Chapter 3 Chapter Two

The central government had just settled down in Maogong, and had not yet met with Zhang Guotao. The two sides exchanged frequent telegrams and exchanged views on the future of the Red Army and the next strategic policy. Why all the haste?The leaders of both sides are clear-headed.Although the two main forces of the Red Army had joined forces, they were still under heavy siege and blockade by Chiang Kai-shek and the Sichuan warlords.Northwest Sichuan, a sparsely populated ethnic minority area, is obviously not a safe place for the 100,000 Red Army.Where is the Red Army going?Where is the Chinese revolution going?It is the top priority for the leaders of both sides to make a decision as soon as possible.

Marshal Xu Qianqian recalled: "The front army headquarters did not discuss the direction of strategic development at that time. Of course, the leadership was not without consideration. As soon as our army entered the northwestern Sichuan region, Zhang Guotao announced the establishment of the Soviet Northwest Federal Government and issued a notice , Writing regulations, issuing instructions, and establishing local people's governments at all levels, I am very busy. On the surface, it seems that we are going to spread out and take root in this area. In fact, everyone is thinking about which direction to develop next. Because everyone knows that Northwestern Sichuan is vast, with few people and little food, so it is not suitable for large troops to stay for a long time. It is also an ethnic minority area, and the ethnic barriers formed in history are not easy to eliminate. It is not easy for the Red Army to establish a revolutionary base! Li Xiannian and I The comrades exchanged opinions and thought that the original Sichuan-Shaanxi-Gansu plan is better. If the Central Red Army comes up, go northward to eliminate part of Hu Zongnan's main force, strive to create a revolutionary base area on the Sichuan-Shaanxi-Gansu border, open up contacts with the guerrilla areas leading to Nanba, and then try to develop , seems to be the best policy. As for Zhang Guotao and Chen Changhao? According to my observation, they have an indecisive attitude. Sometimes it is said to take Shaanxi and Gansu from the north, and sometimes it is said to go south to the southwest of Sichuan, and there is no mature plan. At that time, the Central Red Army was a The top priority is that the direction of strategic development can only be decided after the two militaries meet." Now that the central government is expected to come, Zhang Guotao is of course eager to listen to the central government's opinions.

From the situation learned by the central government and the report on the enemy situation provided by Xu Qianqian, it can be seen that although the Red Army entered the minority areas in northwestern Sichuan and got a chance to rest temporarily, the enemy situation is still very serious.Under the deployment of Chiang Kai-shek, Sun Zhen, Deng Xihou and other five-way armies approached Beichuan, Maoxian and other places occupied by the Red Army from Jiangyou, Mianzhu, Guanxian, Wenchuan and other places.The troops of Sichuan warlords Yang Sen and Liu Wenhui gathered in Lushan, Danba, and Kangding to block the way for the Red Army to go south to the Chengdu Plain.Chiang Kai-shek's elite troops, Hu Zongnan, occupied the Pingwu and Songpan lines in the south to prevent the Red Army from developing northward.The enemy besieging the Red Army has a total of more than 200 regiments.Chiang Kai-shek's purpose is to trap the Red Army to death in this desolate minority area.

On June 16, while sending a congratulatory message to the headquarters of the Fourth Front Army, the Central Committee also sent a long message, discussing preliminary opinions on the next strategic policy.The telegram said: "In order to put the development of the Soviet movement on a more solid and powerful foundation, the general policy of our First and Fourth Front Armies in the future should be to occupy the three provinces of Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu, establish the Soviet regime in the three provinces, and at an appropriate time. One organized an expeditionary force to occupy Xinjiang." Regarding the current situation, the central government believes that "the area centered on Maogong stretches for more than a thousand miles, and is deep in mountains and valleys, sparsely populated, and difficult to provide for. The situation on both sides of the Dadu River to the vicinity of Mount Emei is similar. As for Xikang, the situation is even worse. If the enemy blocks the upper reaches of the Minjiang River (the enemy is carrying out this plan), it will be extremely difficult to move north. Therefore, in the Qionglai Mountains area, only small troops can be used for activities, and the main force does not seem to be a good strategy."

Zhang Guotao and Chen Changhao replied the next day, expressing their unwillingness to develop northward.The telegram said: "The terrain and supplies in the Beichuan area are not conducive to the movement of large troops; moreover, the water is deep and the current is fast, and the enemy is prepared. It is not easy to go north along the Minjiang River to attack Songpan. The terrain has no food." It is recommended to "develop to Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu at the same time. , organize an expeditionary force to occupy Qinghai and Xinjiang, and first gather the main force to fight."The specific deployment is that Li Xiannian marched to Jiajin Mountain, the Red Army on the one hand occupied Aba, and the Fourth Army on the other hand attacked Songpan in the north, seeking the possibility of developing to Shaanxi and Gansu.

The first exchange of views froze.Mao Zedong and the others have just arrived, and the Fourth Front Army has lived here for a month.The two sides exchanged telegrams several times, but they still couldn't explain clearly.Mao Zedong and the others were a little anxious. On June 20, they sent an urgent telegram to Zhang Guotao, urging him to come quickly. After receiving the telegram, Zhang Guotao set off immediately.He recalled: "In June 1935, with excitement, I rushed from Maoxian County to Maogong to meet Mao Zedong and other comrades after a long absence. In Maoxian County, Xu Xiangqian, Chen Changhao and others stayed behind. Huang Chao, myself, and more than a dozen cavalry guards, Climbing high mountains one after another, passing through dense virgin forests, trekking over some chaotic rocky slopes overgrown with miscellaneous trees. In this way, after walking for more than three days, we will soon reach Fubian, about 90 miles north of Maogong. Here is Mao Zedong. , Zhu De and others are temporarily stationed."

In order to welcome Zhang Guotao's arrival, the central government has arranged a welcome venue in Lianghekou (north of today's Xiaojin County).This is a sloping land between mountains. Two streams flow from Mengbi Mountain in the northwest and Qionglai Mountain in the northeast and converge here, so it is named Lianghekou.Deng Fa and Luo Ruiqing, two directors of the security bureau, chose this place, and dispatched engineers to work for three hours, cutting wood, shoveling soil and throwing stones, and turning a barren slope into a meeting place.The top was cut into a small square platform according to the natural slope, which is the rostrum.The ground below is paved with sand to replace the red carpet for welcoming VIPs.There are no houses and no walls, and welcome signs hang from tree branches.The venue is so simple, yet so solemn.

On the morning of June 25, it began to rain, which seemed to be a long-awaited and ominous sign.Mao Zedong specially dispatched telephone soldiers to wait and see on the mountain five miles away, waiting for the arrival of Zhang Guotao and his party.Thousands of Red Army soldiers gathered and lined up, waiting anxiously in the wind and rain.People were hit by the rain and the cold mountain wind, but their eager hearts and excited emotions had long forgotten the damp and cold.In the afternoon, everyone had a premonition that the exciting moment was coming, and the team sang the "Song of the Meeting of the Two Main Forces of the Red Army" newly compiled by Comrade Lu Dingyi the day before:

(The lyrics of this song were later changed and became the familiar "Song of the Three Main Forces of the Red Army Meeting". Both the meeting at Lianghekou and the original lyrics have been forgotten——author's note) Suddenly heavy rain hit, thick raindrops hit people, and the rain cloth also lost its effect.The mountain water rushes through the woods, washing away the sand and leaves.The 20-minute torrential rain drenched everyone, but no one left the venue.They are still waiting.At about 17 o'clock in the afternoon, Mao Zedong and other central leaders came out of the felt tent and walked towards the woods in front, and the team immediately became serious.With a command, everyone put away the rain gear, lined up the team neatly, and stared at the east with thousands of pairs of eyes.

I saw a few horse heads looming in the woods at the foot of the Eastern Mountain.Zhang Guotao rode a white horse, and under the guard of a dozen cavalrymen, ran along the path to the welcoming crowd.It's an exciting scene.When Zhang Guotao arrived, he saw "Mao Zedong leading members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and some forty or fifty senior military and political cadres, standing by the roadside to welcome us" (including five members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee: Chairman of the Chinese Soviet Government Mao Zedong, Chinese Zhu De, commander-in-chief of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, Zhou Enlai, vice chairman of the Central Revolutionary Military Commission, Zhang Wentian, secretary of the Central Committee, and Bogu, who was criticized at the Zunyi Conference and removed from his leadership position. Wang Jiaxiang, director of the General Political Department of the Red Army, was absent due to injury. The chief of staff of the Red Army Liu Bocheng, Director of the Central Political Security Bureau Deng Fa, etc.).Although the central leaders' clothes were soaked by the rain, they all waved to him with smiles on their faces.Commander-in-Chief Zhu was the first to go forward and greet Zhang Guotao.Zhang Guotao got off his horse immediately and ran over to hug and shake hands with them.It is indescribable to describe the joy of reunion after a long time of suffering.Everyone gathered around, clasping hands and waving more hands.The slogan roared like a thunderstorm, seeming to break through the dark clouds of low pressure.

Another burst of rain hit, but no one cared.The sound of rain, slogans, and military music intertwined into a passionate symphony. In a joyful atmosphere, the leaders of the Central Committee and Zhang Guotao walked onto the small rostrum together.Commander-in-chief Zhu De first gave a welcome speech. He said enthusiastically: "Comrades! The rendezvous of the two main Red Armies is not only our own, but also the people of all China and the oppressed all over the world. ! This is the victory of the anti-Japanese agrarian revolution of the entire Chinese people, and the victory of the party's Lenin strategy!" Then, Zhang Guotao replied: "Comrades! Here are some comrades we fought together eight years ago (Guanchang Uprising——Author's Note), and more comrades who have never met. Although we have been separated for many years Struggle and struggle in several places, but they all have one goal - for the liberation of the Chinese people, and for the victory of the party's strategic line! There are a large number of weak and small ethnic groups here, and we have a superior terrain. Better conditions for the situation." Zhang Guotao shouted: "Long live the Red Army! Long live Commander-in-Chief Zhu! Long live the Communist Party!" Amid the enthusiastic slogans, the Red Army team gave way to a lane of people. Amid the cheers of the Red Army soldiers on both sides, Zhang Guotao, Zhu De, Mao Zedong and other central leaders walked towards the small town talking and laughing.The sound of military music, slogans and singing mixed with the sound of rainstorm behind them. Zhang Guotao was completely unaware that since he arrived, the central leaders had undergone some subtle changes towards him.They feel that Zhang Guotao is not like a worshiper, but like a lord showing off his wealth to poor relatives.Salisbury wrote: "The obvious difference can also be seen from the two leaders. Zhang's face is plump and ruddy. ?Very thin, haggard, deeply wrinkled, and very prim. Zhang’s gray military uniform fits perfectly, while Mao still wears his old military uniform from the Long March, which is worn out and covered with patches.” This stark contrast makes Unhappiness arose in Mao's heart.When a soldier next to him praised the tall horses of Zhang Guotao's guard, Mao Zedong reprimanded him: "Don't envy those horses!" Even Li De, a German, could see this emotion.He later recalled: "In mid-June, the central column arrived at Lianghekou. Zhang Guotao, a tall, handsome man, about forty years old, received us like a host to guests. He seemed very conceited, and he seemed to have Fully aware of his military superiority and administrative power. These circumstances forced Mao Zedong and the Politburo to rely on Zhang. Not only that, Zhang's entire character and his high prestige in the Communist Party and the Red Army also made people had to obey." Bogu's mood was different from that of Mao and Zhang. The Zunyi Conference criticized him and his neglected situation made Bogu feel a strong sense of loss.Only Li De understood his heart.Regarding the meeting of the first and fourth front armies, Bogu's mood is complicated. "On the one hand, he welcomes the upcoming reunion of the main force of the Red Army; on the other hand, he is worried that Mao Zedong will turn Zhang Guotao's policy, which is largely in line with Mao's previous thinking, into his own policy, forcing the Politburo to Accept it." The second program to welcome Zhang Guotao is the evening dinner.The atmosphere on the surface is relaxed and cheerful.Everyone sat and chatted all over the world, but Zhang Guotao felt rather dull.Because everyone here "doesn't talk about the Long March and the Zunyi Conference, and is not even interested in listening to my account of the situation of the Red Fourth Front Army."Instead, listen to Mao Zedong's big talk that those who eat chili are revolutionaries (this is a common topic of Mao Zedong at the dinner table).Bogu, a Jiangsu native who doesn't eat chili, refuted (obviously there was something in his words).Zhang Guotao vaguely felt discord within the central leadership. At night, Zhang Guotao invited Zhu De to have a long talk together.They broke up after the failure of the Nanchang Uprising in 1927, and they each experienced arduous struggles.Looking back on the past, both of them have endless things to say.Zhu De was frank and honest, with a loyal and elderly demeanor. He enjoyed high prestige in the Red Army, and Zhang Guotao admired him very much.Zhu De frankly introduced to him the experience and losses of the Central Red Army since the Long March, but he was not depressed.Most of the cadres of the Central Red Army have survived. With these backbones, Zhu De firmly believes that the revolutionary situation will develop and grow stronger.He was delighted by the strength of the Fourth Red Front Army and its energetic state of mind. He also revealed to Zhang that members of the Politburo hoped to move north as soon as possible and did not want to stay in this ethnic minority area for a long time. correct.Zhang Guotao did not express his position on this, but Zhu De's sincere attitude moved him very much.In this way, they have been talking about the East Dawning. (The memoirs of Zhang Guotao are about this narration, because it is traced many years later, some content may be inaccurate and contain emotional color. There are references in it, but it is not completely credible, especially Zhu De's statement about the inner party debate , it is hard to believe it is true - author's note) Zhang Guotao gained a lot and learned a lot about the Central Red Army.But in the other house, Mao Zedong fell asleep? On the morning of the next day (June 26), a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee was held in a Guandi Temple in Lianghekou Village.Discuss strategic direction issues. Participants were: members of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee Mao Zedong, Zhu De, Zhou Enlai, Zhang Wentian (Luo Fu), Bo Gu (Qin Bangxian), Wang Jiaxiang, Zhang Guotao.Politburo alternate members Liu Shaoqi, Deng Fa, Kai Feng (He Kequan). Attendees were: Liu Bocheng, Lin Biao, Peng Dehuai, Nie Rongzhen, Lin Boqu, Li Fuchun. The meeting was first reported by Zhou Enlai, General Political Commissar of the Red Army.He briefly reviewed the Red Army's Long March and the Zunyi Conference, mainly talking about the current course of action.He said: Now that the First and Fourth Front Armies have left the Soviet area, they must establish bases in new areas.Where should new soviet areas be created?The first is a place that is convenient for us to fight.Now the first and fourth front armies have joined together, and their strength has grown.Although the areas of Songpan, Lifan, and Maogong are large, they are mostly narrow roads. The enemy can easily block us, but it is not easy for us to counterattack.The second is the conditions of the masses.Some places with large populations that the Red Army has traveled through can expand the Red Army in large numbers.The Song, Li, and Mao areas have a total population of only 200,000, and ethnic minorities make up the majority.This place cannot become our base, and the development of the Red Army still needs to be in places with a large number of Han people.The third is economic conditions.There is a shortage of food here, and some places are not self-sufficient in food, cattle and sheep are limited, and cloth is not easy to deal with, and it is even more difficult to replenish military supplies.Therefore, the Song, Li, and Mao areas on the west bank of the Minjiang River are not conducive to the establishment of base areas.We have no future if we get stuck here.Our new strategic policy is to attack northward and establish bases in Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu. Regarding the issue of strategic actions, Zhou Enlai pointed out: at present, the strategic actions of the First and Fourth Front Armies are impossible in the south; crossing the Minjiang River in the east is not good for me; in the northwest, there are vast grasslands.Now we can only turn to Gansu and go north of the Minshan Mountains to fight for this area.This area has many roads, a large population, and few mountains.We can use mobile warfare to destroy the enemy.We must strike the enemy bravely, manoeuvrably, and without hesitation.The specific requirements of the Red Army's strategic shift are: First, fight against Hu Zongnan to Songpan.Second, be highly maneuverable and don't be pinned down by the enemy.Third, resolutely unify the will.The two front armies have large forces, and they must be resolutely unified in command.These three are the highest principles and must be realized. Regarding some specific issues, Zhou Enlai: Divide the Red Army into three columns: left, center, and right, and the right column will attack Songpan.Take advantage of the summer to quickly head north through the meadows.If you can't get through, go west. It may be more difficult, but this retreat must be preserved.Supplementary problems in the rear. After the rendezvous, the strength has increased, but it needs to be supplemented.On the one hand, the quality of the army is strong, but the quantity needs to be supplemented (the specifics will be discussed separately).The question of food should also be devoted to the discussion of the plan. Zhou Enlai's report finally emphasized that the highest principle of war command is: first, it should be centralized and unified, and the command power should be concentrated in the Military Commission.Second, in order to make the battle more powerful, it was reorganized into three columns.Third, strengthen political and ideological work to overcome difficulties such as food, cold, grassland and ethnic minorities. After Zhou Enlai's report, Zhang Guotao spoke.He first talked about the combat situation of the Fourth Red Army since it left the Sichuan-Shaanxi base area and the process of joining forces with the First Red Army. He said: After we arrived in Lifan, we knew that you had arrived in Tianquan.At that time, we planned to meet you in Tianquan and then attack Yazhou.If we can meet in Tianquan and Yazhou, occupy Lushan, and use Song, Li, and Mao as the rear development bases.1. The main forces of the Fourth Front Army have assembled, how should we fight now?Hu Zongnan and Liu Xiang are now approaching us. If our strategy is to fight south and Chengdu, these enemies will not be a problem.Fighting eastward is limited by the terrain.Going west to cross the grassland, passing by in winter, there is no tent, and it is very cold.During the rainy season in summer, there will be a large reduction in personnel for long-distance marches, and there will be no firewood.The situation in the north of Songpan has not been investigated yet. The development conditions are that Gannan is beneficial to me.Therefore, in order to develop into Gannan, we must focus on eliminating Hu enemies.The Politburo should decide to establish a base area in southern Gansu. As for how to fight, the Military Commission should make a specific plan. Mao Zedong agreed with Zhou Enlai in his speech.He said that with regard to the issue of the base areas, we must now focus our efforts on the areas of Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu.This will put the Soviet area on a more solid foundation.The Fourth Front Army must do a good job of explaining, because their plan is to attack Chengdu.He pointed out: The nature of our war is not decisive battle defense, not running, but offense.Base areas are created by attacking.He advocated concentrating the main force on Songpan.He said that now is to quickly break the enemy and move forward. If you decide today, you must act tomorrow.Because when it's cold, it's very difficult to solve the fur coat.Should strive to break through in June, although there will be through the grass.The conditions in this area are too bad, and it is not conducive to retreat. Now we must strive to go to the determined area via Songpan.Finally, he emphasized: "The issue of unified command must be resolved by the Standing Committee and the Military Commission." After Zhou, Zhang, and Mao made the main speeches, other participants expressed their opinions.Everyone unanimously agreed with the northward policy proposed in Zhou Enlai's report, and believed that the most important thing at present was to fight out from Songpan.After the discussion, Zhou Enlai made a conclusion.In the end, all passed the central government's strategy of going north, and instructed Zhang Wentian to draft a resolution.The Lianghekou meeting ended in a peaceful atmosphere. On June 28, according to the spirit of the Lianghekou meeting, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China issued the "Decision on the Strategic Policy after the First and Fourth Front Armies Join Forces."After announcing the strategic policy of capturing Songpan and creating the Sichuan-Shaanxi-Gansu Soviet Area, the following decisions were also made: We must send a detachment to move towards Taohe and Xiahe to control this area so that we can develop advantageously eastward with the vast areas of the four provinces of Gansu, Qinghai, Xinning, and Ningxia. The military, political and economic conditions of the big and small Jinchuan watersheds were not conducive to the activities and development of most of the Red Army.However, a small force must be left behind to develop guerrilla warfare and turn this area into a part of the Sichuan-Shaanxi-Gansu Soviet Area. In order to realize this strategic policy, it is necessary to resolutely oppose the tendency to avoid war and flee, and the tendency of conservatism and security to stand still. These Right opportunist vacillations are the main danger in the current struggle to create a new Soviet area. The last paragraph in the resolution is intriguing.Now that the revolutionary momentum was unprecedentedly high after the first and fourth front armies joined forces, and the Lianghekou meeting reached a consensus, who should be given the big hat of "right opportunism"? Who does "retreat and flee" refer to?Written in the resolution of the central government, it will not be aimless.In this resolution, there is a vague smell of gunpowder in the struggle within the party. On June 29, the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee held another meeting.Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Zhang Wentian, Zhang Guotao, Bo Gu, and Wang Jiaxiang attended.The meeting decided to elect Zhang Guotao as the vice chairman of the Central Revolutionary Military Commission, and Xu Xiangqian and Chen Changhao as members of the Military Commission. The problem of unified organization seemed to be resolved.On the same day, the central government issued the "Songpan Battle Plan", and sent Liu Bocheng and Li Fuchun to lead a central condolence team to accompany Zhang Guotao to the headquarters of the Fourth Front Army of the Red Army.Everything seemed to be going well, but Zhang Guotao didn't know where the unknown fire came from.When Liu Bocheng was about to set off with Zhang Guotao the next morning, he saw him arguing with Mao.Zhang Guotao said loudly: "We still listen to your Mao Zedong's command when we come here!" Less than half a month after the joy of joining forces, the contradiction between Zhang Guotao and the leading members of the central government was revealed, and an intricate intra-party struggle kicked off.