In July 1950, Shifang County, Sichuan Province was empty.
The people gathered at the scene of the public judgment meeting in the central square of the county.
An old lady who was over the age of old and faltered was escorted slowly to the judgment stand.
As the verdict was solemnly read out, Zhao Hongwenguo was sentenced to death and immediately executed.
The people cheered and shouted "Down with the bandits", and some even shed tears of emotion.
At the same time, there are some people who can't help but sigh.
The old lady on the stage is the famous "old woman with two guns".
Zhao Hongwenguo, the heroine who once terrified the enemy.
Why did she change from a heroine to a female bandit leader full of evil, and ended up like this?
With her son as the guide, the peasant woman embarked on the road of resistance against Japan
Zhao Hongwenguo, whose real name is Hong Wenguo, was born in 1881 in a peasant family in Anshan City, Liaoning Province.
At that time, there were women in the countryside who had to change their surnames to men after passing through the door, and Hong Wenguo followed her husband's surname Zhao after marriage, and was called Zhao Hongwenguo.
She is diligent and simple, works hard with her husband, and her life gradually improves, and she has several children.
In those turbulent times, she witnessed the brutal acts of the Japanese invaders in Northeast China, and she was full of bitter hatred for those invaders.
Although Zhao Hongwenguo herself did not study, she was very open-minded and allowed all her children to go to school to receive an education.
She hopes that they can get rid of their illiteracy status and become knowledgeable and virtuous Chinese.
What makes her feel relieved is that several of her children have achieved academic success, especially the third son Zhao Tong, who was admitted to the Preparatory Department of Physics of Northeastern University.
Although life is quite difficult, the family can be regarded as living in peace.
However, the rolling torrent of the times ruthlessly swept everyone's fate, and Zhao Hongwenguo could not escape this catastrophe.
On September 18, 1931, the "September 18 Incident" broke out, and Japan launched an even more ferocious invasion of the three northeastern provinces.
In the second year, Zhao Hongwenguo's third son, Zhao Tong, heard and witnessed the evil acts of the Japanese army, resolutely gave up his studies, returned to his hometown to organize the anti-Japanese resistance, and established the "Young Iron Army" with people with lofty ideals.
Although she regretted it, she still spared no effort to give her full support.
The woman, who was over the age of six, resolutely sold all her family property, used all it as anti-Japanese funds, and mobilized her whole family to go to the battlefield together.
She turned her home into a shelter and a communication station for the officers and soldiers of the anti-Japanese team, and with the appearance of her old age, she skillfully became a secret transmitter of intelligence and materials.
At the same time, Zhao Hongwenguo, who is nearly fifty years old, has also practiced the stunt of holding two pistols on the left and right, and can also hit a hundred shots, and is known as the "old woman with two guns".
However, the size of the "Young Iron Army" expanded rapidly in a very short period of time, which attracted great attention from the Japanese army.
In February 1934, the Japanese invaders suddenly attacked Zhaojiabao and burned down all 16 houses of the Zhao family, and the family business accumulated by the Zhao family over 30 years was wiped out in an instant.
This method not only did not make the Zhao family succumb, but made them more determined to fight against the Japanese devils.
In August 1934, the Japanese invaders raided the Zhao family again, and Zhao Hongwenguo, her husband Zhao Yingde, and a family of six young children were arrested and imprisoned, and more than 300 relatives and friends of the Zhao family were arrested.
In the face of the coercion, temptation and torture of the Japanese invaders, the old lady Zhao, who was close to the age of six, always remained loyal and did not give in.
Before his execution, Zhao Hongwenguo wittily cooperated with the young iron-blooded army, released from prison on parole in exchange for traitors, and rescued more than 300 villagers implicated.
After being released from prison, in the face of the increasingly strict search and arrest by the Japanese army, his hometown could not stay any longer.
Under the cover of the anti-Japanese soldiers and civilians, she led her daughter-in-law and daughter to Beiping secretly in July 1934.
Actively resisted Japan and expanded its influence
Zhao Hongwenguo continued to engage in anti-Japanese and national salvation activities in the Northeast People's Anti-Japanese Salvation Association in Beiping.
Her charity has received great help from many people, and Zhang Xueliang and others have given her a lot of support.
Shen Honglie admired Zhao Hongwenguo's anti-Japanese deeds, gave her 2,000 yuan, and persuaded her to go to the rear to spend her old age in peace.
But Zhao Hongwenguo did not listen to Shen Honglie's suggestion, after the outbreak of the "77 Incident", she took out all the 2,000 yuan, and organized a "North China National Anti-Japanese Army" with her son Zhao Tong to continue to resist Japan.
With Japan's continued provocations, the War of Resistance Against Japan broke out in full swing.
On July 20, 1937, Zhao Hongwenguo and his son Zhao Tong led the "North China National Anti-Japanese Army" to break through the Second Model Prison in Beiping and rescue more than 1,000 prisoners, including famous Communist Party leaders.
In addition, Zhao Hongwenguo also personally led a team to escort the arms raised in Beiping to the camp of the North China National Anti-Japanese Army, regardless of his own small feet.
After the fall of Beiping, she went south to Hankou, participated in many rallies of the masses and people from all walks of life, delivered passionate speeches to publicize the anti-Japanese struggle and national salvation, and mobilized more than 200 people to go to North China to join the National Anti-Japanese Army.
Her patriotic deeds have won many praises, and her reputation has spread day by day, and people have called her "Mrs. Zhao".
In the autumn of 1937, Zhao Hongwenguo went to Hong Kong to carry out anti-Japanese propaganda and fundraising activities among patriotic overseas Chinese in Nanyang.
It has received the support and generous donations of a large number of overseas Chinese.
Since then, Zhao Hongwenguo has given speeches in many places, strongly calling on everyone to fight together.
Her actions have won the respect and support of the people.
General Feng Yuxiang praised her, calling her a "heroine among women", and also commented that her speech was "a heroic word, ashamed of a man".
In 1938, Zhao Hongwenguo's eldest son was unfortunately captured in a battle with the Japanese army, and the Japanese army brutally killed him and beheaded him in public.
In addition to grief, Zhao Hongwenguo aroused her national hatred and family hatred, and her will to resist the war was firmer.
In the battle of Qinggangling in Taihang Mountain, Zhao Hongwenguo led the guerrillas into a fierce battle with the Japanese army, killing 33 Japanese soldiers.
Ta Kung Pao and even the New York Times in the United States and newspapers in Japan have published relevant telegraphs.
Her patriotic deeds have won wide acclaim, and under the coverage of many media, Zhao Hongwenguo's deeds have spread all over the country.
Lost and betrayed the people
In the spring of 1940, as an anti-Japanese hero, she was invited to Chongqing to receive Chiang Kai-shek in person.
Chiang Kai-shek took a group photo with her and wrote a letter to the "mother of guerrillas," and Dong Biwu, the representative of the Chinese Communist Party in Chongqing at that time, also came to the scene to congratulate her and praised her.
After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War in 1945, Chiang Kai-shek, in order to use her influence, named her the "Commander of the Appeasement of the Second Route Army of Guerrilla in the Jireliao Border Region" and provided her troops with a large number of sophisticated weapons.
When many honors fell on her, Zhao Hongwenguo gradually lost his mind in that prosperous appearance, and gradually deviated from his original intention.
She resolutely followed the Kuomintang and stood on the hostile stand of the people.
When Chiang Kai-shek fled from the mainland, he also left her a handwritten message, ordering her to continue to stand and fight and make new contributions.
Zhao Hongwenguo was full of excitement and stubbornly believed that she was carrying out a "great" mission, but did not know that she had become an enemy of the people.
Zhao Hongwenguo led a division into Chongqing, and she proclaimed herself "the Presidential Palace Left Behind" and carried out activities in the name of "Commander-in-Chief of the Anti-Communists", waiting for Chiang Kai-shek to make a contribution when he "counterattacked the mainland".
When the People's Liberation Army entered Sichuan, Zhao Hongwenguo led his troops to roam wantonly in Shifang, Maoxian, and other areas, snaging bandits everywhere, and wantonly carrying out evil acts of burning, killing, and looting, bringing extremely heavy disasters to the people in northwest Sichuan.
The vanguard of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) who entered Sichuan, in consideration of her past exploits in the anti-Japanese period, sent people to admonish her on many occasions, hoping that she would be able to distinguish between right and wrong and return to the ranks of the people.
But she was unmoved, and not only that, but she also thwarted the uprising of the 16th Corps of the Kuomintang, and instigated the anti-communists to kill the negotiators of the People's Liberation Army with extreme cruelty.
Despite repeated persuasions by the People's Liberation Army, she remained stubborn.
In February 1950, banditry broke out in western Sichuan, and Mrs. Zhao thought it was a godsend, so she gathered more than 4,000 rabble to launch a rebellion.
She secretly planned the "anti-grain requisition" riot, brutally buried alive more than 30 peasant union cadres and workers, killed more than 200 cadres and people, and burned down more than 300 houses.
At this time, Zhao Hongwenguo had fallen from a former anti-Japanese heroine to a stubborn female bandit.
Under Chairman Mao's instructions, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) finally strengthened its determination to completely eradicate the banditry.
In mid-April, Zhao Hongwenguo fled with the remnants of the bandits to Gaoqiao Town in Mianzhu County, where they were suddenly attacked by the People's Liberation Army at night, and the bandits were finally annihilated.
Zhao Hongwenguo disguised himself as a peasant woman and hid in a bamboo wall, and was eventually captured.
The end of the hero
After being arrested, Zhao Hongwenguo was arrogant and refused to surrender.
After Premier Zhou Enlai learned of the situation, he specially came forward to consider his contribution to the War of Resistance and intercede.
However, because she was too angry with the people, Chairman Mao finally instructed: "It is difficult to be angry if you don't kill." ”
Preferential treatment was given to her family and she was sentenced to death.
On July 16, 1950, she was executed.
There is no doubt that Zhao Hongwenguo showed a heroic and fearless spirit during the anti-Japanese period and made certain contributions to the country and the nation, but this is not her gold medal for exoneration.
Her life was originally full of merit, but because of her own stubbornness, she put herself in a desperate situation.
From the former anti-Japanese heroine to the cruel female bandit, and finally to extinction, it is really embarrassing.
Her life has witnessed the changes of the times and the influence of personal choices, and has also left a deep reflection on people.