Chapter 13 Chapter Thirteen: Nie Rongzhen in the Long March
The Long March, the iron flow of 25,000 miles, the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army created this feat of the times under the difficult situation of being blocked by the enemy before and pursued by the enemy behind.At that time, the Red Army not only had to defeat a reactionary army that was several times its own size, but also had to overcome all kinds of difficulties and dangers in nature to find a path to victory for itself.
In mid-October 1934, nearly 20,000 soldiers of the 1st Red Army left the masses in the base areas, bid farewell to the mountains and rivers for which they fought bloody battles, and embarked on a long journey to liberate the whole of China.
When Nie Rongzhen, political commissar of the 1st Red Army, left Ruijin, the sun was setting.
The sun, like a huge red wheel, fell on the edge of the mountain in the distance, shooting long, long beams of light from behind the gap in the mountain, and it seemed to be withdrawing all its power.Layers upon layers of mountains, gradually turning into a purple-brown smear, painted on the skyline.Men, women, young and old in Ruijin walked out of their homes and stood silently on both sides of the road, seeing off the Red Army with tears and worried expressions.Nie Rongzhen walked in the team, turning her head from time to time.He was so excited, he was really reluctant to leave the mountains and rivers of Ruijin, and he was reluctant to leave his fellow countrymen and comrades-in-arms to see him off.For almost three years, he saw with his own eyes that the people in the base area sent a large number of outstanding sons and daughters to the Red Army. They risked their lives to deliver salt and food to the Red Army, and treated the wounded and sick of the Red Army. They transfused their own blood to the wounded; Day and night, stand shoulder to shoulder with the Red Army and stand guard to build the Soviet regime.Now that the Red Army is leaving, the reactionaries will suppress and ravage this red land even more fiercely... Thinking of this, Nie Rongzhen was reluctant to part and slowed down.
When the Red Army set off, they brought a lot of bulky materials such as machines for printing banknotes and propaganda materials, printed propaganda materials, paper, and military machinery. It was really like a big move.Nie Rongzhen's own luggage only had a blanket, two sheets, a few changes of clothes and a set of gray fleece.This is all his belongings from the Southern and Northern Wars.After entering the Wuling Mountains, this kind of large-scale move-style transfer and "passage-style" marching team was overcrowded, and the movement was slow, and they could only advance twenty or thirty miles a day.
Marching with heavy loads was extremely difficult; Chiang Kai-shek set up four blockades on the way forward for the Red Army.
The first blockade was the so-called "steel blockade" that Chiang Kai-shek often boasted about. The enemy opposite the 1st Corps was a brigade of the KMT's Guangdong troops.After this group of enemies discovered that the main force of the Red Army had broken through, they retreated while fighting, as if they had no intention of fighting.After 3 hours of fierce fighting, the troops commanded by Nie Rongzhen broke down this "steel blockade". Under the cover of the 1st and 3rd Army Corps, the main force of the Red Army entered Guangdong from the fringe areas of Nankang and Dayuling.
The second blockade line was set up on the mountain along the line from Guangxi, Hunan, Rucheng to Chengkou, Guangdong. The main defenders were Chen Jitang's troops.Although the bunkers here are connected with each other by ditches and firepower, but because Chen Jitang fulfilled the secret agreement signed with the Red Army, he only carried out a formal blockade. Small "nails".
The enemy facing the 1st Army is a group of security forces who have never fought against the regular Red Army.For some unknown reason, Chen Jitang's order to release the Red Army had not yet reached this unit. They were stationed at a pass called Chengkou, with the attitude that one man guards the pass and ten thousand men cannot open it.Seeing this situation, the head of the 6th Regiment of the Red 2nd Division ordered the 1st Battalion to pretend to be the Kuomintang army to advance from the front and entangle with the enemy. The 2nd Battalion detoured from the side and quickly disarmed the enemy.When they saw that it was the Red Army standing in front of them, they were very surprised. They raised their hands one by one and said, "My God, how come the Red Army came so fast."
After breaking through the two blockade lines, Chiang Kai-shek basically ascertained the Red Army's breakout attempt through various air and ground reconnaissance methods.When Chiang Kai-shek learned that the main force of the Red Army had jumped out of the blockade line, he was furious. He slapped the table and scolded this "rice bucket" and that "bastard" for half an hour.
The third blockade line was set between Liangtian and Yizhang in Hunan along the Guangdong-Han Railway.In this area, the highway and railway transportation is relatively developed, the enemy can easily deploy troops, and the enemy has also built many bunkers along this line.
In order to cover the smooth breakthrough of the third blockade by the whole army, the Party Central Committee asked the 1st Army Corps to send a force to control the commanding height of the Yuehan Railway, about 10 kilometers northeast of Jiufeng Mountain, to cover the central column from the north of Jiufeng Mountain to Wuzhi Peak. The safe zone passed smoothly.
Jiufeng Mountain, the peaks and ridges are continuous and undulating. The nine peaks are all black rocks from top to bottom. Some places are very prominent, and there is a feeling that they may fall down in an instant; It looks like a deep cave.Here and there on the slopes grew wild weeds with curving branches, like the coarse hair of a giant.If the Red Army occupied Jiufeng Mountain, it could prevent the Guangdong warlords from occupying Lechang on the Guangdong-Han line in advance, and prevent them from attacking and intercepting the central column of the Red Army from Lechang.
Chief of Staff Zuo Quan suggested: Can we send a company to Lechang for reconnaissance and see where the enemy has gone.
Nie Rongzhen said: Whether it is reconnaissance or not reconnaissance, the order of the Military Commission must be carried out.Maybe the enemy hasn't arrived when you go to reconnaissance, but when the reconnaissance company returns, the enemy will arrive.The legion is charged with the major task of covering the central column, and we must not do things that are not sure.After a while, Nie Rongzhen said again: I agree to send a reconnaissance company to conduct reconnaissance.However, the troops must follow the order of the Military Commission and control Jiufeng Mountain.
Zuo Quan immediately ordered the reconnaissance company to go to Lechang for reconnaissance.
After a while, the reconnaissance company ran to report that enemy cars had been seen on the road leading to Lechang.
At 3 o'clock in the afternoon on November 6, the Legion Headquarters arrived at a small village not far from Jiufeng Mountain.
Soon, the three divisions of the 3rd Corps commanded by Peng Dehuai also successively occupied Yizhang, Liangtian and other towns, ensuring the safety of the central column from the right.
It was a rainy day when Nie Rongzhen climbed Jiufeng Mountain together with the soldiers.At first, the raindrops were only sparse, but after a while, the rainwater poured down like a waterfall. For some reason, the God of Heaven was furious, and immediately took away the light, making the earth as dark as night.After several days of marching, Nie Rongzhen's feet were blistered and the skin was worn out. When the rain poured on him, he felt a burning pain.There is no village on Jiufeng Mountain, and no family can be seen from far or near. The troops marched on the rugged path, tired, hungry, and cold, like three demons, tormenting Nie Rongzhen and his soldiers.The telegram came, and the central column and the brother troops had passed the third blockade.Nie Rongzhen also became excited, endured the severe pain in his feet, walked a few steps, stood on a hillside, touched the rainwater all over his face, and shouted to everyone: Comrades, come on, the central column has arrived in front of us, it has already arrived. Crossed the blockade.
The rain was still falling, and the troops stepped forward at a faster pace. When the soldiers turned their heads, they could only see the back of Jiufeng Mountain.
After the Red Army broke through the third blockade, Chiang Kai-shek became more and more restless.He carefully organized hundreds of thousands of troops, hoping that each line would become a "steel blockade" to intercept and exterminate the Red Army. No, they were all broken through by the resourceful, brave and fearless Red Army.In order to encircle and wipe out the Red Army in the area east of the Xiangjiang River, Chiang Kai-shek tried his best to dispatch the warlord troops in Hunan, Guangdong, and Guangxi, and made three decisions.On November 12, he appointed He Jian as the "commander-in-chief of the pursuit and suppression army" to command the West Route Army, Xue Yue, and Zhou Hunyuan's troops, a total of 16 divisions and 77 regiments dedicated to "pursuing and suppressing" the Red Army; The main force entered the borders of Guangdong, Hunan and Guangxi to intercept the Red Army; ordered Bai Chongxi of the Guangxi Army to use 5 divisions to control Guanyang, Xing'an, Quanzhou to Huangsha River, and intercept the Red Army.
He Jian, a warlord of the Hunan Army, attended the Baoding Military Academy and served as the commander of the Liuli Guerrilla Force. During the "encirclement and suppression" campaign against the Red Army, they were repeatedly defeated and frustrated.This time Chiang Kai-shek gave him another laurel crown of "Commander-in-Chief of the Pursuit and Suppression Army". He was arrogant, thinking that this time he would surely succeed.After he took office, he quickly divided the "pursuit and suppression army" into five groups.The first route was Liu Jianxu as the commander, leading 4 divisions to gather in the Huangsha River area and build a fort to intercept them; the second route was Xue Yue as the commander, leading 4 divisions to assemble in the Lingling area; the third route was Zhou Hunyuan as the commander, leading 4 The division pursued in the direction of Dao County; the fourth route, Li Yunjie, was the commander, and led two divisions to cooperate with the third route; the fifth route, Li Wenheng, led a division to cooperate with the Guangdong and Guangxi troops.The Second and Third Route Army of Xue Yue and Zhou Hunyuan were the enemies who later fought against Nie Rongzhen.
The warlords of Hunan, Guangxi, and Guangdong have as many as 25 divisions.Chiang Kai-shek thought that such a deployment would be foolproof, and that he would be able to encircle and annihilate the Red Army in the area east of the Xiangjiang River.However, there are quite complicated contradictions among the three warlords. They all consider the advance and retreat of the troops based on their own interests, and no one wants to fight the Red Army first.When the main force of the Red Army entered Hunan and Guangxi, the troops of Xue Yue and Zhou Hunyuan moved slowly.In the vast area from Yizhang to the Xiangjiang River, the enemy did not build fortifications, and the defense force was weak. There were "cracks" that were conducive to the Red Army breaking through the fourth blockade line.
After breaking through the third blockade, the 1st Red Army advanced on the right flank of the central column.In front of them are two big rivers flowing into Dongting Lake from south to north, one is Xiaoshui and the other is Xiangjiang.
He Jian was eager to show his merits to Chiang Kai-shek, and wanted to wipe out the right-wing Red Army on the shore of Xiaoshui, so he ordered Xue Yue and Zhou Hunyuan's troops to attack the troops of the 1st Army on the shore of Xiaoshui between Tiantangwei and Dao County.Dao County, formerly known as Daozhou, is close to the west bank of Xiaoshui River. It is a well-known county town and a large ferry on Xiaoshui River. If the 1st Army wants to cover the central column across Xiaoshui, it must first seize Dao County. The 1st Army Corps handed over the task of seizing Dao County to the Red 2nd Division under the command of Chen Guang and Liu Yalou.
The Red 2nd Division took the lead with the 4th Regiment. Geng Biao, the head of the 4th Regiment, and Yang Chengwu, the political commissar, led the troops to advance towards Dao County at a speed of hundreds of miles a day, and attacked Human Dao County at dawn on November 24.Due to the slow movement of Xue Yue and Zhou Hunyuan's main forces, there were not many defenders in Dao County, so it took only an hour for Geng Biao and Yang Chengwu's troops to wipe out the defenders here.The 5th and 6th regiments who were in charge of the detour also arrived in time. They sent a security force to Lingling to block Xue Yue's main force. The follow-up troops of the Revolutionary Military Commission crossed the river.Before the central column arrived, Nie Rongzhen personally went to the floating bridge to check.The torrential water was tamed by the heroic Red Army, and the rough waves on the river did not become an obstacle to the Red Army's advance.
The Xiangjiang River is the most stringent section of the fourth blockade organized by Chiang Kai-shek.There is also a Guihuang Highway parallel to the Xiangjiang River on the other side of the Xiangjiang River.More than 140 blockhouses have been built on the continuous hills between the Xiangjiang River and the Guihuang Highway.Chiang Kai-shek tried his best to gather 20 divisions in order to achieve the goal of encircling and annihilating the Red Army on the Xiangjiang River, which is famous in China for its Orange Island.The Hunan warlord He Jian transferred his troops from Changsha to Hengyang and ordered: the 4 divisions of Liu Jianxu of the 1st Route Army to quickly occupy Quanzhou in northern Guangxi; the 4 divisions of Xue Yue of the 2nd Route Army stationed in Huangshahe.At the same time, the six divisions of Zhou Hunyuan and Li Yunjie, Chiang Kai-shek's direct descendants, also pressed down from behind the Red Army like a net.
However, the factional contradictions and profit-seeking within the reactionary warlords caused congenital cracks in the Xiangjiang defense line that Chiang Kai-shek placed great hopes on.The Guangxi warlord Bai Chongxi is a graduate of the third phase of the Baoding Military Academy, and the chief of staff of the Guangxi Behavior Army and the Northern Expedition Army. He has always had his own little calculations.Although he followed Chiang Kai-shek in the "April 12" counter-revolutionary coup and massacred communists and progressives, he regarded the Guangxi army and Guangxi territory as more important than anything else, and was never willing to serve Chiang Kai-shek wholeheartedly.Since the troops of the 1st Red Army crossed the Xiaoshui River, Bai Chongxi was afraid that the Red Army would capture Guilin, so he suddenly ordered the main force of the Gui faction guarding both sides of the Xiangjiang River in northern Guangxi, Quanzhou, and Xing'an to withdraw quickly, and built fortifications in Longhuguan and Gongcheng. Prevent the Red Army from advancing westward, and at the same time prevent Chiang Kai-shek's troops from entering Guangxi in the name of pursuing the Red Army.The warlord He Jian of the Hunan Army was also worried that the main force of the Red Army would go deep into Hunan, and he was unwilling to transfer the main force of the Hunan Army to take over the defense.In this way, there was a gap in the "steel line of defense" on the Xiangjiang River. On the front lines of Xing'an and Quanzhou, the enemy's troops were empty.It is a pity that Bo Gu and others did not seize this coveted favorable opportunity, which caused the Red Army to suffer heavy losses on the banks of the Xiangjiang River, and also forced the 1st Red Army to start a life-and-death struggle with the reactionary army on the banks of the Xiangjiang River.
On November 27, the vanguard of the Red Army occupied Jieshou, an important crossing on the Xiangjiang River, and the area between Jieshou and Jiaoshanpu.At this time, if the whole army advances lightly, it is possible to rush across the Xiangjiang River before the enemy's defensive deployment is adjusted.However, the Red Army carried too many pots and pans when marching, the roads were narrow, and the marching speed was too slow. It only traveled forty or fifty miles a day. The column of the Central Revolutionary Military Commission did not arrive at Jieshou until the 29th.Two days, these are two days related to the life and death of the Red Army!In the past two days, the Kuomintang army has quickly assembled troops to attack and suppress from the south and north.
The prelude to a bloody battle kicked off.
After Nie Rongzhen received the order from the Military Commission about forcibly crossing the Xiangjiang River, he decided that the 1st Division would stay behind temporarily, and cooperate with the Red 5th Army to stop Zhou Hunyuan's troops who were chasing after him, and keep the position on the west bank of the Xiaoshui River; Depart from the county and rush towards the Xiangjiang River.
The 2nd Division, with the 4th Regiment as the vanguard, quickly arrived at Jieshou Ferry to occupy a favorable position; the 5th and 6th Regiments also arrived in Daping on the 27th and waded across the Xiangjiang River.
Since Quanzhou was not able to win, Nie Rongzhen proposed to set the first blocking line on the small hills along the line of Lubanqiao and Jiaoshanpu, 16 kilometers away from Quanzhou.Jiaoshanpu is a small village with only about 20 households. The Guihuang Highway, which runs parallel to the Xiangjiang River, extends from Quanzhou and just intersects with the mountains of Jiaoshanpu.On both sides of the road, there are several kilometers of small mountains. The small mountains are undulating. On both sides, there are several small hills with a height difference of hundreds of meters. The hillsides are full of small pine trees.In front of the mountains is an open land.Nie Rongzhen came to the hillside called Huangdiling on the left side of Jiaoshanpu to inspect, and felt that it was an ideal blocking position, and said with confidence: Comrade Zuo Quan, call all cadres above the 2nd Division to Huangdiling, and the current location is clear Task.Tell everyone, we have to learn from Han Xin, Marquis of Huaiyin, and fight with our backs.Fight to the death, you know?
Nie Rongzhen said: The 1st Division has not yet crossed the river, and the task of the Legion to cover the central column mainly depends on your 2nd Division.Chiang Kai-shek tried in vain to encircle and wipe out the Red Army on the banks of the Xiangjiang River. The battle here will definitely be fierce, and the enemy will soon appear in front of us.The fortifications of the three regiments must be completed before dark.
Nie Rongzhen's worry is very reasonable.Bai Chongxi, known as "Little Zhuge", saw that the Red Army went straight to the Xiangjiang River and had no intention of stationing in Guangxi, so he transferred five of his divisions to Guanyang and Xing'an.From November 27th, Bai Chongxi's troops fought fiercely with Peng Dehuai's 3rd Army.On the second day after Nie Rongzhen crossed the Xiangjiang River, Liu Jianxu, commander of the first "pursuit and suppression army" of the Hunan Army He Jian, ordered the troops to rush from Quanzhou to Jiaoshanpu and launch a fierce attack on the Red 2nd Division.As a result, under the cover of aircraft and artillery, the Guangxi and Hunan armies launched a fierce attack on the Red Army on both sides of the Xiangjiang River in an attempt to seize the crossing point and encircle and annihilate the Red Army on both sides of the Xiangjiang River.
At this time, the two corps of the Red Army had already controlled both sides of the Xiangjiang River about 60 miles long from Jieshou to Pingshandu.In this area, there are four shoals on the Xiangjiang River that can be waded.The central column has reached Wenshi and Guiyan, which are more than 160 miles away from the Xiangjiang River.If Bogu, who is the general secretary, organized the central column to march lightly and rush across the Xiangjiang River, he would be able to reach the Xiangjiang River in one day.However, he didn't, and his actions were very slow, and the soldiers on both sides of the Xiangjiang River paid the price of blood every moment in order to hold the ferry and protect the central column from crossing the river smoothly.
Once the 1st and 3rd Army Corps were deployed on both sides of the Xiangjiang River, the intention of the main force of the Red Army to cross the Xiangjiang River was very obvious.He Jian was in a hurry, and he ordered Liu Jianxu's four divisions to dispatch from Quanzhou to attack the Red 2nd Division's Jiaoshanpu position in turn.When the battle started, Nie Rongzhen left the regiment command post, and together with Liu Yalou, political commissar of the 2nd Division, commanded the battle on the Huangdiling position.
The enemy's artillery fire became more and more fierce. On the Huangdiling position, there were enemy shrapnel in almost every inch of soil.The soldiers fought very bravely, and their positions remained firm, but the troops suffered heavy casualties.Nie Rongzhen thought that if the fight continues like this, it will be difficult for the 2nd Division to hold Huangdiling before the central column crosses the Xiangjiang River.He said to the chief of staff of Zuo Quan: If the Fifth Army has taken over the position on the west bank of the Xiaoshui River, then let the 1st Division rush to the front line as soon as possible.To cross the Xiangjiang River, Jiaoshanpu must be safe.
In the early morning of the 30th, Li Jukui, the commander of the 1st Division, and Lai Chuanzhu, the political commissar, led the troops across the Xiangjiang River.The troops had been fighting for days and were very tired. After crossing the Xiangjiang River, some soldiers snored while standing on the road, and some leaned against a tree and fell asleep.Chief of Staff Zuo Quan wanted the 1st Division to take a break, but Nie Rongzhen firmly disagreed.Nie Rongzhen said to Li Jukui and Lai Chuanzhu: "The military situation is urgent. The deployment of the regiment has been adjusted. Your division should be mobilized immediately and enter the position."
An hour later, both divisions of the Red 1st Army entered the position. The two regiments of the 1st Division and the 2nd Division blocked in the front, and one regiment served as a reserve team in the rear.It was twilight, and the sun had not yet risen, and the enemy began to attack again.The first charge, because there was no aircraft cover, did not invest many troops, and was quickly defeated by the Red Army, leaving hundreds of corpses in front of the Huangdiling and Jianfengling positions.
The sun rose.The planes began to bomb, and the enemy organized a second charge.The battlefield was full of gunpowder smoke, the enemy's corpses piled up more and more, and more and more people charged on the hillside.
In the afternoon, the enemy's artillery fire became more fierce, and the Red Army suffered more and more casualties. The 1st Division also used the reserve team, but the enemy still rushed to the position.The Mihuashan position and the beautiful woman's Shutou Ridge position broke through the enemy one after another.To the west of Jiaoshanpu, the 1st Division has only one position at Baoziling in Huaizhong.
It was getting dark.The dark night shrouded the mountains on both sides of the Xiangjiang River, and the peaks and valleys of Jiaoshanpu flickered in the gloomy night sky. After the Mihuashan and Meimei Shutouling positions of the 1st Division were lost, they posed a great threat to the positions of the 2nd Division in the east.Using the cover of darkness, the enemy launched an attack on Jianfengling, the forward position of the 2nd Division, from three sides.Only two companies of the 5th regiment stood firm on the Jianfengling position.When Nie Rongzhen heard the fierce gunshots on Jianfengling, he said to Yi Dangping, political commissar of the 5th regiment: Comrade Dangping, let's go to Jianfengling to have a look.
Upon hearing this, Liu Yalou grabbed Nie Rongzhen and said: Commissar Nie, you must not go to Jianfengling.I will go with Yi Dangping.Yi Dangping said: Commissar Nie, Commissar Liu, you must not leave the main position.As he spoke, he saluted Nie Rongzhen and Liu Yalou, and led the guards to the Jianfengling position.
On Jianfeng Ridge, the enemy swarmed up like ants. The two companies of the 5th regiment had less than 100 casualties left.Political commissar Yi Dangping started fighting the enemy before he even entered the battlefield.On the mountainside, he killed 6 enemies, and was shot three times on his right chest and arm by the enemy, and the wound was bleeding profusely.
The position of the 5th regiment was captured by the enemy. The 2nd division has only one main position left in Huangdiling.The central column does not know when it will be able to cross the Xiangjiang River.
The enemy approached Huangdi Ridge again.On Huangdi Ridge, after a tragic fight, the enemy left hundreds of corpses and was forced to retreat.Huangdi Ridge was finally held.
Late at night.The sound of gunfire gradually disappeared, and in the darkness, the mountains on both sides of the Xiangjiang River were mourning in a low voice.
Nie Rongzhen sat in the army headquarters without a trace of sleepiness.What he is most worried about is the safety of the Central Military Commission and follow-up troops.After crossing the Xiangjiang River, the Military Commission required the 1st Red Corps crossing the river to maintain radio contact with them 24 hours a day.The telegram from the Military Commission is urgent.Once the position on the west side of the Xiangjiang River cannot be defended, the consequences will be disastrous.Nie Rongzhen calmly analyzed the situation and decided to urgently call the Military Commission about the situation on the ground.The telegram is as follows:
The telegram was sent for two hours.The hour hand is already pointing to 1:30 am on December 1st.Nie Rongzhen received an emergency combat order issued by Zhu De to the whole army in the name of the chairman of the Central Revolutionary Military Commission. Among them, the order: All the 1st Army Corps has the task of destroying the enemies of Quanzhou in the original area, and marching southwest along the highway from Zhutangpu.In any case, we must keep all the roads to the west in our hands.
It's been a sleepless night.
For the survival of the Red Army and for the central column to cross the Xiangjiang River smoothly, from the regiment command post to every company, from political commissar Nie Rongzhen to political workers at all levels, staff members, and every member of the Communist Party and the Communist Youth League, all put in intense battle preparations.
Just after dawn, the enemy started a new round of attack.After a night of adjustment, the enemy's firepower became stronger.Planes painted with the emblem of "Blue Sky and White Sun" circled the Red Army's positions in turn. Hundreds of pounds of large bombs overturned the boulders on the positions and blew up the fortifications built by the Red Army.
A staff officer took a telegram to the position to see Nie Rongzhen.The telegram was sent by the General Staff, asking the two divisions of the First Red Army to guarantee that the enemy would not break through the Baisha River before 12 o'clock.
On the battlefield, the sound of cannons rumbled, and the sound of killing shook the sky.Amid the slogan of "All for the New Soviet China", the enemy fell one after another, and the Red Army soldiers were bleeding.The enemy stormed the position of the 3rd regiment, but failed, but broke through the junction of the 1st and 2nd divisions.
Two battalions were surrounded by the enemy.
The 2nd Division was also in danger of being surrounded by the enemy.Nie Rongzhen saw that the sun had not yet reached the hollow, and resolutely ordered the 2nd Division: Even with bayonets, they must withstand the enemy and hold their positions.
The hour hand finally points to 12 o'clock.
The central column has crossed the Xiangjiang River and the Guihuang Highway. The 1st and 2nd Divisions can cover each other and withdraw from their positions.Nie Rongzhen breathed a sigh of relief.
Unexpectedly, a more dangerous situation happened again.
After the 1st and 2nd divisions withdrew from their positions, they entered the Yuechengling Mountains through the two mountain passes of Mupikou, Yaozijiangkou, Miaoshan and Meiziling respectively.
Nie Rongzhen rushed back to the army command post.The legion command post is on a hillside a little far from the front.Nie Rongzhen was concentrating on looking at the map and studying the army's action plan. The guard Qiu Wenxi hurried over, pulled Nie Rongzhen up, and said: Chief, move quickly, the enemy is coming up with bayonets.
Nie Rongzhen was startled and said: Enemy?Come so fast.
Chief, the enemy is coming up.I am not mistaken.The guard pulled Nie Rongzhen while talking.
Nie Rongzhen went to the front and saw that there was indeed a group of enemies rushing towards the regiment command post with bayonets in hand, and ordered loudly: withdraw the radio quickly, and move the command post to the Meizichong mountain pass.
When Zuo Quan heard this, he hurriedly put down his job, organized a guard force to fight the enemy on the spot, and covered Nie Rongzhen and the transfer of the command post.Nie Rongzhen saw the security platoon leader Liu Huishan and said, "Platoon leader Liu, immediately go down the hillside and inform political commissar Liu Yalou, asking him to take the political department to the predetermined direction immediately."As soon as the voice fell, a row of enemy bullets swept towards the command post.
Liu Huishan had only taken a few steps when he suddenly screamed "Ah" and fell to the ground.A bullet hit his foot.
Nie Rongzhen and Zuo Quan, together with the staff of the command post, fought and retreated. They didn't go far when two enemy planes appeared overhead.At that time, the Red Army did not have anti-aircraft weapons, and Chiang Kai-shek's planes were very rampant. They almost strafed the Red Army with treetops, dropped bombs, and occasionally dropped a piece of propaganda such as "If you don't surrender, you will be buried in the Xiangjiang River."Red Army soldiers don't care about propaganda such as bombs, bullets, and dog skin plasters.However, the plane was flying too low, and the roar of the engine and the impact of the air waves often shocked the soldiers to stop their steps and stare blankly at the plane.Nie Rongzhen was in a hurry, and shouted sharply: "Go, everyone, go, the plane above the head can't fall, the enemy behind has already caught up, go!"
When approaching Meizichong, the 1st Division also retreated and joined the Army Command Post.
Meizichong is one of the two mountain passes that enter the Yuechengling Mountains.It is said to be a pass, but it is actually a large pile of rocks cracked from top to bottom, leaving a gap in the middle, and the pedestrian path passes through the crack.There are huge stone walls on both sides of the path, and the two big rocks on the top of the Chongzi are so close together that only one person can barely pass through.Nie Rongzhen knew that the pass of Meizichong was too narrow and the troops were crowded, and it was impossible to pass through it quickly, so he ordered the 1st Division to send two companies to the hillside on the right side of Meizichong to block the enemy and cover the large troops to pass through the pass.
When Nie Rongzhen rushed to the mountain pass of Meizichong, the head and political commissar of the 9th Red Army also arrived with the troops.Hearing the urgent gunfire of the enemy chasing him, Nie Rongzhen became anxious.Hell, the mountain pass is already crowded, and the 9th Army has also rushed over.He asked Luo Binghui: Commander Luo Jun, how many troops do you have to pass here?
There are two regiments in the company headquarters, Luo Binghui said.
Nie Rongzhen smiled, took a step up the mountain and said: Well, Commander Luo Jun, you can carry forward your style today!You have few troops, so you can pass through the temple mountain on the left.From Miaoshan to Yuechengling, although there is a detour, it is not far.Meizi rushed to this pass, and must let our army pass through today.After a while, Nie Rongzhen said again: You go from Miaoshan, we will cover you.
Luo Binghui, a Yunnan general who participated in the war against Yuan Shikai to protect the country, admired Nie Rongzhen's knowledge and character as early as the Northern Expedition.In the past few years, although he and Nie Rongzhen participated in the anti-"encirclement and suppression" war in the Soviet area, there were not many opportunities to meet each other.I met in Meizichong today, and I really want to talk to Nie Rongzhen about my thoughts on this war.Seeing the troops crowded at the mountain pass, Luo Binghui said without hesitation: Well, let's go from Miaoshan.Mei Zichong, leave it to your legion, it's crowded enough.
Nie Rongzhen was very happy, held Luo Binghui's hand and said: All the commanders and fighters of the 1st Army Corps thank you.
Zuo Quan urged Nie Rongzhen, saying: Political Commissar Nie, hurry up, I am here to direct.
Nie Rongzhen watched the Red Ninth Army's team go away, turned around and said: Comrade Zuo Quan, you lead the troops to Yuechengling first.This small pass, I will dispatch troops, I will command.
The troops of the 1st Legion passed Meizichong slowly, and Nie Rongzhen was still standing quietly on the hillside, looking at the surging water of the Xiangjiang River, full of thoughts.Suddenly, a commander of the 8th Army ran up and said: Political Commissar Nie, the situation is not good, our troops were scattered and cut off by the enemy!
Nie Rongzhen was anxious, and said: Hurry up and pass through Meizichong, if you can pass one regiment, go through one regiment first.
It was getting dark again, and it was even more difficult to pass Meizi Chong at night.
When the central column was crossing the Xiangjiang River, Zhou Enlai had been commanding the troops to rush across at the ferry on the east bank of the Xiangjiang River, and asked Mao Zedong from time to time if he had crossed the river.When he saw Mao Zedong striding towards the Xiangjiang River, he rushed to meet him and asked Mao Zedong to cross the river quickly.Mao Zedong proposed to cross the river with Zhou Enlai.Zhou Enlai insisted that Mao Zedong cross the river first, and he still had tasks to explain.Soon after Zhou Enlai crossed the river, the enemy chased after him and stopped the 34th Division of the 5th Red Army and the 18th Regiment of the 3rd Red Army on the east bank of the Xiangjiang River.The next day, when Nie Rongzhen learned that the 34th Division under the command of Peng Shaohui had not crossed the river, he did not hesitate to send a battalion to cross the Xiangjiang River again, asking them to take over the troops on the east bank of the Xiangjiang River.
The 34th Division is a newly established unit, which carries a lot of supplies and moves relatively slowly.Although a battalion sent by Nie Rongzhen brought some troops to the west bank, because the enemy came too fast and under the siege of its superior forces, the troops on the east bank of the Xiangjiang River fought bravely, but were outnumbered and ran out of ammunition and food. The comrades spilled blood on the Xiangjiang River and died heroically. The comrades who were under siege failed to cross the river and moved to southern Hunan to fight guerrillas.
In the Battle of Xiangjiang, the Red Army paid a heavy price for it.After crossing the Xiangjiang River, the Central Red Army lost more than half, from 86,000 at the beginning of the Long March to more than 30,000.What a huge loss!
After getting rid of the enemy, the troops rested in a large forest. Nie Rongzhen felt tired like never before, and his whole body seemed to be falling apart.Days and nights of intense fighting hunger and fatigue almost overwhelmed him.He swallowed, and suddenly remembered that he still had a pack of biscuits on him, which was the dry food prepared by the guards for him on the road.
On Ziyin Road, Laocheng, Zunyi City, Guizhou Province, there is a curved ruler-shaped foreign house with brick and wood structure built in the early 1930s. The foreign house has a first floor and a ground floor, facing the street.There are corridors connecting the upstairs and downstairs, and a tall archway stands at the main entrance downstairs.This place was originally the official of Bai Huizhang, commander of the 2nd Division of the Guizhou Army.Since the first ten days of January 1935, the highest military command body of the First Front Army of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army, the General Command, was stationed here, and the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China held an enlarged meeting of the Politburo, which was the famous Zunyi meeting. It has a special place in the history of Chinese revolution and in the history of the world.
In the mid-1960s, when the wave of the "Cultural Revolution" swept across the country, the image of the building in Zunyi was cast on a delicate badge, which was admired by millions of revolutionary masses.Chairman Mao Zedong said: Wang Jiaxiang cast a "crucial vote" at the Zunyi Conference that determined China's historical destiny.
And Nie Rongzhen was the one who had an important influence on Wang Jiaxiang, who cast the "crucial vote".
Let's revisit this page of history!
After the Battle of Xiangjiang, Chiang Kai-shek judged that the Central Red Army would pass through Suining, Hongjiang, and Qianyang from the west extension area to Xiangxi to join the 2nd and 6th Red Army Corps, so he hurriedly transferred troops to the Qianyang and Hongjiang areas, and "chased He Jian's five-way" The "Suppression Army" was reorganized into two corps. On the one hand, Bai Chongxi's Gui Army followed the Red Army in pursuit, and on the other hand, Wang Jialie, the warlord of the Guizhou Army, was required to deploy powerful troops on the lines of Jinping and Liping to prevent the Red Army from advancing westward to Guizhou.
At this time, two stretchers in the marching column of the Red Army were particularly eye-catching.Lying on a stretcher was Wang Jiaxiang, director of the General Political Department of the Red Army.Wang Jiaxiang was seriously injured by Jiang Jun's plane during the fourth counter-campaign against "encirclement and suppression", and was carried on a stretcher to participate in the Long March.Nie Rongzhen, political commissar of the First Red Army Corps, was lying on another stretcher.When Nie Rongzhen climbed Jiufeng Mountain, a layer of skin was worn off his feet. Because there was no time for treatment, the festering festered and he could not walk. After crossing the Xiangjiang River, Dai Jimin, the medical director of the Legion Health Department, performed surgery on Nie Rongzhen.In this way, Nie Rongzhen had to be carried on a stretcher to march.
Both Wang Jiaxiang and Nie Rongzhen have been to Moscow, the Soviet Union, and they share fond memories; both have experienced the hard years of the Central Red Army’s Fourth Anti-"Encirclement and Suppression" War and the Xiangjiang Campaign; they are both worried about the future of the Chinese revolution and the future of the Red Army .When these two stretchers were walking side by side, the two comrades-in-arms who shared their fate could not finish talking.
One day during the march, Wang Jiaxiang said: I participated in the second and third counter-campaigns against "encirclement and suppression". Both battles achieved great victories. The results of a series of correct strategic and tactical thinking such as , each break down.
Nie Rongzhen said: You also know how miserable the fifth counter-campaign against "encirclement and suppression" was, and it wiped out all the base areas.
Wang Jiaxiang whispered: Mao Zedong should be allowed to lead the Red Army.
Nie Rongzhen said: I completely agree, and I think so too.
Wang Jiaxiang said: Bo Gu and Wang Ming are going to be kicked out when the meeting is held.
Nie Rongzhen said: Comrade Zhou Enlai is a good chief of staff. You can see that he has been sleeping on a stretcher all the way during the march, and he is busy when he arrives at the camp.
On December 5, the Central Red Army slowly marched westward along the rugged and difficult Xiyan and Longsheng Mountains.Nie Rongzhen was lying on a stretcher, looking at the winding marching team, deeply worried about the downsizing and morale of the troops.After days of fighting, the troops suffered heavy casualties, and replenishing troops was a big problem.The actions of the Red Army were erratic, and the people in the new districts lacked understanding of the Red Army. They were not as eager to send their children to join the army as in the old districts. After leaving the base area, the Red Army had a large number of reductions and few replenishments. Under the pursuit of the superior enemy, this had to arouse the worries of the political commissar of the legion .Although the enemy's Xiangjiang defense line broke through, it was getting farther and farther away from the base.When some cadres met each other, they always asked intentionally or unintentionally: Political Commissar Nie, where are we moving?Commissar Nie, where did the Red Army set up base areas?Now, the word "transfer" has accumulated many doubts in the minds of the majority of commanders and fighters.As the political commissar of the legion, he should tell everyone clearly: Despite all the difficulties and dangers ahead, the central government has decided that the first legion will join the 2nd and 6th legions.
When the Red Army occupied Tongdao County, Hunan, the Party Central Committee held a temporary emergency meeting.Due to the increasingly serious situation of the enemy's siege and interception, many people have already felt that Mao Zedong's proposal to change the original plan and advance to Guizhou, where the enemy's strength is weak, is the correct way to save the Red Army.
On December 14, the Red Army broke through the enemy's defense line in Guizhou and seized Liping, Guizhou.When Liping defended the enemy and heard the gunfire of the Red Army's attack, he abandoned the city and fled outside the city without fighting.Nie Rongzhen really wanted to go into Liping City, but thought that his feet were still difficult to walk, so he set off with the vanguard.
Wang Jiaxiang stayed in Liping. On December 18, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee held a meeting in Liping to discuss the route of the Red Army.毛泽东再次提出了不去湘西去贵州的意见，认为在严重的敌情威胁下，到湘西去创建新的苏维埃根据地已不可能。新的根据地应该是川黔边地区，初始以遵义为中心，一旦形势不利，就可转移到遵义西北地区。毛泽东的这个意见得到了与会大多数人的拥护，继而通过了《中央政治局关于在川黔边建立新根据地的决议》，于是，红军改变前进方向，向遵义进发。
欲取遵义，必须先跨越天险乌江。军委命令1军团的1师和2师分别在江界和回龙场两地强渡乌江。聂荣臻躺在担架上，在乌江南岸的江界河渡口指挥渡江。
墨乌色峡壁之间的乌江，如一条乌青色的蛟龙由西南向东北方向奔腾。江面不算宽，大约只有200多米，流速却达到每秒钟1.8米，江水拍击崖岸，溅起数米浪花，涛声振天；无论投下什么东西，落水的瞬间就被冲得无影无踪。乌江南北两岸，是十里陡峭的石山。上下乌江，就得经过这十里陡山。为了顺利突破这道天堑，4团团长耿飚和政委杨成武冒着鹅毛大雪，亲自到江边侦察。第二天组织数名勇士试渡时，准备架桥的绳索又被敌人的炮弹打断，两批竹筏子也被激流卷走。
一天一夜的偷渡没有成功，急得军委副参谋长张云逸连夜赶到乌江边，组织部队紧急绑扎了60多个竹笺。组织强渡时，还借了一名神炮手，军团炮兵连连长赵章成连打三发炮弹，把敌人的滩头阵地打垮了，才把桥架起来。与此同时，聂荣臻不顾风雨交加，与1师的勇士们一起，在龙溪口龙坝渡口组织强渡。这个渡口水势稍缓，但由于夜暗风急，许多战士都落水了。聂荣臻也险些被风浪卷下水。
突破乌江以后，王稼祥和聂荣臻两副担架之间，又多了一个骑马的人：军委总参谋长刘伯承。聂荣臻猜到了刘伯承到红一军团的意图，笑着对他说：伯承同志，人还在马上，心已经进遵义城了吧！
黎平会议上，中央已经决定在适当时候召开政治局扩大会议，总结第五次反“围剿”以来军事上的经验教训。这实际上已经表明，“左”倾机会主义者的军事指挥是失败的，红军不能再由他们摆布。中央红军出敌不意地攻占遵义，把敌人的数十万“追剿军”甩在乌江以东和以南地区。如此，党中央就赢得时间坐下来认真总结经验教训，纠正错误。“左”倾机会主义领导者们尚未深刻认识到由于自身的错误给红军和中国革命带来的巨大损失，进遵义城以后，仍四处活动，为自己岌岌可危的地位游说。
1935年1月15日。
这是一个具有历史意义的日子。这是一个改变中国命运的日子。
战争的风云暂时消散了。何键虽然没有被免去“追剿军”总司令的桂冠，却率领20个团转至常德地区作战去了。四川军阀刘湘的部队在长江南岸摆了一线，由于摸不清红军的虚实，不敢轻易冒进。尽管蒋介石十万火急调粤桂军队尽速北上遵义，但粤桂军阀们知道贵州不是他们的地盘，仍将部队迟滞于黔南。蒋介石嫡系薛岳、周浑元的部队又被滔滔乌江阻隔，难以施展他们的枪炮。
中共党内正确路线与错误路线的斗争却白热化、公开化了。在中国革命处于极端危险的情况下，中共中央于1月15～17日在遵义召开政治局扩大会议。出席会议的政治局委员和候补委员有博古、张闻天、周恩来、毛泽东、朱德、陈云、王稼祥、邓发、刘少奇、凯丰。
会议的前一天，聂荣臻接到军委指示，将1军团的日常工作交给参谋长左权和政治部主任朱瑞，前来参加党中央政治局扩大会议。
聂荣臻的脚伤没有好，三天会议，都是坐担架来回。
在反“围剿”战争中实际负责军事指挥的是共产国际派来的军事顾问德国人李德（奥托·布劳恩）。他曾在30多年后回忆说：遵义会议的情况同“文革”时期举行的中央全会有类似之处……遵义会议上，除政治局委员外，还邀请了军事指挥员和毛泽东的其他支持者出席，他们成了与会者的多数，并最终使会议有可能对前一时期的军事战略进行了谴责。显然，布劳恩是把聂荣臻等军事指挥员看作毛泽东的支持者了。
匈牙利著名记者巴拉奇·代内什在其《邓小平》一书中亦对遵义会议提出了大胆的猜想。他说：我们也不知道遵义会议的决议是如何通过和由谁参加表决的，它很可能是与会者在毛泽东的主张已经占上风时，以齐声口头表示赞成的办法通过的。
话说得很平谈，其实正确与错误路线的斗争在关键时候是非常激烈的，这是中国革命和工农红军生死悠关的斗争。
在会议上，毛泽东第一个站起来，对“左”倾错误的军事路线提出严厉批评。
王稼样在毛泽东讲完后立刻站起来，表示坚决支持毛泽东的意见。
博古由于形势所迫，作了检讨，但没有彻底承认错误。
李德坐在靠门口的一把椅子上，一个劲地抽烟，情绪很低落，态度却十分顽固。遵义会议没有给这个外国人安排正式席位。
聂荣臻想得最多的是革命的发展，红军的生存。在与会者情绪激昂，争论激烈的会议上，聂荣臻坦率直言：我和伯承同志都觉得，我们应该打过长江去，到川西北去建立根据地。不是我们偏爱四川，而是在四川建立根据地的条件要比在贵州好得多。这一路上，大家也看到了，这里人烟稀少，少数民族多，又没有工作基础。如果在这里建立根据地，困难会很多。四川则不同。四方面军已经在川陕开辟了根据地，可以接应我们。四川是西南富庶的地区，人烟稠密，这些年军阀横征暴敛，搞得民不聊生，只要我们能发动群众，站稳脚跟，一定可以大有作为。四川对外交通不方便，当地军阀又长期有排外思想，蒋介石很难往四川调大量部队。
遵义这次历史性的会议，聂荣臻和刘伯承这两位军事家的建议得到肯定和重视。
一个历史性的决议产生了：会议通过了《中央关于反对敌人五次“围剿”的总结决议》，否定了博古《关于五次“围剿”总结的报告》，提出“军事上单纯防御路线，是我们不能粉碎敌人五次'围剿'的主要原因”；并且肯定了毛泽东等人关于红军作战的基本原则。
遵义会议，使党的领导人发生了重大变化。会议决定：（一）推选毛泽东为政治局常委，（二）指定洛甫（张闻天）起草决议；（三）常委中再进行适当的分工；（四）取消“三人团”（长征开始时由博古、李德、周恩来组成），仍由最高军事首长周恩来、朱德指挥军事。这个决定，实际上是取消了博古、李德的最高军事指挥权。
遵义的决定，震撼了敌人，振奋了军心。聂荣臻在给仁怀县一家地主场院红1师连以上干部传达遵义会议精神，这时天下起了小雨。一些人坐在屋檐下，还有一些人就坐在场院上。1师政委谭政给聂荣臻举着一把雨伞，整整3小时，大家聚精会神地听着，没有一个人走开。
聂荣臻讲完了，干部们热烈鼓掌欢呼，完全拥护毛泽东同志出来领导红军。受过王明路线打击、义愤填膺的干部，此时长长地舒了一口气，十分开心。
会理会议以后，中央红军为了执行在川西或川西北创建根据地的计划，决定沿西昌大道继续北上。5月20日中革军委下达的训令指出：在蒋介石企图围歼红军于大渡河南岸的情况下，红军“应以迅速北进，争取渡江先机，首先进到清溪、泸定桥、洪雅地区，与川敌进行作战机动，争取赤化，为战略上基本方针。”为了实现这个战略方针，红军将士不畏艰辛，演出了巧过彝民区，飞夺泸定桥，翻雪山过草地等一幕幕震撼世界的历史壮举。
此时，为了在地理环境险恶的地区为北进的红军开辟一条道路，中革军委临时调整了聂荣臻的职务，离开红1军团，担任中央红军先遣队政委。
先遣队，就是要逢敌开路，遇河架桥，进行战略侦察，为红军北上开路。这是一项十分艰巨而又光荣的任务。使聂荣臻感到特别高兴的是，先遣队的司令员是总参谋长刘伯承。在聂荣臻眼里，他的这位四川老乡军事阅历丰富，遇事深谋远虑，工作作风细致扎实，对当地的地理情况和风俗人情也很熟悉。聂荣臻也是四川人，但他少小离家，对四川西北的情况了解不多，对于仍然处于奴隶制社会的彝族地区，什么“黑骨头”、“白骨头”之类的，知道得就更少了，有刘伯承这位老军人作搭档，聂荣臻心里踏实，自信前方没有跨越不了的天堑。
先遣队必须突破的第一道天堑是大渡河。从泸沽到大渡河有两条路。一条是经过登相营、越西到富林。这条大道上不仅有国民党刘文辉的第24军防守，四川军阀刘湘所属的王泽潜部也正在向富林开进，是敌人重兵防守的地段；另一条路是经冕宁、大桥到安顺场，这不仅是一条崎岖难行的山路，还必须通过一向被汉人视为畏途的彝民区。听了侦察组的报告，刘伯承对聂荣臻说：荣臻呀，敌人显然是判定我们要走西昌至富林的大路，所以沿途都有重兵把守，我军要从富林渡过大渡河，与敌人主力顶牛，不易成功呀！
聂荣臻思考了一会儿，说：是否可以建议军委改变行军路线，走冕宁、安顺场这条小路呢？
刘伯承点了点头，说：走这条路必须经过大凉山彝民区。彝族分为黑彝和白彝。纯粹是彝人血统的叫黑彝，汉人称其黑骨头；彝汉混血儿叫白彝，汉人称其白骨头。黑彝和白彝之间虽然有矛盾，但主要是与汉人有矛盾，他们对汉人疑忌很深。要走这条路，得做好彝人的工作。
聂荣臻说：不管黑骨头白骨头，我们都能用党的民族政策感动他们，彝族人总比刘文辉的枪杆子好说话。我建议红军走这条路。
刘伯承立刻起草了给军委的电报。出发前，刘伯承对大家说：今天我们要到冕宁。冕宁曾经是彝人聚居的地区，后来被反动政府把彝人赶跑了。彝人对汉人疑忌很深，语言又不通。他们会射箭打炮，但他们同反动军队不同，也是被压迫者。在彝民区，我们要严格执行党的民族政策，没有我和聂政委的命令，谁也不许开枪。
5月21日傍晚，刘伯承和聂荣臻率领先遣队进入冕宁。伪县长闻风丧胆，在两连护城兵的保护下，带着一群土豪劣绅逃往西康去了。由于中共冕宁地下党做了许多解放冕宁的准备，红军进城时，商店红灯高挂，街两旁都是欢迎的人群，不时地响起“噼噼啪啪”的鞭炮声。忽然，3名彝族同胞突然跪倒在聂荣臻和刘伯承面前，满脸热泪，又是叩头，又是作揖。聂荣臻连忙把他们扶起来，问：这是怎么回事？
旁边有人说：官长先生，大牢里关了许多彝人首领。
聂荣臻好纳闷，问：他们犯了什么罪？
他们是被政府当作人质关起来的。如果彝人不听政府的话，就杀这些首领。
聂荣臻一听，愤慨地说：快派人把彝族兄弟放出来。
刘伯承也十分气愤，说：反动派制造民族隔阂，坑害了多少人呀，我们要好好款待这些彝族同胞。
聂荣臻还叫人把这些彝族首领请来一起喝酒。酒杯一举，双方随意多了。有几个会说汉话的彝人首领还讲了不少当地反动军队的情况，有的还表示愿意为红军带路。
先遣队的司令部设在冕宁县城的天主教堂里。聂荣臻进入教堂以后，特地召见了这里的神职人员，向他们说明共产党和红军保护宗教的政策。当聂荣臻得知教堂里有5名法国修女时，又耐心地用法语同她们交谈，劝说她们不要惊慌。
5月22日先遣队开始进入大凉山彝族区。这片彝族区，山势险要，道路崎岖，野草丛生，树木葱茏。山涧之上，往往只搭设一根独木桥，易守难攻。先遣队的前卫连刚刚走完彝汉杂居区，忽然看见10多个男男女女被彝民驱赶着走下山来，他们的衣服全被剥光了，身上赤条条的，一丝不挂。前卫连的指战员急忙找了一些衣物给这伙人遮身体，一打听，这伙人开始自称是小商人，是到彝民区做生意的，看到红军没有什么恶意，才说出他们是冕宁县政府的官兵和国民党军官的太太。他们想通过彝族区，被彝民抓起来缴了枪，衣服被剥得精光，侥幸留下一条命。
战士们一听，浑身起了一层鸡皮疙瘩。萧华说：“我们是红军，我们不欺侮彝民，他们会客客气气的。”前卫连继续前进。可是，红军战士走了不到10分钟，突然被一伙手持棍棒、长矛、弓箭、土枪等武器的彝民堵住了路。彝民们“吗呼”“吗呼”地吆喝着，人越聚越多。工作团的冯文彬想起聂政委交待的话，连忙带着“通司”（翻译）走过去。一个小头目说：白彝要点钱。
冯文彬问：他们要多少钱？
对方回答：200。
冯文彬立刻给了他们200银元。彝民们一抢而散。
先遣队走了不到500米，又有一群彝民来要钱，说他们是另一个部落的。交涉之际，有人喊了一声：我去找爷爷来。
不一会儿，一个披着头发的赤膊大汉带着十几名身背梭镖、腰围麻布的青年走过来，那大汉自我介绍说：我是沽基家的小叶丹，要见你们司令，我们大家讲和。
原来，这个彝族区有沽基家和罗洪族两个较大的部落。当时，这两个部落正在“打冤家”。听说红军来了，沽基家想要红军帮助他们“打冤家”，所以对红军友好，而罗洪族则想袭击红军，刘伯承和聂荣臻得知这个情况后，认为不能偏袒支持任何一方闹自相残杀。
于是，红军总参谋长刘伯承同彝族沽基家首领小叶丹在一个名叫海子边的池塘旁并排跪地，按照彝族的礼仪，杀鸡滴血至米酒中，面对蔚蓝的天空和清澈的池水，口念誓言：“上有天，下有地，我刘伯承与小叶丹今天在海子边结义为兄弟，以后如有反悔，天诛地灭，同此鸡一样的死。”说完，俩人将鸡血酒一饮而尽，结拜为金兰之盟，留下了一段脍炙人口的佳话。
一阵阵欢呼声，在海子边久久回荡。
晚上，刘伯承又准备了一些酒菜，请小叶丹和彝族兄弟们一起吃饭。
聂荣臻得知彝族区有100多里路，部队得用一天时间才能通过，便与刘伯承商量，选择一条便于行走的路线。小叶丹说：明天我叫沽基家的娃子送你们出境。
聂荣臻想到彝族区里还有其他部落，先遣队不摸清情况就往里闯，太危险，提出把前面的队伍撤回来，像当年司马懿似的“倒退三十里”，由沽基家派人护送红军通过彝族区。刘伯承听了，连声说：你想得周到，你想得周到。
第二天，小叶丹领着一帮人亲自为红军领路。彝民们打着赤膊赤脚，围着麻布、毯子，夹道欢送红军兄弟。一些青年和儿童还主动接近红军，双手比比划划，表明他们的心意。红军战士有的送给他们鞋子，有的送给他们毛巾，气氛非常热烈。小叶丹送了一程又一程，渐渐收住了脚步，依依不舍地说：刘司令，前面不是我管的地方，我不能再走了。我派四个娃子送你们过村寨，另外挑选了20个娃子到红军去学习军事，学好了回来打刘文辉。
刘伯承也依依难舍地对小叶丹说：后面的红军部队还多，拜托你一定要把他们全部安全送过彝区。
临别之时，刘伯承又让警卫员抬过擦得锃亮的10支步枪送给小叶丹，小叶丹很受感动。
告别了小叶丹，聂荣臻还不时地回头望望远离的彝寨，心里想：这次先遣，多亏了伯承同志。要不然，这种局面我还真难对付呢！
一股无敌的铁流，直向安顺场、大渡河奔去。
大渡河两岸，都是横断山脉，崇山峻岭，地势险要，易守难攻。大渡河河宽近百米，水深约30米，流速达到每秒钟4米，很远很远就可以听到大渡河激流的咆哮声。这是红军长征以来所遇到的水流最湍急的河流。当年，太平天国著名将领翼王石达开率领数万人马，陷入了这条险道，先头部队已经冲到了安顺场，后尾部队却遭到袭击，北渡未成而全军覆没。因为有大渡河这道天险，蒋介石企图以薛岳、刘湘等部队南攻北堵，把红军围歼在大渡河以南地区，梦想使红军成为石达开第二。
红军要飞越这道天堑，必须经过安顺场和泸定桥。
5月24日，刘伯承和聂荣臻率领先遣队到达安顺场。安顺场渡口水深流急，河底乱石丛生，水面形成了无数漩涡，当地俗称竹筒河。这个地段鹅毛沉底，水性再好的人也不能泅渡。这里不但无法架桥，船横渡时，也要先拉纤到上游二里，放船后要有经验的船工掌舵，十余名船工篙橹并用，与流速形成一种合力，使小船沿一条斜线冲到对岸。河对岸有石级，渡船要是对不正渡口一旦碰到两侧石壁上，就可能船毁人亡。尽管如此凶险，先遣队也必须渡河，红军也必须过江。
夜，多么深沉的夜呀！月亮被乌云遮住了，到处昏暗一片。聂荣臻和刘伯承为了检查先遣队的渡河准备情况，冒着绵绵细雨，向前卫营走去。天太黑，路又不好走。聂荣臻想到刘伯承的视力不好，特意把刚刚从敌人那里缴获的一个法国手电筒带上，