Research On Ji-re-cha Advance Troop Of The Eighth Route Army

In the early stage of the War of Resistance Against Japan,the CPC Central Committee deeply realized that the Ji-Re-Cha area centered on the Wuling Mountains was "the enemy’s distant rear area,supporting the Northeast AntiJapanese United Army to the east,supporting Jin-Cha-Ji to the south,being close to Mongolia to the north,and connected to Suiyuan to the west".In early 1938,Mao Zedong proposed the "Wuling Mountains Plan",advocating the creation of an anti-Japanese base centered on the Wuling Mountains.In April 1938,in order to implement the "Wuling Mountains Plan",the CPC Central Committee and the Eighth Route Army Headquarters ordered the Deng Hua and Song Shilun detachments to be combined into the Fourth Army of the Eighth Route Army to advance into Jidong,supporting the anti-Japanese uprising of the Jidong people.However,due to various factors,they were unable to establish themselves in Jidong and were forced to retreat to Pingxi.In order to continue the campaign in Jidong,the CPC Central Committee and the Central Military Commission decided to form the Ji-Re-Cha Advance Troop of the Eighth Route Army in February 1939.Based on the Fourth Army of the Eighth Route Army,it was established in Pingxi and then Commander Xiao Ke proposed the "consolidation of Pingxi,insistence on Jidong,and opening up of Pingbei" as a three-pronged strategic task,deeply opening up the vast areas of Ji-Re-Cha.The Advance Troop extensively mobilized the masses,carried out guerrilla warfare,and vigorously promoted the construction of the base area and military struggles.By the first half of 1941,the "three-pronged" strategic task was basically accomplished.In the second half of 1941,faced with the Japanese army’s crazy "sweeping" and "encroachment",Ji-Re-Cha encountered serious difficulties,and the scope of the base area sharply decreased.Under the new strategic task of "consolidating and advancing," the Expeditionary Army persisted in anti-"sweeping," fought to the death against the Japanese and puppet forces,and always stood firm on the front line of the anti-Japanese war in Ji-Re-Cha.In early 1942,in order to implement the CPC Central Committee’s policy of "reducing troops and simplifying administration" and to adapt to the actual struggle of the base area,the Expeditionary Army’s designation was revoked.The three-year struggle of the Ji-Re-Cha Advance Troop of Eighth Route Army created and developed the Ji-Re-Cha Anti-Japanese base area,tied up a large number of Japanese and puppet forces,struck their rule in North China,not only becoming a barrier to the Jin-Cha-Ji base area,but also preparing a frontline position and advance forces for strategic counterattacks,and made important contributions to the victory of the Anti-Japanese War in North China and even the entire war.