The Anti-Japanese United Army Site "Old Money Cabinet"

The Anti-Japanese United Army Site "Old Money Cabinet"

The Anti-Japanese United Army Site "Old Money Cabinet" is a cultural tourism attraction.

In Shangganling District, Yichun City, the story of "Li Zhaolin Outwitting the Old Money Cabinet" is widely known. Nestled among green hills and trees, a white monument erected in memory of the "Battle of the Old Money Cabinet" stands tall toward the sky.

The "Anti-Japanese United Army Site Old Money Cabinet" managed by the Shangganling Forestry Bureau is one of the several important Anti-Japanese United Army sites in the Lesser Khingan Mountains. The site is located in the heart of the Lesser Khingan Mountains, along the middle reaches of the Tangwang River, within the current boundaries of Shangganling District, Yichun City. It lies in the central-southern part of Xishui National Forest Park, 6 km from Provincial Highway S204, 15 km from the seat of Shangganling District, and 30 km from downtown Yichun. Southwest of the Old Money Cabinet, near the current primitive tree viewing area of the forest park, Anti-Japanese United Army soldiers rested and held meetings there, and planned the historically significant "Outwitting of the Old Money Cabinet" battle. This battle eliminated the biggest obstacle behind our anti-Japanese base areas and laid an important foundation for the later establishment of a solid rear base for the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army in the Lesser Khingan Mountains. This place later became an important rear base for the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army.

After the September 18th Incident, Japanese imperialism fully occupied the Northeast. During the 14-year arduous anti-Japanese struggle, the Lesser Khingan Mountains served as a guerrilla zone and reliable rear base for the Anti-Japanese United Army. The people of the forested region and the soldiers of the United Army built an iron wall against the Japanese invaders with their flesh and blood, creating countless heroic and moving feats.

The "Anti-Japanese United Army Site Old Money Cabinet" is a revolutionary site confirmed by older-generation revolutionaries during revisits to the Anti-Japanese United Army route. Historical records indicate that on February 22, 1934, a directive letter was sent to the Manchurian Provincial Committee, explicitly proposing for the first time the establishment of an anti-Japanese base in the Northeast. Starting in 1934, efforts to establish an anti-Japanese base commenced, and in 1936, the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army was formed, with Zhao Shangzhi as the commander-in-chief, Xia Yunjie as commander of the Sixth Army, and the establishment of an anti-Japanese base in the Tangwang River basin.

The Old Money Cabinet was a place where logging camp foremen distributed wages and rations to workers. It is situated in the heart of the Lesser Khingan Mountains, along the middle reaches of the Tangwang River, within the current boundaries of Shangganling District, Yichun City, 6 km from Provincial Highway S204, 15 km from the seat of Shangganling District, and 30 km from Yichun.

At the time, seven Japanese soldiers were stationed here, including Police Instructor Moriyama, and a company of puppet troops led by Captain Song Xibin, totaling over 100 men. Under the manipulation of these seven Japanese soldiers, including Instructor Moriyama, this Han traitor armed force forcibly conscripted laborers, requisitioned livestock, and engaged in rampant illegal logging. They also arbitrarily extorted and oppressed the populace, levying various taxes such as poll taxes and transport taxes, and often arrested people and imposed fines on trumped-up charges. Even more seriously, they frequently ambushed our anti-Japanese forces, posing a major obstacle to the establishment of our rear base. The Old Money Cabinet was also the essential route to the Soviet Union for the anti-Japanese base at the time, so removing this "stake" was crucial for establishing a stable anti-Japanese base in the Tangwang River area.

In February 1936, Commander Zhao Shangzhi, while leading his army on the western expedition, wrote a letter instructing Zhang Shoufa (also known as Li Zhaolin, originally from Liaoyang, Liaoning Province. He joined the revolution in 1931, served as head of the military department of the Beiman Provincial Committee of the CCP, acting political director of the Sixth Corps of the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army, political director of the Third Army, political director of the United Army, educational director of the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army Political and Military School, and commander-in-chief of the Third Route Army of the United Army. After the victory of the war, he served as president of the Sino-Soviet Friendship Association in Harbin, and was tragically murdered by Kuomintang secret agents on March 9, 1946, at No. 9 Shuidao Street, Daoli District, Harbin.) to do everything possible, overcome all difficulties, mobilize all forces, eliminate the enemy entrenched at the Old Money Cabinet, and clear the way for establishing a rear base.

On March 19, 1936, Zhang Shoufa personally led over a hundred troops, including more than 20 officers and soldiers from the Fourth Regiment of the Sixth Army, over 70 members of the Youth Guerrilla Company from Wawa District supported by the Tangyuan County Committee, and about 20 men from the volunteer force Yanwang Team who could assist. Departing from the eastern hills of Haolianghe, after capturing Chabaqi, they swiftly advanced toward the Old Money Cabinet. Five kilometers east of the Old Money Cabinet, the troops took a short rest, during which leaders surveyed the terrain and formulated a detailed battle plan. After nightfall, the troops arrived at the Old Money Cabinet and quickly surrounded the barracks of the puppet troops and the residence of Instructor Moriyama (the Japanese quarters).

Li Fenglin, captain of the Youth Guerrilla Company from Wawa District, Tangyuan County, cleverly bypassed the enemy sentries and suddenly appeared before Moriyama, who was lying on the kang smoking opium. Spotting a pistol hanging on the wall, Li Fenglin leapt onto the kang and reached for the gun. Startled, Moriyama sprang up, wrapped his arms around Li Fenglin’s waist, and tried to wrestle the gun back. With a sudden twist, Li Fenglin threw Moriyama off the kang and shot him dead.

Following the gunshot, gunfire erupted all around, and the battle ended swiftly. The clash resulted in the deaths of seven Japanese soldiers, the capture of over 100 puppet troops, and the seizure of more than 100 long and short firearms, one light machine gun, tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition, one radio set, as well as supplies like rice and flour. This operation completely wiped out the last enemy stronghold in the Tangwang River Valley.

The Battle of the Old Money Cabinet was a correct decision, a great victory, and a battle of wisdom and courage. This battle has been recorded in the annals of history by historians. The resounding victory at the Old Money Cabinet brought the entire Tangwang River Valley under our army’s control. Seizing the opportunity, Zhang Shoufa promptly initiated the construction of the rear base. In a short time, numerous small and large hidden camps developed rapidly, quickly forming a solid rear base.

More than 70 years have passed, and when this history is revisited, locals still can’t hide their pride. Regrettably, all witnesses to this famous battle have since passed away. In 2002, Ma Jun, president of the Old Revolutionary Base Construction Promotion Association in Shangganling District, went door-to-door searching for survivors, informed individuals, and descendants of those involved, but found no one.