Rise From Eight Hundred

Chapter 1473 Martyrs’ Shrine!

Both of them have met the handsome old man from Tantai, but this is the first time for Fang Xianjue, but he has heard of everyone in Tantai.

For Tantai Yunshu, who was standing under the tree and looking at the three people with a smile, it was obvious that he had guessed that the one in the middle of the three was Fang Xianjue.

In the entire Hengyang area, except for the former commander of the 10th Army, there is probably no one else who can accompany the Chief of Staff of the First Army and Mayor HY.

Tantai Yunshu has no military position since he left Taihang Mountain, and his identity is still a professor at Jinling University. When meeting these three people, they naturally do not need to use military courtesy and greet each other with a handshake.

"Today I came to Fuyan Temple to play. Master Zhiyuan asked me to tell the young masters about the history of China. On a whim, I talked about the war in China at this time. I was doing my best in front of Commander Fang. I would like to ask Commander Fang to tell everyone. Let’s talk about it so that I don’t mislead everyone,” Tantai Yunshu said.

Even if a general like Fang Xianjue, who once commanded a large number of troops, could be as arrogant and humble as the handsome old man from Tantai, there were only a few people.

That really doesn't mean that his son-in-law is in Hengyang and belongs to this person's jurisdiction, but that Fang Xianjue is really a general.

During the Third Battle of Tanzhou, Anan, then commander of the 11th Japanese Army, barely knew that the 10th Division of the 9th Theater Preparatory Division was guarding the south gate of Tanzhou. When the Japanese Army Lieutenant General saw that the unit number had " With the word "preparation" in mind, he judged that this was a second-rate unit, so he set the battle plan as "taking the south gate of Tanzhou as the key target."

Anan Weiji's judgment was correct. The 10th Preparatory Division had more recruits than veterans. Moreover, it had just participated in the second Battle of Tanzhou and had not yet fully replenished its troops. The entire division only had 7,000 men.

It's just that Anan underestimated Fang Xianjue, the commander of the 10th Reserve Division at the time!

When he received the task of guarding the south gate of Tanzhou, Fang Xianjue made a will and asked the adjutant to hand it over to his wife.

On the 4th day of the Battle of South Gate, as the Japanese army massed heavy troops to continuously attack the South Gate, positions were lost one after another. Fang Xianjue, as the top commander of the 10th Reserve Division, personally went to the front line with a pistol to supervise the battle, and his subordinates Inspired by this, the regiment leader personally carried a machine gun and led his guard company to carry out a counterattack against the Japanese army. On that day alone, he repelled 11 rounds of Japanese attacks.

Both the division commander and the regiment commander personally visited the front line of the battle, which greatly boosted morale. Only 58 people of the 30th Regiment, the main force of the 10th Division, were able to walk out of the position on their own.

The Japanese army was not only forced to retreat in the end, but also left more than 3,000 corpses in front of the Tanzhou South Gate position. It was considered the battlefield where the 11th Army suffered the heaviest losses in the Third Battle of Tanzhou.

After the war, the 10th Army, which was responsible for the 10th Reserve Division, was awarded the highest honor in the army, the Flying Tiger Flag, and was named the "Taishan Army". Fang Xianjue was promoted to commander of the 10th Army for this battle.

"Commander Fang, please tell us something!" A young monk, no more than 18 years old, stood up and clasped his hands towards Fang Xianjue.

He was doing Buddhist rituals with his hands, but his eyes were flashing with anger. I guess it was the agitation in his heart caused by what the handsome old man from Tantai said earlier.

"Okay! Then I will tell you about it!" Although Fang Xianjue was in a slightly depressed mood, seeing that this young monk was so concerned about the war, he couldn't help but think back to the young officers and soldiers of his 10th Army who died on the battlefield.

They were also so young, and after hearing about the evil things done by the Japanese, they went to the battlefield angrily, and then sacrificed their young lives.

In this world, these young people really cannot be missing!

"I heard what Professor Tantai said just now outside the wall. There are many reasons for the defeat in the Central Plains War, but as Chinese soldiers, we cannot escape the blame!

However, I still want to say that history will not repeat itself, and China will not perish! The Chinese nation has been indomitable and endless for five thousand years, and has its own hidden great power.

We, the people, must first thank our ancestors. It was their continuous expansion of territory that gave China the three major advantages of large land, abundant resources, and large population. These are also the shortcomings of the Japanese island nation.

In addition, in the past five thousand years, the Chinese nation has experienced many times of war, but it still exists on this land. That is because we are the most hard-working nation in the world and can survive in environments where others cannot. Continuously carry it forward, this is why China will not perish! "

Fang Xianjue paused and continued: "We are in Hengyang, so let's talk about the Hengyang war. One of the gentlemen I admire most, General Baili, once made such a prediction 20 years ago: "China and Japan will inevitably be destroyed in the future. If there is a war, based on the current national strength comparison between China and Japan, China will definitely be at a complete disadvantage in the early stage. After the war, if the Jinpu and Pinghan lines were occupied by the Japanese army, the lifeline of China's Anti-Japanese War would be transferred to the Luoyang-Xiangyang-Hengyang line, which is called the Three Yangs! "

The teacher also once said that from the perspective of geography and national characteristics, Hunan Province is the heart of China. Once the war breaks out, the coastal industrial and commercial developed areas will be ravaged by war for the first time, and all industries will be transferred to the mountains, and Hunan, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou are the most Fits the place. Why should I focus on mentioning Hunan Province? That is because Hunan Province has been on the edge of political power for a long time in the long history of history. Its folk customs are strong. The manpower and military resources here are equivalent to China's Prussia. It is the best base for China's long-term war. He also asserted that China and Japan The final outcome of the war, Sanxiang Qizawa, will be the largest cemetery of the Japanese army! "

At this time, the sun was gradually setting in the west, and the golden and warm sunshine passed through the pine forest and covered half of the courtyard slantingly, casting the tall figure of the former commander of the 10th Army on the white gable wall.

The young monk who stood up and clasped his hands to invite Fang Xianjue to speak and then sat down again had tears in his eyes.

The old monk standing not far away sighed silently.

Buddhism is peaceful, but it still cannot wash away the resentment in his disciple's heart!

"Everyone, we are so unlucky. The Japanese invaders have been strong for many years, and today we have reached such a critical moment. But we are so lucky to have such a quiet place to talk about scriptures in the midst of the war. Although Luoyang was lost, Xiangyang was also almost Although Hengyang is still there, our glimmer of hope still exists! As long as we hold on to this lifeline, trade time for space, and turn passivity into initiative, China will not fall!" Fang Xianjue's emotions became obviously intense at this time.

"If every one of us in China, from the commander-in-chief of the country to the general of the army, who lives in temples and temples, is worried about his people, to the general public, monks and Taoists, all of us have the ambition of 'mounting our horses to kill bandits, and dismounting our horses to learn Buddhism' , then China will definitely not perish!”

Then the young monk with tears in his eyes could no longer hold back. He stood up with tears streaming down his face, raised his right arm and shouted loudly: "Get on your horse to kill the bandits, get off your horse and learn Buddhism!"

All the monks also stood up, raised their arms and shouted!

The majestic slogans of the monks resounded through the mountains and forests, and rumbled in the mountains!

The quiet thousand-year-old temple is destined to no longer be quiet at this moment.

Even the old monk's expression was calm and composed, but his eyes were no longer as still as before.

He is a practitioner, but he is still Chinese in body and mind.

Only Zhao Junmai frowned slightly when he looked at his colleagues surrounded by monks.

Fang Xianjue and he had worked together in Hengyang for nearly a year. Both parties quite appreciated each other's personality and abilities, otherwise they would not have come to Fuyan Temple together today.

However, Fang Xianjue had always been at odds with Commander Xue, who promoted him to serve as army commander and now personally forced him out of the 10th Army.

Just like what he just said, he actually expressed his thoughts very clearly. There will be a battle between Tanzhou and Hengyang soon, but this is obviously contrary to Commander Xue's view.

Although he had reminded him very clearly just now, this man couldn't help but speak out after all. Maybe it won't be long before his views will be spread to Commander Xue. This 10th Army, it seems that he is Never come back.

"Young Master, do you dare to ask for the Dharma's name?" Fang Xianjue seemed to let out a deep breath because he was speaking his mind, and turned his gaze to the young monk who was in high spirits. "My name is Huiyuan!" the young monk replied quickly.

"Okay! You and I will meet again." Fang Xianjue smiled slightly and walked out.

Fang Xianjue, who had met the abbot and worshiped the Buddha, walked all the way to the entrance of the temple and looked at the semi-Western-style green brick buildings rising up on the side of the mountain amid the forest. He looked sideways at the handsome old man from Tantai who was seeing him off and said. : "Mr. Tantai stayed. May I ask where Commander Tang is? Time flies. It has been nearly half a year since we last met. I am about to leave. Why hasn't he come to see me off? Why, he thinks Am I not worthy of being a lieutenant general and counselor? Then be careful if I sue him in front of Minister He, he will never be so happy in the future!"

Tang Dao led the Four Lines Regiment to be stationed in the Hengshan area. Although it was under the direct jurisdiction of the theater headquarters and not under his control, on his territory, if he really didn't come to see him off, it would really be a lack of etiquette.

Fang Xianjue's words may seem like a joke, but they may become the truth at any time.

"Tang Dao said yesterday that if Commander Fang really wants to be transferred, he will definitely come to Fuyan Temple, and then he, the commander of the engineering corps, will be waiting for you." Tantai Yunshu said calmly.

"Haha! Commander Tang, the self-proclaimed leader of the engineering corps, got a good reputation in seconds, and he won my heart! Then I, a counselor who hesitates to comment, must go to meet this engineer corps leader no matter what. "

The Fourth Army Regiment received a transfer order at the end of 1942 and was transferred to the jurisdiction of the 9th Battle Zone. It was originally thought that the 9th Battle Zone was in urgent need of strength for the two consecutive Tanzhou Battles. Tang Dao thought that he could participate in the third Tanzhou Battle.

As a result, the Si Xing Regiment was directly stationed in Hengshan on the edge of Hengyang. By the way, they served as engineers on the green hills of Nanyue, which had nothing to do with the war.

It turns out that since the Provisional Military Commission moved south to Hengshan, the man and his wife who came here several times have a great love for Nanyue. Commander Xue of the 9th War Zone is particularly concerned about the construction of Nanyue and wants to use it to reflect his political achievements in governing Hunan. .

After 1939, war raged in northern Hunan for five consecutive years, but the construction of Nanyue developed by leaps and bounds. In 1943, because a group of anti-war heroes put down their guns and picked up ash buckets, they reached the peak of construction.

The Nanyue Martyrs' Shrine, Zhong'ai Society, gymnasiums, hospitals, sanatoriums, swimming pools, etc., which cost tens of millions of silver, have been built one after another. It seems that the smoke of the Anti-Japanese War has dissipated and the prosperous age is about to arrive.

The Four Troops Regiment, which had arrived in the 9th War Zone in February 1943 and had great military achievements, did not participate in the war for even one day, but actually built a lot of construction projects on Hengshan Mountain. Could it be that Tang Dao, the leader of the regiment, was an engineer commander?

This is probably what the so-called self-destruction of martial arts is.

And what about Tang Dao! It seems that he simply gave up. Since the early autumn of September, he brought his wife and son to Hengshan. He spent most of his time traveling with his wife and children, showing an appearance and attitude of enjoying life, otherwise Fang Xianjue would not have done it. He said something to prevent Tang Dao from continuing to be so happy.

From a soldier's point of view, Fang Xianjue didn't want to see the sharpest knife in the army become dull, and wanted to have a good talk with Tang Dao before leaving.

"Since Commander Tang can guess that I will come to Fuyan Temple and his party, then I, the former commander of the 10th Army, must not lose the face of the 10th Army. I will go find him myself." Fang Xianjue smiled lightly. He raised his head to look at the sky, turned his head and said to the two people beside him.

"I'm going to see Ming Jin! I'll meet you later."

After saying that, he walked towards the direction of Xianglu Peak.

The two generals looked at Fang Xianjue heading in that direction, and their eyes dimmed. They knew that this person came to Fuyan Temple, and probably the most important thing was to go there and see it.

There, there is a large building complex that has just been built not long ago, called the Nanyue Martyrs' Shrine!

Nanyue Martyrs' Shrine covers the sky and the ground. The main building is built against the mountain. From south to north, it is lined with archways, July 7th monument, memorial hall, memorial pavilion and Xiangtang. It is magnificent and rigorously regulated, like Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum.

Surrounding the Martyrs' Shrine, there are 13 large-scale martyrs' mausoleums, with green hills and cypresses on both sides and towering ancient pines, where the remains of the fallen soldiers of the 9th Theater are buried.

After the Battle of Jiangxia in 1938, he held a military meeting in Nanyue. Many generals spoke at the meeting and said that the troops were evacuating in a hurry and many of the dead officers and soldiers were left lying on the battlefield. If the people did not restrain themselves, the birds and beasts would compete for food. The situation would be terrible. The disrespect of the fallen officers and soldiers further affected the morale of the survivors.

On the other hand, the Japanese army tried their best to retrieve the corpses of soldiers who died in battle, burn them, or bury them, so that they would not be left on the battlefield and become food for birds and wild dogs. However, they sacrificed their lives for the country and ended up like this, which is enough to scare everyone. heart.

In his concluding speech, that person listed this point as the top of the twelve major humiliations in the army, and blamed himself: "The thing that our army most despised by the enemy in the past is that many of the loyal remains of our fallen soldiers cannot be carried back. It is really a shame for our army to be buried and abandoned on the battlefield with corpses!"

After the meeting, General Chen of the designated 3rd theater and General Xue of the 9th theater took the lead in establishing the Nanyue Martyrs' Shrine Construction Committee. It took 4 years and was finally completed at the end of 1943.

The Si Xing Regiment was stationed here, and building the Martyrs' Shrine was one of their tasks.

And Fang Xianjue's main purpose of coming here was not to find Tang Dao, but to visit his most agreeable subordinate, although he knew that if Tang Dao wanted to see him, he would definitely wait for him here.

Ever since he stepped into the archway and climbed the steps, the big tomb was not far away. Fang Xianjue's eyes gradually blurred. He seemed to have seen the young Chief of Staff Sun Mingjin walking in front of him on that sunny afternoon in the late spring of 1940. When he came to report to him, he showed his white teeth and looked gentle and kind.

At that time, Fang Xianjue became the commander of the newly established 10th Preparatory Division, and Sun Mingjin was his first chief of staff. Both of them were graduates of Huangpu, about the same age, and both had the ideal of killing the enemy and serving the country. He trained the army into a brave and capable force, and soon became friends as close as brothers.

Sun Mingjin was both civil and military, good at planning, good at military training, and brave in combat. He was never picky about food and clothing. Even a major general's official uniform had several holes, but he still had it patched and continued to wear it. When he encountered the enemy in battle, he was always in the first place. If there is a critical battle situation at the front-line headquarters, they will take the lead and lead their troops to kill the enemy.

At the last moment of the Battle of Changde, as the commander of the 10th Reserve Division, he carried a long spear and fought hand-to-hand with the Japanese invaders, killing six people in a row. However, he was suddenly shot by Japanese machine guns and died after being hit by five bullets.

Before he died, he did not forget to tell his commander: "Implement the orders of the military department and complete the mission!"

When the major general and division commander was being buried that day, Fang Xianjue led the officers from the 10th Army Battalion and above, braving the continuous rain and walking on yellow mud with their legs, pulling the hearse along the winding mountain road to Nanyue Martyrs' Shrine.

The December rain was extremely cold, but the coldest thing about Fang Xianjue was not his body, but his heart.

The death of his best friend was not only due to the ferocity of the Japanese invaders, but also to the mistakes made by some people during the war, but that person said lightly, 'The reinforcements arrived too late due to the difficult journey! ’ He shirked all responsibility.

And now, he has to leave the 10th Army. He doesn't know when he will be able to return to the Martyrs' Shrine to see the tomb of his best friend again.

Thinking of this, even though Fang Xianjue had a strong temperament, he couldn't help but shed tears at this time.

With tears blurred in my eyes, I saw a small figure kneeling there in front of my best friend's grave, presenting him with a bright bouquet of azalea!

A young man and woman stood side by side and paid tribute to the tomb!

(End of chapter)