History of the Long March of the Red Army - Graphic Version for Youth

Author: Zhang Shujun, Yang Ting
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-06-01
Features: The victory in breaking the encirclement of the Red Army 25th Division shook Chiang Kai-shek. On April 20, Chiang Kai-shek gathered more than 30 divisions and ordered Yang Huicheng to launch a larger-scale encirclement against the Red Army 25th Division, demanding its complete destruction within three months. In late May, the Provincial Committee held a meeting in Yunxi County to discuss the operational strategy and plan for resisting the encirclement. Because of his serious injuries, the army commander Cheng Zihua did not attend the meeting. Before the meeting, he introduced Mao Zedong's operational strategies and experiences, such as "luring the enemy deep, then attacking after dragging them out," along with some battle cases from the Central Soviet Region. At the meeting, Xu Haidong proposed the operational strategy of "wearying the enemy first, then attacking." After thorough discussion, the Provincial Committee decided that the guerrilla divisions would stay in place, mobilize the local population to fortify their homes and clear the fields, and carry out widespread guerrilla warfare. The main force of the Red Army 25th Division, meanwhile, would move north first while the Northeast Army had just arrived, aiming to eliminate a portion of them. Then, they would adopt the strategy of "luring the enemy deep, then dragging them out," combining mobile warfare and guerrilla warfare to break the enemy's encirclement.
On the night of June 4 and the morning of June 5, the Red Army 25th Division encountered the enemy near Shangluo Town, killing and wounding over 200 enemy soldiers, including a division commander, and capturing some weapons. They then turned southeast and captured Fushui Pass on the 14th, seized Qingshan Street, and captured over 170 enemy soldiers. On the 16th, the Red Army marched 65 kilometers in a forced march, approaching Jingziguan. The enemy's outer perimeter guard mistook them for their own troops and lined up to welcome them. The Red Army disarmed the enemy without firing a single shot, smoothly passed through the perimeter, and quickly approached the city. The defenders in the city immediately closed the gates and opened fire on the Red Army. The Red Army scaled the walls using human ladders and captured the entire city. At this point, the enemy's deployment was completely disrupted, and their troops were exhausted and demoralized.
The weather in June could change at any moment. While marching, the troops were either exposed to scorching sun or drenched by heavy rain, making the journey extremely difficult. However, to deceive and exhaust the enemy, the Red Army soldiers braved the high mountains and steep paths, indifferent to the sun and rain. Thirsty, they drank mountain spring water; hungry, they ate dry rations. Reliant on their legs, they marched day and night, leading the enemy on a chase.
On July 1, the enemy chased the Red Army to Yuanjiagou Pass. The Red Army arranged its troops overnight, waiting for the enemy to walk into a trap. In the early morning, thick fog covered the area as the enemy gathered at Yuanjiagou Pass. The army leadership gave the attack order. With the sound of bugle calls, various weapons suddenly opened fire, and the enemy was instantly thrown into chaos. Red Army soldiers, like sharp knives, plunged into the enemy ranks, engaging in close-quarters combat. This battle resulted in over 300 enemy kills and injuries and the capture of more than 1,400 enemy soldiers, along with over a thousand weapons of various types. This was an outstanding encirclement and annihilation battle, fully reflecting the maturity and improvement of the Red Army 25th Division in terms of strategy and tactics.
After this victory, the Red Army 25th Division launched a sudden northern offensive, sweeping across Lantian County and advancing to within 10 kilometers of the south of Xi'an. The local people spread the news: "The Red Army has come out of Zhongnan Mountain, and in one day, they've—the people have opened their eyes!" This unexpected move by the Red Army 25th Division greatly shocked the provincial capital of Xi'an, leaving the enemy in the city restless and forcing the Northeast Army's 51st Division, which was about to move from Xi'an to Tianshui, to halt its advance. At this point, Chiang Kai-shek's plan to destroy the Red Army 25th Division within three months was completely ruined. Breaking the enemy's two encirclements, the Hubei-Henan-Shaanxi Base Area had begun to take shape. P095