The first military parade in the history of our army

After the first, second, and third "encirclement and suppression" campaigns of the Kuomintang army, the two revolutionary base areas in southern Jiangxi and western Fujian were connected, and the Central Soviet Area developed into a total area of more than 50000 square kilometers and a population of more than 250 million. The country's largest Soviet area. Under the situation of the continuous development of the base areas and the Red Army, the first National Congress of the Soviet Union of Chinese workers, peasants and soldiers, which had been prepared for a whole year and a half and the opening time of the five changes, finally opened ceremoniously in Ruijin, Jiangxi Province, on the day of the October Revolution of the Soviet Union on November 7, 1931.
Ruijin is located in the southeast of Jiangxi Province, at the western foot of the southern section of the Wuyi Mountains. It is located at the border of the three provinces of Jiangxi, Fujian and Guangdong. The mountains are dangerous and the geographical location is very important. According to the instructions of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China to "mobilize all forces to prepare for the opening of the First Soviet Congress" and "under possible conditions, a part of the Red Army's military parade should be held", the Central Bureau of the Soviet Area decided to hold a grand military parade on the opening day of the Congress.
Zeng Shan, then chairman of the Soviet government of Jiangxi Province, and Deng Xiaoping, secretary of the Ruijin County Party Committee of the Communist Party of China, led the local people to open the venue in Yeping Village, about 6 kilometers north of Ruijin City. This is a secluded and beautiful countryside, with tall and straight camphor trees and bamboo-lined farmhouses ...... There is also a grassy flat dam in the middle of the village, like a natural green square, an ideal venue for the Red Army to hold a military parade.
The reviewing stand was set up on one side of the grass, and a huge red cloth was hung on the middle beam. The 17 characters of "The Red Army Review Platform of the First National Soviet Congress" were eye-catching, and the portraits of Marx and Lenin were hung on the back curtain. The Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army flags were erected on both sides of the reviewing stand, and two steam lamps were hung in front of it, with bright and dazzling lights. On the branches around the lawn, hanging a red lantern.
In order to prevent the bombing of Kuomintang planes, the leaders of the Red Army specially selected the military parade to be held in the early morning, and the mass celebration rally was scheduled to be held in the evening. Mao Zedong also proposed to set up a fake meeting place in Changting, Fujian, to give the enemy an illusion.
On November 7, the quaint Ruijin City was filled with a festive atmosphere. Before dawn, thousands of people came to Yeping Village with torches. From a distance, they looked like a long dragon winding in the col. The morning mist filled the mountains and fields, and the countless dancing red flags were even more dazzling in the glow.
At this point, the parade has been completed. In front of the Red Army's 3rd Army, 4th Army, 7th Army, 12th Army, and 3rd Army each have an organizational battalion, led by the heads of each army; followed by the Red Army Central Military and Political School cadets The team is led by the principal Xiao Jingguang; there are also Red Guards and Model Young Pioneers in Ruijin County. The officers and soldiers, dressed in neat gray uniforms, stood mighty in the square.
The Red Army troops from the Central Soviet Area, Western Fujian, Northeast Jiangxi, Hunan-Jiangxi, Western Hunan-Hubei, Qiongya and other Soviet areas, as well as 610 official and non-voting representatives from the All-China Federation of Trade Unions and the All-China Seamen's Federation in the Kuomintang-ruled area, as well as The peasant masses who came from all directions stood on both sides of the review stand, and the entire venue was orderly.
At 6:30, Mao Zedong, Zhu De, Peng Dehuai, Xiang Ying, Ren Bishi, Deng Fa, Zhou Yili, Ye Jianying, Zhang Dingcheng, Zeng Shan and other leaders and Red Army generals marched into the venue.
Zhu De served as executive chairman of the conference. He spoke in a strong Sichuan dialect and said loudly, "The first National Congress of Soviets begins now! I declare that the Provisional Central Government of the Chinese Soviet Republic is officially established today!"
As soon as the voice fell, the square burst into thunderous applause. People waved flags and cheered to their heart's content. The sound of firecrackers crackled, and the trumpeter, holding a copper horn, blew a loud bugle. The Red Army soldiers happily raised their steel guns, took off their military caps and waved them happily over their heads. From the gray-haired old man to the childish-looking children, all immersed in the sea of joy.
At this time, Mao Zedong waved his right hand and commanded the Red Army soldiers to raise the flag. The crowd quieted down, and under everyone's gaze, five bright red flags rose with the rising sun.
At 7 o'clock, the military parade officially began. Peng Dehuai, the commander-in-chief of the 3rd Army Corps, who served as the commander-in-chief of the military parade, quickly ran to the review platform. After a standard military salute, he said loudly: "Report to the commander-in-chief, the political commissar, and the commander-in-chief of the military parade Peng Dehuai led the troops to accept the review. Please instruct!" Zhu De and Mao Zedong returned the salute separately. Then, Zhu De issued an order in a powerful voice: "The military parade begins!"
In the majestic military music, teams of heroic Red Army soldiers, carrying various weapons seized from the battlefield, are full of energy and vigorous pace; columns of Red Guards and young pioneers are dressed in Lenin costumes, hanging red streamers, holding broadswords, carrying shuttle darts on their shoulders, and marching vigorously. Under the guidance of the red flag, they divided into four columns, shouting "long live the Red Army!" "Long live the Soviets!" Long live the Chinese Communist Party!" The slogan, bathed in the bright glow, with sonorous steps, from south to north, neatly passed through the reviewing stand and watched in parallel. Accompanied by Chief of General Staff Ye Jianying, Zhu De and Mao Zedong reviewed the troops on horseback. with smiles on their faces, they frequently waved to the people's armed forces.
Long live the Red Army!" "Long live the Soviet Republic!" Long live the Communist Party!"
At this time, the crowd in the square could not help but shout along. The cheers merged into an exciting warm current, rippling in everyone's heart.
Three years ago, the Red Army's 4th Army and 5th Army met in Xincheng. In early December 1928, the main force of the 5th Army formed by the Pingjiang Uprising, led by Peng Dehuai and Teng Daiyuan, moved from the Hunan-Hubei-Jiangxi Border Region to Jinggangshan and rendezvous with the 4th Army. The two armies held a grand ceremony by the rice fields outside the west gate of the new city. Celebration meeting. At that time, the rostrum was relatively rudimentary, and when there were more people walking up, the platform was crushed. Some people in the audience said that it was unlucky to collapse as soon as they met. Zhu De said: "Comrades, it doesn't matter. The stage collapsed just now, but we immediately set it up again. The stage of the proletariat will never collapse." Everyone applauded together, and the enthusiasm rose again.
Times have changed. In just a few years, the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army has developed into a heroic force with strong combat effectiveness. Mao Zedong raised his hand to the rostrum and said to Zhu De beside him: "Look, we really set up a bigger platform today to review heroes from all walks of life!"
When the sun climbed up the hill, the military parade ended successfully. People were quickly evacuated according to the scheduled plan, and the reviewing stand was also dressed in air defense camouflage. Soon, more than a dozen Kuomintang bombers flew in at low altitude. They circled several times, found no important target, randomly dropped some bombs on Ruijin County and its suburbs, and then drove off. In Changting, Fujian, they found the fake venue of the "One Soviet Congress" there. They bombed and shot at low altitude. They didn't leave until they beat the fake venue beyond recognition.
After the military parade, the first National Congress of the Chinese Soviet officially kicked off. The conference lasted 14 days. On behalf of the Central Bureau of the Soviet Area of the Communist Party of China, Mao Zedong made a report to the conference and wrote an inscription: "The Soviet is an organ for the workers and peasants to manage their own lives, and is the organizer and leader of the revolutionary war." The conference elected 63 people including Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, and Zhu De to form the Central Executive Committee, declaring the establishment of the Provisional Central Government of the Chinese Soviet Republic. The General Assembly held a grand flag and award ceremony in the Red Army Parade Square. The presidium of the conference announced that the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 10th, 12th, 16th and 3rd armies of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army were awarded flags. Eight people including Mao Zedong, Zhu De, Peng Dehuai and Fang Zhimin were awarded medals. At the first plenary meeting of the Provisional Central Executive Committee of the Chinese Soviet Republic, Mao Zedong was elected as the chairman of the People's Committee in accordance with the provisions of the Soviet Organization Law. From then on, the title "Chairman Mao" spread like wildfire and became an immortal title that spread all over the country and was admired by people for generations.　

Source: Liberation Army Daily