The content of this article is based on authoritative historical data, and there are citations at the end of the article.
In 1944 in Guode County, Guangxi, Hou Dian, an agent who had performed well in the War of Resistance Against Japan, was already the county magistrate of the land, and he was leading a team of elite troops to quietly approach an inconspicuous farmhouse in Biluo Village on a dark and windy night.
This is no ordinary farmhouse, but a hidden den of danger, where Meng Bin and his gang of traitors are plotting a betrayal against the Japanese, and their existence, like a time bomb, could bring unpredictable disasters to the war at any time. With Hou Dian's command, the attack was precise and swift. The darkness of the night provided them with perfect cover, and the traitors in the village were defenseless against the sudden attack.
Background and early activities of Houdian
Hou Dian was born in a family with profound cultural heritage in Guangxi, and received a good education since childhood, so he accumulated a solid foundation of knowledge in his early years. In 1939, as the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression entered a more intense stage, Hou Dian was selected to Guilin to serve as a secret liaison between the southern provinces, a very critical duty involving the multi-faceted information transmission and strategic deployment of the War of Resistance.
During his time in Guilin, Hou Dian used his extensive contacts and outstanding wisdom to successfully establish an efficient information collection and transmission network. Due to his outstanding performance, Li Kenong, an intelligence leader with a reputation as the "King of Agents", decided to send Hou Dian into the core of Guangxi's Gui Army, which was a great recognition of his ability and a trust in his loyalty and efficiency.
After entering the Gui Army, Hou Dian quickly integrated into this new environment with his own background advantages. He was reunited with many of his former classmates and friends, most of whom are now in the top echelons of Guangxi's military and political ranks. Hou Dian not only regained his old friendship, but also gradually occupied a place in the Gui army with his excellent work ability and keen insight.
In his collaboration with Cheng Siyuan, a member of the Gui Army, Hou Dian demonstrated his extraordinary talent in strategy and action. Cheng Siyuan, as an important figure in the Gui army, highly welcomed Hou Dian's joining. Their cooperation began with a chance meeting, and Hou Dian's views on a certain military operation impressed Cheng Siyuan, and Hou Dian became his right-hand man.
The days by Cheng Siyuan's side
With Cheng Siyuan's direct support, Hou Dian's responsibilities gradually expanded, not only at the tactical level, but also began to use his literary talents to contribute to the war of resistance. He wrote a series of articles on the anti-Japanese war, which were not only highly politically sensitive, but also added profound emotional expressions, and these articles quickly spread within the Gui family.
These essays detail and expose the atrocities committed by the Japanese army in southern China, such as indiscriminate massacres, burning of villages, and mistreatment of civilians, and each article is infused with Hou Dian's deep concern for the country and concern for the future of the nation. In the article, Hou Dian skillfully combines war reporting with a touching narrative, so that readers can not only understand the facts, but also feel the cruelty of war and the desire for peace.
Because of the strong appeal and appeal of Hou Dian's articles, Cheng Siyuan often used these articles as anti-Japanese propaganda materials to inspire soldiers and the public. In the troops, Hou Dian's writings were widely used to boost morale, to make soldiers understand what they were fighting for and why they had to persevere. Among the wider public, these articles also greatly improved people's sense of national awareness and self-protection, and enabled more people to participate in the war of resistance and support for the war.
In addition to fighting through words, Hou Dian also showed extraordinary talent in intelligence gathering and analysis. Through his work, Gui was able to obtain accurate information about the movements of the Japanese army, which was often crucial to decision-making on the battlefield. In his interactions with underground workers and the local people, Hou Dian skillfully used his identity and literary talents to collect a large amount of information on the secret activities of the Japanese army.
Over time, Hou Dian's influence within the Gui family grew. His articles are not only the output of words, but also an important channel for communication between Gui and the outside world.
Guode County resisted Japan and purged traitors
In 1944, Hou Dian was appointed as the county magistrate of Guode County in the strategic layout of the Guangxi Anti-Japanese War, a position that required him not only to manage the county government, but also to be responsible for anti-Japanese activities in the region. In November, as the Japanese army continued to approach, the situation in Gode County became more tense. At this time, a traitor leader named Meng Bin led a group of traitors and fellow Japanese soldiers to occupy Biluo Village, which is located on a key road and has an important strategic location, and once it is occupied by the enemy, the entire Guode County will face great risks.
When Hou Dian learned of this, he reacted quickly. He organized a well-planned night attack, choosing a dark and windy night to launch the attack to ensure the stealth and suddenness of the operation. He personally led a regiment of regular troops and launched a fierce attack on the village of Bira from several directions at the same time. This unit, under the command of Hou Dian, quickly cut off all routes in and out of the village, effectively cutting off the traitors from the outside world.
At night, fierce battles unfolded inside and outside the village. The soldiers fought to the death with Meng Bin's gang of traitors in the streets and alleys. These traitors, with the support of the Japanese army, had a lot of armed equipment, which made the battle extremely fierce. However, with the skillful command of Hou Dian and the assistance of local anti-Japanese forces, the regular army gradually suppressed the enemy's firepower and eventually took control of the entire village.
The battle continued throughout the night, until dawn and every corner of the village was completely cleared. In the ensuing search, Hou Dian's forces arrested Meng Bin and all his important traitor accomplices in hidden locations in the mountains and forests and in the county seat. These people panicked when they were caught, and they never expected to be wiped out in their lair.
After the news broke, the families and friends of these traitors were extremely panicked, knowing that once these people were formally tried, the result would undoubtedly be the death penalty. So, these fox friends began to run around, raising huge sums of money, trying to rescue these traitors through bribery. They contacted a number of influential figures in and around the county, hoping to influence the outcome of the military trial through their networks.
The trial of traitors and the realization of justice
The huge benefits soon touched some of the high-ranking officials of the 159th Division of the Kuomintang, who were tempted by the millions of dollars offered by the traitor's family and began to consider letting Meng Bin and his accomplices go.
Faced with this situation, Hou Dian stood firmly, and he compiled and made a list of the crimes of Meng Bin and others, including many felonies such as betraying the country, colluding with the Japanese army, and participating in the massacre of innocent people. Hou Dian handed over the list of charges to the commander of the 159th Division, Commander Liu, and asked him to punish him severely, so as to demonstrate the seriousness and justice of the law.
In the face of this exhaustive list of crimes, Master Liu felt a heavy responsibility. After considering Hou Dian's petition, he finally decided to support Hou Dian's decision and ordered the 159th Division to try these traitor cases in strict accordance with the law. The military court of the 159th Division soon convened a trial, and Hou Dian appeared in person, bringing a large amount of conclusive evidence, including documents on Meng Bin's dealings with the Japanese army, records of traitor activities, and testimony of the victimized villagers.
During the trial, Hou Dian presented every piece of evidence in detail, rigorously pointing out every crime committed by Meng Bin and his gang. Faced with ironclad evidence, Meng Bin and his accomplices finally could not deny it, so they had to admit their crimes one after another. The trial lasted several days, and in the end, all the major traitors were sentenced to death, and this sentence had far-reaching repercussions in Guode County and the entire Guangxi region.
On January 27, 1945, the day of execution arrived. Hou Dian was personally present to supervise the execution of the death sentence. The execution was held outside the east gate of Gode County, and the public execution attracted a large number of spectators, many of whom were direct victims or bereaved of the atrocities committed by the Japanese army. On the execution ground, Meng Bin and his accomplices were taken to the gallows one by one. With the executioner's order, these traitors who once fought for the tiger and betrayed the country fell into the abyss of death.
This fair process of implementation not only eliminated harm for the people, but also avenged the grievances of the innocent victims and their families, and upheld justice for their victims.
Post-war career and leaving Guangxi
With Japan's surrender and the final victory of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, China ushered in new challenges and changes. The domestic situation changed rapidly, the contradictions between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party gradually intensified, and the civil war broke out again. At this critical moment, Hou Dian, a hero who has been engaged in intelligence and military work in Guangxi for a long time, is also facing a new turning point in his career.
In 1949, as the Communist Party continued to grow, Hou Dian decided to leave Guangxi, and he chose to return to the mainland by taking a detour through the international city of Hong Kong. The decision to leave Guangxi was a major change for Hou Dian, not only meant that he would take a break from the battlefield he had fought for many years, but also heralded the beginning of a new chapter in his life.
During his stay in Hong Kong, Hou Dian witnessed the city's unique international atmosphere and prosperity, but his mind was always on the development and changes of the mainland. After a short break and adjustment, Hou Dian continued his journey, through Guangdong, and eventually back to Chinese mainland.
In October 1949, with the extensive mobilization and military operations of the Communist Party in Guangdong, Guangzhou was about to be liberated. Hou Dian, as an experienced military and intelligence officer, was reconvened to participate in the military operation to liberate Guangzhou. With his years of experience and knowledge, he played a key role in this operation. He not only provided invaluable intelligence support, but also participated in strategic deployment and command to ensure the smooth running of the operation.
When Guangzhou was finally liberated by the efforts of the People's Liberation Army, Hou Dian stood in the city he had traveled to many times, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. The liberation of Canton not only marked a major transformation in the region, but also symbolized a climax and end point in Houdian's military career.
After the liberation of Guangzhou, order and vitality were quickly restored, and although Hou Dian had the opportunity to continue his military and political work, he chose to gradually fade out of the front and devote his time and energy to other areas, especially to help with post-war reconstruction and development.
From Xu Honggang. The imprint of the red gene in Shanying[M]. 2021