Shangcheng Anti-Japanese Martyrs' Shrine

Shangcheng Anti-Japanese Martyrs' Shrine

The Shangcheng Anti-Japanese Martyrs' Shrine is a cultural relic protection unit of Henan Province.

The Shangcheng Anti-Japanese Martyrs' Shrine, officially known as the "Martyrs' Shrine of the 84th Army of the National Revolutionary Army," is located in the southeastern suburbs of Shangcheng County, Xinyang City, Henan Province today. It was completed on July 7, 1943.

In the spring of 1942, to avenge their crushing defeat in the First Suizao Campaign, the Japanese army concentrated five divisions along with substantial air, artillery, and armored forces to launch a sudden offensive against the main forces of the Fifth War Zone in northern Hubei. This marked the beginning of the Second Suizao Campaign. Starting on May 2, under the cover of aircraft, artillery, and tanks, the Japanese launched coordinated assaults on Chinese defensive positions. On May 5, elite Japanese troops broke through the defenses of the left-flanking units of the 173rd Division and attempted to outflank and encircle the main Chinese forces.

The 173rd Division, ordered to serve as rear guard, was tasked with delaying the Japanese advance and covering the retreat of the main force. Under the leadership of Division Commander Zhong Yi, they harassed enemy supply lines and repeatedly repelled attacks. However, during the fierce fighting, radio communications between the army, division, and command headquarters failed, cutting off contact with higher authorities. Judging that the main Japanese force would strike directly at Zaoyang, Zhong Yi split his troops into two and ordered them to regroup north of Lüyian. He personally led the left-wing column and divisional headquarters units to the area between Taiping Town and Cangtai, north of Zaoyang. Unexpectedly, they encountered the main Japanese force and were encircled. Zhong Yi organized his troops to charge and break through while retreating. The 173rd Division suffered heavy casualties.

On May 8, as Zhong Yi led his troops to the vicinity of Cangtai near the Henan border, they were pursued by Japanese cavalry. Close-quarters combat ensued, with intense hand-to-hand fighting. By May 9, only a platoon of Zhong Yi’s personal guards remained by his side. He led them in a two-hour battle against the Japanese until ammunition and supplies were exhausted, and nearly all officers and soldiers had been killed or wounded. Zhong Yi sustained a serious wound to his right chest, staining his uniform with blood. He instructed his men: "As soldiers, at this critical moment when survival hangs by a thread, we must fight to the death. If there is no other choice, use your last bullet on yourself—do not let the enemy take you and bring shame to the Chinese people." Holding on stubbornly, he ordered his soldiers to scatter and break through the encirclement. He then buried notebooks, operational documents, and other classified materials beneath the reeds at the position before calmly raising his pistol. At the age of just 39, Major General Zhong Yi heroically fulfilled his own vow: "A man wields his sword and leaves his hometown, vowing not to return without defeating the foe; lamenting the turmoil in the Central Plains, I will single-handedly defend our rivers and mountains." After Zhong Yi’s death, his aides fought bravely. Aside from Adjutant Jiang Zhifei, who was wounded and escaped by hiding in the water, all others died as martyrs.

The 84th Army, having participated in the Battle of Shanghai in 1937, the Battle of Xuzhou in the summer of 1938, the Defense of Wuhan in the autumn of the same year, the two Suizao Campaigns in 1939 and 1940, and the Battle of Southern Henan in 1941, achieved remarkable military accomplishments. Over ten thousand soldiers were sacrificed, including Division Commander Zhong Yi, Deputy Division Commander Zhou Yuan, Brigade Commander Pang Hanzhen, and many others.

The 84th Army fought with distinction in the Battle of Shanghai in 1937, the Battle of Xuzhou in the summer of 1938, the Defense of Wuhan in the autumn of the same year, the two Suizao Campaigns in 1939 and 1940, and the Battle of Southern Henan in 1941. They suffered over ten thousand casualties, including the sacrifice of Division Commander Zhong Yi, Deputy Division Commander Zhou Yuan, Brigade Commander Pang Hanzhen, and many other soldiers.

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Henan Province