Wu litang, a native of Xikou Village in Bannan Township (Huashu Township), Guangwushan Town, Nanjiang County, was born in March 1907. His parents passed away when he was young. Wu litang was studious from a young age and aspired to advance. At the age of ten (in 1917), he followed his family to live with Li Wenji (a martial artist), the second brother-in-law of Li Lao Ye, who lived in Yingcuiyan, Wangcang County, and attended a private school for four years. Due to the turbulent times, Wu litang returned to his hometown in 1921 but was captured by Captain Gu Lianzhang, a subordinate of bandit leader Wang Sanchun, and forced into service. In 1930, Captain Gu Lianzhang became the bandit leader, and Wu litang served as the deputy battalion officer.
In 1932, Wu litang went to Hubei with him. Usually, Gu Lianzhang, an able general who appreciated the realm of defense, and Gou Beidang, a commander who led charges, were under the orders of Wang Zhiyuan’s Nationalist forces in Xi’ an. In 1934, Wu Shen, unable to endure the training, fled to Bazhong County in Nanzheng, Shaanxi Province, in May of that year, and was captured by Dang Dezhu (nicknamed “Lu Fanzhi”), the commander of the first battalion of Wang Sanshun’s bandit forces, who then made him a guard. In September 1935, the chairman of the Nationalist government in Shaanxi ordered three of his battalions to drive Wang’s bandits to the Dazhu River and Mashan River areas in Hubei. By this time, Wu litang had been promoted to battalion commander, Lu Fanzhi was serving as battalion commander, and Wang Sanshun, to save his situation, ordered Lu Fanzhi to lead his troops into Sichuan and instructed Wu to guide them to Zhao Ming ‘en’s Red Army Bashi Mountain guerrilla unit. Wu litang was overjoyed and vowed to complete the mission even at the cost of his life. Lu Fanzhi suspected that Wu litang had unexpected wealth and attempted to imprison Wu litang’s men, seize their weapons, and execute him.
Wu litang saw the situation turn against him and had long been aware of Lu Fengzi’s malicious intentions. On a night in October 1935, he led 30 men and 24 guns from Banzhui Pit in Liping Township, Nanzheng County, Shaanxi Province, and rushed to Bai Tou Nan. He then attempted to meet with Zhao Ming’ en but failed. At that time, Nie Shude, the county magistrate of Nanzheng, and Yue Xunti, the police chief, learned that Wu litang had over 20 guns, which made them covetous. They immediately appointed him as the special captain of Taoyuan Township. This move changed the chaotic situation where people like Wu Chuanxin from Longwangba and Wu Wancai, the “wild animal protection officer” from Mengzitan in Wangcang, could plunder and bully at will, leaving farmers in Bai Tou Nan unable to live in peace. It allowed them to settle down and farm, earning the favor of the people and the trust of their superiors. In 1941, he served as the township magistrate of Taoyuan Township.
In 1944, Zhong Qionglan, the wife of Wu litang, became involved in an affair with He Shulin (the village head) from Pinghe. Once, while burning opium at the He family’s house, she aroused Wu litang’s suspicion. Fearing Wu litang’s violent behavior, Zhong Qionglan was unable to defend herself and conceived the evil idea of poisoning him. One day, she mixed eight grams of Tenghuang with sugar and water, giving it to Wu litang to drink. He died from severe abdominal pain shortly after. At the time, people thought he had died of illness, but later learned that his wife had used poison to kill him.