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In the autumn of 1985, Huang Shiwei, a 65-year-old man in Chengdu, was reading "Remembering the Five Years and Nine Months of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression" written by Wu Heyun, chief of staff of the former Sichuan Army's 23rd Group Army. When I saw the ending, I couldn't help but be surprised, and the article said that an acting battalion commander named Huang Shiwei had killed lieutenant general Naoji Sakai, the commander of the Japanese division.
The "Huang Shiwei" mentioned in the text is exactly the same as himself regardless of his name, position, and experience, and the old man Huang Shiwei can almost certainly say that he is himself.
The killing of a Japanese lieutenant general during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression was an earth-shattering event. It can greatly boost morale and dampen the morale of the enemy. According to relevant statistics, only 16 Japanese lieutenant generals were killed in the Chinese battlefield during the entire War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.
Naoji Sakai was the first current division commander of the Japanese Army to be killed on the battlefield after the Meiji Restoration.
But such a big thing, according to Huang Shiwei, not only did he not receive any commendation, but he did not even know it.
Is this true or false? Why is it only mentioned decades later? What kind of experience did the elderly Huang Shiwei have?
Huang Shiwei
Huang Shiwei was born in 1920 in Rongchang, Chongqing, to a family of eunuchs, and his father, Huang Ling'ao, participated in the League, spent half his life as a county magistrate, and served two terms as a county magistrate. But dissatisfied with the civil war, he returned to the countryside at the age of 50. From an early age, Huang Lingao taught Huang Shiwei to take the world as his duty.
In 1937, the Lugou Bridge Incident broke out, and the whole nation set off a climax of anti-Japanese salvation, when Huang Shiwei was in the third year of high school at Shuhua Middle School in Chengdu.
When old Jiang delivered a speech in Lushan, he shouted out the slogan that made people's blood veins open: "If the war ends, it means that there is no distinction between the north and the south, and there is no distinction between the old and the young, no matter who it is, everyone has the responsibility to defend the territory and resist the war, and they should all have the determination to sacrifice everything." ”
Liu Xiang, who was in charge of Sichuan, responded positively and called the top level of the Nationalist government several times, expressing his willingness to accept the leadership's dispatch of troops to resist Japan. In August, Chiang summoned local factions of power to Nanjing to discuss strategies against Japan. Liu Xiang spoke passionately for more than 2 hours at the meeting, strongly demanding the anti-Japanese resistance and saying: "
Sichuan can send 300,000 troops, supply 5 million Zhuangding, and supply several tens of thousands of stones of grain.
”
After that, Liu Xiang also personally led the 23rd Group Army out of Sichuan to resist Japan. Unfortunately, Liu Xiang died of illness in Wuhan. Before his death, he also left his last words: "The enemy army will not withdraw from the country for a day, and the Sichuan army will not return to its hometown for a day!" ”
The early days of the War of Resistance Against Japan were undoubtedly a peak of the cohesion of the Chinese nation. The various factions that were originally vying for power and profit and attacking each other, when faced with foreign invasions, put aside their prejudices and were closely united.
This spirit has a great appeal to ordinary people.
Huang Shiwei, who was still in high school, was no exception, and he decided to join the army to resist Japan. Just when Chuanjun published news in the newspaper that 20 field attendants were to be recruited, Huang Shiwei quietly applied for the exam and was admitted.
After the family learned of this news, they all strongly opposed it, because Huang Shiwei was the only son in the family and had not suffered hardships since he was a child. Field service team members are only responsible for logistics and propaganda work, although they do not have to fight on the front line, but after all, the shells are not long-sighted! However, Father Huang was more enlightened, supported Huang Shiwei's choice, and gave a poem to show encouragement.
Subsequently, Huang Shiwei walked with his troops from Chengdu to Chongqing, then to Wuhan by boat, and then by train through Xuzhou to Nanjing. The lack of means of transport on the way seriously affected the speed of the march. It also rained frequently, and the Sichuan army could not walk in straw shoes until mid-November.
At that time, during the defense of Nanjing, a part of the Sichuan Army was transferred to the vicinity of Guangde and Si'an to block the Japanese army. The soldiers of the Sichuan Army fought bravely and repeatedly competed with the Japanese army for positions, causing no small losses to the Japanese army. However, due to the backwardness of its own weapons and the lack of supply, it was unable to hold its position.
After losing Guangde and Si'an, the division commander Rao Guohua committed suicide in grief and indignation, and his loyal heart touched the soldiers.
After Huang Shiwei rushed to the front, Nanjing had fallen. After that, he was assigned to the headquarters of the 23rd Group Army as a study staff officer, and soon after he was sent to the Teaching Regiment of the Qingjiang Engineer School in Jiangxi Province as a student. After graduating, he was sent to Meigeng (present-day Meilong) in the foothills of Jiuhua Mountain to lay out obstacles and mines.
Sichuan Army Oath Expedition (Stills)
At that time, the 23rd Group Army of the Sichuan Army was assigned to the Third Theater of Operations, stationed in the area west of the Qingge River to the east of Jiangxi Hukou, and confronted them was the Japanese 116th Division. The Japanese soldiers pointed directly at Wuhan, and then the defense of Wuhan broke out.
The Japanese army used the Yangtze River channel to transport materials and troops to Wuhan, and in order to block the shipping of the Yangtze River, the old Chiang ordered the troops stationed along the river to use artillery to bombard the Japanese ships.
The artillery position of the 23rd Group Army was set up on a coal hill in Meigeng, Guichi County, Chizhou City.
This coal mountain is easy to defend and difficult to attack, and its strategic location is extremely important. It stretches for more than 30 miles, and the northern end is a cliff overlooking the Yangtze River. The surrounding area is mostly swampy harbors, which is not conducive to the mobility of large troops. Moreover, due to the long-term mining, the mines in the mountain are longitudinal and horizontal, which is convenient for the construction of air defense fortifications.
The Sichuan army continued to bombard Japanese ships, often went to the Yangtze River channel to lay mines, and sank more than 10 Japanese ships in 3 months, posing a great threat to the Japanese army. Therefore, the Japanese army also continued to attack Coal Mountain with joint land, sea and air forces.
The Sichuan army relies on the dangerous terrain,
After repeated battles with the Japanese army, the 725 heights alone were lost and recovered six or seven times
。 However, the Japanese army continued to increase its troops, and after the fall of Guichi, the 402nd Regiment of the 201st Brigade of the 67th Division stationed at Coal Hill was ordered to withdraw.
During this period, Huang Shiwei, who served as a staff officer to see the truth, was ordered to sneak into the frontier area unoccupied by both armies with a platoon of the Eighteenth Battalion of Independent Engineers, and set up mines and obstacles to ensure the safety of Coal Hill.
Huang Shiwei and his comrades-in-arms came to mine a gooseneck area near the Lao Niang Temple, which was the only passage from the river to the coal mountain. The Japanese ships patrolling the river constantly fired flares and illuminated them with searchlights, and in order to avoid exposure, the soldiers could only work cautiously, afraid of making a little sound.
Fo Xiao's homework was completed, but he was accidentally discovered by the Japanese army. Suddenly, shells and bullets roared in, shaking the earth. Huang Shiwei and his warriors were surrounded by a lakeside depression of less than a square kilometer. They resisted heroically with the help of the lake embankment, and the army of more than 50 people was finally only 3 people left.
Huang Shiwei and a comrade-in-arms named Zhang Daifu were shot in the leg and rolled into the lake as they ran to a high ground. The lake was covered with reeds, just hidden, and Huang Shiwei also jumped into the lake to hide. It was not until the Japanese army gradually dispersed that he dragged Zhang Daifu ashore.
At that time, the corners of Zhang Daifu's mouth were already dying, and after Huang Shiwei's treatment, he gradually woke up. The next day, Huang Shiwei carried Zhang Daifu on his back to his position, fortunately encountering a peasant on the way to rescue him, and was able to safely pass through the Japanese blockade.
After returning to the army, Huang Shiwei was sent to the engineering school to study, and then entered the tenth session of the military training class of the Ruijin Central Military Academy to study infantry. It was not until the beginning of 1941 that he was transferred back to the 146th Division of the 21st Army of the Sichuan Army as a company commander of engineers, due to the violation of discipline by the battalion commander.
Soon after he was promoted to deputy battalion commander acting battalion commander.
Lay mines
At the end of 1941, the Japanese army attacked Pearl Harbor and the United States entered the war. In retaliation against Japan, the U.S. military planned to bomb the Japanese mainland. 16 modified B-25B bombers took off from the carrier and attacked Tokyo. Since the bombers could not land on the carrier, after completing the mission, they flew to an airfield on China's eastern coast.
The U.S. military also planned to land in southeastErn China to open a second battlefield. Therefore, the Nationalist army has been expanding coastal airfields to facilitate the use of various types of AIRcraft of the US military.
The U.S. bombing of Tokyo shook Japan so much that they later discovered that the U.S. airstrikes had taken advantage of Chinese airfields.
He planned to launch the Zhejiang-Gansu Campaign in an attempt to destroy China's coastal airfields in order to open up the Zhejiang-Gansu Line.
The Nationalist army planned to block the attack step by step and lure the enemy to the vicinity of Quzhou for a decisive battle.
On May 15, 1942, the Japanese army advanced from Fenghua and Yuhang from east to west along the Zhejiang-Gansu line with the strength of four and a half divisions. The Nationalist army fought and retreated, and organized a strong defense when it reached the key points of Jinhua and Lanxi. The Japanese 15th Division attacked Lanxi for three days without success, suffering heavy losses.
The division commander Naoji Sakai became angry and personally ran to the front to supervise the battle.
At this time, a train carrying more than 2,000 mines was bombed at Jinhua Station and evacuated to the Jinlan Railway Branch Line, which could neither advance nor retreat. In order to prevent these mines from falling into the hands of the Japanese, the Third Theater ordered the 21st Army to send engineers to destroy them.
After receiving the order, Huang Shiwei boarded the train to see that the mines were intact and he thought they could be used against the Japanese army. This idea was endorsed by superiors. In order to delay the Japanese army, the Third Theater Command ordered Huang Shiwei to take a platoon and lay mines on the east bank of the Lanxi River at night.
Judging from the battle map, the area around Lanxi was already densely packed with mines, but there was still a blank space in the north of the city.
At that time, the headquarters had already decided to abandon Jinhua and Lanxi and retreat deeper, leaving Huang Shiwei little time.
On the night of May 27, Huang Shiwei and a platoon of people carrying mines in bamboo baskets crossed the Waist-deep Lanxi River to a zone three miles from the city wall. As last time, this is also the frontier of the two armies' battles, and there are often Japanese troops out on patrol, which is extremely dangerous.
Before leaving, Huang Shiwei thought about it, capture the thief first, and strive to blow up a senior commander of the enemy army. He calmly inspected the terrain and found three forks in the road in front of him, one leading to Jiang Zhuang, one leading to Lanxi County, and the other was a passage for transporting supplies.
Huang Shiwei could not judge which way the enemy would take for a while, just a small highland on the side of the road, where outside the range of weapons in the city, the use of telescopes can observe the battle situation of the city wall, which is an excellent command position. He thought to himself that the enemy commander might go up to the heights to inspect the terrain when he arrived here. It was decided not to lay mines on the road, but to select 60 mine laying points on the high ground.
Anti-Japanese soldiers on the march
Enemy commanders generally traveled on horseback, so Huang Shiwei ordered the sappers to adjust the dial of the mine tube to about 100 kilograms. After laying the mines, he ordered the sappers to replant the grass and disguise themselves. It was not until the dawn of the Buddha that he returned safely to the troops.
According to Japanese historical records: On the morning of the 28th, the Japanese army launched an attack, and from time to time there was the sound of mine explosions, and many Japanese casualties were heard. Division Commander Naoji Sakai was furious when he heard the casualty reports and sent a small detachment of engineers to clear the mines, and did not open a safe passage until 10 a.m.
So Sakai rode his horse and continued to move towards Lanxi Castle. To ensure safety, the sapper squad and the Cavalry Guard were at the forefront. When they came to a fork in the road, the Cavalry Guard did not know which way to take and ran back to report.
Naoji Sakai rode to the front, saw a high ground near the three forks, and wanted to go up to inspect the terrain and battle situation ahead. But he hadn't taken a few steps up.
Just listen to the "bang", suddenly the dust is flying, Sakai Naoji rolled off his horse,
His mount was covered in blood and was blown to the ground.
The divisional staff officer Kawakubo immediately dismounted to check the situation, only to see that the soles of Sakai's left foot had been blown to pieces and the bleeding had to be stopped immediately. While treating his wounds, Kawakubo sent someone to find a military doctor. Due to the heavy casualties of the Japanese army, the military doctors were sent to the field hospital, and it was not until half an hour later that the head of the military medical department Hosoya Daisaku arrived.
After treating Naoji Sakai's wounds, he judged that he should not be in danger of life. Soldiers then carried Sakai on stretchers to a house not far away, waiting to be taken to the rear hospital. However, it didn't take long for the soldiers to run out and shout, "The division commander is in a bad situation!" ”
The military doctor rushed to the first aid immediately, but because there was no blood transfusion, Naoji Sakai was still screaming for his life.
In order to stabilize morale, the Japanese army blocked the news of Naoji Sakai's death,
It was not until the Battle of Zhejiang and Gansu was over four months later that the Japanese army held a memorial service for it.
When the Third Theater learned of the situation, it reported it to the highest level in Chongqing, but they did not know the specific reason for Naoji Sakai's death. Therefore, the government did not carry out any rewards, and the matter was closed. Huang Shiwei withdrew from the battlefield after laying the mines, and it was impossible to know that he had killed the Japanese lieutenant general.
In 1943, Huang Shiwei was sent to Yongzhou Engineer School to study. At the time of graduation, the Japanese army launched the Battle of Yuxianggui, and the frontal battlefield of the Nationalist army was still defeated and retreated. The fleeing and the people and the defeated soldiers rushed toward Guizhou like a tide, and the traffic line was blocked.
Huang Shiwei was scattered by the crowd, lost contact with the troops, and could only follow the fleeing crowd westward, and finally returned to Sichuan. Soon after his return to Sichuan, Japan announced its unconditional surrender.
Japan surrendered
Huang Shiwei believed that his task of defending his family and defending the country had been completed, and he did not want to return to the army, so he picked up the textbook again and began to study, and in 1948 he was admitted to the Department of Finance and Economics of Chonghua College in Xiangjiapo, Chongqing (renamed Southwest Cooperation College after the founding of the People's Republic of China). In hindsight, this was undoubtedly a very correct choice.
In 1951, Huang Shiwei graduated from school and was assigned to work in the finance and trade department of Chengdu for more than 40 years. Huang Shiwei is well-known and has the experience of fighting devils, and he has not been greatly affected in previous sports.
It was only the identity of the Kuomintang officer who brought inconvenience to his children to a greater or lesser extent.
At first, young children will dislike and complain about their father's identity, and it is not until they grow up that they slowly understand that history.
At that time, they did not know that their father was the hero who killed the Japanese lieutenant general.
Because the Japanese side has not disclosed the relevant archives, the dusty history has gradually been forgotten. Until 1975, the War History Office of the Defense Research Institute of the Japanese Defense Agency compiled the book "Chinese Dispatch Army".
Based on the recollections of the parties, the book restores in detail the experience of Naoji Sakai.
In 1984, domestic scholars translated it into Chinese, and it was gradually known to the Chinese people.
In 1985, the Sichuan Department of Culture and History compiled the book "Personal Experience of the Sichuan Army's War of Resistance" to collect manuscripts from veterans who participated in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and an article by Huang Shiwei about the breakthrough of Meigeng was also included. Wu Heyun, former chief of staff of the 23rd Group Army of the Sichuan Army (who served as an instructor at the Nanjing Military Academy after liberation), also wrote a reminiscence article.
Since Wu knew earlier about Naoji Sakai's death, combined with the military arrangements of the headquarters that year, he mentioned in the book that Huang Shiwei led the troops to kill the Japanese lieutenant general. After the book was published and distributed, Huang Shiwei could not wait to read it and found the information that he had killed the Japanese lieutenant general.
The details of his recollection are basically consistent with the description of the Japanese military history, which also proves that he actually commanded the troops to lay mines and kill Naoji Sakai. Huang Shiwei (who lived alone in his later years) did not tell his children about this incident, and later his deeds appeared in the newspaper, and the children saw the newspaper and realized that his father was a great hero.
Before this, Huang Shiwei often felt regretful, he had killed ghosts on the battlefield, but he had not made great achievements in battle, nor had he won medals. More than 40 years later, when I learned that I was also a meritorious person, my feelings were naturally very complicated.
Later, someone asked him: "Do you regret going to the battlefield but not getting a reward?" Huang Shiwei said: "I am not ashamed of the country, it is worth it!" ”
Huang Shiwei, who has become a big hero, lives as usual. He usually likes poetry, calligraphy and painting, and has collected many historical materials of the War of Resistance.
On October 13, 2014, Huang Shiwei died peacefully at home at the age of 93.
Photo of Huang Shiwei
There may be many heroes like Huang Shiwei, when the country is in danger, they stand up and do not hesitate to throw their heads and spill blood to defend the country. In peacetime, they turned away, did not care about merit and honor, ordinary life, willing to be unsung heroes. Whether they go to the battlefield or work in ordinary posts, they have only one wish, that is, the country is strong and the nation is rejuvenated.
They don't ask what the state has given them, they only want to be worthy of the country, so Huang Shiwei said: "There is no shame to the country, it is worth it!" "Veterans do not die, this kind of family and country feelings, will always touch the world."