One image has been widely circulated on the Internet, showing a girl with short hair smiling and looking directly at the camera with her hands around her breasts.
Based on this description alone, you might think that this is just an ordinary photograph of a person, like countless other photographs today.
However, if the photograph was taken during the Sino-Japanese War, and the girl is behind a row of frivolous Japanese soldiers, then the meaning of the photograph is even more profound and thought-provoking.
At this moment, if we look closely at the woman in the photo, we will notice that there seems to be a subtle hint of perseverance behind the happy smile on her face. Even in this blurry black and white image, we can still feel the courage and fearlessness in her eyes.
Who is this woman and what ups and downs and changes has her life experienced?
【Anti-Japanese Women】
The woman is the anti-Japanese martyr Ben Hua, and the last photo she left in the world is the smiling face.
After that, the Japanese army brutally killed her, and at the age of 24, she dedicated her life to the cause of resistance of the Chinese people, and heroically fell on the road of resisting aggression.
Ben Hua, originally from Hexian County, Anhui Province, and his ancestors settled in Shandong during the Ming Dynasty. Her family has made outstanding contributions in the Battle of Jingyan, so she was given the title of "General Wude" by Ming Chengzu.
Perhaps it is because Fei Hua was born with the hot-blooded genes of a person who practices martial arts, and he has been flowing in his blood since he was a child. He not only has a bold personality and acts decisively, but also has a strong sense of justice, and likes to stand up for the weak and fight grievances.
At the age of only eleven or twelve, she had already frequently stood up to protect the children in the village and drive away the thugs who always came to make trouble.
The parents who started a family were open-minded and did not despise her because she was a woman, nor did they restrain her with traditional rules such as "three obedience and four virtues".
At a time when most people were illiterate, Ben Hua's parents decided to give her an education and insisted on sending her to school. It is this persistence and determination that has made Ben Hua one of the few girls in the local area who can go to middle school.
In 1937, the Japanese army launched a long-planned invasion, and the war and bloodshed quickly spread to Anhui, including the area where Benhua lived.
Every day, Ben Hua could hear about the atrocities of the Japanese army, and these heart-wrenching news pierced deep into his heart like a sharp stab. Faced with the brutal murder of his compatriots, the anger and grief in Ben Hua's heart surged like a tide. He resolutely chose to join the local anti-Japanese army, determined to seek justice for his compatriots and fight for the dignity of the country and the future of the nation.
Against the backdrop of the escalating atrocities of the Japanese army, Ben Hua was keenly aware that verbal protest and condemnation were not enough.
At this time, the local organization of Hexian County happened to establish the Anti-Japanese Self-Defense Army, and Ben Hua did not hesitate to join this self-defense army, and met Liu Zhiyi in it.
Liu Zhiyi and Ben Hua have a similar heart and similar ideas, so after they spent a period of time together, they gradually found a spark of love between each other. This relationship gradually warmed up, and finally prompted them to make the decision to enter the palace of marriage soon after.
The Hua couple did not have much leisure to taste the sweetness of love after marriage, and they resolutely devoted all their bodies and minds to the great cause of the War of Resistance Against Japan.
In the war-torn years, Liu Zhiyi and Ben Hua's marriage was like a meteor across the night sky, short and bright. However, the ruthlessness of fate made Liu Zhiyi die heroically in the battle, leaving Ben Hua alone. But she didn't have time to bask in her grief, and as the leader of the female soldiers, she had to shoulder the heavy responsibility of defending Hexian, which was heavily surrounded by Japanese soldiers.
Soon after, Ben Hua unfortunately fell into the hands of the enemy and became a prisoner.
Referring to the memoirs later written by the captured Japanese soldiers, we can understand that after being captured by the Japanese army, Ben Hua showed a resolute and unyielding attitude. However, this tenacity also angered the Japanese army, which led to more harsh treatment of Benhua.
In the memoirs, the Japanese soldiers generally made a deep impression on Ben Hua. This is not only because of her good looks, but also because she shows a strong spirit of resistance.
Cost's outstanding performance in the Self-Defense Forces gave her access to some key intelligence, such as the task of liaising with the New Fourth Army and other anti-Japanese forces, which she was responsible for carrying out.
After successfully capturing Fei Hua, she was not immediately killed, but first went through a trial.
First, the Japanese leaders did not immediately show their brutal nature, but took a more covert approach. They prepared delicacies and wine, and pretended to be kind enough to inquire about the whereabouts of the New Fourth Army. However, this superficial friendliness could not hide its true intentions, and the fighters of the New Fourth Army needed to be vigilant so as not to fall into the trap of the enemy.
At the same time, they assured him that if he could provide the answers they needed, they would be willing to treat him as a partner and give him a great fortune and jewels in return in the future.
However, for the loyal and patriotic feelings of the Bill, she will never accept the enemy's request to be in the same boat, and at the same time, she will not taste any of the food and drink offered by the enemy.
Seeing that soft means were ineffective, the Japanese changed their tactics and began to brutally inflict punches and kicks on Fei Hua, trying to force her to submit through physical pain. However, even though Fei Hua was beaten and bruised, she still gritted her teeth, insisted on silence, and did not reveal a word.
Although coercion and inducement were used by the Japanese army as an "opening statement", their cruel methods were the real "feast" against our soldiers.
Although the Japanese did not carry special torture instruments for the sake of light marching, they still cunningly invented many cruel torture methods.
One of the most convenient and easy-to-enforce forms of punishment is the "back-to-back beating", which is similar to whipping the back with a whip, but with a much more painful degree. This punishment can cause unbearable pain to the victim.
Even in the face of such a predicament, Fei Hua remained loyal and unyielding, and she never revealed the whereabouts of the New Fourth Army.
A few days later, the Japanese received an order from their superiors to retreat and were forced to urgently evacuate Hexian. But before evacuating, they still decided to commit the last atrocity in He County.
In addition to Ben Hua, many fighters also fell into the hands of the enemy. Some of the fighters were unfortunately killed early, while others, like Ben Hua, stubbornly gritted their teeth and did not reveal any information to the enemy.
Since it was decided to retreat, the Japanese did not leave with their wounded prisoners. Therefore, the day before the retreat, Ben Hua and his companions were taken to the execution ground to be executed. It was on this execution ground that she took that haunting photograph.
In front of the camera, Fei Hua showed a smile, which contained an affirmation of her perseverance, and also demonstrated her fearless heroism in the face of death.
In the depths of her heart, she firmly believed that she had lived up to the expectations of the country, that she had adhered to her principles, and that she had won a hope of victory for the sons and daughters of China.
Although she was unfortunately captured and killed by the Japanese, she remained an unwavering victor. She did not succumb to the obscenity of the Japanese army, nor was she defeated by their cruel methods. On the difficult road of the Anti-Japanese War, she showed incomparable courage and tenacity, and this indomitable spirit was her greatest victory.
With her tenacity and tenacity, she has become a model for the vast number of Chinese, and her spiritual strength reflects the pride and dignity of the sons and daughters of China.
Ben Hua's deeds also show the courage and selfless dedication of Chinese women during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.
In the long history of China, many heroic and fearless martyrs have made great efforts and sacrifices for the rise of the country. It is the struggle and dedication of these martyrs that enabled China to go through the baptism of war and gradually move towards prosperity and strength. Their spirit and contributions will forever be remembered in the long scroll of the history of the Chinese nation.