In the cruel years of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, Li Erxi, an 18-year-old teenager from Shanxi, went through the pain of a broken family and chose to pick up ** and joined the Eighth Route Army. How did his fate change in this great battle for the survival of the country?
How did the former cattle herding baby grow step by step into an artillery soldier who terrified the Japanese army? It was an era full of smoke and heroism, and Li Erxi was just one of the ordinary soldiers, but his feats left a deep mark in the long river of history.
In the Battle of Pingxingguan, Li Erxi found the "97-type" mortar abandoned by the enemy, how did the appearance of this ** change his fate?
Young Li Erxi's choice
In a barren land in Shanxi, Li Erxi has lived in hardship since childhood. At the age of 13, he lost his parents and his life suddenly became more difficult. As the second son in the family, he shouldered the responsibility of taking care of the family, and despite the hardships of life, he never gave up hope. Day after day, he herded cattle at the landlord's house, making ends meet for a meager pay.
In the summer of 1937, the iron hooves of the Japanese army stepped into his hometown. That day, Li Erxi was grazing cattle in the field as usual, and suddenly a panicked scream was heard in the distance. He hurriedly put down his work and rushed back to the village, only to witness a terrible scene. The Japanese army brutally attacked the innocent villagers, and the whole village was shrouded in smoke and fire.
Li Erxi's heart was like being cut by a knife, and he hid outside the village in grief, tears falling silently. At that moment, the flame of revenge burned in his heart. He was determined to join the ranks of resistance against Japan, avenge the people of his hometown, and avenge the atrocities of the Japanese army invading China.
Two years later, the Battle of Pingxingguan began, and Li Erxi, who was 16 years old at the time, took the initiative to sign up for the Eighth Route Army with enthusiasm. When questioned by the recruiter, he firmly stated that he was willing to sacrifice everything for the country. Impressed by his determination, the recruiter assigned him a role in logistics liaison given his young age. Although this is not a combat post on the front line, Li Erxi still devotes himself wholeheartedly and actively learns military knowledge and skills.
In the army, Li Erxi met an experienced veteran, who often told Li Erxi stories of battles and taught him combat skills. In a casual conversation, the veteran mentioned the importance of a kind of mortar, which aroused great interest in Li Erxi. He began to take the initiative to learn artillery knowledge and actively participated in training. The veteran saw his enthusiasm and potential and personally mentored him.
Gradually, Li Erxi showed extraordinary talent in artillery training. He can quickly calculate not only the firing parameters, but also accurately judge the wind direction and distance. This ability of his makes him stand out in the army.
One day, the troops received information from the front that enemy troops were approaching their positions. This is the first time that Li Erxi has faced a real combat test. He was nervous and excited, and his heart was full of determination to defeat the enemy. He knew that it was not just a battle, but for the fire of revenge buried deep in his heart.
As night fell, Li Erxi quietly lurked on the front line under the cover of his comrades. In the distance, the figure of the enemy army gradually became clear. He adjusted his breathing, stabilized his mood, and clenched ** in his hands. At this moment, his heart was filled with determination and courage, ready for the battle that was coming.
This night, for Li Erxi, was not only the beginning of becoming a soldier, but also the starting point of his life's anti-Japanese war. In the days to come, he will grow up in the flames of war and write his own legend.
The transformation of the Battle of Pingxingguan
In the melee of the Battle of Pingxingguan, Li Erxi, as a liaison soldier, witnessed the cruelty of the war and the indomitable fighting spirit of the Eighth Route Army. During a post-war mission to clean up the battlefield, he and his comrades found several abandoned Japanese mortars in a ruin. These "Type 97" mortars were undoubtedly extremely valuable trophies for the Eighth Route Army at that time.
Looking at these ** abandoned by the enemy, Li Erxi felt a burst of excitement. He remembered that the veteran had talked to him about the importance of mortars, which were simple but powerful, excellent support for infantry. He reported this discovery to his commander, who immediately realized the value of these ** and quickly organized men to transport them back to his position.
In the troops, the appearance of mortars caused a stir. Many warriors are curious about these seemingly ordinary, but in fact powerful. The troop leadership decided to create a new artillery company and began recruiting gunners. Li Erxi signed up for this newly established artillery company with great ambition.
In the training of the artillery company, Li Erxi showed extremely high talent and learning ability. He quickly mastered not only the basic operation of the mortar, but also accurately calculated the angle and range of fire. This ability of his was quickly recognized by the commander. Under the guidance of an experienced veteran gunner, he began to train more professionally.
The veteran gunner, a soldier who had seen strong winds and waves, taught Li Erxi how to quickly locate targets in a complex battlefield environment and how to adjust shooting parameters according to wind direction and terrain. He also taught Li Erxi some tips in actual combat, such as how to quickly reload shells and how to stay calm in a tense battle.
During this training, Li Erxi established a deep master-apprentice relationship with the veteran gunner. The old gunner not only taught him the technique, but also conveyed to him the cruelty of war and the sense of responsibility as an artilleryman. Under the guidance of the old gunner, Li Erxi gradually grew into an excellent gunner, full of confidence in the upcoming battle.
A few months later, the artillery was connected to the command of the front. This was the first time that Li Erxi participated in a formal battle as a gunner. He felt both nervous and excited about the upcoming fight. He knows this will be the biggest test of his training over the past few months. He silently said to himself in his heart: "I must strike accurately at the enemy and fight for victory for my country and people." ”
That night, Li Erxi lay on the gun emplacement, staring at the starry sky. He pondered the tactics of the battle, while at the same time thinking in his mind about everything the old gunner had taught him. He knew that the next day's battle would be brutal, but he was ready. He is convinced that his skills and courage will be able to help him achieve victory on the battlefield.
As dawn approached, Li Erxi and his comrades-in-arms prepared for the first big battle of their lives. At this critical moment, Li Erxi took a deep breath, adjusted the sight of the mortar, and he was ready to meet the challenge.
Hero Strike
In the autumn of 1939, the Japanese army launched an unprecedented "sweep" in the Beiyue Mountains, with the aim of completely destroying the anti-Japanese base areas. The Japanese army was independently mixed into the 2nd Brigade, which was led by the experienced and distinguished Lieutenant General Norihide Abe. In the face of this formidable enemy, Li Erxi and his artillery battery faced unprecedented challenges.
Norihide Abe was known for his superb military prowess and strict discipline. His troops were considered elite in the Japanese army and confident in any challenge. However, this time their opponent was the tenacious and terrain-familiar Eighth Route Army.
During a reconnaissance operation, the Eighth Route Army discovered that the troops led by Norihide Abe were advancing along the original route towards their base area. This was a great opportunity, and Li Erxi and his artillery battery were ordered to prepare for a counterattack. In the intense pre-war preparations, Li Erxi showed unprecedented calmness and concentration. He knew that this battle was not only about winning the battle, but also the greatest test of his personal ability.
On November 6, 1939, enemy troops entered the Loess Ridge. The Eighth Route Army quickly deployed, formed an encirclement, and prepared to deliver a fatal blow to the Japanese army. Li Erxi's artillery company was placed in a key position and was responsible for directly attacking the enemy's core forces.
On the second day of the battle, Chen Zhengxiang, commander of the First Regiment of the Eighth Route Army, observed through a telescope that Japanese officers frequently entered and exited a courtyard in Shangzhuangzi Village. He immediately judged that it might be the headquarters of the enemy army. Regiment Commander Chen immediately ordered the artillery company to attack the compound, and the task fell to Li Erxi.
Regiment Commander Chen said to Li Erxi solemnly: "We only have four shells, and we must hit them with one hit." Li Erxi took a deep breath and nodded in response. He observed the courtyard for a while and calculated the best angle and distance to shoot. In his heart, there is only one thought: he must hit the target and avenge the country and the country.
As the order was given, Li Erxi and his team of gunners moved quickly. They accurately loaded the shells and adjusted the sights. With a loud "boom", the first shell accurately hit the target, followed by the second, third, and fourth shells fired one after another, each time hitting the courtyard accurately.
The sound of shells shook the entire battlefield, and in the thick smoke, the courtyard was razed to the ground. Li Erxi stared at the target, straight.
By the time it was confirmed, there was no movement in the compound. His heart was filled with mixed emotions mixed with tension and joy.
This series of accurate artillery bombardments dealt a devastating blow to the Japanese army. Lieutenant General Norihide Abe and several senior officers accompanying him were killed in the attack. When the news came, the entire army cheered, and Li Erxi became a hero, but his heart was unusually calm. He knew that this was only a small victory in a long war, and that the real victory was still ahead.
This battle not only demonstrated Li Erxi's outstanding skills as a gunner, but also demonstrated his firm commitment to the task and his deep loyalty to the country. This blow became an important turning point in his fighting career, and also laid a solid foundation for his future fighting career.
Unknown heroes
With the surrender of Japan, the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression finally ended victoriously. As a heroic gunner, Li Erxi made great achievements in the war, but he did not immerse himself in the glory of the past. After the war, Li Erxi chose an ordinary life and became an ordinary worker in Shaoguan, Guangdong.
In that era of industrial rise, Li Erxi devoted himself to the upsurge of national construction. He worked diligently in the factory, using his hands that had used to handle cannonballs with precision, to move to the meticulous operation of the machine. His colleagues knew that he was a veteran, but no one knew that he was a hero who defeated the Japanese lieutenant general.
Li Erxi's life is unusually simple and ordinary. He silently completed every task assigned to him, never boasting about his war experience. Even during his breaks, he rarely mentions past battles. For him, those are all in the past, and he prefers to live in the present and contribute to the modernization of the country.
Even in the family, Li Erxi rarely talks about his heroic deeds. His children know little about their father's past, except that he was a veteran of the Eighth Route Army. In their eyes, their father was just an ordinary worker, hardworking and simple, and living a frugal life. Li Erxi always leads by example, teaching them to work hard and be a useful person to society.
In those ordinary days, Li Erxi also showed another side of him - he was a good neighbor who was helpful and always reached out when others needed help. He has earned the respect and love of everyone in the community for his kind and helpful character. Whether it's fixing a neighbor's water pipe or helping a friend with a minor problem, he's always happy to give his part.
It wasn't until 1995 that an unexpected thing happened. The old chief of the year, General Yang Chengwu, invited Li Erxi to visit the Military Museum. Because the mortar he used back then has been listed as a national first-class cultural relic. This incident gradually became known to the world after Li Erxi's heroic deeds. A report about him appeared in the local newspaper, revealing the unknown heroic identity behind the ordinary worker.
After the news spread, Li Erxi's life changed. His neighbors, colleagues, and friends were surprised to find that the ordinary old man who had been living side by side with him turned out to be an anti-Japanese hero. People paid their respects to him, and his family was proud of him. However, in the face of all this, Li Erxi still maintains his humility and low profile.
For him, the war is over, and he prefers to focus on life and work in the present. Even under such attention, he stuck to his principles and was reluctant to dwell too much on the past. He always smiled and said, "It's back then, there's nothing to show off." ”
Ending: Li Erxi's story is the epitome of countless ordinary heroes of that era. They fought valiantly on the battlefield, but chose to be unknown in peacetime.
It was not until the passage of time that their deeds became known to the people and became eternal historical memory. References include documentaries and archival records of Li Erxi's heroic deeds, which detail Li Erxi's heroic performance in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and his later choices for his ordinary life.