The brotherhood on the road to revolution is the deepest and indelible. Yang Yangong and Yang Shangkun embody the power of this friendship. As a revolutionary predecessor, Yang Yangong used his words and deeds to influence and guide Yang Shangkun to embark on the revolutionary road. Later, Yang Shangkun followed the example of his brother and unswervingly followed the footsteps of the Marxist revolutionary cause. Until his advanced age, Yang Shangkun still cared about Yang Yangong's revolutionary feelings, and it is no wonder that when he paid tribute to his fourth brother, he would sincerely say "You made me".
The Yang family has three generations of grandchildren and can be described as a model of a revolutionary family. As the eldest son in the family, Yang Yangong received the revolutionary education of his grandfather and father since he was a child, and became the first batch of young intellectuals to accept the baptism of Marxist thought. He threw himself into the revolution with great enthusiasm, and never gave up his faith despite many hardships. Especially after the "March 31" tragedy in 1927, when his family advised him to avoid it temporarily, Yang Yangong firmly said: "Although the enemy is cruel, how can I take care of my personal safety?"
At the same time, Yang Yangong also sowed the flame of revolution in the heart of his younger brother Yang Shangkun. From elementary school to university, Yang Yangong has always guided Yang Shangkun to accept the influence of revolutionary ideas. Yang Shangkun often mentioned in his memoirs that his brother often took him to participate in revolutionary activities, get acquainted with progressive youth, and study forbidden books. Yang Yangong even personally sent him to Shanghai University for further study, instructing him to "listen to the party's teachings and study revolutionary theory well." For the young Yang Shangkun, Yang Yangong was the guide of the revolution.
In 1927, Yang Yangong died at the age of 29. This bad news undoubtedly brought a huge blow to Yang Shangkun. But soon, he ignited his fighting spirit for revenge and was determined to fight for his brother's unfinished business. Since then, Marxist theory has armed him, and revolutionary conviction has become the driving force for him to move forward. This walk has been decades, and Yang Shangkun has become an important leader of the party and the state.
As the years go by, the heroes wither one after another. However, Yang Shangkun never left Yang Yangong's revolutionary feelings behind. In 1997, the 90-year-old Yang Shangkun returned to his hometown for the third time and visited the Yang Yangong Cemetery to pay respects. When he looked at the statue, he solemnly said, "You made me who I am." This humility and gratitude from the heart shows the great influence of Yang Yangong on him.
In the last days of Yang Shangkun's life, he even ordered his relatives to bury his body not far from Yang Yangong Cemetery. The ashes of the two revolutionaries are forever rested on the same hot land, witnessing the lofty ideals they once pursued together. It can be said that this brotherly revolutionary friendship that has lasted for 100 years has created an immortal chapter in history.
Yang Yangong and Yang Shangkun are like a mirror, reflecting the sincere loyalty and hard work of the revolutionary pioneers. In turbulent times, they embarked on the path of change with their iron backbone and the courage to face death as if they were home. This revolutionary sentiment has been passed down from generation to generation among the brothers, and has become a spiritual force that travels through time and space. We are fortunate to live in an era of peace, but this history is still worth remembering and paying tribute to. Because it is precisely because of the sacrifices and struggles of those lovely people that we have a happy life today. Let us take the revolutionary family of the Yang family as a mirror, remember the revolutionary history, inherit the red gene, work hard in the new era, and make unremitting efforts to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation!