Battle Site of the Red Second and Sixth Army Corps' Surprise Attack on Yachihe River

　　In the first half of January 1936, Ren Bishi, He Long, Guan Xiangying, Xiao Ke, - and others led the Red Second and Sixth Army Corps into Guizhou, strategically moving toward northwestern Guizhou to establish a revolutionary base. In the early hours of February 1, they launched a surprise attack on Yachihe River and successfully crossed this treacherous natural barrier. By the early morning of February 3, they smoothly occupied Qianxi City, marking a critical step in establishing the base as well as the Sichuan-Yunnan-Guizhou Revolutionary Committee and various levels of revolutionary governments.

　　The Yachihe River ferry was the only crossing connecting several counties in northwestern Guizhou to Guiyang. Towering and densely forested mountains lined both riverbanks, with cliffs that were steep and rugged—some towering dozens of meters high and others several meters tall. The riverbed varied in width, with deep and dangerous waters, and swift undercurrents, making it truly a formidable natural barrier that seemed impassable. At the time, all traffic relied on wooden boat ferries. From the ferry to the mountaintop to the north lay two passes: the Greater Pass and the Lesser Pass. The mountain paths leading up were as steep as ladders to the sky, while the main roads twisted and turned. It was truly a case of “one man guarding the pass can hold off ten thousand.” To ensure a successful attack and crossing, the Red Second and Sixth Army Corps, following directives from the Military Commission, feigned an attack on Guiyang, employing a strategy of deception to confuse and divert enemy forces. The Ninety-Ninth and Twenty-Third Divisions deployed by Chiang Kai-shek at the Yachihe River ferry on the upper reaches of the Wujiang River, west of Guiyang, hastily retreated toward Guiyang amid reports of an “emergency” there. Seizing the opportunity presented by the weakened defenses at the Yachihe River ferry, the Red Army staged a diversion, bypassed northern Guizhou, struck directly at Xiuwen, and launched a surprise raid on Yachihe. On the night of February 1, they successfully launched their surprise attack, capturing the northern riverbank ferry. Over three days, they crossed the perilous Yachihe River barrier, leaving the enemy's Ninety-Ninth and Twenty-Third Divisions stranded on the southern bank.