Bosheng Fort

　　Bosheng Fort was built by the Provisional Central Government of the Chinese Soviet Republic to commemorate the revolutionary martyr Zhao Boseng. The construction was supervised by the Preparatory Committee for the Second National Congress of Soviets, with Liang Botai overseeing the engineering guidance and Qian Zhuangfei responsible for the design. Work began on August 1, 1933, and the fort was completed on January 31, 1934. The entire structure is made of blue bricks and is square-shaped, symbolizing that Zhao Boseng died during the Fourth Counter-Encirclement Campaign.

　　Zhao Boseng was born in 1897 in Huanghua County, Hebei Province. After graduating from the Baoding Military Academy in 1917, he served as a special brigade commander in the Northwest Army and later as Chief of Staff of the 26th Route Army of the National Revolutionary Army. In the spring of 1931, Chiang Kai-shek transferred the 26th Route Army to the Soviet Area in an attempt to eliminate dissident forces and “encircle and suppress” the Red Army. During this time, with the assistance of the underground Communist Party organization, Zhao Boseng resolved to follow the Communists. He secretly joined the Party in October, and on December 14, he led over 17,000 troops from the 26th Route Army, along with Dong Zhentang and Ji Zhongtong, in a revolt in Ningdu, collectively joining the Red Army. The rebel forces were reorganized into the Fifth Army Corps of the First Front Red Army, with Zhao Boseng serving as Chief of Staff and Commander of the 14th Army. Throughout the subsequent revolutionary wars, Zhao remained loyal to the Party and the revolution, achieving remarkable military accomplishments. On January 8, 1933, Zhao led his troops in a defensive battle at Huangshidu, Nancheng, Jiangxi. Despite the perilous conditions, he repeatedly repelled enemy attacks, playing a vital role in securing victory for our army. During the battle, Zhao personally directed frontline charges but was unfortunately struck by a bullet and killed, at the age of 36.

　　In October 1934, after the main force of the Red Army began the Long March, the fort was demolished by reactionary Kuomintang forces. However, the engraved stone tablet inside the fort titled “In Memory of Comrade Zhao Boseng” was secretly salvaged by local residents and preserved. It is now housed in our museum. Bosheng Fort was rebuilt in 1955 to its original appearance. Chairman Mao personally inscribed the three characters “博生堡” (Bosheng Fort), which are embedded at the top of the fort. The General Political Department of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army also redrafted a memorial inscription for the martyr Zhao Boseng, which was erected inside the fort. Bosheng Fort is now a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.