There are various theories about how the Japanese army discovered Huangya Cave, and the following two are more common:
Traitor betrayal: There is a theory that at that time, a soldier of the Eighth Route Army named Zhao Jichun defected and leaked the location of the Huangyadong base to the Japanese army.
Aircraft reconnaissance: Another theory is that the Japanese army sent planes to reconnoiter the Taihang Mountain area and found that there were a large number of military and civilian activities in the Huangyadong area, so it was determined that the headquarters of the Eighth Route Army was located.
There is also a theory that in early October 1941, in a battle near Taiyuan, a staff officer of the Eighth Route Army was captured, and under the torture and inducement of the Japanese army, he betrayed the intelligence of the Huangyadong Arsenal and drew a map of the Huangyadong Cave for the Japanese army. After receiving this important information, the Japanese army immediately dispatched a reconnaissance plane to conduct aerial reconnaissance of Huangyadong.
All of the above are possible scenarios, and further historical research may be needed to confirm which one is true.
Huangya Cave is located in Licheng County, Shanxi Province, China, at the northern end of the Taihang Mountains, with an altitude of 1,500-2,000 meters. The mountains composed of hard red quartz sandstone and shale layers here are cut out of the canyon by the huge energy generated by the relative movement of the earth's crust, and the cliffs stretch for dozens of kilometers, rising from the ground and reaching into the sky. Because there is a natural cave with a height of 25 meters, a width of 20 meters and a depth of 40 meters on the steep wall, it is called "Huangya Cave", and the nearby mountains are named "Huangya Cave" because of it, including Weng Yu Corridor, Black Tiger Mouth, Water Kiln Mountain, Peach Blossom Village and so on.
Huangya Cave is not only a natural scenic spot, but also an important revolutionary historical site. During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, it was the largest ordnance base behind enemy lines in North China. In July 1939, the Military Industry Department of the Eighth Route Army Headquarters moved the headquarters construction office located in Hanzhuang Village, Yushe County to Huangyadong, and expanded it into the largest arsenal of our army behind enemy lines in North China at that time. This arsenal produces ** ammunition per year and can equip 16 regiments. Huangya Cave retains many relics of the largest arsenal in North China and the defense of Huangya Cave. Therefore, Huangya Cave is known as the "Anti-Japanese War Museum without Walls", and is a national forest park and a national patriotic education demonstration base. The main relics of Huangya Cave include the Zhenwei Tower, the Blood Flower Pavilion, the Suspension Bridge Natural Insurance, the Huangya Cave Defense War Martyrs' Cemetery, the Monument, the Arsenal Workshop Site and so on. These relics bear witness to the arduous history of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, as well as the perseverance and heroic struggle of the Chinese people.
The Battle of Huangyadong was a positional defensive battle conducted by the Special Service Group of the Eighth Route Army Headquarters from November 11 to 19, 1941 in order to defend the Huangyadong Arsenal. This was part of Taihang's 1941 winter campaign.
In this battle, the Special Service Regiment of the Eighth Route Army Headquarters fought fiercely for eight days and nights with less than one regiment, successfully resisting the frantic attack of more than 5,000 Japanese troops, and creating a successful example of defeating the strong with the weak. The Eighth Route Army wiped out more than 700 Japanese troops at the cost of more than 140 people, which was the most successful defense battle of the Eighth Route Army and created a history of the Eighth Route Army winning more with less.
This battle was evaluated by the ** Military Commission as "the most successful model battle of the anti-sweep since 1941", and the headquarters of the Eighth Route Army awarded the special service regiment the glorious title of "Huangyadong Defense Battle Hero Regiment". This battle showed the prestige of the Eighth Route Army's millet plus rifles, destroyed the arrogance of the Japanese invading army, and created a miracle in the history of domestic and international wars in which fewer won more and inferior equipment defeated high-quality equipment, so it became famous all over the world.
The natural beauty and revolutionary history of Huangya Cave make it a unique tourist destination that attracts a large number of tourists and history buffs. This place not only offers magnificent natural scenery but also an opportunity to delve into the history of China's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. The story of Huangya Cave is a symbol of the indomitable spirit of the Chinese people and a symbol of China's victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan.