Former Site of the Hubei-Henan-Anhui Military Commission and the Headquarters of the Fourth Front Army of the Red Army

Former Site of the Hubei-Henan-Anhui Military Commission and the Headquarters of the Fourth Front Army of the Red Army

The former site of the Hubei-Henan-Anhui Military Commission and the Headquarters of the Fourth Front Army of the Red Army is a classic red tourism destination and a patriotic education base.

The former site of the Hubei-Henan-Anhui Military Commission and the Headquarters of the Fourth Front Army of the Red Army is located at No. 27 Shoufu Road, Xin County Town. Facing east and backed by the west, it originally consisted of seven rows of brick-and-wood structures totaling over 60 rooms, built in the architectural style of southern Henan civilian houses from the late Qing Dynasty. The front and rear rows of buildings were connected by long corridors, with courtyards of varying sizes between each row, creating an orderly, simple, and elegant layout. Due to factors such as war, some of the buildings have been damaged, and now only the first three rows, comprising 40 rooms, remain well-preserved. The site covers a total area of 1,600 square meters, fronting Shoufu Road to the east, with the main gate located at the fourth room from the north. Above the gate hangs a plaque inscribed with the words “Former Site of the Headquarters of the Fourth Front Army of the Red Army,” written by Comrade [Name]. In 1988, it was designated as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit by the State Council.

In May 1931, the Hubei-Henan-Anhui Military Commission was established in Xinxian (New District). The Chairman of the Commission was Zhang Guotao, who also served as the Secretary of the Sub-bureau, with Zeng Zhongsheng and Kuang Jixun as Vice Chairmen. The Commission had departments including the General Staff, Political Department, Secretariat, Quartermaster Department, Military Hospital, Aviation Bureau, and the Peng-Yang Military-Political Cadre School. In November of the same year, the Fourth Front Army of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army was formed in Qiliping, Huang’an, with Xu Xiangqian as Commander-in-Chief and Chen Changhao as Political Commissar. The Army’s headquarters was located within the Military Commission compound. At that time, the northern four rooms of the third row of buildings served as the offices and living quarters for Zhang Guotao and Xu Xiangqian. After the establishment of the Fourth Front Army, under the leadership of the Central Sub-bureau and the Military Commission, it achieved consecutive victories in the Huang’an, Shang-Huang, Sujiabu, and Huangguang campaigns. These successes thwarted the enemy’s third “encirclement and suppression” campaign against the Hubei-Henan-Anhui Base Area, ensured the development of the base, and marked the zenith of its strength.