Source: a bad potato (id:iamhtd)
Part I: Yang Yongtai’s plot, Chiang Kai Shek’s carefully prepared script;
The second part: encirclement by six routes, ambush on all sides, and the death situation left by Chiang Kai Shek to the Red Army;
Part III: Chishui River, the end of Chiang Kai Shek’s plan;
Part IV: crossing the red water for the second time, making the impossible possible;
Part V: three crossing Chishui, genius strategy;
Part VI: the moment of crossing Chishui for four times, the first World War, and witnessing miracles;
01
In 1927, Huang Ying, the mayor of Shanghai, said to Chiang Kai Shek: I recommend someone to you. If you have him, you will have Zhugeliang, and the world will be settled from now on.
In Chiang Kai Shek’s mind, Huang Ying is already a top think tank, comparable to Zhang Liang. It is precisely because of Huang Ying’s plot that he climbed to the peak of power in the April 12 counter revolutionary coup. Is there anyone worse than Huang Ying?
In 1928, Chiang Kai Shek met Yang Yongtai recommended by Huang Ying. Yang Yongtai clearly stated to Chiang Kai Shek the general trend of the world and the solution of the coexistence of five warlords, solving Feng Yuxiang by economic means, Yan Xishan by political means, Li Zongren by military means, and Zhang Xueliang by diplomatic means.
After hearing this, Chiang Kai Shek was shocked. From then on, he followed Yang Yongtai’s advice and firmly believed that he was his own “Wolong”.
In 1934, Chiang Kai Shek took Yang Yongtai as the chief planner and launched the fifth encirclement and suppression.
Yang Yongtai planned the overall plan, seven political and three military, implemented the Baojia law in all counties, and proposed to straighten out the administration of officials, comprehensively verify the name and reality, reward and punish, and imposed a strict and comprehensive blockade on the Soviet area. Militarily, Chiang Kai Shek mobilized about 1million troops and 200 aircraft, dispatched German artillery and armored vehicles, and steadily built blockhouses one by one to carry out the largest scale encirclement and suppression of the central revolutionary base.
At this time, in the Soviet Area of our party, Mao Zedong was sent to sit on the bench and hung the name of the chairman of the central provisional Soviet government. Bogu the final say politically and Lide the final say militarily.
Lide is a German agent. His job is to engage in intelligence work. He has never commanded a war. He studied in the Soviet military academy for 3 years and has no fart experience.
In the face of the attack of 1million enemy troops, Li De just used the mentality of playing Warcraft computer games to command blindly. Regardless of China’s national conditions and the actual situation of the war, he just relied on the rules and regulations in textbooks, sitting in the house drawing maps and fooling around.
For Li De’s state of mind, he would not understand the hardships of Mao Zedong’s establishment in the Central Soviet Area, as if the current achievements had fallen from the sky, like a child selling yetian not distressed.
In the first anti encirclement and suppression campaign, under the command of Mao Zedong, the Red Army lost 2000 casualties and annihilated 12000 enemies;
In the second anti encirclement and suppression campaign, under the command of Mao Zedong, the red army suffered 4000 casualties and annihilated 30000 enemies;
In the third anti encirclement and suppression campaign, under the command of Mao Zedong, the red army suffered 5000 casualties and annihilated 30000 enemies;
In the fifth counter encirclement and suppression, under the command of bogulide, the red army suffered about 35000 casualties and the enemy suffered about 15000 casualties;
Seeing that the Red Army seemed to be about to be destroyed, Chiang Kai Shek was satisfied, but Yang Yongtai was superior and put forward a larger strategic idea:
Now give the Red Army a break and let them retreat.
According to the geographical location, the strategic retreat of the Red Army must be from Hunan to Guizhou, and then from Guizhou to the north.
In view of the retreat route of the Red Army, we should lay a snare around them.
Yang Yongtai’s suggestion to Chiang Kai Shek was to “drive out the tiger and swallow the wolf”. Along the Red Army’s transfer route, Xue Yue was sent as the commander of encirclement and suppression all the way. After the Red Army was repaired, it would “encircle and suppress”, and the Red Army would pursue it as soon as it moved forward, killing two birds with one stone, and “cutting down the enemy” all the way to incorporate local forces.
At this time, for Chiang Kai Shek, there were Chen Jitang in Guangdong, He Jian in Hunan, Li Zongren and Bai Chongxi in Guangxi, Liu Xiang and Liu Wenhui in Sichuan, and Long Yun in Yunnan. These local warlords are too big to fall, which makes him very headache.
After listening to the plan, Chiang Kai Shek shouted a clever plan and immediately organized people to implement it.
In the face of Chiang Kai Shek’s million troops, the Red Army has begun a strategic shift. At this time, Li De was not reconciled to losing all his family property. He continued to command blindly, and did not give full play to the strengths of the Red Army’s sports war. The army still had to carry a large number of supplies in action. Bogu asked that nothing should be lost, resulting in slow action and serious mistakes in strategic and tactical guidance.
The battle of Xiangjiang River broke out in Guangxi. Although the blockade was broken, the Red Army was defeated miserably and suffered a devastating blow. 86000 Red Army soldiers, about 31000 people were killed and missing, and about 6000 people were captured. The eighth Red Army Corps behind the hall no longer exists.
There are only 30000 people left in the Central Red Army, which is in danger.
Chiang Kai Shek took the opportunity to extend his influence to all regions, and Xue Yue bit the Red Army all the way in pursuit.
As expected, the Red Army under the wrong command will not escape the play directed by Chiang Kai Shek and will be driven all the way to the South Bank of the Yangtze River.
At this time, the army in charge of pursuing and encircling was 400000, and 400000 elite troops “defeated” 30000. Chiang Kai Shek was already in a position to win. He could not think of any chance for the Red Army to turn over.
All the evacuation routes of the Red Army are under the control of Chiang Kai Shek. They will never escape from Chiang Kai Shek’s pocket array!
When it will be destroyed depends only on what strategic intentions Chiang Kai Shek wants to achieve.
In the battle of Xiangjiang River, 30000 revolutionary martyrs paid their lives. Every inch of soil was stained with heroic blood, and Xiangjiang River almost became a river of blood.
Under the powerful firepower of the enemy, groups of soldiers fell down and rushed forward again. At this time, Bogu, who was in power, finally experienced the tragic consequences of his absurdity. He had already lost his original self-confidence, panicked, and his heart was extremely empty.
Zhou Enlai found Mao Zedong in the stream of people crossing the river. The two former comrades in arms looked at each other but were silent.
Faced with the bodies of field friends all over the mountain, every soldier and commander had to think about such a problem:
When did Chairman Mao command us to fight such a war?
02
On January 15, 1935, the Zunyi Meeting was held, and bogulide’s wrong line was finally denied. Mao Zedong became a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau. We say that the Zunyi Meeting reaffirmed Mao Zedong’s correct military line, saved the Chinese revolution and saved the party at the most critical and critical moment.
However, at a meeting, Mao Zedong’s military advice was finally heard. Mao Zedong had not yet become a military decision-maker. At this time, the Red Army was still in danger in the face of the encirclement, pursuit and interception of the enemy.
How can we get out of Chiang Kai Shek’s pocket? How can we reverse the unfavorable situation?
The Red Army is under heavy siege, and a total of six forces are ready to attack!
There was no way forward, and there were pursuers behind. Chiang Kai Shek was clear about his every move.
In Hunan to the East, there are four divisions of the Hunan army. These four divisions do nothing but build blockhouses and build a dense defense line. If the red army wants to return to Hunan, what it waits for is the blockhouse minefield;
In the west, there are four divisions of Guizhou warlord Wang jialie, and all routes into the West are closed.
In the south, Xue Yue’s eight divisions are ready to go. They are the central army of Chiang Kai Shek. They are strong and mobile. The vanguard troops of Xue Yue’s army have gathered in Wujiang and plan to carry out another devastating attack on the Red Army near Zunyi.
To enter Sichuan in the northwest, there are two divisions of the Guizhou army waiting for battle and two central divisions of Chiang Kai Shek waiting to assemble;
To the north, Liu Xiang’s 14 Sichuan brigades were on standby; Two of the brigades have entered the Sichuan Guizhou border north of Songkan; Six brigades were stationed on the Yangtze River to prevent the Red Army from crossing the river.
In the southwest, the Hengjiang defense line built by five brigades of the Yunnan army has been basically completed and is waiting for our army to come. In addition, three brigades will be surrounded by the Guizhou army, ready to attack the main force of the Red Army at any time.
At this time, Chiang Kai Shek had more than 150 regiments, nearly 400000 troops, powerful German ordnance, air force support, convenient transportation, and adequate supplies of food and ammunition.
Our army’s tired division is short of doctors and medicine. People are tired. Supplies have almost been cleared. Transportation depends on two legs.
Surrounded on six sides, 400000 enemy troops besieged 30000 Red Army troops, with no vitality.
There is no way in heaven, no door to the earth, ambush on all sides, a snare!
The chief director of this performance is Chiang Kai Shek, and the script is:
The Hunan army built the eastern defense line;
The Yunnan Guizhou army built the Western defense line;
The Sichuan army built the northern defense line;
The male number one is Xue Yue. The central army led by him is always only 2-3 days away from the Red Army, and there will be no more breathing time. Chiang Kai Shek can let Xue Yue stop this chase game at any time. However, he hoped that the Red Army could retreat according to the script he designed, so that he could seize the opportunity to harvest the territory of the southwest warlords.
The warlords in the southwest, waiting for work with ease, have built a tight defense line, will attack the Red Army, and will not be allowed to enter their own territory.
Chiang Kai Shek has calculated the trend of our army. Going north to Sichuan and joining the Fourth Front Army of the Red Army is the only “way to live”. On this road, Chiang Kai Shek has already arranged heavy troop deployment, and entering the South Bank of the Yangtze River in Sichuan is the end of the Red Army.
For the Red Army, this is a dead game.
Two years later, Lin Biao still couldn’t understand the strategic significance of Sidu Chishui, muttering: what did Sidu Chishui do? Isn’t it tiring to cross the river back and forth? I don’t think it’s necessary at all.
The open-minded Mao Zedong finally got angry and said: what do you know, little doll!
Lin Biao is still halfway up the mountain. What he sees is that the Red Army has failed in succession. He hopes to win the war.
But how about winning one or two battles? Their fate still cannot be changed. They will never jump out of the bag formation.
At this time, Mao Zedong had already reached the top of the mountain. He calmly looked at all this. What he needed to consider was: how can he change his life against the sky, abolish Chiang Kai Shek’s script, and break out of the encirclement of 400000 enemy troops? It will be impossible to become possible!
Crossing Chishui four times was the first direct face-to-face confrontation between Mao Zedong and Chiang Kai Shek. Chiang Kai Shek’s hands were full of trumps, and the Red Army was in a desperate situation.
This battle seems to indicate the ultimate fate.
03
Chishui River, or Chishui, is a tributary of the upper reaches of the Yangtze River in China. It is named for its high sediment content and red and yellow water color. It is located in the border area of Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan provinces, with steep, dangerous beaches and rapids on both sides.
It is here that determines the future of China.
Among the warlords who besieged the Red Army, the Sichuan warlords were the troops with the highest fighting will except the central army, because there were 100000 red fourth front armies in Sichuan, which made them restless, and people with a clear eye could see that the Central Red Army wanted to enter Sichuan to join the Fourth Front Army.
On January 19, 1935, the Sichuan army took the lead in attacking the Red Army, which had moved from Zunyi to Tucheng. This battle was extremely dangerous. The fire of war was approaching the center. Zhu De and Peng Dehuai went directly to the front line to command the battle. Finally, Chen Geng led the last cadre regiment to participate in the battle.
Mao Zedong made a quick decision. On January 29, the whole army lost some of its luggage, built a floating bridge across the Chishui River and stationed in the west, and then blew up the floating bridge, which turned the tide.
In the battle of Tucheng, the Red Army sacrificed more than 3000 people again, and the situation was more severe.
If it is said that once Chishui was to passively avoid the pursuit of the enemy, it is nothing strange, then the back of the Sandu, it can be said to be a God.
Chishui River is close to the Yangtze River, crosses the Yangtze River northward and arrives in Sichuan.
The Red Army must go from the Yangtze River to Sichuan.
Because of this, Liu Xiang of the Sichuan army is very nervous. Once the Central Red Army is released to Sichuan, at this time, not only can Xue Yue lead the central army into Sichuan legitimately, but also a red Fourth Front Army can’t cope with it. Now, with the Central Red Army, the good days of the local separatist emperors will surely end.
At this time, the Sichuan army was desperate to stop the Red Army on the South Bank of the Yangtze River anyway.
Liu Xiang thought so, and so did Chiang Kai Shek. Under heavy siege, crossing the Yangtze River, entering Sichuan to engage in the industrial and agricultural revolution base, and joining the Fourth Front Army of the Red Army was the only way for the Central Red Army to survive.
It was Chiang Kai Shek who had already written a script to make the Red Army collapse on the South Bank of the Yangtze River.
After crossing Chishui, in Zhaxi area, the red army began to expand its troops, mobilize and arm the masses, and began preparations for crossing the Yangtze River north.
All this information was seen by Chiang Kai Shek, who felt that it was time to tighten his pockets.
Xue Yue’s 3 divisions, Sichuan army’s 2 divisions, Yunnan army’s 3 brigades as pioneers, followed by 12 divisions, began to march into Tashi and encircled by 6 routes.
Chiang Kai Shek said: we must gather and annihilate them.
Long Yun said: the Red Army has entered a dead end, and it will be wiped out!
According to the plan, this is the final chapter!
04
From now on, it is the moment for Mao Zedong’s genius strategy to witness the miracle. When the enemy was just about to enter the siege, Xue Yue’s army had rushed from behind. Mao Zedong had made a decision and the whole army returned!
Look for favorable fighters, concentrate superior forces, give play to our military’s strengths in mobile warfare, and take the initiative to destroy the enemy. It is the military strategy put forward by Mao Zedong.
Return to the East, cross Chishui again, and occupy Zunyi again
?
The Central Red Army passed by Xue Yue’s main force coming from the front across a mountain.
Mao Zedong gave full play to his genius strategy and decisive decision-making, and gave up all heavy weapons such as artillery, because there is a sacrifice, there is a gain. These are not resources, but burdens.
At this time, after the enemy occupied Zunyi, as Mao Zedong expected, there were less than six regiments of weak troops stationed.
After crossing Chishui for the second time, our army recovered Zunyi with great momentum. More than a dozen counties such as Jianhe, Huangping and Taigong were easily captured. Then Loushan Pass won the victory and won the gate of Zunyi without a single shot.
Because at this time, the garrison of Guizhou army never thought that the Red Army would kill a rifle back. Everyone didn’t expect the Red Army to come out like this. The commander of Guizhou army, Wang jialie, was still celebrating his old mother’s birthday.
You, how can you come back?
Crossing the Yangtze River and entering Sichuan is your only way to survive.
After crossing Chishui for the second time, more than a dozen divisions led by Xue Yue threw themselves into the air and got nothing, while the Red Army almost won the whole northern Guizhou at a very small cost.
The battle of Loushanguan and the defensive war of Zunyi were excellent, with one main attack and two detours, which gave full play to the essence of Mao Zedong’s campaign;
The greater value of crossing Chishui for the second time is that the whole Red Army has restored its high fighting spirit. If everything returns to the battle commanded by Chairman Mao two years ago, it will be able to win. We are the Iron Army that will never go wrong!
05
After the failure of the encirclement and suppression plan, Chiang Kai Shek flew from Jiangxi to Chongqing and began to fully deploy the next step. He must eliminate future problems in Guizhou forever.
For us, although the second crossing of Chishui boosted morale, Mao Zedong was very clear: the crisis is not over, and now the Red Army is still in Chiang Kai Shek’s pocket. Surrounded on six sides, the situation is still grim!
Chiang Kai Shek’s strategy changed. On the one hand, he mobilized the army for defense, on the other hand, he continued the strategy of the five encirclement and suppression, and frantically began to build blockhouses.
Push it all the way. They won’t attack this time! Just build a bunker!!
If we talk about the current Sino US game, the time is on our side.
When crossing Chishui four times, the time must be on Chiang Kai Shek’s side. There are natural dangers of the Yangtze River in front and Wujiang River in the back. With the continuous construction of the enemy fortifications, there is not much space left for us!
This time Chiang Kai Shek is going to build the blockhouse all the way to our main base!
However, after the great victory in Loushan Pass, Mao Zedong has written the memory of Qin E.
The Xiongguan pass is like iron, and now we are going to cross over from the beginning!
The victory of Loushan Pass was not particularly outstanding. Does Mao Zedong need to be so happy?
It’s because Mao Zedong already knew how to get rid of the dilemma!
400000 enemy troops, with aircraft, artillery and blockhouses;
Our army has only two legs for 30000;
Everyone knows that the Red Army will cross the Yangtze River and head north;
The Red Army also knew that it would cross the Yangtze River and go north to join the Fourth Front Army;
Therefore, Chiang Kai Shek’s script must “annihilate the enemy” on the South Bank of the Yangtze River.
But although everyone knows, our army crossed the Yangtze River.
How did Mao Zedong do it?
After crossing Chishui for the second time, the form of our army has not improved. It is entrenched. Sooner or later, the enemy’s bunker will be pushed over, and the script of the failure of the fifth counter encirclement and suppression will be repeated. The attack will be heavily fortified by the enemy on all sides.
At the military meeting on the morning of March 10, Mao Zedong had a dispute with all members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, because everyone thought that attacking Jinsha County could win a victory. Mao Zedong disagreed and even left the conference hall in a rage.
Because all the Central Committee members, like Lin Biao two years later, believed that what they needed was a victory in the battle,
What Mao Zedong wanted was the victory of the whole campaign, the complete bankruptcy of Chiang Kai Shek’s script, the escape of the Red Army, the breaking of Chiang Kai Shek’s containment, and the start of a new journey.
Because the time at this time is not on our side.
To fight Jinsha County, there will be some achievements and supplies, but then? It was still in Chiang Kai Shek’s pocket array, and it was still not free from the pursuit of the enemy.
On March 12, after persuading other members of the Central Committee, a three member military group of Zhou Enlai, Wang Jiaxiang and Mao Zedong was established, and Mao Zedong began a real genius script!
Jinsha County, also known as the new drum farm, so many people later said that Jinsha County is the new drum farm, which is wrong,
Jinsha County should be a new venue for drumming.
On March 15, the red army began to attack Jinsha County, attracting Xue Yue’s troops to come to rescue.
However, on March 17, the Red Army abandoned Jinsha County and crossed Chishui for the third time in Maotai Town in the north, preparing to cross the Yangtze River again and enter Sichuan from here.
Chiang Kai Shek laughed. You still got into the encirclement I prepared for you. After all, you didn’t expect me.
The Red Army’s attack on Jinsha County was a feint, as Chiang Kai Shek knew;
The red army fought in Jinsha County to confuse the enemy and cross the Yangtze River, as Chiang Kai Shek knew;
Chiang Kai Shek knew better that the Red Army had to cross the Yangtze River and join forces with the Fourth Front Army.
But the latter, Chiang Kai Shek did not know, not only Chiang Kai Shek did not know, now except for the military trio, almost no one knew, nor guessed.
The highlight of the genius strategist came. When crossing Chishui for three times, Mao Zedong made several decisions:
First, when crossing the river, we must make great efforts. In the past, it only took less than half a day to cross Chishui. This time, it took us one night and one morning to cross the river, so that the enemy’s reconnaissance aircraft could clearly see our action. They told Chiang Kai Shek the information like a treasure
The Red Army has crossed Chishui, and they are about to start crossing the Yangtze River!
Second, after the whole army crossed Chishui, the whole army hid, turned off the radio, and began to quietly hide in the mountains. 30000 main forces of the Red Army disappeared in the enemy’s field of vision;
Third, but another regiment was sent to attack Gulin County on the Yangtze River with radio and frequent messages, and defeated an enemy regiment near Gulin.
The enemy believed that this was the main force of the Red Army.
This time, according to all the information, Chiang Kai Shek finally confirmed that 30000 Red Army would attack Gulin county with weak defensive forces, and cross the river north to Sichuan from near Gulin county.
The decisive moment against the Red Army has arrived.
Chiang Kai Shek sent a telegram to all troops: the army regiment surrounded the enemy in a narrow area and succeeded in suppressing the bandits. In this case, we are encouraged!
On March 20, all Chiang Kai Shek’s troops, including most of the defensive forces, began to march towards Gulin county. Chiang Kai Shek was determined to win. He believed that four days later, the Red Army was destroyed.
Then, at the same time, Chiang Kai Shek flew to Guiyang.
He is ready to hold a celebration party in Guiyang!
06
Yes, four days later, it’s the moment to witness miracles!
All the enemy troops have assembled in Gulin or on the way to assembly. Our army has crossed Chishui secretly for the fourth time since March 20, and passed the enemy again without stopping for a moment, with the peak pointing directly at Guiyang.
When Chiang Kai Shek found that the Red Army had pointed at Guiyang, four days later, all their troops could meet in Gulin, but Gulin was empty, and the whole defense plan had been disrupted.
At this time, there was only one regiment of the enemy guard force in Guiyang! Chiang Kai Shek was stunned. Let alone completely annihilate the Red Army, he would be caught in a trap.
The surprise came too suddenly.
At this time, it doesn’t matter what army deployment, help! Help!!
All the troops returned to Guiyang at full speed. There were also some troops around who were ready to defend the retreat of the Red Army. They gathered all the way to Guiyang. Be sure to ensure the safety of the chairman first.
Remember a red army group that the Red Army pretended to attack in Gulin county? After the army assembled by Chiang Kai Shek retreated in Gulin, our pretending regiment also retreated safely in a leisurely manner and began to converge with the main force in Gulin.
I have seen almost all military commanders of our army. In extremely difficult times, there will be “death squads”, but I have never found a story like “rally”.
When the Yunnan army and some central troops returned, they found it was a false alarm. The Red Army only feigned to attack Guiyang. They built a floating bridge on the Bank of the Qingshui River in the east of Guiyang, ready to cross the eastern area of the river, and ready to go east to join the second front army near Guangdong.
You lied to me for so long and worked so hard that you were going to Guangdong for a long time!
Under the wrath of Chiang Kai Shek, all the troops began to advance to the East, because the defense line in the northwest was meaningless.
And can Mao Zedong’s strategic goals be judged by Chiang Kai Shek? In the random mobilization of the enemy, the defensive formation has long been riddled with holes, and the main force of the Red Army has already crossed the Wujiang River south near Guiyang and rushed to the West.
The road is facing the sky, and from then on, go on both sides.
After such a toss, Chiang Kai Shek’s troops and the Red Army troops have been separated for more than 10 days!
Chiang Kai Shek’s containment strategy collapsed on the whole. Looking at the back of the Red Army, I could only sigh. From now on, our army began to enter the sea, opening the greatest turning point of the Chinese revolution.
From this moment on, Chiang Kai Shek’s play came to an end.
If we want to learn from Mao Zedong, what should we learn from him?
Mao Zedong’s life, has experienced countless trials of life and death, many times, only in the dying.
After the failure of the Autumn Harvest Uprising in 1927, Mao Zedong reorganized Sanwan at the moment when the team was about to collapse, and then there was a people’s army for the first time in human history;
By the Chishui River in 1935, facing the encirclement of the enemy, Mao Zedong turned the Red Army around again with his unrestrained imagination;
In 1935, Zhang Guotao set up another Central Committee in a vain attempt to split the Red Army; 1940 Wang Ming denied the principle of independence in the Anti Japanese United Front
In 1950, the whole country was not completely liberated, the Kuomintang left an economic mess that had not yet begun to be rectified, and the 16 nation coalition of North American gangs began to brazenly bomb Dandong and invade China’s border line;
In 1956, all Soviet aid was withdrawn. Since then, we have faced the direct threat of the two giants of the United States and the Soviet Union
Mao Zedong experienced great pressure that we can never imagine. Compared with what we said, the pressure is too great. Anything is enough to make us collapse 100000 times.
If we want to learn, we should first learn Mao Zedong’s optimism and humor.
No matter how difficult the environment is and how critical the situation is, Mao Zedong has never been discouraged. He infected countless people around him with his humor and optimism.
In the endless man eating grassland and the bone chilling snow mountains, Mao Zedong still said:
The Red Army is not afraid of the difficulties of expeditions, and it is only idle.
The five ridges meander, the waves soar, and the dark clouds walk majestically through the mud balls.
The Jinsha River is warm, and the yunya cliff is warm, and the Dadu bridge is cold.
Glad to see the Min Range snow-clad for miles and miles,Our warriors who have crossed it break into broad smiles.
Crossing Chishui four times is the most magnificent miracle in the military history of mankind.
This is the magnificent miracle created by our most resolute hero on the occasion of survival;
This is the immortal power of our greatest leader at the critical moment of life and death.