On the Long March, Red Army cadres always stood at the forefront of the team and rushed to the front line of the battle.

At the Military Museum of the Chinese People’s Revolution, the “Great Expedition—Theme Exhibition Commemorating the 90th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army’s Long March” attracted audiences from all over the country, and there was an endless flow of people in the exhibition hall. In the intertwining of real cultural relics and historical scenes, people felt the warmth of faith, listened to the stories of the Long March, and were deeply shocked by the great spirit and touching deeds of the Red Army.

When the People's Army was first founded, the army generally adopted the party representative system. Later, in order to adapt to the development of the revolutionary situation and war needs, the Red Army formally established the political commissar system after the Gutian Conference at the end of 1929.

During the visit, the reporter found that many cultural relics and historical materials pointed to one thing, that is, during the Long March, Red Army cadres, especially political commissars at all levels, suffered heavy casualties.

In a prominent position in the Long March exhibition area of ​​the 25th Red Army, a sculpture of military political commissar Wu Huanxian stands quietly. On August 21, 1935, Wu Huanxian died in a battle in Sipo Village, Jingchuan, Gansu Province. He was only 28 years old.

The Red 25th Army is a very young team. Most of the soldiers were sixteen or seventeen years old when it was formed. Many of them were children of the Red Army or orphans. Even the cadres at the battalion and regiment level were only around 20 years old.

However, it was such a "baby army" that had long lost contact with the Party Central Committee and the main force of the Red Army, but it created a miracle that its number did not decrease but increased during the Long March, and it was the first to fight nearly ten thousand miles and reach northern Shaanxi.

The reason why this army, which later had nearly a hundred founding generals, was able to persevere and overcome the strong with the weak is inseparable from the leadership of the commander of the 25th Red Army at that time.

Taking the three army chiefs as an example, Political Commissar Wu Huanxian, Army Commander Cheng Zihua, and Deputy Army Commander Xu Haidong have led the charge in critical moments many times. During the fierce battle, Wu Huanxian was shot and died, Cheng Zihua's hands were disabled, and Xu Haidong's head was seriously injured.

In another exhibition hall, a sand painting video played in a loop tells the story of the "Siyi Political Commissar" of the 18th Red Regiment.

During the Long March, the 18th Red Regiment was affiliated to the 6th Division of the Second Red Army Corps. Due to its excellent style and strong combat effectiveness, it was praised by Marshal He Long as the "Quick Sword Regiment" that could withstand wind and waves and withstand pressure.

But what is little known is that during the Long March, four consecutive political commissars of the regiment died or were seriously injured - Yu Qiuli was injured and had his legs amputated; Yang Xiushan was injured in the head and shrapnel remained in the body for many years; Dong Ruilin was killed in an attack while raising food; and Zhou Shenghong died in the blocking battle.

Facts have proved that this special experience has greatly enhanced the cohesion and combat effectiveness of the Red 18th Regiment, making "obeying the party's command, going forward successively, and not being afraid of sacrifice" the most distinctive background of this unit.

In addition to the above-mentioned revolutionary ancestors and heroes, the list of political cadres of the Red Army who shed blood at that time can be listed very long: Cheng Cuilin, political commissar of the 34th Red Army Division who suffered a bloody Xiangjiang River, Xu Ce, political commissar of the 5th Red Division who stayed in southern Sichuan and died, Chen Xiong, political commissar of the 5th Red Regiment who sacrificed his life in blowing up bunkers, Zhong Chibing, political commissar of the 12th Red Regiment who "completed the Long March on one leg"...

Behind this heavy list, there is a simple truth. From party representative to political commissar, what changes is the title, but what remains unchanged is that the Red Army cadres always stand at the forefront of the team, always rushing in the first row when facing the hail of bullets.

According to incomplete statistics, 432 Red Army cadres above the battalion level died on the Long March. Marshal Nie Rongzhen recalled: The Red Army fought "cadres and Party and League members." After a battle, the number of injured Party and League members often accounted for 25% or even 50% of the total casualties.

And this may be the answer to why the Red Army's political cadres suffered huge casualties, but the troops became stronger as they fought.

On the Long March, the political work of the party's leadership was consistent and strong. It was precisely relying on the party's leadership and strict discipline that the Red Army showed its invincible combat effectiveness and finally led to victory.

The answer to why the Red Army "fought hard and did not collapse" lies elsewhere. It lies in the successive charges of political commissars and in the figures of countless Red Army cadres who "Follow me." (over)