Martyrs' Cemetery of the Seven Heroes

Qixiong Martyrs' Cemetery

The Qixiong Martyrs' Cemetery is a classic red tourism destination and a patriotic education base.

Scenic Spot Name: Qixiong Martyrs' Pavilion

Level: Ordinary Attraction

Type: Architecture

Opening Hours: 8:00—18:00

Ticket: 10 RMB

Address: Qixiong Township, Shuyang County, Suqian City, Jiangsu Province

On the green banks of the Chaimi River stands a six-sided pavilion with upturned eaves. To the right of the pavilion, lush grass and blooming flowers exude a refreshing fragrance; to the left, dense pines and cypresses, vibrant and evergreen, shelter seven martyrs' graves. This is the Monument Pavilion of the Seven Heroes, located in Qixiong Village, Qixiong Township, Shuyang County. Inside the pavilion stands a tall rectangular stele, inscribed on the front with six bold and powerful characters: "Monument to the Seven Heroes," elegant yet dignified. The back features an inscription titled "Inscription on the Monument to the Seven Heroes," written by Yu Kang, former Party Secretary of Shuyang County. Reading the inscription, you will learn that on this blood-stained, miraculous land, an earth-shattering and soul-stirring battle once took place.

In late 1946, after achieving seven consecutive victories in the Central Jiangsu Campaign, our main forces strategically withdrew to Shandong. The reactionary Kuomintang fiercely attacked our Northern Jiangsu Base and occupied Shucheng on January 10, 1947. At that time, Zhongwan Township (now within Qixiong Township) was under the jurisdiction of Zhangji District and served as a frontline stronghold in the struggle against the enemy, making it a contested area crucial to both sides.

On June 15, 1947, a battalion of the KMT's 51st Division, which had been entrenched in Shucheng, secretly advanced toward Guantian, where they conspired with the local militia (returned reactionary forces) stationed at a stronghold to launch a surprise attack on the Zhongwan Township government. Earlier, Shi Guohua, the person in charge of the eastern part of the city, had learned about the enemy’s movements through inside sources and had sent someone to deliver the intelligence. Similarly, Zhang Pingsan, secretary of Zhangji District, also received the same information and dispatched a messenger urging immediate relocation. However, neither party managed to make contact. The local cadres and militia of Zhongwan Township remained unaware of the enemy’s approach and continued their activities in place, failing to evacuate to safety in time.

Before dawn on June 16, a battalion of enemy troops and over 300 militiamen lay in wait along the embankment of the Chaimi River, preparing to attack the Zhongwan Township government. At that moment, Song Guangde from the Sanlianfang Militia Post on the east bank of the river spotted the enemy and fired the first shot. The sharp crack of gunfire shattered the silence over the Chaimi River, and the air turned tense. The previous evening, the cadres and militia of Zhongwan Township had split into two groups for lodging: 17 people, including township instructor Zhang Jiexin, stayed at the Zhong family house close to the Chaimi River embankment, while 11 people, including Tu Wensheng, stayed at the Song family house at the northeast corner of the embankment. The two locations formed a mutually supportive angle to aid each other in case of emergencies.

The gunfire served as a warning — the situation was critical. Zhang Jiexin and Tu Wensheng immediately conducted battle mobilizations among their respective groups. Everyone was united in determination, declaring: “We will fight to the bitter end — for our hometown, for our people. Alive, we are soldiers; dead, we are martyrs!”

At dawn, under the cover of intense artillery fire, the enemy launched a fierce assault on both lodging sites.

Zhang Jiexin’s lodging was a north-facing courtyard with three main rooms in the back, two kitchen rooms on the east side, and a gatehouse in the front. Not far from the gatehouse was the Chaimi River embankment. The enemy used the embankment as a vantage point and rained down heavy and light machine gun fire from above. The 17 militiamen used the gatehouse as cover and fought back with composure and clever tactics. By breakfast time, they had killed or injured over 20 enemies without suffering a single casualty.

Frustrated by the militiamen’s tenacious resistance, the enemy attempted to persuade them to surrender but were met with Zhang Jiexin’s resolute refusal: “We would rather die standing than live kneeling!” Seeing that persuasion failed, the enemy concentrated their artillery bombardment and set fire to the rear eaves of the main room. In an instant, flames soared into the sky and thick smoke billowed...

Though wounded, Zhang Jiexin continued to command the battle. Yang Rucheng, the security officer of Zhongwan Village, though injured with blood staining his clothes, held his ground and kept firing at the enemy. In no time, the house was burned down, fully exposing the defenders. The enemy unleashed relentless machine gun fire from the embankment, bullets raining down like swarms of locusts, causing heavy casualties on our side. Zhong Weicheng, instructor of Zhongwan Village, and Ge Hengxing, instructor of Tuling Village, were shot and killed one after another, while many comrades were injured. The situation became extremely tense. Zhang Jiexin proposed that rather than waiting to be captured, they should break out and fight to the death. He then threw his damaged pistol into a drainage ditch and organized a breakout. But the enemy had the gate completely under fire. Zhang Jiexin, Yang Rucheng, Mao Shangzhu (deputy leader of the township militia), Ji Shilin (finance and grain officer of Zhongwan Village), and militiaman Zhong Jiyu all died heroic deaths.

The blood dyed the banks of the Chaimi River red. Ordinary lives were transformed into something magnificent — forged in the crucible of life and death, born in the baptism of blood and fire.

Meanwhile, the 11 men staying at the Song family house, including Tu Wensheng, also fought bravely and coordinated closely with the 17 men under Zhang Jiexin. The battle lasted six hours. When the enemy saw our reinforcements arriving, they fled in panic. The people's government of Zhongwan Township stood firm amid the bloodshed.

The heroic deeds of the Seven Heroes spread across Huaihai. That year, the Sixth Sub-bureau of Central China called on all cadres and masses in the region to learn from the Seven Heroes. Zhongwan Township was renamed Qixiong Township, and Zhang Jiexin was posthumously recognized as a Model Communist Party Member.

The Chaimi River, the river of heroes, echoes forever with that brave and tragic melody in the hearts of the people of Shuyang, flowing ceaselessly like its clear, sparkling waters.

To honor the martyrs and inspire future generations, in June 1987, on the 40th anniversary of the heroes’ sacrifice, the People’s Government of Qixiong Township built the Monument Pavilion of the Seven Heroes beside their graves. Every year around Tomb-Sweeping Day, officials, students, and local residents flock to the Qixiong Martyrs' Pavilion to pay tribute, revisit the revolutionary struggles of the Seven Heroes, and pledge to uphold their legacy, carry forward their spirit, keep pace with the times, persevere in hard work, and strive to paint the most beautiful new chapter on this heroic land.