Chen Zhenya

Chen Zhenya, original name Chen Su, was born on December 13, 1903, and died on June 13, 1941. His ancestral hometown was Longgang Village, Shangxi Township, Mogaokou District, Shimen County, Hunan Province. He was a revolutionary martyr of the Chinese Communist Party and made significant contributions to the cause of the liberation of the Chinese people. Coming from a poor family, his grandparents were elderly, and his parents were weak and frequently ill. The family’s livelihood depended mainly on his elder brother Chen Jiaqiu, who worked as a blacksmith. Chen Zhenya lost his mother in childhood, and by the age of 12, his grandmother had also passed away, leading to a difficult early life.

In 1923, Chen Zhenya left his hometown and joined the Second Division of the Xiang Army under the Beiyang Government, officially enlisting in the army. In 1926, he participated in the Northern Expedition, entered Wuhan with the army, and during the battles, he befriended Huang Gonglue and was influenced by his revolutionary ideas. In July 1928, he participated in the Pingjiang uprising, serving as the battalion commander of the Red Fifth Army, and subsequently joined the Communist Party of China. In December of the same year, he was dispatched to the newly formed Red Sixth Army to take part in anti-encirclement campaigns in the Hunan, Hubei, and Jiangxi regions.

Throughout years of revolutionary struggles, Chen Zhenya participated in numerous battles, including three campaigns against the “encirclement” campaigns and the Long March, often sustaining serious injuries. In October 1934, he was wounded and captured in a battle. After being released, he continued to organize guerrilla warfare. In 1937, he went to Yan'an and resolutely joined the Central Revolutionary Base. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, he stayed in Xinjiang, serving as Propaganda Officer and Party Leader of the Xinjiang Eighth Route Army’s Office. In August 1939, he was assassinated by Xinjiang warlord Sheng Shicai at the age of only 38.

Regarding his personal life, he married Zhang Wenqiu from Jingshan, Hubei, in 1938. They had one daughter named Chen Anyun, who later became Shao Hua, the wife of Mao Anqing. Throughout his revolutionary career, he was hands-on and demonstrated tenacity and resilience. As one of the “Three Heroes of Shangxi,” he showcased outstanding organizational and leadership skills in both revolutionary warfare and political work.

Chen Zhenya’s main deeds include participating in the Northern Expedition, the Pingjiang uprising, fighting in the Hunan, Hubei, and Jiangxi border areas, organizing guerrilla warfare, forming the Red Army, and ultimately being assassinated during the Anti-Japanese War. His remains were posthumously honored as a revolutionary martyr. A statue was erected at his former residence in Chen Zhenya, Shimen County, Changde to commemorate his illustrious achievements. In 2022, a patriotic song titled “Glorious Shines in the Long River,” based on his heroic deeds, was released to the public.