The life of Zuo Quan

Zuo Quan was born on March 12, 1905, in a poor peasant family in Huangmaoling, Pingqiao Township, Liling City, Hunan Province. He lost his father when he was one and a half years old. He began to hunt hog grass and herd cattle at a very young age to help the family with the work. He lived in the cold and hunger all year round. He entered a private school at the age of 8, then entered elementary school, and dropped out of school several times. In 1915, Zuo Quan, who was studying in primary school, learned that Yuan Shikai had accepted the "Twenty-One Policies" that humiliated the country and lost power. He immediately wrote the slogan "Don't forget the national humiliation of May 9th" and carried out propaganda against Japanese imperialism and Yuan Shikai in the village. At the age of 17, he was admitted to the county middle school. When he was studying in the county middle school, he participated in the Social Science Research Society under the leadership of the Communist Party of China. Through reading progressive books such as "New Youth" and "Guide", he came into contact with Marxism, developed the ambition to transform society, and determined to devote himself to transforming society. .

In December 1923, 18-year-old Zuo Quan decided to join the army, bid farewell to his elders in his hometown, and set out with his classmates from the Reform Hotel at Zhongxing Street (Wujia Lane) in Liling County, and boarded the train from Yangsanshi to Changsha and Hankou. , Shanghai, via Hong Kong, and rushed to Guangzhou, the revolutionary center at that time.

In March 1924, he was admitted to the Army Lecture School in Guangzhou sponsored by the Military and Administrative Department of Generalissimo Sun Yat-sen's administration (the main persons in charge were Cheng Qian and Li Minghao). In November of the same year, he was transferred to the Huangpu Army Military Academy and was compiled as Team 6, Phase 1.

In January 1925, he was introduced to the Communist Party of China by Chen Geng. From then on, communist belief became the criterion for his political life in the next 20 years. In February of the same year, Zuo Quan began his military career and served as the platoon and company commander of the teaching regiment of the Huangpu Military Academy Student Army (Party Army). After returning to Guangzhou in June, Zuo Quan participated in the battle to pacify the Yunnan and Guangxi warlords Yang Ximin and Liu Zhenhuan. In July, he served as company commander in the guard of Cheng Qian's Hubei Army (later reorganized into the 6th Army of the National Revolutionary Army) and participated in the second Eastern Expedition that completely eliminated Chen Jiongming. In the same year, he was sent to study in the Soviet Union by the party organization, and first studied at Sun Yat-sen University in Moscow.

In September 1927, he entered the Frunze Military Academy for further study.

Returned to Shanghai in June 1930. In September, he entered the Soviet Area of ??Western Fujian through Xiamen and Longyan. He first served as the director of education of the first branch of the Red Army Military Academy. In November, he was elected as a member of the Standing Committee of the Western Fujian Workers' and Peasants' Revolutionary Committee. In early December, he became the commander of the 12th Red Army. At the beginning of 1931, he served as the operational staff officer of the 1st Red Front Army Headquarters. In June, he was promoted to the chief of staff department and began to show his strong organizational skills. In December, he was dispatched by the Central Military Commission to Gucunwei near Ningdu, where he collaborated with Wang Jiaxiang and Liu Bojian to engage in liaison and command work for the Kuomintang's 26th Route Army uprising. Later, he served as the political commissar of the 15th Army of the 5th Army Corps of the Red Army (adapted from the Ningdu Uprising Force). Soon, he was appointed as Army Commander and Political Commissar.

In June 1932, persecuted by Wang Ming's leftist line, Zuo Quan was dismissed from his position as army commander and political commissar and transferred to the Red Army School as an instructor.

In December 1933, he was appointed chief of staff of the 1st Red Army Corps.

In October 1934, the main force of the Central Red Army began the Long March, and Zuo Quan commanded the battle with the vanguard. In May, during the battle to forcibly cross the Dadu River, Zuo Quan led his troops to move lightly and quickly on the rugged path, unexpectedly took the Xiaoxiangling Pass and captured Yuexi County. After marching 140 miles in one day to cross the Shaijing Pass, he led his troops to capture the Dashubao Ferry, diverted the Japanese army's attention to the direction of Anshunchang by pretending to cross, and successfully covered the Red 1st Division's crossing of the Dadu River from Anshunchang. In the end, all the main forces of the Central Red Army passed through Luding Bridge and got rid of the chasing Kuomintang Central Army.

In October 1936, the three main forces of the Red Army successfully joined forces. In mid-November, at Mountain Castle, Zuo Quan and Nie Rongzhen commanded the 1st Red Army Corps and part of the 15th Red Army Corps to complete the encirclement of Hu Zongnan's 78th Division. A general offensive was launched on the 21st. After a day and night of fierce fighting, 2 enemy regiments were wiped out. Liu Bocheng said: "Comrade Zuo Quan's deployment of operations is meticulous and thorough. The battle at the Shanbei Mountain Castle on the eve of the Double Twelve Incident in 1936 is an example." In the spring of 1938, the Eighth Route Army headquarters decided to annihilate the first part of the Japanese army, and Zuo Quan suggested attacking the Tammidi Brigade first. . He decided to take advantage of the terrain of Changletan and divided his troops into three parts, arranged in a pocket shape.

After all the Japanese troops entered the pocket, Zuo Quan gave the order - "Hit", and the Japanese troops were cut into several sections. Finally, they were eliminated by the Eighth Route Army with firepower and hand-to-hand combat. Brigade commander Tomidhi personally led his elite troops to come to the rescue, and Zuo Quan arranged for troops to intercept and enable him to escape. In the Battle of Changle, more than 2,000 enemies were wiped out and a large amount of baggage was seized.

In December 1938, he was appointed chief of staff of the Eighth Route Army's forward headquarters.

From the end of 1939 to the beginning of 1940, Chiang Kai-shek launched the first anti-Japanese upsurge. Zhu Huaibing, commander of the 97th Army of the Kuomintang, gathered together with Lu Zhonglin and Shi You from the Hebei-Cha War Zone. With the cooperation of the Japanese army, they stormed the Taihang Anti-Japanese Base Area. In early March, Zuo Quan, who was also the commander of the 2nd Column of the Eighth Route Army, commanded the troops to launch a self-defense counterattack on the east and west sides of Pinghan Road. After four days and four nights of fierce fighting, he defeated the attack of Shi Yousan's invading army and annihilated 10 troops including Zhu Huaibing. regiment and preserved the Taihang Anti-Japanese Base Area.

Married Liu Zhilan in April 1939.

From August 20 to December 5, 1940, the Eighth Route Army launched the Hundred Regiment Campaign. The general command post of this battle was located in Wangjiayu Village, Wuxiang County. Zuo Quan assisted Peng Dehuai in fully engaging in combat command.

In November 1941, more than 7,000 people from each of the Japanese 36th Division and the Independent Mixed Brigade attacked Huangyadong. The Eighth Route Army Headquarters Secret Service Regiment was responsible for defending Huangyadong. Zuo Quan asked the regiment to defend Huangyadong. During the war, "we must grasp the word 'stability' and adhere to the principle of not being arrogant or impetuous, not panicking or fearful, using defense as an offense, and using calmness as a brake." The battle started in the early morning of the 11th. On the 21st, the Eighth Route Army, which was pursuing victory, recaptured Licheng and successfully ended the Huangyadong defense battle. In this battle, the Japanese and puppet troops lost more than 2,000 people, and the casualty ratio between the two sides was 6:1. The Central Military Commission believed: "This defensive battle was the most successful. Not only did I suffer less losses, but it also caused several times more damage to the Japanese army. It should be regarded as a model battle against 'mopping up' since 1941."

In May 1942, the Japanese army dispatched a large corps to raid the former enemy headquarters of the Eighth Route Army. Zuo Quan was responsible for breaking up the rear. On May 25 of the same year, he was hit in the head by a shell during the breakout battle at Cross Ridge in Liao County, Shanxi (now Zuo Quan County) and died. On October 10, 1942, a public burial ceremony for Zuo Quan was held in Shexian County. Peng Dehuai, deputy commander-in-chief of the Eighth Route Army, personally wrote and handwritten the "Inscription on Comrade Zuo Quan's Tablet."