Everyone in the world knows the heroic sacrifice of General Zuo Quan in the Eighth Route Army, but few people know about another civilian general with the same name. In May 1942, the situation in the Taihang Mountains changed abruptly, the Japanese army "swept up", and the headquarters of the Eighth Route Army was in danger. At this moment, a literati with a pen in hand stepped forward and fought side by side with General Zuo Quan. They wrote a tragic chapter in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.
Who is this literati general? Why is he on par with General Zuo Quan? And how did he keep fighting in the midst of the war? Why did General Liu Bocheng praise them for "one article and one martial arts, and two generals were martyred one after another"? Let's peel back the dust of history and explore this little-known past.
1. He Yun's early experience
In 1905, Shangyu, Zhejiang ushered in a baby destined to be extraordinary, he was the later anti-Japanese hero He Yun. He Yun, who was born in a scholarly family, has been well educated since he was a child. However, no one expected that this mild-mannered young man would become a literati general galloping across the battlefield in the future.
When he was a teenager, He Yun showed extraordinary intelligence. He is an avid reader, especially history and literature. Whenever he reads about the deeds of ancient heroes and heroes, He Yun is always enthusiastic, and secretly vows to contribute to the country. This patriotic feeling played an important role in his future life.
In 1924, at the age of 19, He Yun was admitted to Fudan University in Shanghai with excellent results. In this metropolis that embraces all rivers, He Yun is hungry for new knowledge. Not only did he study hard in his professional courses, but he also read progressive books extensively and paid attention to current affairs at home and abroad. It was during his studies at Fudan that He Yun's thinking gradually progressed and he began to come into contact with revolutionary theory.
However, He Yun was not satisfied with his studies at home. In 1928, he resolutely decided to study in Japan, hoping to learn advanced knowledge and contribute to China's development. During his stay in Japan, He Yun not only studied diligently, but also paid close attention to the changes in the situation between China and Japan. He witnessed the expansion of Japanese militarism, and his worries grew day by day.
September 18, 1931, a day destined to go down in history, completely changed the trajectory of He Yun's life. When he heard that the Japanese army brazenly launched the "Wicker Lake Incident" and invaded the northeast of the mainland, He Yun could no longer hold back the anger in his heart. He immediately packed his bags and rushed to the port of Yokohama overnight to catch the first ferry to Shanghai.
On the way back to China, He Yun's heart was full of complicated emotions. He was both angry at the aggression against his motherland and excited that he finally had the opportunity to serve his motherland. He secretly vowed that he would use what he had learned to contribute to the cause of resisting Japan and saving the country.
However, upon returning to China, He Yun soon discovered that the Nationalist Government had adopted a passive attitude towards Japan's aggression. In June 1933, an enraged He Yun published a scathing article in Shanghai in which he harshly criticized the Chiang Kai-shek government's "inaction" on the Northeast issue. The article caused an uproar, and He Yun was imprisoned for it.
The days in prison did not wear down He Yun's fighting spirit. On the contrary, this experience strengthened his determination to fight for the cause of national liberation. After many rescues organized by the organization, He Yun finally regained his freedom. After being released from prison, he did not fall silent, but more actively devoted himself to the torrent of anti-Japanese salvation.
In 1935, He Yun joined the Communist Party of China and embarked on the road of revolution. He was well aware of the power of words, and was determined to use the pen to awaken the people and unite the anti-Japanese forces. This choice laid the foundation for him to become a civilian general in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in the future.
In this way, an ordinary young man in Zhejiang experienced a series of life transitions such as studying, studying abroad, returning to China, being imprisoned, being released from prison, and joining the party, and finally grew into a staunch communist fighter. He Yun's early experience not only shaped his indomitable character, but also fully prepared him to play an important role in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression in the future.
2. Devoted himself to journalism and founded the North China edition of Xinhua Daily
In 1937, the all-out war of resistance broke out. He Yun learned that Yan'an was in urgent need of news talents, and immediately asked Ying to go. After a long journey, he finally reached this revolutionary holy land. In Yan'an, He Yun was assigned to Xinhua Daily as the editor of the "International News" column.
This job is both a challenge and an opportunity for He Yun. Every day, he reads a large number of international telecommunications, sifting through the most important information and presenting it to his readers in clear and concise language. He Yun's writing skills and international perspective have been put to good use in this position, and his international news analysis is often praised by colleagues and readers.
However, He Yun is not satisfied with just being an editor. He is well aware that in this war for the survival of the nation, journalists shoulder a more important mission. At the end of 1937, an important task fell to He Yun: to go to the anti-Japanese base areas in the north and southeast of Jin, and set out to establish the North China edition of Xinhua Daily.
After receiving this task, He Yun immediately began intensive preparations. He conducted an in-depth study of the political, economic, and cultural conditions in North China and formulated a detailed plan for the launch of the journal. Before leaving, he also specially consulted Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, and other leaders and listened to their instructions and suggestions on running the newspaper.
At the beginning of 1938, He Yun took several assistants and embarked on an arduous journey to North China. On the way, they were repeatedly "swept up" by the Japanese army and had to hide in caves or peasant homes. Despite this, He Yun never gave up his determination to run a newspaper. He spends every minute of his journey thinking about the layout of a newspaper or drafting a speech.
After nearly a year of preparation, the North China edition of Xinhua Daily was finally officially launched on January 1, 1939. The birth of this newspaper filled the gap of the lack of party newspapers in the anti-Japanese base areas in North China, and became an important position for disseminating the party's voice and boosting the morale of the military and the people.
As the editor-in-chief of the North China edition of Xinhua Daily, He Yun poured all his heart and soul into it. He personally formulated editorial guidelines, organized interviews and reports, and reviewed important manuscripts. Under his leadership, the newspaper has formed a team that can fight tough battles. They braved hardships and dangers, went to the front line to conduct interviews, and reported the latest developments on the battlefield of resistance against Japan in a timely manner.
He Yun attaches special importance to giving play to the role of newspapers in guiding public opinion. He often organized editors to study the party's principles and policies, and demanded that the reports not only reflect the party's propositions, but also be close to the needs of the masses. Thanks to his efforts, the North China edition of Xinhua Daily not only became "the bright ears, discerning eyes, and mouthpiece of the people of North China", but also became "the guide of the War of Resistance in North China".
In the early days of its establishment, due to difficult conditions, the newspaper could only be printed by hand-cranked printing presses, with a daily circulation of only a few hundred copies. But thanks to the efforts of He Yun and his colleagues, the newspaper's influence expanded rapidly. By 1941, the North China edition of Xinhua Daily had a daily circulation of more than 30,000 copies, and it had become the spiritual food for the military and civilians in the Taihang Mountains.
In order to expand the coverage of the newspaper, He Yun also organized manpower to write posters and mimeographed bulletins, and trained "newspaper readers" to go deep into the countryside to preach. These measures have greatly improved the effectiveness of the newspaper's dissemination and enabled the party's voice to reach the grassroots level.
In the process of running the newspaper, He Yun always adhered to the principle of seeking truth from facts. He urged reporters to go deep into reality, conduct investigations and studies, and refrain from engaging in false propaganda. Once, when a report was sent to him that exaggerated the results, he did not hesitate to return it and seriously criticize the people involved.
He Yun also attaches great importance to cultivating journalistic talents. He often lectures young journalists and teaches interview writing skills. Under his training, many fledgling young people grew into outstanding journalists and made important contributions to the anti-Japanese propaganda cause in North China.
At the beginning of 1941, the North China Branch of Xinhua News Agency was established, and He Yun was appointed as the branch chief. This meant that he was in charge of both the news agency and the newspaper. In the face of heavy tasks, He Yun did not slack off. He often worked late into the night, sometimes even through the night.
Under He Yun's leadership, the North China edition of Xinhua Daily and the North China Branch of Xinhua News Agency became important public opinion positions in the anti-Japanese base areas in North China, and played an irreplaceable role in persisting in the War of Resistance behind enemy lines in North China and consolidating the anti-Japanese democratic regime.
3. News reports on the Battle of the Hundred Regiments
In August 1940, the headquarters of the Eighth Route Army launched the largest active offensive since the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression - the Battle of the Hundred Regiments. As the editor-in-chief of the North China edition of Xinhua Daily and the head of the Xinhua News Agency's North China Branch, He Yun was well aware of the importance of this battle. He immediately convened a meeting of the newsroom and reporters to deploy a comprehensive reporting plan.
He Yun personally led a capable reporting team to go to the front line to conduct interviews. They were not afraid of hardships and dangers, shuttled through the rain of bullets, and strived to convey the battle situation to the rear as soon as possible. On the rugged mountain roads of the Taihang Mountains, He Yun and his reporters often had to climb mountains and mountains, sometimes even climbing steep cliffs with the help of ropes.
In an interview, He Yun's reporting team was attacked by the Japanese army. In the face of the enemy's fierce firepower, He Yun was calm and calm, and commanded everyone to move quickly. During the retreat, he did not forget to collect battlefield intelligence, and also rescued several wounded soldiers of the Eighth Route Army. This experience not only made He Yun more deeply appreciate the cruelty of war, but also made him more admired the bravery of the front-line soldiers.
In order to fully understand the situation of the Battle of the Hundred Regiments, He Yun also visited the senior generals who participated in the command many times, such as Peng Dehuai, Zuo Quan and others. Through in-depth conversations, he not only gained first-hand strategic intelligence, but also gained an in-depth understanding of the commanders' operational thinking and judgment of the situation. This valuable information provides important context and depth for subsequent reporting.
During the Battle of the Hundred Regiments, He Yun wrote a number of far-reaching battlefield reports. Among them, the article "Taihang Beacon Fire" vividly depicts the scene of the heroic battle of the officers and men of the Eighth Route Army, and after the article was published, it aroused strong repercussions in the base area and greatly encouraged the fighting spirit of the army and the people. Another report, entitled "The Contest on the Railway Line," recorded in detail the tactics of the Eighth Route Army in sabotaging the Japanese lines of communication, revealing the tremendous power of guerrilla warfare.
He Yun's report was not limited to the description of the battle situation, but also deeply analyzed the strategic significance of the Battle of the Hundred Regiments. In his article "Advancing to the Plains", he explained how this battle broke the Japanese army's policy of "encroachment" and expanded the scope of anti-Japanese base areas. This article was reprinted by many anti-Japanese newspapers and periodicals, and played an important role in enhancing the confidence of the people across the country in the War of Resistance.
In the process of reporting, He Yun paid special attention to collecting the stories of ordinary soldiers and civilians. He believes that the experiences of these ordinary people are the most moving. For example, he interviewed a young soldier who had lost his arms in battle and insisted on delivering ammunition, and wrote about his story in a moving report, "The Warrior with a Broken Arm." This article was not only published in the North China edition of Xinhua Daily, but also compiled into the anthology of the Anti-Japanese War, becoming a classic work that inspires future generations.
He Yun's report not only focused on the side of victory, but also objectively reflected the difficulties and setbacks encountered in the battle. In an article entitled "The Difficult March," he faithfully recorded the stubborn resistance of the Eighth Route Army in attacking a Japanese stronghold, and the eventual victory at great sacrifices. This attitude of seeking truth from facts has won the trust of readers and left valuable historical materials for future generations.
The report of the Battle of the Hundred Regiments allowed He Yun to establish a deep friendship with many officers and soldiers of the Eighth Route Army. He often had long talks with front-line commanders and rank-and-file soldiers to learn about their lives and thoughts. These exchanges not only enriched the content of his reports, but also gave him a deeper understanding of the nature and significance of the War of Resistance Against Japan.
After the end of the Battle of the Hundred Regiments, He Yun organized the editorial department to systematically summarize the entire campaign. He led the team to collect and sort out a large number of war diaries, war reports and personal memories, and compiled them into the book "Records of the Battle of the Hundred Regiments". This book not only records the whole process of the battle in detail, but also makes an in-depth analysis of its strategic significance and historical impact, and has become an important reference material for studying the history of the War of Resistance Against Japan.
Through the coverage of the Battle of the Hundred Regiments, He Yun and the news team he led not only exercised their ability to cover and report on the battlefield, but also explored a set of journalistic work methods suitable for the base areas behind enemy lines in practice. These experiences laid a solid foundation for the subsequent reporting of the Anti-Japanese War, and also made important contributions to the development of China's revolutionary journalism.
4. In the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, he presided over the work of the Central News Agency
On October 1, 1949, the People's Republic of China was proclaimed. With the birth of the People's Republic of China, He Yun's journalism career has also turned a new page. With his extensive experience in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the War of Liberation, He Yun was appointed as the vice president of the newly established Central News Agency, presiding over social affairs.
After taking over the work of the Central News Agency, He Yun's first challenge was how to quickly establish a nationwide news gathering and dissemination network. He organized personnel to take over the equipment and personnel of the former Kuomintang Central News Agency, and at the same time actively prepared for the establishment of new branches and news stations. In just a few months, the Central News Agency has established branches in major provinces and municipalities across the country, and has initially formed a nationwide news and communications network.
In order to improve the quality and efficiency of news reporting, He Yun vigorously promoted technological innovation. He personally led a team to inspect the Soviet news agencies and learn advanced telecommunications technology and news gathering and editing methods. After returning to China, He Yun presided over the formulation of the modernization plan of the Central News Agency, and introduced the most advanced teletypewriters and radio transmission equipment at that time, which greatly increased the speed of news dissemination.
Under the leadership of He Yun, the Central News Agency not only undertook the task of collecting and disseminating domestic news, but also shouldered the important task of disseminating China's voice to the international community. When the Korean War broke out in 1950, He Yun immediately organized capable forces and set up a special foreign news reporting team. They worked day and night to inform the rest of the world of China's position and viewpoint in a timely manner, and effectively supported China's diplomatic struggle.
He Yun attaches great importance to the training of a new generation of journalists. He personally teaches news writing and interviewing skills to new young journalists, and organizes pairs of experienced veteran journalists with newcomers. At his initiative, the Central News Agency has also cooperated with Peking University, Chinese People's University and other colleges and universities to establish a journalism practice base, training a large number of outstanding journalistic talents for the country.
In the early years of the founding of the People's Republic of China, a major challenge for He Yun and his colleagues was how to report on the complex international situation. In June 1950, the U.S.-backed South Korean army crossed the 38th parallel and launched an offensive against North Korea. He Yun immediately organized forces, analyzed the situation in depth, and wrote a series of far-reaching commentary articles. Among them, the article "The Essence of the Korean War" exposed the aggressive ambitions of the United States, which was highly appreciated by Chairman Mao Zedong.
He Yun also paid close attention to reports on the economic construction of New China. In 1953, the first five-year plan was implemented. He Yun personally led a team to go deep into factories, rural areas, and construction sites, interviewing ordinary workers, farmers, and builders. He organized the compilation of a series of reports entitled "New China Under Construction," which comprehensively reflected the achievements of the country's economic construction and the changes in the people's lives, and had a wide impact at home and abroad.
When it comes to reporting on major political events, He Yun has also shown excellent organizational skills and news sensitivity. In 1954, when the first National People's Congress was held, He Yun led the reporter team of the Central News Agency to carry out all-round coverage. They not only conveyed the dynamics of the meeting in a timely manner, but also conducted in-depth interviews with deputies to the people's congress from all over the country, vividly showing the democratic political life of New China.
As the main person in charge of the Central News Agency, He Yun often needs to participate in important foreign affairs activities. In 1955, the Asian-African Conference was held in Bandung, Indonesia. He Yun attended the historic meeting as a member of the Chinese press delegation. He not only brilliantly fulfilled the task of covering the conference, but also took advantage of this opportunity to establish extensive contacts with journalists from other Asian and African countries, thus opening up new channels for international exchanges in China's journalism.
During his tenure as vice president of the Central News Agency, He Yun always adhered to the journalistic principle of seeking truth from facts. He stressed on many occasions at internal meetings that news reports should be objective and fair, and that problems should not be exaggerated or concealed for the sake of propaganda results. This rigorous work style has won the Central News Agency a good social reputation.
By 1956, under He Yun's leadership, the Central News Agency had grown into a large news organization with thousands of employees and coverage across the country. It is not only the main source of domestic news and information, but also an important window to spread China's voice to the world. He Yun made great contributions to the development of journalism in New China and laid a solid foundation for the further development of China's journalism in the future.
5. Later life and journalism education
After 1956, He Yun gradually retired from front-line journalism, but his love and contribution to journalism did not stop. He devoted more of his energy to journalism education and nurturing future talent.
In 1957, He Yun was invited to the Department of Journalism of the Chinese University as a visiting professor. He offers students a course called "News Gathering and Writing" to pass on his decades of practical journalism experience to the younger generation. He Yun's classes are always full, and not only students from his own department are eager to attend the lectures, but also students from other faculties often come to the lectures.
In his lectures, He Yun particularly emphasized the sense of social responsibility of journalists. He often told his students about his reporting experience during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the War of Liberation, and stressed that journalists should go deep among the masses and reflect the truth. Once, He Yun recalled to the students a detail from his 1940 interview on the Battle of the Hundred Regiments. At that time, he braved the rain of bullets to interview a village that had just been liberated, and a fellow villager took him by the hand and said: "Comrade reporter, you must write about our sufferings so that the people of the whole country will know about them." This experience made He Yun deeply aware of the importance and responsibility of journalism.
In 1958, He Yun co-founded the China School of Journalism (later merged into the Chinese People's University) and served as its vice president. In this role, he worked to establish a systematic journalism education system. He Yun presided over the formulation of the syllabus of journalism, emphasizing the combination of theory and practice. He proposed the teaching model of "integration of editing and acquisition", which requires students not only to learn to write, but also to master editing skills. This teaching method was an innovation at the time, laying the foundation for the cultivation of well-rounded journalists.
He Yun attaches great importance to journalism ethics education. He often emphasized to his students the importance of news authenticity. Once, a student exaggerated the production performance of a factory in his internship report. When He Yun learned about it, he immediately called a meeting with the whole class to discuss. "A journalist's pen must not be faked, even if it is well-intentioned," he solemnly stated. Our responsibility is to report truthfully, not to glorify reality. This incident became a widely circulated case of education in the college.
During his time at the School of Journalism, He Yun also worked to promote journalism research. He organized the compilation of The History of Chinese Journalism, which was the first book to systematically sort out the development of Chinese journalism after the founding of New China. He Yun personally wrote the part of the Anti-Japanese War period and made an important contribution to the restoration of this history.
In 1962, after his retirement, He Yun still maintained his interest in journalism. He is often invited to give presentations at major newspapers and news agencies to share his experience with young journalists. In a lecture to a reporter from the People's Daily, He Yun particularly emphasized the need for journalists to have "foot strength." He said: "A good journalist should have a pair of iron shoes under his feet, and he must go deep into the grassroots and travel all over the motherland in order to write true and vivid reports." "
In his later years, He Yun did not put down the pen in his hand. He began writing memoirs documenting his decades of journalism. This memoir is not only a summary of his personal experience, but also a microcosm of the development of journalism in China. In the book, He Yun gave a detailed account of the major news events from the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression to the early days of the founding of New China, providing valuable first-hand information for future generations to study this period of history.
In 1965, He Yun's memoir "News Man in the War" was published, which attracted widespread attention. The book vividly describes his interview experience in Yan'an, Taihang Mountain and other places, showing the hardships and perseverance of journalists in the revolutionary era. This book has not only become a must-read for journalism students, but also allowed more ordinary readers to understand journalism in that special era.
Even during the Cultural Revolution, He Yun did not stop thinking about journalism. Although he could not speak publicly, he continued to write and record his opinions on journalism. These manuscripts later became important sources for the study of the history of Chinese journalism.
After the end of the Cultural Revolution in 1976, He Yun, who was already 80 years old, once again devoted himself to journalism education. He has been invited to give presentations at universities to teach the new generation of journalists. At a report meeting, He Yun said earnestly: "Journalists must have a sense of historical responsibility, and what we record is not only the present, but also the history that will be left to future generations. "
In 1978, He Yun participated in organizing the first national congress of journalists since the founding of the People's Republic of China. At the meeting, he delivered an important speech entitled "Upholding the Truth of News and Serving the People," stressing that journalistic work should return to its essence and report facts truthfully and objectively. This speech had a far-reaching impact on journalistic work in the early days of reform and opening up.
Until the end of his life, He Yun still cared about China's journalism. He often discusses the current news hotspots with the juniors who come to visit, and maintains a strong interest in the development of new media. In 1980, He Yun died in Beijing at the age of 84. His life spanned the most turbulent era in China's modern history, and witnessed and participated in the development and changes of China's journalism.