Martyrs' Cemetery of the Solon Massacre

Martyrs' Cemetery of the Solon Massacre

The Martyrs' Cemetery of the Solon Massacre is a cultural tourism attraction and a patriotic education base.

Historical relics record the ordinary stories and great legends of an era.

In Solon, Horqin Right Front Banner, and in front of the Monument to the Seven Martyrs, a heroic chapter unfolds vividly from 1946 — a struggle fought bravely for freedom, liberation, peace, and happiness. The rustling pines sing praises of these heroes.

In August 1945, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China and with the assistance of the Soviet Red Army, Inner Mongolia was liberated from the rule of Japanese imperialism and the Nationalist government. The first urgent aspiration of the Mongolian people was to realize the long-awaited regional ethnic autonomy as soon as possible.

Under these circumstances, Comrade [name omitted] followed the directives of the Party Central Committee, uniting and leading Mongolian and other ethnic intellectuals and masses in Inner Mongolia to launch the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Movement. On May 1, 1947, China’s first ethnic autonomous government was established in Ulanhot.

However, the historically Mongolian-inhabited regions had not yet been unified into a single autonomous region, and the public's desire for the complete liberation of Inner Mongolia and the restoration of unified administrative divisions grew stronger with each passing day.

On August 14, 1945, the people of Xizhagaer Banner were liberated from Japanese imperialist enslavement. In April 1946, the East Mongolian People’s Autonomous Government dispatched military and political cadres Tang Yongzuo and Bao Yongji to Solon to establish work there, setting up the Banner People’s Government, the Banner Self-Defense Army Training Regiment, and a Public Security Unit. Tang Yongzuo served as both the Banner Head and Commander of the Self-Defense Army Training Regiment, while Bao Yongji became the Chief of the Banner Public Security Bureau.

In August, the People’s Government of Xing’an League assigned Bi Shuguo, a cadre from the West Manchurian Military Region and a Communist Party member, to go to Solon as the Political Commissar of the Self-Defense Army Training Regiment. The newly established revolutionary institutions of Xizhagaer Banner resolutely implemented the policies set by the Party Central Committee to consolidate the Northeast Base Area and defend the liberated zones. On one hand, they deployed the Banner Self-Defense Army Training Regiment and the Public Security Unit to carry out anti-bandit operations in remote areas plagued by outlaw activity; on the other hand, they widely launched a rent and interest reduction campaign across the banner. At the same time, they actively engaged in united front work, striving to unite some ethnic upper-class figures to support the work of the Banner People’s Government and contribute to the Liberation War and the consolidation of the Northeast Base Area. Wu Kejia, who had previously collaborated with Japanese imperialism as the puppet head of the Hahainutuoke and the Banner’s Internal Defense Section Chief, took advantage of the situation to disguise his progressiveness and infiltrated the ranks of those targeted for united front efforts, eventually being appointed as manager of the “Commodity Alliance.”

As the anti-bandit campaigns and rent and interest reduction movements deepened, a number of major Nationalist secret agents, bandits, and gang leaders were successively suppressed, and local reactionary forces collapsed as landlords and despots were brought to justice, bringing joy to people of all ethnicities. Wu Kejia secretly colluded with reactionary militia leaders Bai Tianbao, Bai Jinzhu, and Tang Shuangxi, as well as with internal traitors of the Self-Defense Army Training Regiment such as Wuyun Bilige, to plot an armed rebellion. They spread political rumors, claiming that “after the Communists come to power, they will collectivize property and enforce wife-sharing,” and insulted Ha Feng’a and A Si Gen as “running dogs,” clamoring for “ethnic independence” to prepare public opinion for the armed uprising. At the same time, they separately sought to win over remnants of bandits, puppet regime reactionaries, and reactionary landlord and rich elements, swearing blood oaths, forming cliques, gathering firearms and ammunition, and recruiting over 200 people to prepare for the armed rebellion.

In early October 1946, after the Banner People’s Government became aware of the subversive activities of Wu Kejia and others, preliminary preventive measures were taken. The traitor Bao Yuming, who was hiding within the Banner Public Security Unit, immediately convened rebel leaders at the home of bandit chief Tang Kechen to conspire, deciding to launch the armed rebellion on October 7. They swore blood oaths and sacrificed a pig’s head to the heavens, vowing “to be eternally opposed to the Communists” and declaring “victory or death.” That night, under the cover of darkness, the rebels secretly surrounded the headquarters of the Self-Defense Training Regiment. When Tang Yongzuo discovered that the regiment headquarters was encircled by traitors and sensed the severity of the situation, he attempted to mobilize forces for a counterattack, but it was too late — the traitors had already broken through the doors. Facing the muzzles of the rebels’ guns, Tang Yongzuo sternly demanded, “Why have you surrounded the Training Regiment?”

“The Public Security Unit is going to mutiny and join the bandits,” the rebels replied.

“This is nothing but a rumor,” Tang Yongzuo immediately refuted firmly, accusing the rebels of stirring up trouble.

To turn the situation around and seize the initiative from a passive stance, Tang Yongzuo summoned Deputy Regiment Commander Jigmed, Chief of Staff Axingga, Public Security Unit Captain Bayinwuliji, and Political Instructor Guanbushaolen to a meeting at the regiment headquarters to investigate the political rumors and expose the enemy’s conspiracy. Unexpectedly, this played right into the hands of the traitors.

During the meeting, Tang Yongzuo sternly questioned Regiment Communications Officer Wuyun Bilige, “Why have you brought these people here?” “Who said the Public Security Unit is going to mutiny? If you can’t explain, I’ll have you all locked up!”

By then, dawn was breaking. The reactionary militia leader Bai Jinzhu suddenly coughed loudly, giving the signal to launch the armed rebellion. Bandit Chief Tang Kelǐ immediately drew his pistol and fired several shots at Tang Yongzuo, and the other rebels also opened fire. Tang Yongzuo, Axingga, Bao Yongji, Nademude, and Bayinwuliji were killed on the spot. Jigmed and Guanbushaolen leapt through the window to fight the rebels, and died heroically after running out of ammunition.

On October 8, the overall leader of the armed rebellion, Wu Kejia, announced at a mass meeting in the schoolyard of Solon Primary School, “Now we want independence and to end Communist rule. If the Communists interfere, we will resist to the end.” Subsequently, Wu Kejia declared the establishment of an “Independent Banner,” appointing himself as Banner Head and Wuyun Bilige as Commander of the reactionary Training Regiment.

After the Solon Armed Rebellion broke out, the responsible officials of the Party, government, and military of Xing’an League swiftly and meticulously deployed political and military measures to suppress the rebellion. On October 15, League Chief Wuyundalai led a working group to Solon, where they buried the bodies of the seven martyrs on the spot at their place of sacrifice (now 100 meters from Solon Station). At the same time, they used the pretext of “negotiation” to appease the rebel leaders. The Division Commander of the Xing’an Military District, Wang Haishan, and Deputy Division Commander Dugu’erzhab, led the 1st and 3rd Regiments on a three-day forced march to Solon. With the support of the 3rd Company of the Training Regiment, they surrounded the rebels’ base. At dawn on the 17th, the battle began. Most of the rebels were annihilated, and rebel leader Tang Kechen was killed. Wu Kejia was captured while attempting to flee in disguise and escape across the border, and Wuyun Bilige, who tried to flee north with a gun to defect, was caught within the territory. Both were later executed. The leaders of the reactionary militias — Bai Tianbao, Bai Jinzhu, and Tang Shuangxi — were also captured and executed in succession. The remaining rabble surrendered en masse. Thus, the armed rebellion was completely suppressed.

In early November, the Xing’an League Government relocated to Solon. A working group led by Tubshin Butegqi organized peasant associations in Xizhagaer Banner, carried out rent and interest reductions, and re-established the revolutionary government.

To commemorate Tang Yongzuo and the other seven martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the revolution, League Chief Wuyundalai, on October 15, 1946, led a working group to Solon. At the site of the martyrs’ sacrifice (now 100 meters from Solon Station), they buried the martyrs on the spot and erected seven cement hero monuments. In 1982, the seven monuments were moved to the northern mountain of Solon. For 60 years, the local Party committee and government have consistently maintained it as a patriotic education base and strengthened its preservation.