Site of the Command Post of the Dayangzhang Ambush Battle

Site of the Command Post of the Dayangzhang Ambush Battle

The Site of the Command Post of the Dayangzhang Ambush Battle is a classic red tourism attraction.

The Site of the Command Post of the Dayangzhang Ambush Battle is located in Yangmei'ao Natural Village, Jitou Village, Shan Cheng Town, Taining County.

On March 24, 1934, during the Fifth Counter-Encirclement Campaign of the Central Soviet Area, the 4th and 89th Divisions of the 10th Column of the Nationalist Kuomintang’s Eastern Route Army, which had been stationed in Taining County, moved northward to join forces with the two divisions of the 3rd Column of the Northern Route Army that were occupying Lichuan, Jiangxi. After their rendezvous, they launched an offensive on Jianning, a strategic stronghold of the Central Soviet Area. In order to prevent the Nationalist forces from joining up, approximately 550 soldiers—including the 2nd Battalion of the 12th Regiment and the reconnaissance team of the HQ of the Red 3rd Army’s 4th Division—took on about 4,000 troops from three battalions of the 265th Brigade of the Nationalist 89th Division in a fierce battle at Dayangzhang.

Under the leadership of the Party branch secretary of the Red 12th Regiment and Battalion Commander Chen Changtai of the 2nd Battalion, the Red Army soldiers took the steep slopes and seized the dominant peak and advantageous terrain of Dayangzhang ahead of the enemy, fiercely striking back against the oncoming foe. The Nationalist 265th Brigade, which was attacking the Red Army’s front line, managed to occupy two small peaks halfway up the mountain first, setting up light and heavy machine guns to unleash relentless fire toward the main peak while covering an assault of over 400 troops charging toward the Red Army positions. After their first charge was repelled, the enemy, under the cover of aircraft and artillery, organized a second charge involving more than 1,000 men. Later, the Nationalist troops launched wave after wave of attacks. A total of six sorties of enemy aircraft bombed the Red Army positions in relays, while artillery positioned on Lion Mountain to the east continuously shelled the main peak of Dayangzhang, creating an extremely perilous situation. However, the brave Red Army soldiers feared nothing, fought fiercely, held their ground tenaciously, and even engaged the enemy in close-quarters hand-to-hand combat. The entire battle lasted about eight to nine hours, from 9 a.m. until sunset. The enemy’s morale was greatly weakened, while the Red Army launched a fierce counterattack, forcing the Nationalist troops to flee in disarray, abandoning their weapons and equipment. During the battle, the Red Army killed two Nationalist battalion commanders and four company commanders, and inflicted over 400 casualties among soldiers. They also captured over 100 officers and men, including a deputy battalion commander, along with more than 10 light and heavy machine guns, over 200 rifles, and around 100,000 rounds of ammunition. Nearly the entire 529th Regiment of the enemy was wiped out. Battalion Commander Chen Changtai of the Red 2nd Battalion and some soldiers died heroically. After completing their mission of ambushing the enemy, the Red Army quickly withdrew to safety under the cover of night. The Dayangzhang Ambush Battle stands as a glorious example of the Red Army achieving victory against greater odds in military history.

The command post of the Dayangzhang Ambush Battle was set up in Xiaomei'ao, between Shangmei'ao and Xiaomei'ao in Yangmei'ao Natural Village. This location lies at the southwestern foot of Dayangzhang, featuring a concealed, safe terrain that is close to the frontline. It is also near the encampment of the Red 3rd Army, making it convenient for communication, commanding operations, dispatching reinforcements, and evacuating and treating the wounded.

Source: Party History Research Office of the Sanming Municipal Committee

Shan Cheng Town: A town under the jurisdiction of Taining County and the county seat. Established as Chengguan Town in 1956, it became Hongqi Commune in 1958, renamed Chengguan Commune in 1961, and upgraded to a town in 1984. Located in the central part of the county, it covers an area of 228 square kilometers with a population of 35,000. Provincial Highway Xiagan Line runs through the town. It administers 22 village committees including Minzhu, Shuinan, Shengyi, Sheng'er, Hongguang, Hongwei, Shucai, Nanhui, Lvjiufang, Baliqiao, Dongshi, Wangshi, Changxing, Meiqiao, QiuHong, Yangchuan, Tiaocun, Fengyan, Nanxi, Qixi, Zhanggan, Daping, and 6 residential committees: Chengdong, Shuidong, Shuixi, Dizhou, Lufeng, Heping… More detailed information on Shan Cheng Town++