In the years of fire, they were rivals and confidants. One is the head of the Independent Regiment of the Eighth Route Army, and the other is the head of the 358th Regiment of the Kuomintang. They are-for-tat on the battlefield, but they sympathize with each other. After the end of the Sino-Japanese War, the gears of fate once again pushed them to the opposite. However, as the years go by, the situation changes, and the hot-blooded sons of the year are gradually entering their twilight years. When the news of Li Yunlong's death came, Chu Yunfei, who was far away in Taiwan, had mixed feelings in his heart. He wrote a memorial article, with dignified words and affectionate sentences. When this article spread on both sides of the strait, countless people were moved and burst into tears. What kind of friendship can make former rivals so reminiscent? What did Chu Yunfei say in the article?
In the early autumn of 1941, the war in the northwest of Shanxi Province did not stop. Chu Yunfei, the colonel of the 358th Regiment of the Jinsui Army who graduated from the fifth phase of Huangpu, is racking his brains about how to effectively fight the Japanese army. At this moment, a bold plan came to his mind: why not invite Li Yunlong, the head of the Independent Regiment of the Eighth Route Army, to go to Heyuan County, which was heavily guarded by the Japanese army, to catch the enemy by surprise?
Chu Yunfei knew that this move was extremely risky. Heyuan County is only a few dozen kilometers away from Datong, an important Japanese military town, and a large number of Japanese puppet troops are stationed in the city. However, it was this seemingly impossible task that made Chu Yunfei have a strong interest in Li Yunlong. He had heard that Li Yunlong was a master who dared to fight, and this time he took the opportunity to see him.
So, Chu Yunfei sent a secret letter to Li Yunlong, inviting him to a banquet in Heyuan County. In the letter, Chu Yunfei cleverly concealed the plan in a seemingly ordinary invitation. He believed that with Li Yunlong's wisdom, he would definitely be able to grasp the profound meaning.
Sure enough, Li Yunlong quickly replied to the appointment. On the appointed day, Chu Yunfei took his confidant adjutant Sun Ming, and Li Yunlong took the guard Wei Dayong, and the two sides met in a remote alley outside Heyuan County.
When they first met, both looked at each other. Chu Yunfei was dressed in casual clothes and behaved elegantly, revealing the military temperament cultivated by the Whampoa Military Academy. Li Yunlong was dressed in coarse cloth, his eyes were sharp, and there was a smell of gunsmoke all over his body. The two looked at each other and smiled, like old friends who hadn't seen each other for many years.
Chu Yunfei briefly introduced his plan: Today coincides with the birthday of Ichiro Hirata, the captain of the Heyuan County Military Police, and he has managed to get two invitations. They will infiltrate the banquet as merchants and wait for an opportunity to act. After hearing this, a trace of excitement flashed in Li Yunlong's eyes, and he immediately agreed.
The four of them entered the county seat with ease and came to the Juxian Building where the banquet was held. Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong pretended not to know each other and sat down separately. After three rounds of wine and five flavors of food, Chu Yunfei secretly gave Li Yunlong a look. At this moment, both of them took out their pistols hidden under their robes at the same time.
"Bang bang bang!" A dense burst of gunfire rang out, and before the Japanese puppet officers present could react to what was happening, they fell in a pool of blood. Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong cooperated tacitly, one was in charge of the front hall, and the other guarded the back door, firmly controlling the entire banquet hall.
However, it's not that simple. The gunfire alarmed the Japanese patrol downstairs. Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong took their respective deputies to fight their way out in the rain of bullets. They shuttled through the streets and alleys of Heyuan County, and with their familiarity with the terrain and superb skills, they finally succeeded in breaking through.
After leaving Heyuan County, the four of them rested in a hidden cave. Chu Yunfei took out a Browning pistol from his arms and handed it to Li Yunlong: "Brother Yunlong, if you say goodbye today, I don't know when we will see each other again." This gun is given to you as a memento. "
Li Yunlong took the pistol, held Chu Yunfei's hand and said, "Brother Yunfei, although you and I are in different camps, we are both for the purpose of resisting Japan. I hope that we can cooperate more in the future and deal with the little devils together. "
Chu Yunfei nodded, a complicated look flashed in his eyes: "Each is its own master, if they meet on the battlefield in the future, they can only settle their destiny." "
The two looked at each other and smiled, and tacitly chose to be silent. They all understand that in this turbulent era, fighting side by side today may be the prelude to tomorrow's military encounter. But at the moment, they are just two Chinese soldiers fighting for a common goal.
In the following days, the feat of Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong in Heyuan County quickly spread. The Japanese North China Front was furious and raised the bounty for the two to 100,000 oceans. This move is undoubtedly the highest praise for them, and it also indicates that there will be more thrilling battles waiting for these two heroes in the army in the future.
After the First World War in Heyuan County, the names of Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong became a good story in the northwest of Shanxi. Although the two were separated, under the common goal of resisting Japan, they gradually established a special comradeship.
In the spring of 1942, the Japanese North China Front sent an elite special forces team, led by Yamamoto Kazuki Daisa. This special force is known for its guerrilla warfare, specializing in infiltrating and sabotaging Chinese anti-Japanese forces. Their goal was directly aimed at the headquarters of the Eighth Route Army, intending to destroy the anti-Japanese military command center in one fell swoop.
Li Yunlong received an order from his superiors that his independent regiment must stop the actions of Yamamoto's special forces. However, in the face of this well-trained and well-equipped enemy, Li Yunlong felt a lot of pressure. Just then, an unexpected helping hand appeared.
Chu Yunfei learned about the Yamamoto Special Forces' plan of action through his own intelligence network. He immediately sent his confidant adjutant Sun Ming to secretly contact Li Yunlong. In the letter, Chu Yunfei detailed the number, equipment, and possible route of Yamamoto's special forces, and expressed his willingness to cooperate with Li Yunlong's operation.
Li Yunlong was greatly excited when he received the news. He immediately adjusted his battle plan and decided to use the information provided by Chu Yunfei to set up an ambush. On a dark and windy night, Li Yunlong's independent regiment and a reinforced company of Chu Yunfei set up a net at a pass in the Taihang Mountains.
Sure enough, as Chu Yunfei's intelligence showed, the Yamamoto special team chose this hidden mountain road. When they entered the ambush circle, Li Yunlong and Chu Yunfei gave the order to attack at the same time. In an instant, there was a lot of gunfire and artillery fire. Although the Yamamoto special forces were strong, they quickly fell into passivity under the attack of the two armies.
The battle lasted a whole night. By daybreak, more than half of Yamamoto's team had suffered casualties. Seeing that the situation was not good, Yamamoto Kazuki led the remnants to break through. At this critical moment, Chu Yunfei personally led a squad to cut off the enemy's retreat from the flank. Li Yunlong led the main force to launch the final charge.
In this fierce encounter, Yamamoto Kazuki was eventually killed by Li Yunlong's guard, Wei Dayong. The entire special force was wiped out, and this hidden danger that threatened the headquarters of the Eighth Route Army was completely eliminated.
After the battle, Li Yunlong and Chu Yunfei met on the battlefield. Both were wounded, but their eyes glistened with the joy of victory. Li Yunlong held Chu Yunfei's hand and said sincerely: "Brother Yunfei, thanks to your intelligence, we can fight so beautifully this time." "
Chu Yunfei responded with a smile: "Brother Yunlong is too polite. It is our common responsibility to resist Japan, and it is my honor to be able to contribute to this. "
This experience of fighting side by side has brought the friendship between the two to a further level. They realized that despite being in different camps, cooperation can be enormous in the face of a common enemy.
Soon after, Li Yunlong received the task of attacking the county seat of Ping'an. Ping'an was an important strategic location, where the Japanese army stationed a reinforced wing. Li Yunlong knew very well that it would be difficult to capture this fortified city with the strength of the Independent Regiment alone.
Just when Li Yunlong was worried about this, Chu Yunfei once again reached out to help. He sent a detailed map of the defense of Ping'an County, and expressed his willingness to make a feint attack from the other direction when Li Yunlong launched an attack to attract the attention of the Japanese army.
Li Yunlong gladly accepted Chu Yunfei's proposal. On the appointed day, Chu Yunfei led the 358th Regiment to launch a fierce attack on the west gate of Ping'an County. The Japanese commander believed that the main force was coming from the west, and immediately mobilized most of his forces to deal with it.
At this moment, Li Yunlong led the Independent Regiment to suddenly launch a real attack from the East Gate. The Japanese army was attacked by the enemy on its back and soon fell into disarray. After a day and a night of fierce fighting, the county seat of Ping'an was finally captured.
After the battle, Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong met in the central square of the county seat. Both bore the marks of war, but their faces were filled with the joy of victory. Chu Yunfei took out a beautiful pocket watch from his arms and handed it to Li Yunlong: "Brother Yunlong, this is the pocket watch I have treasured for many years, and I will give it to you today to commemorate our fight side by side again." "
Li Yunlong took the pocket watch and took out a delicate pipe from his backpack: "Brother Yunfei, this pipe was captured by me in northern Shaanxi, and I have been reluctant to use it. I also give it to you today, as a testimony of our friendship. "
The two looked at each other and smiled, raised their glasses, and toasted to this hard-won victory. They all understand that in this magnificent war of resistance against Japan, such cooperation will continue. Despite the uncertainty of the future, at this moment, they are just two soldiers serving their country, rejoicing in their shared victory.
After the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the smoke of gunpowder on the land of China did not dissipate, and the civil war between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party was set off. Comrades-in-arms who once fought side by side have now become opponents. Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong were no exception, the two were pushed to the opposite camp by the torrent of the times.
At the beginning of 1946, the Kuomintang army launched a full-scale attack on the communist base areas. Chu Yunfei's 358th Regiment, as a new force of the Kuomintang army, was sent to the Shanxi front. And Li Yunlong had become a column commander of the Eighth Route Army at this time.
The first time the two met head-on on the battlefield was in an encounter in the Taihang Mountains. Chu Yunfei's 358th Regiment was ordered to attack a communist-controlled town, and Li Yunlong's troops happened to be stationed there. When Chu Yunfei learned that the commander opposite was Li Yunlong, he immediately sent a liaison officer and asked Li Yunlong to meet in the middle of the position.
In an open space between the positions of the two armies, Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong met again. Both of them were wearing the uniforms of their respective armies, and the atmosphere was somewhat solemn. Chu Yunfei said straight to the point: "Brother Yunlong, we meet again, but this time the situation is a little different. I have been ordered to attack this town, and I hope that you will evacuate on your own initiative to avoid unnecessary bloodshed. "
Li Yunlong sneered: "Brother Yunfei, you and I both know that this war is inevitable. We used to fight side by side, but now we are our own masters. If you want to fight, I will accompany you to the end. "
Chu Yunfei sighed: "Since this is the case, let's see the real chapter on the battlefield." "
The two turned to leave, each returning to their positions. The battle that ensued was extremely fierce, and the two sides went back and forth, and the fight was inextricable. Although Chu Yunfei's 358th Regiment was well-equipped, Li Yunlong's troops stubbornly resisted by virtue of their familiarity with the terrain and flexible guerrilla tactics.
The battle lasted three days and three nights. In the end, Li Yunlong, with a clever ambush, severely damaged a battalion of the 358th Regiment, forcing Chu Yunfei to order a retreat. When the 358th Regiment withdrew, Li Yunlong stood on the city wall, looking at Chu Yunfei's back from a distance, with a complicated expression.
After this confrontation, Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong encountered each other on multiple battlefields. Every time they met, the two men used all their might to try to defeat each other. However, they all knew in their hearts that this war had gone beyond personal grudges, but a contest between two ideologies.
In 1948, the tide of war began to tilt in favor of the Communists. In an important battle, Chu Yunfei's 358th Regiment was surrounded by Li Yunlong's troops. Seeing that he couldn't break through, Chu Yunfei decided to lead the remnants to hold on to a small city and wait for reinforcements.
After Li Yunlong learned of this situation, he sent someone to send a letter of persuasion again. The letter wrote: "Brother Yunfei, the general trend has gone, why bother to make useless resistance? I can guarantee that as long as you lay down your arms, I will ensure your safety. "
After reading the letter, Chu Yunfei wrote a reply: "Brother Yunlong, you and I are both soldiers, and we should understand the weight of the word loyalty. Since I, Chu Yunfei, have chosen this path, I will never give up halfway. Life and death are fate, needless to say. "
Li Yunlong, who received the reply, was silent for a long time, and finally ordered a general attack. The battle was extremely fierce, and although Chu Yunfei's 358th Regiment was outnumbered, every soldier fought to the last moment. When Li Yunlong's troops finally entered the city, they found that Chu Yunfei had broken through with the last few cronies.
There was a letter from Chu Yunfei left in the city, Li Yunlong opened it and looked at it, and there were only a few short sentences in it: "Brother Yunlong, the country is easy to change, and the nature is difficult to change." You and I have different positions, but we both fight for what we believe in. Today's farewell, the mountains are high and the water is long, and there will be a period later. "
Li Yunlong, who read the letter, was speechless for a long time. He ordered his subordinates not to pursue Chu Yunfei's remnants, giving this former comrade-in-arms a chance to regroup. Although this decision has been questioned by some people, Li Yunlong has insisted on his opinion.
In the ensuing battle, Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong never confronted each other again. At the end of 1949, the Kuomintang army was defeated, and Chu Yunfei withdrew to Taiwan with the Kuomintang army. At the last moment before boarding the ship, he looked back at the mainland, wondering if he was thinking about his past with Li Yunlong.
At this time, Li Yunlong had become a general in New China. At the celebration banquet, when he raised his wine glass, Chu Yunfei's figure inadvertently flashed in his mind. Two former opponents, such as each side today, but the memories of fighting side by side are forever engraved in the long river of history.
As the wheels of history roll forward, the fates of Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong are also constantly changing. After 1949, the trajectories of their lives were very different. After the founding of New China, Li Yunlong became a general of the People's Liberation Army, while Chu Yunfei retreated to Taiwan with the Kuomintang army.
However, fate is always full of surprises. In 1972, Sino-US relations thawed, and subtle changes took place in cross-strait relations. Against this background, Chu Yunfei, as a representative of the Taiwan side, secretly went to Hong Kong to attend an unofficial cross-strait military personnel exchange meeting.
On the first day of the meeting, when Chu Yunfei walked into the venue, he was surprised to find that sitting on the rostrum was his old friend Li Yunlong, whom he hadn't seen for many years. The eyes of the two met in the air, and in an instant, it seemed to return to those years when they fought side by side.
During the break in the meeting, Chu Yunfei took the initiative to walk towards Li Yunlong. The two stood opposite each other, and they were speechless for a while. In the end, it was Li Yunlong who broke the silence: "Brother Yunfei, don't come unharmed." "
Chu Yunfei smiled bitterly and said, "Brother Yunlong, you are becoming more and more majestic. "
The two of them found a quiet corner and sat down. Li Yunlong took out a pack of cigarettes and handed one to Chu Yunfei. Just like in the trenches many years ago, the two quietly smoked cigarettes and reminisced about the past.
Li Yunlong talked about the changes after the founding of the People's Republic of China, and Chu Yunfei talked about his life in Taiwan. Although their positions are different, both can feel the sincerity in each other's words.
During the conversation, Chu Yunfei mentioned one thing: "Brother Yunlong, do you remember the time when we fought the Yamamoto Special Forces in Taihang Mountain?" In fact, we almost failed in that operation. "
Li Yunlong was surprised: "How do you say this? "
Chu Yunfei explained: "At that time, the scout I sent out was discovered by the Japanese army, but fortunately, the scout was clever and pretended to be a lost farmer, so he was fooled. If that one is exposed, our plans are all over. "
Li Yunlong laughed after hearing this: "I see. Speaking of which, I almost had a bad thing that time. I had a platoon commander who was so reckless that he almost exposed our ambush position ahead of time. Thanks to the deputy head of the regiment for stopping it in time, nothing went wrong. "
The two looked at each other and smiled, as if they had returned to the days when they fought side by side. However, reality quickly pulls them back into the present. Chu Yunfei sighed: "Brother Yunlong, the world is unpredictable. Who would have thought that our former comrades-in-arms would now be separated from each other. "
Li Yunlong was silent for a moment, and then said, "Brother Yunfei, although we have different positions now, I always believe that one day, we will be able to get back together. "
During the meeting, Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong had many private conversations. They discussed cross-strait issues and recalled the eventful years of the past. Despite differing views on many issues, both men showed a desire for peace.
On the last day of the meeting, Chu Yunfei put forward a proposal: "Brother Yunlong, although we cannot change the overall situation, we may also contribute to the peace between the two sides of the strait. I propose that we organize some unofficial exchange activities for veterans to enhance mutual understanding. "
Li Yunlong was intrigued by the proposal: "It's a good idea. I'll report back to my superiors when I get back and see if I can push this forward. "
On the occasion of separation, Chu Yunfei took out a small box from his pocket and handed it to Li Yunlong: "Brother Yunlong, this is a medal that I have treasured for many years, and it was obtained for meritorious service during the anti-Japanese war. Today's gift to you is a testimony to our reunion. "
Li Yunlong took the box and also took out something from his arms: "Coincidentally, I also brought a small gift." This is a piece of jade pendant that is a specialty of our hometown, and we have always carried it with us. I'll give it to you today, too. "
The two looked at each other and smiled, shook hands and said goodbye. Although the future is still full of uncertainties, this reunion has undoubtedly added warmth to cross-strait relations.
After returning to their respective posts, both Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong began to promote the plan for the exchange of retired soldiers. Although they encountered a lot of resistance in the process, they never gave up. Gradually, some small-scale exchange activities began to be held, which played a positive role in easing cross-strait relations.
In 1987, the Taiwan authorities allowed veterans to return to their hometowns to visit their relatives. After Chu Yunfei learned the news, he immediately began to prepare for his return to his hometown. He wrote a letter to Li Yunlong, expressing his hope to meet again.
In the autumn of that year, Chu Yunfei finally set foot on his homeland after many years of absence. In a courtyard house in Beijing, he met Li Yunlong again. The two old friends sat opposite each other, looking back on the past and looking forward to the future, witnessing the great changes in history together.
With the passage of time, Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong entered the twilight of their lives. Although the two old comrades-in-arms are in different places, their stories have caused lasting ripples in the long river of history.
In 1995, Chu Yunfei, who was already 80 years old, set foot on the mainland again. This time, at the invitation of Li Yunlong, he attended the commemoration of the 50 th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression held in Beijing. When Chu Yunfei stepped off the plane, he saw Li Yunlong standing next to the VIP passage of the airport, and the two old men looked at each other and smiled, as if the years had never left a trace on them.
Li Yunlong arranged for Chu Yunfei to live in his home. In the evening, the two sat at the stone table in the courtyard, drinking tea and chatting about the past. Li Yunlong talked about the changes in the mainland in recent years, while Chu Yunfei talked about Taiwan's development. Although their positions are different, both men are pleased with the progress of the Chinese nation.
The next day, they attended a commemorative event together. When the host introduced the two old comrades-in-arms, the audience burst into warm applause. Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong stood side by side on the stage and waved to the audience. This scene has become a vivid portrayal of cross-strait reconciliation and has been reported by many media.
After the event, Chu Yunfei proposed to go to the old place of Taihang Mountain to revisit. Li Yunlong readily agreed, and the two embarked on a journey to find the old battlefield with a few entourages.
When they came to the hill where the fierce battle had been fought back then, the scene in front of them was very different. The former trenches and bunkers have long been covered with dense vegetation, and only a few broken stone monuments still tell the story of that time.
Chu Yunfei pointed to a hillside and said, "Brother Yunlong, remember? It was here that we joined forces to repel the Japanese attack. "
Li Yunlong nodded: "How could you forget?" It was a terrible battle. If it weren't for your 358th regiment's timely reinforcements, we'd probably not be able to hold on. "
The two walked slowly along the mountain road, pausing from time to time to recall the details of the battle. In front of a cave, Li Yunlong suddenly said, "Brother Yunfei, do you remember what we hid here?" "
Chu Yunfei thought for a moment, and suddenly realized: "That's right! We buried a time capsule here and said we would open it in 50 years. "
With the help of their entourage, they found the location of the buried time capsule. After some excavation, a rusty tin box was discovered. When the box was opened, there were two letters inside, one written by Chu Yunfei and the other written by Li Yunlong.
The two of them opened the letter with trembling hands. Chu Yunfei's letter reads: "After 50 years, China hopes to be prosperous and strong, and will never be invaded by foreign enemies again. Li Yunlong's letter reads: "I hope that in 50 years, our descendants will be able to live in a peaceful and unified New China." "
After reading the letter, the two old men looked at each other speechlessly. After a while, Li Yunlong spoke: "Brother Yunfei, some of our wishes have come true, and some are still on the way. "
Chu Yunfei nodded: "Yes, our generation has experienced too much, and now seeing the development of the motherland, I am really full of emotion." "
After returning to Beijing, Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong decided to compile their stories into a book to warn future generations not to forget history and cherish peace. They invited a young historian to begin a months-long oral history work.
In the process, the two elders not only recounted their experiences during the war years, but also talked about their expectations for the future of the country. Chu Yunfei particularly stressed the importance of peaceful reunification between the two sides of the strait, while Li Yunlong expressed confidence in the country's sustained development.
In 1997, the book "Friends of Life and Death: The Oral History of Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong" was officially published. This book not only records the legendary experience of the two old comrades-in-arms, but also becomes an important source for the study of that period of history. In the book, they candidly recount their differences and cooperation during the war years, as well as their feelings after reuniting in their later years.
After its publication, the book attracted widespread attention, not only sold well in mainland China and Taiwan, but also translated into many Chinese languages and distributed internationally. Many readers were touched by the experiences of the two elderly men, whose stories became an important opportunity to promote cross-strait people-to-people exchanges.
In 1999, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong were invited to participate in the celebration held in Beijing. When they walked side by side to the Tiananmen Tower, the audience burst into thunderous applause. The two elderly men waved to the crowd, and their figures became a symbol of that era, representing the unity and hope of the Chinese nation after its ordeal.
In the spring of 2001, Li Yunlong passed away peacefully at his home in Beijing at the age of 86. Chu Yunfei, who learned the news, immediately rushed from Taiwan to attend the funeral of his old friend. At the funeral, Chu Yunfei said: "Brother Yunlong is gone, but our common ideals are still there. I believe that one day, our descendants will see a unified and prosperous China. "
In the winter of 2003, Chu Yunfei also passed away in Taipei at the age of 88. According to his last wishes, part of the ashes were buried in the hometown of Taihang Mountain. On his tombstone, there is such a passage: "I have no regrets in this life to enter China, and I will still plant flowers in the next life." "