Shentou Battle Monument

　　In early 1938, the Japanese invaders, who had been arrogantly shouting “Crush the Taihang Mountains,” occupied Changzhi, the capital of Shangdang, and threatened the important southern Shanxi town of Linfen. Comrade [Name] decided to use part of the troops to attack the Japanese forces entrenched in the key town of Licheng, luring the enemy forces from Lucheng to come to their aid, so as to concentrate the forces of three regiments to ambush the relieving enemies on the Changzhi–Handan Road and deliver a devastating blow to the arrogant Japanese invaders. On March 16, 1938, Commander Chen Geng ordered a company-strength force to raid Licheng, which indeed drew out the Japanese unit under Shimomura Kiyoshima stationed in Lucheng. When the Japanese troops reached Shentouling between Lucheng and Licheng, the 771st Regiment of our army and other units that had been lying in ambush behind the ridge launched a sudden attack on the enemy. After two hours of fierce fighting, our army annihilated 1,500 infantry and cavalry troops of the enemy at the cost of 200 casualties and captured a large amount of military supplies. This was the first major victory achieved by the Eighth Route Army since it began fighting in the Taihang Mountains, and it once again shattered the myth of the “invincibility of the Imperial Army.” To commemorate the Shentou Battle, in 1988 the People’s Government of Lucheng County erected a monument and a memorial pavilion on the battlefield. The monument is 15.8 meters high, inscribed with seven large characters “Shentou Battle Monument” personally written by Marshal [Name]. The pavilion also bears inscriptions by [Names]. Surrounded by pine and cypress trees, shaded by green foliage, and adorned with flowers and grass, the pavilion and its surroundings are solemn and dignified. “The victory at Shentou etched in history, the heroic spirit of the martyrs shines through the ages.” Today, the people of Shentou are striving to build a modernized countryside, inspired by the spirit of the revolutionary martyrs.