Site of the Datian Battle

Site of the Datian Battle

The Site of the Datian Battle is a classic red tourism attraction.

The former site of the Datian Battle is located at Datianwu in Taling Village, Xiuduan Town, Lianping County. This site was burned down twice by Kuomintang troops in 1948 and was later rebuilt after the liberation.

In the summer of 1948, Xie Yuichen, commander of the “Bandit Suppression” Brigade of Lianping County, stationed his forces at Baiyunlou. On every market day in Xiuduan, he would send a platoon to the town to collect exorbitant taxes and levies, oppressing the local people. The people of Dahhu harbored deep hatred for them. The route from Baiyunlou to Xiuduan Market passed by Datianwu, with access either from the front of the house or from the back via Tashan. In response to this situation, on June 18, the Guilin Squad, under the leadership of Deng Ji and Zeng Kunyi, held a meeting of cadres at the squadron level and above, deciding to ambush the enemy near Datianwu.

On June 29, after mobilizing in Wuguo Village, the Guilin Squad, led by Zeng Kunyi, set off for Datian at 9 p.m. with about 100 men; Deng Ji departed from Wuguo Village at dawn on June 30 and headed for Tashan in Xiuduan to prevent the enemy from breaking through and occupying the hill. At dawn on June 30, all members of the Guilin Squad took up their positions and prepared to confront the incoming enemy. Around 9 a.m., the enemy, carrying a machine gun and over ten rifles, swaggered toward them from Hexi Bridge. At that moment, a platoon led by Zeng Kunyi charged from Liangzhen toward Datian and opened heavy fire when they were about 100 meters away from the enemy, sending the foes fleeing in panic. Some of them sought refuge in a dilapidated latrine and put up stubborn resistance. The enemy took cover behind the walls inside the building and fired wildly. The squad dispatched Zhu Yashi to charge forward and eliminate the latrine stronghold. Accepting the mission, Zhu Yashi disregarded his own safety, rushed straight to the latrine, and detonated a hand grenade, taking out the “stronghold.” The soldiers then launched a fierce assault, capturing seven enemies alive, seizing one light machine gun, ten rifles, two handguns, and a number of bullets, while the rest of the enemies were killed. The light machine gun captured in this battle was the first such weapon taken from the enemy by the troops of the Jiulian Region after the resumption of armed struggle. The captured enemies were educated and then given travel expenses to return home.

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