Former Site of the Taoyuan Command Post of the Red Second and Sixth Armies

Former Site of the Taoyuan Command Post of the Red Second and Sixth Armies

The former site of the Taoyuan Command Post of the Red Second and Sixth Armies is a classic red tourism destination.

The former site of the Taoyuan Command Post of the Red Second and Red Sixth Armies of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army is a red historical relic from the period of the Agrarian Revolutionary War. It was here that proletarian revolutionaries He Long and Xiao Ke commanded the Red Army in battles against the reactionary Kuomintang forces in Taoyuan and in the establishment of a revolutionary base. On December 16, 1934, the Red Second and Red Sixth Armies set out from Dayong to launch a long-distance raid on Taoyuan in order to support the Long March of the Central Red Army, and on December 17, they achieved victory in the Wuxi River Battle, occupying most of Taoyuan County including the Wuxi River area, Zoushi, and the county seat. The command post of the Red Second and Red Sixth Armies was subsequently established at the Provincial No. 2 Girls’ Normal School in the county seat. During this period, He Long and Xiao Ke directed the Red Army in carrying out a series of revolutionary activities. They dispatched troops to attack the garrison in Changde, pinning down the enemy. They held mass meetings to propagate the Red Army’s policies and anti-Japanese stance, debunking the Kuomintang’s rumors that the Red Army “killed and burned, and practiced communism and wife-sharing.” They stormed the Taoyuan prison, rescuing underground party members and innocent civilians. They mobilized the masses extensively, recruiting thousands of new soldiers and raising a million in funds. They opened official granaries to provide relief for the poor. They also executed local tyrants on the spot. The Red Army’s revolutionary activities won the support of the people of Taoyuan.

The Red Army’s revolutionary activities in Taoyuan had a profound impact and great significance. They effectively struck a blow against the reactionary Kuomintang and coordinated with the strategic movements of the Central Red Army. Influenced by the Red Army, many people in Taoyuan were willing to shed their blood in the pursuit of a brighter future, supporting the Red Army with concrete actions. The Red Army’s revolutionary activities and the strong support of the Taoyuan people complemented each other, together composing a magnificent chapter in the revolutionary struggle history of Taoyuan. This glorious chapter vividly reflects the Red Army’s fearless and valiant fighting spirit in the face of powerful enemies, their people-centered philosophy of serving the populace, and their heroic determination to overcome all difficulties to achieve victory. It also vividly showcases the deep bond between the Taoyuan people and the Red Army — a relationship as close as fish and water. This has become an invaluable spiritual asset for the people of Taoyuan. The former site of the Taoyuan Command Post of the Red Second and Red Sixth Armies of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army is a concentrated embodiment of the Red Army’s revolutionary spirit and an important historical testament to Taoyuan’s role in the Xiang-E-Xi and Xiang-E-Chuan-Qian revolutionary bases. As a base for red education, it will influence generation after generation, and Taoyuan will stride forward under the guidance of the red spirit.