Tomb of Liang Guoyi

Tomb of Liang Guoyi

Liang Guoyi (1892–1923), from Wenchang, Hainan, was a modern Chinese democratic revolutionary. He graduated successively from the Army Primary School and the Army Accelerated School. In 1915, when Yuan Shikai usurped the republic and instigated the Guangdong Military Governor Long Jiguang to kill revolutionaries, the revolutionary party in Guangdong organized the Chinese Revolutionary Army. Chen Xianong, a revolutionary from Wenchang, was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Qiongya Militia, and he named Liang Guoyi as the Frontline Commander. Together with the enemy forces under Huang Zhihuan, the Qiongya Garrison Commander, they fought fiercely for several months in Yezizhai, Ledong County (now Qionghai City), repelling the enemy’s fierce attacks. After the North-South peace talks, Chen Xianong laid down his arms and became a member of the National Assembly. Upon arriving in Beijing, he was controlled by enemies and arrested. Liang Guoyi went north to try to rescue him but failed. On the day Chen Xianong was killed, Liang Guoyi mourned him with a poem: “Grieving over the past and present, my remaining life is filled with regret; the martyr died with unfulfilled aspirations.” After Chen Xianong’s death, Liang Guoyi returned to Guangdong and joined the First Division of the National Revolutionary Army as both the Guard Captain and Drill Instructor. Soon after, he was transferred to serve as Adjutant of the Headquarters of the Second Army and Company Commander of the Fifth Company. He cleared out bandits in the Liangyang region (i.e., Yangjiang and Yangchun areas of Guangdong), built roads, banned opium, and assisted local communities in building schools. Later, the elders of Liangyang presented him with a plaque inscribed “Tireless Dedication and Great Merit,” and a memorial tablet was enshrined at Rudong School in his honor.

In 1920, when Lu Rongting and Mo Rongxin controlled Guangdong politics, Wu Tiecheng, Commander-in-Chief of the Guangdong Rebel Suppression Army, appointed Liang Guoyi as Captain of the First Battalion. He advanced from Xiangshan (now Zhongshan City) through Humen to Bao’an, creating the momentum of reinforcements returning to Guangdong, which helped stabilize the situation. Liang Guoyi was then reassigned as Commander of the Fourth Battalion, Second Brigade, First Route, and led troops to aid Guangxi before turning north for the Northern Expedition, advancing swiftly. Suddenly, Chen Jiongming rebelled, shelled the Presidential Palace, and forced Sun Yat-sen into exile. The various armies returned to suppress the rebellion. When the army reached Wengyuan, they encountered resistance from the forces of Hong Zhaolin, which blocked their advance. Liang Guoyi concentrated his entire battalion for an assault and was promoted to Commander of the Third Regiment, Second Brigade, Eastern Route Rebel Suppression Army for his meritorious service. In 1923, as Chen Jiongming entrenched himself in the Dongjiang area, the Eastern Route Army was ordered to return and suppress the rebellion, marching from Fujian back to Guangdong. Liang Guoyi, exhausted from overwork, fell ill and sought medical treatment in the provincial capital. When Chen Jiongming launched a full-scale westward offensive against Shilong and Zengcheng, Wu Tiecheng, Commander of the Rebel Suppression Army, appointed the brave and skilled Liang Guoyi as Frontline Commander. Though ill, Liang Guoyi went to the frontline to direct the battle. Arriving in Shilong, he first dispersed the enemy along the riverside near Suzhu Village and then advanced to reinforce Zengcheng. However, the enemy forces gathered again. Liang Guoyi selected elite soldiers, personally directed the battle from outside the city, and charged bravely forward. Soon, a large enemy force arrived, and bullets rained down. Liang Guoyi grew even more resolute, wielding a machine gun and leading repeated charges. Surrounded by the enemy and under heavy machine-gun fire, Liang Guoyi died a heroic death on the spot on November 12 at the age of 31. He was buried in Huanghuagang, Guangzhou, posthumously awarded the rank of Major General, and Sun Yat-sen personally inscribed his tombstone.

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