On May 23, 1952, Mao Zedong received the Chinese People's Volunteer Army Literary and Art Workers Returning to China and the Korean People's Army Delegation visiting China on the large lawn behind the Huairen Hall in Zhongnanhai.
At this meeting, photographer Lü Houmin took a precious historical photo - "Chinese The Literary and Art Workers of the People's Volunteer Army Embrace Mao Zedong".
"Chinese Volunteer Army Literary and Art Workers Embrace Mao Zedong"
In the photo, a young woman in literature and art of the Volunteer Army threw herself into Mao Zedong's arms.
I saw her holding flowers in one hand and Holding Mao Zedong's neck in the other, crying with joy, closing her eyes and hugging Mao Zedong tightly.
And Mao Zedong also closed his eyes and embraced her warmly.
This is the only photograph of Mao Zedong with his eyes closed, and even after many years, whenever people read it, it is still touching.
The young woman in the photo is Xie Xiumei, the only female soldier among the 154 first-class meritorious soldiers of the Chinese Volunteer Army.
<h1 class= "pgc-h-arrow-right" >01, Mulan joined the army</h1>
Xie Xiumei was born in 1932 to a poor peasant family in Yuti Village, Gaoyang County, Hebei Province.
The children of poor families have long been in charge, and Xie Xiumei has been particularly sensible since she was a child, often helping the family to do farm work.
In 1941, the Eighth Route Army developed an anti-Japanese guerrilla group in Gaoyang County, and Xie Xiumei, who was only 9 years old, became a small correspondent of the anti-Japanese guerrilla group in Gaoyang County, holding a shuttle sign, standing guard, sending out a guard, and delivering letters.
Although Xie Xiumei is young, she is smart and alert, and she completes tasks well every time.
Once, a traitor took a few Japanese and puppet troops to the countryside to sweep and reconnoiter the route, and because they did not know the road, they asked Xie Xiumei to lead the way.
In the face of the fierce enemy, Xie Xiumei not only did not panic, but instead cleverly took the traitor into the pocket set up by the guerrillas and helped the guerrillas capture several prisoners.
After the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, Xie Xiumei actively participated in and organized the Gaoyang women's support army in her hometown.
In August 1948, after the liberation of Gaoyang, Xie Xiumei actively participated in the amateur theater troupe in the village and performed for the Platon Army troops.
During the performance and reading the newspaper, Xie Xiumei was deeply moved by the story of the heroine Liu Hulan and was determined to learn from Liu Hulan and dedicate her life to the cause of liberation.
In February 1950, Xie Xiumei, who performed well, was officially approved to join the Cultural and Labor Corps of the Political Department of the 202nd Division of the 68th Army of the Chinese People's Liberation Army after applying for many times.
Xie Xiumei, who has not yet reached the age of 18, has finally realized her long-cherished wish for many years and gloriously become a soldier in the People's Liberation Army.
Xie Xiumei
In June 1951, the 68th Army was reorganized into the 68th Army of the Chinese Volunteer Army, with Founding Major General Chen Fangren as the commander, Founding Major General Li Chengrui as the political commissar, Founding Major General Song Yulin as the deputy commander, Founding Major General Song Xuefei as the chief of staff, and Founding Major General Yan Qingdi as the director of the Political Department, under the jurisdiction of the 202nd Division (division commander Chen Yingshou, political commissar Li Bin), 203rd Division (division commander Yang Dongliang, political commissar Li Zhiyuan); 204th Division (division commander Cao Yuqing, political commissar Fan Baoshun).
On June 9, the 68th Army of the Volunteer Army entered Korea and participated in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea.
Xie Xiumei went with the troops to the Korean battlefield. She became one of the first literary and artistic warriors to enter the Korean War.
In the 18 consecutive days of arduous marching, Xie Xiumei carried more than 30 kilograms of east and west trekking through mountains and waters.
Not only did she not fall behind, but she also helped her frail comrade-in-arms Wang Xibin march.
Not only that, Xie Xiumei has also been encouraging his comrades-in-arms, so he was rated as a model march of the cultural and labor team.
After entering the DPRK, Xie Xiumei, as a member of the cultural and industrial team, always took advantage of every favorable opportunity to do a good job in propaganda work, and sometimes went to the front line to offer condolences and performances.
Once, just as Xie Xiumei was about to perform, she was bombed by US aircraft, and although there were no casualties, all the musical instruments of the cultural and labor team were destroyed.
As soon as Xie Xiumei and the enemy plane left, they took the dishes and chopsticks and washbasins as musical instruments with the team members, and sang while knocking.
Volunteer Soldiers
On the battlefield, Xie Xiumei's literary and artistic talent brought long-lost joy to the soldiers, especially her self-written and self-performed "Little Allegro", which was loved by the soldiers:
"It's a distance of 70 miles, guys, let's compare." The thing on the back is not heavy, 50 pounds is affordable, and the walk is as fast as the wind. Call comrades, you come and listen, and the trumpets ring out and the cannons rumble. Call comrade, you must not stop, go to the battlefield to make meritorious contributions, destroy the devils to aid Korea, and leave Dan heart to take care of Khan Qing, Zhao Khan Qing!"
This "Little Allegro" is easy to understand, the tone is brisk, and it quickly spread in the military, inspiring the confidence of the soldiers and inspiring the determination of the soldiers to defend their families and defend the country.
At that time, the literary and artistic team usually had multiple duties, responsible for both literary and artistic performances, rescue of the wounded, and responsible for taking care of the lives of soldiers.
Xie Xiumei is no exception, she often braves the enemy's artillery fire to carry back one wounded person after another from the position, and often boils water to cook, burn feet, sew clothes, and go up the mountain to cut firewood...
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" >02, angel in white</h1>
In late November 1951, Xie Xiumei and several comrades of the cultural and labor brigade were sent to the front line on behalf of the division chief to comfort and care for the wounded.
At that time, Xie Xiumei found that the divisional medical center located in Chishui was not enough to be busy, which inevitably delayed the treatment of the wounded.
She volunteered and applied to the Political Department to stay in the medical clinic to help.
Xie Xiumei's application was approved, and since then, she has devoted her body and mind to the care of the wounded.
This was Xie Xiumei's first time doing nursing work, but she studied very seriously and quickly mastered the preliminary nursing knowledge.
She is not only serious and patient, but also considerate.
At that time, the conditions of the volunteer army were difficult, and in the cold and frozen Korean battlefield, the warm facilities did not keep up.
For the health of the wounded, Xie Xiumei always took off the shoes and socks of the wounded, covered the cold feet of the wounded with her own hands, or put the feet of the wounded in her sleeves for warmth.
On one occasion, a young volunteer soldier was seriously injured and taken to a medical center, where he was saved after rescue, but remained unconscious, his legs frozen stiff.
Xie Xiumei did not hesitate to untie her cotton coat and put the wounded man's cold feet in her arms.
This scene made everyone moved.
Most of the volunteer soldiers were very young, full of enthusiasm, and rushed to a foreign country to defend their families.
This warm scene made them cry.
Although Xie Xiumei had no previous nursing experience, she still became a well-known nurse in the medical center, and many soldiers recovered their health under her care.
In the hearts of the warriors, Xie Xiumei is the most beautiful angel in white!
<h1 class = "pgc-h-arrow-right" >03, Combat Hero</h1>
At about 1 p.m. on November 30, Xie Xiumei had just returned from collecting firewood from the mountains when six enemy planes suddenly arrived and frantically bombed and strafed the village where the operation was located.
She threw down the firewood and rushed into the house to help the wounded hide.
Just then, a house next to the medical center was hit by a bomb and a raging fire was ignited.
Xie Xiumei suddenly wanted to get up and seriously injured Li Yonghua, the platoon leader of the 605 Regiment, who was seriously injured and unable to move, and it was likely that it was too late to transfer.
Xie Xiumei rushed in without hesitation and quickly carried Li Yonghua out.
But she had just taken three or four steps out of the door when two petrol bombs dropped by the enemy landed on the roof of the operating house, and suddenly the house was engulfed in flames, and Mars splashed them.
Xie Xiumei hurriedly extinguished the flames on Li Yonghua's body and ran away with him on his back.
Xie Xiumei's actions were discovered by the enemy, and the enemy plane became even more frantic, dropping a series of bombs after another.
Li Yonghua was anxious and hurriedly urged her: "Quickly put me down, quickly hide, don't let you be injured for me." ”
Xie Xiumei refused, "My task is to protect you." ”
Suddenly, a bomb was dropped overhead.
At this moment, Xie Xiumei put down Li Yonghua at the same time, and at the same time, she turned around and pounced on him.
Bombs exploded around them.
Shrapnel, stones, sand flying all over the sky.
Xie Xiumei's cotton jacket was shrapneled, the stone broke her body into a piece of purple, and her arm was also beaten to blood.
She got up, and her first reaction was not to look at her own injuries, but to see Li Yonghua.
When she found that Li Yonghua was not injured, she was relieved and immediately picked him up and continued to run up the mountain, finally moving to a safe place.
Stills of Xie Xiumei bravely saving volunteer soldiers
Li Yonghua looked at Xie Xiumei, who was covered in blood, and was moved to tears.
The story of Xie Xiumeiyong's rescue of the wounded soon spread to every corner of the front line.
The commanders and fighters admired her dedication.
After the war, Xie Xiumei was awarded the first class meritorious service and honorably joined the party.
Xie Xiumei thus became the only female soldier among the 154 first-class meritorious soldiers of the Volunteer Army.
In 1964, the famous movie "Heroes and Children" was released, and the heroine of the film, Wang Fang, was a character created based on Xie Xiumei.
Stills from "Heroes and Children"
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" >04, the chairman received</h1>
In January 1952, Xie Xiumei was selected to participate in the second return delegation of the Volunteer Army.
Peng Dehuai, commander of the Volunteer Army, walked over to Xie Xiumei, shook her hand, smiled, and said, "Little devil, it's not simple, it's a bit of a Mulan flavor."
On May 18, Xie Xiumei arrived in Beijing with the delegation.
On May 23, Mao Zedong Chinese a delegation of literary and art workers of the People's Volunteer Army and a delegation of the Korean People's Army to Visit China on the large lawn behind Huairen Hall in Zhongnanhai.
Mao Zedong received representatives of the Volunteer Army
Before Mao Zedong's arrival, Xie Xiumei was chosen as a delegate to present flowers to Mao Zedong.
Xie Xiumei was very excited, and when Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Liu Shaoqi, and Zhu De's central leading comrades walked toward her, she patronized the respected chairman and forgot about the flower offering.
It wasn't until a soldier next to her reminded Xie Xiumei, "Xiumei, go and offer flowers!" that she suddenly remembered that she still wanted to offer flowers to Mao Zedong.
Xie Xiumei quickly walked over to Mao Zedong, laid flowers with both hands, and said excitedly, "Chairman Mao, hello." I present you flowers on behalf of the Volunteers, we miss you, and all the Volunteers miss you. ”
Mao Zedong looked at her with a smile, held her hand tightly, and said, "I miss you too, the motherland will not forget you, and victory belongs to us..."
At that time, Xie Xiumei was still a girl under 20 years old, looking at the beloved chairman and listening to his kind words.
Xie Xiumei is like a long-departed child who meets a kind father, and can no longer suppress the excitement in her heart.
After the fresh flowers, she suddenly threw herself into Mao Zedong's arms and couldn't help but cry bitterly and burst into tears.
While crying, she said: "All our volunteer officers and men greet Chairman Mao and wish you good health." ”
So, at this moment, Chairman Mao Zedong kept his eyes closed and murmured, "Thank you and wish you victory." ”
Xie Xiumei's actions exceeded everyone's expectations, and no one expected Xie Xiumei to suddenly embrace Mao Zedong so warmly.
Everyone was stunned, and the photographer next to him, Lu Houmin, had never seen Mao Zedong being embraced by a young girl.
He was amazed and moved.
Lü Houmin immediately reacted, quickly moved the shutter, and took this rare photo of humanity - "Chinese People's Volunteer Army Literary and Art Workers Embrace Mao Zedong".
This precious photograph, once widely praised, has become a historical classic.
When Lu Houmin finished filming and put down the camera, he found that Mao Zedong still had his eyes closed, and did not open them until he shook hands with the next member of the cultural and labor troupe.
But why did Mao Zedong close his eyes?
Many people believe that this is because when he received the literary and art workers who returned from the Korean battlefield, he thought of his son Mao Anying who died on the battlefield, and the pain of losing his son suddenly appeared, so when Xie Xiumei hugged him, he closed his eyes emotionally.
After Mao Zedong shook hands with everyone, someone proposed that Mao Zedong be asked to sign for a souvenir.
At that time, Xie Xiumei had been in a state of blindfolding, and she had not thought of this stubble at all, let alone prepared the books and papers.
After hearing everyone's proposal, she quickly borrowed a very simple small book from a comrade behind her, went to Mao Zedong again, and pleaded: "Chairman, please sign for me as a souvenir."
Mao Zedong smiled and agreed.
Mao Zedong signed Xie Xiumei
But when he took Xie Xiumei's book, he didn't sign it immediately.
He turned over twice and asked Xie Xiumei, "Isn't this your book?"
It turned out that Mao Zedong had realized that Xie Xiumei had not prepared to ask him to sign in advance.
Xie Xiumei nodded sheepishly.
Mao Zedong did not see anything strange, smiled, picked up the pen, and signed the words "Mao Zedong" on page 1 and page 2 of the book.
Xie Xiumei was excited and broke down, and took the book to find her little friend.
When the little friend saw that there were two signatures, Xie Xiumei realized Mao Zedong's good intentions.
It turned out that Mao Zedong knew that Xie Xiumei had borrowed someone else's book and would return it to them in the future.
If Mao Zedong had signed only one, Xie Xiumei would have been embarrassed to keep the signature for herself.
Therefore, Mao Zedong deliberately signed two pages, one page was cut for xiumei, and one page was left for friends who knew xiumei.
Years later, when Xie Xiumei remembered Mao Zedong's well-intentioned and considerate behavior, she still felt a thousand emotions and tears in her eyes.
<h1 class = "pgc-h-arrow-right" >05, Glorious Warrior</h1>
Shortly after the reception, Xie Xiumei returned to the Korean front and continued to fight.
In January 1953, Xie Xiumei affectionately wrote a letter to Mao Zedong, in which she wrote:
The great year 1953 has come. I salute you on the far Korean front! I wish you good health in the New Year!
Dear Chairman Mao: Writing this new year's letter to you has aroused the most memorable memory of my life: Last January, I returned to our great motherland with the delegation of the Volunteer Army. On may 23rd, you received us at Huai Ren Tang. In the cheers of my comrades, I ran up to present you with flowers... Back at the front, we convey in detail what you have said to our delegation to our comrades-in-arms. Comrades have cheered and applauded your health countless times. Everyone unanimously and resolutely stated: Firmly remember Chairman Mao's words and fight to the end to defend our great motherland and defend world peace...
Chairman Mao, at that time we felt your wisdom and greatness more and more, and I myself deeply felt infinite pride and glory to be a soldier of Mao Zedong.
Chairman Mao, under your correct leadership, in 1952 our motherland achieved brilliant achievements in all aspects.
On the Korean front, we also achieved greater victories than in the past...
The victorious year of 1952 has passed, the motherland has completed the preparations for large-scale economic construction, and great economic construction will begin in 1953.
I believe that with the efforts of you and the people of the motherland, you will surely achieve brilliant results quickly.
We pledge to fight more heroically on the Korean front, strive for greater victories, and use practical actions to defend the motherland's production and construction and the happy life of the people of the motherland!
(Excerpt from Xie Xiumei's 1953 New Year's Greeting Letter to Mao Zedong)
Xie Xiumei was commended
A short letter, but full of enthusiasm, glory and pride.
This enthusiasm, this glory, this pride, let Xie Xiumei bravely fight in the frontline battlefield.
Soon, Xie Xiumei's father, Xie Tie, went with the condolence group to the DPRK to comfort the volunteer army.
On the position of the 68th Army, Xie Tie unexpectedly saw his daughter Xie Xiumei.
Without prior arrangement, the father and daughter reunited on the battlefield in a foreign country, which became a good story in the military.
This is Xie Xiumei, an ordinary volunteer soldier.
At that time, there were still many Xie Xiumei in the volunteer army.
They are not afraid of sacrifice, not afraid of hardships, not counting gains and losses, not afraid of life and death, bravely fighting on the front line battlefield, and making great contributions to the motherland and the people.
For the sake of the people and the country behind them, they dare to fight, dare to fight, dare to fight and dare to die!
They let this country be humiliated and shocked the world; let this nation raise its eyebrows and raise its head!
Time flies, many of them are no longer there, but their spirit inspires every Chinese son and daughter with a patriotic heart to face the wind and rain, face difficulties, straighten their waists, firm steps, and march toward success step by step.
And this step is making the Chinese nation step by step to the peak of the world.