Chapter 28 Master of the Three Armies

While the Battle of Taomin West was in full swing, the Japanese invaders intensified their "wave-like attack" on North China's military. All walks of life in China set off a new wave of anti-Japanese and national salvation movements, and supported Suiyuan's anti-Japanese forces one after another.Internationally, the Communist International and the Soviet Union actively supported China's anti-Japanese struggle. The governments of Britain, the United States and other countries encouraged the Chinese government to adopt a relatively tough policy towards Japan out of interests.Domestically, the Chinese Communist Party's idea of ​​"unity to resist Japan" has won the approval of various local factions. The Northeast Army and Northwest Army have established secret relations with the Red Army of Workers and Peasants; The matter was approached with the Red Army; Song Zheyuan and Fu Zuoyi in North China also discussed the anti-Japanese issue with the CCP and the Red Army one after another;

Under the pressure of the national anti-Japanese situation, Chiang Kai-shek deployed military preparations to counterattack the Japanese army. Although the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Central Government of the Soviet Union are far away in Zhidan County, which is deep in the mountains and valleys, they have the overall situation in mind and look at the world. According to the new situation of the War of Resistance, on August 10, Zhang Wentian chaired a meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee to discuss the two sides of the Kuomintang and the Communist Party. Party relations and united front issues.Mao Zedong made a special report, pointing out that the northward movement of the Second Red Army and the Fourth Red Army is of great significance for opening up the Soviet Union, defending the Soviet area, and unifying the leadership of the Red Army. under the leadership.At present, the people's resistance to Japan has broken through Chiang Kai-shek's oppression, but it has not broken through Chiang Kai-shek's highest limit, that is, democracy has not yet been realized. The slogan "Anti-Japanese must be opposed to Chiang" is no longer appropriate, and we must oppose the traitors under the united front.The Chiang Kai-shek government is the main opponent of the united front, and further unites the Northeast Army to develop a new situation in the anti-Japanese war.At the same time, attention should be paid to raising vigilance against allies and maintaining the independence of the party.The meeting unanimously agreed on the report and conclusions, decided to publish a declaration publicly, and wrote a letter to Chiang Kai-shek.

Subsequently, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China proposed a strategic plan to seize Ningxia.And on August 12, in the names of Zhang Wentian, Lin Yuying, Zhou Enlai, Bogu, Wang Jiaxiang, Peng Dehuai, Kaifeng, and Mao Zedong, they called Zhu De, Zhang Guotao, and Ren Bishi: "It is suggested that the first, second, and fourth front armies should cooperate with the Armored Armies (Northeast Army) ), open up the Soviet Union, consolidate the interior, send troops to Suiyuan, and establish a Northwest National Defense Government. The execution of this task is to cooperate with and promote the united front of all factions across the country to achieve the goal of a large-scale anti-Japanese war.” The telegram also proposed red two and four How does the front army cooperate with the front army to realize the military deployment of the new situation in the northwest. In October, the three front armies met in northern Gansu and prepared to attack Ningxia; from December, one of the three front armies defended the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Soviet area, and two front armies crossed the Yellow River during the ice age to occupy Ningxia, completing the task of opening up the Soviet Union, and Prepare for sending troops to Suiyuan.

For this reason, Zhang Wentian wrote the article "Welcome the Second and Fourth Front Armies Going North to Anti-Japanese War" in Zhidan's stone cave dwelling: "Just as the Red Front Army won a great victory on the Western Front and completed the first step of the strategic plan At that time, the Second and Fourth Front Armies entered Gannan. The joint victory of the First, Second, and Fourth Front Armies caused the enemies of Gansu, Ningxia, and Qing to panic and panic. Now there is no natural or man-made obstacle that can stop our three This is the great rally of the front armies. This is an unprecedented rally in the history of the Red Army. It is a glorious rally of the anti-Japanese people all over the country and the working people of the world. It is a great victory of national and world historical significance. The article also elaborates on the upcoming impact and role of the three main Red Army rendezvous: (1) This rendezvous will first give the most resounding and powerful answer to the Japanese imperialism who invaded North China.Now the Japanese bandits are spreading their bloody hands towards Suiyuan and Ningxia. The great power of the three front armies will make the Japanese bandits and traitors "terrified", and at the same time will inspire the people of the whole country. "The three main forces of the People's Red Army will always stand at the forefront of the Anti-Japanese War, seize the bayonets used by the Japanese bandits to massacre the Chinese people, and open a road to freedom and liberation for the Chinese nation." (2) The meeting of the three main forces will definitely We must further advance the anti-Japanese united front movement throughout China. "The anti-Japanese united front movement centered on the Communist Party and the Red Army is moving forward and spreading at a rapid pace. Therefore, the rendezvous of the three main forces of the Red Army and the huge strengthening of their strength not only excited the people of the whole country to fight against Japan The struggle not only consolidated the anti-Japanese united front, but also pushed the wavering political factions and the White Army towards the anti-Japanese united front. The convergence of the three main forces will undoubtedly enable us to gain new ground in the work of the anti-Japanese united front. Success and victory." (3) This meeting is to strongly defend the Northwest and promote the realization of the anti-Japanese situation in the Northwest. "The Northwest Anti-Japanese Alliance is the hub of the national defense government and the Anti-Japanese Allied Forces, and the hub of a large-scale national revolutionary war. The meeting of the three main forces of our Red Army can be said to be the hub of the Northwest Anti-Japanese Alliance."

After the second and fourth front armies basically completed the Taomin West Campaign, considering that Chiang Kai-shek transferred Hu Zongnan's troops into Gansu to carry out the "encirclement and suppression" of the Red Army, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China further consolidated the base areas in southern Shaanxi, northern Shaanxi, and northern Gansu, and conducted military operations against the Red Army. Timely deployment. On August 25, Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, and Peng Dehuai jointly issued the "Instructions Concerning the Tasks of the First Red Army's Western Field Army and the Red Second and Fourth Front Army's Missions." The "Instructions" stipulates: From September to November, the task of our Second and Fourth Front Army is to operate in southern Gansu, eliminate Mao Bingwen and Wang Jun's troops, develop the Soviet area, and prepare for new operations in winter.The task of our Western Field Army from September to November is to eliminate the two horse troops in mobile warfare, overcome some necessary fortifications without paying too much price, and occupy Haiyuan, Dalachi, Tongxin City and the area to the north ; From the mobilization of the mass struggle of the Hui people, win a large number of Hui people to join the main Red Army; develop the Northwest Soviet Area, protect the Dingbian, Yanchi, and Yuwang Soviet Areas, and support the Red Second and Fourth Front Army operations.

In the overall military deployment, the actions of the Red Second Front Army to the east are the most important, not only to contain the southern part of Hu Zong, but also to connect the Southern Shaanxi Soviet Area and the Gannan Soviet Area.For this reason, Ren Bishi and Liu Bocheng left the Northwest Bureau to act with the Red Second Front Army. Zhang Wentian, Zhou Enlai, Bogu, and Mao Zedong signed a call to Chen Shaoyu (Wang Ming), the representative of the CCP to the Communist International, and introduced the general situation and existing difficulties: "The main force of the Red Army must occupy the western part of Gansu, Ningxia, and Suiyuan."I hope that the Soviet Union can solve the two major technical problems of aircraft and artillery for us. "Northern Shaanxi and northern Gansu are sparsely populated, food is very difficult, and it is not a place where many soldiers are stationed for a long time."At present, the Red Army's finances and supplies have reached a very difficult level. Only by occupying Ningxia can this situation be changed.

On August 30, Zhang Wentian, Lin Yuying, Zhou Enlai, Bogu, and Mao Zedong signed a call to Zhu De, Zhang Guotao, and Ren Bishi, pointing out: "Japan has a tendency to advance rapidly towards Suiyuan; the national anti-Japanese movement has greater development; The faction struggled fiercely." "Chiang Kai-shek had an attempt to divide the Northeast Army and replace Zhang Xueliang after the Southwest issue was resolved. Our basic policy is: (1) Force Chiang to resist the Japanese and create various conditions so that the Kuomintang and Chiang's army have to compromise with us In order to achieve the goal of the two parties and the two armies uniting against Japan. (2) Closely unite the Northeast Army and conduct joint negotiations with other ministries in the Northwest to create a new situation in the Northwest. (3) Oppose Japan's attempt to cut off Sino-Soviet relations and prepare for winter Open up the Soviet Union. (4) Develop Gannan as one of the strategic bases, and at the same time consolidate and develop the Southern Shaanxi Soviet Area, making it another strategic base, echoing northern Shaanxi and Gansu. East."④

According to the deployment of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, on August 31, the First Army Corps and the Fifteenth Army Corps of the Red Front Army set off from Yuwangbao, Tongxin City, and Heicheng Town to the south, and quickly controlled the area west of Zhongning to Guyuan Avenue and Haiyuan. East area.Subsequently, they marched southward through Nihe City, and occupied Jiangtaibao and Dalachi on September 14.The Fourth Red Front Army stepped up the Mintao West Campaign and occupied a vast area in southern Gansu. On September 7, Ren Bishi, He Long, Guan Xiangying and others held a meeting in Hadapu to formulate a plan for the Longnan Campaign. The General Headquarters of the Second Red Front Army issued an order: "We must take advantage of the weakness of the enemy in Gansu and Shanxi to divide their forces and occupy the city. Attack the enemies in Chengxian, Huixian, Fengxian, Lueyang, and Kangxian counties and attack them. Establish a temporary base area...cooperate with the operations of the first and fourth front armies, and seek the rendezvous of the three front armies." ②The second red front army divided the troops into three successively captured Cheng County, Liangdang County, Hui County, and Kang County, mobilized the masses extensively, established a revolutionary regime and armed forces, and in just half a month, the Red Second Front Army expanded the Red Army by more than 2,000 people and raised more than 2,000 soldiers. A large amount of supplies.The Second and Fourth Front Army of the Red Army also assisted local party organizations to set up two provincial committees: one centered on Min County, named the Gansu Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China; The regional population reaches about 800,000.

The Battle of Taominxi lasted 34 days and ended on September 7. After fierce confrontation, the Red Army successively occupied Zhangxian, Lintan, Weiyuan, and Tong?More than 7,000 enemies were wiped out in the four counties of Wei and the vast areas of Minxian, Longxi, Lintao, Wushan and other counties, smashing the enemy's plan to prevent the Red Second and Red Fourth Front Army from advancing northward, and creating conditions for the three armies to join forces.So far, the Red Second Front Army, the Red First Front and the Red Fourth Front Army have formed a favorable situation in which the north and the south echo each other.

In this regard, Chiang Kai-shek was extremely annoyed by the war in the northwest, and ordered Hu Zongnan's First Army to rush northward from Hunan to seize the Jingning, Huining, and Dingxi sections of Xilan Avenue, so as to cut off the road for the Red Army's three fronts to meet.Ordered Mao Bingwen's Department to gather in Longxi, Wang Jun's main force to gather in the Wushan area, Sichuan Army's Sun Zhen's Department to advance to Wudu and Xigu, and cooperated with Qinghai Mabufang's Department and the Northeast Army's First Division to attack the Red Fourth Front Army; The Northeast Army, Northwest Army, and part of the Sichuan Army besieged the Second Red Army; ordered Ma Hongkui, He Zhuguo, and Ma Hongbin in Ningxia to advance northward and attack the main force of the Red Front West to the west of Qingshui River.

In response to Chiang Kai-shek's military offensive, how to realize the campaign plan to occupy Ningxia and western Gansu became an urgent problem for the Red Army to solve.After discussions, Zhu De, Zhang Guotao, and Chen Changhao jointly sent electricity to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in Zhidan, suggesting that the Red Front Army go south and cooperate with the Red Fourth Front Army to eliminate Hu Zong's south.The Central Revolutionary Military Commission replied that: On the one hand, the main force of the Red Army cannot go south. If they go south to fight, the three cities of Ding, Yan, and Henan will be taken by the horse enemy, and it will be disadvantageous to attack Ningxia afterwards.In the battle against Hu Zong's south, the Red Second and Red Fourth Fronts should be the main force. On September 14, Zhang Hao (Lin Yuying), Zhang Wentian, Zhou Enlai, Bogu, and Mao Zedong called Zhu De, Zhang Guotao, and Ren Bishi: "International calls agree to occupy Ningxia and western Gansu. After our army occupies Ningxia, they can help us. "In order to resolutely implement international instructions, we plan to occupy Ningxia in two months" and plan to deploy as follows: The main force of the Red Front Army began to attack the Lingwu and Jinji areas from Tongxincheng and Yuwang at the end of October or early November in order to cross the river in December and occupy northern Ningxia. The Red Fourth Front Army immediately occupied the Longde, Jingning, Huining, and Tongwei areas with its main force, controlled the Xilan Avenue, prevented Hu Zongnan from advancing westward, and entered the Jingyuan, Zhongwei South, and Ning'anbao lines at the end of October or early November. In order to cross the river in December and seize southern Ningxia; The Red Second Front Army was actively active on the Shaanxi-Gansu border, attracting Hu Zongnan to the area south of the Xianyang and Pingliang lines, and supporting each other with the Fourth Front Army; a guerrilla detachment was sent from northern Shaanxi to the south of Jingshui to contain Hu Zongnan's rear.In this decisive strategic move for the development of the Chinese Red Army and the launch of China's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the armies of the three fronts must exert their utmost efforts and unite in the closest possible Close cooperation. For this reason, Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai and others successively called Zhu De, Zhang Guotao, etc. on September 15, 16, and 17, demanding that the Red Fourth Front Army quickly occupy the Jingning, Huining, and Dingxi sections of Xilan Avenue centered on Jieshipu, otherwise , The contact between the Red First and Red Fourth Front Army will be cut off. Zhang Guotao was dissatisfied with the fact that the Red Front Army could not go south, and only the Red Fourth Front Army could meet Hu Zong's south.At the Northwest Bureau meeting held in Sansanlipu, Minxian County, when discussing the direction of action of the Fourth Red Front Army, political commissars Chen Changhao and Zhang Guotao had very different opinions.Chen Changhao advocated immediately going north to the Jinghui area to join the Red Front Army and fight the enemy decisively.However, Zhang Guotao advocated the westward march to Ganxi, and believed that the main force of the Red Front Army could not go south, and that the Red Fourth Front Army was fighting alone in the Xilan Passage area, which was very unfavorable.It is proposed to cross the Yellow River westward, enter the Gulang and Hongchengzi areas, and wait for an opportunity to support the army on the one hand to cross the river, capture Ningxia, and realize the plan to open up the Soviet Union in winter.In the end, Chen Changhao's opinion was supported by the majority of the participants, and Zhang Guotao's opinion was rejected. The Red Second Front Army in Kangxian County called Zhu De, Zhang Guotao, Lin Yuying, Zhang Wentian, and Zhou Enlai in the joint name of He Long, Ren Bishi, Guan Xiangying, and Liu Bocheng on September 19, suggesting the establishment of a presidium of the Military Commission to centralize the command of the three front armies.It is hoped that Zhu De, Zhang Guotao, Zhou Enlai and Wang Jiaxiang from northern Shaanxi will come to the front line to work together. Also on September 19, Zhang Wentian presided over a meeting at the old site of the Politburo Conference Room of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee in Zhidan County in Zhidan, Kyoto, mainly discussing the issue of capturing Ningxia.Mao Zedong said in a speech: "Today we are discussing a military issue, which is to seize Ningxia. The general plan has been finalized. Seizing Ningxia is the hub to open up the Soviet Union, develop the Red Army, develop the Northwest situation and fight against Japan. All our work should revolve around this Huan. The victory in Ningxia is decisive for the development of the situation, and Shaanxi and Gansu can also be consolidated. There are many fortresses in Ningxia. If there is no mass work, it is impossible to rely solely on hard work. Here, the work of the White Army, the work of the Gelaohui, and the Hui people Work is part of the overall strategic plan. It is very important to speed up the work in November and December.” The meeting also decided to set up the Ningxia Work Committee, with Li Weihan as the director and Ye Jianying as the deputy director, who will command the military in the name of Chief of Staff Ye . Still on September 19, Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, and Peng Dehuai called Zhu De, Zhang Guotao, and Ren Bishi and He Long on the issue of capturing Ningxia and opening up to the Soviet Union.Because Ningxia is the hub of Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, Sui, and Inner Mongolia, that is, the entire Northwest, and international calls said that the Red Army will help us after they arrive in Ningxia, not Ganxi. The capture of Ningxia and the opening up of the Soviet Union are decisive links in terms of the development of the Red Army, the national united front, the new situation in the Northwest, and combat.At the present moment, refusing to stop Hu Jun from separating the First and Fourth Fronts is another decisive link.The opportunity is urgent and fleeting, so please pay attention to it, pray for it and look forward to it. However, Zhang Guotao still insisted on crossing the Yellow River west.On September 20, they rushed to Zhang County.Zhou Chunquan (political commissar of the 31st Army of the Fourth Front Army), Li Te (chief of staff of the Fourth Front Army), Li Xiannian (political commissar of the 30th Army of the Fourth Front Army) and other comrades were recruited, and they were extremely angry.Xu Xiangqian recalled in his "Review of History": (Zhang Guotao) said: I, the chairman, can't do it anymore, let Changhao do it!We were taken aback, inexplicably.After asking about the situation, I found out that the Minzhou meeting had just been held. ...This was the first sharp dispute between Zhang Guotao and Chen Changhao since they worked together. In addition, he had the burden of setting up a separate "central government", so he was very emotional and shed tears.He said: "I can't do it anymore. I will go to prison in northern Shaanxi and be expelled from the party. The Central Committee will hand over the affairs of the Fourth Front Army to Chen Changhao." Stiff, it seems a bit like "replacing it", and it is not suitable.Everyone, you said a word, I said a word, and persuaded Zhang Guotao.Regarding the issue of the military action policy, we said that we can continue to discuss it. Zhang Guotao got excited, pointed at the map, and gestured while talking.The general idea is that the Fourth Front Army will go north to the Jinghui area, facing the Xilan Passage, and it will be disadvantageous in a decisive battle with the enemy. The people in northern Shaanxi and Gansu are barren and poor, and it is not convenient for large troops to solve the food problem. If they are transferred to the area north of Lanzhou, Hexi, the situation will be much better. many.From a military point of view, we feel that Zhang Guotao's opinion is not unreasonable.Therefore, a specific action plan was formulated on the spot: the Fourth Army crossed the Yellow River from the Yongjing and Xunhua areas with one army, and seized Yongdeng and Hongchengzi areas as a foothold; one army temporarily operated near the Yellow River ferry to attract and contain Qinghai. Ma Bufang's enemy; two armies continued to deploy in Zhangxian and Minzhou areas, attracting Hu Zong's south to go south, and then these three armies crossed Hebei to advance.The main force went from Jingyuan and Zhongwei to cooperate with the first army to cross the Yellow River westward and take Ningxia together.First, this plan avoids decisive battles with the enemy in unfavorable areas; second, it attracts Hu enemies to the south, reducing the pressure on the front army; third, it does not violate the strategic intention of the central government that the two armies take Ningxia first and then Ganxi; Fourth, it is convenient to solve the food problem of the Fourth Front Army.The deployment was established, so Zhang Guotao telegraphed Zhu De and Chen Changhao, asking them to come to Zhang County for a meeting.At the same time, the troops were mobilized to prepare to cross the river from the Xunhua area. ④ Zhu De was taken aback after receiving the telegram. He didn't expect Zhang Guotao to be so stubborn. He immediately replied to Zhang Guotao's telegram in the early morning of September 22, trying his best to dissuade Zhang Guotao from changing the direction of action, otherwise he would lose his chance to fight.Zhang Guotao's military accident involved the overall situation. Zhu De immediately reported the situation to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Red Second Front Army. On September 23, at the meeting of the Northwest Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China held in Sancha, Zhangxian County, Zhu De continued to insist on going north to join the Red Front Army.But this meeting rejected Beishang's opinion, decided to go west, and reported this result to the Central Committee.Subsequently, Xu Xiangqian led the vanguard to Taozhou to investigate the marching route.Other troops were ordered to quickly raise enough dry food for 8 days and be on standby for action. During this period, the central leaders in Zhidan called the leaders of the Fourth Red Army and the Second Red Front Army twice, emphasizing repeatedly that they should not talk about the past disputes with Zhang Guotao.Concentrate all efforts and unite internally to carry out current military and political tasks.It was suggested that in the first step, the three front armies should be assembled on the Jingning, Huining, Dingxi lines and the north and south to attack the enemy and smash the attempt to cut off the Red Army; After occupying Ningxia, we can get help from afar and are in a favorable position. It will be easier to divide our forces to capture Ganxi, Suiyuan and other places.This is the plan of the Northwest. On September 26, Lin Yuying, Zhang Wentian, Zhou Enlai, Bogu, Wang Jiaxiang, and Mao Zedong of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China replied to Zhu De and Zhang Guotao, disagreeing with the westward advance plan of the Fourth Red Army.At the same time, they called Ren Bishi, He Long, and Liu Bocheng of the Second Red Front Army, and pointed out that the plan to go north is beneficial, and the westward advance will be limited to a corner of Qinghai. They are worried that it will be difficult to move in the future and hinder the Ningxia plan. After Zhang Guotao received a telegram from the Central Committee disapproving of the Red Fourth Army's westward advance plan, he called the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China several times that day, urging the reasons for adopting the new plan.Regarding Zhang Guotao's insistence on the Westward Action Plan, the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Political Bureau held a meeting in Zhidan's stone cave and discussed it carefully. On September 27, Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, and Peng Dehuai called Zhu De, Zhang Guotao, Xu Xiangqian, Chen Changhao, and He Long, Ren Bishi, and Liu Bocheng: clearly stated: "The central government believes that the first and fourth armies of ours will be stronger if they are combined; if they are divided, they will be weaker. If they are united, Ningxia and Ganxi can be occupied and complete the tasks indicated by the International; if they are divided, it will be difficult to occupy both places, and in fact the tasks will not be achieved If the first and fourth front armies join forces to advance northward, the second front army will be able to control the enemy on the outer flank; if the first and fourth front armies are separated, and the second front army will advance northward, the outer flank will be weak, and all three front armies will be in a narrow area. The enemy will rely on the Yellow River. The blockade will make development difficult in the future." "Therefore, the Central Committee believes that it is still advisable for the Fourth Army to follow the deployment of Zhu, Zhang, and Chen on September 18 and quickly move northward from the Tongwei and Longxi lines, and reach the Jingyuan and Haiyuan areas in about half a month. Cross the river from Jingyuan; on the one hand, the army will cross the river immediately or join forces to take Ningxia first, or split and take Ningxia and Ganxi. On the other hand, the army will still control the enemy on the outer flanks, so there is no danger. On the same day, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China called Zhu De, Zhang Guotao, Xu Xiangqian, and Chen Changhao again: "The central government has issued an order, please quickly order the Tongwei troops to return to Tongwei, and the rest will go north." At this time, Xu Xiangqian, who had first inspected the marching route, was in Taozhou. He knew from the conversations of fellow villagers that the other side of the Yellow River had entered the season of heavy snow and closed mountains. The weather was cold and the roads were difficult. Zhang Guotao had no choice but to agree to go north. On September 29, the Red Fourth Front Army re-issued the order to go north. On September 30, more than 40,000 Red Fourth Front Army, divided into five columns, quickly advanced towards Jingning and Huining.After the central government learned of the news that the Red Fourth Front Army was marching northward, it immediately ordered Peng Dehuai to arrange troops to support the Red Fourth Front Army.The Red 73rd Division of the First Red Army marched towards Jingning with a part; the independent detachment of the 15th Red Army attacked and occupied Huining County, and the two divisions of the 1st Red Army and the main force of the 73rd Red Army fought back outside Huining County The Kuomintang enemy who attacked the Huining Memorial Hall, the three main forces of the Red Army, firmly controlled Huining. On October 5, the 31st Army of the Red Fourth Front Army occupied Tongwei City. On October 7, the vanguard of the Fourth Army joined the Red 73rd Division of the Red Front Army at Qingjiangyi in Huining. On October 9, Zhu De, Zhang Guotao, Xu Xiangqian, Chen Changhao and others led the Red Army Headquarters and the team directly under the Red Fourth Front Army into Huining City.Chen Geng, the commander of the First Division of the Red First Army who stayed here specially to meet the Fourth Red Army, warmly welcomed Zhu De, Zhang Guotao and others. Du Yide, who served as the commander of the column directly under the Red Fourth Front Army and the director of the Fourth Bureau, wrote in his memoirs: On the morning of October 9th, under the blue sky and warm sunshine, colorful gates were erected in front of the gatehouse of Huining City, with red flags waving and gongs and drums blaring.The welcome crowd lined the road, including troops and masses, and the atmosphere was very warm.We entered Huining City from the south gate.In Huining City, Vientiane was renewed. Slogans, crowds, and laughter made this remote mountain city unprecedentedly lively.Joined up with the troops of the First Army.What an exciting meeting! The comrades hugged each other with mixed sorrows and joys, walked around arm in arm, happily gave gifts to each other, poured out their hope to each other, talked to each other about the hardships along the way, asked each other about the whereabouts of other comrades... they were all glad to be able to meet again .At this time, Comrade Chen Geng walked forward quickly, hugged me and said enthusiastically: "Thanks for your hard work, you are welcome!" I kept saying, "Thank you! Thank you!" However. ... At that time, I just felt that the children who had been wandering away for a long time had returned to their parents. They had the leadership of the Party Central Committee, they had a head support, and they had freedom. I felt very warm. On October 10th, the National Day of the Republic of China's "Double Tenth Day", the main newspapers of the Kuomintang published the news that "the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of China will be held in various parts of the country" in a prominent position.However, in the evening of this day, a celebration meeting of the First Red Army and the Fourth Red Front Army led by the Communist Party was held on the square in front of the Confucian Temple in Huining Town, Gansu Province.Above the rostrum built of wooden boards hangs a red cloth banner: "Celebrate the meeting of the three main forces of the Red Army".Several large oil lamps were hung on both sides of the rostrum. The leaders of the two armies sitting on the rostrum spoke successively, and thunderous applause continued to ring out in the venue.Li Zhuoran, director of the Political Department of the Fourth Red Front Army, read the telegram from Zhidan, Kyoto that day: Squad leader and all red fighter comrades: The Long March of the Fourth Red Front Army started from March 1935 when they forcibly crossed the Jialing River and led their troops westward to October 1936 when they joined forces in Huining. It lasted 1 year and 7 months. Nearly thousands of miles away, after countless wars, several political differences, several military mistakes, after going through twists and turns and hardships, and encountered the most severe test, he finally went north and realized a great strategic shift. When the Red Fourth Front Army went north to Jingning and Huining, the enemy Hu Zongnan, Mao Bingwen, and Wang Jun concentrated on launching a powerful military offensive against the Red Second Front Army in an attempt to encircle and annihilate the south of the Weihe River in one fell swoop.The Second Red Front Army was attacked on three sides and was in an extremely disadvantageous situation. Therefore, it proposed to the Central Revolutionary Military Commission to abandon the counties in southern Gansu, cross the Wei River northward between Tianshui and Baoji, and move to Qingshui, Zhangjiachuan, and Lianhua Town. , and backed by the Red First and Red Fourth Fronts, the troops can be rested and replenished. On October 2, Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai replied and agreed. As for the Red Second Front Army, the enemy began to besiege from the very beginning of the transfer. The 17th Regiment of the Red Sixth Division was intercepted by the enemy's king in the Maguan area and lost all.When the Sixth Red Army passed through the Luojiabao area, it was suddenly blocked by two enemy lines and indiscriminately bombed by enemy planes. The troops suffered heavy casualties, and Zhang Hui, the commander of the Sixteenth Red Division, died unfortunately.Political commissar Yan Fusheng was seriously injured and had his left arm amputated.Along the way, the Second Red Army moved hastily, fighting and retreating. When crossing the Weihe River on October 9th and 10th, due to continuous heavy rain, the Weihe River suddenly swelled, and some soldiers died in the river.pass?Weihe, the Red Second Front Army rushed north all the way, was repeatedly bombed by enemy planes, and had to march at night instead. On October 16, the Red Second Front Army arrived at the foot of Liupan Mountain. They were pursued by the enemy behind and intercepted by a large enemy army in front. Annihilate the Red Army at the foot of Liupan Mountain.At this time, the Red Army only had more than 1,000 people, and it was very difficult to deal with the enemies of the two armies.At this juncture of life and death, the heroic Red Army fought bloody battles for two days and two nights, seized the road to the north to break through, and broke through the encirclement and suppression of the enemy's superior forces.However, thousands of Red Army soldiers died forever on the way to this transfer and breakthrough.He Long recalled: "We originally estimated that the Fourth Front Army would not leave (referring to the Fourth Front Army's westward advance). At that time, we sent a telegram to the Central Committee, and it would have been better to go (to the north) two days earlier. It would not be so embarrassing. The Sixth Army Corps They couldn’t be flanked either. As soon as the Fourth Front Army withdrew, the enemy surrounded them, marching hastily and losing thousands of people. . . . On October 21, the Second Red Army arrived at the Jingning area at the junction of Gansu and Ningxia. He Long, Ren Bishi, and Guan Xiangying came from Laojunpo to Pingfeng Town to join the head of the Red First Army.When the model division of the Sixth Red Army arrived in Xinglong Town, Chen Geng, the commander of the first division of the First Red Army, led more than 1,000 people from the party, government, army, and local people, and formed a long welcome line of more than three miles. They beat gongs and drums, set off firecrackers, and shouted slogans to welcome the Second Front Army. The arrival of the emperor, and slaughtered pigs and sheep, warm condolences. Xiao Feng, who served as the political commissar of the Third Red Regiment at the time, recalled that a meeting of teachers was held in Xinglong Town that night. At 7 o'clock in the evening, the commanders and fighters of the first and second front armies gathered in an open area on the river beach in the northwest of the town, and held a party to celebrate the reunion.People from Xinglong Town and nearby villages also came to participate, and the venue was packed with 4,000 to 5,000 people.Head of the regiment Huang Shoufa first delivered a speech to warmly welcome the Second Front Army's victory in the northward march, and briefly reported the victories achieved by the First Front Army's east and west expeditions.In his speech, Chief of Staff Peng Shaohui introduced the arduous battle of the Second Front Army in the Long March. Then, the singing team of the three groups performed the chorus "Song of the Long March" and several small songs and dances; the model teacher performed two one-act plays "Smashing and Suppressing" and "Northern Anti-Japanese War"... According to the instructions of Political Commissar Nie Rongzhen, on October 22, I led a continuous delivery of 30,000 yuan in cash, 1,000 pairs of cloth shoes, 300 sets of cotton coats, 50 fur coats, 500 pieces of homespun cloth, 200 sheep, and 50 pigs to Jiangtaibao. Hand it over to the head of the Second Front Army. ... Boss He said repeatedly: "Good! Good! I have been looking forward to seeing the Central Red Army for many years, and today it finally came true. On the one hand, the life of the army is also very difficult, and you have sent us so many things. Thank you very much!" The Long March of the Second Red Front Army was later than that of the First and Fourth Red Front Army, but it suffered the greatest losses.From November 19, 1935, when he went south to central Hunan, to October 22, 1936, when he joined forces with the Red Front Army in Jiangtaibao, it took 11 months, with a journey of more than 8,000 kilometers, and moved to Hunan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Kang, and Sichuan. In the eight provinces of Xinjiang, Qinghai, Gansu, and Shaanxi, more than 110 battles were fought, 39 cities were conquered, and hundreds of thousands of enemies were overwhelmed, and finally won. The meeting of the three main forces of the Red Army at Huining and Jiangtaibao was the result of the wise command of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in Zhidan, Kyoto, and the promotion of political unity, which made the Red Army stronger and established a new situation in the northwest armed struggle.At the same time, the Red Army's Long March, which lasted for two years and stretched tens of thousands of miles, came to an end in victory.