Geographic Connections

Lianhua Bridge, Qinting, Shengfang, Huatang, Hetang (Longxi Lifuzhai), Qingtang, Heshan, Lukou, Liushi, Gaozhou, Chenghuangjie, Fenjieshan, Feiyun Ridge.

I. 1927: The Solitary Vigil of the ‘One Gun’ in the Embers of Revolution

The year 1927 (the 16th year of the Republic) was a tumultuous turning point in modern Chinese history. Following the betrayals of the revolution by Chiang Kai-shek and Wang Jingwei, the “White Terror” swept across western Jiangxi. Lianhua County, a strategic node on the Hunan-Jiangxi border, faced unprecedented trials. During this time, the local revolutionary armed forces were nearly wiped out. However, under extremely harsh conditions, communists like Liu Renkan and He Guoqing risked their lives to guard the final hope of the revolution with just one Type-38 rifle hidden deep in the mountain forests [1, 2].

This single rifle represented more than a weapon; it was a spark of faith. In August 1927, as the Nanchang Uprising shook the nation, the peasant militia in Lianhua began to regroup in secret, guided by this very rifle. By July 1928 (the 17th year of the Republic), Lianhua was officially integrated into the Xiang-Jiang Border Special District [1]. During these years of “revolting with a single gun,” the people of Lianhua demonstrated incredible resilience. Records show that during the New Democratic Revolution, over 3,000 martyrs from Lianhua County alone sacrificed their lives for the cause [1]. The evolution from such dire scarcity to a large-scale armed force became a legendary chapter in Chinese revolutionary history.

II. The Geographic Veins of Lianhua and the Natural Barriers of Struggle

The persistence of the struggle in Lianhua was inextricably linked to its unique geography. Originally known as “Lianhua Market,” the Lianhua Ting was established in the 8th year of the Qianlong reign (1743) by incorporating 20 districts (Du) from Yongxin and 12 districts from Anfu, totaling 32 districts [1]. Surrounded by the southern section of the Luoxiao Mountains, the county features numerous peaks above 700 meters, such as Feiyun Ridge (761m), which served as natural military bastions [1].

In 1928 (the 17th year of the Republic), when Mao Zedong led the Autumn Harvest Uprising troops toward the Jinggang Mountains, he passed through Lianhua. By then, the Lianhua militia had grown from its “single gun” origins into a guerrilla band of dozens. The county’s western border along the Luoxiao Mountains provided an excellent strategic retreat into Youxian County, Hunan [1]. Between 1927 and 1929 (the 18th year of the Republic), the armed forces utilized these natural defenses to evade encirclement by the Kuomintang militias. In 1929, Lianhua hosted the Second Workers’, Peasants’, and Soldiers’ Representative Congress, formalizing the Red power structure as the militia evolved into organized local Red Army units [1].

III. From a Single Rifle to the Blazing Fire of the Soviet Armed Forces

The growth of the Lianhua revolutionary forces is a vivid case study of the “rural encircling cities” strategy. By October 1930 (the 19th year of the Republic), Lianhua was placed under the jurisdiction of the Xiang-Southeast Special District, and its armed forces had become an indispensable part of the Xiang-Jiang Soviet Area [1]. During this period, Lianhua expanded not only militarily but also in its political infrastructure. Between 1931 and 1933, Lianhua fell under the Xiang-Jiang Provincial Soviet Government, establishing a comprehensive system of Red Guards across the county [1].

This qualitative change in armed strength can be seen in the evolution of security institutions. In 1926 (the 15th year of the Republic), Lianhua had only a tiny public security bureau. However, at the peak of the Land Revolution, every district and village had established Soviet militias to resist Kuomintang rule. To dismantle this Red stronghold, the Kuomintang carried out brutal “mopping-up” operations and economic blockades between 1934 (the 23rd year of the Republic) and 1935, forcing mountain dwellers into concentrated villages and implementing a salt and kerosene monopoly [1]. Despite these extreme shortages, the Lianhua forces, buoyed by their “one gun” heritage and deep mass support, maintained their struggle in strongholds like Shimen Mountain [1].

IV. Monuments of Martyrs and Poetic Elegies in the Corridor of History

Lianhua’s revolutionary history is etched not only in its landscapes but also in its cultural legacy. The Fuli Academy, founded by Ming scholar Liu Yuanqing in 1572 (the 6th year of Longqing), was once a cradle for progressive thought [1]. In modern times, this heroism was distilled into poetry. Martyr He Qingliang (Yinghan) wrote in his Invitation to the Execution Ground: “Heroes are born in land of the brave, tempering bodies through hardship and pain; I join the Communist Party myself, never betraying my comrades’ trust” [1]. This clever acrostic poem reflects the unyielding spirit of the 120,000 people of Lianhua.

Today, Lianhua County preserves many Red relics. Buildings like the Binxing Hall and the Former Site of the Xiang-Jiang General Bureau of the Chinese Red Post stand as silent witnesses to the era of fire and blood. In 1984, while compiling historical records, the local government reaffirmed the profound influence of the “One Gun” spirit across the county’s 19 townships [1]. As modern poet Chen Songshan wrote in The Revolutionary Anvil: “The Communist’s will is firm as steel, I am the first to brave the fire” [1]. This spirit served as a lighthouse during the long night after 1927, illuminating the revolutionary path for the entire Hunan-Jiangxi border region.

References

[1] Lianhua County Chronicle, Preface 1: Gan Zuchang and the One Gun Spirit [2] [3] Lianhua County Chronicle, Administrative Divisions: Qing Dynasty [11] [4] Lianhua County Chronicle, History: Ming, Qing, and Republican Eras [12] [5] Lianhua County Chronicle, Geography: Boundaries and Evolution [13, 14] [6] Lianhua County Chronicle, Public Security: Security Institutions [15] [7] Lianhua County Chronicle, Literature: Selected Poetry and Prose [16, 17] [8] Lianhua County Chronicle, Revolutionary History: Soviet Area Account [18, 19]