In May 1999, an ordinary spring, 74-year-old veteran Yang Yucai died of illness, his life is like a microcosm of China's modern history, from the smoke of the Anti-Japanese War to the beacon fire of the War to resist US aggression and aid Korea, and then to the obscurity of the era of peace.
In 1941, a 15-year-old boy, Yang Yucai, was forced to go from the fields of Shanxi to the battlefield under the forced conscription of the Kuomintang. At that time, China was in the middle of a national war of resistance against Japanese aggression and civil war, and the Kuomintang government's conscription system was cruel and ruthless, and many young people had no choice but to become victims of the war. Yang Yucai's youth was cut off by force in this context and thrown into the war-torn years.
During the war, Yang Yucai's fate finally took a turn for the better, and he was deeply touched by the fact that he was captured by the People's Liberation Army after several rounds of Kuomintang troops, and witnessed the people's army's humane policy towards prisoners. In 1949, he resolutely joined the People's Liberation Army, and from then on, his fate was closely linked to the newly established People's Republic.
After Yang Yucai joined the People's Liberation Army, he was like a fish in water and unreservedly dedicated all his talents to the army. His first show of skill was during the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, it was a bitterly cold winter night, and on the Korean battlefield, the cold wind of minus 30 degrees Celsius hit his face like a knife. The reconnaissance team led by him carried out tasks behind enemy lines, and in the face of dense enemy forces, Yang Yucai was witty and brave, led his comrades to break through many times, and provided key intelligence for the main force.
"Everyone follow me!" Yang Yucai's voice was particularly firm in the wind and snow. They quietly passed through the enemy's multi-layered blockade, and during the night, they not only managed to obtain the enemy's deployment map, but also captured several enemy soldiers.
After the war, although Yang Yucai did not receive a senior military rank, his prestige in the hearts of his comrades-in-arms and superiors was unparalleled. Until his death, those who knew him remembered that this veteran had been an inextinguishable light in the beacon years.
At Yang Yucai's memorial service, many unusual scenes appeared. The leader personally sent a wreath, which may seem incredible to outsiders, but for those who know Yang Yucai, this is the highest respect for his heroic nature. Although he did not have a fame for a while, his heroic deeds and his charisma deeply influenced everyone who knew him.
In the snow-covered battlefield of Korea, in the middle of the night, in silence, under the dim starlight, Yang Yucai and his comrades-in-arms lay quietly in the trenches, waiting for the horn to blow again.
Yang Yucai's life is a little-known but radiant heroic epic. His story reminds us that although history is written by big events and big people, every unknown little person is also writing his own history in his own way.
Today, everyone may face a variety of challenges and choices, and Yang Yucai's life course reminds us that in any difficult situation, we should maintain our faith, uphold justice, and defend our cherished values with action.
Through Yang Yucai's story, we are able to reflect on the fact that true heroes do not come from their position or fame, but from the choices and sacrifices they make at critical moments. Just as the two vice chairmen of the Central Military Commission deeply remembered Yang Yucai, they were not only commemorating a veteran, but also expressing their deepest respect for that period of history and that spirit.
His life is an inspiration to future generations, reminding us that no matter what circumstances we are in, we should face difficulties with a fearless attitude and complete our mission with no regrets.