In that brutal Korean War, there was a brave and tenacious Chinese female soldier who was not afraid of hardships and dangers and vowed to fight the enemy to the end. She is Liu Luzeng, the only female soldier in the Shangganling tunnel. In the smoke of war, she touched the enemy with the gentle power unique to women, and soothed the pain of the soldiers with her singing. Even an American prisoner of war who was rescued by her will never forget her.
The years have flown by, and 26 years have passed since the Korean War. Liu Lu had returned to work in the United States, but was reunited with the American prisoner of war she had rescued in a Chinese restaurant. The two glanced at each other, and the memories of the years that had been in their minds suddenly came to mind, and the scene couldn't help but be moving. This touching encounter reminds us once again of the war years that shocked the world. What kind of extraordinary life experience has Liu Lu experienced? How did she protect her life and turn hostility into war in Shangganling?
Arrogance in high society
On Chongming Road in the old city of Shanghai, a small three-story house lives in a family. This is Liu Luzeng's birthplace. Her father, Liu Shilin, was a well-known banker in Shanghai and came from a prominent family. Her mother, Li Jifang, was born in a famous family, and there were many dignitaries on her ancestors, such as Zeng Guofan and Li Hongzhang, who were all relatives of her mother's family.
Liu Lu has lived in this rich family since he was a child, and has received the best educational resources. The family employs a foreign teacher, and he has been learning English and other foreign languages since he was a child. Her grandfather, Liu Bingzhang, was an important minister in the late Qing Dynasty, and her ancestral teachings deeply influenced her, and the idea of loving the country and the party has been engraved in her heart since she was a child.
When he was a teenager, Liu Lu had elegant and generous manners and outstanding temperament. After entering puberty, she is even more out of the way, which can be described as a rose blooming in youth. However, although she lives in fine clothes and food, she has never indulged in pleasure and has always been tireless in learning. In 1947, she was admitted to the law department of Soochow University and began her career in higher education.
During his time at Soochow University, Liu Lu devoted himself to studying law, while also seizing the time to learn foreign languages on his own. With her excellent language talent, she is not only proficient in English, but also fluent in French, German and other languages. Her future outlook has attracted much attention, and it seems that she wants to show her legal demeanor in the context of the rule of law in Shanghai.
However, the reality is far from so. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the desire to serve the country burned even more in Liu Luzeng's heart. She is eager to use the skills she has learned to contribute to the new great motherland. In 1950, when the Korean War broke out, the country recruited foreign language talents from all over the country to support the front line.
For a while, the life of fine clothes and food came to an end. Facing the front line full of war and gunsmoke, this scholarly woman from high society stood up with a petite body and helped the Chinese People's Volunteer Army fight in her own way. Liu Lu has been gone for three years.
The grinding of blood and fire in North Korea
In October 1950, Liu Lu arrived on the Korean battlefield. As a forward support English interpreter, she was assigned to the Ninth Corps of the Chinese People's Volunteers near Pyongyang. When she first arrived, she was shocked by what she saw.
The camp was full of earthen pits and rudimentary fortifications, and the living conditions were quite difficult. On the battlefield where the artillery was blazing, the smoke of gunpowder was billowing and the sound of gunfire was one after another, all of which was in stark contrast to the privileged life she enjoyed in Shanghai. However, as a recruit, she did not have special treatment, and could only be trained and lived like other soldiers.
The days of adaptation are not easy. After training on the concrete floor for a long time, her knees often bleed; The camp's rough food also made it difficult for her to swallow. But even so, Liu Lu never shouted that he was tired, but regarded these as opportunities to exercise his will. Gradually, she began to enjoy this strict and regular military life.
In November 1950, the Ninth Corps of the Chinese People's Volunteers was ordered to go to the eastern front of Korea to take control of the mountainous areas bordering the Soviet Union. Liu Lu once went with the team and became a witness to the Battle of Shangganling. On the night of November 25, the Ninth Corps began a general offensive against the enemy. Liu Lu was once ordered to take on a dangerous task - repeatedly broadcasting in the tunnel, calling on the enemy to surrender.
At that time, the Shangganling area was the main confrontation area between the Volunteers and the US Army, and the fighting between the two sides was fierce. In the tunnel, there are bullets and bullets, thick smoke and gunpowder everywhere, and the cold and heat are extremely harsh. In order to avoid being attacked by revealing his identity, Liu Lu had to hide in a tunnel deep in the tunnel and broadcast the radio repeatedly.
After three days and three nights of non-stop broadcasting, the tunnel finally fell. It is worth mentioning that in between broadcasts, Liu Lu repeatedly shouted to the enemy troops in fluent English, calling on them to surrender. After hearing her radio and shouting, many U.S. troops did choose to surrender their guns.
After the Battle of Shangganling, Liu Luzeng did not retire with success, but continued to stick to the front line. Due to her excellent English skills, she was soon assigned to the post of interrogating prisoners. For captured U.S. soldiers, she is usually interrogated first, and after understanding the basic situation, she will be handed over to professionals in the rear.
Liu Lu's method of interrogating captives was very unique. She never used her linguistic talents, patience and wisdom to defuse the enemy's vigilance, so that they could take off their guard and take the initiative to reveal military information. At times, she even reassured the panicked American recruits with a gentle and friendly attitude, hoping to persuade them to lay down their arms and cherish peace.
During the interrogation, Liu Lu also encountered some difficult guys. For example, some U.S. troops humiliated and mocked her, but she never got angry, but continued to interrogate her in a rational and calm manner, never letting her words offend her. Over time, these once arrogant American soldiers were also impressed by her wisdom and kindness.
Bravely fight the Shangganling tunnel
The Shangganling area is densely forested and has complex landforms, and is an important strategic point on the Korean battlefield. In October 1951, a desperate struggle broke out between the Chinese People's Volunteers and the US military to control the area. As a front-line translator, Liu Lu personally participated in the famous Battle of Shangganling.
On October 14, the Ninth Corps was ordered to go to the Shangganling front, and Liu Luzeng, who accompanied the army, marched with him. The winding paths in the Shangganling area are secluded, the mountain roads are rugged, and it is difficult to walk. In order to avoid air raids, the whole army could only march at night and rest in the dense forest during the day. After nearly a week of repeating this, we finally arrived at our destination on October 20.
After arriving at the destination, the position of the Chinese People's Volunteers was only a river away from the US position, and clashes could break out between the two sides at any time. In order to grasp the movements of the enemy and us, Liu Lu was sent to the front line tunnels as a "revolutionary nightingale", responsible for broadcasting propaganda to the US military positions with loudspeakers at night, calling on them to surrender.
"The Chinese People's Liberation Army salutes you! Surrender to avoid death... In the dark of night, Liu Lu recited the standard declaration of surrender in English over and over again. This process often lasts for several hours until dawn. The environment in the tunnel was damp and cold, and the sound of gunfire came one after another, and bullets could fly at any time, but she was never afraid.
As a female soldier, Liu Lu was particularly brave and tenacious. Once, a grenade rolled in from the outside, and the entire army and men immediately crawled inside the tunnel. Just when everyone was nervous, she didn't hesitate to get up and throw the grenade, avoiding a catastrophe.
At a critical juncture, Liu Lu used to not only broadcast shouts, but also motivate fighters with songs. She has a sweet voice and can sing a variety of revolutionary songs, often singing to the sound of guns and cannons to boost the fighting spirit of the soldiers. Her singing voice is like a warm current, flowing in every corner of the smoke of war.
Not only that, in order to intimidate the morale of the enemy army, Liu Luzeng also used his foreign language advantage to broadcast some private messages of the enemy army, such as names, hometowns, and family news. This caused many US troops to be shocked after hearing this, because their own details were well known to the enemy.
Liu Luzeng's bravery and wisdom were unanimously appreciated by the officers and men of the volunteers. They affectionately called her "Sister Wengong" and loved her as if she were a relative. In their eyes, although this female soldier is petite, she has a tenacious and unyielding will to fight, and is a real revolutionary fighter.
After more than a month of fierce fighting, both sides suffered heavy losses in the Shangganling area. Despite this, the Volunteers finally controlled this strategic point with their tenacious will and wise tactics, forcing the US army to retreat one after another. Liu Lu has made great contributions, and her contribution has added a wonderful touch to this victory.
Reunion of prisoners of war in the United States
After the end of the Korean War, Liu Lu stayed in the army and continued to work as an English translator. In 1953, she was appointed to Cambodia to serve as a diplomatic interpreter for the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia. There, she met her husband, Kwong Mengzhou, and the two married in 1960.
In 1973, Liu Lu went to work in the United States with her husband. She has lived in the United States for 26 years. She spent the first half of her time at the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations in New York and later at the Chinese Embassy in Washington.
On an ordinary day in 1999, an unexpected thing happened. On that day, Liu Lu and her husband went out to eat, and in a Chinese restaurant in New York, an old American man in civilian clothes walked up to her, palms up to make a gesture of surrender, and said in a sincere tone: "Madam, do you remember me?" It was the one you persuaded to surrender during the Battle of Shangganling! ＂
Liu Lu once fixed his eyes and saw that it was Thomas Tomaskey, a senior soldier of the U.S. Army who was persuaded by her to surrender on the Korean battlefield in 1951! At that time, Liu Lu relied on his fluent English to constantly broadcast and shout in the tunnels of Shangganling, calling on the enemy to surrender. It was under her influence that Tomaschi finally chose to lay down his arms.
It's a reunion after 26 years. The heroic Chinese female soldier who was good at fighting back then is now a gentle middle-aged woman. And the stubborn American prisoner of war has now become a peaceful old man. The years gradually changed their faces, but both recognized each other at a glance.
"Miss, your words back then really shocked me a lot, and gave me a new understanding of war. You shouted to us with your life broadcast, calling on us not to sacrifice lightly and to cherish life. In that war, I also lost a lot of comrades-in-arms, and I know it very well. In the end, it was you who gave me the courage to lay down my arms and survive. Tomassky said sincerely.
Hearing the old man's words, Liu Luzeng couldn't help but burst into tears. She said with deep feeling: "War is cruel and unforgiving, and we have all experienced it. Although I was shouting on the front line, I was also calling for peace and hoping to end this war as soon as possible. I am sincerely glad that you survived. May you be safe and healthy in the future. ＂
The old man held Liu Luzeng's hand tightly and was reluctant to let go for a long time. The other guests present were all moved when they saw this scene. A former prisoner of war reunited with the enemy of the year, saw each other with tears in his eyes, and reproduced the most innocent side of the war years in the most simple way.
After that day, Tomaschi visited Liu Luzeng's Chinese restaurant several times. Whenever he saw Liu Luzeng, he would greet her loudly and introduce it to others with great pride: "You see, this is the Chinese female soldier who saved my life on the Korean battlefield back then... The two gradually developed a deep friendship, like a family.
Time flies, and Liu Lu's life in the United States is also coming to an end. In 2003, she returned to Beijing with her husband to spend her old age in peace. Before leaving, she went to Tomassky's home to say goodbye to him. This farewell is the last side. Two years later, Tomassky passed away forever.
Nostalgic letters pour out parting feelings
In 2003, Liu Lu, who was over 70 years old, decided to return to Beijing with her husband and spend his old age there. On the eve of parting, she wrote a nostalgic letter to some friends in the United States, telling the twists and turns of her life. These letters are filled with her love for her friends, her attachment to her homeland, and her longing for peace.
Liu Lu once wrote in a letter to his family: "The smoke of war is gone, but my love for peace will never be extinguished." After the end of the Korean War, I left the front line, but I continued to fight for peace. As a diplomat, I have witnessed the difficult start and gradual improvement of the U.S.-China relationship. I sincerely look forward to seeing a genuine reconciliation between the two countries in my lifetime. ＂
"We have come from the flames of war, we have been through a lot of battles and hardships. But even so, we still have a broad heart and are willing to forgive our former enemies. It's like when I met Tomassky again. War is merciless, but people's hearts yearn for peace, which is a destined destination. It was written in the family letter.
In a letter to his confidant in the United States, Liu Lu once expressed his heart even more bluntly, revealing his heartache for the trauma of the war. "My dear friends, you and I have witnessed the cruelty of war and the preciousness of peace. As a host, you treated me like family, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. In you, I see the goodness of human nature. It is this kindness that has sustained us from brutal war to peace. ＂
Referring to his past of propagating and inspiring soldiers on the front line, Liu Lu once also eloquently recounted in his family letter: "The years in Shangganling are still fresh in my memory. In the midst of the fire, I encouraged my comrades-in-arms to move forward with my singing; At the moment of crisis, I used courage to protect my comrades-in-arms, and I was treated as a family member by my comrades-in-arms. Only by experiencing it first-hand can we appreciate the hardships of military life. However, the difficult environment has exercised our tenacious will and firm faith. ＂
"Even so, I hate the violence and brutality of war. On the front lines, I have witnessed too much blood and sacrifice. It is very sad that young lives have withered away in this way. During those days, I often secretly hoped that the war would end soon and that people would be able to live in peace and tranquility again. It is precisely because of those tragedies that I have spared no effort to call for peace and call on the enemy to lay down their arms. ＂
On the occasion of saying goodbye to relatives and friends, Liu Luzeng left an eternal blessing in a letter to his family: "May you be safe and happy, and enjoy peace forever." I sincerely wish that this world will never be war-torn and that everyone can live a happy life. I am too old to come back, but my heart will always be with you. Take care, friends! ＂
end
In December 2003, Liu Lu once embarked on a flight back to China with reluctance. Sitting on the plane, she reminisced about the years she spent in the United States. Although she is away from a foreign country, the friendships she has made with her local friends will be immortalized. And her love for peace and life will forever be imprinted in people's hearts.