On a certain day in June 1938, just after the celebration and commendation meeting of the 120th Division of the Eighth Route Army in Lanxian County, Shanxi Province, a telegram was handed to the desk of the division commander.
When I opened it, it read: Dr. Bethune is about to arrive in Lan County, please send personnel from the 120th Division to greet and escort him to Wutai Mountain. After reading it, frown tightened.
This task was very arduous, and escorting Bethune to Wutai Mountain, on the way, had to pass through the guerrilla zone and the occupied area, and also broke through the railway line occupied by the Japanese invaders, so to speak, to cross the line of fire, and the task was extremely difficult.
* After thinking for a while, he held his pipe and said to everyone categorically: "Send Deng Mengzi to go, and he has to go!" ”
Deng Mengzi, this name may be unfamiliar to many people, but his deeds are widely known. At this commendation meeting, he was named a special combat model and was hailed as a heroic soldier on the Long March.
In the battle of Guanyin Hall in Yunnan, Deng Mengzi won the title of "Deng Mengzi" for his heroic deeds. At that time, Luo Zhang, the political commissar of the Red 48th Regiment, was trapped in the enemy position and could not get out, and the head of the regiment twice sent troops to charge the enemy position, but without success.
However, when ** handed over the task to Deng Danming, he accepted the challenge without hesitation, pulled out the snowy broadsword from his back, and rushed towards the enemy with the soldiers. His heroic actions frightened the enemy, and Luo Zhang was saved, but he was wounded as a result.
Despite this, he was so encouraged by the victory that he returned to the team with a difficult stride, unaware of the pain. Seeing his bravery, I couldn't help but admire: "You are such a fierce man!" ”
Since then, the nickname "Deng Mengzi" has been popular.
The Second and Sixth Army Corps spread.
During the Anti-Japanese War, he fought bravely and became famous. In the Battle of Tianjiazhuang, he led his subordinates to successfully kill more than 40 Japanese soldiers, capture more than 10 prisoners, and capture dozens of light and heavy ** and a large amount of ammunition, removing the obstacles of the Japanese in the operation of the 120th Division.
Before setting off for Wutai Mountain, he visited Dr. Bethune and learned that Bethune had been walking from Yan'an to Lanxian for more than 20 days, and he was in a hurry to go to Wutai Mountain to work for the anti-Japanese front.
He was deeply moved by Bethune's work spirit and decided to create a better travel environment for Bethune. He put the wire bed that Bethune brought from abroad on two mules, and also found cotton mattresses and bed sheets to make Bethune's journey as comfortable as possible.
Bethune set off under the protection of more than 70 cadres and soldiers, and Deng Danming was always by his side, taking care of his life and ensuring his safety. During the day, he walked beside Bethune, and at night he slept on the floor in front of Bethune's bed.
The original route was no longer feasible, and the team was trapped in the mountains. Deng Danming quickly adjusted the route and led the team forward. The mountain road was rugged, and the team trekked more than 60 miles of mountain roads, and finally found a family when it was getting late.
Deng Danming decided to let the troops rest here, and he himself entered the house. Only one old man was left in the family, and everyone else had already escaped. Deng Danming discussed with the old man, settled Bethune and the interpreter in his home, and ordered everyone to camp here, and at the same time sent scouts out of the mountain to investigate.
At dawn, the scouts returned with good news: most of the devil's sweeping party had gone south, and the rest had retreated to the county seat last night due to rain.
Deng Danming seized this opportunity and immediately led the team on the road. In the afternoon, the team managed to break away from the mountain road and enter an open plain. However, due to fatigue and hunger, the fighters fell down to rest.
Deng Danming was well aware of this danger, he knew that this place was only more than 10 miles away from the county seat occupied by the Japanese invaders, and the lookout post on the devil's watchtower could detect here. He ordered the machine gunners to fire intensively at the sky in the direction of the county town, and the three machine gunners were almost at the same time, and black smoke spread across the blue sky.
This trick really worked, and the soldiers who were lying on the ground could not be shaken, and the needles could not jump were awakened by the sound ......of the gun, and one by one they suddenly stood up, and ran with the team like a flyThe sound of machine guns also frightened the enemy.
The Japanese invaders were puzzled, and hurriedly pulled up the suspension bridge in front of the watchtower, and put the war horse into the circle, not daring to act rashly. After a week-long journey, this team of more than 70 people finally entered the liberated area safely under the noses of the Japanese invaders.
Dr. Bethune thus arrived safely at Mount Wutai.
After Deng Danming separated from Dr. Bethune, he joined the Second Company of the Guangling Guard Battalion and served as the company commander. During a battle against the Japanese invaders, he was unfortunately poison gas and was seriously injured by a bombshell, causing damage to the central nervous system and falling into a coma for a long time.
When he was taken to the hospital, Dr. Bethune recognized him at a glance. Bethune gave Deng Danming meticulous treatment, and when his memory gradually recovered, Bethune happily hugged him, and shook his thumb in front of his eyes with the other hand, praising him as a model, a hero, a company commander, well done!
Hearing this, Deng Danming, an iron-clad man, was moved to tears. Since then, a deep friendship has been formed between these two foreign comrades-in-arms.