Cheng Xunxuan

Cheng Xunxuan was born in 1911 into a poor peasant family in Huang'an County, Hubei Province. Her ancestors were all common folk. Her father was honest and sincere, while her mother, though illiterate, was cheerful, kind-hearted, and generous—greatly influenced by her mother's character.

In 1928, the 31st Red Army, led by Wu Guanghao, returned to the old Huangmei area to conduct activities. Cheng Xunxuan broke free from feudal etiquette and joined the revolutionary work, mainly engaged in women's work. She demonstrated upright and proactive qualities as well as loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party, leading her to join the Party shortly thereafter. In 1929, after completing her studies, the militarily talented Xu Xiangqian arrived in the E-Y-AN Soviet Area (Ezhou-Huanggang-Anhui), quickly emerging as a prominent general feared by the Kuomintang army. During a battle, he jumped off a cliff and injured his leg. While recuperating, through introductions, he married 18-year-old Red Army woman Cheng Xunxuan from Huang'an, with whom he shared a loving relationship.

Cheng Xunxuan served as the secretary of the Jinzhai County Committee. In 1932, during the "Baique Yuan Suppression Campaign," she was executed at the age of only 21. Her husband, Xu Xiangqian, was injured in the war and separated from her for a time. After arduous hardships—almost begging all the way—they ultimately escaped to Yan'an, where he met Geng Biao. During this period, Xu Xiangqian deeply missed his late wife, with a heavy heart, showing his profound affection.

Cheng Xunxuan had three older brothers and one younger brother. The eldest brother, Cheng Qiguang, and the second, Cheng Qizong, were both killed by Kuomintang reactionaries in 1928, on the riverbank in front of the Cheng family ancestral hall; they were both 25 years old. The third brother, Cheng Qidong, also participated in peasant movement work and was captured and killed during enemy suppression campaigns, also at age 25. The younger brother, Cheng Qibo, sacrificed in the anti-"encirclement and suppression" campaigns in the E-Y-AN Soviet Area at only 22 years old.

In Xu Xiangqian's recollections, when he was writing "A Review of History" in 1984, he specifically mentioned his remembrance of Cheng Xunxuan, referring to her as “my wife Cheng Xunxuan,” expressing deep and restrained affection.

Though her life was brief, Cheng Xunxuan's contributions to the revolution, along with her family background and personal deeds, have become an important part of China's revolutionary history.