In 1937, in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, there was an anti-Japanese army that was in full swing, and this team had a proud nickname - "Lao Tzu Army".
This is a peculiar army, in the history of China for five thousand years, there has never been such a special army, let us list its several special features.
Left: Ma Xiangbo. Right: Lee Gen
In particular, this army set its own "fan name" as "Lao Tzu Army", which is very different, calling it "arrogant and domineering.". In fact, they are taking Fan Zhongyanya's name "Little Fan Laozi".
In particular, those who have reached the age of sixty can join the "Lao Tzu Army", and those under the age of sixty can only be the reserve army.
In particular, the combat objectives of the "Lao Tzu Army" are comparable to those of the "death squads", and they are so tragic that they carry out the task of "going and never returning".
For example: detonation detonators, desperate with Japanese devils;
Destroyed with the important weapons and facilities of the Japanese devils;
He went deep into the enemy-occupied areas and assassinated traitors and traitors, at the expense of his life.
In particular, Ma Xiangbo, the commander-in-chief of the "Lao Tzu Army" (their name is "Military Commander"), is not a takeshi, but a scholar, and he is already 98 years old.
Zhang Yilin, deputy commander of the "Lao Tzu Army", was also a man of letters, and he was in his prime, and his chief of staff, Li Gen, was also nearly a year old.
The founders of this army are Zhang Yilin and Li Gen, the patriotic old men of Suzhou, and others.
Old photo of the War of Resistance Against Japan
Zhang Yilin, a native of Wu County, Suzhou, in the early years of the Republic of China, Mr. Zhang Lao, who had served as a confidential director of the central government and the chief of education and other senior officials, returned to his hometown in Suzhou to live in seclusion before the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression;
Li Gengen, a native of Tengchong, Yunnan, also lived in Suzhou at that time, Mr. Li Studied in Japan in his early years to study the Army, was an old qualified member of the League, and after returning to China, Mr. Li Lao served as the general office of the Yunnan Army Lecture Hall.
Mr. Li once launched the Chongjiu Uprising and the Patriotic Movement together with General Cai Yi, and mr. Li was also the mentor of Zhu De, the head of the Ten Marshals of New China and the commander-in-chief of the People's Army.
In the spring of 1909, the 23-year-old Zhu De applied for the Yunnan Army Lecture Hall, because he did not recruit students from other provinces, so Zhu De was not admitted to the Yunnan Lecture Hall.
When Yunnan Daowutang enrolled for the second time, Zhu De reported that his place of origin was "Mengzi County, Yunnan", and with good grades, he was finally admitted.
However, the fact that Zhu De was a Native of Sichuan was eventually exposed.
It was Li Gen, who presided over the affairs of the Yunnan DaowuTang school, who vigorously defied the public opinion and left Zhu De behind.
In 1922, Jude intended to go to Europe to find a way to save the country, and his idea was supported by Li Gen.
At that time, Li Gen was serving as the aviation inspector of the National Government, and he helped Zhu De get a passport to Germany and personally sent Zhu De to Germany.
Li Gen lived in Suzhou in his later years, and mr. Zhang Yilin, who lived in Suzhou, had similar interests and close contacts, and the two old gentlemen were both knowledgeable, sensible and learned celebrities in Suzhou, so they were known as "the second elder of Wuxia".
When the Lugou Bridge Incident broke out, Zhang Yilin and Li Gengen could not sit still in Suzhou, and they hoped to contribute to the salvation of the country.
They believe that in the current national war of resistance, young people have "boy scouts", women have "women's rescue associations", and the elderly should also have their own national salvation organizations.
Therefore, they have conceived the establishment of the "Lao Tzu Army", which can be joined by the elderly throughout the country.
As for the tasks and purposes of the "Lao Tzu Army," the original intention of the two old gentlemen was extremely tragic: "Lao Tzu Jun" aimed at daring to die, and "where young people do not have to sacrifice, then the 'Lao Tzu Army' is contemporary." ”
Since the outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the old gentlemen have been in Suzhou, the "paradise on earth", but they have always paid attention to the dynamics of the war.
When they heard the news that thousands of Chinese soldiers had died on the battlefield, and saw that young lives had died in front of them, the old gentlemen were heartbroken.
They think: Young people are the hope of China's future, they have come to Japan for a long time, if such a large number of sacrifices, although tragic, but also a pity.
And we the elderly "cling to our fathers and brothers, and regard death as their natural duty", we should die for the young people, and leave the opportunity to survive to the future generations.
Therefore, Zhang Yilin, Li Gengen, and others published notices in the press and published a declaration on the establishment of the "Lao Tzu Army," which was also the purpose of the founding of the "Lao Tzu Army."
As soon as the news was made public, many elderly people signed up, including many retired veterans and intellectual celebrities, who expressed their desire to join the "Lao Tzu Army" and serve the country at the expense of their lives.
Of course, the most touching thing is - "die for the young people, and leave the chance of survival to the future generations!" ”
Mr. Ma Xiangbo, who was already 98 years old at the time, also signed up and was proposed to be the commander-in-chief of the "Lao Tzu Army".
The patriotic actions of the old people greatly encouraged the young people, who enthusiastically joined the army and threw themselves into the anti-Japanese resistance.
Many pessimistic people also began to change their minds, believing that victory must ultimately belong to China.
In mid-September 1937, on behalf of the "Lao Tzu Army," Li Gen submitted a letter of request to Chiang Kai-shek, expressing that the "Lao Tzu Army" was willing to rush to the battlefield at any time and kill the enemy to serve the country!
The heroic feats of the "Lao Tzu Army" also inspired the confused Chiang Kai-shek.
Touched, Chiang Kai-shek sent a telegram to the "Lao Tzu Army" to praise Zhang Yilin, Li Gen, Ma Xiangbo, and others for being "magnificent enough to inspire the people of the country" and lamenting that "the cry of ascending to the heights, the determination of cowards, the country has been blessed not shallowly"!
However, as China's anti-Japanese "leader," Chiang Kai-shek had to think more about it.
Chiang Kai-shek firmly believed that the Nationalist army was the main force in China's resistance to foreign enemies, and besides, the war had just begun, and if the elderly were needed to go to the battlefield now, then where was the face of the Nationalist army?
However, Chiang Kai-shek also knew that saying anything would not dispel the enthusiasm of the Chinese people for resisting Japan.
Therefore, Chiang Kai-shek called back to the "Lao Tzu Army," and the telegram was used in grandiose terms: "Military organizations are important in strict order, and military names cannot be used lightly."
In this way, Chiang Kai-shek clarified the meaning of "party-state" - did not agree to the establishment of the "Lao Tzu Army".
Old photo Chiang Kai-shek issued an anti-Japanese proclamation
The "Lao Tzu Army" was vigorously organized, but in the end it was not allowed to become an army, which made the old people deeply regret.
The old people such as Li Gen and Zhang Yilu were not depressed by this, and they still did their best to provide the necessary support to the soldiers at the front.
The two elderly people tried every means to pull up several ambulance teams and treated more than 50,000 anti-Japanese soldiers and civilians before and after;
In order to bury the anti-Japanese martyrs, Li Gengen donated his own coffin and cemetery, and personally inscribed the title "Hero's Tomb";
After the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, Li Gen returned to his hometown in Tengchong, Yunnan Province, and actively advocated and personally organized the construction of the Tengchong National Martyrs Cemetery to commemorate the martyrs of the Chinese Expeditionary Force;
Mr. Zhang Yilu insisted on staying in Suzhou and vowed to "coexist and die with Suzhou."
After the fall of Suzhou, Mr. Zhang Yilu resolutely refused to be co-opted by the Japanese and puppets, and in order to completely cut off the "thoughts" of the Japanese puppet government, the old man shaved his hair as a monk and fled into the empty door.
On February 20, 1950, Chen Geng, Song Renqiang, and Zhou Baozhong led the People's Liberation Army into Kunming, and Chen Geng met with Li Geng at Wuhua Mountain and respectfully handed Li Geng an invitation letter.
The invitation letter was personally written by Commander-in-Chief Zhu and invited his mentor to Beijing to attend the new Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
After Li Gengen arrived in Beijing, he was warmly welcomed and warmly received by President Zhu, Premier, Ye Shuai, and other central leaders.
Commander-in-Chief Zhu personally inquired about Li Gengen's accommodation, medical treatment, and other matters, and often took time to visit Mr. Li Lao, saying that he would be called "sir", respectful, and careful and considerate.
After Li Gen's death, Commander-in-Chief Zhu personally served as the director of the Funeral Committee and was buried at Jiaxing Temple as the chief priest of the Benshi.
In the heart of Mr. Zhu, Mr. Li Gen is not only his mentor, but also a model of patriotism and salvation.
Li Gengen, Zhang Yilu, Ma Xiangbo and other old gentlemen "old Ji Futuo, strong heart"
Although their "Lao Tzu Army" did not become an army in the end, although they did not die for the descendants as they wished, the "Lao Tzu Army" played a great role in boosting morale and rallying people's hearts.
China will not die, China must be strong!