A century of poverty

Chapter 20 But if the Flying General of Longcheng were here...

It's common for someone selling earthenware pots to walk 100 or 200 li a day. Tomorrow they're going to Qian'an, which is over 100 li round trip. And if any unexpected situations arise, it's even more unpredictable. So they hope to load the earthenware pots onto their carrying pole today so they can head north from home tomorrow.

He hoped to have a task to complete today and get up earlier than usual. He walked for more than ten miles in one go. Diaoyutaibei is in the mountains. This is the road that the pottery seller hates to take the most, but he has to take it today because taking a detour would be a long way and he wouldn't be able to get to Qian'an in one day.

As dawn broke, he wandered through the mountain villages, hoping to sell a few more sets so he could carry them away more easily. Great! Perhaps because the mountain roads were difficult and few people liked to come, these villages were doing quite well, making his load much lighter. He dared not delay and continued north. Reaching Lulong town, it was noon when he left his load at his brother-in-law's father's shop, tightened his belt, and headed straight for Qian'an.

This was a red zone, but the road was easy to travel. After dinner, he arrived at Jinji Ridge and handed the intelligence over to Li Weimin, the commander of the Anti-Japanese Allied Army.

"You haven't eaten yet, have you?" Captain Li asked someone to take Hope to eat and rest.

The next day, before dawn, Hope set off on her return journey.

Meanwhile, back at home, Xiuying, after tending to Xiwang, went back to bed for a nap. After breakfast at dawn, she was getting ready to get out of bed when her older sister, Xiaodie, returned carrying her daughter and a cage slung over her right arm. As soon as she entered the gate, Xiuying saw her in the hallway and exclaimed with delight, "Sister's back!" She quickly came out to greet her. Inside the house, Xiaodie placed the child on the kang (heated brick bed), and Xiuying placed the cage beside her sister.

Xiaodie: "The apricots on my tree are all ripe. I'll pick some for you to try."

Xiuying went out and brought in a small sieve from outside. She poured the apricots into it, and Xiaodie took out the oil paper package from the bottom of the cage: "Shengchun bought this for you." She handed it to her mother.

The mother sat on the kang (a heated brick bed), took the snacks, and happily called to her little granddaughter, "Come here, let Grandma hold you."

Just then, the bell under the locust tree at Zhuangnan Temple rang urgently. "Oh no, the punitive expedition is coming," Xiuying said.

Mother-in-law: "Quickly hide this."

Then came the noise of West Hutong and the sound of footsteps.

In the village, an anti-Japanese organization was now established under the leadership of the underground Communist Party. Zhang Yilu secretly joined the Communist Party of China. Zhang Mingzhi, the son of the eldest son of the "Tiandetang" family in Nandang Street, was two years older than Xiwang. Harboring a deep hatred for the Japanese invaders, he actively participated in anti-Japanese activities. When the "punitive expedition" came, the two of them led the villagers in fighting against the Japanese invaders, hiding their belongings to prevent them from being looted. The two of them looked after each other, saying, "Don't panic, don't be chaotic..." directing the villagers to run out of the North Pass and hide in the mountains on both sides.

Xiuying helped her mother-in-law, while Xiaodie, carrying her daughter, had just arrived at her parents' home and had to run back in the opposite direction with the crowd.

This time, the Japanese soldiers did not return to Shaguizi Valley, but instead stormed all the way to Diaoyutai Village, burning, killing, and looting, setting the houses on fire from east to west.

Seeing the crimes committed by the Japanese, the Diaoyutai militia gritted their teeth in hatred: You little devils, just you wait! Filled with rage, they rushed to Hushi Village under the leadership of militia captain Shi Jingui.

Since Okamura Yasuji became commander of the Japanese North China Area Army, he has launched a series of "strengthened security campaigns" and carried out repeated "sweeps," which have continuously destroyed the base areas he had established.

The volunteer army was constantly moving and shifting, resulting in heavy losses and insufficient weapon supply, putting the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army in an extremely difficult situation.

A few kilometers away in Hushi Village, a group of forty-odd people were resting in Shitanggou, Hushi Mountain. Kong Lai had led this anti-Japanese guerrilla force and lost contact with the main force after being scattered by the Japanese. He was originally a teacher at Gao Jianzhi's school. After following Gao Jianzhi's uprising, he led this group and quickly formed a cohesive force. The anti-Japanese guerrilla members surrounded him.

He asked, "Do you know why this village is called Tiger Stone Village?"

"I know, there's a big rock here that looks just like a tiger," one of the team members quickly replied.

"He's right, this is where Li Guang, a hero from the Western Han Dynasty, was stationed. The Tiger Rock on the mountain is said to be the tiger that Li Guang shot. The Tang poem, 'If only the Flying General of Longcheng were here, the barbarian horses would never cross Yinshan,' refers to Longcheng as Lulong and the Flying General as Li Guang. The ancient state of Guzhu also refers to our Lulong, and the two princes, Boyi and Shuqi, would rather die than eat Zhou grain. This place is also a place that produces many heroes."

For over two thousand years, the Japanese devils have invaded again in our generation, ravaging the homeland we have protected for generations, committing atrocities of burning, killing, looting, and plundering. Therefore, we rise up and fight the Japanese devils to the bitter end, until we drive them out of China.

At this moment, the militia from Diaoyutai arrived, and the sentry brought them to Kong Lai.

Shi Jingui: "Matsui brought the Japanese soldiers and the security forces to sweep again. We took a shortcut. The Japanese are about to arrive, so we quickly prepared to move. We'll hold them off."

Kong Lai: "Thank you for sending the message and providing support. How could we let you hold the line? You all need to move out quickly!" Turning to his team: "Prepare for battle!"

"Report! More than a hundred Japanese soldiers and security forces have arrived at the foot of the mountain."

Anti-Japanese Allied Army soldiers and Diaoyutai militia were already in ambush. "Wait until they get close before you fire!" Kong Lai ordered.

Upon reaching them, Kong Lai gave the order, "Fire!" and bullets were fired at the enemy, forcing the Japanese and puppet troops to retreat.

A moment later, the enemy charged up again and launched another attack, suppressing the Japanese soldiers.

By this time, ammunition on the mountain was running low, and the soldiers had suffered heavy casualties, with some militiamen also wounded. Kong Lai once again said to Shi Jingui, "Lead the militia to retreat quickly, or it will be too late."

The Japanese soldiers rushed forward again, and Kong Lai roared, "Shi Jingui, if you don't leave, none of us will survive!" He shoved him, and the militia of Diaoyutai withdrew from the battle.

Kong Lai turned to his men and asked, "We've run out of bullets, are you scared?"

"Don't be afraid, we'll fight the Japanese to the death!" the soldiers replied.

"Okay! Let's move the stones!" he said, leading the way by moving the stones to his side.

The Japanese soldiers and puppet troops charged forward again. When they got close, they didn't retaliate. Matsui muttered something, and the translator immediately shouted, "They're out of bullets! Charge!" The Japanese soldiers and puppet troops rushed forward together. The Anti-Japanese Allied Army soldiers threw stones at them. When they ran out of stones, they engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the enemy.

These heroic anti-Japanese guerrilla fighters were peasants who rose up in rebellion, forced to resist foreign aggression. With their beliefs and spirit, they faced the Japanese bayonets without fear, fighting bravely and tenaciously until their last breath.

They were true warriors, warriors who will always be remembered.