One cloudy night, Shao Xunmei nervously supervised the printing of the last batch of "On Protracted War" in the dark corner of the printing house. In the night wind, the printing press roared incessantly, as if to foreshadow an impending storm. The content of this book had a subversive influence on China at that time, and it could inspire countless Chinese to resist a strong enemy and persevere to the end. However, such actions also made Shao Xunmei a thorn in the enemy's side.
As the dawn of the new China emerged, many people chose to take the last plane to Taiwan, leaving this land full of war clouds. Shao Xunmei also has a ticket to Taiwan in front of her, which represents a safe way out and an opportunity to avoid the coming political storm. However, he ultimately chose to stay, to stay in the land he loved so much. This decision turned Shao Xunmei's fate into another unknown track again.
Anti-Japanese feelings and the birth of "Freedom Tan".
In China in the thirties and forties of the 20 th century, the iron hooves of Japanese militarism trampled on the land of China, and wars broke out, the people were displaced, and suffering was great. Against such a historical background, Shao Xunmei, as an intellectual with a deep sense of justice, could not sit idly by, and he knew very well that in addition to the smoke of gunpowder on the battlefield, culture and public opinion were also important battlefields against aggression.
Shao Xunmei's previous work experience in "Current Affairs Daily" made him understand that the power of public opinion can be far-reaching, can stimulate the people's will to fight, and can awaken the national awakening of the Chinese people. Therefore, in the shadow of the war, he decided to again wave his pen as a gun and fight with words. In a corner of the Shanghai Concession, Shao Xunmei founded Freedom Tan, a publication with a profound name that symbolizes the pursuit of freedom and resistance to aggression.
Shao Xunmei knew that working under the noses of the Japanese invaders was fraught with risks. Therefore, he cleverly used his girlfriend Xiang's beautiful American background, as well as the special international environment of the concession, to provide a layer of protection for "Liberty Tan". As an American, Xiang Meili had certain privileges and protection in the Shanghai Concession at that time, which allowed "Freedom Tan" to survive and play a role under the surveillance and interference of the Japanese.
Registered under the name Xiang Meimei, Liberty Tan is ostensibly a foreigner-run publishing house, and this disguise of identity has provided it with a lot of convenience. Although Xiang Meili is the nominal editor-in-chief and publisher, there is a deep understanding and trust between her and Shao Xunmei. Xiang Meili is not only a nominal person in charge, she actively participates in the operation of the publication, assisting Shao Xunmei in handling daily affairs and ensuring the smooth distribution of the publication.
The content of "Freedom Tan" mainly focuses on exposing the atrocities of the Japanese invaders and promoting the idea of resisting Japan and saving the country, while also publishing some inspiring articles and news to provide spiritual support to the general public. Most of the articles in the journal were written or edited by Shao Xunmei herself, and each article tried to explain in simple terms, so that ordinary people could understand the current grim situation and stimulate their patriotic feelings and determination to resist the war.
Yang Gang's secret mission and the spread of "On Protracted War".
In 1938, against the backdrop of a turbulent era, Yang Gang, a dynamic and talented female journalist and a staunch underground member of the Communist Party of China, came to Shanghai. Her identity is multiple and complex, she is a journalist in public, and behind the scenes, she is responsible for spreading anti-Japanese ideas and liaising with comrades. In such an environment full of crises and opportunities, Yang Gang and Xiang Meili met and became acquainted, all of which seemed to be fate.
At that time, Mao Zedong's "On Protracted War" had just been published, and this article profoundly expounded the protracted, complex, and arduous nature of China's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and pointed out the direction for China's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. The content of the article was extremely enlightening, and the CCP underground recognized the importance of translating it into English and disseminating it widely. Yang Gang, with her talent and background, was entrusted with the important task of translating this article into English and disseminating it internationally.
The friendship between Yang Gang and Xiang Meili facilitated the dissemination of the English version of "On Protracted War". Xiang's beautiful American background and the publishing platform of "Liberty Tan" became an important fulcrum for Yang Gang to carry out his mission. Through the channel of "Freedom Tan", Yang Gang was able to secretly print and distribute the English version of "On Protracted War". This English manuscript was not only disseminated among English-speaking readers in China, but also sent to the international community through various channels, so that more foreigners could understand the true situation of China's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the perseverance of the Chinese people.
Yang Gang's dedication and professionalism in translation work ensure the accuracy and fluency of the manuscript, so that foreign readers can truly understand the deeper meaning of the text. She often worked with Xiang Meili late at night under the lamp to discuss how to more accurately convey the meaning of the original text and how to make the article more influential internationally. Together, they proofread each word to ensure that each sentence accurately conveyed Mao's original meaning.
In order to make the English version of "On Protracted War" widely disseminated, Yang Gang and Xiang Meili also secretly contacted foreign journalists in Shanghai and cultural officials from foreign embassies in China. They used a variety of social occasions to skillfully convey the manuscript to influential foreign figures. These manuscripts were brought to Europe and the Americas, enabling people around the world to gain a deeper understanding of China's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and why the Chinese fought for a long time.
Shao Xunmei's difficult years and survival
With the wide dissemination of the English version of "On Protracted War", Shao Xunmei and "Freedom Tan" became the focus of attention of the Japanese secret services. Shao Xunmei's life has fallen into unprecedented danger as a result. The Japanese secret services not only monitored Shao Xunmei's every move, but also planned assassination operations on many occasions in an attempt to completely eliminate this figure who had put great pressure on them in public opinion.
In that period of tension and unease, Shao Xunmei's apartment became the center of danger. Strangers frequently appear around his residence, either pretending to pass by or disguise themselves as everyday pedestrians, but in essence they are closely monitoring and tracking Shao Xunmei. Shao Xunmei's family also felt unprecedented fear and worry, and they knew that Shao Xunmei had become a target of the enemy because of "Freedom Tan" and the content it spread.
In this extremely dangerous situation, Shao Xunmei received some unexpected assistance. In the Shanghai Concession, especially in the French Concession, some French patrol friends expressed their support for Shao Xunmei. They had a certain knowledge of the activities of Japanese agents and, due to the special status of the concession, were able to provide a certain degree of protection. Some members of the French Patrol House, out of support for justice or out of a personal stance on the Sino-Japanese War, privately helped Shao Xunmei, providing intelligence, warning Shao Xunmei of possible dangers, and in some cases helping him evade the tracking of Japanese agents.
During these difficult years, Shao Xunmei had to change her residence frequently to avoid being found by Japanese agents. He sometimes moved late at night, sometimes looking for a hidden place to live, living in constant tension and restlessness. Despite this, he insisted on publishing Freedom Tan and continued his anti-Japanese propaganda work. Shao Xunmei's actions not only need to skillfully avoid the enemy's eyes, but also to maintain contact with colleagues and supporters to ensure that information can be transmitted safely and effectively.
The friends of the French patrol house provided protection and support to Shao Xunmei in various ways. They relay information at critical moments, warn Shao Xunmei of impending danger, and when necessary, they also assist Shao Xunmei in arranging secret routes and even providing him with a temporary hiding place. Although these measures cannot completely eliminate the danger, they at least reduce the direct threat to Shao Xunmei to a large extent.
The founding of New China and Shao Xunmei's choice
The year 1949 was an important turning point in China's history. The Chinese People's Liberation Army crossed the river, and the collapse of the Kuomintang government marked the imminent establishment of New China. At this critical juncture, many people are faced with the choice of choice, some choose to flee to Taiwan, while others decide to stay on the mainland and usher in the new era. Shao Xunmei is one of those who firmly chose to stay.
When New China was about to be founded, Shao Xunmei chose to continue to stay in her motherland. He witnessed China's journey from the chaos of civil war to peace and reconstruction, and felt the dawn of a new era. After years of turmoil and war, Shao Xunmei decided to devote herself to the construction of a new society and contribute her own strength.
Shao Xunmei began her ordinary but meaningful translation and editing work in the new era. He applies the knowledge and experience he has accumulated over the years to the promotion of cultural exchange and knowledge dissemination. Although the content of the work was different from the anti-Japanese propaganda of the past, Shao Xunmei devoted the same enthusiasm and energy to it. He believes that through translation and editing, we can help Chinese people better understand the ideas and culture of the outside world, promote international exchanges, and contribute wisdom and strength to the development of New China.
In the early days of the new regime, resources were relatively scarce, and Shao Xunmei's working environment and conditions were not ideal. But that didn't stop him from being enthusiastic about his work. He often delves into various literature and works to accurately translate complex foreign language materials into Chinese. Shao Xunmei is also actively involved in editing and publishing, proofreading manuscripts to ensure the quality of each publication.
Shao Xunmei's translation and editing work, although it may not have attracted much attention at the time, was extremely important to China at the time. The foreign language materials he translated provide a window for the Chinese people to understand the development trends and advanced ideas of the outside world more intuitively. At the same time, he has participated in the editing of books and journals, which have provided valuable resources for the academic and cultural development of China.
Although Shao Xunmei's work in the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China was ordinary, it was an important part of building a new society. Through his translation and editing work, Shao Xunmei has supported and promoted the cultural and educational cause of New China in her own way, and contributed to the arrival of a new era.
Grievances, redress and memory
Shao Xunmei suffered great misfortune in her later years. Shortly after the founding of the People's Republic of China, he was misunderstood by the authorities because of a letter he wrote to his long-time friend Xiang Meili and was accused of being a "Dite suspect". The letter, which was meant to be an exchange of personal insights and views on the current situation, was misinterpreted by the tense political environment at the time, which led to his misjudgment and arrest.
After her arrest, Shao Xunmei endured a long period of censorship and detention. In prison, he faced a harsh environment and physical and mental stress. The body, which was already fragile due to old age, suffered further damage in prison life. The lack of proper medical attention and nutrition, combined with mental stress, led to a dramatic deterioration in his health.
Three years later, as more evidence was revealed and scrutinized, Shao Xunmei was found to be not actually guilty and released. However, the long period of captivity and illness had severely drained his life force. After he was released from prison, his physical condition was not as good as before, he was full of illness, and his life became extremely difficult.
After his release, Shao Xunmei returned to society, but he can no longer participate in work and social activities as before. His health condition severely limits his mobility and he relies on others for help to complete his daily life. At home, Shao Xunmei tried his best to maintain a simple life, but his physical condition deteriorated day by day, and he gradually lost his past vitality and ability.
Soon after, Shao Xunmei died alone, his death did not attract much attention, and his contributions and encounters seem to have been forgotten by the giant wheel of the times. Many years after his death, with the development of history and the changes in society, people began to re-examine the past, and Shao Xunmei's case was also re-investigated and evaluated.
It wasn't until 1985 that after a long time of hard work and appeals, Shao Xunmei's reputation was finally restored, and he was officially rehabilitated Zhaoxue. Although all this is belated justice for the deceased Shao Xunmei, it means that his name has been cleared and his contributions and experiences have been fairly evaluated for his family and supporters.
Resources:
- "On Protracted War"
- History of the People's Republic of China
- History of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression
- Modern History of China