Comrade Le Cong Lien - An outstanding son of his hometown Minh Thanh (Yen Thanh)

Comrade Le Cong Lien (aka Le Cong Tieu, Le Tieu, alias Duc), was born in 1906 in Ngoc Luat village, Van Tu commune, now Minh Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district, Nghe An province.

Coming from a family with a rich tradition of patriotism and revolution, Le Cong Lien's paternal and maternal grandfathers both joined the army of Nguyen Xuan On. His father was Le Lieu, his elder brother was comrade Le Dieu, both of whom actively contributed to the local revolutionary movement. As a child, his father told him many stories about heroic examples in the Van Than and Can Vuong movements, which kindled the flame of patriotism in Le Cong Lien.

In 1927, comrade Chu Dam (Dien Chau) returned to Ngoc Luat village to work and enlighten the communist ideals for the progressive youths here. Comrade Le Cong Lien enthusiastically participated in the Revolutionary Youth Association in Van Tu commune, becoming the first nucleus of the Party in Ngoc Luat. He actively propagated and enlightened the revolution widely among the masses.

Under the direction of Nghe An Provincial Party Committee, on the occasion of the 13th anniversary of the Russian October Revolution, Yen Thanh district organized a large-scale demonstration in the whole district on November 7, 1930 to demonstrate the strength of the masses, demanding tax reduction and postponement, protesting against the feudal imperialists' oppression of Vinh - Ben Thuy workers (May 1) and Hung Nguyen farmers (September 12). A meeting was held at the house of comrade Nguyen Ngoan, including comrades: Nguyen Thuc, Nguyen Chuyen, Nguyen Ung, Le Dieu, Le Cong Lien, Le Than, Vo Chau... to discuss plans to prepare for the demonstration.

On the morning of November 7, 1930, comrade Le Cong Lien, along with the Van Tu people led by comrades Nguyen Ngoan, Nguyen Uy, Nguyen Thuc, Le Dieu..., marched down to the district office. The group marched and shouted slogans:

- Down with the imperialists and feudalists of the Southern Dynasty.

- Support workers and farmers in Vinh - Ben Thuy, Hung Nguyen.

- Tax reduction, tax deferral, and corvée exemption.

- Support the Russian-Soviet revolution.

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The protest group from the upper district marched to Nha Vang and was shot dead by soldiers, killing two people and injuring several others. The protest group from the lower district marched to Muong bridge (Phu Thanh) and was shot by Foreign Legion soldiers, killing 10 people and injuring many others, forcing them to disperse.

On November 10, 1930, the provisional Party Committee of Yen Thanh district was established, with comrade Nguyen Ung as Secretary. The District Party Committee Executive Board assigned District Party Committee members to the communes to develop Party cells and organize the masses. Immediately after that, Party cells in Tru Phap, Ngoc Luat, Dong Yen, Quy Trach, Quan Hoa villages... were established one after another; mass organizations such as: Youth, Women, Red Farmers' Association, Red Self-Defense, and Support Association were also established to promote the development of the revolutionary movement.

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At the end of 1930, after overcoming challenges at work, comrade Le Cong Lien was admitted to the Party and worked in the Cao Son Party Cell with comrade Le Dieu as Secretary.

Comrade Le Cong Lien was assigned the task of printing leaflets, organizing the Red Peasant Association, and establishing the Red Guards in Ngoc Luat village to protect the Party and the people. In early 1931, he and the Red Guards and the people of Ngoc Luat protested to take rice from landlords and distribute it to the poor, organized explanations to mobilize people to hang the Party flag, beat drums to encourage the fighting spirit...

The revolutionary movement in Yen Thanh developed strongly, forcing the enemy into a state of fear and confusion. They tried to terrorize fiercely. During this period, Mr. Le Lieu was arranged by the revolution to be the village chief to cover up the enemy. The French colonialists came to Ngoc Luat village to arrest comrades Le Cong Lien and Le Dieu but could not arrest them. They turned to torture and beat Mr. Le Lieu, and at the same time, let the French warden in Do Luong bring soldiers to destroy Ngoc Luat village. Comrade Le Cong Lien immediately mobilized the Red Guards to deal with it, organizing a patrol team of loyal people to stand up to protect the Party and protect the village.

At the end of June 1931, Nghe An Provincial Party Committee sent comrade Nguyen Trinh (from Nam Dan) to restore Yen Thanh District Party Committee, establishing the District Party Committee Executive Committee including comrades: Nguyen Trinh (Secretary), Le Cong Lien, Le Dieu, Nguyen Duc, Pham Khuong. The District Party Committee chose the mountainous area of ​​Ngoc Luat as its base, both to protect the Provincial Party Committee's office and to direct the movement.

On July 1, 1931, comrade Le Cong Lien was arrested by the enemy and detained at Tru Phap station, then transferred to Yen Thanh district prison. After a period of detention, in November 1931, the Southern Court of Nghe An province sentenced comrade Le Cong Lien to 2 years in prison and 18 months of house arrest and transferred to Dien Chau prison (Verdict No. 172 dated November 18, 1931). Life in prison was extremely miserable, with food shortages, only moldy rice and rotten fish. Faced with that situation, comrade Le Cong Lien and his fellow prisoners decided to go on a hunger strike, forcing the enemy to give in and improve meals and living conditions in prison.

In 1933, comrade Le Cong Lien was released and returned to his hometown to continue his revolutionary activities. At the end of 1934, comrades Nguyen Xuan Hien and Phan Vinh, from Lien Tri village, Lien Thanh commune, returned to Ngoc Luat village to establish contacts with comrade Le Cong Lien and other political prisoners who had just been released from prison to become the nucleus to restore the movement and build a Party base in Yen Thanh. After only a short time, the Tong Van Tu Party Cell, including comrades Nguyen Xuan Hien, Phan Vinh, Le Dieu, Lang Lai, Le Du, etc., was established.

In early 1936, the Van Tu commune Party Cell was divided into four small Party Cells: Ngoc Luat Party Cell (with comrade Le Cong Lien as Secretary), Quan Chuong Party Cell, Tru Phap Party Cell, and Lien Tri Party Cell.

In December 1936, comrade Le Dinh Vy, on behalf of Nghe An Provincial Party Committee, went to Lien Tri (Lien Thanh) to convene a conference to establish a provisional district Party Executive Committee consisting of 3 comrades: Phan Vinh, Le Cong Lien, Nguyen Khuong (Tru Phap village) with comrade Phan Vinh as Secretary.

In early 1937, following the policy of Nghe An Provincial Party Committee, Yen Thanh District Party Committee convened a Party Congress in Ngoc Luat village. The official Executive Committee of the District Party Committee included comrade Phan Vinh (Secretary), Le Cong Lien (Deputy Secretary), Ngo Xuan Ham, Nguyen Khuong, and Nguyen Tan.

In 1940, the French colonialists saw that the mass movement in Ngoc Luat village was getting stronger and stronger. They tried to terrorize and arrest Party members and suspects. Comrade Le Cong Lien was arrested for the second time by Vinh secret police and was sent to La Hy (La Hy prison in Hue).

In 1943, comrade Le Cong Lien was taken to Phu Bai prison in Hue. During his years in prison, the enemy used all kinds of torture and beatings on him, but with the loyalty and strong will of a party member, the enemy still could not get any information from comrade Le Cong Lien.

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In his memoirs, comrade Le Cong Lien recalled: “…At that time, my spirit was very strong, a test of courage with them… They used rope to tie my two hands tightly, twisted them behind my back, then straightened my whole body and applied electricity to my body. My blood boiled, my whole body was limp and numb, but whatever I could say, I answered: I don’t know…”.

In prison, comrade Le Cong Lien still actively participated in the struggle to improve life, living, studying, against terrorism and beatings, and against all forms of exploitation of prisoners.

In 1945, Japan staged a coup against France, and comrade Le Cong Lien and his fellow prisoners broke out of the prison and escaped. Comrade Le Cong Lien found a way to return to his hometown, continued his revolutionary activities, participated in the seizure of power, and held many important positions in the locality. Comrade Le Cong Lien, with his great contributions during the Nghe Tinh Soviet period as well as later, was recognized by the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee as a veteran revolutionary cadre.

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References:

- Comrade Le Cong Lien's memoirs are kept at the archives of the Nghe Tinh Soviet Museum.

- Geographical and historical records of Minh Thanh commune, Nghe An Publishing House, 2009.

- History of the Party Committee of Dai Thanh Commune, Yen Thanh District