On the Qingming Festival in 1955, the willows pulled out new shoots, and the pine trees on the entire hillside were verdant and dripping.
On the back hill of the Great Elm Cave, the fire-like Jindalai reflects the clouds in the sky, which is dazzlingly red.
Several volunteer soldiers, led by the head of a volunteer army, came to several graves here, preparing to move the remains of the martyrs to the newly completed volunteer cemetery.
At this moment, a North Korean Amani in a long skirt held a little girl's hand and stood in front of the grave like a guardian saint.
The old man said: "Comrade Volunteers, this is my son's grave, I can't move it!"
"Your son?"
The volunteers looked at each other in amazement. At this point, the chief stepped forward and said:
"Amani, do you know who this volunteer martyr in the grave is? He is Mao Anying, the son of Chairman Mao, the great leader of China. ”
"Ah, Chairman Mao's son......" The old man froze suddenly, not knowing what to do.
Mao Anying
How did Chairman Mao's son, Mao Anying, become the son of this old North Korean mother? Who is this old mother? How did his grave later move to the Volunteer Army Martyrs' Cemetery? The story is very moving.
Mao Anying was born in Changsha in 1922. His childhood, just in time for the trough of the revolution, he took his younger brother with him since he was a child, and together with his mother Yang Kaihui, he escaped from the enemy.
They traveled to Shanghai, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Changsha and other places, and suffered greatly from displacement, but in the end they still could not escape the poisonous hands of the enemy.
In 1930, Mao Anying, along with her mother Yang Kaihui, was arrested by the Hunan warlord He Jian. Soon after, Mao Anying was released on bail by his relatives, but Yang Kaihui died heroically.
After that, Mao Anying lived in Shanghai with her younger brothers Mao Anqing and Mao Anlong for a period of time, and Mao Anlong died at this time. Later, the shelter in Shanghai was betrayed by traitors, and the Mao Anying brothers lived on the streets for a time, making a living by working as domestic helpers.
Later, under the arrangement of the party organization, the brothers went to the Soviet Union to study. Mao Anying systematically studied Marxist thought and military knowledge related to armored forces here.
He took part in the Great Patriotic War in the USSR and was personally received by Stalin. At parting, Stalin also presented him with a delicate pistol.
In 1946, Mao Anying returned to China, and under the arrangement of his father Chairman Mao, he started from farming, then to land reform, and finally entered the factory and became the builder of New China.
On October 15, 1950, Mao Anying and Liu Siqi got married and became an enviable revolutionary couple. However, before they had time to enjoy the sweetness of the newlywed Yan'er, Liu Siqi fell ill and was hospitalized.
And at this moment, the news that the volunteers were preparing to act reached Mao Anying's ears.
Liu Siqi, Mao Anying
In 1950, the United States arbitrarily intervened in the Korean War for its own interests. Relying on their superior weaponry and equipment, they not only caused the Korean People's Army to constantly retreat, but also frequently harassed the 38th parallel.
Their bombers attacked the Andong region in the northeastern part of the mainland several times, causing loss of life and property to the people. If the US military is allowed to deploy troops on the Yalu River, it will seriously threaten the mainland's homeland security.
At this time, New China had just been founded, and the country was in urgent need of construction.
The question of whether or not to rise to the challenge of the aggressor and the international morality of saving its neighbors has become a question for many Chinese leaders.
In the end, Chairman Mao still decided to start the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea and keep the war out of the country.
At this time, Mao Anying suddenly came to Chairman Mao and said that he also wanted to be a volunteer and go to North Korea to receive the baptism of war. After some secrecy arrangements, he finally began to follow the Volunteer Army Commander Peng Dehuai as "Secretary Liu".
In the overload of work after entering the DPRK, Mao Anying won the unanimous praise of the senior commanders of the Volunteer Army for his extremely organized work style.
However, in order to avoid special care, and at the same time to avoid some unnecessary dangers, Mao Anying's identity was only known to a few people such as Commander Peng Dehuai.
However, no one expected that the tragedy would come so quickly.
After the start of the second campaign, the US army intensified its strikes on the rear transport lines of the Volunteer Army. The number of attendance of bombers was several times more than in the first campaign.
And Dayudong, where the headquarters of the Volunteer Army is located, was also "focused" by enemy bombers because of too dense radio signals.
On November 25, 1950, enemy planes flew to Dayudong again. After everyone covered Mr. Peng into the air-raid shelter, they found that some documents and maps had not been packed up.
At that time, the Volunteer Army was in difficulty in materials, and there were very few large-scale maps, so they really couldn't afford to lose them. So, Mao Anying and another staff officer, Gao Ruixin, returned to the headquarters house to pack important items.
And at this moment, the enemy dropped several napalm. In the midst of the fire, Mao Anying and Gao Ruixin died heroically.
After learning of Mao Anying's death, Mr. Peng hid his face and cried. He personally drafted a telegram reporting the bad news to the Party Central Committee.
At that time, Chairman Mao was suffering from a severe cold. Premier Zhou was worried about his health and that he would not be able to accept it, so he suppressed the news. It was not until January 2, 1951, after the victory of the third battle, that the secretary Ye Zilong told Chairman Mao the news.
Chairman Mao seemed very calm on the surface, and even comforted Ye Zilong in turn: "In battle, someone has to sacrifice." However, he himself could no longer even complete the most skillful cigarette lighting action.
In the case of the untimely death of his son Mao Anlong and the frail and sickly health of Mao Anqing, Mao Anying was the greatest comfort to Chairman Mao in his later years. He left like this, and the blow to this old man can be imagined.
Compared with life and death, there is another practical problem that needs to be solved, that is, how to deal with Mao Anying's body.
At that time, the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea was at its most intense, and the frontline was extremely tense. In the fourth and fifth battles, tens of thousands of outstanding Chinese sons and daughters lost their lives.
The transportation capacity from the rear of China to the DPRK is difficult to guarantee even strategic materials, let alone the repatriation of the remains of martyrs. As a result, a large number of volunteer soldiers were buried in North Korea.
Mao Anying's body can only be buried on the spot first. Together with Gao Ruixin, he was temporarily buried on a hillside near Dayu Cave.
As the war progressed, Mao Anying's identity was gradually revealed. As a result, North Korean leader Kim Il Sung sent a telegram to Chairman Mao, expressing deep regret over Mao Anying's death.
At the same time, he said that Mao Anying died to liberate North Korea from the invaders, so he is also the son of the Korean people. Therefore, he hoped that Chairman Mao could agree to bury Mao Anying's body in North Korea.
Obviously, this has a very strong role in promoting the friendship between the two countries.
But at the same time, the headquarters of the Volunteer Army also sent a telegram to Beijing asking whether Mao Anying's bones would be transported back to Beijing for burial.
Kim Il Sung (right)
Because before that, many heroes of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, including Huang Jiguang and Qiu Shaoyun, as well as cadres at or above the regimental level who died on the battlefield in Korea, their bodies were transported back to China and buried in the martyrs' cemeteries in Andong, Shenyang and other places.
Therefore, even if Mao Anying's body is transported back to China, it is understandable.
The opinions of all parties were first summarized to Peng Dehuai, commander of the Volunteer Army. And Mr. Peng, who has always been resolute, is also making trouble for this matter at this time. According to relevant regulations, Mao Anying's rank and merits are not enough, and she does not meet the conditions for returning to China for burial.
What's more, there is also Kim Il Sung's opinion there. Bringing Mao Anying's body back is not beneficial for the future. However, if it is not shipped back, will Chairman Mao be able to stand it?
Peng Lao was always a man of principles, and in the end he still felt that Mao Anying's body should be buried in North Korea.
For this reason, Mr. Peng wrote a letter to Premier Zhou, expressing his opinion: bury Mao Anying in North Korea and bury him with Gao Ruixin, who died at the same time.
In front of his grave, a monument should be erected in the name of the Volunteer Army Headquarters to explain Mao Anying's life experience, as well as the whole process of his voluntary joining the army and sacrifice.
In this way, the educational significance will be maximized, and the families of other martyrs will definitely not have objections.
After receiving the letter, Premier Zhou came to the Juxiang Book House overnight to discuss with Chairman Mao. He first reported the opinions of all parties to Chairman Mao, and then put forward his own opinions:
Mao Anying's remains should not be returned to China, let alone buried in Beijing, but should be buried with those martyrs of the volunteer army who fought bloodily, and the political significance of this will be greater.
Listening to the opinions of all sides, Chairman Mao's heart was extremely sad. As an old man, he did not want the body of his eldest son to be returned to him! However, as the president of the republic, his responsibility forced him to make the opposite decision.
In the end, Chairman Mao sighed and said: "What soldier is not flesh and blood? Not raised by his parents? I can't be special just because he is my son." In my opinion, Kishi's bones should be left on Korean soil."
Not only that, Chairman Mao also specially explained: "Mao Anying is no different from other soldiers who died in North Korea, and don't hold a special funeral for him." ”
In this way, Mao Anying and tens of thousands of volunteer martyrs who died in North Korea were buried together in the place where they fought.
As time passes, the friendship between the Chinese and DPRK peoples is becoming deeper and deeper.
The military discipline of the volunteers is strict, and their performance in the DPRK is not inferior to that at home. As early as before departure, Chairman Mao gave clear instructions:
After entering the DPRK, the volunteers could only use the water of the DPRK, and they could not touch a single cent of the property of any other Korean people. The Volunteer Army not only carried out Chairman Mao's orders well, but also carried them forward.
At that time, North Korea was very poor, lacking not only modern industrial products, but also ordinary clothes and food. The soldiers of the Volunteer Army are all from a hard background and empathize with the difficulties of the Korean people.
They always try to save some supplies to help the North Korean people. Sometimes, the army art troupe will invite locals to watch the performance, and after the performance, everyone will be invited to eat in the canteen of the volunteer army.
They always give surplus grain to the common people of North Korea, and they only drink gruel.
In addition, the medical department of the Volunteer Army has always done its best to help the Korean people.
If a soldier of the Chinese People's Volunteers discovers that a North Korean is sick, he will carry him to the Volunteer Army Hospital on a stretcher for treatment; when infectious diseases are prevalent, the vaccines brought from China will also be regularly supplied to the people of the DPRK; and the volunteers will often do such small things as helping to repair houses and fetch water.
For this reason, the Korean people love the volunteers very much. There were not many things they could help with, so some people took the initiative to take on the responsibility of guarding and sweeping the mausoleums of the martyrs of the volunteers.
They take care of these tombs with the same care as they do their own relatives.
On July 27, 1953, China, the United States and the DPRK formally signed the Korean Armistice Agreement. This war, which lasted for more than two years and nine months, has finally come to an end.
However, the volunteers did not immediately withdraw from North Korea. On the one hand, they guarded against the counterattack of the Americans, and on the other hand, they dealt with some aftermath matters. For example, the construction of a special martyrs' cemetery.
In the second half of 1954, construction began on the Chinese People's Volunteer Army Martyrs' Cemetery in Hichang County, South Ping'an Province. Hikura-gun is located in a large mountain dock and was once the headquarters of the Volunteer Army.
The martyr's cemetery is nearly one kilometer away from the original site of the headquarters, covers an area of 90,000 square meters, there are four big characters of "Hao Qi Lasts Forever" written by Guo Moruo on the lintel, and there are some Chinese-style buildings with eaves and arches inside.
According to the plan, more than 100 volunteer martyrs will be buried here, including the remains of martyr Mao Anying.
In 1955, during the Qingming Festival, the relocation of the graves of the martyrs of the Volunteer Army gradually began. When people were about to remove Mao Anying's bones, as mentioned at the beginning, they were opposed by a Korean Amani.
The old North Korean man, named Park Jin-jin, lives near Daeyu-dong. After Mao Anying entered North Korea, she often helped their family work, which made her often think of her son.
His son has died on the battlefield of resistance against Japan. In the usual chat, she learned that Mao Anying's mother had passed away, so she was excited for a moment and recognized Mao Anying as her son.
After Mao Anying's death, she also became one of the people who helped the volunteers guard the tomb. In her heart, she not only regarded Mao Anying, but also all these soldiers from foreign lands as her relatives.
Even if she can only guard their graves, it is a comfort to her. Therefore, in order to prevent the grave from being moved, she directly said that her son was buried in the grave. Actually, emotionally speaking, Park Jinjin is not lying.
However, the relocation of graves is imperative. So, the cadre told the old man that in this tomb, Chairman Mao's son Mao Anying was buried!
Hearing this, Park Zhenzhen stood motionless for a while as if he had been electrocuted, his lips twitching and tears coming out of his eyes.
After a long time, she bowed deeply in the direction of China, and then to Mao Anying's grave. After that, she hugged the cadre's arm and was so sad that she couldn't cry.
When the ground was broken and the coffin was moved, the villagers near the big elm cave spontaneously came to the scene to watch the hero's departure. Park Jinjin took a gourd of water as wine and sprinkled it on the coffin.
After that, she worked with everyone to carry Mao Anying's coffin into the car. She looked at the hearse that was going farther and farther away, and stood still for a long time, as if she was really saying goodbye to her son.
All this was seen and recorded by Yang Daqun, a reporter with the army standing on the side.
In the past, he only knew that these two martyrs entered the court in the same batch as himself, but he never expected that one of them turned out to be Chairman Mao's son. He was excited to witness all this today, but at the same time felt deep regret for Chairman Mao.
Since then, a tomb has been added to the Chinese People's Volunteer Army Martyrs' Cemetery in Hikura, and a granite stone tablet stands in front of the tomb, with seven characters engraved on the front and an inscription on the back.
The last sentence of the inscription is: Comrade Mao Anying is immortal!
Resources:
1, People's Daily Online: "Mao Anying's Body Relocation Insider: Why Don't Tomb Keepers Wish the Volunteers to Move the Grave?"
2. News of the Communist Party of China: "Mao Anying: "The 'First Volunteer' of the Chinese People's Volunteers"
3. Xinhua News Agency: "Mao Anying: "Why bury your bones, there are green mountains everywhere in life"