Protect the loyal souls of the martyrs and inherit the red spirit (continue the spirit of the Long March and forge ahead on the journey of rejuvenation)

Jiang Shilin gave an explanation in front of the tomb of the Red Army martyrs. Photo by our reporter Li Weijun

On a crisp autumn day in Mihua Mountain, Caiwan Village, Quanzhou County, Guilin City, Guangxi, 82-year-old Jiang Shilin carefully wiped the bright red five-pointed star on the tombstone of the Red Army martyrs, then leaned over to pull out weeds and clean up fallen leaves.

Behind the tombstone, the green hills are speechless. Jiang Shilin said to the tombstone: “I don’t know your names or where you come from, but you are my relatives and I am also your relative.”

After the Jiaoshanpu blockade of the Battle of Xiangjiang in 1934, Jiang Shilin’s grandfather, Jiang Zhongtai, took his 10-year-old son Jiang Shouyu up the mountain to cut firewood, and found the remains of seven Red Army soldiers in the bushes.

“The Red Army soldiers sacrificed their lives for the common people and cannot be ignored.” The father and son found mats and straw, buried the seven Red Army martyrs nearby, and marked them with three bricks.

Afterwards, Jiang Zhongtai was imprisoned by the enemy for burying the martyrs of the Red Army. He was tortured and died shortly after he was released from prison. He was only 34 years old. Before he died, he specifically called Jiang Shouyu to him and told him: “We must protect this tomb of the Red Army martyrs from generation to generation.”

After that, during the Spring Festival, Tomb Sweeping Day and other days, Jiang Shouyu would take his family to Mihua Mountain to pay homage to the tombs of the Red Army martyrs, walking this mountain road over and over again. In 2002, Jiang Shouyu passed away, and the baton of guarding the tomb was passed to his son Jiang Shilin.

In April 2019, Quanzhou County repaired the tombs of the Red Army martyrs and erected monuments, and at the same time established it as the “Red Army Martyrs Tomb Protection Site in the Xiangjiang Battle”. The original mound was transformed into a cemetery covering an area of ​​more than an acre. The tomb was repaired with marble and blue bricks. The tombstone read “Tomb of Red Army Martyrs” and there was a bright red five-pointed star on the top.

As more and more people came to pay their respects and pay homage, Jiang Shilin took the initiative to take up the voluntary explanation work. New police officers from the Caiwan Police Station of the Quanzhou County Public Security Bureau also came to Mihua Mountain under the leadership of their seniors and listened to Jiang Shilin’s story about the history of the Xiangjiang Battle and the story of three generations of his family and the tombs of the Red Army martyrs. “I have heard some red stories since I was a child. Now I am wearing a police uniform and standing at the place where the Red Army fought to listen to the explanations. I am even more touched and have a stronger sense of mission.” Tang Jianyu, a police officer from Caiwan Police Station, said.

In August this year, Jiang Shilin appeared on the second batch of “China’s Good People List” in 2026. “As long as I can walk and speak, I will be here at your call!” Jiang Shilin said firmly.

In recent years, Quanzhou County has continued to strengthen the protection of the revolutionary relics of the Battle of Xiangjiang and the utilization of red resources, creating a brand of “Blood Xiangjiang, Red and Honest Quanzhou”. Relying on red positions including the Red Army Martyrs’ Tomb at Mihuashan, it has carefully created more than 40 “red landmarks” and launched relevant tourism lines to promote the Long March revolutionary sites to become an important place for party members’ education, youth study, and the masses to commemorate the heroes.

“We will further protect and utilize red resources and pass on the red spirit from generation to generation.” said Chen Jing, director of the Guilin Red Army Long March Xiangjiang Campaign Cultural Protection and Inheritance Center.