From Jinggangshan to Beijing: A Chronicle of the Guards of the Central Reserve Detachment, the Precursor of the First Guards Division

Author: Han Ping
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-09-01
Features: This book uses a documentary style, with time as the, and includes a few historical photographs to record the development, combat history, and guard work of the former Central Guard Detachment during the Land Revolution War period, the Anti-Japanese War period, and the Liberation War period. Especially, as a military historian, the author thoroughly investigates historical materials and describes the heroic deeds and individuals of the former Central Guard Detachment, enthusiastically praising its outstanding achievements and glorious journey in protecting the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Central Military Commission. This work aims to use a documentary style, with the progress of time as the main thread, to highlight the main activities of the Central Guard Detachment during important periods such as the Long March of the Red Army, the Anti-Japanese War, and the Liberation War, comprehensively recording its heroic deeds and demeanor over decades of combat, and presenting little-known historical scenes. In the spring of 1934, the Central Revolutionary Military Commission decided to send the Guard Detachment led by the State Political Security Bureau to clear out bandit groups in Western Fujian. Wu Lie was appointed as the commander of the Guard Detachment, and Ouyang Yi as the political commissar. The Guard Detachment was ordered to lead the troops from Ruijin into Changting and come under the command of the Fujian Military Region. At that time, Ye Jianying was the commander of the Fujian Military Region. The Guard 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, shook their hands tightly, and said, "Long time no see." Ye Jianying invited them to sit down, poured them each a cup of water, and had a conversation with them. Ye Jianying asked about the personnel, weapons and equipment, and political and ideological situation of the Guard Detachment. Previously, Ye Jianying had been the Chief of the General Staff of the Red Army, and for a long time, the Guard Detachment had been guarding the commander. The next day, a meeting was held to discuss the deployment of operations to eliminate bandits. The participants included: responsible comrades of the Fujian Military Region, Wang Jinxiang, the head of the Fujian Security Bureau, Cao Diteng, the commander of the Liancheng Military Subregion, Wu Lie, the commander of the Guard 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, talked about the damage to local Party organizations and the suffering of the people, made arrangements to eliminate 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 Bureau's Guard Detachment, the Fujian Security Bureau's Guard Detachment, 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 eliminating bandits. On the fifth day, the Western Fujian Independent Brigade left Changting, passed through Hetian, and advanced to Tongfang and Luofang, where they fought a battle and the enemy fled. The troops stayed in Luofang for two days, and the Western Fujian Independent Brigade conducted searches in the surrounding mountains, uncovering 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 of eliminating bandits at the military subregion, assigned tasks, and discussed methods for reconnaissance and communication. It was determined that the troops would eliminate bandits, boy soldiers, and the Big Knife Society in areas such as Luofang, Shangxia, Wuge, Litian, and Licun. The Western Fujian Independent Brigade fought several battles, eliminating 600 to 700 bandits, effectively the arrogance of local reactionary forces, protecting the lives and property of the people in the Soviet area and ensuring their safety and peace. This allowed the work of the Party and Soviet governments at all levels in Liancheng to be restored, local work became active, production enthusiasm rose, and people's lives were secure, further heightening the revolutionary enthusiasm of the masses and improving social order. 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 Knife Society in Shangxia Village. This battle was the most influential and successful battle in the Western Fujian Independent Brigade's efforts to eliminate bandits in the Liancheng area. The Western Fujian Independent Brigade stationed in Shangxia Village, with the headquarters set up in a three-story in the village. The bandits, boy soldiers, and the Big Knife 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