Chapter 11 Chapter 10 Standing firm in northern Shaanxi

The Russian meeting ended after only half a day.In order to gain the initiative and enter the Han area before the Kuomintang army encircled and blocked it, Mao Zedong ordered the Red Army to go northward. From the Russian border to the north is the Bailong River, which is deep and fast.From the Russian border to Maya Temple for dozens of miles, there are cliffs on both sides. The Bailong River roars and flows through the mountains. on the water.The Red Army marched cautiously, and engineers repaired the damaged plank roads and wooden bridges in front to ensure the safe passage of people and horses.If you accidentally fall into the water, it is very difficult to have hope of survival.

Passing the Bailongjiang plank road, the 4th Regiment, the vanguard of the Red First Army, took a little repair at the Maya Temple, and then accepted a difficult task-to capture the natural danger Lazikou. Lazikou is located at the junction of Diebu County and Min County in Gansu Province, and is an important passage from Tibetan areas in northwestern Sichuan to Gansu.The hilltops extending northward along both sides of Lazigou look like a dragon.Looking up from the bottom of the ditch, the mountain pass is only more than 30 meters wide, with cliffs on both sides.The Lazi River flows through the bottom of the ditch, and the current is so fast that you can't wade in vain.Between the two mountains in front of Lazikou, there is a small east-west wooden bridge connecting the two banks, which is the only passage through Lazikou.This area is the territory of the Gansu warlord Lu Dachang, and a brigade is stationed in the Kangduo and Heizha areas south of Lazikou.When the vanguard of the Red First Army attacked Heiza Mountain, the two enemy companies above fired a few shots indiscriminately, turned around and ran away.The enemy brigade commander Liang Yingkui in Kangduo and the regiment commander Zhu Xianrong couldn't get in touch, and they couldn't figure out how many Red Army troops had come. They abandoned the troops and the radio station and stumbled along the dangerous road along the river to Lazikou.

At Lazikou, beside the woods at the foot of the east mountain of the bridge, there are fortifications built in advance by the Ministry of Lu Dachang. A huge stone protrudes from the mountain pass, three or four meters high, and a blockhouse is built on it.There is a valley inside the mountain pass, and there are also fortifications along the hillside.There are two battalions here, equipped with four heavy machine guns on the bridgehead.The brigade commander Liang Yingkui ran here first. When he saw Zhu Xianrong fleeing in embarrassment with two messengers, he reprimanded Zhu in a fifty-step and laughing tone: "You command five battalions. If you don't fight, you will run away." Come back, how do I explain to the division commander?" Commander Zhu was ordered to lead dozens of remnants who retreated to occupy the left mountainside and cover the Lazikou flank.After receiving the order, Commander Zhu slipped away at night and ran back to Weiyuan in one breath, his legs faster than a rabbit.After the deployment, Brigadier Liang also retreated to set up camp five miles behind Lazikou.Zhang Jueseng, Chief of Staff of the 1st Brigade of the 14th Division of the Kuomintang, and a battalion of soldiers were left in Lazikou. They were already frightened before they saw the Red Army.

Lin Biao handed over the task of playing Lazikou to the 4th regiment.After he visited the front line to observe in person, he ordered Wang Kaixiang, the head of the regiment, to lead the troops to detour behind the enemy, and Yang Chengwu, the political commissar of the regiment, led a battalion to attack from the front.The cliffs on both sides of Lazikou are nearly 100 meters high, almost straight up and down. How can the troops climb up and make a detour?When he was in trouble, a young Miao warrior suddenly volunteered and said: He can climb up.It turned out that when he was at home, he often climbed cliffs to collect herbs and firewood, and he practiced rock climbing skills.Yang Chengwu was overjoyed and decided to let him have a try.I saw this little warrior holding a bamboo pole and a rope, step by step in the crevices of the rocks, as if performing a thrilling acrobatics.The people below all stared wide-eyed, too nervous to take a breath.Finally, the little soldier climbed to the top, tied the rope, and opened up a road to victory.It is a pity that the soldier who made the first contribution to the Central Red Army's capture of Lazikou did not even leave his name. Everyone only knows that his nickname is "Yunguichuan".

In the early morning of September 17, 1935, Commander Wang led two companies to the top of the mountain and made a detour to the enemy's rear.The day passed peacefully.At 21 o'clock at night, it is estimated that the detour troops have reached the back of the enemy's position, and Yang Chengwu led the 2nd Battalion and 6th Company to attack the enemy at Lazikou.For a while, there was loud gunfire in the valley, machine guns fired at the enemy's positions in turn, and the Red Army rushed towards the small bridge.The enemies in the bridgehead also fired back with machine guns and grenades, blocking the bridgehead road.Due to the narrow roads, the Red Army's forces could not be deployed, and several successive charges failed.Then attack in several ways from above and below the bridge.Zhang Jueseng and his men had never seen such a fearless Red Army. Although they relied on natural dangers, their hearts were empty. At 2 o'clock in the morning on the 18th, a signal flare suddenly rose from the back of the mountain, which was called by Captain Wang.The morale of the Red Army was greatly boosted, and a new attack was launched on the bridgehead.A Red Army rushed to the bridgehead, competing with the enemy for machine guns with both hands.Hearing that the Red Army was coming from behind, the enemy guards at Lazikou were shaken.Zhang Jueseng repeatedly asked for reinforcements, but Brigadier Liang fired cannons indiscriminately from behind and no soldiers came.The enemy battalion commander guarding the bridge shouted to Zhang Jueseng: If you don't retreat early, you won't be able to retreat at dawn!Zhang ordered to retreat, and the enemy at the bridge head ran away.The Red Army has been chasing for a long time, occupying all the enemy's rear warehouses.The natural danger Lazikou was conquered by the Red Army in this way.

After passing through Lazikou, the situation changed dramatically.For more than two months, the Red Army climbed snow-capped mountains, crossed grasslands, forests, and wastelands in the Tibetan area in northwestern Sichuan.Can't see the masses, can't get warmth, the harsh environment and fate have caused serious losses to the Red Army.When Tong Xiaopeng and the team directly under the First Army left the Russian border and headed north, the Tibetan chieftain cavalry followed them, firing guns and blowing trumpets.When the Red Army guards finally left, they realized that the Red Army was going to the Han area, so they fired guns into the sky, jumped, shouted and ran back, breaking contact with the Red Army.

On September 18, the Red Army captured Lazikou and marched towards Hadapu, a small town on the border between Diebu and Minzhou.Arrived in the town that day.Tong Xiaopeng wrote excitedly in his diary: "We are going to leave the Tibetan area today. Everyone is very excited. We are eager to get there soon. We will set off after breakfast and climb a 20-mile-high Dala Mountain. When we reach the top of the mountain, we will see progress The road is different. Looking back, there are lofty mountains in the back, and low slopes in the front. At this time, you are stepping on two worlds. When you go down the mountain and go out of the ditch for about twenty miles, you can see houses in wheat fields, and there are cattle, sheep, chickens and dogs. The crowd, whom we hadn’t seen in several months, welcomed us with a smile on the side of the road. It was a big difference at once, and I was so happy that I jumped up. They asked for directions and talked as soon as they saw it, which made the crowd unable to cope. Ten miles to Xuanwo camping (about fifty miles). So the work of hunting local tyrants that I hadn’t had for several months resumed, and the trading life that had been cut off for a long time was also started again. Today seems to be another life!” The end of the diary, He wrote with emotion: "Looking back on the three months since I entered the Jiajinshan Tibetan area, I have lived an extraordinary life. I can't see anyone, I can't make deals, and I don't fight with local tyrants. Today is completely the opposite."

In Hadapu, the hungry Red Army soldiers ate meals they hadn't eaten for a long time.Momo is made of white flour, and there are delicious meat stir-fries.No longer need to live in shacks and cow dung houses in the grass, but in a warm house with a kang.Back to normal life, everything is so novel.Xiao Feng, Luo Ronghuan, Deng Xiaoping, Tan Zheng and other heads of the Military Commission column improved their lives at the villagers' homes at night. "Sitting together eating spicy fried chicken, why do you feel heat in your buttocks while eating? The villagers said: This is a heated kang! I am a southerner. This is the first time for me to sit on a kang, and I find it very novel."

There are also sad things.Lin Boqu, Minister of General Supply, raised a lot of grain, so he no longer had to worry about cooking without rice. When camping on the 20th, his groom let the horse eat with its belly open. The horse, which had been hungry for a long time, ate more than ten catties of wheat in one meal, and died of swelling.Seeing the death of his mount, who had been in trouble with him, Mr. Lin felt very sad for a while. Leaders such as Mao Zedong and Zhang Wentian were not immersed in the satisfaction of filling their stomachs. After staying in the isolated Tibetan area for three months, there was no news from the outside world. Now they are back in the Han area and need to know the situation immediately.They were pleasantly surprised to learn that there is actually a postal agency in Hadapu, a remote town!It turns out that this area is rich in medicinal materials such as angelica, and there are many merchants.In order to communicate information and do business, businessmen subscribed to many newspapers.This kind of situation is rare in Gansu, which is sparsely populated and culturally backward.The Red Army brought newspapers from the post office for the past few months.Leaders such as Mao Zedong immediately started reading separately as if they had found a treasure.

The most valuable newspaper here is Tianjin "Ta Kung Pao", which often publishes some relatively objective news.Zhang Wentian made excerpts while watching.He copied down domestic political and economic developments, and wrote newspaper reading notes.They are particularly interested in the news of the activities of the Red Army in various places.In the "Ta Kung Pao" between July and August of that year, there were more than a dozen pieces of news reflecting the Central Red Army, the Fourth Front Army, the Red 25th Army, and the Northern Shaanxi Red Army, and most of them were about the Northern Shaanxi Red Army.

Mao Zedong also paid close attention to the "Ta Kung Pao". He saw a message in the "Ta Kung Pao" on August 1: "The 26th Army of the Red Army entrenched in northern Shaanxi, the commander Liu Zhidan governs the third division. There are still 14 guerrilla groups under it. Detachments, and many other groups and red guards....The current situation in northern Shaanxi is similar to the situation in Jiangxi in the 20th year of the Republic of China." Mao Zedong was refreshed when he saw these news.At the time of the Lianghekou meeting, the central government made a decision to create the Sichuan-Shaanxi-Gansu base area.But where to establish a base, everyone has no idea.Because the central government only knows that there are armed forces of the Red Army in the northwest region, but it lacks accurate information on the specific situation, how many people there are, and where the bases are established.Now that the Central Red Army has arrived at Hadapu, Mao Zedong is thinking about where to take the Red Army next.At the Russian World Conference, Mao Zedong made the worst plan: go to the border of Inner Mongolia via Shaanxi and Gansu to seek support from the Soviet Union, so that these hungry and tired Red Army soldiers led by him can get a survival and development environment.Now it is suddenly learned that Liu Zhidan in northern Shaanxi still has a Red Army team and a large base area, which is really great news for Mao Zedong.This news brings new hope to everyone.He was eager to learn about the situation in northern Shaanxi, so he immediately called for Jia Tuofu.Jia Tuofu was originally engaged in revolutionary work in Shaanxi. In 1932, he was ordered to report to Jiangxi and came to the Central Soviet Area.Know a thing or two about Liu Zhidan's situation.During those few days, Mao Zedong kept Jatuofu walking with him, chatting while walking.Since then, a plan to join Liu Zhidan and establish a base in northern Shaanxi has been brewing in Mao Zedong's mind. On September 22, Mao Zedong held a cadre meeting in a Guandi temple in Hadapu.He said to the Red Army cadres: Zhang Guotao looked down on us, saying that we are opportunistic, we want to go north, and he wants to go south.We don't want to criticize which one retreats and which one is opportunistic.If we want to resist Japan, we must first go to northern Shaanxi, where Liu Zhidan's Red Army is located.Mao Zedong encouraged everyone: Comrades, it is only 700 miles to northern Shaanxi, and that is our destination.After the meeting, everyone had a hearty meal of braised pork. According to the decision of the Russian Conference, the Red Front Army was reorganized in Hadapu.Peng Dehuai served as the commander of the Shaanxi-Gansu Detachment of the Red Army.When leaving the Red Army, a meeting of cadres above the regiment was held.Peng Dehuai was very excited when he spoke, and his tears couldn't stop streaming down.He said: From the tens of thousands of Red Army Corps in the first campaign against encirclement and suppression, to today's Long March to Gannan, there are only more than 2,000 people left, and the wrong route is almost exhausted.The remaining few people today are the essence, the backbone and hope of the Chinese revolution.He said: I have a bad temper and have scolded many people. Please criticize and forgive me.Peng Dehuai's farewell speech deeply moved everyone present. The next day, the Shaanxi-Gansu detachment of the Red Army, which had completed its reorganization, began to march eastward in a new formation.They pretended to attack Tianshui with part of their troops to attract the enemy.The central authorities and the main force rushed northward, crossed the Wei River in the area of ​​Shandan Town, and occupied Bangluo Town on the 27th.A meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee was held here. According to the situation in the Shaanxi-Gansu base area, Mao Zedong and others changed the decision of the Russian border meeting, confirmed that the Soviet area would be expanded in northern Shaanxi, and deployed a military operation to join the Red Army in northern Shaanxi. After the meeting, the Central Committee led the Shaanxi-Gansu detachment to go northward in three routes, quickly passed the Xilan Highway before the enemy blocked it, and came to the foot of Liupan Mountain at the junction of Shaanxi, Gansu and Ningxia.This is a Muslim area. Having had enough of the attacks of Tibetans in Northwest Sichuan, the Red Army was nervous when they arrived in the ethnic minority areas.Unexpectedly, the Hui people were very enthusiastic when they saw the Red Army. They not only helped the old and the young come out to watch, but also helped the Red Army boil water and buy things, which moved Tong Xiaopeng and others.He wrote in his diary: "This kind of enthusiasm among the masses is the first time since leaving the Tibetan area." They got another piece of good news from the masses: Not long ago, the 25th Red Army led by Xu Haidong, Wu Huanxian, Cheng Zihua and others passed by This place is now also in northern Shaanxi. The 25th Army has good discipline and left a deep impression on the Muslims.Hearing this news, the comrades of the Central Red Army were even happier.The Red Army in northern Shaanxi is so powerful, they will definitely be able to stand firm in northern Shaanxi. On October 7, the Red Army crossed Liupan Mountain.This is the last mountain in the Long March.Standing on the top of the mountain, it looks like a natural dividing line.The south of the mountain is a yellow slope, and there are wheat fields everywhere.The north of the mountain is like a barren land, full of barren mountains and ridges, only loess and no woods.In the past few days, the autumn air has been crisp, and Mao Zedong looked far away, and his heart suddenly felt broadened.Thinking of the difficulties and obstacles in the past year, now victory is finally in sight.The mood at this moment is just as described in his later poem "Qingpingle-Liupanshan": After crossing Liupan Mountain, an unexpected tragedy happened suddenly.The Red Army killed more than 300 people overnight.At that time, the Security Bureau thought it was a counter-revolutionary murder, and arrested some suspicious people, but no results were found.Half a century later the mystery was revealed.It turned out that after the Red Army went down the mountain, they were unbearably hungry and thirsty, and they drank the clear spring water when they saw it.Unexpectedly, the spring water here contains highly toxic potassium cyanide and sodium cyanide. People who drink too much will die unconsciously. This is a tragic loss. Just as Mao Zedong was immersed in the joy before joining forces, the Red Army and revolutionary base areas in northern Shaanxi were suffering from a disaster created by left-leaning opportunists. To mention the tragedy that happened in northern Shaanxi in the autumn of 1935, it is necessary to review the history of the Party and the Red Army in northern Shaanxi from the beginning.Liu Zhidan, one of the main founders of the Northwest Red Army and the revolutionary base area, was born in Baoan (now Zhidan) County, Shaanxi. Joined the party in 1925, was born in the fourth phase of Huangpu, and participated in the Northern Expedition.After the failure of the Great Revolution, he was sent to the Shaanxi army in 1928 to engage in underground work and organized the Weihua Uprising.After the failure of the uprising, he carefully summed up his experience and lessons, and found out a correct path: armed struggle must rely on the peasant masses, and must rely on the mountains to fight guerrilla warfare.He ran around the border areas of Shaanxi and Gansu, fought against warlords and bandits, and took root in the countryside to carry out revolutionary struggles.After experiencing many setbacks, he finally created a new situation in the revolutionary struggle together with Xie Zichang, Gao Gang, Ma Mingfang, Xi Zhongxun, Zhang Xiushan and other comrades. In 1932, the Shaanxi-Gansu Red Army guerrillas formed the 26th Red Army.However, under the blind command of Du Heng, a "left" opportunist sent by the Northern Bureau, the 26th Red Army suffered another defeat in July 1933, leaving only a few dozen troops.Some people advocated that "if the revolution fails, go home and farm".Some advocate separate actions, each doing its own thing.Faced with this situation, Liu Zhidan was firm, reorganized the situation, organized guerrillas, and established new bases in seven or eight counties in the Hengshan area of ​​northern Shaanxi. With their efforts, the red flag was raised again in northern Shaanxi six months later . In January 1934, the Northern Bureau of the Communist Party of China sent another representative to northern Shaanxi to serve as the head of the Northern Shaanxi Party and the Red Army.He continued to implement the left-leaning line, accusing the party organization in northern Shaanxi of being a "rich peasant line" and slandering the guerrillas under the leadership of Liu Zhidan as "with a strong color of bandits."It is also necessary for the Red Army to "attack across the board" and connect the revolutionary base areas in northern Shaanxi, southern Shaanxi, and Sichuan.The comrades in northern Shaanxi expressed strong opposition and resistance to their unrealistic left-leaning command. Soon, the Long March of the 25th Red Army arrived in northern Shaanxi. The 25th Army was originally a unit of the Hubei, Henan, Anhui and Soviet Areas. After the Long March of the Fourth Red Army, the 25th Army was heavily encircled and suppressed by the enemy, and it was difficult to continue in Hubei, Henan, and Anhui. In November 1934, the Long March began under the leadership of army commander Xu Haidong, political commissar Wu Huanxian and central representative Cheng Zihua.They fought thousands of miles and entered the Zhongnan Mountains in Shaanxi. In July 1935, Comrade Shi Jianmin, the former traffic officer of the Hubei, Henan and Anhui provincial committees, came out from Xi'an to find the 25th Army after going through all kinds of hardships and dangers. He brought the documents of the Zunyi Conference and the news of the meeting of the first and fourth front armies.During the march, they saw a message in the "Ta Kung Pao": After the first and fourth front armies joined forces in western Sichuan, they continued to go north, and the vanguard had arrived in Songpan.Everyone was very happy and decided to march to Gansu to welcome the arrival of the Central Committee and the main Red Army.Wu Huan first wrote a detailed report to the Central Committee, reporting the situation of the 25th Army's Long March, and sent people to Northwest Sichuan (unfortunately, the liaison officer did not find the Central Committee). The 25th Army crossed mountains and ridges and entered near Tianshui, Gansu.Political Commissar Wu Huanxian said to Army Commander Xu Haidong: "We will see Chairman Mao soon, and we don't know him yet." Because there was no radio station, it was impossible to get in touch with the central government, and the enemy surrounded him. The leaders of the 25th Army decided to turn to northern Shaanxi to join Liu Zhidan.Unfortunately, in a battle at the foot of Liupan Mountain, political commissar Wu Huanxian died. In September 1935, the 25th Red Army entered the northern Shaanxi base. On the 16th, he joined the Red Army in northern Shaanxi at Yongping Town, Yanchuan County.The leaders of the two sides held a joint meeting. The Red 25th Army and the 26th Army were merged into the 15th Army of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army.Under the jurisdiction of three divisions.There are more than 7,000 people in the merged Fifteenth Army, and the revolutionary situation in northern Shaanxi is at an all-time high. After the establishment of the Fifteenth Army, it won a big victory in Laoshan, Ganquan County on October 1, and wiped out a division of the Northeast Army.Xu Haidong and Liu Zhidan got the exact news from the captured enemy documents: The Central Red Army led by Mao Zedong is not far from here.Xu Haidong said excitedly: "Chairman Mao is coming soon, let's fight him again as a gift!" Xu Haidong and Liu Zhidan wrote to Cheng Zihua in the rear, suggesting that the 15th Army Corps go to Guanzhong to meet the Central Red Army.Cheng Zihua said: "The enemy's document was more than a month ago. If the Central Red Army wants to come to the Guanzhong Soviet Area, it has already come. There is no need for all our troops to go. If they don't come to Guanzhong, they will go elsewhere. The 15th Army Corps will go It will be empty. The Fifteenth Army will go to Guanzhong, and it will take more than a month to go back and forth. The enemy will take advantage of the situation to occupy Yongping Town, and the Soviet area will be difficult. It is better for the Fifteenth Army to continue to fight south and mobilize the enemy in Xi'an to support the North, so as to cooperate with the Central Red Army actions.” The leaders at the rear agreed with Cheng’s political commissar and notified the commanders at the front.The Fifteenth Corps did not move for the time being, waiting for more definite news from the Central Committee. Xu Haidong and Liu Zhidan are fighting in the front, but they are planning to "eliminate counter-revolutionaries" in the rear.Individual leaders of the Northern Shaanxi Party labeled Liu Zhidan and other cadres "rightist liquidationists", claiming that there were hidden enemies in the 26th Army and that they wanted to eliminate counterrevolutionaries.Liu Zhidan in front didn't know about these situations.After arresting people, the Security Bureau used cruel methods of torture to force them to admit that they were counter-revolutionaries and confess to their so-called "partners."In just a few days, the scope became bigger and bigger, and it developed to suspect Liu Zhidan, Gao Gang, Zhang Xiushan and other main leaders and cadres above the 26th Army Battalion. Concerned about Liu Zhidan's lofty prestige in the Red Army in northern Shaanxi, the person in charge of the "Eradication of Counter-revolutionaries" decided to arrest him secretly.They wrote a letter to the front headquarters, asking Liu Zhidan to return to Wayaobao for a meeting. After Liu Zhidan received the letter on October 6, he did not suspect that there was a conspiracy here, and rode to Wayaobao after explaining his work.On the way, I suddenly met a correspondent, holding a letter from the provincial party committee to the commander in front.When the correspondent saw Deputy Commander Liu, he handed the letter to him.Liu Zhidan saw in the letter that he wanted to "prevent sudden incidents" ahead, and felt the seriousness of the situation from it.But Liu Zhidan, who is open-minded, has not yet realized his danger. He is confident and loyal to the revolution, and he has no ghosts in his heart. What is there to be afraid of?He resealed the letter and asked the messenger to send it forward, and then he went straight back to Wayaobao. After Liu Zhidan came back, he was immediately locked up in the cave of the Security Bureau and called "censorship".Soon, a large number of cadres such as Gao Gang were arrested in the rear. Xi Zhongxun was also arrested at that time, and was detained with Liu Zhidan and others in an old pawn shop in Wayaobao City.They were dragged out for interrogation one by one every day. Almost all cadres above the 26th barracks were arrested.Dark clouds rolled over the Soviet area in northern Shaanxi, and people were tortured and killed every day.In just 20 days, as many as 200 cadres of the Northern Shaanxi Red Army were killed!Liu Zhidan's wife and daughter couldn't get news of Liu Zhidan, so they searched everywhere, but they were all turned away by the security bureau.They saw that someone had dug a large pit outside the gate of Wayaobao, which could accommodate dozens of people. They heard people say that a group of prisoners would be buried alive here.They sadly thought that Liu Zhidan might be doomed. At this time, Mao Zedong led the Central Red Army into Shaanxi and was trying to find Liu Zhidan's Red Army and Soviet bases.There is no communication, the place of life is unfamiliar, northern Shaanxi is so big, and there are loess slopes everywhere, where is Liu Zhidan's Red Army?Mao Zedong was very anxious, this exhausted team became more and more difficult to lead. The darkness before dawn is often the hardest.After the Red Army passed through the desolate and terrifying snow-capped mountains and grasslands, once they reached a place with food and shelter, some people were unwilling to move forward.Therefore, every time I went to a village or town, some people left without saying goodbye.It is not true that they became traitors and joined the Kuomintang. Some people returned to their hometowns, some were taken in by local farmers, and some were recruited by "local tyrants" (in fact, they were just slightly richer farmers). "Peng Dehuai's Self-Report" said that the Central Red Army "had more than 14,000 people when it was reorganized in Hadapu, and only 7,200 people remained in Wuqi Town."We know that the Red Army did not fight any major battles during this period, but it lost half of its personnel. Even if this statistic is not necessarily accurate, the seriousness of the fleeing phenomenon can be seen. There are also some "left" behaviors that have caused the troops to fluctuate.Admiral Wang Ping recalled: "On the way to the north of the Red Army, some leading cadres had some extreme emotions. Especially after the reorganization of Hadapu, some cadres and troops of the former Red Army were treated unfairly. During the reorganization, Some cadres were transferred from the Central Committee and the First Red Army Corps to the Second Column (the original Red Third Army Corps) to serve as leaders. These cadres had a bad impression of the cadres and soldiers of the Red Third Army Corps and looked down on the comrades of the Third Army Corps. From Hadapu to Wuqi Town During the rapid march of more than a thousand miles, the second column had to fight the enemy who was chasing after it, and on the other hand, it had to constantly rectify the discipline of the troops, which made the cadres unhappy and the troops miserable." "Before the Third Red Army went to Heishui to meet the main force of the Fourth Red Army before crossing the grassland, the battle line was very long. As a result, it did not have as long training and material preparation time as other troops. It was even more difficult to serve as a guard when crossing the grassland. So when I arrived at Hadapu, I was in such a mess. Everyone was dressed in rags, and they carried a blackened washbasin or boiling water tank on their backs, like a beggar. The rest time in Hadapu was too short, and the physical strength did not recover as it should. , and then marched long distances. It is normal for the number of stragglers to increase. However, the cadres and political security agencies from the Red First Army thought it was a lack of mood, and even suspected that the stragglers would defect to the enemy. This is one of the reasons.” "Under the precepts and deeds of the head of Peng Dehuai's army, the Red Army has always maintained the true nature of hard work. The meals of leading cadres and soldiers are exactly the same, forming a tradition of consistency, equality between officers and soldiers, and sharing joys and sorrows. People transferred from foreign units are not used to it. , I always want to get something to eat alone, so the comrades of the Red Army Corps are not used to it, and sometimes they discuss and say a few strange things. In this way, they are caught by some leaders and become a member of the cadres who want to rectify discipline and review cadres. Reason. These problems that can be solved through education are regarded by some people with serious "Left" thinking as a manifestation of loss of revolutionary confidence, saying that the cadres of the Red Army Corps are "rightist" and "completely opportunistic". We need to rearm our minds.” Later, when Comrade Peng Dehuai heard these words, he said very angrily: “The people who said these words are completely opportunistic.” The column rectified discipline and sent Luo Mai (Li Weihan) to review the cadres. After Luo Mai came to understand the situation, he said to me when we marched together: "The situation reflected is not quite right." He gave the cadres of the former Red Army Corps one by one I concluded that the cadres of the Three Army Corps are young and strong, active in work, brave in battle, and resolute in revolution.” "At that time, the Security Bureau regarded failing to keep up with the team or saying a few strange words as a problem of attitude towards the revolution. In addition to emphasizing discipline and interrogating cadres, the Security Bureau adopted punishments and even executions to deal with it. This made the second column The cadres once caused panic. When I arrived in Wuqi Town, Xie Song, the chief of the communications section, saw me and said in a dejected mood: "What delicious food do you have here? Get me some. Tonight, I took off my shoes and socks. The first It’s still a question of whether you can wear it the next day.” He told me that on the way to Gansu, some people were arrested and executed by the Security Bureau for no apparent reason, and died at the hands of their own people. It would be better to be killed by the enemy on the front line. .” "According to Huang Kecheng and I, those who were executed by the security bureau at that time were Qiu Xiang, the management section chief of the Fourth Red Division; Named. Cao Qixian was executed because the health team lost several patients. Huang Kecheng was the director of the military court of the Political Department of the Second Column at that time. He firmly opposed this practice, and the executioner refused to sign the announcement. But It was all decided by the Security Bureau above. Although he did not issue it, others issued a notice in his name. At the Lushan Conference in 1959, all the execution orders announced by the military tribunal were included in Huang Kecheng's account. This is contrary to historical facts. , very unfair." In this severe situation, Mao Zedong was even more eager to find Liu Zhidan.But where is Liu Zhidan? On October 19, the vanguard of the 1st Legion arrived at Wuqi Town. On the low walls along the way, they saw slogans such as "Hit the local tyrants and divide the fields" and "Long live the Communist Party".These signs told them: the long-awaited base in northern Shaanxi is coming.Two days later, people from the General Political Department joined the local guerrillas, and the good news immediately spread throughout the army.Morale was greatly boosted.The further the Red Army moved forward, the more villagers came to welcome them.Tong Xiaopeng wrote in his diary: "It has been two years since the revolution here, and the enthusiasm for the Red Army is indeed higher than that of some places in the Central Soviet Area, and the political level is very high. When talking with them, they always use revolutionary words. It can be seen that these Soviet areas are Not behind." On the second day after Mao Zedong arrived in Wuqi Town, cavalry from Ma Hongkui's department in Ningxia also followed.Mao Zedong instructed Peng Dehuai: Repel and chase the enemy, don't bring the enemy into the base area.Peng Dehuai gathered the troops of the three armies, attacked in a burst, defeated the Ma family cavalry, and captured more than 200 men and horses each.Mao Zedong was overjoyed, and immediately wrote a poem: "The mountains are high, the roads are dangerous and the ravines are deep, and the cavalry is up to you. Who dares to rein in the horse, but I, General Peng."Peng Dehuai didn't dare to take it seriously, and changed the last sentence to "I am the only heroic Red Army", and returned the poem to Mao Zedong.This battle is not a big one, but it shows that the Red Army has not collapsed and still has tenacious fighting power. On October 25, under the command of Xu Haidong, the 15th Army Corps fought against the 107th Division of the Northeast Army at Nanyulin Bridge in Ganquan County, and won another big victory.The four battalions of the Northeast Army were wiped out, and the regiment leader Gao Fuyuan was captured.Xu Haidong treated him with courtesy and let him go back.I learned the exact news from the Northeast Army: the Central Red Army has arrived in Wuqi Town.Xu Haidong immediately wrote a letter, asking the correspondent Fu Jizhong to take four soldiers to the Party Central Committee.Fu Jizhong rode for a day and arrived in Wuqi Town at dusk.I met Li Fuchun, deputy director of the General Political Department, and explained my purpose.After a while, Mao Zedong came out with a smile on his face. Fu Jizhong handed over the letter respectfully. Mao Zedong wrote a reply on the spot, asking him to hand it over to Xu Haidong and Cheng Zihua. The date of meeting was agreed in the letter. November 2 is a day that Xu Haidong will never forget.In the morning, he was commanding the battle at Zhangcunyi, when suddenly seven fast horses came running from the army headquarters in the rear.Political commissar Cheng Zihua informed him: Chairman Mao is coming to the 15th Army Corps this afternoon!Xu Haidong immediately ordered to suspend the attack, got on his horse and ran back. 130 miles away, there are still two mountains, and he arrived at the army headquarters in Daozopu, Ganquan County in three hours.As soon as the sweat off his face was washed off, Mao Zedong arrived.Accompanying Mao Zedong were Vice Chairman Zhou Enlai, Commander Peng Dehuai and Director of the Political Department Yang Shangkun.Xu Haidong had never met Chairman Mao before. After Cheng Zihua introduced him, Mao Zedong stretched out his hand and greeted him cordially: "It is Comrade Haidong, you have worked hard." Xu Haidong held Chairman Mao's hand excitedly, not knowing what to say.After waiting for a long time, I finally saw it! The meeting of the Central Red Army and the 15th Army Corps marked the end of the Central Red Army's 25,000-mile long march.Mao Zedong took the initiative to go to the headquarters of the 15th Army Corps to express his gratitude to the comrades in northern Shaanxi.They provided a foothold for the Central Red Army. After recuperating, the Red Army can make a comeback and show its grand plans.Xu Haidong came all the way to greet him, leaving a deep impression on Mao Zedong.After the founding of the People's Republic of China, General Xu Haidong was seriously ill and politically neglected. During the "Cultural Revolution", he lived on oxygen in the hospital all day long. On the night of March 31, 1969, on the eve of the opening of the Ninth National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Mao Zedong suddenly issued an instruction to let Comrade Xu Haidong attend the opening ceremony of the "Ninth National Congress" as a member of the bureau.Zhou Enlai convened a meeting of the heads of the presidium of the conference late at night to convey the chairman's instructions.Everyone was dumbfounded, Xu Haidong had been forgotten by them for many years.When people from the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China went to the hospital to convey Chairman Mao's decision and asked Xu if he could attend the opening ceremony, Xu Haidong said excitedly, "I will go even if I die there!" On the rostrum of the Great Hall of the People, when all the representatives of workers, peasants and soldiers cheered enthusiastically, "Long live Chairman Mao", everyone saw an old man in military uniform, sitting in a wheelchair and carrying an oxygen cylinder, being pushed onto the rostrum.When Mao Zedong saw Xu Haidong, he turned around and greeted him.Xu Haidong was so moved that he burst into tears, and recalled the moment when he joined forces in northern Shaanxi.At this special historical moment, for Xu Haidong to receive such an honor, he would die with no regrets. Mao Zedong learned about the situation of "elimination of counter-revolutionaries" while listening to the report of the head of the party organization in northern Shaanxi.He believes that the most urgent requirement of the Central Red Army is to gain a foothold in the northern Shaanxi base area, and the stability of the northern Shaanxi Soviet area is crucial. "Suppressing counter-revolutionaries" will cause chaos in the base areas, and even destroy the Red Army and the base areas in northern Shaanxi.Mao Zedong ordered an immediate cessation of the campaign against counterrevolutionaries, no further arrests, and everything to be handled by the central government.They also sent Wang Shoudao and Jia Tuofu to Wayaobao to rescue Liu Zhidan, Gao Gang and others. Wang Shoudao and Jia Tuofu rushed to Wayaobao and ordered Dai Jiying to release him as a representative of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.Soon, Dong Biwu also arrived.With tears in their eyes, the wronged comrades accused the "Left" opportunist leaders of killing and torturing revolutionary comrades.After being imprisoned for a month, Liu Zhidan finally saw the light of day.After in-depth investigation and research, Dong Biwu overturned all the charges imposed on these comrades by the left opportunists. At the end of November, the Northwest Central Bureau of the Communist Party of China made the "Decision on Examining the Elimination of Counter-Revolutionaries", pointing out that the Shaanxi-Gansu-Shanxi Provincial Party Committee made serious mistakes of petty bourgeois "ultra-leftism" and "madness" in the elimination of counter-revolutionaries, and demanded that the Provincial Party Committee Immediately reorganize the Security Bureau. Mao Zedong's first step to northern Shaanxi was done very well.He handled a crisis in the Northern Shaanxi Soviet Area with his sharp judgment and quick cuts, which won the hearts of the people.He quickly corrected the "Left" opportunist mistakes of some leaders in northern Shaanxi, and did not get too entangled in the intricate contradictions. Starting from the goal of stabilizing the Soviet area in northern Shaanxi, he first liberated the wronged comrades, and secondly united the majority People, do not expand the attack surface.The arrival of the Party Central Committee boosted the morale of the revolutionaries in northern Shaanxi.Comrades such as Liu Zhidan, Gao Gang, and Xi Zhongxun re-entered leadership positions and worked hard under the leadership of the Party Central Committee.The northern Shaanxi base has embarked on a smooth road of development and growth. Mao Zedong dealt with the "elimination of counter-revolutionaries" in the Soviet area in northern Shaanxi, and liberated a large number of revolutionary cadres such as Liu Zhidan. The Central Red Army merged with the Fifteenth Army, with a total of more than 1.2 million people.At this time, under the order of Chiang Kai-shek, the Northeast Army was encircling and suppressing the Soviet Area in Northern Shaanxi. On November 20, the 109th Division, the vanguard of the Northeast Army, went out to Zhiluo Town, where the 1st Red Army and the 15th Army, which were ambushing there, attacked from north to south and surrounded and wiped out the 109th Division.In Mao Zedong's words, the Battle of Zhiluo Town was "a groundbreaking ceremony for the Party Central Committee to place the national revolutionary base camp in the northwest."The Northeast Army was originally unwilling to fight a civil war. After suffering a loss, it changed to build bunkers, blockaded and besieged the Soviet area, and stopped attacking easily. After the Central Red Army arrived in northern Shaanxi, it faced serious economic difficulties.陕北是全国最贫困的地区之一，自然环境的恶劣和人民生活水平的低下，比江西苏区还要差得远。德国人李德回忆说：“陕北新根据地的面积有三、四万平方公里，它的范围大致是西靠甘肃边界，东濒黄河，北接长城，南临富县。但是除了瓦窑堡以外，所有城市和大部分较大的村镇都被敌人占据，从西安到延安的唯一公路也由敌人控制。放眼望去，除了几处肥沃的河谷，其余都是贫穷的黄土地，四处见不到树林，只有深谷纵横。这里常常受到干旱和洪水的侵袭，坚硬如石的土地，即使被开垦出来，收成也少得可怜。自古以来，这个地区就全国而言是一个最贫穷、最落后的地区。只有城市人和大地主才能住上房子，农民毫无例外地和牲口一起都住在窑洞里，这种窑洞就像是在土坡上挖的坑道。村庄相隔很远，一般有四、五户人家，比较大的村子也不超过十二户。这里不单吃穿很差，有的地方还严重缺水。因此，这个地区虽然土地辽阔，但人烟稀少，最多也不过有五十万人口。”据他说：“农民和部队战士每天的伙食，通常是三碗小米饭和一点酸菜。” 这样贫困的地方，一下来了这么多红军，不仅吃饭用水都成问题，当地农民也根本无力供养大批部队和机关。中央红军经过长征，衣衫破烂，骨瘦如柴，急需钱和物补充休养。但是在陕北这些都办不到。国民党军官认为，红军在陕北根本无法生存，不饿死也得穷死。 当时红军的经济状况确实是很窘迫，中央红军基本上是两手空空来到陕北，刘志丹也拿不出多少钱来支援中央。1935年12月红军发布的经费使用标准，我们就可以看出红军缺钱到了什么地步。 办公费：方面军司令部和军团部每月各20元，师部10元，团部5元，营部4元，连部3元。 特别费（主要供部队冬天烤火及杂费）：方面军所属每月300元，师每月200元，团100元。 优待费（医务、通讯、机务工作人员及军事专家，按其工作能力划分等级）：一等技术人员每月12元，二等技术人员每月8元，三等每月4元。 休养费：重伤员每月4元，轻伤员每月2元，重伤员须入院治疗者，发休养费1元。伤病员住院期间每天发伙食费5分。死亡者一次发抚恤金20元。 钱的问题真是叫人头疼。12月23日，彭德怀给毛泽东、周恩来发了一封火急电报： 彭德怀要求了半天，中央只答应给俘虏兵每人发1元。红军的零花钱则无法解决。 林彪也打电报告急。因为没有棉衣，没钱买柴火，战士都冻坏了： 毛泽东意识到红军生存问题的严重性和迫切性。要生存首先要解决物质需求，要有钱有衣食。在江西，红军的主要经济来源是打土豪筹款。只要有城镇，有地主商人，就不愁搞不到钱。现在到哪里去找出路呢？向北、向西都和陕北一样穷，南边有国民党重兵封锁，看来只有向东，过黄河到山西去寻找出路。 1935年12月，毛泽东与政治局委员、红军指挥员开会商议。会上争论得很厉害。程子华回忆：“一种意见是确保陕北，向西发展，向敌人力量比较薄弱的宁夏、甘肃等地发展；一种意见是立足陕北，向北发展，出兵绥远、内蒙古、察哈尔等地，向蒙古人民共和国靠拢，取得国际支援。毛泽东同志提出了他的看法，认为不宜向西和向北发展，而应该是东渡黄河，打到山西去开辟吕梁山根据地，再进一步通过河北或察哈尔开赴抗日前线，从而把国内战争和民族抗日战争结合起来。这样从政治上来说，当时正是'一二·九'学生抗日救亡运动以后，我们东征山西，可以推动华北以至全国的抗日救亡运动；在军事上来说，红军主力东征，不仅可以避免同东北军和西北地方实力派的武装冲突，有助于和张学良的东北军和杨虎城的西北军建立统一战线；同时可以使阎锡山把晋军撤回山西，保护他的老巢，不战而解陕北苏区东边绥德一带的威胁。再从经济方面看，山西比较富足，便于我军筹款、扩军和补充物资。” 12月23日，中共中央政治局瓦窑堡会议通过《中央关于军事战略问题的决议》。根据抗日的总方针，决定“猛烈地扩大红军，第一方面军应有五万人”。红军的任务是“打通苏联与巩固开展现有苏区”，具体规定了五十条。其中有开辟山西五县以上的新根据地；完成与苏联的通讯联络；完成出绥远的政治上、军事上、组织上的准备；扩大蒙古游击队等等。 德国人李德看了决议，以日尔曼人的思维来考虑中国的问题，认为这是拿着红军的微弱的力量去冒险。他认为苏联目前没有与日本开战的意向，如果红军真的打到绥远和中蒙边界去，就会刺激日军，很可能要迫使苏联卷入对日战争。1936年1月27日，李德给中央写了一封长信，说中央的战略方针“是有相当的冒险性的”，要中央避免“做日苏战争的挑拨者”，“过早挑起苏日战争”。因此，李德反对进军山西和绥远，要红军死守陕北。 毛泽东看了李德的信，嗤之以鼻。看来这位洋顾问根本不懂得中国的国情，更不可能理解毛泽东组织东征的真正用意。红军目前最需要什么，毛比谁都清楚。在瓦窑堡会议决议中，毛已经说明了：1．要反对冒险主义，适可而止，保证已得的胜利。 2.反对只“打”不“走”的拼命主义，要又打又走。这就是说红军到山西不是为了去和国民党、日本人拼命，而是为了发展自己。所谓“兵不厌诈”，“虚则实之，实则虚之”的策略，李德当然不会明白。于是，毛泽东在李德信上加了《李德对战略的意见书》的标题，传给政治局委员，并要在后方的周恩来对李德进行严肃批评。 不仅是李德，中央内部有人也对东征的前途表示疑虑。彭德怀回忆：“1936年，大约是1月中旬，接毛主席电报，决定东渡黄河，夺取吕梁山脉，开辟新根据地。我接到军委这个指示后，是拥护毛主席这一决定的，但是内心有两点顾虑：一是怕渡不过去。当时红军在大疲劳之后，体质还很弱，且人数也少，包括刘志丹、徐海东两部分才一万三千人。如受挫而强渡不成，那就不好。二是东渡黄河后，在蒋军大增援下，要保证能够撤回陕北根据地。在这一点上，也是不能大意的。因此，我除复电同意外，还就自己的上述看法，提出东渡黄河是必要的，但须绝对保证同陕北根据地的联系。我这种想法，反映了当时红军体质弱的实际情况以及长征中没有根据地的痛苦教训。这引起了主席的不高兴，他说：你去绝对保证，我是不能绝对保证的。” 2月20日，在毛泽东亲自指挥下，红军开始东渡黄河。三天的渡河很顺利，只遇到阎锡山部队的轻微抵抗。一进山西境内，红军就感到比陕北富裕得多。童小鹏随中央直属队到了石楼县的下堡镇，看到这个地方“虽然地点并不甚大，只二百余人家，街上也不过只几十间铺子，但是它的建筑，尤其是居民家中的布置，发财佬当然不消说，就是一般的人家也是排场得很。甚至个别同志一进屋便说：'这一定是土豪'”。 “进门去更不同了，尤其是稍有两个钱的人家，摆布得很阔气。窗上是镶着玻璃的，门是和洋房内的差不多，外层门也镶满着玻璃，还有门帘窗帘，进去更是琳琅满目，大镜小镜在四面摆着：里面的台子、凳子、厨子，连炕墙上也漆得油光光的可以照见人。梳妆的地方、盥洗的地方、茶壶茶杯、酒瓶酒盅，齐备得很，甚至有些房内有西式火炉的。北方的好处，至今才开始尝着。” 王平带着红10团在洪洞县东南的苏堡镇打土豪和筹款。一天，有个老长工报告，某地主家有个暗窖，里面藏了不少东西。红军找到暗窖，打开一看，光皮袄就100多件，还有不少古董字画。有一个铜盆，用手在盆边摩擦就会飞起水花，据说价值十几万元。但是这些文物字画都不如现大洋对红军更有用处。仅在苏堡镇一地，红军就筹款上万元。 红军进了山西，阎锡山很紧张，急忙调兵加强太原以南的防御。谁知红军没有向北打，却掉头向南，沿着汾水流域去打文水、赵城、洪洞。晋南是山西的富裕地区，红军所到，并不主动找晋军作战，而是打土豪、筹款扩军。等阎锡山明白过来，才让蒋介石军队进入山西南部，自己指挥晋军从北边压过来。红军在山西边打边休整了两个多月，毛泽东认为东征目的已经达到，不与敌人决战，下令主动撤兵回陕北。在掩护红军渡河回陕北的战斗中，刘志丹军长不幸中弹牺牲了。 红军东征取得了很大成功，用毛泽东的话说是：“打了胜仗，唤起了民众，扩大了红军，筹集了财物。”短时期内红军扩充8000余人，筹款50多万元（一说30多万）。对于贫困的红军来说，这是一笔很可观的收入。有了钱，红军在陕北就能生存，军心也大大稳定。在陕北建立巩固根据地的任务，初步实现了。