Fourth Field Army

Author: Zhai Weijia, Cao Hong (editors)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: In the tumultuous history of China's modern revolutionary wars, the Fourth Field Army was one of the five main forces of the People's Liberation Army, renowned far and wide. During the four-year Liberation War, this formidable force, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, fought bravely on the battlefield, advancing north and south, and made great contributions to the revolutionary cause of the Chinese people. It was a young force. Born at the time of the victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan, it was composed of the Eighth Route Army and New Fourth Army from the Shandong, Central China, and Jin-Cha-Ji, which had opened up the Northeast base area. However, it was also a battle-hardened force. Every part of it had a proud history and glorious tradition, with their battle footprints spanning the Northern Expedition, the Luoxiao Mountains, the banks of the Yellow River, and the Battle of Pingxingguan.
This was a brave and skilled force. In more than three years, it correctly implemented the strategic guidelines of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China regarding the Northeast struggle. Through arduous efforts and, it finally completely destroyed the reactionary forces on the black land and liberated the entire Northeast. Subsequently, it served as the strategic reserve force of the Communist Party of China in its bid for supremacy, advancing into the capital, decisively fighting in Beijing and Tianjin, vying for the Central Plains, and striking straight to the ends of the earth.
Once upon a time, this force of over 100,000 personnel, when it first crossed the border, traveled thousands of miles, flying out of the frontier with exhausted bodies and meager strength, resisting step by step the Nationalist forces attempting to occupy the entire Northeast. Three years later, when it was ordered to enter the capital and advance into the North China battlefield, it had already grown into a million-strong army. The rumbling of chariots and the whistling of horses, with endless dust clouds, the momentum was overwhelming!
This was a force that produced heroes one after another. In the fierce struggle of blood and fire, thousands of heroes emerged, ready to die with courage and self-sacrifice: Dong Cunru, Liang Shiying, Chen Shutang, Ma Renxing. Opening the war history of the Fourth Field Army, the heroes who emerged from this force were like the Milky Way, with countless brilliant stars!
This was a force with valiant generals in abundance. Through the arduous and desperate military struggles, it cultivated a generation of brilliant military talents. Jinzhou, Changchun, Tianjin, Hengbao, crossing the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, and the sea—outstanding generals directed one after another battles that were triumphant. From this force came the Minister of National Defense of the People's Republic of China, the Chief of the General Staff, the Director of the General Political Department, the Minister of the General Logistics Department, the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, the Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force, and the commanders of several major military regions.