In the summer of 1980, Nie Rongzhen, one of the founding marshals of New China, welcomed a special guest. A Japanese woman named Mihoko traveled thousands of miles from Japan to Beijing, the capital of our country, just to find an old man who she had in mind. At the moment of seeing Nie Rongzhen, Mihoko burst into tears with excitement, knelt on the ground to salute Nie Rongzhen, and affectionately called Nie Rongzhen "father".
After forty years, Mihoko finally saw Nie Shuai again, and Nie Shuai was equally excited to see Mihoko, who had grown up in front of her, and quickly lifted up Mihoko, and the scene of the father and daughter meeting made everyone present cry with excitement.
The identities of these two people are hugely different, one is the founding marshal of new China, and the other is a Japanese woman. Thousands of miles apart, why were the two of them able to meet when Nie Shuai was more than a year old? What happened between the two of them? Why did this Japanese woman named Mihoko call Nie Shuai her father? The story here also starts from the Hundred Regiments War 40 years ago.
The founding father's life
In the winter of 1899, Nie Rongzhen was born in an ordinary family in Chongqing. When he was a teenager, Nie Rongzhen was a full-fledged scholar, from Darwin's "Theory of Evolution" to Huxley's "Heavenly Evolution", Nie Rongzhen had been involved. The change of knowledge to one is enormous, because the richer the knowledge, the more active the human mind will be, and the more able it will be to accept new things and new ideas.
Later, the progressive magazine New Youth was founded, and Nie Rongzhen became its loyal reader. Influenced by progressive ideas, Nie Rongzhen's thinking underwent earth-shaking changes. In his youth, Nie Rongzhen saw the great changes in China and deeply felt the arduousness of his own task. This enthusiastic and patriotic teenager, who actively participated in the activities of progressive students, often said to his colleagues: "My generation should take serving the country as the foundation and make contributions to the rise of the Chinese nation." ”
Nie Rongzhen's patriotic feelings overflowed into words, and whenever the country and the nation suddenly encountered major events, Nie Rongzhen could always carry a patriotic enthusiasm, pinpoint the shortcomings of the times, and make generous statements. This kind of thinking of worrying about the country and the people is also reflected in Nie Rongzhen's volumes. His teacher knew that his student would become a great instrument in the future, and had praised Nie Rongzhen several times for "extraordinary endowment, and ultimately not a thing in the pool"
In March 1923, at the age of 24, Nie Rongzhen successfully joined the Communist Party of China, and the following year he went to the Soviet Union to study, and Nie Rongzhen's world view immediately underwent a fundamental change, becoming a revolutionary who led the way. In 1925, Nie Rongzhen returned to his motherland and served as the secretary and political instructor of the Political Department at the Whampoa Military Academy, responsible for the propaganda and organizational work of the Political Department. Later, under the introduction and appointment of Zhou Enlai, Nie Rongzhen began to rush to the front line and opened his own road to save the country.
In 1940, the famous Hundred Regiments War in the history of China's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression began, and Nie Rongzhen rushed to the front line and fought bloodily to protect his homeland and land. It was also in this battle that Nie Shuai and Mihoko, the "daughter" who later came to Beijing to meet him, formed an indissoluble relationship.
In the Battle of the Hundred Regiments, a pair of orphans were rescued
After the outbreak of the September 18 Incident, Japan's ambition to invade China was clearly revealed, and it directly launched a rapid attack on the land of China. Later, the July 7 Incident was launched in a vain attempt to destroy China, and its wolf ambitions made the Chinese people indignant, and the all-out War of Resistance Against Japan also officially began. The Chinese military and people worked together to begin to resist the Japanese aggression together.
In the winter of 1939, the Japanese army began to implement the "cage policy", in a vain attempt to use the Zhengtai Railway to isolate the Taihang Anti-Japanese Base Area of the Eighth Route Army Headquarters and the 129th Division from the Jin-Cha-Ji Border Region, and to use it as a basis for attacking the anti-Japanese base area. At that time, the combat strategy of the Japanese army was to "take the railway as the pillar, the highway as the chain, and the bunker as the lock", and establish combat bases near the large and small towns, stations, bridges and tunnels along the railway line, not only garrisoning the troops, but also sending armored trains to patrol, creating a defensive line that the Japanese army considered "inaccessible".
At this time, the Kuomintang provoked the first anti-communist upsurge in North China, and launched a large-scale military offensive against the Shanxi New Army and the Eighth Route Army at the same time. The Japanese army saw the civil war between the Kuomintang and the Communists and took the opportunity to further promote the Japanese side's "cage policy", which made the domestic anti-Japanese work difficult. Suddenly, domestic public opinion was in an uproar, and the voices of compromise and surrender were endless.
In order to combat the wolf ambitions of the Japanese Kou and to save the country from danger, the Kuomintang and the Communist Party began to cooperate, turning their grievances into jade and resisting Japan together. In 1940, the Eighth Route Army launched a large-scale operation against Japan, launched a large-scale offensive behind enemy lines in North China, and opened a "counter-sweeping" campaign against the Japanese army. Although it lasted only three and a half months, it carried out 1824 anti-Japanese operations of various sizes, which severely defeated the reactionary arrogance of the Japanese puppet army and allowed the people of the whole country to regain confidence in the War of Resistance.
It was during the Hundred Regiments War that the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region was attacking the Jingxing Mining Area, and on the battlefield where the war was raging, the Eighth Route Army found two young Japanese girls, the large ones looking like they had been remembered, and the small ones were still swaddling. Apparently, their parents were workers in the Jingxing mining area, and both parents died in this ruthless war. Two helpless little girls, only to cry for help.
At this time, the war between the Chinese and the Japanese and the Japanese was in a critical period, and coupled with the numerous crimes of the Japanese puppet army in the previous war of aggression against China, the hatred of the Chinese people for Japan had reached its highest point. However, these two Japanese girls were innocent, they did not know what was happening, and they did not participate in the war of aggression against China. Moreover, their parents also died in the war, and they were already two poor orphans. The soldiers who found these two children did not know what to do for a while, so they could only take the children back to the camp and report to their superiors.
In this way, two poor little girls sat in the basket, left the danger zone, and were carried back by the soldiers to the headquarters of the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region. Although China and Japan were in a hostile attitude at that time, Nie Rongzhen did not have any hostility after seeing the two children, but was very friendly. Who would have thought that when a general who had been a horseman for a lifetime got off his war horse, his iron bones also had a gentle side like water.
Zheng Zheng iron bone man, also like water tenderness
"Let me see, we have two Japanese friends here!" Seeing two Japanese girls, Nie Rongzhen always smiled, like a kind old father, with a gentle and amiable tone. Having just experienced a war and witnessing the death of their biological parents, they have now been taken by the warriors to a completely strange place, and the two little girls are restrained and helpless, and their eyes are full of uneasiness and fear.
Seeing this scene, Nie Rongzhen couldn't help but feel some pain in his heart. After all, the war is merciless and sentient, and children are innocent. At this time, Nie Rongzhen put aside his political concepts and treated the two poor Japanese girls in front of him in the mode of getting along with the elders and juniors. In the war-torn era, any materials were very scarce, but even so, the soldiers of the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region Headquarters still took out some "good things" to entertain the two Japanese children.
Nie Rongzhen took the pears brought by the staff, carefully peeled them, smiled and handed them to the slightly older little girl, and said in a gentle tone like a father: "This pear is washed, eat, child!" Although there was a language communication barrier, the Japanese girl looked at Nie Rongzhen's every move and tone, understood that Nie Rongzhen did not have any hostility, so she took the pear and ate it with confidence. Seeing the little girl let down her guard, Nie Rongzhen smiled happily, like a very happy father.
At this time, front-line reporter Sha Fei saw this scene and keenly found that it was a very memorable moment. After all, a general in the bloody battlefield can be friendly to the children of the enemy camp. If there is no great love in the heart, how can it be so calm? So Sha Fei quickly took out the camera and froze the moment Nie Rongzhen gave the child pears with film.
However, after Nie Rongzhen found out that someone was "secretly filming" himself, not only did he not blame him, but instead generously told Sha Fei: "The camera captured the moment when Nie Rongzhen gave Mei Suizi pears. However, after Nie Rongzhen knew, he immediately took the child out of the basket, took the child's small hand, and said generously: "If you want to take a picture, take a picture of the front, come." It is this precious picture that allows the two to reunite again after 40 years.
This slightly older little girl is the Japanese woman we mentioned at the beginning, who came from Japan thousands of miles from Japan to visit Nie Shuai in Beijing, the capital of our country, and affectionately called Nie Shuai her father, Mihoko. At that time, Mihoko already remembered the time she spent with Nie Rongzhen as a child. In adulthood, I always have a grateful heart, which has formed a different fate.
The war is merciless and compassionate
Along with Mieko, she was rescued by the warriors with a child under the age of one. A group of big men who knew how to take care of children, so they used the standard of serious injuries of regimental cadres to "take special care" of children. With the reference standards in place, the men took turns on duty to take care of the little girl. Whether it is milk powder sugar or canned fruit, the warriors give priority to their children as much as possible. In order to make the little girl eat more bites, the warriors would also sprinkle white sugar on the watermelon and feed the little girl to eat.
It was this warm act that melted the delicate hearts of the two little children. At the headquarters of the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region, the two Japanese girls were taken very well by the soldiers, and they lived very happily, slowly recovering their physical vitality. Subsequently, in order to better take care of the two children, the Mihoko sisters were picked by the villagers to the residence of Marshal Nie Rongzhen with a basket. In the days of living with Nie Shuai, Mihoko felt the friendship and care of this Chinese soldier, and what happened between the adults she did not understand at a young age, but she understood that the man named Nie Rongzhen in front of her was her own savior.
After a period of time together, Mihoko has more and more respect for Nie Rongzhen and more and more fondness. Although the language is not spoken, Mihoko can feel Nie Rongzhen's love, and in Mihoko's heart, she has regarded Nie Rongzhen as her father, a tender and watery hot-blooded marshal. Although the two little girls were Japanese, Nie Rongzhen did not discriminate against them or even abuse them, but gave them fatherly care. However, Nie Rongzhen understood that this was never the best place for children.
It's the front line of war, where people are killed every day and there are all kinds of accidents every day. For two children who are not yet involved in the world, living here means being afraid every day. No matter what kind of contradictions and disputes there are among adults, children are innocent and should grow up in a safe, peaceful and stable environment. Of course, there is a very important reason, that is, these two Japanese children and everyone do not speak the language, are still little girls, and there are many inconveniences in life.
So after some discussion with everyone, Nie Rongzhen made a decision, that is, to send the two children back to the Japanese military camp, and then let the Japanese side send them back to Japan. So that the two children can grow up smoothly and have a stable and happy childhood.
Mihoko's way back home
After deciding to send the Miho sisters back to Japan, Nie Rongzhen wrote a letter with the following content: "The Japanese valve is violent, invading China, and the war lasts for four years. The chinese and Japanese people are killed, injured, or disabled, and the number of displaced people is unknown. The responsibility for such a tragic incident shall be borne entirely by the Sun Valve. The spirit of the Eighth Route Army's internationalism, the most benevolent and righteous, has a beginning and an end, and must fight to the end for the survival of the Chinese nation and the eternal peace of mankind, and must fight to the end against the barbaric and violent Sun Valve. If we hope that the emperor and others will suddenly awaken and join hands with the Chinese soldiers and the people to seek liberation, Japan will be very fortunate, and China will be very fortunate. ”
Nie Shuai's meaning is very obvious, that is, treat people with courtesy, not for tat, eye for eye. Because it was precisely because of the Japanese invasion of China that many people in China were displaced, and how many children were lost to their parents like Mihoko. The occurrence of such a tragedy is entirely the responsibility of the Japanese side. If the Eighth Route Army, like the Japanese side, ignores etiquette, righteousness, shame, and disregards life, then the Mihoko sisters will certainly not be safe. But the Eighth Route Army was able to put aside its prejudices and take good care of the two young children precisely out of humanitarian spirit. I hope that the Japanese side will wake up as soon as possible, which is a blessing for the world and also for the people of the two countries.
After a brief introduction to the two children and some bitter persuasion, Nie Rongzhen handed over the handwritten letter to a trustworthy fellow. The fellow walked through the hail of bullets and bullets, took the two children and a handwritten letter from Nie Shuai to the enemy's barracks. The Mihoko sisters successfully returned to the Japanese military camp and were subsequently sent back to Japan to live a stable life.
War saves orphans, and good stories last forever
On August 15, 1945, a day of universal celebration, Japan announced its unconditional surrender, and the Chinese finally defeated fascism, ushered in victory, and ushered in peace. In this War of Resistance Against Japan, the soldiers who took the lead in using their flesh and blood to build a defensive line for our people. In 1955, Nie Rongzhen was awarded the rank of Marshal of the People's Republic of China and the Order of August 1, First Class, The Order of Independence and Freedom of the First Class, and the Liberation Medal of the First Class.
After many years, Nie Shuai has changed from a spirited teenager to an amiable old man. In 1980, the People's Liberation Army Daily and the People's Liberation Army Pictorial published an article about the story behind the War of Resistance Against Japan. It tells the story of Marshal Nie Rongzhen who rescued a Japanese girl in the war. After this article was published, it caused Nie Shuai to reminisce, but he did not want to achieve an unexpected fate.
It turned out that the Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan's largest newspaper at the time, reprinted the article and published it on the front page of the newspaper under the headline "Sister Mihoko, Marshal of China Nie Rongzhen Misses You." The news attracted widespread attention from the Japanese people, and a woman named Mihoko also noticed the news. After repeated confirmation, Mihoko burst into tears with excitement, and the savior she had been thinking about for so many years was the protagonist in the article, Marshal Nie Rongzhen.
Knowing that her savior was in Beijing, the capital of China, Mihoko immediately made a decision, that is, to rush to Beijing to thank her savior, Nie Rongzhen, in person. In 1980, after 40 years, the Mihoko family waited in the hall of the Great Hall of the People early under the arrangement of the relevant personnel, at this time, the reporters of the major media were already in place, waiting to capture the wonderful footage of this special meeting.
When she saw Nie Rongzhenyuan, then vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, appear accompanied by her family, Mihoko excitedly did not know what to do. She chose her own way of gratitude, that is, to give her "regenerative father", that is, marshal Nie Rongzhen, the life-saving benefactor, to kneel down and thank the grace of saving her life. Nie Shuai was also very excited to see Mei Suizi, and when he saw Mihoko kneeling, he quickly helped her up. Time flies, and Nie Shuai, who was full of vigor at that time, has become an old man with great achievements in battle. And the little girl who was ignorant at that time also passed the age of confusion.
Mihoko brought Nie Shuai a special gift, a calligraphy and painting with the words "Sino-Japanese Friendship Forever and Everlasting". Nie Shuai nodded happily after seeing this gift, and Lian said: "Sino-Japanese friendship is the road to development, and peaceful coexistence can make common progress." "At this time, we are in the period of repair of Sino-Japanese relations, and the relations between the two countries are gradually heating up. Nie Shuai's good story of saving orphans in the war was widely reported by the news media, and the Central News Documentary Film Studio also filmed a movie called "Mihoko Visits Relatives", which recorded the story of Mihoko's visit to China in the form of art.
The war of aggression against China was an unforgivable crime committed by the Japanese aggressors, but we remember history in order to cherish peace and remember shame. It is precisely because of the existence of this period of history that my generation should work hard and devote themselves to the construction of the motherland. Only when the motherland is prosperous can we embrace peace and embrace beauty.