In early November 1927, on the eve of the Huangma Uprising, five young self-defense soldiers were temporarily formed into a reconnaissance detachment. They infiltrated the county seat from Qiliping, Huang'an, the epicenter of the uprising, to cooperate with the uprising's assault team in successfully capturing the town. They subsequently distinguished themselves in the battles to defend the county. However, due to the vast disparity in strength between the enemy and themselves, the uprising forces were forced to abandon Huang'an after holding out for half a month. The detachment then moved with the main force to the Mulan Mountain area of ​​Huangpi County to conduct guerrilla warfare.

In January 1928, the uprising forces in Mulan Mountain were reorganized into the Seventh Army of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Revolutionary Army. Employing mobile and flexible guerrilla tactics, they achieved a series of victories and were formally reorganized in July into the Thirty-first Division of the Eleventh Army of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army.

By May 1929, the Thirty-first Division had initially established a Soviet area along the Hubei-Henan border, centered on Chaishanbao and spanning over 100 kilometers. Having been tempered by the brutal flames of war, the young soldiers of the detachment have grown into resolute and mature revolutionary fighters, carrying the lofty ideal of realizing communism as they march towards a broader new battlefield.