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Chinese Story - Zhu De - The commander-in-chief (1)

Author: CHUNG Yoon Ngan
Date: 05-14-04 08:25

Zhu De - The commander-in-chief (1)
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太行浩氣傳千古,---Tai xing hao qi chuan qian gu,
猛士如雲唱大風.---Meng shi ru yun chang da feng.

The noble spirit of Taihang Mountain is forever,
The brave warriors, like the clouds, are singing in the gale.

Written by Zhu De (朱德)
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Zhu De, the commander-in-chief of the Chinese Red Army and later the People's Liberation Army (PLA), was born on 18 December 1886 into a poor farmer family in Yilong (儀隴) of Sichuan province (四川省). He studied the Chinese classic for six years in his home village school. He was greatly influenced by the tales of the heroes in the two famous novels of Shui Hu Chuan 水滸傳 or the Water Margin and San Guo Yan Yi 三國演義 or The Romance of the Three Kingdoms. He was gravitated naturally towards military life. He became a primary school teacher for a short time before he enrolled in the Military College of Yunnan province (雲南講武堂) which gave modren military training. After his graduation he joined the army under the command of Cai E (蔡鍔) who appointed him a Lieutenant. Zhu De took part in the 1911 revolution overthrowing the Qing Government (清朝 AD 1644 to 1911). He rose to the rank of a Colonel and later a general when the Republic of China was established. Zhu De was one of the renowned 'four fierce generals' of Cai E. General Cai E was the first military governor who raised the banner against Yuan Shikai's (袁世凱) ambition to become the Emperor of China. Eventually, Yuan Shikai died of a broken heart.

After the death of Cai E, Zhu De became the commander of the police force in the province of Yunnan. He became a corrupted officer and had a harem of a few concubines. He built himself a palatial home in Kunming (昆明), the provincial capital of Yunnan province. He became a opium smoker.

In spite of all these, Zhu De had a bad habbit of reading books. Influenced by reading and a few returned students from Overseas in Yunnan he began to understand the real meaning of the 1911 Revolution. As a Police Commissioner Zhu De worried about the 40,000 slave boys and girls Kunming. He was ashamed for himself for being unable to do something good for them. He also realized that China was very backward and desired to mdernize China. The more books he read the more he realized he was ignorance of China.

In 1922, Zhu De took his four concubines and about 60,000 silver dollars to Shanghai. He told his concubines that he did not want to be a warlord but to join the revolution. As a revolutionist he was only allowed to have one official wife, he asked them who wanted to become his official wife. Everyone of them wanted to be his wife. The only solution for Zhu De was to draw lot. The result was that the concubine by the name of He Shi (賀氏) became his official wife. So Zhu De paid off 8,000 silver dollars to each of the other three concubines who had no complains. Zhu De gave up smoking opium and took He Shi to Germany to study Social Science at a University near Hannover. He was 36 years old.

In Germany Zhu De met Zhou Enlai (周恩來), Deng Xiaoping (鄧小平) and many others who later became the leaders in the Chinese Communist Party.

He Shi was a very beautiful woman. There were many Chinese students after her and Zhu De was not jealous. Zhu De did not stop her from going out with Chinese students. He Shi sometimes even asked Zhu De to read her love letters from the Chinese students. Eventually she went to live with one of the students. Before she left, Zhu De told her that if she were in trouble she was welcome to come back to him.

Six months alter He Shi was in real trouble and she came back to Zhu De and lived with him like husband and wife again.

In autumn 1926, Zhu De returned to China and left his wife in Germany. In summer 1927, He Shi returned to Wuhan (武漢) through Russia and Beijing (北京). During the Nanchang Uprising (南昌起義) on August 1, 1927 He Shi was sent to Shanghai to contact the Shanghai Party Members. She ended up living with a lover in a hotel in Shanghai. The Party knew she was leaking information to her lover. An agent was sent to Shanghai to kill her. He Shi received two shots with two bullets wound from the agent but she did not die. After she had recovered from the gun wounds she eloped with her lover and on one knew to where.

Sources:

Red Star Over China
By Edgar Snow

龔楚將軍回憶錄
The Memoir of General Gong Chu
By Gong Chu (龔楚)

CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (鄭永元)
All rights reserved 14052004

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Chinese Story - Zhu De - The commander-in-chief (2)

Author: CHUNG Yoon Ngan
Date: 05-15-04 01:19

Zhu De - The commander-in-chief (2)

In May 1921, Dr. Sun Yat-sen became the President of the Guangdong Government. The Chinese Communist Party was founded in July 1921. In January 1924 the Kuomintang Party and the Chinese Communist Party formed a United front. A military academy called Whampoa Military Academy was established. Dr Sun Yat-sen directed Chiang Kaishek, who just returned from Russia after three months tour, to be the Principal the the Military Academy. Dr SDun Yat-sen died in Peking on 12 March 1925. In July 1926, the Northern Expedition against the Warlords began under the leadership of Chiang Kaishek.

In autumn 1926 Zhu De returned to China and rejoined the army under the command of his former superior, General Zhu Peide (朱培德), who was a powerful man in the Kuomintang (國民黨) Army. In early 1927, Zhu Peide's army captured a few provinces south of the Yangtze River. Zhu De was appointed the Commisioner of Police of Nanchang city (南昌市), the capital of Jiangxi province (江西省). In July 1927 the United Front collapsed.

The two divisons under the command of He Long (賀龍) and YeTing (葉挺) in Zhang Fakui's (張發奎) Fourth Nationalist Army staged an uprising on 1st August 1927 in Nanchang (南昌). The total strength of the uprising was about 30,000 men. Zhu De (朱德) was in command of a regiment of about 1,000 men. They established a Provisional Government and decided to move their government to the eastern region in Guangdong province (廣東省). They hoped to receive assistance from Russia through the habour city of Shantou (汕頭).

On 5th August, 1927, from Nanchang, they began to march to the Guangdong province. They marched through 溫家前 (Wen Jiaqian), 進賢 (Jinxian) and arrived at 撫州 (Fuzhou) on the 6th August 1927. After a day of rest they marched through 宜黃 (Yihuang) and reached 廣昌 (Guangchang). They left Guangchang on 14th August, 1927 and fought their way through 寧都 (Ningdu), 石城 (Shicheng), and reached 瑞金 (Ruijin) on 18th August, 1927.

They set out to destroy the Nationalist troops in 會昌 (Huichang) and its surrounding areas. A few battles were fought and the Nationalist troops surrendered. The troops were ordered to regroup in Ruijin.

On 8th September, 1927, from Ruijin they marched to the town of 長汀 (Changting) in Fujian province (福建省). They rested for a day and the next day they marched to another town 上杭 (Shanghang) then to 大埔 (Dapu). They defeated the Nationalist troops in 留隍 (Liuhuang) and overran 潮安 (Chaoan) on 22nd September, 1927. They fought their way to 汕頭 (Shantou) and occupied it on 24th September 1927.

The intention of the leaders was to establish an administration in Shantou. They sent out troops to capture other towns of Jieyang (揭陽), Haifeng (海豐), Lufeng (路豐) and Fengshun (豐順). Troops were sent to station in Sanhe Ba (三河壩), the confluence of the three rivers of Meijiang (梅江), Tingjiang (汀江) and Hanjiang (韓江). Zhu De was sent to Liuhuang (留隍) to watch out for the Nationalist troops in Meixian (梅縣). It was reported that large Nationalist forces were congregating in Meixian.

On September 29, 1927, the Nationalist troops, under the command of Li Jitang (李濟棠), attacked the revolutionary forces from Tingzhou and Shanghang. Ye Ting's main force met the Nationalist main force in Jieyang. A decisive battle was fought. The battle lasted for three days and three nights. The revolutionary forces ran out of ammunition. On 3rd October 1927, Shantou was recaptured by the Nationalist troops. Zhou Enlai (周恩來), Zhang Guotao (張國燾), Ye Ting (葉挺), Peng Pai (彭湃) and others leaders of the uprising fled by small boats to Hong Kong. He Long was captured and later he escaped and fled to Hong Kong. Zhu De and Gong Chu (龔楚) gathered about a thousand men and fled north.

Sources:

(1) Red Star Over China, by Edgar Snow

(2) 龔楚將軍回憶錄
The Memoir Of General Gong Chu
By 龔楚 (Gong Chu)

(3) 我的回憶 (My Memior)
By Zhang Guotao (張國濤)

CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (鄭永元)
All rights reserved 15052004

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Chinese Story - Zhu De - The commander-in-chief (3)

Author: CHUNG Yoon Ngan
Date: 05-15-04 10:21

Zhu De - The commander-in-chief (3)

http://chungyn.webhop.net/1927autumn.jpg

After the United Front between the Kuomintang Party and the Chinese Communist Party had collapsed in July 1927, Mao Zedong (毛澤東) was sent to Changsha (長沙) of Hunan province (湖南省) to organize a movement which was later called the Autumn Harvest Uprising (秋收暴動). In September Mao Zedong had succeeded in organizing a peasant-worker army through the recruits from the peasant uuions of Hunan, Hanyang (漢陽) miners and the insurrectionist troops of the Kuomintang. This army was called the First Peasants' and Workers' Army.

On September 8, 1927 Mao Zedong led the First Peasant's and Workers' Army and staged an uprising. He had to lead the army to southern Hunan and on their way they had to break through thousands of Kuomintang troops. They fought many battles and by the time they reached the south they were only about 800 of them left with only 80 rifles. Mao Zedong decided to climb the Jinggangshan (井崗山) with the goal of establishing a revolutionary base in these mountains.

Jinggangshan is a massive mountain range, lying between the two provinces of Jiangxi (江西省) and Hunan. At that time there were only five villages in this region of 900 square kilometers. All the families were Hakkas whose forefathers had come from the north several hundred years ago.The total population in Jinggangshan was less than 2,000 and they were so poor that only a few of them had more than a pair of trousers. They made fire by striking stones.

The red earth in Jinggangshan was so hard that hardly any crops grew in this desolated area. These Hakka men were mostly porters and farm hands in the plains below. Mao Zedong managed to win over two bands of about 600 Hakka bandits in this area and these Hakkas in Jinggangshan helped Mao Zedong realize his goal.

Meanwhile, after the Nanchang insurrectionary army were defeated at Swatow (汕頭), Zhu De led his men and withdrew to the town of Lishi (犁市) about 30 kilometers north of Shaoguan (韶關), and about 250 kilometers north of Guangzhou city (廣州市). Zhu De's forces were reduced to about 900 men with 500 rifles and one machine gun and a few rounds of ammunition each. Zhu De accepted the offer by Fan Shihsheng (范石生), a Yunnanese general, to incorporate his forces into the 16th army of General Fan. Zhu De and his troops were given five thousand silver dollars for the incorporation.

Communist influence in Fan Shihsheng's army rapidly increased, and soon an anti-Bolshevik faction, secretly connected with Chiang Kaishek, planned a coup against Zhu De. One night, Zhu De was staying in an inn with only forty of his followers, when he was attacked by a force under Hu Zhilong (胡志龍), leader of the coup. Shooting began at once, but it was dark and the assassins could not see clearly. When several of them aimed revolvers at Zhu De's head he cried out excitedly,

"Don't shoot me, I'm only the cook. Don't shoot a man who can cook for you!"

The soldiers touched their stomachs and hesitated. Zhu De was led outside for closer inspection. There Zhu De was recognized by a cousin of Hu Zhilong, who shouted,

"He is Zhu De! Kill him!".

But Zhu De pulled out a concealed weapon of his own, shot the man, overcame his guard, and fled. Only five of his men escaped with him. Since this incident Zhu De was known in the Red Army as "Chief of the Cooks".

Sources:

(1) Selected Works of Mao Tse-Tung
Volume One

(2) The Morning Deluge
By Han Suyin

(3) 龔楚將軍錄
The Memior of General Gong Chu
By Gong Chu

CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (鄭永元)
All rights reserved 15052004

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Chinese Story - Zhu De - The commander-in-chief (4)

Author: CHUNG Yoon Ngan
Date: 05-16-04 00:45

Zhu De - The commander-in-chief (4)

The map of Hunan province
http://chungyn.webhop.net/hunan.jpg Jinggangshan (井崗山) is in the right-hand corner where I marked in RED.

Rejoining his troops Zhu De informed General Fan Shisheng that he was leaving with his troops heading north. Zhu De's troops were still wearing the Kuomintang uniforms which were in rags. Many of them were without shoes and they were short of food. There were many a few desertions.

Zhu De reorganized his troops into three sections. He gave his troops a new name called "Peasant Column Army 農民縱隊". It was the day of the Chinese New Year Eve, January 22, 1928. They marched to Yizhang county (宜章縣) and intended to spend the Chinese New Year in Yizhang town. Yizhang is a town in the borders between the provinces of Hunan and Guangdong, in the southwest of Jinggangshan [see the map of Hunan province in the bottom of the right-hand corner]. There were a few local armed militial organized by landlords in Yizhang. Due to lack of radio communication at Yizhang, the landlords did not know that Zhu De had already broke off with General Fan Shisheng.

Zhu De discussed with Gong Chu, his deputy and Chen Yi (陳毅), who was then the party political commissar and Hu Shaohai (胡少海) how to take Yizhang. (Note: at that time Lin Biao 林彪 was only a platoon leader). They decided to take Yizhang by faking as 140th Kuomintang Regiment flying the Kuomintang flag and marching into the town. They sent Hu Shaohai and Chen Ridong (陳日東), who were originally from Yizhang, as the regimental representatives to inform the mayor and people that the 140th Kuomintang Regement was going to spend the New Year in town.

In the afternoon, when Zhu De and his troops marched into the town the people lined up the streets to welcome them by letting off firecrakers. The citizens of Yizhang were very happy thinking that the 'Kuomintang troops would stay in their town for a long time. That evening the people of Yizhang gave a big banquet to welcome Zhu De and his officers. Zhu De and Chen Yi did not attend the banquet because he had to direct the troops to disarm the local militial. Gong Chu and Hu Shaohai with 14 officers attended the feast.

At about 8pm, in the middle of the feast, gun shots were heard as Zhu De and his troops were disarming the militial and the commander of the police by the surname of Kuang (鄺). Within a short time all the local militial of about 300 of them surrendered except a few who were not in town escaped. They siezed about 350 rifles and seven pistols. All the guests attending the banquet were detained overnight at the restaurant.

That night Zhu De, Gong Chu, Chen Yi and Wang Erzhuo (王爾琢) held a meeting to discuss the formation of a Red Army. They decided that since most of the troops were insurrectionist troops of the Kuomintang 4th Army they named their regiment "The Chinese 4th Red Army of the Peasants and Workers", in short the Red Army. Immediately they asked the tailor in town to make a sickle and hammer flag for the Red Army.

The next day was Chinese New year, January 23, 1928. Assembling his men in the morning at the school field of the Yizhang High School Zhu De proclaimed the formation of the Chinese 4th Red Army of the Peasants and Workers (中國工農紅軍第四軍). The band of Yizhang played the music and the sickle and hammer flag of the Red Army was raised. That was how the Chinese Red Army was formed. About four hundred local young men were attracted into joining the Red Army.

Zhu De was to become the Red Army Commander; Wang Erzhuo , the regimental commander of the 48th regiment; Chen Yi, the party Commossar; Hu Shaohai, the regimental commander of the 49th regiment; Gong Chu the party Commissar and the allocation of other ranking officers as well. Liao Biao was still remained as a platoon commander.

Sources:

(1) Red Star Over China by Edgar Snow

(2) 龔楚回憶錄
The Memior of General Gong Chu
By Gong Chu

CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (鄭永元)
All rights reserved 16052004

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Chinese Story - Zhu De - The commander-in-chief (5)

Author: CHUNG Yoon Ngan
Date: 05-17-04 02:44

Zhu De - The commander-in-chief (5)

Zhu De was the commander of the 4th Red Army which was made up of two regiments, the 28th and the 29th. The commander of the 28th regiment was Wang Erzhuo and the political commissar was Chen Yi. Hu Shaohai was the commander of the 29th regiment and the political commissar was Gong Chu. A Soviet Government was set up at Yizhang and it formulated a programme of tax abolition, redistribution of land and confiscation of the property of the rich. Using Yizhang as a base the 4th Red Army expanded its jurisdiction to Zixing (資興), in the east, Yongxing (永興), in the northease, Guanyinqiao (觀音橋), in the north Changning (常寧) and Guiyang (桂陽) in the west, a total area of about 7,500 square kilometers [see the map of Hunan province http://chungyn.webhop.net/hunan.jpg]

On hearing that there was a peasant uprising in Yizhang the Kuomintang Governent directed a division of troops from General He Jian (何健) army in Hunan province to Chenxian (郴縣), only about 40 kilometers north of Yizhang. The 24th division from Xu Kexiang's (許克祥) army was ordered to move from Lechang (樂昌), in Guangdong province, to Pingshi (坪石), just about 10 kilometers south of Yizhang. The 4th Red Army were facing enemy troops in the north and south.

Yizhang is about 150 kilometers south of Jinggangshan (井崗山). Seeing the 4th Red Army were about being squeezed by Kuomintang troops, Mao Zedong wrote a letter and sent his younger brother Mao Zemin (毛澤民) to Yizhang to see Zhu De. The letter stated that the Party had instructed the two forces to be united. In April the Kuomintang forces of Fan Shisheng were approaching Yizhang. Zhu De decided to join forces with Mao Zedong in Jinggangshan.

At the end of April 1928, Kuomintang troops, simultaneously, launched an attack from the north and south on Yizhang. The 29th regiment of the 4th Red Army evacuated Yizhang and retreated to Chenxian (郴縣). Having rested a day at Chenxian, Gong Chu led the troops of the 29 regiment with members of their families and the supporters, totalling about 4,800, and marched northeast through Dongjiang (東江), Hejiashan (何家山) and Penggongmiao (彭公廟). On the third day they arrived at Shuikou (水口), a few kilometers away from Lingyang (酃陽) which is only about a few kilometers from Jinggangshan [please follow the map of hunan province]. At Shuikou, Gong Chu saw many soldiers wearing red scarfs around the necks. After an inquiring Gong Chu knew that they were the soldiers of the 1st division of Mao Zedong's Peasants' and Workers' Army. Gong Chu sent a message to Mao Zedong saying that the 4th Red Army had arrived. Gong Chu and Hu Shaohai resting and waiting at Shuikou for Mao Zedong to come and meet them.

Within a short time Mao Zedong came with four bodyguards to meet Gong Chu. Actually Mao Zedong was living in a shophouse at Shuikou awaiting for the arrival of the 4th Red Army. When he shook Gong Chu hand the first thing Mao Zedong said was asking the whereabouts of Zhu De.

"你就是龔楚同志嗎? 朱德同志呢? 他的情形你知道嗎?"
"You are Comrade Gong Chu? Where is Comrade Zhu De?"

Mao Zeddong spoke Mandarin with a strong Xiangtan accent (湘潭口音). Gong Chu told Mao Zedong that when they left Yizhang Gong Chu had news that Zhu De had retreated to Leiyang (耒陽) and was on his way to Yongxing (永興). Mao Zedong looked a bit worry. Gong Chu assured him that Zhu De, an exprienced soldier should have no trouble to find his way to Lingyang. After hearing this Mao Zedong felt better and began to smile and said:

"這樣就好極了, 我們今後可以共同一起為革命而奮鬥!"
"It is good. In future we shall struggle and make revolution together!"

Mao Zedong took Gong Chu to the shophouse where he was staying. Over cups of hot water Gong Chu gave a brief account about the Soviet Government in Yizhang and the situation of Yizhang and its surrounding counties before he left Yizhang.

On the fourth day, in the afternoon of May 5, 1928, Gong Chu and his troops arrived at Lingyang. He saw Zhu De, Mao Zedong and Chen Yi talking. It had showed that Zhu De and the 28th regiment had arrived at Lingyang before the 29th regiment.

Sources:

龔楚將軍回憶錄
The Memior of General Gong Chu
By Gong Chu

CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (鄭永元)
All rights reserved 17052004

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Chinese Story - Zhu De - The commander-in-chief (6)

Author: CHUNG Yoon Ngan
Date: 05-17-04 17:09

Zhu De - The commander-in-chief (6)

On May 12, 1928, the 4th Red Army arrived at Jinggangshan. There were about 2,000 men in Mao Zedong's Peasants' and Workers' Army. With the arrival of Zhu De's 2,000 men their combined forces were 4,000. The next day the leaders of the two forces held a meeting. The leaders were Mao Zedong (毛澤東), Zhu De (朱德), Chen Yi (陳毅), Wang Erzhuo (王爾琢), He Tingying (何挺穎), Hu Shaohai (胡少海) and Gong Chu (龔楚). Du Xiujing (杜修經), the Party respresentative of the Hunan province branch also attended the meeting.

On 22nd June, 1928, the Kuomintang army launched an attack on Jinggangshan. Mao Zedong and Zhu De defeated the Kuomintang forces by using the tactics from Sun Wu's (孫武) military classic book of "The Art of War" written 2,000 years before.

(1) 敵進我退=If the enemy advances, we retreat.
(2) 敵退我進=If the enemy retreats, we pursue.
(3) 敵駐我擾=If the enemy halts and encamps, we harass.
(4) 敵疲我打=If the enemy tires and seeks to avoid battle, we attack.
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In early August 1928 Zhu De with his troops went to Chenxian (郴縣) in Hunan province. In the late August Mao Zedong leading some of his troops left Jinggangshan for Guidong (桂東) in southern Huanan province. There were only a skeleton troops left in the base. On 30th August, the Kuomintang forces from the provinces of Jiangxi and Hunan launched a second attack on Jinggangshan. Their attack was defeated. Mao Zedong was so happy that he wrote this poem to celebrate the victory.

井崗山 (Jinggangshan)

山下旌旗在望, =Shan xia jing qi zai wang,
山頭鼓角相聞. =Shan tou gu jiao xian wen.
敵軍圍困萬千重,=Di jun wei kun wan qian chong,
我自巋然不動. =Wo zi kui ran bu dong.

早已森嚴壁壘, =Zao yi sen yan bi lei,
更加眾志成城. =Geng jia zhong zhi cheng cheng.
黃洋界上砲聲隆, =Huang yang jie shang pao sheng long,
報道敵軍宵遁. =Bao dao di jun xiao dun.

Jinggang Shan

At the mountain foot our banners,
On the mountain crest sound bungles and drums.
The foe round us in their thousands,
We stood fast, unmoving.

Our defense a stout wall about us,
Now oue wills unite, impregnable fortress.
From Huan Yang Jie the thunder of guns,
The enemy fades at night.

Written by Mao Zedong (毛澤東) in autumn 1928.
Translated by Han Suyin (韓素音)

To explain the poem, I quote, on Dr Han Suyin's book "The Morning Deluge":

"The reference to banners at the foot of the mountain is because while the militia at the top were holding the passes, a small regiment left at the base, by
forced marches, attacked the enemy Kuomintang in the rear. Thinking the Red Army had returned, Kuomintang fled after four attacks had been launched against the defenders on the crest. Huangyangjie 黃洋界 is the name of the five passes."

Sources:

(1) 龔楚將軍錄
The Memoir of General Gong Chu
By Gong Chu (龔楚)

(2) 大洪水
The Morning Deluge
By Dr. Han Suyin

CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (鄭永元)
All rights reserved 18052004

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Chinese Story - Zhu De - The commander-in-chief (7)

Author: CHUNG Yoon Ngan
Date: 05-18-04 11:37

Zhu De - The commander-in-chief (7)
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新做草鞋簇簇新 =Xin zuo cao xie cu cu xin

新做草鞋簇簇新﹐=Xin zuo cao xie cu cu xin,
送給阿哥當紅軍﹐=Song gei a ge dang hong jun,
踩得荊棘踩得雪﹐=Cai de jing ji cai de xue,
踩平世道妹歡心。=Cai ping shi dao mei huan xin.

The straw sandals I made are brand new,
I present them to my lover who is going to join the Red Army,
Wearing the straw sandals my lover tramples the brambles
and walks on the snow,
If my lover could trample this man-eat-man society I will be happy.

新做草鞋簇簇新﹐=Xin zuo cao xie cu cu xin,
送哥穿上當紅軍﹐=Song ge chuan shang dang hong jun,
保佑紅軍節節勝﹐=Bao you hong jun jie jie sheng,
盡妹一份革命心。=Jin mie yi fen ge ming xin.

The straw sandals I made are brand new,
In the Red Army my lover is wearing my straw sandals,
I bless the Red Army will win battle after battle,
To fulfil my revolutionary heart.

新做草鞋簇簇新﹐=Xin zuo cao xie cu cu xin,
一心送哥當紅軍﹐=Yi xin song ge dang hong jun,
針針縫¨軍民情﹐=Zhen zhen feng zhao jun min qing,
線線連¨妹子心。=Xian xian lian zhao mei zi xin.

The straw sandals I made are brand new,
With a happy heart I send my lover off to join the Red Army,
Every stich I sewed is the bond between the Army and the people,
And every thread is linked to my heart.

By Wang Yaohua (王耀華)
福建教育出版社

Translated into English
by CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (鄭永元)
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Peng Dehuai (彭德懷), who later became the deputy commander-in-cheif of the Red Army, was born in 1898 at a village in Xiangtan county (湘潭縣), about 20 kilometers east of Shaoshancun (韶山村), the birth place of Mao Zedong. His parents were poor farmers. As a youth he studied for a few years at the village school and helped his parents to till the fields. Due to poverty he stopped studying and joined the army of the Hunanese Warlord He Jian (何鍵). Peng Dehuai was a diligent soldier and was admitted to the Military Academy in Hunan and later another military school in Nanchang (南昌) in Jiangxi province (江西省).

After graduation he rejoined Warlord He Jian's army. He distingushed himself in the army and by the age of 28 he was promoted as a brigade commander. He was greatly influenced by the Communists who were under his command. In July 1928, with his regiment Peng Dehuai staged an uprising and established the first Hunan Soviet Government. In early November 1928 Peng Dehuai led his forces and joined up with Mao Zedong and Zhu De at Jinggangshan. Peng Dehuai's army was renamed the 5th Red Army

In early December 1928 large forces of Kuomintang troops began their third 'encircle and suppress' against Mao Zedong and Zhu De's forces at Jinggangshan. There were four divisions of Kuomintang troops under the command of Xiong Shihui (熊式輝) and Zhu Peide (朱培德) coming from Jiangxi province. They marched through Anfu (安福), Jian (吉安) Shichuan (遂川) overran Ninggang (寧岡) and Yongxin (永新). The two divisions of Warlord He Jian's army were marching from Hunan province to Lingxian (酃縣) [see the map of Jiangxi province marked in RED in the middle of left hand corner http://chungyn.webhop.net/jiangXi.jpg ] . There were two more divisions from Fan Shisheng's (范石生) army in Hunan province approaching Guidong (桂東). These Kuomintang troops were advancing on Jinggangshan from Yongxin in the east, Lingxian in the west and Guidong in the south. The matter became very urgent. Mao Zedong and Zhu De ordered an evacuation of all their foces from the surrounding counties and directed them to assemble at Jingganhshan.

The leaders of Mao Zedong, Zhu De, Chen Yi, Peng Dehuai, Teng Daiyuan (滕代遠), Tan Zhenlin (譚震林), Gong Chu (龔楚) and others held an emergency meeting on how to deal with the upcoming grief situation. In the meeting Mao Zedong suggested that the 5th Red Army under the command of Peng Dehuai and Teng Daiyuan should defend Jinggangshan. He and Zhu De should lead the rest of the forces and march south to the borders of the two provinces of Fujian and Jiangxi to establish new bases. Mao Zedong's suggestion was unanimously accepted.

Sources:

(1) Red Star Over China
By Edgar Snow

(2) 龔楚將軍回憶錄
The Memior of General Gong Chu
By Gong Chu (龔楚)

CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (鄭永元)
All rights reserved 19-52004

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