The beacon is carried on paper and the string song lasts forever—

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, October 7 Title: The flames of war are recorded on paper and the string songs last forever – Listening to the red echo in the Long March archives of the Party History Exhibition Hall

Xinhua News Agency reporter Hu Lingran

“As soon as the Red Army came down the mountain, the autumn wind and drizzle were lingering.”

“Ask your relatives, the Red Army, when will the troops return to the mountains…”

The rustling autumn wind blows across Beijing. During this National Day holiday, thousands of visitors visited the History Exhibition Hall of the Communist Party of China every day. Walking into the exhibition hall of “The Great Expedition—Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army’s Long March Archives Exhibition”, the melodious melody of “Ten Sends to the Red Army” gently lingered, laying out an affectionate prelude to the magnificent expedition epic of the Red Army’s Long March.

This year marks the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army’s Long March. “The Great Expedition—The Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army’s Long March Archives Exhibition” opened at the Party History Exhibition Hall at the end of September. A large number of precious Long March archives and cultural relics were unveiled to the public for the first time. Yellowed paper files and mottled revolutionary cultural relics are neatly displayed, recording the determination and sincerity of the Red Army soldiers who bid farewell to their homeland and embarked on an expedition more than 90 years ago.

Among them, the exhibition focuses on more than 230 precious Long March archives, mainly collected by the Central Archives. Various archives such as marching telegrams, battle maps, Red Army notes, music scores, etc. show historical scenes during the Long March of the Red Army such as the Zunyi Conference, the fourth crossing of Chishui, the skillful crossing of the Jinsha River, and the flying capture of Luding Bridge.

Compared with the silent narration of history using static historical materials, the archives of Red Army Long March songs in the exhibition hall make the arduous Long March years audible and tangible.

“A warrior walks the world with his feet, and he crosses Chishui four times and emerges with surprising soldiers.”

“The Wujiang River is dangerous and difficult to cross, and the troops are approaching Guiyang and approaching Kunming…”

Among the visitors, Feng Guozhi, a citizen from Qinan Community, Yuetan Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, was attentively visiting the “Out of Encirclement” exhibition area. “Interspersed among the enemies, thinking that I was going east but then west, thinking that I was crossing the river to the north but then counterattacking from a long distance” “taking initiative everywhere, being vigorous and vigorous, swaying the enemy” “making the enemy confused, being beaten everywhere, and tired of running for his life”… After seeing the relevant files in the battle of crossing the Chishui River four times, he couldn’t help but softly sang “Surprise Soldiers Surprised from the Four Crossings of the Chishui River” from the “Long March Suite”. The high-spirited and sonorous tune instantly brings the memory back to the turbulent years of war.

The Battle of the Fourth Crossing of Chishui was a key battle in the Long March for the Central Red Army to win with a small number and to change from passive to active. The archives displayed in the special exhibition include detailed march records, combat deployments, and performance reports, which restore the magnificent picture of the Red Army defying powerful enemies, facing difficulties, and flexibly breaking the situation in a desperate situation where the enemy was encircling them and the environment was extremely harsh.

“I am 79 years old this year. I sang this song when I was young. This time I wanted to see the original archives of the four crossings of Chishui.” Feng Guozhi said with emotion that heavy blockades have not destroyed the revolutionary will, and layers of obstacles have not stopped the progress. The soldiers of the Red Army used their iron will to break through natural dangers and reverse the situation of the war. They used bloody battles to illustrate the heroic spirit of moving forward the more difficult and dangerous the situation is.

It’s a long journey, and every step is difficult. In the desperate situation of extreme hardship, a large number of revolutionary songs came into being and were widely sung. These melodies are not only the spiritual cry of the Red Army to overcome difficulties and fight bloody battles, but also carry the revolutionary team’s firm ideals and beliefs and the optimistic background of forging ahead in desperate situations, becoming a unique spiritual and cultural imprint on the Long March.

“The naturally dangerous Jinsha River and Dadu River…”

“We have created a new record in Chinese history, and we have achieved the cooperation of the two main forces…”

Xiao Lei, a visitor from Sichuan, stopped in front of the lyrics and music file of “Song of the Red Army Entering Sichuan” and carefully studied this precious historical material engraved with the imprint of his hometown. “This red ballad spread across the land of Sichuan and Sichuan is not only a red memory closely connected with the homeland, but also a red root passed down from generation to generation.” she said.

When the Red Army entered Sichuan, they crossed snowy mountains and grasslands. They always cared about the people, strictly abided by mass discipline, and helped each other with the local people. “Song of the Red Army Entering Sichuan” is a vivid portrayal of the army and the people as one family, and the unity of the army and the people to overcome many difficulties.

“Song of the Reunion of the Two Main Forces”, “Going to Northern Shaanxi”, “Battle Inspiration Song”, “Song to Improve Red Army Discipline”, “Song of Triumph”… In the exhibition hall, a series of Red Army Long March song archives are displayed one by one, attracting visitors to stop and stare. Song files and red ballads that traveled through the flames of war vividly conveyed to every visitor the firm ideals and beliefs, high-spirited fighting spirit, strict discipline and optimistic spirit of the Red Army soldiers in desperate situations.

The strings and songs are endless, and the firepower is passed down from generation to generation.

At the exit of the exhibition hall, the grandmother who brought her young grandson to see the exhibition taught the young children to sing “Ten Sends to the Red Army” sentence by sentence. The grandmother’s singing was accompanied by the children’s voices. “Many of the people sung in the song did not live to see the prosperous times. But when we look back on history today, we will remember why they set out,” she said.