American journalists** were the first to report to the world on the feat of the Red Army's Long March.
Regarding the Red Army's Long March, ** called it "the grandest armed propaganda tour in history";
Chiang Kai-shek asserted that the Red Army's Long March was "self-defeating";
Many Kuomintang generals called the Red Army's Long March "a rout" and a "great rout";
However, *** excitedly declared to the whole party and the whole army: The Red Army's Long March is a great victory!
Was the Red Army's Long March a "self-defeating victory" or a "great victory"?
On this issue, both sides of the world, all sectors of society, and the international community have different opinions.
Let's break it down on this issue.
Unprecedented and unique.
On December 27, 1935, just after the conclusion of the "Seventh National Congress" of the Communist Party of China, the "Party Activists Conference" was held by the Communist Party of China.
** At the meeting, the Chairman delivered a report entitled "On the Tactics of Opposing Japanese Imperialism".
Speaking of the just-concluded Long March of the Red Army, **First of all, ask:
Since Pangu opened the world, the three emperors and five emperors to the present, has there ever been a long march like ours in history? ”
Those who are familiar with history books and classics and know the past and the present know very well: The Red Army's 25,000-mile Long March is the most tragic feat of mankind since the beginning of the world, and it is unique in the world!
The officers and men of the Red Army still remember the ordeal they had just experienced
Since the Red Army embarked on the Long March, Chiang Kai-shek has mobilized millions of heavy troops to encircle, pursue, and intercept.
In addition to the National Army, there were also local warlord troops such as Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Sichuan, Chuankang, Northwest and Northeast Armies, as well as the cavalry of the Majia Army.
As ** said, this largest "armed march" in history was on a grand scale, almost all the Red Army troops were dispatched, the Kuomintang army mobilized millions of troops, and countless local militia groups and other armed forces were mobilized, and the momentum was huge and earth-shattering.
** said: "In the middle of 12 months, dozens of planes in the sky reconnoiter and bomb every day, and hundreds of thousands of troops underground surrounded and intercepted, and encountered endless difficulties and dangers on the way. ”
Chiang Kai-shek's intentions were obvious, and his appetite was not small - to finish the battle in one battle, to completely destroy the Red Army, to remove his troubles.
But we drove each person's two feet, and drove more than 20,000 miles, crisscrossing eleven provinces. * Finger wrenched, three numbers were announced.
Has there ever been a long march like ours in history? *Ask again.
** Categorical: "No, never!" His words reveal confidence, pride, and some tragedy.
The Long March was the first in history, and the Long March was a manifesto. ”
** I solemnly declare to the whole world: the Red Army is all heroes and heroes, and the encirclement, pursuit and interception of Chiang Kai-shek and others are "completely useless"!
The Long March is a propaganda team, and the Long March is a seeding machine.
** The arduous Long March is vividly compared to a "seeding machine", such words are very in line with the language style of *** - simple and easy to understand.
"It spreads many seeds in eleven provinces, sprouts, grows leaves, blossoms, bears fruit, and will be harvested in the future," he said. ”
Two months ago, the Red Army arrived in Wuqi Town, northern Shaanxi, and at a meeting of cadres above the regimental level, "seeds" were mentioned for the first time.
In that meeting, ** wet his eyes before he could speak.
Looking at the Red Army soldiers in front of him who were ragged and thin-skinned, **'s heart was aching.
The main force of the Red Army numbered more than 80,000 when it set out on the expedition, but when it arrived in northern Shaanxi, there were less than 7,000 left, and tens of thousands of Red officers and soldiers died on the long march.
** said: "Comrades have been tempered a thousand times, you are all the seeds of the revolution!" ”
Our cause is great and the future is bright! * Raise your voice, and your words are full of pride and passion of "invincible, who else can I be".
Writing this, the author can't help but feel a lot of emotion.
Needless to say, if it had not been for the defeat of the Fifth Anti-Encirclement and Suppression Struggle, perhaps there would have been no Long March of 10,000 miles in the future.
To some extent, the Red Army's Long March was passive and forced.
It can be imagined that there are blockade lines one after another in front, and there are pursuing soldiers in the rear, and the taste of the Red Army officers and men is absolutely unbearable.
In contrast, the days of ** are more difficult.
In the early days of the Long March, ** was suppressed by the left-leaning line, lost military power, and was even deprived of the right to speak.
Seeing that the Red Army had suffered repeated setbacks under the command of the "left-leaning" leaders and had lost the red base areas, he was depressed and depressed.
After the Zunyi Conference, ** finally gained command of the Red Army.
However, at this time, the Red Army was already overwhelmed, while the enemy's encirclement and interception continued unabated, and new problems arose.
Where did the Red Army go? What is the future of the Chinese revolution?
The pressure is mountainous.
Fortunately, *** has an incomparably powerful heart, a super brain, and a pair of eyes beyond ordinary people.
He was able to foresee the dawn in the darkness and see hope in the midst of despair.
Not only that, but ** also has the "superpower" to quickly transmit this "positive energy" to comrades.
With just a few words, ** can ignite the flame of hope and victory of the soldiers!
Who else can have such self-confidence, such a strong appeal and appeal!
** What ignited in the hearts of the soldiers was the flame of faith, and what the Red Army sowed on the Long March was the "seed" of revolution.
It proclaimed to some 20,000 people in eleven provinces that only the path of the Red Army was the way to liberate them. ”
** Explained: "If it were not for this (Long March), how could the broad masses of the people know so quickly that there is such a great truth as the Red Army in the world? ”
**This vernacular shows a big thing, that is, to do a good job in military-civilian relations, mobilize the masses, propagate the revolution, "expand popularity" and develop.
This is the "exclusive secret book" of our party and our army from small to large, from weak to strong, and from victory to victory.
It is precisely with this in mind that there is a "seeder".
In fact, when the Red Army broke away from its pursuers and entered the southern Sichuan region, the Red Army's opponents (especially Chiang Kai-shek) also paid attention to the issue of "civil-military relations".
One day, Chiang Kai-shek received two investigation reports from front-line combat units, the contents of which were "enemy situation" and "self-situation" respectively.
After reading these two reports, Chiang Kai-shek was really taken aback, and then his face was full of sadness.
In a secret telegram sent to Liu Xiang and Pan Wenhua the next day, Chiang Kai-shek said:
It has been reported that when the former 'Zhu and Mao bandits' were in southern Sichuan, they did not harass the people at all, and some people who ate the radishes in the soil because they were hungry would put a copper dollar in the soil for every head they took. ”
When it came to Xuyong again, four people in the regiment were captured, and only one of them was killed, and the rest were released, so as to incite the people and wait for the situation. ”
Chiang Kai-shek was not confused, he was also well aware of the stakes of "the people's will to turn their backs", so he made a request in a secret telegram:
The army and group to which he belongs ...... areLove the people and don't be taken advantage of by 'bandits'. ”
Chiang Kai-shek's remarks were related to the second report received that day. This report reflected to Chiang Kai-shek some chaos in the Kuomintang army.
At that time, the ** Red Army crossed Chishui and approached Xuyong County.
Liu Xiang, the king of Sichuan, urgently ordered several troops that had already entered Guizhou and were about to enter Guizhou to rush back to Xuyong to jointly defend against the Red Army's attack.
For a time, nearly 100,000 Sichuan troops gathered in the Xuyong area.
According to the report, due to the influx of a large number of Sichuan troops into the Xuyong area, the military grain here was immediately abundant, and the people's warehouses were scarce, and even the grain seeds hidden in the homes of the common people were eaten by the Sichuan army.
In addition, the military discipline of the Sichuan army has always been corrupt, and incidents of burning, killing and looting have occurred frequently, and the local people have complained of bitterness and hatred, and the relationship between the common people and the Sichuan army is like fire and water.
There are two reports before and after, two armies, two completely different styles, and two worlds of different military-civilian relations.
As a matter of fact, under extremely difficult circumstances, the Red Army still maintained the fine style of "not taking a stitch from the masses."
Everywhere the Red Army went, it paid great attention to improving relations between the military and the people, and even in areas where there was no foundation, the Red Army was able to get along with the common people in a short period of time.
In 1984, the reporter of "Re-taking the Long March Road" reported a story of "half a quilt".
One evening in the winter of 1934, three female Red Army soldiers stayed at a farmer's house in a small mountain village in Rucheng County, Hunan.
The peasant couple had only one bed in their home, and in the cold winter they didn't have a quilt on their bed, but only straw.
When it came time to go to bed that night, the couple insisted on giving up their only bed, but the female Red Army soldier insisted on refusing.
In the end, the man let his wife huddle together with three female Red Army soldiers on a bed, and he curled up on the haystack all night.
That night, they were covered with the only quilt that the female Red Army soldiers carried with them.
The next day, when the Red Army woman was about to leave the farmhouse and continue her journey, the Red Army woman cut the quilt in two and left half of it for the couple.
The female soldier of the Red Army said: "When the revolution succeeds, I will definitely send you a brand new quilt." ”
In the decades that followed, the hostess reportedly regarded the half quilt as a treasure, hidden at the bottom of the box, and was reluctant to take it out.
It wasn't until she died that the hostess handed over the half quilt to her children, and told her: "Don't forget the Communist Party, only one quilt will be given to you in half, they are the best good people in the world." ”
The relationship between the Red Army and the common people became more and more harmonious in the midst of similar trivial matters, and the common people trusted the Communist Party and loved the Red Army, and no matter how much the Kuomintang "smeared" it, it was in vain.
During the Long March, the Red Army not only sowed red seeds and won the trust of the common people, but also influenced a Kuomintang lieutenant general.
This Kuomintang lieutenant general is called Zhang Zhenhan, who was once the commander of the 41st Division of the Kuomintang Army and the commander of the first column.
In June 1935, Zhang Zhenhan led his troops to a fierce battle with the ** department.
During the battle, Zhang Zhenhan was shot several times, was wounded and fell to the ground, becoming a prisoner of the Red Army.
Zhang Zhenhan never expected that the Red Army not only did not kill him, but also tried his best to treat his injuries and illness, and asked him to become a teacher at the Red Army School.
In the process of following the Red Army's Long March, ** authorized Zhang Zhenhan to enjoy the treatment that only corps-level chiefs have: traveling on a mule, with special service personnel to take care of his life.
When crossing the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Zhang Zhenhan accidentally fell into the recess with a mule.
It was the commanders and fighters of the Red Army who held hands and risked their lives to rescue him.
If Zhang Zhenhan had some helplessness in following the Red Army's Long March before, after this incident, Zhang Zhenhan followed the Red Army team with all his heart, vowing to dedicate all his military knowledge and combat experience to the Red Army.
After the liberation, Zhang Zhenhan recalled: "I was fortunate to meet communists like Mr. He, and I saw in them the hope of the country and the nation. ”
I am also proud because I participated in the 25,000-mile Long March, which will go down in history. Zhang Zhenhan was the only senior Kuomintang general who followed the Red Army's Long March.
"All in all, the Long March ended with our victory and the enemy's defeat. ”
There is such a plot in the TV series "The Battle of Changsha":
The Kuomintang Changsha garrison general invited Peng Zhonghua, director of the "Eighth Office," and asked him to teach him the "guerrilla warfare" tactics of the Eighth Route Army.
During the lecture, Peng Zhonghua inadvertently mentioned the battle of the Red Army's forced crossing of the Dadu River when he listed the battle examples, but unexpectedly stung Xue Yue, who was stopping outside the door.
Xue Yue's face was suddenly full of anger, and he threw his sleeves away.
It turned out that this past incident was exactly the "Waterloo" that Xue Yue was most reluctant to mention.
At that time, Xue Yueqin led an army of 200,000 to block and chase after him, but he failed to prevent the Red Army from crossing the Dadu River.
Peng Zhonghua brought up that disgraceful old matter in front of Xue Yue's subordinates, so it was no wonder that Xue Yue was furious.
During the Red Army's Long March, Xue Yue was a sharp blade in Chiang Kai-shek's hands and one of the hardest working cadres to encircle and suppress the Red Army.
He personally led the eight divisions of the National Army, closely followed the Red Army troops, chased all the way from Jiangxi Xingguo to the southwest, and then "followed the same trend" to northern Sichuan, and successively traveled to more than 10 provinces until the Red Army was "sent" to the red base area in northern Shaanxi.
It can be said that the Red Army's Long March was 25,000 miles, and Xue Yue pursued at least 20,000 miles, and Xue Yue almost accompanied the Red Army through the "whole process" of the Long March.
So much so that *** once said so humorously: "There is Brother Lao Boling to send it away".
Unlike Xue Yue's "full accompaniment", Zhang Xueliang's Northeast Army only joined the ranks of the encirclement and suppression of the Red Army in the later stages of the Long March.
The Northeast Army fought with the Red Army for a short time, but it left a deep impression on Zhang Xueliang, so much so that he still remembers it more than half a century later.
After being transferred to northern Shaanxi, Zhang Xueliang's Northeast Army suffered heavy losses from the Red Army in two months, and its troops were lost.
His opponent was an army that had just gone through a journey of thousands of miles, lacked men and horses, and was extremely poorly equipped.
On October 1, 1935, the headquarters of the 110th Division of the Northeast Army and two regiments fought with the Red 15th Army in Ganquan Laoshan, and after a battle, more than 1,000 people under He Lizhong, the commander of the 110th Division, were killed and more than 3,700 were captured.
Subsequently, one regiment and one battalion of the 107th Division were annihilated at Yulin Bridge south of Ganquan, ** more than 300 people, and more than 1,800 people under the regiment commander Gao Fuyuan were taken prisoner by the Red Army.
On November 21, the Red First Army launched the Battle of Zhiluo Town, and after three days of fierce fighting, a regiment of the 109th Division and the 106th Division of the Northeast Army was completely annihilated, killing more than 1,000 people under the division commander Niu Yuanfeng and capturing more than 5,000 people.
The Northeast Army was defeated by the Red Army one after another, which not only made Zhang Xueliang lose face, but also made Zhang Xueliang "puzzled".
Zhang Xueliang was very puzzled: After a 25,000-mile long march, the Red Army was already a tired and weak division.
However, why can such an army still maintain such a strong combat effectiveness, and actually defeat the Northeast Army, which is waiting for work at ease and equipped many times better than them.
What kind of army is the Red Army, what kind of character is it, Zhang Xueliang is full of curiosity about these questions, and has been with people more than once.
After the Xi'an Incident, Zhang Xueliang once consulted *** on this issue
The answer was: "The Red Army is an army of faith, and our *** chairman is the one who gives them faith." ”
In 1991, the Center for Oral History Research at Columbia University interviewed General Zhang Xueliang, who was 90 years old at the time.
When talking about the Red Army's Long March, Zhang Xueliang said to the interviewer with emotion:
This man is born to lead. ”
They are all leading troops, and the long march ...... thousands of milesI want to get it, the meeting is gone, he (the soldier) won't go with you, he runs away. He (** can rule, he has this power. ”
After the Red Army's Long March reached northern Shaanxi, Chiang Kai-shek once again "dumped" the motley army, and his aides commented that "this is obviously not scientific."
The road to the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is also a "long march" full of thorns, twists and turns.
The CPC and the Chinese people still need to carry a heavy burden forward!