The Single Rifle of Lianhua: Preserving the Revolutionary Spark in the Mountains (1927)
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]. ...