Site of the Second Hongqiao Battle

Site of the Second Hongqiao Battle

On the evening of March 9, 1949, Zhou Peizhen and Zheng Meixin led the 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Companies of the Kuocang Detachment, along with the guard teams of the Central County Committee and the Leqing County Committee, setting out from Sidu Township in Leqing. They advanced on Hongqiao Town via three separate routes. At that time, the Hongqiao Town was garrisoned by the Weng Biru Militia Regiment, whose three companies were stationed at Datong Hospital, the Town Office, and the residence of Liu Daofa respectively. Among them, the Liu Daofa residence was under the direct command of Weng Biru. This residence, built of concrete, was very solidly constructed, surrounded by rivers on two sides, and connected to the outside only via small bridges at the front and rear. Five bunkers had been built around it, making it heavily fortified and easy to defend but hard to attack. Based on the enemy situation, the Kuocang Detachment leadership decided to encircle the targets separately and eliminate them one by one. In the early hours of March 10, battles broke out simultaneously at the three locations. The gunfire was extremely intense, with the sound of bullets shaking the entire town and nearby villages. After fierce fighting, the Kuocang Detachment successively defeated the defenders at the Town Office and Datong Hospital. By then, it was already bright, and the enemy holed up at the Liu Daofa residence took advantage of the commanding height of the building, firing machine guns wildly at the guerrillas. Several guerrillas were wounded or killed. To avoid unnecessary casualties, the detachment leadership ordered the troops to withdraw from Hongqiao and return to their base. In this battle, the 1st and 2nd Companies of the Hongqiao Militia Regiment were annihilated, enemy company commander Hu Zhang, platoon leader Ying Zaoxiong, and five others were killed, and 104 enemy officers and soldiers were captured. The detachment seized 2 light machine guns, 77 rifles, and more than 3,000 rounds of ammunition. Ten officers and soldiers of the Kuocang Detachment, including Lin Cunbang, the captain of the 1st Company, were killed in the battle, while 15 fighters, including Chen Xingrong and Zhou Shuangfeng, were injured. Later, Chen Xingrong died due to excessive blood loss despite medical efforts.

The Site of the Second Hongqiao Battle is located on West Heng Street in Hongqiao Town, Leqing City. The Liu Daofa residence is a two-story concrete building, and bullet marks from the battle can still be clearly seen on its front gate. The surrounding area consists of densely packed residential buildings.

Source: Party History Research Office of the Wenzhou Municipal Committee of the CPC