In the long course of history, there is no shortage of battles triggered by border disputes. The Sino-Soviet border conflict of 1969 was such a page of history that was stained red by beacon fire. That year, two formerly fraternal countries were on opposite sides over territorial issues. Disputes that should have been resolved within the framework of peace have turned into tragic military confrontations. What is hidden in this conflict, which has been almost forgotten by history?
The spring breeze of 1969 did not completely dispel the bitter cold on the Sino-Soviet border. After the Battle of Zhenbao Island, relations between the two countries have become strained. Against this background, the Tierekti border post has become an important strategic point. This is not only because of the crucial position of the men, but also because the officers and men here are engaged in a kind of silent contest and struggle every day.
Yuan Guoxiao, an ordinary Henan peasant boy, joined the People's Liberation Army with passion after being affected by the Battle of Zhenbao Island in 1967 and was assigned to this unknown and dangerous place. Although he originally just wanted to do something for his country, the reality was far more complicated than he imagined.
In Tierekti, tensions between the Chinese and Soviet armies escalated whenever the herdsmen changed fields in the Spring and Autumn period. The Soviet army would not only carry out armed expulsions along unclaimed borders, but would also use the darkness of night to secretly build permanent fortifications in an attempt to change the already blurred borders. And Yuan Guoxiao and his comrades-in-arms, although they were strictly forbidden to fire first, had to be ready to deal with possible emergencies at all times.
In May 1969, the Xinjiang Military Region decided to carry out a major border defense operation, which was intended to refute the Soviet Union's unilateral demarcation of the border through practical actions. During this operation, Yuan Guoxiao and his comrades-in-arms were asked to protect the herders from the interference of the Soviet army. This seemingly simple escort mission was known to the Soviet side before it began.
The Soviet response was swift and ruthless. Not only have they strengthened military installations on the border, but they have also secretly prepared enough troops to meet this challenge. On the other hand, our side is not prepared for the coming conflict because of the excessive emphasis on political study. Yuan Guoxiao remembers that during that time, they spent more time studying the history of Sino-Soviet relations and the current political situation than on actual combat training.
The conflict finally broke out in August. Despite the high morale of our side, the situation quickly deteriorated in the face of concrete fortifications and ambushes that had been laid out by the Soviet troops in advance. In this sudden conflict, the Chinese side suffered heavy casualties, and Yuan Guoxiao was the only survivor. Mortally wounded, he dragged his weakened body back to his position, but his mind was forever etched by the cruelty of war. After experiencing the line of life and death, he returned to his hometown, but was misunderstood by his neighbors as a coward or even a traitor. The misunderstanding stems from ignorance of the brutality of war and the complexity of border conflicts.
As the years passed, Yuan Guoxiao's life did not calm down because of the end of the war. He was tormented by inner trauma and misunderstandings from the outside world. It wasn't until 2008 that the middle-aged chili king decided to return to the Gobi Tielekti, which had changed his life. He traveled thousands of miles alone, just to pay tribute to his deceased comrades in that deserted land, and also tried to find inner peace in this way.
Yuan Guoxiao lit a cigarette in the barren Gobi and poured wine to pay tribute, his eyes were not only nostalgic for his comrades-in-arms, but also about the meaning of life. He said to himself, "If I had died here, would I have never been misunderstood as a traitor again?" This sentence exploded in the hearts of everyone who heard this story like a bombshell. Yuan Guoxiao's experience is not only the memory of a veteran, but also a profound reflection on that period of history and a deep revelation of the nature of war.
Yuan Guoxiao has been widely spread on the Internet, which has resonated with countless netizens. People began to reflect that the real heroes are not only the warriors who scolded Fang Xuan on the battlefield, but also ordinary people like Yuan Guoxiao, who can still insist on themselves and bravely face life after experiencing the baptism of war. He is like a mirror, reflecting the complex views and deep-seated emotions of society on history and heroes.
Yuan Guoxiao's life is the most profound interpretation of the word "hero". He makes us understand that history is not a cold text in a book, it is made up of countless flesh-and-blood people like Yuan Guoxiao. Their joys, sorrows, and sorrows, their lives and deaths, are the truest footnotes to history. Through the life story of Yuan Guoxiao, we should learn to understand history more comprehensively and deeply, and understand the helplessness and tenacity of ordinary people who are coerced by the times. Only then can we cherish peace more and look at the birth and death of every "hero" more rationally in the years to come.