Former Site of the Battle of Dabaidi by the Fourth Red Army

Former Site of the Battle of Dabaidi by the Fourth Red Army

The former site of the Battle of Dabaidi by the Fourth Red Army is a cultural tourism attraction and a classic red tourism destination.

The former site of the Battle of Dabaidi by the Fourth Red Army is located in the areas of Dabaidi and Xingkeng villages, about 30 kilometers north of Xianghu Town in Ruijin City, Jiangxi Province. It lies on the only route from Ruijin to Ningdu, surrounded by mountains and featuring perilous terrain. On January 14, 1929, Mao Zedong, - and Chen Yi led the main force of the Fourth Red Army, consisting of over 3,600 troops, from Jinggangshan to southern Jiangxi and western Fujian. They arrived at Dabaidi in Ruijin on February 10, took advantage of the favorable terrain, and personally planned and directed an ambush here. The Fourth Red Army eliminated the pursuing enemy forces of Liu Shiyi, captured enemy regiment commander Xiao Zhiping, killed over 800 enemies, and seized more than 800 rifles. This marked the first major victory for the Fourth Red Army after advancing into southern Jiangxi and western Fujian. The walls of a century-old civilian house owned by Liu Erjin in Qiancun (formerly known as Xingkeng Village) still bear clearly visible bullet holes. It is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

On January 14, 1929, the main force of the Fourth Red Army of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, under the command of Commander - and Political Commissar Mao Zedong, left Jinggangshan and advanced toward southern Jiangxi. On February 9, they moved to the areas of Dabaidi and Aiqian north of Ruijin County in Jiangxi Province. At that time, two regiments of the 15th Brigade of the - Army, which were pursuing the Red Army, led by Brigade Commander Liu Shiyi, also advanced from Chengjiang to Ruijin. The Front Committee of the Fourth Red Army decided to take advantage of the isolated advance of the 15th Brigade and use the favorable terrain on both sides of the valley south of Dabaidi to launch an ambush and annihilate them. On that day, the 28th Regiment (minus the 2nd Battalion), the 31st Regiment, the Army Special Service Battalion, and the Independent Battalion of the Red Army were respectively deployed in the woods on both sides of the area from Mazigou to Qiancun (now Xingkeng). The 2nd Battalion of the 28th Regiment was stationed at Aiqian for alert duty and to lure the enemy into the ambush zone. At 15:00 on February 10, when the 15th Brigade reached Aiqian, it was blocked by the Red Army’s alert detachment. The battle continued until dusk, with both sides holding their ground. On the morning of February 11, the Red Army’s alert detachment fought while retreating. When the 15th Brigade was lured into Mazigou and Qiancun, the ambushing Red Army forces suddenly launched an attack. The 1st Battalion of the 28th Regiment flanked from the right to the east of Chating, captured the headquarters of the 15th Brigade, and cut off its retreat. The 2nd Battalion attacked the enemy head-on, while the 31st Regiment assaulted the enemy’s left flank and occupied the high ground to the south. The Army Special Service Battalion and the Independent Battalion quickly flanked to the south of Qiancun, encircling the enemy forces and launching a general offensive. The fierce battle continued until noon, resulting in the annihilation of most of the 15th Brigade, the capture of over 800 enemies, and the seizure of over 800 rifles (and machine guns).

The Red Army moved into their predetermined positions under the cover of night: the 1st Detachment of the 1st Column set up an ambush on the western mountain south of Dabaidi, the 3rd Column set up an ambush on the eastern mountain south of Dabaidi, the 3rd and 4th Detachments of the 1st Column were positioned between the eastern and western sides to block the front, and the 2nd Detachment of the 1st Column served as the general reserve force, remaining in Dabaidi under the direct command of Commander -.

On the early morning of February 11 (Chinese New Year's Day), the enemy advanced toward Dabaidi under a drizzling rain but was met with resistance from the Red Army. Thinking they had the upper hand, the enemy continuously threw in fresh troops and launched fierce attacks in an attempt to annihilate the Red Army. The 3rd and 4th Detachments of the 1st Column pretended to be overwhelmed and carried out feigned retreats in turns, gradually falling back toward Dabaidi. This formed a pocket-shaped ambush with the ambushing forces on the eastern and western sides. Unaware of the trap, the enemy charged deep into the pocket. Even when met with strong resistance, they continued to send in reinforcements, eventually marching into the trap entirely. Around 09:00, the ambushing forces on the eastern and western sides flanked around to the rear of the enemy and sealed the opening of the pocket. Subsequently, Red Army forces from all directions launched an attack on the enemy amid a chorus of battle cries. However, the Red Army had limited ammunition, and due to losses along the way without resupply, their firepower had weakened. Although they strived to make every shot count and resorted to bayonets, stones, and - when bullets ran out, the battle gradually reached a stalemate. At this point, Commander - ordered the general reserve force to join the attack, and Red Army forces from all directions simultaneously charged bravely, turning the tide of the battle. After repeated hand-to-hand combat and “struggling with the enemy in a sea of blood,” the Red Army finally annihilated most of the two regiments of the 15th Brigade, capturing over 800 enemies and seizing over 800 rifles. This marked the first victory since leaving Jinggangshan and lifted the heavy mood among the troops. Chen Yi called it “the most honorable battle since the founding of the Red Army.”

Before the battle, to ensure the troops had enough energy for the mountainous close combat, Mao Zedong, Secretary of the Front Committee, personally approved the use of grain from local households, leaving IOUs with promises of repayment. When the villagers returned to their homes and saw the IOUs, they were skeptical. Later, when the Red Army passed through again, they indeed repaid according to the IOUs.

On October 14, when the 15th Brigade of the enemy reached Aiqian, it was blocked by the Red Army’s alert detachment. The battle continued until dusk, with both sides holding their ground. On November 11, the Red Army’s alert detachment fought while retreating. When the enemy was lured into Mazigou and Qiancun, the ambushing Red Army forces—the 1st Battalion of the 28th Regiment—flanked from the right to the east of Chating, captured the headquarters of the 15th Brigade, and cut off its retreat. The 2nd Battalion attacked the enemy head-on, while the 31st Regiment assaulted the enemy’s left flank and occupied the high ground to the south. The Army Special Service Battalion and the Independent Battalion quickly flanked to the south of Qiancun, encircling the enemy forces and launching a general offensive. The fierce battle continued until noon, resulting in the annihilation of most of the 15th Brigade, the capture of over 800 enemies, and the seizure of over 800 rifles (and machine guns).