Chapter 23 23. Yihai Alliance

The straight-line distance from Huili to the Dadu River is about 450 kilometers, but the Red Army has to go on a mountain road, which is nearly 800 kilometers.In order to avoid the search of the Kuomintang planes, most of the Red Army marched at night. On May 16, the Red Army set out from Huili, passed through Xichang, and arrived at Lugu.There are two roads from Lugu to Dadu River, a main road and a small road.The small road goes from Lugu via Mianning to Anshunchang (an important ferry for the Red Army to march north); the main road passes through Yuexi to Dashubao. The enemy's defense force on this road is relatively strong.At this time, the Red Army began to race against the enemy again. In order to buy time, the Military Commission decided that the main force would take the small road, and send another army to take the main road to contain the enemy.

Choosing to take the small road meant that the Red Army had to pass through a daunting area—the Yi minority settlement in Daliang Mountain.At that time, the Yi people in Daliang Mountain were still in the stage of slave society, with a strict hierarchy. The black Yi people belonged to the privileged class, and the white Yi people belonged to ordinary people.As early as 2,000 years ago, the ancestors of the Yi people lived on this land.Their appearance is obviously different from that of the Han people. They are tall and straight, with dark skin.They have their own religion and language.The Yi people are good at archery and guns, with sturdy physiques and straightforward personalities.Most of them are pure, sincere and simple, industrious and tenacious, live a simple life and maintain the dignity of the nation.

But at that time, they were scornfully called "Luo Luo" by the Han rulers. The Han rulers forced the Yi people to go up the mountains, and the Yi people survived by the almost primitive methods of animal husbandry, agriculture, gathering, fishing and hunting.Most of them, the men were so poor that they only had a shabby cloak, the women wore only a rag around their lower body, and the children wore nothing. Some cunning businessmen of the Han nationality took advantage of the kindness and simplicity of the Yi people to defraud both parties when buying and selling goods.Later, local warlords and Kuomintang warlords often "suppressed" and plundered them. ——They are both afraid of the Han people and hate the Han people.Before the Red Army came to the Yi area, a warlord force tried to cross the Yi people's mountainous area. The leading general was killed by the Yi people, and all his subordinates were also wiped out.

Therefore, it is not very easy for the Red Army to pass through the Yi mountainous area smoothly. The Red Army first investigated the customs and habits of the Yi people, and posted notices along the way to publicize the Red Army's equal ethnic policy.This announcement was issued in the name of Zhu De, the commander-in-chief of the Red Army. There are 26 sentences in total, each with 6 characters. It rhymes like a poem: It is said that for the strategic transfer of the Red Army, there have been titles such as "long-distance march and battle", "western expedition", and "expedition". The direction is like a broken bamboo."

The Red Army also invited a Tongsi (translator), a businessman who had been doing business in the Yi area for a long time, who could help the Red Army solve the problem of language barriers. After some preparations, the advance team entered the Yi Min District in the early morning of May 22, and the special working group that accompanied the advance team was led by Xiao Hua.Xiao Hua is not only a soldier, but also a good poet. He wrote "Long March Poems". When Zhou Enlai was dying in 1976, he asked to listen to his poems. Daliang Mountain is more than 2,000 meters above sea level, and there are many mountains along the way. The valleys are lush and green, and rotten leaves are deposited on the ground, up to several inches thick.The climate in the mountainous area is changeable, sometimes rainy, sometimes foggy, making people feel very miasma.According to legend, the story of Zhuge Liang's seven captures of Meng Huo, the leader of the Yi nationality, happened in this area.

When the advance team arrived at Gunmazi Village, the Yi people surrounded them densely.Hundreds of Yi people held sticks, stones, spears, bows and arrows, and guns, and prevented Xiao Hua's working group from advancing.Tongsi conveyed the meaning of the Red Army to the Yi people: the Red Army is different from other armies, not trying to embarrass you, but just want to take the road to pass here.For a long time, the Yi people had a deep dislike for the Han army. They didn't believe Tongsi's statement, and they always showed suspicion and fear.After the two sides communicated for a while, a man who looked like a little leader told Tong Si that they needed 200 yuan to buy the road.Xiao Hua and the others gave the money.But another group of people proposed to give more money.The two sides were at a stalemate, and many Yi people still shouted "no crossing".At the moment when it was time to go, a tall middle-aged Yi man riding a black mule came over at the entrance of the mountain pass ahead.Tong Si recognized him as the fourth uncle of Xiao Ye Dan, the leader of the Gu Ji family.

Xiao Hua told him that Liu Bocheng, the leader of the Red Army, led the army northward and passed by here. The Red Army would not hurt or disturb them, and the Red Army was fighting the world for poor people like the Yi people.According to the characteristics of the Yi people who are particularly loyal, Xiao Hua told him that Liu Bocheng is willing to form an alliance with Xiaoyedan ​​as brothers. Xiaoyedan's fourth uncle was skeptical, but when he saw that the team in front of him was not burning, killing and looting like the Kuomintang army, he agreed to Xiao Hua's request.Xiao Hua gave him several rifles and a pistol to show the sincerity of the Red Army.

Xiao Hua reported this situation to Liu Bocheng, Liu Bocheng was overjoyed, just now he was anxious about possible conflicts on the way forward, but now he was looking forward to such good news.Liu Bocheng graduated from the Moscow Military Academy. He is kind and has superb commanding skills. He was the commander-in-chief of the Red Army crossing the Jinsha River.The task of commanding Daliang Mountain was also entrusted to him this time. Introduced by Xiao Hua, Xiaoyedan ​​and Liu Bocheng met.Xiaoyedan ​​is the same size as his uncle, tall, handsome, and a good rider.When Xiaoyedan ​​saw Liu Bocheng, he bowed down to Liu Bocheng with the solemn etiquette of the Yi people. Liu Bocheng helped Xiaoyedan ​​up, talked with Xiaoyedan ​​cordially, and vowed to become brothers with Xiaoyedan.After Liu Bocheng promised to overthrow the rule of the Kuomintang, he would help the Yi people get rid of all foreign oppression.

Liu Bocheng proposed to drink blood wine with Xiaoyedan ​​to become brothers, which is the method of drinking blood to form an alliance during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods.In the evening, the alliance ceremony was held at Yuanju Haizi near Gumazi Village.The water in Haizi is clear and transparent, and the setting sun reflects the lush forests on the shore.The alliance ceremony is simple and grand.Two bowls of clear lake water, a big rooster cut the chicken's throat, and dripped blood into the bowl.Liu Bocheng, Xiaoyedan, and Xiaoyedan's fourth uncle knelt side by side reverently.Without incense candles, the oath is presided over by the blue sky and clear water.

Liu Bocheng picked up the big bowl and swore loudly: "There is heaven above, and there is earth below. I, Liu Bocheng, wish to become sworn brothers with Xiaoyedan. If there is any repetition, heaven and earth will perish." After finishing speaking, he drank the chicken blood wine.Xiaoyedan ​​also picked up the bowl, and vowed to become brothers with Liu Bocheng, if half-hearted, he would die like a chicken.Their uncle and nephew also drank the blood wine in the bowl.The ceremony is over and the oath takes effect. Before dark on the 22nd, it was impossible for the Red Army to pass through the Yi people's mountains again. They retreated to a village they had passed through before and camped.Uncle and nephew Xiaoye Dan was invited to the camp as a guest.The Yi people are good at drinking, and they can drink like a sea. Liu Bocheng bought all the wine in the village to entertain them.

During the drinking and conversation with Xiaoyedan, Liu Bocheng learned that the Guji family and another Yi tribe, the Luohong family, had been at odds for a long time, and there were often armed fights (an important reason for Xiaoyedan's alliance with Liu Bocheng was to use the power of the Red Army to defeat the Luo Hong). ——Liu Bocheng told him that the Yi people should be united within themselves, and the Yi people and Han people should also be united.The poor should not beat the poor, and the poor should not beat their own people.Liu made a metaphor: "One finger has no strength, but ten fingers together will have great strength." Xiaoye Dan proposed to Liu Bocheng to build a team like the Red Army, and Liu Bocheng presented him with a team flag of "Guji Detachment of the Chinese Yi People's Red Army".Later, Xiaoyedan ​​really joined other Yi families to fight against the Kuomintang army, and he maintained his respect for Liu Bocheng until his death.He told his wife and family that if he died, he must protect the flag and hand it over to the Red Army in the future.The loyalty and integrity of the Yi people are indeed admirable. The next day, the Red Army set off.Word of the alliance had spread nearby, and the Yi believed that the alliance between the Red Army and their leaders was sincere and effective.When Mao Zedong and the others came here, they received the warmest welcome.A group of women held a big fiery red rooster in their arms to show respect. Mao Zedong also imitated the Yi people and put his hands on his chest to express his deepest gratitude. After the Red Army walked out of Gu Ji's territory, Xiao Yedan sent a guide to lead the Red Army to take a shortcut to Anshunchang.When passing through other areas of the Yi family, the guide told the Yi people of other tribes that Xiaoyedan's friends were going to pass by this place.Under the leadership of the Guji guides, the Red Army was not stopped by the Yi people. In the early morning of May 24th, before dawn, the advance team could overlook the small town by the Dadu River——Anshunchang. The main force of the Red Army came to the Dadu River one after another along the route of the advance team.Most of the Red Army was able to safely pass through the Daliang Mountains.However, there are also a small number, mainly those soldiers who have fallen behind, who will be attacked by the Yi people.They only took things from the Red Army, including stripping them naked.Few of the Red Army soldiers who were stripped naked survived, and most of them starved to death or froze to death. One soldier who survived recalled that when he and four other comrades were surrounded by the Yi people, it was easy for them to leave as long as they shot.But none of them fired. They stood there motionless, allowing the Yi people to plunder.They did not shoot because they had been ordered in advance not to use force against the Yi people under any circumstances, and they were not allowed to shoot.They were lucky and were rescued soon after. On May 26, Mao Zedong met Liu Bocheng at Anshun Field. He asked Liu Bocheng very humorously, Zhuge Liang took seven captures and seven moves to conquer Meng Huo. How did you convince Xiaoyedan ​​all at once?Liu Bocheng replied that it was because of the implementation of the Communist Party's ethnic policy. With the help of Xiaoyedan, the Red Army successfully reached the mouth of the Dadu River.If it is postponed for another three days, the heavy troops mobilized by Chiang Kai-shek will block the Red Army at Anshun Field.