"Model Company of the 82nd Group Army's Certain Brigade 'Crossing the Wu River': Winning the Future Battlefield, Every Mission is a 'Crossing' (On the Road to Strengthening the Army: Entering the Heroic Long March Company)"

The soldiers of the company are conducting counter-reconnaissance training.

The soldiers of the company retrace the Long March, taking a photo with the battle flag by the banks of the Wu River.

The soldiers of the company are conducting offensive combat drills.

All the above images are provided by the interviewees.

This year marks the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Long March of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army.

Looking back at the 25,000-mile Long March, the heroic Red Army soldiers fought bloodily at the Xiang River, crossed the Chishui River four times, cleverly crossed the Jinsha River, forcefully crossed the Dadu River, and seized the Luding Bridge... Revolutionary predecessors, with firm ideals and beliefs, opened up a path to survival in desperate situations and forged brilliance in suffering, giving rise to a number of heroic companies with outstanding military achievements, such as the "Model Company of Crossing the Wu River" and the "Dadu River Company." Every glorious battle flag is engraved with heroic stories that resonate with the mountains and rivers.

Starting today, this newspaper launches a series of reports titled "Entering the Heroic Companies of the Long March," interviewing these heroic companies that established merit during the Long March, revisiting classic battle scenes, and showcasing the spirit of contemporary soldiers inheriting the great spirit of the Long March and striving for military excellence.

——Editor

"Traversing the world is difficult, especially crossing the Wu River."

The Wu River, like a dark blue dragon, cleaves through the northern land of Guizhou from west to east, roaring and surging. Breaking through the Wu River was a life-and-death battle, a legendary battle for the Red Army. The "Model Company of Crossing the Wu River" was one of the heroic companies that undertook the task of crossing and achieved remarkable feats.

In early autumn, the political instructor of the "Model Company of Crossing the Wu River," Feng Xiaohan, followed the footsteps of the Red Army and ventured into the depths of the Wumeng Mountains, by the banks of the Wu River. The knife-like cliffs and the rushing river water are breathtaking.

The Wu River crossing point is deep and turbulent, with hidden reefs. Local people have passed down the saying: to cross the Wu River, one must gather "two big and one good"—a clear day, a large wooden boat, and a good boatman, all of which are indispensable.

However, over 90 years ago, this company had none of these. Faced with a hail of bullets, how could they cross this natural barrier? "What our predecessors relied on was the spirit of 'striking hard and charging forward bravely,'" Feng Xiaohan said.

Crossing the natural barrier, blood forged the heroic title

In the honor room of the "Model Company of Crossing the Wu River," two "heirlooms" are quietly displayed: a battle flag of the "Model Company of Crossing the Wu River" and a lantern from the Hongchang Conference.

"How can a battle flag and a lantern pass down the torch of the company?" Feng Xiaohan often asks the soldiers, and also himself, "What I see is how a unit steadies its steps and follows its faith in the darkest night."

In January 1935, after the Hongchang Conference, enemy troops surged in, preparing to encircle the Red Army at the Wu River. If the Central Red Army could not cross the river quickly, the tragedy of blood staining the Xiang River a month earlier could repeat itself.

The light of the Hongchang Conference illuminated the direction of the breakout. "At all costs, open the crossing passage!" Zhang Yunyi, then deputy chief of staff of the Central Revolutionary Military Commission, rushed to the Jiangjie River crossing with urgent orders, accompanied by personnel carrying the lantern brought from the Hongchang Conference site, stepping out a path to the riverbank in the heavy darkness.

Today, this lantern can no longer be lit, but the faith beneath it has never extinguished.

"Our company was originally the 'Ye Ting Independent Regiment' First Battalion First Company, the first unit of armed forces under our party's control." Feng Xiaohan said, "Every charge by our predecessors is etched into the bloodline of the company."

As a spearhead company, the first company immediately decided that, even at great cost, they must ensure the main force crosses the river smoothly. Seventeen brave soldiers stepped forward, splitting into three bamboo rafts, risking their lives to cross, interpreting what it means to "strike hard and charge forward bravely" with their blood and lives.

Previously, the soldiers executing the swimming operation also successfully infiltrated behind enemy lines, cooperating internally and externally to tear open the Wu River defense line. The Red Army eliminated the enemy on the opposite side with the shortest time and the least sacrifice, and built a floating bridge over the Wu River to ensure the main force crossed smoothly.

"By January 6, 1935, the entire Central Red Army had crossed the Wu River, leaving the Kuomintang 'pursuit army' behind in the areas east and south of the Wu River. The Red Army's prestige shook northern Guizhou," the company historian explained excitedly.

"At that time, how difficult it was for the Red Army to cross the river!" 91 years later, company leader Feng Peishu stood at the Wu River crossing, seeing the steep ridges on both sides, the cliffs pressing straight down on the river surface, like high walls trapping the entire river in the middle.

A party history expert accompanying him said, "Currently, dams have been built upstream and downstream of the crossing, but back then, the Wu River in winter was deep and fast-flowing, combined with the rapids and dangerous shoals formed by visible and hidden rocks, making it extremely difficult to control the bamboo rafts."

"In the past, I had heard the story of crossing the Wu River over and over again. But standing at the crossing, looking at those restored bamboo rafts, I was still deeply shocked," Feng Peishu said.

What kind of bamboo rafts were they? They were made of bamboo with wooden boards in between, secured with bamboo strips. "The Red Army used simple bamboo rafts to break through the heavily guarded natural barriers," Feng Peishu reflected, "I used to think 'strike hard and charge forward bravely' was just a slogan, but standing here, I finally understood the weight behind it."

Corporal Qian Fadong, whose home is in Zunyi, Guizhou, with the Wu River right at his doorstep, often heard the elders point to the river and say, "The Red Army crossed here back in the day."

When he joined the army, Qian Fadong entered the honor room for the first time and saw the old map on the wall, with the words "Chashan Pass" standing out. From a boy by the Wu River to a successor of the heroes who crossed the Wu River, the Wumeng Mountains and the Wu River nurtured him and instilled in him a strong sense of mission.

During a live-fire exercise, the vehicle suddenly jolted violently, and the target disappeared from the sight. Qian Fadong quickly stood up to search again, hitting his nose hard against the turret edge, causing his nose to bleed. He didn't have time to wipe it, gritting his teeth to re-acquire the target and fire, hitting all of them.

"Why didn't you call for a stop?" After leaving the training ground, a comrade asked Qian Fadong while applying medicine to his injury.

"Back then at the Wu River, the Red Army predecessors didn't stop in the face of a hail of bullets. If they had stopped, the entire battle might have turned out differently," Qian Fadong replied.

On leave back home, Qian Fadong visited the Red Army Martyrs Memorial at the village entrance. He recalled the map in the honor room, the surging waters of the Wu River, the time spent sweating in the barracks, and even more so, the brave battles fought by the Red Army predecessors. At that moment, his belief in rooting himself in the military became even more resolute.

On the training ground, inheriting the spirit of daring to fight and win

Time flows on. That thrilling river crossing battle happened 91 years ago, but the spirit of "striking hard and charging forward bravely" continues to resonate in the hearts of the soldiers of the company.

In July this year, in the heart of Central China, under the scorching sun, during a live troop confrontation exercise, the company was executing a dispersal and concealment task in the mountainous forest when they suddenly received the order: "Quickly send out an advance team to scout the route!"

Previously, squad leader Shi Linlin had already combined training experience to simulate various anticipated situations. But halfway through the advance, urgent reports came over the radio: "The bridge ahead has been destroyed!" "A small group of enemies is harassing on the opposite bank!" "An enemy drone has been spotted 200 meters to the left!" Three layers of danger overlapped, catching the soldiers off guard.

Taking a 40-kilometer detour through the mountains was safe but would delay the opportunity for battle. Crossing on the spot was fraught with difficulties but could ensure timely arrival.

Company commander Huang Shifeng decisively ordered: "Cross!" With fire support, engineers building bridges, and anti-drone measures... in less than 20 minutes, a mechanized bridge spanned the riverbank, and the follow-up troops streamed in.

"91 years ago, our predecessors crossed the natural barrier on bamboo rafts, braving a hail of bullets. Today, we have advanced equipment that can turn natural barriers into thoroughfares. However, the victory genes of our predecessors are still being passed down," Shi Linlin said.

Moments when history shines into reality are always particularly moving. Every "crossing" on the training ground is a solemn tribute to that night at the Wu River.

To carry the spirit of "striking hard and charging forward bravely" into future battlefields, new skills and new actions are still needed.

In a confrontation exercise a few years ago, Corporal Wu Chengming's squad was responsible for eliminating the remaining enemies. As the advance troops just crested the hill, they were hit by a hidden blue army, suffering heavy losses.

"Why didn't we use drones for reconnaissance?" At the debriefing, Wu Chengming's question hit the nail on the head. The equipment had just been issued, and no one could use it proficiently, which became an awkward reality. From then on, the company formed a drone equipment training group, and Wu Chengming volunteered to take charge.

During that time, Wu Chengming trained daily with a simulator, often staying up until one or two in the morning, and his comrades joked that he had developed "panda eyes." During assembly training, to make the welding stronger, he practiced repeatedly, burning blisters on his index and middle fingers. "Today our equipment is more advanced, but we cannot lose the spirit of 'striking hard and charging forward bravely!'"

His efforts were not in vain. In a recent urban offensive and defensive exercise, Wu Chengming operated a drone at speeds exceeding 80 kilometers per hour, accurately flying into a wall aperture just 3 centimeters taller than the drone, successfully destroying the target.

"Technology is changing, the battlefield is changing, but the fighting spirit must not change," said Corporal Li Zhen, who is also charging into the field of unmanned combat. "What we need to do is use new technology to inherit the old spirit and win future wars."

During an exercise, Li Zhen used binoculars to observe and reported "safe," only for the team to be ambushed by hidden blue troops, suffering heavy losses. From then on, he put aside his preconceived notions and practiced drone operation diligently. After repeated takeoffs and landings and numerous debriefings, he gradually mastered the operation skills of various unmanned equipment.

In an August tactical exercise, a half-finished building could not be taken after prolonged assault. Li Zhen decisively operated the drone to scout, pinpoint, and strike in one go, eliminating the enemies hidden in the shadows, allowing the troops to complete the mission with zero casualties.

Where the battle flag points, the mission must be accomplished to continue writing glory

In October 1936, the Red First Army awarded the first company the title of "Model Company of Crossing the Wu River." Since then, this battle flag has accompanied the company through tumultuous years, inspiring generations of soldiers to overcome difficulties and charge into battle.

Private Shao Weiya was a junior student at Renmin University of China before enlisting. From the first new-style regular university founded by the party to the first armed force under the party's control, he said: "Youth is not just about rushing forward, but also about pouring one's blood for faith and mission."

Upon entering the military, Shao Weiya lagged in physical fitness, ranking third from the bottom in the comprehensive assessment of new recruits. After joining the company, during the first full battalion mobilization, due to his nervousness, he was the last in his class to complete the task.

That night, the squad leader did not criticize Shao Weiya but took him to the battle flag: "Weiya, do you know how this battle flag came to be?"

That night, Shao Weiya pondered for a long time under the battle flag. From then on, he set a strict training plan for himself: while his comrades wore light gear, he wore full gear, and on weekend mornings, he practiced armed long-distance running alone. In the wind and rain, he was covered in mud, shouting to the sky, venting his suppressed unwillingness and stubbornness.

On the day of the competition, the instructor loudly asked under the battle flag: "Do you remember our company spirit?"

"Strike hard and charge forward bravely!" Shao Weiya shouted. When the starting gun fired, he gave it his all, ultimately winning first place in the conscript group. Crossing the finish line, tears streamed down his face.

The power of the battle flag is written in the growth of every soldier.

"Each generation has its own Long March," Shao Weiya said, "Only by facing difficulties head-on and moving forward can we overcome the 'Wu River natural barrier' we face today."

Corporal Gou Yongyong, who re-enlisted, feels deeply about the "temperament" of the company: "Whenever we encounter opponents in competitions or face major tasks, everyone’s eyes suddenly light up, charging forward without hesitation."

This spirit shines even brighter in foreign lands.

In 2022, the company was fully deployed to South Sudan for peacekeeping missions. During the first armed escort task, squad leader Xia Zhengping encountered a tough battle. During the reconnaissance, local armed elements snatched their work camera and summoned a dozen armed personnel. Xia Zhengping stood in front of the opposing motorcycle, arguing that they must return the camera. When intimidation proved ineffective, the opposing side ultimately returned the camera and left.

"It's impossible not to be afraid. I had never felt so close to danger," Xia Zhengping said. "One side of the 'scale' is life, but the other side is a mission heavier than life."

That year, the company successfully completed 7 short patrols, 5 long patrols, 10 short-distance escorts, and dozens of urban patrol tasks. Squad leader Jiang Heng participated in peacekeeping personnel competitions, competing against 21 teams from 15 countries, scoring full marks in all 7 subjects and winning the championship. By the end of the year, the company was recognized by the Central Theater Command Army as a "model unit for practicing the goal of strengthening the military."

Returning triumphantly from overseas, the battle flag was once again planted on the flood control dike.

In 2023, many areas in North China faced severe flooding. The company was ordered to go to Tianjin and Zhuozhou in Hebei for flood relief. From noon until the early hours of the next day, the soldiers fought continuously for 14 hours. When the heavy rain came, everyone put on white woven bags and continued working; when their shoes got wet, they took them off and fought barefoot.

"These are hands wringing sweat from clothes, hands working, hands applying medicine..." In the photos of the soldiers fighting floods, those pairs of hands witness the hardships of battle and the inheritance of spirit.

Squad leader Li Weidong recalled another heirloom of the company—the "Ten Thousand People's Umbrella" given to the company by villagers from Huangchangpu Village in Beijing during the Liberation War. "Back then, our predecessors strictly observed discipline and served the people, earning the recognition of the masses; today, we must also uphold this trust. The essence of the company has never changed; for the safety of the people, I am willing to give everything," Li Weidong said.

The Wu River still surges, day and night. That battle flag soaked in glory leads a new generation of soldiers into battle.

Wherever the battle flag stands, that is the direction of the charge.

"Our predecessors walked the farthest roads, endured the coldest winds, and crossed the most furious rivers." Looking at the fluttering battle flag, Feng Xiaohan said, "Now, they must be watching us, climbing higher mountains, crossing wider rivers, and pursuing brighter glories."

(Gong Zeyuan, Luo Tianyang contributed to the writing)