谈话。萧克同神父拉了些家常话后，便要神父帮助翻译这张地图，神父欣然答应。这天晚上，在一张方桌油灯之下，薄复礼神父便按照萧克的指点，对图上一个一个的地名进行翻译，两人边比划边说，整整翻了一夜，终于