On a cold and windy winter day, a certain unit in Benxi, Liaoning Province ushered in an uninvited guest. An old man over seventy years old, despite the wind and snow, stumbled to the gate of the camp. The soldiers carried the fainted old man into the barracks, and when he woke up, the old man suddenly straightened his back, with tears in his eyes, and said in a hoarse and firm voice: "Chang Menglan, platoon commander of the 3rd Battalion of the 3rd Battalion of the 30th Regiment of the Jinchaji Military Region, the task is complete, please return to the team!" "
This sudden report stunned everyone present. Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region? Wasn't that the compilation made more than forty years ago? Who is this old man? What mission did he perform? Why did it take nearly half a century to return? Even more puzzling is what exactly he means by "mission accomplished"?
After the Snowy Night: The final mission of the platoon leader
In November 1948, the land of North China was enveloped in a cold winter. The 4th Column of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region is facing a severe test. The large-scale encirclement and suppression of the Kuomintang troops was imminent, and the troops received an order to urgently transfer. However, at the critical moment of organizing the evacuation, they encountered the main force of the Kuomintang Provisional Third Army.
Chang Menglan, platoon commander of the 30rd Battalion, 8th Company, 2nd Regiment, received a difficult task. The battalion commander ordered the 8th Company to stay behind and cover the withdrawal of the large force. He Youhai, the commander of the 8th Company, decided to adopt the strategy of blocking in sections and handed over the responsibility of the first line of defense to Chang Menglan's 2nd platoon.
"You are in charge of the first line of defense to hold off the enemy, and you can retreat until you hear the trombone blowing. Until then, no one is allowed to leave their posts, you know? Company Commander He's words were loud.
Although Chang Menglan and his comrades-in-arms understood that this could be a life-or-death mission, none of them flinched. They replied firmly: "The company commander is assured, I promise to complete the mission!" "
At this time, the 2nd platoon, after several previous battles, there were only eight people left, including Chang Menglan. Faced with such a predicament, Chang Menglan quickly made arrangements. He scattered the fighters in the snow and took advantage of the terrain to set up several points of fire. In order to ensure that the horn of the retreat could be heard, he deliberately arranged for the youngest and sharpest of the soldiers to be in charge of listening in the rear.
"Save your bullets and wait until the enemy is close. The machine gunner takes aim and fires again, not wasting ammunition. Just hold out until the horn sounds, and we're ready to retreat! Chang Menglan repeatedly told every comrade-in-arms.
As night falls, the cold wind howls and snowflakes fly. The Kuomintang troops gradually approached, but they did not expect an ambush here. When the first shots pierced the silent night sky, the enemy forces were thrown into chaos. Chang Menglan and his comrades-in-arms used limited ammunition to fight extremely accurately. Coupled with the sudden strafing of the machine gunners, the enemy could not judge the number of ambushed troops for a while, and did not dare to rashly attack.
Time passed minute by minute, and the eight people actually dragged the main force of the enemy army for nearly an hour. The large force should have been evacuated to safety, but there was not much ammunition left for the 2 platoon. The soldiers began to urge Chang Menglan to retreat, but he never heard the promised horn.
"Keep it up! Without the sound of the trumpet, we can't take a step back! Chang Menglan gritted her teeth and ordered.
As time went on, the pressure on the enemy army increased. They began to use tanks and flares, trying to break through this seemingly weak line of defense. Chang Menglan realized that he had to change his tactics, so he ordered his comrades to disperse their actions, break them into pieces, and continue to block the enemy.
In this way, Chang Menglan led the few remaining comrades-in-arms to fight the enemy in the vast snow for a whole night. Sometimes hidden, sometimes raiding, they have created the greatest results with extremely limited resources. Every firefight, every shift, can be the last moment of life. But they always stuck to their inner beliefs and fulfilled their promises to the company commander.
However, war is brutal. When the east turned white, Chang Menglan found that he had become the only survivor. He endured his grief and continued to accomplish this difficult task. It was only after confirming that the enemy had been thrown away that he dragged his tired body to the predetermined meeting point.
"Assemble! Gather! Chang Menglan shouted loudly, but the only thing that responded to him was the howling north wind. After a whole day of searching in the snow, he finally had to face the cruel truth: his comrades had all died honorably.
At this time, Chang Menglan was in a dilemma. The large army is gone, and this is still a national control area. He feared that blind pursuit would make it easier to encounter the Kuomintang troops. After careful consideration, he decided to make a detour back to his hometown first, waiting for the opportunity to look for troops.
In this way, a thrilling post-break mission came to an end for the time being, but for Chang Menglan, the real test had just begun. What he didn't know was that the mission would affect him for the rest of his life, and it wasn't until that cold winter day forty-eight years later that he finally had the opportunity to report to the organization: the mission was complete.
A test of life and death: a difficult choice to hold your ground
As time passed, Chang Menglan and his comrades-in-arms faced an increasingly grim situation. The enemy attack became more and more intense, bullets whizzed by, and shells exploded all around. The snow was red with artillery fire, and the air was filled with the pungent smell of gunsmoke.
Chang Menglan's 2nd row originally had only eight people, and now it is even more stretched. Their ammunition reserves have drastically decreased, and every round has become incomparably precious. Chang Menglan had to adjust his tactics again, ordering his comrades to fire only when necessary and save ammunition as much as possible.
"Aim and shoot, one shot must take down an enemy!" Chang Menglan shouted loudly, his voice almost drowned out by the sound of artillery fire.
Enemy tanks began to move forward, flares illuminating the night sky as if it were day. Chang Menglan realized that their situation had become more precarious. He ordered his comrades to disperse farther away, use the cover of the terrain, and continue to carry out guerrilla blockades.
At this moment, a soldier suddenly shouted: "Platoon commander, Zhang San has died!" "
Chang Menglan's heart sank suddenly. Zhang San was the youngest of them, just turning eighteen. But now is not the time to grieve, they must continue to fight.
"Keep holding your ground! Wait for the horn to sound! Chang Menglan said firmly.
However, as time went on, more comrades-in-arms fell. Li Si was shot while covering the retreat of the others, and Wang Wu, in order to save the last grenade, chose to die with the enemy who rushed up. Every time she lost a comrade-in-arms, Chang Menglan felt a heart-rending pain. But he knew that their sacrifice would not be in vain and that they must continue to complete the task.
At dawn, Chang Menglan found herself the last person standing. His clothes were soaked with blood and sweat, and his face was covered in gunsmoke and mud. But he still clutched the rifle in his hand, watching his surroundings warily.
The enemy's offensive seems to have weakened, probably mistaken for the annihilation of the defenses here. Chang Menglan took advantage of this opportunity to quietly move between the positions, sometimes shooting, sometimes throwing grenades, creating the illusion that there were still many people defending.
This situation lasted until noon the next day. Chang Menglan was exhausted, but he never gave up. He knew that as long as he held on, it meant that the large army had more time to evacuate to safety.
However, a disturbing fact began to haunt Chang Menglan's mind: why hadn't he heard the horn of retreat until now? Is the sound of the horn muffled by artillery fire? Or did you say something unexpected?
Although her heart was full of doubts, Chang Menglan still stuck to her post. He remembered the order of the company commander: not to take a step back until the horn sounded. As a soldier, obedience to orders is the most basic criterion.
By the evening of the next day, the enemy's offensive had significantly weakened. Chang Menglan judged that this may be because the enemy thought that this position had been "taken" and began to transfer the main force to pursue the main force. However, he still watched his surroundings vigilantly, not daring to relax in the slightest.
At this moment, Chang Menglan heard a noise in the distance. He cautiously poked his head out and saw a group of civilians coming out of a nearby village. Their faces were filled with horror and confusion, apparently frightened by the fierce battle that had lasted for a day and a night.
Chang Menglan realized that there was no point in continuing to hold on here. The main forces of the enemy have withdrawn, and their presence may pose a danger to innocent civilians. Although he did not hear the horn of retreat, he understood that it was time to make a difficult decision.
With deep apologies for the sacrifice of her comrades, Chang Menglan finally decided to leave the position. He carefully avoided enemy forces that might still be lurking nearby, and headed in a direction where the large army might retreat. However, what awaits him will be a longer search.
This test of life and death not only tested Chang Menglan's military literacy, but also tested his willpower and persistence in faith. In the years that followed, the experience would become an eternal imprint on his heart, pushing him to continue his search for the truth and accomplish that seemingly never-ending task.
Incognito: Forty-eight years of waiting
After leaving the battlefield, Chang Menglan was faced with a difficult choice. He must not reveal his identity rashly, but must find a way to continue his mission. After much deliberation, he decided to return to his hometown for the time being, waiting for the right moment to look for troops.
At the beginning of 1949, Chang Menglan returned to her hometown in Benxi, Liaoning. To avoid suspicion, he concocted a story to his family and neighbors that he had to flee back to his hometown when he was in a foreign country doing business and had to flee to his hometown. Although the family was a little confused, they didn't ask much, just relieved that he had returned safely.
However, Chang Menglan did not let her guard down. He knew that even after the founding of New China, there were still many lurking Kuomintang spies. To protect himself and his family, he had to keep a low profile. He began working in a small local factory and lived the life of an ordinary worker.
Outside of work, Chang Menglan has been secretly looking for opportunities to get in touch with the organization. He often kept an eye out for gossip in the streets, hoping to hear a few words about the troops. Whenever he heard that there was a gathering of veterans, he would try to inquire about the situation, but always to no avail.
With the passage of time, Chang Menglan's life seems to be peaceful, but in fact there is an undercurrent. He got married, had children, and became an ordinary head of the household. But in the dead of night, he would recall that snowy night, those sacrificed comrades, and that unfinished task. This became an eternal concern in his heart, driving him to keep waiting, to keep searching.
In 1978, the reform and opening up policy was implemented. The social atmosphere gradually opened up, and Chang Menglan saw new hope. He began to look more actively for clues, and even tried to write letters to the relevant departments, hoping to find out where the troops had gone. However, due to the passage of time, many archives have been lost, and his efforts have not been answered.
In the 80s, Chang Menglan was already over the age of six. His children are married, and his grandchildren are growing up. In the eyes of his family, he is an ordinary retired old man. But only Chang Menglan himself knows that he still has an unfinished mission in his heart.
In 1989, Chang Menglan happened to see a report on the TV news about a veteran looking for his comrades. This gave him new inspiration. He began to publish missing person notices in local newspapers, hoping to find his former comrades-in-arms or insiders. Although he received some responses, none of them matched his experience.
As she grew older, Chang Menglan's physical condition became weaker and weaker. But he still insists on getting up early every day to exercise and maintain a good mental state. He told his family that it was for health. But only he knows that he is preparing for the day that may come.
In 1995, Chang Menglan received a letter from the military region. The letter said that someone had seen his missing person notice and provided some clues. This made Chang Menglan see the dawn of hope. He immediately began to prepare, planning to personally go to the military district to find the truth.
However, Chang Menglan's family strongly disagreed. They fear that their elderly father will have an accident when he travels alone. After a heated argument, Chang Menglan finally agreed to wait until the spring of the following year and be accompanied by her son.
At the beginning of 1996, Chang Menglan finally embarked on a journey to find the truth. This time, he was determined to figure out what had happened and complete the task that had lasted for nearly half a century. With the guilt of her comrades-in-arms and the desire for the truth, Chang Menglan, who was in her seventies, once again put on the dusty military uniform and moved towards an unknown fate.
The truth is revealed: the dusty past is finally revealed
In the spring of 1996, Chang Menglan, accompanied by her son, embarked on a journey to find the truth. They first came to the archives of the military region, hoping to find the combat records of that year. However, due to age, many of the archives have been damaged or lost. After a few days of searching, they only found some sporadic records, but these materials at least confirmed the existence of Chang Menglan's unit.
Unwilling to give up, Chang Menglan decided to go to the site of the battle that year to investigate. They came to a small mountain village in eastern Liaoning Province. Although the landscape has changed dramatically over the past 50 years, Chang Menglan can still make out some familiar terrain.
In the village, they met an old man who was over eighty years old. When Chang Menglan mentioned the battle in the winter of 1948, the old man's eyes suddenly lit up. It turned out that the old man lived nearby and witnessed the whole battle with his own eyes.
The old man recalled: "That night, the guns rang out all night. The next morning, we sneaked out to look and found corpses and bullet casings all over the hillside. What surprised us the most was that in a hidden corner we found a seriously wounded PLA fighter. "
Chang Menglan asked excitedly, "What happened to that warrior?" "
The old man continued: "We hid him in a cellar in the village and took turns taking care of him. Unfortunately, his injuries were too severe and he died within a few days. On his deathbed, he kept shouting 'the sound of the trumpet,' saying that 'you must wait until the trumpet' sounds. None of us understood what that meant. "
Hearing this, Chang Menglan's eyes moistened. He finally understood why he hadn't heard the horn of retreat back then—it turned out that no one had blown the horn at all.
Under the leadership of the old man, Chang Menglan came to the place where the soldier was buried. Although the grave was long unrecognizable, Chang Menglan still bowed solemnly to the land.
After returning to the village, Chang Menglan met an unexpected person - a retired history teacher. The teacher is interested in the history of the area and has been collecting relevant materials for many years. He told Chang Menglan that according to his research, there were indeed major changes in the battle that year.
The teacher explained: "According to the information I have gathered, the headquarters of your company was attacked by the enemy at that time. The company commander was killed in the melee, and the soldier in charge of blowing the trumpet was also killed. That is why no one sounded the horn of retreat. "
This news was like a bolt from the blue, and Chang Menglan was difficult to accept for a while. He always thought that he didn't hear the horn, but he didn't expect the truth to be so cruel.
"It is even more regrettable that the main forces do not know your situation due to the loss of communications," the teacher continued. They always thought that you were all sacrificed, so they did not send anyone to search for you. "
Chang Menglan was silent for a long time, and finally asked, "So, what about the other comrades-in-arms?" Did anyone survive? "
The teacher shook his head: "According to my investigation, except for you and the warrior who was rescued by the villagers, everyone else died in the battle. Your heroic deeds were once passed down in the area, but over time they have been forgotten. "
Although the truth is heart-wrenching, Chang Menglan finally let go of the burden in her heart. He knew that he did not disobey orders, but did his best to complete the task under extremely difficult circumstances.
Before returning to her hometown, Chang Menglan decided to come to the hillside where she fought again. Standing on the land where he had fought bloodily, he seemed to be back to that snowy night. He thought of Zhang San, Li Si, Wang Wu, and all the other comrades-in-arms who sacrificed their lives for the country.
Chang Menglan took out a small cloth bag from his pocket, which contained a medal he had treasured for many years—the one he had received when he enlisted in the army. He buried the medal on the hillside as a permanent memorial to his fallen comrades.
After returning to her hometown, Chang Menglan began to sort out this dusty history. He wrote a memoir about his experiences and the findings of this visit, hoping to make more people aware of this little-known history.
In 1997, thanks to Chang Menglan's efforts, the local government erected a monument in that small mountain village, which was inscribed with the inscription "Unknown heroes who died bravely to defend the motherland are immortalized." Every year on the Qingming Festival, Chang Menglan will bring her family here to pay tribute to those comrades-in-arms who once fought side by side.
As time passed, Chang Menglan's story began to attract more people's attention. Further investigation and research of this history was carried out by the relevant authorities, and more details were revealed. The deeds of Chang Menglan and his comrades-in-arms were written into the local chronicles and became a precious memory of that era.
Return of Glory: The Hero's Final Destination
In 2000, Chang Menglan's story was reported by the media and attracted wide attention from all walks of life. People were touched by his nearly half-century of persistence and loyalty to his comrades-in-arms. Subsequently, the veterans' affairs department intervened and conducted a detailed investigation and verification of Chang Menglan's experience.
In the spring of 2001, a news came that made Chang Menglan very excited: after layers of review, the relevant departments officially confirmed his military status and decided to reissue his veteran card. On this day, Chang Menglan put on a military uniform that she had treasured for many years and went to the local Veterans Affairs Bureau accompanied by her family.
When the head of the authorities handed over the red veterans' card to Chang Menglan, everyone present couldn't help but be moved. This small document is not only a recognition of Chang Menglan's identity, but also an affirmation of his persistence for more than half a century. Chang Menglan took the document with trembling hands, tears flashing in her eyes.
Subsequently, Chang Menglan was invited to participate in a local veterans' symposium. At the meeting, he recounted his experience. When he spoke of the battle on that snowy night, and the long wait that followed, the whole room fell silent. Many veterans burst into tears when they heard this, and they came forward to shake hands with him and pay their respects.
In 2002, Chang Menglan's story was put on the screen. A movie called "Horn on a Snowy Night" was released, which tells the heroic deeds of him and his comrades. The film has aroused strong repercussions across the country, allowing more people to understand this dusty history. Chang Menglan was invited to attend the premiere, and when he saw the snowy night recreated on the screen, it seemed that he had returned to the battlefield of the year.
The success of the film has made the deeds of Chang Menglan and his comrades-in-arms more widely recognized. In 2003, the Ministry of Education decided to include this period of history in secondary school history textbooks as a vivid teaching material for patriotic education. Chang Menglan was invited to give presentations at many schools to tell the younger generation about those eventful years.
In 2005, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japan, Chang Menglan received a special invitation to participate in a military parade in Beijing. Despite her advanced age, Chang Menglan still straightened her back, put on a straight military uniform, and rode in a courtesy car with other veterans to slowly drive through Tiananmen Square. As their motorcade passed, the audience erupted in thunderous applause, a way to pay tribute to the heroes of these countries.
After returning to her hometown, Chang Menglan's life has changed a lot. The local government arranged better housing for him and assigned someone to take care of his daily life. On major festivals, officials always come to visit him and ask him about his physical condition and living needs.
In 2008, Chang Menglan ushered in her 85th birthday. On this special day, he received an unexpected gift - a "Commemorative Medal for the Victory of the Anti-Japanese War" issued by the state. This heavy medal embodies the country's gratitude to the veterans. Chang Menglan solemnly collected this medal, intending to pass it on to future generations in the future, so that they will always remember this history.
In 2010, Chang's health began to deteriorate. Despite this, he still insists on getting up early every day to exercise and maintain a good mental state. He often said: "A soldier, even if he is discharged from the army, must always maintain the style of a soldier." His spirit is infectious, and everyone around him is infected.
In the spring of 2012, Chang Menglan came to that small mountain village for the last time. In front of the monument, he said his final goodbyes to his comrades-in-arms who were buried here. "Brothers, our story is finally known," he said. You can rest in peace. "
In the winter of 2013, on a snowy night, Chang Menglan passed away peacefully. In accordance with his last wishes, his family buried him on the hillside where his comrades were laid to rest. At the funeral, people from all over the country came to say goodbye. There were veterans, ordinary people who had been touched by his story, and government officials who had made a special trip.
Chang Menglan's life is an ordinary and extraordinary life. He spent nearly 70 years interpreting what is the persistence and loyalty of a soldier. His story has become a witness of an era and will forever be engraved on the monument of history.
After Chang Menglan's death, the local government decided to keep his story alive and permanent. His old house has been converted into a small memorial that displays objects and related historical materials that he used during his lifetime. Numerous tourists come every year to learn about this little-known piece of history.
In 2018, to commemorate Chang Menglan and his comrades-in-arms, a newly built local middle school was named "Snow Night Company". On the school's playground, there is a sculpture depicting Chang Menglan and her comrades-in-arms holding their positions in the snowy night. This sculpture is not only a commemoration of heroes, but also an inspiration and spur to the next generation.