In October 1936, the three main forces of the Red Army triumphantly joined forces, and after that, with the approval of the Military Commission, the Red Army established the Western Route Army and entered the Hexi Corridor to fight. The Western Route Army had three armies, namely the Red Fifth Army, the Red Ninth Army and the Red 30th Army, with a total of more than 20,000 people. Unfortunately, due to various reasons, the Western Route Army was defeated, most of the officers and soldiers died heroically, and only a few successfully broke through.
The person we are going to talk about today is a member of the Western Route Army, and he also served as the political commissar of the Red Ninth Army, named Chen Haisong. During the battle of the Western Route Army, Chen Haisong died heroically because of the retreat of the headquarters at the age of 23. So, what is the story of Chen Haisong?
Chen Haisong was born in 1914 in Dawu, Hubei Province, in a poor peasant family. When he was a child, Chen Haisong's mother died, and the life of Chen Haisong's family became more difficult. However, even with such difficulties, the family gritted their teeth and insisted on allowing Chen Haisong to study in private school for a few years, but because of the family's poverty, Chen Haisong dropped out of school and returned home soon after.
During the Agrarian Revolution, the flames of revolution were ignited in the Dabie Mountains, and Chen Haisong also participated in the local children's regiment, mainly standing guard, guarding and transmitting intelligence for the Red Army. After a period of understanding of the Red Army, Chen Haisong also asked to join the Red Army, but his family did not agree, in 1930, Chen Haisong joined the Red Army without telling his family, and after he joined the army, Chen Haisong became a full party member the following year.
After that, Chen Haisong participated in the construction of the Hubei-Henan-Anhui base area, and his performance was very outstanding, and he was quickly promoted from an ordinary soldier to the platoon commander of the combat company. In 1931, after the establishment of the Red Fourth Front Army, Zhang Guotao carried out a "rebellion" in the Hubei-Henan-Anhui base area, and Chen Haisong was also implicated and demoted to an ordinary soldier.
In October 1932, the Red Fourth Front Army left the Hubei-Henan-Anhui base area and moved to the Sichuan-Shaanxi area, establishing the Sichuan-Shaanxi base area. During his stay in the Sichuan-Shaanxi base area, Zhang Guotao continued to carry out "suppression of rebellion," and many cadres were mistreated and dismissed from their posts. At this time, the Red Fourth Front Army lacked grassroots cadres, and in this context, Chen Haisong was reactivated.
In 1933, the Red Fourth Front Army was expanded, and the Red 12th Division was expanded into the Red Ninth Army, Chen Haisong served as the political commissar of the military teaching team, and soon after he served as the political commissar of the 73rd Regiment, and was immediately promoted to the political commissar of the Red 25th Division. In one year, Chen Haisong was promoted to three levels in a row, creating a good story. At the end of 1934, Chen Haisong was promoted to political commissar of the Red Ninth Army and became a senior cadre of the Red Fourth Front Army.
In 1935, Chen Haisong led his troops to participate in the Long March, during which he continued to perform miraculous feats and made important contributions to the victory of the Red Fourth Front Army. In October 1936, the three main forces of the Red Army met, after which the Western Route Army was established, and Chen Haisong also joined the Western Route Army and continued to serve as the political commissar of the Red Ninth Army.
After that, Chen Haisong led the Red Ninth Army into the Hexi Corridor to fight, mainly undertaking the rearguard task of the Western Route Army. However, after entering the Hexi Corridor, the Red Ninth Army was besieged by the enemy many times, and the logistical supply also faced great problems, and the grassroots cadres of the Red Ninth Army suffered heavy casualties, and the vitality of the entire army was greatly damaged.
On March 12, 1937, the Red 30th Army and the Western Route Army entered the area of Liyuan Fort in Gansu Province to rest, while Chen Haisong led his troops to Liyuan Pass and continued to undertake the rearguard task to cover the large army. Soon after, the enemy's cavalry pursued, and Chen Haisong ordered the personnel of the agency to retreat, and he led the fighters to fight the enemy, delaying time and covering the retreat of the military headquarters and the Red 30th Army.
At that time, the situation was very critical, if the enemy crossed this line of defense, then the military headquarters of the Western Route Army and the Red 30th Army would face a catastrophe, at the critical moment, Chen Haisong gave up the opportunity to break through, and won more than an hour for the large army, and he himself died on the battlefield with a group of soldiers, only 23 years old.