From Jinggangshan to Beijing - A Chronicle of the Central Reserve Guard Unit, the Precursor of the First Guard Division

Author: Han Ping
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-09-01
Features: In the spring of 1934, the Central Revolutionary Military Committee decided to send the security detachment led by the State Political Security Bureau to clear bandits in Western Fujian. Wu Lie was appointed as the commander of the security detachment, and Ouyang Yi as the political commissar. The security detachment was ordered to lead the troops from Ruijin into Changting, coming under the command of the Fujian Provincial Military Region. At that time, Ye Jianying was the commander of the Fujian Provincial Military Region. The security detachment arrived in Changting in late March. Upon arrival, Wu Lie and Ouyang Yi went to report to the military region. Commander Ye warmly greeted them, shaking their hands tightly and saying, "Long time no see." While speaking, Ye Jianying invited them to sit down, poured them each a cup of water, and had a conversation with them. Ye Jianying inquired about the personnel, weapons and equipment, and political and ideological situation of the security detachment. Previously, Ye Jianying had been the Chief of Staff of the Red Army, and for a long time, the security detachment had been guarding the commander. The next day, a meeting was held to discuss the deployment of operations against the bandits. The participants included: responsible comrades of the Fujian Provincial Military Region, Wang Jinxiang, the head of the Fujian Provincial Security Bureau, Cao Diteng, the commander of the Liancheng Military Subregion, Wu Lie, the commander of the security detachment, and Ouyang Yi, the political commissar. At the meeting, Commander Ye Jianying made important instructions, discussed the activities of the enemy in Western Fujian, spoke of the damage to local Party organizations and the suffering of the people, laid out the deployment for clearing the bandits, assigned specific tasks and policies, and emphasized matters needing attention. To concentrate forces and unify command, it was decided to temporarily form the Western Fujian Independent Brigade, composed of the State Political Security Detachment, the security detachment led by the Fujian Provincial Security Bureau, and the Mingguang Independent Camp. Wu Lie was appointed as the commander, and Ouyang Yi as the political commissar. Subsequently, Wu Lie and Ouyang Yi mobilized the troops and conducted education on clearing bandits. On the fifth day, the Western Fujian Independent Brigade left Changting, advanced through Hetian to Tongfang and Luofang, and fought a battle where the enemy fled. The troops stayed in Luofang for two days, and the Western Fujian Independent Brigade conducted clearing operations in the surrounding mountains, seizing many belongings of the wealthy and distributing them to the local poor. Later, Wu Lie and Ouyang Yi moved from Luofang to Liancheng County and further studied the specific deployment for clearing the bandits at the military subregion, assigned tasks, and discussed methods for reconnaissance and communication. They determined that the troops would clear bandits, boy soldiers, and the Big Sword Society in areas such as Luofang, Shangxia, Wuguo, Litian, and Licun. The Western Fujian Independent Brigade fought several battles, eliminating 600 to 700 bandits, effectively striking down the arrogance of local counter-revolutionary forces, protecting the lives, property, and peace of the people in the Soviet region, and allowing the work of the Party and Soviet governments at all levels in Liancheng to resume. Local work became active, production enthusiasm rose, the lives of the people were secure, and the revolutionary enthusiasm of the masses further increased, with social order remaining relatively stable. In early April, after the Western Fujian Independent Brigade arrived in Liancheng, it first launched a surprise attack on the bandits, boy soldiers, and the Big Sword Society in Shangxia Village. This battle was the most influential and successful one in the Western Fujian Independent Brigade's clearing operations in the Liancheng area. The Western Fujian Independent Brigade occupied Shangxia Village, setting up its headquarters in a three-story watchtower in the village. The bandits, boy soldiers, and the Big Sword Society attempted to surround Shangxia Village from all sides, hoping to eliminate the Red Army. After receiving intelligence, the Western Fujian Independent Brigade, to occupy