Sun Yuqing
Born in 1909 in Hong'an County, Hubei Province, the famous General County, he grew up in a poor family, only attended private school for six years, and after dropping out of school, Sun Yuqing joined the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army. In the Red Fourth Front, where workers and peasant cadres gathered, after countless battles, Sun Yuqing gradually stood out.
He fought bravely, was brilliant in his wisdom and resourcefulness, was good at winning more with less, fought many hard and vicious battles in Eyuwan and Sichuan-Shaanxi Soviet regions, and had the reputation of "general of war". In 1934, Sun Yuqing was promoted to the commander of the 31st Army of the Red Fourth Front, at the age of 25.
Compared with Yu Tianyun, Wang Hongkun, Xu Shiyou and others, Sun Yuqing looks unique. In the Red Fourth Front Army, whose cultural level is generally not high, Sun Yuqing, who has studied private school for six years, is a fairly cultured person in the team, he likes to read, loves to study, thinks diligently, looks white and pure, and has a Confucian style. In addition, Sun Yuqing is particularly good at handling interpersonal relations, and at the same time, he also attaches great importance to the ideological construction of the troops and the cultivation of their fighting style, and can always come up with a set of his own methods to make the troops form a situation of unity and cooperation, so he enjoys a high prestige in the army. Cadres like this who are brave in battle, who can also do ideological education work, and who can also handle various relations, do not dare to underestimate even Zhang Guotao, who has always rejected intellectuals, and Xu Xiangqian is even more needless to say, so he attaches great importance to Sun Yuqing and promotes him greatly.
However, this battle-hardened and distinguished Red Army general was dismissed after losing a battle, along with his life-and-death partner Chen Haisong, the political commissar of the Red Ninth Army (the youngest military commissar in the history of the Red Army).
Sun Yuqing, commander of the 9th Red Army (left), and Chen Haisong, political commissar (right)
In October 1936, the Red First, Second and Fourth Fronts met the division in victory. According to the complicated international and domestic situation at that time, the Central Revolutionary Military Commission decided to launch the Ningxia Campaign Plan, with the intention of first capturing Ningxia and then taking Ganxi, opening up the international contact line with the Soviet Union in order to obtain military assistance and promote the formation of an anti-Japanese situation in the northwest. In accordance with the strategic arrangements of the CPC Central Committee, it was decided to launch an all-out offensive to Ningxia with the main force of the Red Front and the three armies of the Red Fourth Front as one, and the other two armies of the Red Fourth Front and the main force of the Red Second Front to defend to the south, ready to attack the Ning forces at any time. The 30th Army of the Red Fourth Front undertook the task of shipbuilding, and Li Xiannian, the political commissar of the Red 30 Army who was a carpenter, was solely responsible.
Li Xiannian, political commissar of the Red 30 Army
On the night of October 25, 1936, the 263rd Regiment of the 88th Division of the Red 30th Army, as an avant-garde unit, successfully crossed the Hubaokou in Jingyuan County, Gansu Province, and broke through the river defense position constructed by the Majia Army in one fell swoop.
By October 30, the headquarters of the Red Fourth Front (affiliated units: teaching regiment, women's anti-Japanese vanguard regiment, young pioneer regiment, cavalry division, special task regiment, Huimin detachment) and its main forces, the Red 5th Army, the 9th Army, and the 30th Army, a total of 21,800 people, had crossed the Yellow River and entered Hexi. At this time, the Jingyuan ferry port had been occupied by the pursuing Kuomintang army Guan Linzheng, and the 4th Army and the 31st Army of the Red Fourth Front Army, which remained in Hedong to block and cover the large forces crossing the river, lost the opportunity to cross the river and could only continue to fight in Hedong. At this point, the main force of the Hedong Red Army and the Hexi army were cut off, and the Ningxia campaign plan could not be realized and was forced to terminate. Since then, the Hexi Red Army, which has only carried three or four days' rations, has begun the difficult western expedition.
From left: Dong Zhentang (commander of the 5th Army), Sun Yuqing (commander of the 9th Army), Cheng Shicai (commander of the 30th Army)
On November 10, the Hexi Red Army marched west to Gulang Dajing, and formed the "Western Route Army" under the order of the Central Revolutionary Military Commission, with Commander-in-Chief Xu Xiangqian, Political Commissar Chen Changhao, Deputy Commander-in-Chief Wang Shusheng, Chief of Staff Li Te, Director of the Political Department Li Zhuoran, and Director of the Political Protection Bureau Zeng Chuanliu. At the same time, the Military and Political Committee of the Western Route Army was also established, with Chairman Chen Changhao (who had the final decision power) and Vice Chairman Xu Xiangqian.
The Western Route Army has three corps under its jurisdiction: Dong Zhentang, commander of the 5th Army, Huang Chao, political commissar, Li Pingren, chief of staff, Yang Keming, director of the Political Department, 4 regiments of 2 divisions, more than 3,000 people, more than 1,000 guns, an average of 5 rounds of bullets per gun; Sun Yuqing, commander of the 9th Army, Chen Haisong, political commissar, Chen Bozhi, chief of staff, Zeng Risan, director of the Political Department, 6 regiments of the 2 divisions, more than 6,500 people, more than 2,500 guns, an average of 15 rounds of bullets per gun; Cheng Shicai, commander of the 30th Army, Li Xiannian, political commissar, Huang Huxian, chief of staff, and Li Tianhuan, director of the Political Department. It has jurisdiction over 2 divisions and 6 regiments, more than 7,000 people, more than 3,200 guns, with an average of 25 rounds of bullets per gun; there is also a cavalry division, division commander Dong Junyan, 200 men and horses, 200 guns, an average of 25 rounds of bullets per gun. The total number of 21,800 people in the whole army is about 40 percent, and about 40 percent of the organs, hospitals, wounded and sick, and miscellaneous personnel are employed.
The turning point of the tragic and magnificent journey of the Western Route Army - "Three Battles in Gulang, Ninth Army Folded in Half"
World War I dry firewood
At dawn on November 10, more than 6,500 people of the main force of the Red 9th Army of the Left Wing Column of the Western Route Army marched into Ganchaiwa under the leadership of Sun Yuqing, the commander-in-chief of the Western Route Army, and Chen Haisong, political commissar, accompanied by Wang Shusheng, deputy commander-in-chief of the Western Route Army.
Located in the west of Jingtai and southeast of Gulang County, Ganchaiwa is surrounded by high mountains on all sides, with low-lying beaches in the middle, basically no danger to defend, and the Red Army can imagine the difficulty of blocking the Majia Army, which is several times larger than itself, under such undesirable terrain. After discussion, the headquarters of the Red 9th Army weighed the topographical characteristics here and decided to build fortifications at Niangniangmiao Ridge in the east of the village, the commanding heights of the mountain city ditch beams, and the ancient city of Zitan in the north, laying out defensive lines to block the enemy.
Wang Shusheng film and television drama image
As soon as the Red 9th Army entered the Ganchaiwa area on the front foot, Ma Yuanhai, the commander-in-chief of the Majia Army's front line, led the elite troops of the second horse to chase after them, and the participating units included: the 1st Cavalry Brigade (Brigade Commander Ma Biao, 2,000 people), the 2nd Cavalry Brigade (Ma Yuanhai concurrently served as the brigade commander, 1,700 people), the 1st Brigade of the 5th Cavalry Division (Brigade Commander Ma Lu, 1,700 people), the 2nd Brigade (Brigade Commander Han Qilu, 1,700 people), the 600 regiments of the 300 brigade of the 100 Division (Regiment Commander Ma Quanyi, 1,700 people), and mutual aid. The militia troops composed of the indigenous people of Ledu and other counties were about 10,000 people, with a total strength of more than 20,000 troops, most of whom were cavalry units. Although the Red 9 Army is a corps, it is at best a regular division, with only 2500 guns out of 6500 people, an average of 15 bullets, and most of them can only participate in the battle with large knives and spears.
After the assembly was completed, Ma Yuanhai immediately ordered the participating troops to attack the main force of the Red 9th Army at the mountain city depression on the east side of Ganchaiwa. The 9th Army, at Niangniangmiao Ridge and other places, constantly organized firepower and insisted on fighting back.
In the early morning of the next day, Ma Yuanhai mobilized a large number of militia regiments to cooperate with the cavalry troops, and launched a frenzied attack on the positions of the Red 9Th Army from the east, south, and north in turn with the combination of infantry and cavalry tactics. Under the crazy bombardment of enemy aircraft, in an instant, the position of the Red 9th Army turned into a sea of fire. Under the cover of aircraft, the enemy was arrogant and rampant, fighting with all his might, and charging in place many times, and the officers and men of the 9th Army could only rely on favorable terrain, organize various weapons, seize fighters, and repel the enemy's attacks again and again. At about 3:00 p.m., under the frenzied attack of the enemy like a tidal wave, the Niangniangmiaoling position was lost, and the brigade of men and horses rushed in and pressed directly towards the military headquarters, and the situation was extremely critical. At this time, all the personnel of the military department, including Sun Yuqing, the military commander, Chen Haisong, the political commissar, and the guards, staff officers, and confidential personnel all took up arms and went into battle together to suppress the enemy. Liu Peiji, chief of the 1st Section of the Military Department, was unfortunately shot and killed in leading the personnel of the organs to repel the enemy's attack. Then, the Red 25th Division swerved back behind the enemy, recaptured the commanding heights of Niangniangmiao Ridge, and launched a surprise charge against the enemy. Ma Jiajun was in a state of confusion in an instant, dropped some horses, and fled in defeat.
In this battle, the Red 9th Army suffered more than 200 casualties. That night, taking advantage of the night, the Red 27th Division held the dry chaiwa, covered the withdrawal of the main force of the 9th Army, and advanced towards Hengliang Mountain.
World War II Across Liangshan
On November 12, after the main force of the Red 9th Army advanced west to Hengliang Mountain, Ma Yuanhai led a large number of cavalry troops to arrive at once. To this end, the military commander Sun Yuqing and the political commissar Chen Haisong decided to set up an ambush in the area of Hengliang Mountain, which was dangerously terrain, and inflict heavy damage on the pursuing enemy army. At about 22:00 p.m., three brigades and several militia groups of the Ma Family Army followed and unconsciously entered the ambush circle of the Red Army. Under Sun Yuqing's order, the ambush battle began, and the majia army's vanguard troops were severely damaged, but because the 9th army consumed a large amount of ammunition in the battle of Ganchaiwa and was not replenished in time, it was unable to continue the firepower, and did not cause most casualties to the majia army's rear guard troops. That night, Ma Yuanhai organized a night attack on the Red 9th Army in an attempt to seize the commanding heights. At this time, the Red 9Th Army, known as the "Night Raid Changsheng Army", inflicted heavy damage on the sneaking enemy troops and repelled the enemy's repeated charge. After several charges were repelled, Ma Yuanhai no longer dared to pursue, and the Red 9th Army was able to temporarily get rid of the pursuing army, so it took advantage of the night to advance along the Hengliang Mountains towards Gulang County. In this battle, a total of han qilu, the enemy brigade commander, was wounded, and the enemy deputy commander Ma Sanbiao and more than 300 people below were killed.
Three wars in Gulang County
Before dawn on November 14, the vanguard of the Red 9th Army entered the county seat of Gulang County. The enemy militia regiment defending the city collapsed at the touch of a button, abandoned the city and fled, and the Red 9th Army successfully occupied the county seat of Gulang County. On the 15th, all the follow-up troops of the Red 9th Army were stationed in Gulang County.
When Ma Bufang and Ma Buqing learned of this news, they were extremely shocked and immediately ordered more than 20,000 people from Ma Yuanhai's headquarters to attack Gulang County, while dispatching air support from Lanzhou.
In the face of an enemy army three times larger than himself, Sun Yuqing focused his defense on the hills on the north and south sides, and used the main forces of the Red 25th Division and the 27th Division to defend the southwest direction of the city and the northeast of the city respectively.
At dawn on the 16th, the Majia Army used artillery and air force to indiscriminately bombard Gulang County, and the infantry and cavalry even adopted crazy man-sea tactics to attack and advance, and Gulang County was plunged into a sea of fire. At the beginning of the battle, the enemy seized the commanding heights outside the city with superior troops, guarded most of the casualties of a regiment of the Red Army, and the enemy pressed all the strength of the 9th Army into the city.
On November 17, the Ma family army used its cavalry superiority to storm the city walls. The enemy's cavalry poured into the city like a tidal wave, and the shiny sharp sabers were mercilessly slashed at the Red Army soldiers, and many soldiers fell in pools of blood. When the ammunition was exhausted, the officers and men of the Red 9 Army fought a fierce white-knife battle with the enemy with wooden sticks, large knives, spears, and stones. After repeated battles between the two sides, the Ma family army was defeated and retreated, and although the Red 9 Army held the county seat, it suffered heavy casualties.
On the evening of the 18th, Sun Yuqing was wounded in the battle, and the Red 9 Army suffered heavy casualties, and the troops were difficult to support and were forced to break through. Later, under the support of the 268th Regiment of the Red 30th Army, it withdrew from Gulang County and marched towards Liangzhou, avoiding the consequences of being completely annihilated.
The Red 9th Army went through three major battles in Ganchaiwa, Hengliangshan and Gulang County, killing and wounding more than 2,000 enemy people, but it also suffered 2,400 casualties and lost more than one-third of its strength, which was rare in the combat history of the Red Fourth Front. Among them, only in the battle of Gulang County, Chen Bozhi, chief of staff of the Red 9th Army, Wang Haiqing, commander of the 25th Division, Sheng Xiuduo, political commissar, Li Deming, political commissar of the 27th Division, Yi Hanwen, political commissar of the original religious mentor, and Huang Gaohong, commander of the cavalry regiment, and more than 20 cadres above the regimental level were killed in the battle. Since then, the Red 9Th Army, as the second main force of the Western Route Army, has never recovered, so the main battle of the Western Route Army in the later period only relies on the hard support of the Red 30th Army. The Bloody Battle of Gulang also became a turning point in the defeat of the Western Route Army.
After the war, Chen Changhao, chairman of the Military and Political Committee of the Western Route Army, personally presided over a meeting of cadres at and above the Red 9 Military Camp in Yongchang County. At the meeting, Sun Yuqing, the chief commander of the Battle of Gulang, and Chen Haisong, the political commissar, were severely criticized. This was the first major battle since the Western Expedition, and the Red 9th Army, as a unit of the Red Fourth Front, was good at fighting hard battles, vicious battles and making many meritorious achievements, but in a key battle, it dropped its chain, swallowed the defeat, and lost more than half of the battle. What Chen Changhao could not tolerate even more was that it was Sun Yuqing, a general who had always been able to "win a hundred victories with one hundred", who swallowed the defeat, and in response to this, he was furious and publicly announced that Sun Yuqing was dismissed from his post as military commander and that political commissar Chen Haisong was suspended for inspection.
Sun Yuqing and his life-and-death partner Chen Haisong faced dismissal and criticism without complaint. Because as the main commander of the battle, no matter how strong the enemy is, the battle is lost, and they cannot shirk their main responsibility. In the face of more than 2,400 comrades-in-arms who died heroically, their hearts are guilty, no matter how much criticism or punishment they can only bear in silence, because they only want to make meritorious deeds and avenge the deaths of their comrades-in-arms.
Chen Haisong later died heroically in the battle of Liyuankou to cover the breakthrough of the large troops. Sun Yuqing was unfortunately wounded and captured, and in the face of the enemy's threats and inducements, he regarded death as a homecoming, and was brutally killed by Ma Bufang in late May 1937 at the age of 28.