Chapter 8 The first person to welcome the Red Army into Sichuan

While the Red Fourth Front Army was still struggling to break through the enemy's blockade in Shaanxi, the Shaanxi Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Sichuan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China received instructions from the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China to take active measures to mobilize grassroots party organizations to cooperate with the Fourth Red Front Army in various forms. action. In November 1932, the underground party organizations in northern Sichuan notified the underground party organizations in Tongjiang and Bazhong to prepare for the Red Fourth Front Army to enter Sichuan.Wu Ruilin, a veteran of the Red Fourth Front Army and former Vice Admiral of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, was the first person to welcome the Red Fourth Front Army into Sichuan on behalf of the Northern Sichuan Special Committee of the Sichuan Provincial Party Committee.

Wu Ruilin, a native of Wujiahe, Bazhong, Sichuan, joined the Chinese Communist Youth League in 1927, and worked as a secret traffic officer for the Bazhong underground party in the winter of 1928.Wu Ruilin's journey to welcome the Red Fourth Front Army into Sichuan and lead the way to attack Tongjiang and Bazhong was tortuous and full of legend.Wu Ruilin recalled in the article "Fighting in the Sichuan-Shaanxi Soviet Area": One day in late November 1932, as soon as I returned to Liuergou from Tongjiang, I received an urgent instruction from the Northern Sichuan Special Committee:

The Red Fourth Front Army was surrounded by the enemy when it crossed the Ping-Han Line, and now it has reached the area south of Tongguan in Shaanxi. The possibility of entering Sichuan is very high, and the Bazhong Central County Committee immediately went to the area north of Tongjiang to welcome the Red Army on behalf of the Northern Sichuan Special Committee. That day, the comrades of our Central County Party Committee made simple arrangements, and immediately had dinner and prepared to go north. Suddenly, the branch of the Gangxihe regiment sent someone to report that the vanguard of the Red Army had arrived in the area north of Nanjiang... and it is still coming, the Red Army Looking for someone to inquire about the situation of Tongjiang and Nanjiang.

On this day, we went to Lianghekou with joy to meet the Red Army. Unexpectedly, we were stopped by the old bandit Wang Sanchun not far from Liuergou. The troops have already been there, and everyone asked me to go and have a look first, because my accent is an authentic northern Sichuan accent.Just a few steps to the south, the sentries of the Red Army found me and tied me up.I was anxious, and said to the person who tied me up: "You can tie me up, but you can't beat and scold me. I am sent by the party organization to pick up the Red Army." They still had doubts after hearing this, so they tied me up and sent me away. When I arrived at the battalion headquarters, I repeatedly stated that I was sent by the organization to meet the Red Army. They were still worried, and sent me to the regiment headquarters, then to the division headquarters, and finally to the General Political Department of the Fourth Front Army of the Red Army. Caught landlords and bullies locked together.

Early the next morning, I smashed the door, trying to get me out through this method, so that I could explain my mission and identity to the Red Army. Wu Ruilin's trick really worked. After a while, Zhu Guanglai, secretary-general of the General Political Department of the Fourth Red Front Army, asked him about the situation.Wu Ruilin said: "I was sent by the party organization to welcome the Red Army. Don't treat me as a spy and lock me up with the bad guys." Zhu Guang immediately took Wu Ruilin to Zhang Qinqiu, director of the General Political Department of the Fourth Front Army of the Red Army, and Wu Ruilin reported to Zhang Qinqiu. The situation of the local party organization and the reception of the Red Army, the mobilization of the masses in Tongjiang City and the deployment of the enemy's troops, etc.Zhang Qinqiu attached great importance to his report, and found Zeng Zhongsheng, chief of staff of the Fourth Front Army, and two staff officers.Wu Ruilin recalled:

They asked me the route to Tongjiang, and asked the staff to draw a map and record it.Therefore, I reported on the route, terrain, and urban conditions of the Tongjiang River. Finally, I also talked about the key to conquering Tongjiang City is to compete for Beishan, the enemy's deployment of troops in the urban area, and the situation of our party and regiment organizations. Underground activity and strength in urban areas.The next day, some guards came and sent me to the 12th Division.Master Kuang Jixun asked me to lead the way to Tongjiang County... Wu Ruilin led Kuang Jixun's 12th Division to advance towards Tongjiang, but another thing Wu Ruilin didn't expect happened.That night, the 12th Red Division stayed overnight in Washipu (now Washi Town). Suddenly, the houses on the street caught fire, and the Red Army rushed out of the houses to fight the fire.At this time, three Red Army soldiers came and asked Wu Ruilin if he set the fire, and Wu Ruilin was stunned.It turned out that they still didn't believe him, thinking that he was a spy of the enemy, and they couldn't help but tie up Wu Ruilin like a zongzi.It was useless for the wronged Wu Ruilin to explain. Wu Ruilin, who was bound, led the vanguard to about ten miles away from Tongjiang County, and Kuang Jixun let Wu Ruilin loosen his ties.At this time, the vanguard of the Red Army had launched an offensive, and the city was in full swing.Wu Ruilin quickly brought the Red Army commando to the commanding heights of Beishan in the city. There were hundreds of defenders here, busy shooting at the Red Army's frontal offensive troops, never expecting that there would be an attack from the Red Army behind them.The Red Army quickly captured Beishan, controlled the whole city of Tongjiang, and wiped out two battalions of the enemy in the city. On December 25, 1932, Tongjiang County was liberated.This was the first county town captured by the Red Fourth Front Army after entering Sichuan.

At the Tongjiang headquarters, Xu Xiangqian and Chen Changhao met Wu Ruilin, Qi Yingyuan, and Lu Ziqian together.The two chiefs praised the work of Wu Ruilin and the Central County Party Committee, and asked them to explain how to get from Tongjiang to Bazhong.He also asked Wu Ruilin to continue to lead the 12th Division, Lu Ziqian to lead the 11th Division, and attack Bazhong in two ways.Xu Xiangqian and Chen Changhao personally directed the operation. Shaniuping and Qingjiangdu are the outer strongholds from Tongjiang to Bazhong.The terrain here is complex, full of ravines and rolling hills.The mountains are densely covered with woods, which is convenient for the troops to operate in concealment.Wu Ruilin grew up here and knew every valley like the palm of his hand. He led the troops to use the dense forest as cover and reached Shaniuping by night.Tian Songyao of the Sichuan Army has a battalion stationed in Shaniuping. This group of Sichuan Army is used to bullying the people. Although they heard that the Red Army entered Sichuan, they all thought the Red Army was "rogues" and didn't take it seriously. At this moment sleeping.As soon as the gunshots rang out, this group of Sichuan troops blew up their nests. They opened fire indiscriminately without knowing where the Red Army was.In this battle, more than 300 enemies were killed and wounded, and more than 700 prisoners were captured.The Red Army who had won the battle was beaming.Only after this battle was over did Wu Ruilin feel that the Red Army around him had a sense of trust in him, a smile appeared on his face, and his eyes were no longer full of guard.After taking Shaniuping, the next step is to fight Qingjiangdu.When Xu Xiangqian and Chen Changhao were discussing the offensive plan at the headquarters of the 12th Division, Wu Ruilin was also invited to discuss how to attack Bazhong.

There is a river outside the city of Bazhong. The river is open and tens of meters wide. will be difficult.What's more serious is that the walls of Bazhong City were built along the river, and the enemy defended the city.Wu Ruilin told Xu Xiangqian and Chen Changhao that if they attack directly under the city wall, the troops may suffer heavy casualties. The troops can first cross the river far away from the city, and then go around to the south niche slope in the southwest of the city, so that they can avoid the river. troubled.After listening to his words, Xu Xiangqian, Chen Changhao and Kuang Jixun repeatedly discussed in front of the map, and suddenly Chen Changhao said to Wu Ruilin, "Do you dare to go to Bazhong City to do some reconnaissance?"

Wu Ruilin didn't hesitate at all: "Dare." Xu Xiangqian came to Wu Ruilin's side and patted him on the shoulder: "Okay, have the guts. Your purpose of going to Bazhong for reconnaissance this time is to find out whether there are enemy defenders on Nankanpo, how many there are, and how the fortifications are built. You must understand these things clearly. .” Chen Changhao explained: "Let the political commissar Zhang Erxin of the Pistol Battalion go with him." After Zhang Erxin arrived, Kuang Jixun took out a box gun and handed it to Wu Ruilin.Wu Ruilin's heart became hot, from the beginning when he was tied up to lead the way, now he gave himself the gun, which shows that the Red Army no longer treats him as an outsider.He told Kuang Jixun that he doesn't know how to use a gun, just give him a knife.Kuang Jixun handed the dagger carried by the correspondent to Wu Ruilin and said to him solemnly: "Xiao Wu, this is a test for you, you must be cautious."

Along the way, the two avoided densely populated villages and towns such as Zhenziya and Qingjiangdu, tried their best to take remote mountain paths, detoured into a small forest to the northeast of the Bahe River, and hid in a small forest to the northeast of the Bahe River. After dark, they crossed the Bahe River to the South niche slope to reconnaissance.After dark, the two of them came to the bank of the Ba River. Looking from the river, there were improvised thatched huts on the other side of the river in Beishan, Xishan, and Nanshan. They could see enemies entering and leaving the thatched huts.The river was so quiet that not a single boat could be seen.It can be seen that after the fall of Tongjiang and the battle of killing Niuping, the enemy has become alert.Wu Ruilin pointed to the big trees on the other side of the river and told Zhang Erxin: "Do you see the big trees on the other side?"

Zhang Erxin asked puzzledly: "I saw it, what's the matter?" Wu Ruilin smiled: "Didn't you say that many people in the Red Army can't swim? When attacking, bring a few long ropes, let those who can swim pass first, tie the rope to the tree, and fix the end of the rope to the tree. Soldiers pulled the rope across the river, wouldn't that solve the problem of not being able to swim?" When Zhang Erxin heard it, he kept saying a good way.When it was time to cross the river, Wu Ruilin tied the rope around Zhang Erxin's waist, and led Zhang Erxin, who couldn't swim, to the other side quietly.In northern Sichuan in the twelfth lunar month, the river was icy cold, and the water went from waist-deep to chest-deep to the neck.Wu Ruilin and Zhang Erxin were frozen stiff, and their feet and hands were numb like sticks. Fortunately, the water was not too deep and the river was not wide. They crossed the river and quickly hid in the bushes on the other side of the mountain.After regaining their breath, the numbness of their hands and feet was no longer there, and the two quietly touched the south niche slope.The South Shrine Slope is the commanding height in Bazhong City. From here, you can have a panoramic view of Bazhong City.Zhang Erxin carefully observed the terrain and the defense situation in the city, and Wu Ruilin quietly introduced the layout of the city to him. On the way back to the army, Wu Ruilin accidentally met Lao Jiang, a fisherman who was his former development target.From Lao Jiang, they learned that there was an enemy regiment of about four to five thousand people in the city.Old Jiang and the others secretly hid two boats.After returning to the headquarters, Xu Xiangqian and Kuang Jixun listened to the report overnight. Xu Xiangqian was very satisfied with the reconnaissance situation, especially Wu Ruilin's proposal that those who can swim should cross the river first, tie the rope to the tree, and let the soldiers pull the rope to cross the river. River's suggestion is taken seriously.Xu Xiangqian still asked Wu Ruilin and Lao Jiang to lead the Red Twelfth Division to attack Bazhong.Following the path pointed out by Wu Ruilin, the troops successfully captured Bazhong after a day and night of fighting.The Twelfth Division took advantage of the victory to pursue and occupied Pingliang, Dongxing, and Lianglukou, and confronted the enemy across the Enyang River.The 11th Division and the 73rd Division pursued northward, and Liu Hanxiong's troops of the Sichuan Army rushed all the way and abandoned Nanjiang County.So far, the Red Fourth Front Army has occupied the three counties of Tongjiang, Nanjiang, and Bazhong. On the fourth day after the liberation of Bazhong, Xu Xiangqian and Chen Changhao specially met Wu Ruilin and praised him for his efforts and contributions in welcoming the Red Army and leading the way to capture Tongjiang and Bazhong City.Wu Ruilin recalled: Commander Xu asked me: "Xiao Wu, when did you join the party?" I said, "I haven't joined the party yet, and I'm still a member of the league." He then asked, "How long have you been in the league? Why don't you transfer to the party?" ?” I said, “…you didn’t mention the transfer of the party.” Chen Changhao heard from the side and said, “It’s time to transfer the party now! It will start from the day you welcome the Red Army!” Commander Xu nodded in agreement ... Then, political commissar Chen Changhao told Yuan Keke to go through the procedures for me to transfer to the party. In the first ten days of February 1933, at the first Party Congress and the first Soviet meeting in the Sichuan-Shaanxi Soviet Area, Wu Ruilin was elected as the Minister of Youth Works, in charge of youth work. Soon, he was appointed to form the International Pioneer Group of the Communist Party of China with Qiu Yuansheng.The newly formed Youth Communist Regiment has a company of 160 people, with Wu Ruilin as the company commander and Qiu Yuansheng as the instructor.Not long after the Youth Communist League was established, it was reported that the former Kuomintang member and county police chief had packed some things in wooden barrels and sank to the bottom of the river before fleeing.Wu Ruilin and Qiu Yuansheng immediately decided to let the first batch of fighters of the newly formed Young Communist Regiment fight the first battle.On the same day, Wu Ruilin led two water-savvy soldiers to dive to the bottom of the river for reconnaissance, and found a total of thirty-two wooden barrels.When they were salvaged, there were two barrels of guns, a total of 27 guns; one barrel of bullets, a total of more than 3,000 rounds;Approved by Zheng Yizhai, head of the General Manager Department, guns and ammunition became the first batch of weapons and equipment for the Communist Youth League. monthly food expenses.Due to the enthusiasm of the local people to join the Red Army, it didn't take long for the Youth Communist Regiment to expand to four companies, and Wu Ruilin and Qiu Yuansheng were promoted to battalion commanders and instructors.