The Situation of the Fourth Red Army—July 1929 to April 1930: 1. The Course of the Red Army’s Operations: Entering Fujian and Holding Xianggang and Yongding.
On June 19, 1929, after capturing Longyan for the third time and routing Chen Guohui, with no major enemy forces remaining in western Fujian, it was decided that the First Column would advance along the eastern bank of the Gan River from Kan City, Hexi, Zhengjiadu, Lufeng, and Anxi, directly toward Xianggang, operating as far as Huilong and Guanzhuang.
Meanwhile, the Second, Third, and Fourth Columns were assigned to operate in various parts of western Fujian, while the headquarters, together with its direct units, first proceeded to Xinquan.
The Front Committee dispatched five members, including Mao Zedong, to Jiaoyang to assist the Western Fujian Special Committee in convening the First Congress of Western Fujian, with the overarching goal of establishing a red base area in that region.
By mid-July 1929, the pressure of the encirclement campaign was mounting: troops from three provinces were on the move.
Lu Xinming still held Xianggang, Zhang Zhen had advanced from Nanjing into Hexi, and the brigades of Chen Weiyuan and Zhang Shide were concentrating around Dapu, Songkou, and Meixian.
Although Li Wenbin’s brigade in Tingzhou remained stationary, Jin Handing’s forces were gradually approaching from the Ruijin direction, creating an increasingly tense situation.
By July 30, reports indicated that Tingzhou had been reinforced by two regiments, with Li Wenbin advancing into Hetian; meanwhile, word came from Longyan that Zhang Zhen’s forces had entered Zhongzhong, further intensifying the threat.
At that time, the Fourth Red Army, under the leadership of Zhang Guoqing, was concentrating its main strength in western Fujian to carry out its mission.
Some advocated launching an offensive outside the region, but the Front Committee concluded that there was little prospect of success within western Fujian and thus resolved to break out instead.
Accordingly, the First and Third Columns, together with the army headquarters and the Front Committee, set out overnight to concentrate at Longyan and Baisha.
The First Column moved via Liancheng, covering a distance of approximately one hundred li.
However, because it failed to arrive in time, it was decided that this column, along with the Fourth Column, would remain in western Fujian to defend the area while seeking opportunities to launch a breakout.
Separated from the main force, the First Column found itself unable to cross either the Gan River or the Dongjiang River and therefore returned to join the Western Fujian Special Committee.
The Fourth Column, in turn, jointly decided to deploy its forces in Yongding and Longyan to actively organize the masses, arm them, and confront the enemy surrounded by popular support.
The First Column entered the Daoyanba area at the tripoint of Longyan, Xianggang, and Yongding, dividing its entire contingent into three detachments to mobilize the people, establish Soviet governments, and implement land redistribution, thereby fully engaging the local population.
As a result, when the enemy’s General Chen Weiyuan arrived with three regiments to occupy Hulei in Yongding, his forces suffered heavy losses everywhere they went.
Being entirely cut off from popular support, even a single company of our troops could effectively counter one of his regiments.
For over a month in Yongding, Chen’s three regiments dared not venture into the mountains and sustained numerous casualties.
Meanwhile, the Fourth Column expanded its operations from northern Xianggang to Xinquan (south of Liancheng) and Lengfang (south of Tingzhou). Jin Handing’s forces, however, remained confined to Tingzhou and Liancheng throughout.
Zhang Zhen’s brigade, led by Yang Fengnian, took roughly a month to advance from Zhongzhong into Longyan.
The Second and Third Columns, after concentrating at Baisha, moved overnight toward Ningyang and subsequently counterattacked toward Zhangping, turning their focus toward Datian and Dehua in central Fujian.
During this period, many soldiers fell ill, communication was lost along the way, heavy artillery could not be transported and was abandoned, and infantry rifles became too burdensome to carry, forcing some to leave them with local bandits in exchange for assistance in caring for the wounded.
In total, more than 300 personnel and over 100 firearms were lost, leading to the decision to withdraw back to western Fujian.
Consequently, the columns retraced their steps to Zhangping, attacked Zhang Zhen’s brigade under Zhang Yukuang, marched through the night to Yongfu, routed Yang Fengnian’s brigade in Longyan, and then returned to Longyan once again.
With this, the current encirclement campaign came to an end. 2. The Meeting at Xianggang.
On the morning of September 1, 1929, before dawn, the Second and Third Columns, together with the people of Xianggang and a portion of the First Column, captured Xianggang.
Lu Xinming fled alone.
The capture of Xianggang marked the completion of operations in the Gan River basin, and the Soviet government was extended to Wuping.
The Fourth Column engaged in rest and recuperation, replenishing its ranks with newly captured prisoners.
Each column was reorganized into three detachments, with approximately 1,800 to 1,900 men per column, bringing the total strength of the army to over 7,000.
Although Chen Weiyuan had retreated to the Dongjiang region at this point, Liu and Ding…