The Flames of Resistance Against Japan in Jiangnan

Xu Wenqing, recalling the atrocities committed by the militia in later generations when they hunted down stragglers and wounded Red Army soldiers, coldly replied:

"Tomorrow, the Political Department will organize a public trial to thoroughly investigate and eliminate all prisoners of war with blood on their hands. Especially the local thugs and ruffians within the militia—if they have blood on their hands, they should be executed. Better to kill the innocent than let the guilty go free!"

What about the other prisoners?

Xu Wenqing, confident and relaxed, said:

"Among the prisoners of war, soldiers and junior officers, select the young, strong, and of good quality who come from poor backgrounds to form stretcher-bearer teams and try to mobilize them to join the Red Army. The other prisoners will be educated and released when the troops withdraw tomorrow. The same applies to the Shahe militia, but it is estimated that the possibility of the militia members voluntarily joining the Red Army is very small!"

The deputy director of the political department turned to arrange the interrogation of the prisoners, while Xu Wenqing ordered a platoon leader from the engineering battalion guarding the pontoon bridge:

"After the troops have crossed, burn the entire pontoon bridge. Don't leave a single plank for the enemy!"

Tuguan Town was a small town. When the troops entered, smoke was rising from the chimneys and the sounds of roosters barking could be faintly heard throughout the town.

Upon arriving in Tuguan Town, Xu Wenqing hurriedly led his guards and communications officer to the military hospital that had been stationed there in advance to visit the wounded and sick. When he entered the temporary ward, he saw dozens of patients, some slightly wounded and some seriously wounded, lying on dozens of makeshift beds made of stools and wooden planks.

Inside the ward, military doctors and medics were cleaning the wounds of seriously wounded soldiers. Lan Hua was busy caring for one of the wounded. She looked up and saw Xu Wenqing, but just smiled and went back to her work.

Dean Bu Li, who rushed over upon hearing the commotion, was also covered in sweat. After saluting, she reported on the condition of the wounded and then accompanied the division commander to visit them.

As they walked, Commander Xu Wenqing encouraged everyone:

"Comrades, we are injured now, but that's alright. Cooperate with the doctors' treatment and strive to recover as quickly as possible so we can return to the fighting ranks as soon as possible!"

"Commander, my illness is so serious, I'm unlikely to recover!"

One of the wounded said dejectedly.

Xu Wenqing walked to his side, reached out and patted his shoulder, loudly encouraging him:

"Comrade, don't lose heart! Chairman Mao said: 'The struggle will be extremely arduous, but perseverance will lead to victory!' Our injuries are just like a battle for everyone; if we persist in treatment, we will recover!"

One of the more seriously wounded Red Army soldiers said emotionally:

"The division commander said that perseverance will lead to victory, so we will persevere in our treatment and return to our unit as soon as possible."

"Yes! Recovering from an injury is like a revolution; no matter how bitter or tiring it is, you have to persevere. No matter how fierce the enemy is, they will surely be defeated, and no matter how severe the injury, you will recover!"

Xu Wenqing continued to encourage him.

Xu Wenqing suddenly noticed two wounded men on a stretcher by the wall, their buttocks completely wrapped in white cloth. He quickly turned around and asked Bu Li:

What's going on with these two comrades?

Bu Li introduced in a low voice:

"They are not our Red Army soldiers, but Jiangxi soldiers captured from the supply depot. According to the comrades in the reconnaissance battalion, they were beaten like this by their superiors."

Xu Wenqing nodded, pondered for a while, and keenly felt that the experiences of these two people could be used for prisoner education.

Li Jianmin, deputy director of the political department, rushed to the hospital to report to Xu Wenqing. He looked worried and said:

"Commander, mobilizing prisoners of war is completely different now than it was in the Soviet area. We've spent ages trying to persuade them before we finally got a few dozen to join the Red Army!"

Xu Wenqing thought about it carefully for a moment and said to him:

“When mobilizing ordinary prisoners of war to join the Red Army, we must pay attention to the entry point of the propaganda. Here’s what we’ll do: send Ding Fujiang and the commander of the 5th Company of the 2nd Battalion of the 57th Regiment to hold a denunciation meeting. Let Ma Xiaoer, a soldier from the 5th Company, speak first, and then bring the two deserters from the hospital to the hospital.”

The rally for all prisoners of war was held in an open space outside the town. Standing before the prisoners to be criticized were the officers of rank and above who were among the prisoners.

Seeing the prisoners' surprised expressions, Ding Fujiang smiled and said loudly:

"Prisoner brothers! Before you stand officers who have drunk the blood of their soldiers. Now you can speak out about your grievances and grudges. The Red Army will stand up for you!"

He glared at the prisoner officer and continued:

"These White Army officers are all from wealthy landowners and high-ranking officials. They commit all sorts of evil deeds, bully others, and capture our brothers! We will now begin a public trial of these officers. Anyone who has a grievance, speak out and tell us about their crimes. Tell us about the suffering you have endured. Our commander has said that anyone with a blood debt will be executed. Your day of revenge has come!"

The meeting was silent. The prisoners all lowered their heads, unsure whether it was because the words had touched their hearts and reminded them of their painful past, or because they were stunned by this unexpected change.

When Company Commander Lao Dao saw that no one was going up to complain, he remembered the message that the division commander had sent Zhong Shi to deliver:

"If you want Ding Fujiang to be reinstated, help him mobilize more prisoners to join the Red Army. If you mobilize one company, he will become the company commander; if you mobilize one battalion, he will become the battalion commander!"

Thinking of this, he quickly nudged Ma Xiaoer's waist, urging him to go up and start. Ma Xiaoer said awkwardly:

"I don't know how to put it in a way that will make a good impression?"

Old Dao knew he couldn't let the conversation fall flat! Otherwise, the battalion commander would have to stay in the supply battalion as a squad leader. Helpless, he had no choice but to go to the front and, just like when his division commander made him recount his suffering when he was captured in Yansi Town, he began to cry out his grievances. The more he spoke, the more distressed he became. At first, he sobbed uncontrollably, and finally, he beat his chest and wailed loudly. Then, Ding Fujiang and Ma Xiaoer helped two prisoners onto the stage. It turned out to be two deserters from the hospital, Sun Erwa and Sun Shitou.

As the two men tearfully recounted how their families had been persecuted to death by a wealthy landowner, how the landowner had colluded with the government to conscript them, and how they had continued to be bullied by their superiors, their cries infected the other prisoners who shared similar experiences. Initially indifferent, they began to silently wipe away their tears, then sob uncontrollably. When the sobbing became a continuous chorus, some couldn't help but break down in tears. Among the thousands of prisoners and the onlookers from Tuguan Town, there were all sorts of cries; some even collapsed to the ground, rolling on the ground, sobbing. To be precise, it wasn't just crying; it was shouting, wailing, cursing, and yelling!

While the people on and off the stage were weeping uncontrollably, Ding Fujiang led the chanting of slogans:

"Oppose exploitation! Oppose oppression!"

"Completely destroy the dark feudal warlord rule!"

"We must demand retribution for the blood debts owed to the evil old society and old army!"

"Down with the landlords and rich peasants, liberate the poor masses!"

"We will resolutely follow the Red Army to the end in this revolution!"

The slogans were shouted so loudly and powerfully that the tears dried up as soon as the slogans were shouted, and the transformation from grief to anger was completed in an instant.

Sun Erwa pounced on the head of the Jiangxi Army's quartermaster, tearing and hitting him while cursing angrily:

"Give us back our brothers! You've finally met your match! ...Brother! You died a wrongful death..."

"Beat him up!" "Kill them!"