Long March - An Epic of Heroes

Author: Chinese People's Revolutionary Military Museum / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: "Yun-Gui-Chuan" Offers a Brilliant Strategy On September 16, 1935, the Shaanxi-Gansu Column, newly reorganized from the Red First Army, launched several attacks on Lazikou but failed due to unfavorable terrain. The main attacking force, the Fourth Regiment, had to pause and reconsider their battle plan. The focus was on whether to organize a flanking unit to climb the cliffs on the side of Lazigou and launch a pincer attack. Just as everyone was struggling to find a solution, a Miao soldier nicknamed "Yun-Gui-Chuan" volunteered with confidence: "At home, I often gather herbs and chop firewood, climbing mountains and steep cliffs. With a long pole tied with a sturdy hook at the end, I can hook onto tree roots, crevices, or rock edges on the cliffs and climb up section by section until I reach the summit." Instantly, everyone stared at him in astonishment.
Everyone knew that if one person could make it up, a whole company or even a battalion could follow. Given the importance of the mission, after obtaining approval from the army's leadership, the Fourth Regiment decided to boldly test the plan. At dusk, the regiment commander Wang Kaixiang led the flanking unit to escort "Yun-Gui-Chuan" across Lazikou River and quietly moved toward the cliffs on the side of Lazikou.
"Yun-Gui-Chuan" was barefoot, his waist wrapped in long ropes twisted from soldiers' bandoliers, and he held a long pole. He quickly reached the base of the cliffs. Looking up, he extended the pole and the hook firmly grasped a tree root. With nimble movements like an ape, he climbed up gracefully, pausing and advancing alternately. As he climbed higher, his figure became smaller and smaller. Every move he made held the attention of every soldier and commander.
Soon, a long rope descended in a beautiful arc from the sky—success! The reduplicated soldiers, brimming with determination, quickly climbed up one by one along the rope. The enemy had no defenses on the cliffs and never dreamed the Red Army would scale the knife-like edge. The Fourth Regiment's flanking operation was a success.
Attacking from Above and Below to Secure the Pass At dawn, a red and green signal flare rose one after another, signaling the start of the general attack. The flanking unit, having climbed to the cliff's high point, targeted the enemy's open fortifications and positions below, throwing hand grenades one after another. All light machine guns and assault rifles opened fire, driving the enemy into chaos.
The (assault teams) of the main attacking force, armed with horse rifles and gleaming broadswords, seized the momentum to charge toward the wooden bridge, hacking left and right at the enemy. In no time, the Red Army captured the two fortifications at the pass and expanded its gains into the depths of the gorge. After nearly three hours of fierce fighting, both defensive lines at Lazikou were breached. The enemy fled in disarray, and the Red Army seized the strategic pass of Lazikou.
The Significance of the Battle Nie Rongzhen, the Political Commissar of the Red First Army who commanded the battle at Lazikou, later recalled: "The battle of Lazikou opened the path northward. If Lazikou had not been secured, our army would have been trapped—no way to retreat south and no way to advance north. Militarily and politically, we would have been in a state of indecision. Now that Lazikou is open, the entire strategy has taken shape." (P109-110)