Former Site of the Command Post of the Guocun Battle

Former Site of the Command Post of the Guocun Battle

The Former Site of the Command Post of the Guocun Battle is a Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit and a classic red tourism attraction.

The Former Site of the Command Post of the Guocun Battle is located in the Yu Sisters’ Building in Huayuan Group, Tangtou Village, Guocun Town, Jiangdu City.

On July 8, 1940, following instructions from Chen Yi, Su Yu led the staff and main forces of the New Fourth Army’s Southern Jiangsu Command — including the 0th Regiment, the New 6th Regiment, and the 2nd Regiment of the “Tingzong” Column that had remained in southern Jiangsu — to break through multiple blockades, cross the Yangtze River northward, and arrive at the Tangtou area in Jiangdu County, where they joined forces with the New Fourth Army’s Advance Column and the Suwan Detachment led by Chen Yi. In late July, in accordance with directives from the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the former New Fourth Army Southern Jiangsu Command was renamed the New Fourth Army Northern Jiangsu Command, with Chen Yi as commander and Su Yu as deputy commander, Liu Yan as head and Zhong Qiguang as deputy head of the Political Department. Over 7,000 New Fourth Army soldiers stationed in Tangtou and Guocun were assembled and reorganized into three columns and one independent detachment. Based on directives from the Party Central Committee and the actual situation, the New Fourth Army Northern Jiangsu Command decided to advance eastward to the Huangqiao area. On July 25, Chen Yi and Su Yu led the three columns in departure from Tangtou in Guocun, advancing eastward to Huangqiao. The Command Post of the New Fourth Army Northern Jiangsu Command was housed within the Yu Sisters’ Building, which was originally the residence of Yu Qiqing, a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations (Jinshi) in the 12th year of the Guangxu reign during the Qing Dynasty (1886), who later served as a prefectural official and a Hanlin academician. After the liberation, the building served as the seat of successive district and township governments.

In 1986, it was designated as a “Jiangdu County Cultural Relics Protection Unit” by the Jiangdu County Committee and County Government. In 1991, the Jiangdu County Committee and County Government installed a permanent commemorative plaque at the Former Site of the New Fourth Army Northern Jiangsu Command — the Yu Sisters’ Building.

Guocun Community: The jurisdiction of Guocun Community covers the area of the former Guocun town, spanning three villages — Dongjin, Qianxiang, and Guocun — with its eastern boundary at Long’er River, western boundary at Yetian River, southern boundary at Zhennan Bridge, and northern boundary at Zhenbei Bridge. It currently has a population of 9,680 residents. … More details about Guocun Community ++

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units