Former Site of the Battle of Dabaidi Fought by the Fourth Red Army

　　The former site of the battle fought by the Fourth Red Army at Dabaidi is located in the areas of Dabaidi and Xingkeng villages, approximately 30 kilometers north of Xianghu Town, Ruijin City, Jiangxi Province. It is a strategic mountainous pass on the road from Ruijin to Ningdu, featuring rugged terrain. On January 14, 1929, Mao Zedong, - (Note: name omitted), and Chen Yi led over 3,600 troops of the main force of the Fourth Red Army from Jinggangshan to southern Jiangxi and western Fujian. On February 10, they arrived at Dabaidi in Ruijin, where they used the advantageous terrain to personally plan and command an ambush that wiped out the pursuing enemy forces under Liu Shiyi. They captured enemy regiment commander Xiao Zhiping, eliminated over 800 enemy troops, and seized more than 800 firearms. This marked the first major victory for the Fourth Red Army after advancing into southern Jiangxi and western Fujian. Bullet holes still remain clearly visible on the walls of a century-old civilian house owned by Liu Erjin in Qiancun (formerly Xingkeng Village). The site is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

　　On January 14, 1929, the main force of the 4th Red Army of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, under the leadership of Commander - and Political Commissar Mao Zedong, left Jinggangshan and advanced toward southern Jiangxi. On February 9, they moved to the area of Dabaidi and Aiqian in Ruijin County, Jiangxi Province. At this time, two regiments of the 15th Brigade of the enemy's - Army, led by Brigade Commander Liu Shiyi, had also advanced from Chengjiang to Ruijin. The Front Committee of the 4th Red Army decided to take advantage of the 15th Brigade’s isolated and reckless advance, using the favorable terrain on both sides of the valley south of Dabaidi, and employ an ambush tactic to annihilate them. That day, the 28th Regiment of the Red Army (minus the 2nd Battalion), the 31st Regiment, and the Army Special Service Battalion, along with the Independent Battalion, were positioned in the woods on both sides of the area from Mazi'ao to Qiancun (now Xingkeng). The 2nd Battalion of the 28th Regiment was deployed at Aiqian to conduct a diversion and lure the enemy into the ambush zone. At 15:00 on the 10th, as the 15th Brigade reached Aiqian, they were blocked by the Red Army’s - Guard unit. The battle continued until dusk, with both sides in a standoff. On the morning of the 11th, the Red Army - Guard unit gradually retreated while fighting. When the 15th Brigade was lured into the areas of Mazi'ao and Qiancun, the ambushing Red Army forces suddenly launched their attack. The 1st Battalion of the 28th Regiment maneuvered around the right flank to the east of Chating, captured the headquarters of the 15th Brigade, and cut off its retreat. The 2nd Battalion launched an attack against the enemy front. The 31st Regiment attacked the enemy’s left flank and occupied the high ground to the south. The Army Special Service Battalion and Independent Battalion quickly maneuvered around to the south of Qiancun, encircling the enemy forces, and then launched a general offensive. The fierce battle continued until noon, annihilating most of the 15th Brigade, capturing over 800 enemy troops, and seizing more than 800 firearms.

　　The Red Army moved into prearranged positions during the night: the 1st Detachment of the 1st Column set up an ambush on the western hill south of Dabaidi, the 3rd Column set up an ambush on the eastern hill south of Dabaidi, the 3rd and 4th Detachments of the 1st Column were deployed between the eastern and western flanks for frontal blocking, and the 2nd Detachment of the 1st Column served as the general reserve force, remaining in Dabaidi under the direct command of Commander -.

　　On the early morning of February 11 (Lunar New Year’s Day), the enemy advanced toward Dabaidi under a drizzle and was met with resistance from the Red Army. Believing they were gaining the upper hand, the enemy continuously threw in fresh troops and launched fierce attacks in an attempt to wipe out the Red Army. The 3rd and 4th Detachments of the 1st Column pretended to be overwhelmed and conducted staged retreats, gradually falling back toward Dabaidi, thereby forming a pocket-shaped ambush circle with the troops lying in wait on the eastern and western flanks. Unaware of the trap, the enemy continued to charge into the “pocket.” Even when facing stiff resistance, they kept sending in reinforcements, eventually marching straight into the trap. Around 09:00, the troops lying in ambush on the eastern and western flanks maneuvered behind the enemy and closed the “pocket.” Immediately after, Red Army forces launched attacks from all sides, and the sounds of battle erupted everywhere. However, the Red Army, having limited ammunition and suffering losses without resupply along the way, now had weak firepower. Despite striving to make every shot count and resorting to bayonets, stones, and rifle butts once bullets ran out, the situation gradually reached a stalemate. At this point, Commander - ordered the general reserve force to attack, and simultaneously, all Red Army units charged bravely, turning the tide of the battle. After intense hand-to-hand combat—“struggling with the enemy amid pools of blood”—the Red Army ultimately annihilated most of the two regiments of the 15th Brigade, capturing over 800 enemy troops and seizing more than 800 firearms. This marked the first victory since leaving Jinggangshan, lifting the heavy morale that had weighed on the soldiers. Chen Yi called it “the most honorable battle since the establishment of the Red Army.”

　　Before the battle, to ensure the troops had enough energy for the upcoming mountainous close-quarters combat, Mao Zedong, Secretary of the Front Committee, personally approved the use of food from local residents’ homes, with IOUs left behind to guarantee repayment later. When the residents returned to their village and saw the IOUs, they were skeptical. Later, when the Red Army passed through again, they indeed repaid the grain according to the IOUs.

　　On October 14, when the 15th Brigade of the enemy advanced to Aiqian, they were blocked by the Red Army - Guard unit. The battle continued until dusk, with both sides in a stalemate. On the 11th, the Red Army - Guard unit gradually retreated while fighting. When the enemy was lured into the areas of Mazi'ao and Qiancun, the ambushing Red Army forces—the 1st Battalion of the 28th Regiment—maneuvered around the right flank to the east of Chating, captured the headquarters of the 15th Brigade, cut off its retreat, and the 2nd Battalion launched an attack against the enemy front. The 31st Regiment attacked the enemy’s left flank and occupied the high ground to the south. The Army Special Service Battalion and Independent Battalion quickly maneuvered around to the south of Qiancun, encircling the enemy forces, and then launched a general offensive. The fierce battle continued until noon, annihilating most of the 15th Brigade, capturing over 800 enemy troops, and seizing more than 800 firearms.