Reading 丨 Ma Wei: An Ode to Heroism - Hu Yanbing's novel "Chen Ran the Advancer" discussion

An ode to heroism

——Hu Yanbing's novel "Chen Ran the Advancer" is discussed

Ma Wei

Hu Yanbing's novel "Chen Ran the Progressive", funded by the China Writers Association, the Propaganda Department of the Chongqing Municipal Party Committee and the Chongqing Writers Association in 2021, has been publicly published by the Chongqing Publishing Group.

First, the selection of materials is unique

In this increasingly money-oriented and secular era, writing heroic songs is even more precious, embodying the author's ideals and expressing the author's literary pursuits. While this may be criticized — because it's hard to write well, it may be included in the "Goethe school"; it can be despised — because the subject matter is old, and it is now popular as anti-hero or pan-hero; it is ignored because it is difficult to become a hot topic, and it is even more difficult to become a bestseller. But the author Hu Yanbing, facing the difficulties, conceived for many years, changed his manuscript several times, and finally became a book.

This is a heavy historical novel, a recounting of the age of blood and fire, and a long song to commemorate the heroes. Chongqing, a heroic city, only one "Red Rock" is not enough, and more red novels are needed to praise this city with glorious traditions and create more heroic group portraits.

Second, the context is clear

The protagonist of "Chen Ran the Advancer" is the revolutionary martyr Chen Ran. The time spans from the 1930s to 1949. Chen Ran is one of the prototypes of Chenggang, one of the protagonists of the famous book "Red Rock".

Historical fiction has its peculiarities, so in its creation, three principles must be followed:

The first is to restore the historical truth.

The second is to reflect on historical gains and losses.

The third is the organic unity of real backgrounds and fictional characters.

The novel is very successful. The image of Chen Ran has a distinct personality, rich emotions, and is vivid and lively.

The story develops in two threads. One is the line of struggle. One is the emotional line.

The line of struggle is the foundation of the whole book and the cornerstone of shaping the image of Chen Ran as a hero. According to time, this line can be divided into three stages: the struggle against Japan, the struggle underground, and the struggle in prison. Among them, the underground struggle and the prison struggle are written in detail, the details are real, the plot is vivid, and the flesh and bones are full. Like what:

Through various connections and channels, Chen Ran obtained special envelopes used by many banks, large businesses, and factories, and reprinted a batch of them in a small printing house run by a comrade in the party. Use these envelopes to post in a mailbox close to these units. The stupid enemy finally "discovered" this "clue", surrounded and searched several big businesses, and extorted a few pieces of money from the boss by the way, scaring several big bosses into sweat.

This detail shows both Chen Ran's wisdom and sense of humor, and when you read this, you will smile happily.

There is also a rebellion against the guards, which is delicately written, thoroughly explained, and interlocked, which is very touching.

In the struggle against Japan, because it was propaganda work, Chen Chongde Jr., later Chen Ran, was a logistician who did theatrical performances, who was hard-working and conscientious and careful. The author wrote a lot of details, such as writing words of encouragement on the side of the road, carrying sick teammates back to the city to heal in the countryside, and so on. The theme of the anti-war novel has been expanded, because the western Hubei War of Resistance, novels, movies, and television, involved very little. "Chen Ran the Advancer" may be the first to be expressed in a long form.

In terms of the object of struggle, the first is the enemy. The second is to be friends.

The struggle against the enemy is the struggle against the reactionaries, with a clear-cut stand and a firm stand, and there can be singing and weeping.

"Chen Ran the Advancer" was written very successfully. In particular, the prison struggle, in the face of the direct enemy, how to fight is a contest of technology, art, and high wisdom, and it is very well written. For example, it is really clever to write that two fellow inmates and comrades in prison imitate Chen Ran's handwriting, in case something happens to the "Advance Newspaper" in prison. Sure enough, later the enemy came to check the handwriting, and Chen Ran was covered to pass.

The struggle against friends refers to the ideological gap between comrades on the same war money, and the alienation of ideas under special circumstances. Man is the most complex, facing life and death, the impossible realm is the same. Therefore, it is very normal for some people to slip away halfway, some people to be timid and avoid, and some people to defect to the enemy.

It is very normal for friends, comrades-in-arms, and comrades to have differences in ideology, differences, and differences. Chen Ran's handling of these comrades cannot be as simple as the struggle against the enemy. For example, in the face of his brother-in-law, Chen Ran had scruples in his heart, but in the end he realized that this was the reality, and it was impossible for everyone to participate in the revolution, and it was impossible for everyone to be a revolutionary. Later, his brother-in-law came forward to find a job for him, indirectly contributing to the revolution.

In the book, it is written that Xiang Changzhong was arrested, and Chen Ran thought that he had been betrayed and hid in the countryside. But Xiang Changzhong did not betray him, let Chen Ran hide in the countryside to teach, although he left the organization, he still silently did his work. Xiang Changzhong's conscience was not completely lost. This character is flesh and blood, real and believable.

When Luo Guangbin first entered Chen Ran's cell, he wrote very truly and touchingly. Chen Ran was firm in his defense against Luo Guangbin, and it was not until a note came from prison to prove Luo Guangbin's identity that he dared to believe that this was a comrade-in-arms. Luo Guangfu had an older brother Luo Guangwen who was the commander of the Nationalist Corps, so how could he not doubt it?

Connect with the person in charge of the municipal party committee, three times, because the joint is not correct, it was strictly rejected, although it is a bit rigid, but it is very real. Credulity is a taboo in underground work, a joke about life and revolutionary cause.

The struggle against friends, writing the complexity of human nature, added new content and vitality to the red novel.

The other line is the emotional line, writing about Chen Ran's emotional life. The line has been largely successful, and it has expanded.

Emotional life can be divided into: family life. love life. Secular life.

Family life is well written, to the father, to the mother, to the eldest sister, to the second sister and the second brother-in-law, to the brother, although the attitude is different, but the writing is true, the degree is better grasped. Especially for the eldest sister, the diary left behind after the death of the eldest sister, the annual memorial, is written in a gripping manner, and the emotion is like a river, surging and surging.

Went to the mountain to pay tribute to the eldest sister, and the details of the latter two traced the hardships of the special era and the love and worry between comrades.

The image of the mother has been more successfully portrayed. The mother's restraint, thrift, distress, and tenacity make people read sadly. Cute and lovely, but also suffering, reading tears.

The love life of young men and women, the author strives to write new ideas.

Chen Ran is a young man, and handsome, good temperament, kind, and it is inevitable that he will be sought after by young girls. However, Chen Ran has love in his heart, refuses everywhere in action, and defends himself in his heart - because of the underground struggle, he is afraid of inconvenience after marriage, in case of sacrifice, women are affected, so they respect the opposite sex and stay away. He is trying to restrain his feelings, which is harder than accepting them. The hardest thing in the world is to want to love but not to love, to want to love but not dare to love, to want to love and to refuse love.

In order to be more conducive to underground work, Chen Ran categorically rejects love, which is admirable and unwilling in his heart. This was the harsh reality, the best way Chen Ran had to take. To refuse love is to love the most, to love. He buried his love for the opposite sex deep in his heart and let his heart freeze. This is too difficult, showing Chen Ran's extraordinary courage and perseverance.

Respect the apricot and stay away, politely refuse to the leaves, and write about the selflessness and greatness of the hero.

Xing'er's jealousy is very really written. And even if she was rejected, the pain was unbearable, xing'er still supported Chen Ran wholeheartedly and never weakened. Falling flowers are intentional, flowing water is merciless, not people are ruthless, it is the times are merciless.

Chen Ran likes children, cares about Peng Yun, every time he meets with children, under the conditions of very tense economy, he still has to bring candy or other small gifts, not only kindness, but also carefulness, but also a sense of responsibility. He gave the duck that he wanted to take home to his comrades-in-arms, because he saw his comrades' children, covered with bones, as thin as wood, and his heart could not bear it. It highlights Chen Ran's kindness and strong compassion.

Third, the rhythm is calm

"Chen Ran the Advancer" is more successful in grasping the rhythm. The local description of the description, the local narrative of the narrative. Often in a hurry, in a hurry, in a hurry, he still speaks calmly and unhurriedly. In particular, the underground struggle and the struggle in prison are full of dangers and dark arrows, and it is rare to tell the story calmly and unhurriedly.

If the rhythm of the novel is good, it must organically combine description and narrative.

"Chen Ran the Advancer" is not much to describe, but it is wonderful and concise.

For example, this passage describing the Chaotianmen Pier:

Chongqing Chaotianmen Wharf, from the river side has a long large stone ladder, winding up the slope. In the relatively flat place, there are many "slippery poles" carried by the two people: in the middle of the two wooden sticks is a bamboo chair with a backrest. A rectangular curtain is placed on the top of the chair to shade the sun from the rain. Carrying the "sliding pole" are young and middle-aged men with white or black veils wrapped around their heads. There are also people wearing melon fur hats and long shirts who have squeezed through the slippery poles. There were children carrying small bamboo baskets, carefully searching for something on the ground. Someone carried the goods up and down the dock on their backs. There are many people carrying buckets of water, which are water pickers who carry water to the river, which is a long-term flowing scenery.

There is not much ink, and it paints the chongqing dock style.

Fourth, the thinking is profound

"Chen Ran the Advancer" truly restores the cruelty of the underground struggle and writes about the heroism of the revolutionary martyrs. It is an ode that arouses reverence for martyrs.

Underground struggles test the mind, mind, and body. Like Chen Ran going to the Fuling New Temple to teach, it is simply not possible to have some life ability. Moreover, we must face the persecution of the Kuomintang. We must first gain a foothold before we can develop. This was a great test for Chen Ran. But through his efforts, he not only stayed, but also became the leader of the school's progressive forces.

The whole book is full of idealism and writes about the lofty character of communists. Today, it has special practical significance. Because what we often hear about corrupt officials being brought out, they are still old party members for many years, and as a result, they have betrayed the party. And Chen Ran's generation of martyrs, not only did not have any enjoyment, but also posted money and rice, taking their lives. Pure in thought, noble in quality, and a role model for future generations.

He wrote about the complexity of human nature, and under the temptation of money, beauty, and high-ranking officials, he could also strengthen the faith of communists. Why the traitors in the novel have a big nest, the entire Chuandong Linshi Committee and the XiachuanDong Working Committee, and their main leaders rebelled as soon as they were arrested, the root cause is still impure thinking, the motive for joining the party is not pure, and they have not established a firm belief in communism.

What is even more valuable is that "Chen Ran the Advancer" reflects on the history of modern revolution. In particular, it is of extremely important significance in the proposal of the "Eight Articles in Prison". For example, how can leaders avoid specialization and how to be supervised by the organization must have laws to follow and systems to follow. Corruption at the top is a problem that the ruling party must solve.

Fifth, the language is simple

The language of the whole novel is clean and simple, and there are many dialects, as well as the language of the industry, which is colorful and vivid. The author also quoted a number of revolutionary songs and folk songs in the book, such as "Volga Boatman Song", "Moonlight Song", "When the Locust Flower Blooms", "Little Cabbage", etc., enriching the language, strengthening the stylistic changes, and strengthening the expressiveness.