In the deep mountains and old forests of Xiangxi, a thrilling hunt is being staged. Qin Guoqing and Tian Yulian, the notorious bandit couple, have disappeared since 1955, leaving the local police at a loss for years. However, on an ordinary day in August 1964, two hunting teenagers accidentally uncovered the fugitive's hideout. This chance encounter not only resurfaced the long-dormant case, but also sparked a series of thrilling pursuits. How did Secretary Qin and Tian Yulian survive under the nose of the People's Liberation Army for nearly a decade? Why did they show up again? More importantly, what will be the ultimate fate of the outlaws? Let us follow the footsteps of history and uncover this long-sealed legend of bandits in Xiangxi.
1. Mysterious Encounter: Two teenagers accidentally reveal where the bandits are hiding
On August 27, 1964, in the mountains and forests of the Beihu Brigade of Cheping Commune, Yongshun County, Xiangxi, an ordinary hunting activity unexpectedly revealed the hiding place of bandits who had been hidden for many years. On this day, the three adults took two teenagers and three hunting dogs and set foot on the mountain road leading to Luojiadong. The early autumn sun penetrated the leaves and cast dappled light and shadows in the forest, and no one could have imagined that this seemingly ordinary day would become an important turning point in the history of local banditry.
When the team reached a ditch overgrown with weeds, the two teenagers were driven by curiosity and fell out of sight of the adults. They slipped to the bottom of the ditch and found some strange "cotton chicken traps" – improvised traps used by local hunters to catch pheasants. The two teenagers follow these traps in the hope of discovering them.
It was then that the gears of fate began to turn. From the side of a small rock trough nearby, two figures, a man and a woman, suddenly appeared. They clenched old-fashioned spears in their hands, and the muzzles of their guns were pointed at two panicked teenagers. The mysterious pair quickly took control of the situation, and in a low, menacing voice, they ordered the teenagers to be quiet and not to make any noise.
Under the threat of gunpoint, the two teenagers were taken to a hidden grass hut. This humble shed apparently served as a temporary abode for the mysterious pair. The furnishings in the shed are simple, but you can see the traces of long-term habitation. The ground was covered with rough straw mats, and some simple household items and food scraps were piled up in the corners.
At this moment, the adults who accompanied the boy found out that the boy was missing and began to shout in the mountains and forests to find him. The atmosphere inside the hut instantly became tense. The man threatens the teenagers not to agree, while discussing with his female companion in a low voice. They looked nervous and hesitant, clearly not expecting someone to break into their hideout.
At a critical juncture, a teenager named Liu Chuanshu showed wit beyond his years. He advised: "Let's go back from above and tell them not to come up." The offer seemed to struck two mysterious figures. They took the two teenagers to Sosha Wan Ridge, asked them to answer the call of their companions, and then led them back to the hut.
Over the next few hours, the two teenagers undergo a thrilling cross-examination. The woman looked at them with wary and curious eyes, asking about their hometowns and names, as well as about the local militia, armaments, and garrisons. She also inquired about the whereabouts of several specific people. The two teenagers wittily replied that there were militiamen and guns, neither revealing much information nor angering the mysterious pair.
Throughout the day, the mysterious pair held the two teenagers in a grass hut. They cautiously observed the movements of the outside world, exchanging glances from time to time that only they understood. At some point, the woman prepares some simple dry food, and the two share two humble meals. The two teenagers were on high alert, pricking up their ears to capture every detail.
In the process, the two teenagers overheard a whisper from the mysterious pair: "You can't kill it here, go a little further and then attack." This sentence made the teenagers' hearts chill and realize that their lives might be in danger.
The sky is getting dark, and the sound of searching in the mountains and forests is getting closer. The elder brother of one of the teenagers was shouting his brother's name from a hundred meters away. The pair of mysterious figures realize that they can't stay any longer. They quickly packed their belongings and packed them into backpacks and quilt bags. When ready, they forced the two teenagers to act as guides and take them out of the hideout, which had been exposed.
In the dim twilight, a group of four people walked along the mountain road. Two mysterious figures sandwiched two teenagers one after the other, vigilantly observing the movements around them. When they reached Jingwan Cross Road, the terrain suddenly changed. On the side of the road, a ridge about one meter high appeared, and under the ridge was a dense bud valley.
At this critical moment, the two teenagers looked at each other with a knowing look. They tacitly chose the same moment—almost at the same time, they jumped off the ridge and into the bud valley. Under the cover of the night and the cover of the bud valley, they ran as hard as they could, and soon disappeared into the night.
The pair of mysterious figures apparently did not expect such a bold move from the teenagers. They were burdened with heavy loads, and they had poor visibility in the dark, and they couldn't catch up at all. In this way, the two teenagers narrowly escaped from the clutches of the devil, laying the groundwork for revealing the identities of the mysterious pair.
2. Prompt response and investigation by the public security department
The thrilling escape of the two teenagers provided the local public security department with the opportunity to approach Secretary Qin and Tian Yulian for the first time in many years. In the early morning of August 28, 1964, the Yongshun County Public Security Bureau received a report of this important clue. The news was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, causing ripples and quickly spreading within the public security system.
After receiving the report, Deputy Director Li Shifu immediately organized a four-member investigation team. Armed with the necessary survey tools, they rushed to the scene of the incident that morning. The investigation team first found the two teenagers and questioned them in detail about the whole incident. The juveniles' descriptions painted a clear picture for investigators and laid the groundwork for subsequent investigations.
Under the guidance of the teenagers, the investigation team came to the hidden grass hut. Although the suspect has left, there are still a lot of valuable clues at the scene. Investigators carefully searched every nook and cranny inside and outside the hut. They found food scraps, improvised household utensils, and some discarded pieces of clothing. While these items may seem mundane, each of them can be the key to identifying a suspect.
In particular, investigators noticed that in a hidden spot near the hut, they found some vintage bullet casings. The model of these bullet casings matched the weapons before the liberation, further confirming that the suspects may be Qin Guoqing and Tian Yulian, who have been absconding for many years. Investigators carefully gathered this vital evidence for subsequent ballistic analysis.
While investigating the scene, another group of investigators began to visit the surrounding people. They hope to reconstruct the activities of Secretary Qin and Tian Yulian in recent years through the oral accounts of local residents. However, the work did not go well. Over the years, rumors about the bandit couple have spread widely in the local area, but there have been few credible eyewitness accounts. Most of the villagers said they had only heard rumors about the pair of bandits, but had never seen them with their own eyes.
Still, investigators have pieced together some valuable clues from bits of information. Some villagers recalled that in the past few years, poultry often disappeared inexplicably, or some strange footprints and traces were found. These seemingly inconspicuous details outline the possible scope of activities for investigators of Secretary Qin and Tian Yulian.
On the third day of the investigation, an unexpected discovery brought a new turn to the case. In a cave about two kilometres from the hut, investigators found some apparently used household items and food scraps. What's more, they found a discarded vintage telescope near the entrance to the cave. Although the telescope is dilapidated, it can still be identified as having been built around the time of liberation. The discovery not only confirmed that Qin and Tian Yulian had stayed there, but also suggested that they may have used some kind of surveillance to evade capture.
As the investigation deepened, the public security department gradually confirmed the identities of Secretary Qin and Tian Yulian. They reviewed the records of the case from many years ago and compared the descriptions with the oral accounts of the two teenagers. Although nearly a decade has passed, some of the suspect's characteristics still closely match the descriptions in the old case file. In particular, a scar on Qin's right hand, a unique symbol that was clearly mentioned in the teenagers' descriptions, became one of the key pieces of evidence to confirm their identity.
After confirming the identity, the public security department immediately expanded the scope of the search. They mobilized police forces from surrounding counties and cities and organized a large-scale carpet search. The search party was divided into small groups, each with a guide familiar with the local terrain. They went deep into the mountains and forests of Xiangxi, searching every possible hiding place.
However, Secretary of State Qin and Tian Yulian seem to have evaporated from the world again. Despite the efforts made, the search team was unable to find their exact whereabouts. The bandit couple seems to have mastered some kind of magical stealth technique, and can come and go freely in the vast mountains and forests.
Over time, the difficulty of the search operation increases. The complex terrain of Xiangxi provides a natural shelter for fugitives. The caves in the deep mountains, the dense jungles, and the steep cliffs, each of them could become the hiding place of Qin Guoqing and Tian Yulian. Search teams had to deal with bad weather, dangerous wildlife, and an ambush at any moment.
Despite the difficulties, the public security department did not give up. They began experimenting with new search tactics, including the use of local civilian forces. A number of hunters and guides who were familiar with the mountains and forests were recruited, and their unique tracking skills brought new hope to the search effort. At the same time, the public security department has also strengthened cooperation with the surrounding areas and established a cross-regional information sharing network, hoping to grasp the movements of suspects in a timely manner.
As the investigation deepened, a disturbing fact gradually emerged: Qin Guoqing and Tian Yulian were able to survive in the mountains for a long time, and it is likely that they were secretly supported by some people. This discovery further complicated the case, and the scope of the investigation had to be further expanded, even involving some sensitive social networks.
3. Pursuit: A protracted game of cat and mouse
As the investigation deepened, the public security department realized that the case of Secretary Qin and Tian Yulian was far more complicated than expected. At the beginning of September 1964, a large-scale manhunt was quietly launched in the mountains and mountains of Xiangxi. The operation not only mobilized local public security forces, but also received support from the armed police force. The pursuit team was divided into teams, each equipped with guides familiar with the local terrain and advanced communication equipment.
The first week of the manhunt was full of hopes and frustrations. On September 3, the pursuit team found suspected footprints of Secretary Qin and Tian Yulian in a remote valley. The footprints showed that the suspect was moving deeper into the mountains. The pursuit team immediately split into two groups, one to follow the trail and the other to set up an ambush on a detour to a possible escape route.
However, the cunning bandit couple always seems to be able to escape one step ahead. On September 5, the pursuit team found traces of a freshly extinguished bonfire and some food scraps in a cave, but Qin and Tian Yulian were nowhere to be found. This situation repeated itself over the next few days, with the pursuit party always arriving one step late.
In order to improve the efficiency of the pursuit, the public security department decided to adopt a new strategy. They began to set up covert surveillance points at key locations, hoping to capture the suspects' movements. At the same time, with the help of the local people, they also posted wanted notices in various villages in the mountainous areas and set up a reward system for whistleblowing.
These measures paid off quickly. On September 12, a villager reported that he was on his way to the mountains to collect medicine when he saw two suspicious figures in the distance. According to his description, the characteristics of these two people are highly consistent with those of Qin Guoqing and Tian Yulian. The pursuit team immediately rushed to the scene, but when they arrived, the suspect disappeared again without a trace.
As time passed, the manhunt entered a stalemate. Qin Guoqing and Tian Yulian seem to have mastered some kind of magical ability, and they can come and go freely in the vast mountains and forests. Not only are they familiar with the terrain, but they are also adept at using the natural environment to cover their tracks. Sometimes, they deliberately leave misleading clues that lead the pursuit party astray.
In early October, an important breakthrough was ushered in in the manhunt. A chaser stumbles upon a hidden cave while on patrol. There were not only obvious traces of life in the cave, but also some handwritten notes. These notes recorded the topographical features of the surrounding area and the distribution of checkpoints, which were apparently used by Qin Guoqing and Tian Yulian to plan their escape routes.
This discovery made the pursuit team realize that they were not just dealing with two fugitives, but a small, organized, planned group. Qin Guoqing and Tian Yulian may have received help from certain people who provided them with food, intelligence and even weapons. This realization prompted the police to expand the scope of the investigation and begin to focus on local residents who may have been in contact with the suspects.
In order to break the deadlock, the pursuit team began to use some unconventional means. They used local folklore and superstition to spread rumors that "ghosts" were in the mountains, hoping to limit the range of activities of Qin and Tian Yulian. At the same time, they also set up trapping devices disguised as hunter traps at some key locations.
In mid-October, these strategies finally paid off. On a dark and windy night, a camouflaged trap managed to capture a man. Although it was not Qin Guoqing or Tian Yulian who were arrested, after interrogation, this person admitted that he was one of the liaison officers who delivered the news for the bandit couple. This important breakthrough injected new impetus into the manhunt.
However, just when the pursuit team thought victory was in sight, Secretary Qin and Tian Yulian once again showed their cunning. In early November, the pursuit team found a pile of apparently hastily discarded items on a hillside, including some food, clothing and an old-fashioned pistol. At first, everyone thought it was a major breakthrough, but it soon became clear that it could be an elaborate trap.
Just as the pursuit team was concentrating on searching the area, there were reports of looting in a village more than a dozen kilometres away. Subsequent investigation revealed that the characteristics of the robbers were very similar to those of Qin Guoqing and Tian Yulian. This means that not only did they succeed in escaping capture, but they also had the guts to commit crimes on the way.
The incident posed a dilemma for the manhunt. On the one hand, there is a need to continue searching in the mountains; On the other hand, the possibility that the suspect may have infiltrated the village cannot be ignored. As a result, the police have had to further expand the search area, while at the same time strengthening patrols and surveillance of the surrounding villages.
With the onset of winter, the manhunt faces new challenges. The weather in the mountains is getting worse, and heavy snow is not uncommon for the mountains to be closed. This not only increased the difficulty of the hunt, but also made the survival of Secretary Qin and Tian Yulian more difficult. There were indications that they might venture down the mountain in search of supplies, which provided new opportunities for the pursuit party.
However, until the end of 1964, Secretary Qin and Tian Yulian were still not arrested. This protracted manhunt seems to be stuck in an endless cycle. Whenever the pursuit party thinks it's imminent success, the cunning bandit couple always finds a way to escape. They are like two ghosts, looming in the mountains of Xiangxi, always playing a thrilling cat-and-mouse game with the forces of justice.
Fourth, the final showdown: the end of Secretary Qin and Tian Yulian
At the beginning of 1965, the mountains of Xiangxi were still covered with thick snow. The bitterly cold weather not only made the manhunt difficult, but also made the situation of Secretary Qin and Tian Yulian more difficult. The long life on the run and harsh environmental conditions began to take its toll on the bandit couple, and their actions became increasingly adventurous.
On January 15, an important turning point occurred. In a remote mountain village about 30 kilometers from the county seat of Yongshun, a daring robbery occurred. Two masked assailants broke into the village chief's house and stole some food, clothing and cash. Although the gangsters acted quickly, the village chief's son noticed a visible scar on one of the man's right hand. This characteristic is highly consistent with Secretary Qin's description.
The public security department reacted immediately and quickly organized forces to block the surrounding area. This time, they took a different approach. Instead of large-scale mountain searches, they opted for more covert and precise operations. An elite squad was sent to the mountains, where they disguised themselves as ordinary hunters and quietly dived deep into the mountains.
At the same time, the police set up a number of secret observation points around the village. They speculated that Qin Guoqing and Tian Yulian might venture down the mountain again in search of supplies. To increase their chances of success, they have also set up infrared cameras at key locations in the hope of catching the suspects' whereabouts.
This strategy paid off quickly. In the early hours of January 20, a discreet camera captured two suspicious figures. Although the picture is blurry, experts confirmed after analysis that it is very likely to be Qin Guoqing and Tian Yulian. Based on the direction shown in the footage, the police deduced their possible hiding place.
On January 22, a well-planned round-up quietly began. A 50-man Einsatzgruppen team was sent to the target area. In order not to be alarmed, they took the utmost care in their actions, not even using any modern communication equipment, but relying on pre-agreed gestures and whistles to communicate.
The teams were divided into teams and flanked the target area from different directions. Using the cover of the thick fog, they quietly approached a hidden cave. Just as they were about to launch their final charge, the unexpected happened. One of the team members accidentally stepped on a dead branch, making a slight noise.
This subtle voice alarmed Qin Guoqing and Tian Yulian in the cave. Years on the run have made them a habit of extreme vigilance. They reacted quickly, grabbed their weapons and rushed towards the hole.
The next scene can be described as thrilling. With their familiarity with the terrain, Qin Guoqing and Tian Yulian tried to break through and escape. They moved quickly and decisively, showing the agility that they had developed over the years. This time, however, they are facing a highly trained professional force.
Fierce gunfights broke out in the mountains and forests. Although Qin Guoqing and Tian Yulian were brave, they were at a disadvantage in terms of numbers and equipment. They fought and retreated, trying to take advantage of the difficult terrain to escape their pursuit. In the process, Tian Yulian was unfortunately hit, but she still insisted on fighting and covering for Secretary Qin.
The battle lasted almost two hours. In the end, Secretary Qin and Tian Yulian were forced to the edge of a cliff. Their ammunition has been exhausted, and the retreat has been completely cut off. Faced with this desperate situation, the bandit couple made the final choice. They hugged each other tightly and jumped off the cliff.
This scene shocked everyone present. Even experienced police officers were shocked by this extreme behavior. The rescue team was immediately dispatched to search the bottom of the cliff, but the search and rescue efforts were slow due to the difficult terrain.
It wasn't until noon the next day that the search and rescue team found the bodies of Qin Guoqing and Tian Yulian on a cliff under the cliff. Their bodies were badly damaged, but they still hugged each other. The discovery ended a decades-long hunt.
The bodies of Qin Guoqing and Tian Yulian were brought back to Yongshun County. A preliminary forensic examination revealed that the cause of their death was multiple fractures and ruptured internal organs caused by a fall from a cliff. In the inner pocket of Tian Yulian's clothes, a yellowed old photo of a young couple was found in the background of a street scene from the Republic of China. This photograph may be the only memorial of their past that they have preserved during their fugitive career.
Subsequent investigations are continuing. The public security department conducted a detailed search of the hiding places of Qin Guoqing and Tian Yulian. In the cave, they found a large number of household items, weapons and ammunition, as well as some handwritten notes. The notes chronicle their years on the run and provide valuable information for the study of the notorious bandit couple.
The case of Secretary Qin and Tian Yulian has been solved, but its legacy is far from over. This case is not only an important case in the history of modern criminal investigation in China, but also a legendary story in Xiangxi. In the years that followed, various legends about the bandit couple spread widely in the local area, and their stories were compiled into various folk art forms and became part of Xiangxi culture.
5. Aftermath of the case: The legacy and influence of Secretary Qin and Tian Yulian
With the arrest of Secretary Qin and Tian Yulian, this case that shocked Xiangxi for decades has finally come to an end. However, the impact of the case is far from over, and it has left a deep mark on the social, cultural and law enforcement spheres.
First of all, at the social level, the cases of Secretary Qin and Tian Yulian became an important turning point. For a long time, due to its unique geographical environment and historical background, there has always been a problem of banditry in Xiangxi. The demise of this notorious bandit couple marked the end of an era. The local government took this opportunity to further strengthen the management and construction of remote mountainous areas. In the second half of 1965, a large-scale "Safe Village" program was launched in Xiangxi, aiming to improve the rural security environment and improve the living standards of local residents.
This plan includes several aspects. First, the government has increased its investment in infrastructure. A new road network began to extend deep into the mountains, allowing villages that had once been isolated from the outside world to gradually integrate into modern society. At the same time, a number of new schools and health clinics have been established in the mountainous areas, providing better education and health care for the local population. These measures have not only improved the lives of local residents, but also radically reduced the breeding ground for crime.
At the cultural level, the stories of Qin Guoqing and Tian Yulian quickly became part of Xiangxi's folk culture. Despite their criminals, their decades-long journey on the run and their tragic end have sparked widespread interest. Over the next few years, various legends about the bandit couple began to circulate locally.
In 1966, a local folk artist wrote a narrative poem of several hundred lines detailing the lives of Qin Guoqing and Tian Yulian. With its vivid language and dramatic plot, this poem was soon widely sung in the Xiangxi region. Although many of the details in the poem are the result of artistic processing, it truly reflects the mixed emotions of people at the time about this case.
Not only that, but the stories of Qin Guoqing and Tian Yulian have also been adapted into a variety of local opera forms. In the Miao region of Xiangxi, a new repertoire called "Qin Guoqing Tian Yulian" has been added to traditional Miao songs and dances. With its unique melody and emotional lyrics, this track has become part of the local cultural heritage.
However, this cultural phenomenon has also sparked some controversy. Some believe that exaggerating the stories of Mr. Qin and Mr. Tian could glorify crime. To this end, in 1967, the local government issued a directive that the theme of the triumph of good over evil should be highlighted in artistic creation, and that the glorification of criminals should be avoided.
In the field of law enforcement, the cases of Secretary Qin and Tian Yulian have also had a far-reaching impact. The successful investigation of this case has provided valuable experience for China's criminal investigation work. In early 1966, the Ministry of Public Security organized a national conference on criminal investigation to discuss the lessons learned from the case.
The meeting concluded several important conclusions. First, the case underscores the importance of long-term perseverance. An important reason why Qin and Tian Yulian have been able to evade arrest for decades is that law enforcement has relaxed its vigilance at certain times. Therefore, the meeting put forward the principle of "not giving up until the case is solved" and called for maintaining continuous attention to major cases.
Secondly, the case also demonstrates the important role of technology in the detection work. In the final pursuit, modern equipment such as infrared cameras played a key role. Based on this experience, the Ministry of Public Security decided to increase investment in scientific and technological equipment and launched a nationwide technical training campaign.
In addition, the case highlights the importance of mass work. Throughout the pursuit, the clues provided by the local people played a crucial role. To this end, the public security department began to pay more attention to the contact with the masses, and promoted the law enforcement concept of the "mass line" throughout the country.
The cases of Secretary Qin and Tian Yulian have also spurred the development of cross-regional police cooperation. In view of the fact that the bandit couple often moved between various provinces such as Xiangxi, Hunan and Guizhou, the cooperation of the local police in the process of solving the case is particularly important. Based on this experience, the Ministry of Public Security launched an inter-provincial police cooperation mechanism in the second half of 1966, which laid the foundation for the future crackdown on trans-regional crimes.
At the judicial level, the cases of Secretary Qin and Tian Yulian have also given rise to some thought. Although they have been killed in the pursuit, the judiciary has conducted a full review of the case. At the end of 1966, the Supreme People's Procuratorate sent a working group to conduct a detailed review of the entire process of the case. This review not only confirmed the correctness of the characterization of the case, but also provided a reference for the handling of similar cases.
As time passed, the cases of Secretary Qin and Tian Yulian gradually became history. However, its effects are long-lasting. In Xiangxi, the case became part of local history and influenced the collective memory of generations. On a broader scale, it has provided important experience and lessons for China's criminal investigation work and social governance, and promoted the progress of law enforcement and judicial work.