What can the elderly do? In the eyes of many people, they can’t do anything when they get old, at most they can take care of their grandchildren and play chess. But do you know?
During the Anti-Japanese War, " Lao Tzu " appeared. They only recruited elderly people over 60 years old and dared to die. Why is such a tragic army so little known? Let’s talk about it today.
On July 7, 1937, Japan created the " Lugou Bridge Incident " that shocked China and the world, and the full-scale war of aggression against China officially kicked off. Japan's barbaric behavior aroused the anger of countless patriots across the country.
Lugou Bridge Incident
In order to expel the invaders, millions of soldiers set foot on the battlefield. Of course, the main force of the War of Resistance was the young and middle-aged.
Someone went to the front line and some stayed in the rear. The soldiers on the front line fought bravely to fight the enemy, and the left-behind personnel in the rear tried every possible way to fight against the war. , such as 70-year-old Zhang Yilin , and jointly founded "Doubao Weekly" with his 59-year-old friend Li Genyuan .
The word "fight" shows the anger of the two old people. They used their pen as their swords and called on the people of the whole country to fight to the end.
At the same time, Zhang Yilin also started writing articles himself. He is an old man who is not afraid of power. Even though he knows that the authorities will not be happy, he still strongly advocates the "three no"ism. The so-called "three nos" means "not resisting, not signing treaties that are depressed and humiliating, and not suppressing public opinion."
"Doubao Weekly"
Zhang Yilin is very prestigious in society. As soon as his article was published, it immediately attracted many people's attention. Even Cai Yuanpei, one of the "Four Great Elders" of the Republic of China, highly praised it, believing that this was the clarion call to urge the Chinese people to advance in the war of resistance.
Maybe someone is curious, who is Zhang Yilin? Why did the weekly magazine start to be done just by saying that it can still attract Cai Yuanpei's attention? This is what I have to talk about his early experience.
Zhang Yilin was born in 1967, with his courtesy name Zhongren, and is from Wuxian, Suzhou. This person was a child prodigy since childhood. He passed the scholar at the age of 12 and became a juren at the age of 18.
vs. general academic master Fan Jin . After passing the imperial examination, he turned crazy. You can see Zhang Yilin's "monster" level. At the age of 36, Zhang Yilin was assigned to work under Yuan Shikai . Because he is wise, visionary, and resourceful, he is deeply trusted by Yuan Shikai.
Yuan Shikai
In the early years of the Republic of China, Yuan Shikai was promoted to president, and Zhang Yilin was his secretary. Later, he served as director of the confidential bureau, director of education, secretary-general of the Presidential Office, etc. In those years, almost every decision made by Yuan Shikai had asked Zhang Yilin for his opinions.
The confidential documents of the Presidential Office were basically drafted and preserved by Zhang Yilin. From this we can see that he is definitely Yuan Shikai's confidant.
However, no matter how important the opinions of the confidant are, they cannot withstand the temptation of the throne. During the period when Yuan Shikai wanted to be emperor, Zhang Yilin clearly opposed it. He was persuading with great thoughts and explained all the disadvantages clearly, and Yuan Shikai was still determined to be emperor.
Zhang Yilin knew that this was a dead end, but he couldn't persuade Yuan Shikai, so he could only resign in anger. After
, Zhang Yilin returned to Suzhou and devoted himself to the book, and never asked about political affairs. While writing the book, Zhang Yilin also worked with others to improve agriculture, establish education, edit county annals, etc., and did a lot of practical things that benefit the people. This made Zhang Yilin very prestige in society, and people at that time called him "Lao Zhong".
Zhang Yilin
If Zhang Yilin belongs to a literati, then his partner Li Genyuan will be a military general.
Li Genyuan was born in 1879, from Tengchong, Yunnan. He went to Tokyo to study in 1904 and graduated from Japanese Army Non-commissioned Officer School . In 1905, he joined Tongmenghui . After the Wuchang Uprising , Li Genyuan, Cai E and others responded one after another and established the Yunnan Military Government.
Later, he also served as governor of Shaanxi Province, commander of Guangzhou Garrison, and supervisor of the Beiyang Government. Such a powerful veteran figure had to leave politics because he opposed Cao Kun's bribery of the election of the president of .After
, Li Genyuan did not return to Yunnan, but chose to stay in Suzhou. He has run a school, built a public bath, and has also publicly hired lawyers for the "Seven Gentlemen", which is very respectable. Because his character was Yinquan, people at that time respected him as "Old Yin".
Li Genyuan
Li Genyuan
Both lived together in Suzhou and worked as high-ranking officials in the Beiyang government. Li Genyuan and Zhang Yilin naturally met each other and became excellent friends, with the reputation of "the two elders from Wuxia". The two
people were in a similar mood and were too close. So when the Anti-Japanese War broke out, even though they were not young, they still wanted to contribute to the saving of the country.
Shortly after the " July 7 Incident ", the Japanese army attacked Shanghai again and launched the " August 13 Incident ". How close is Suzhou and Shanghai? I believe everyone knows it. For a moment, the city was panicked.
But those patriotic patriots didn't care about personal comfort and devoted themselves to patriotic actions.
In order to support the front line, Zhang Yilin and Li Genyuan discussed and organized an "Anti-Japanese Security Council" in Suzhou, escorting all the food, cotton coats, medicines, etc. raised to the Shanghai defenders.
Li Genyuan
Comrades are suffering, and Zhang Yilin and Li Genyuan's anger are burning. Faced with the rampant Japanese invaders, they felt that they had not done enough. Even if one is 70 years old and the other is almost 60 years old, the two still think about going to the battlefield and fighting the Japanese devils with real swords and guns.
But the army will not accept it either. When they put themselves in others, they feel that there must be an elderly person with consent.
After discussing with some patriots, it decided to mobilize the elderly nationwide to join in the fight against Japan and save the country.
In the current War of Resistance Against Japan, young people have boy scouts and women have women's Scouts, and the elderly naturally should also have "Lao Scouts". The name of "Laozi" is taken from the nickname "Xiao Fan Laozi" of the patriotic celebrity Fan Zhongyan , but it does not mean "Dad".
Anti-Japanese Children's Soldiers
Of course, the elderly are weak, how can they fight for the enemy with a strong New Year? Of course they understand this. But "the young and strong people have a long future and a long future. It would be a pity if they sacrifice more."
But older people don't have many years to survive, "It is their duty to treat death as if they are home."
This is the reason why "Lao Tzu" was created and the purpose of their creation. Although they are old, they still have the heart to serve the country and are willing to pay the price of their lives for the War of Resistance.
"Lao Tzu Army" requires that every member must be over 60 years old. Those between the ages of 55 and 59 can become a reserve army.
Anti-Japanese suicide squad
There are also clear regulations on the tasks of "Lao Talent Army". For example: ignite the detonator engine, destroy the enemy's heavy industry and weapons, sanction the local tyrants, evil gentry, traitors, etc.
tasks like this that do not require too much energy but must fight with one's life can be handed over to the "Lao Tzu" for execution.
"Lao Tzu" recruits people from all over the country, but you must have the determination to die.
Because "all young and middle-aged people do not need to sacrifice, then the 'Lao Tzu' will be in the present." After careful discussion, all the rules and declarations on the "Lao Tzu Army" were published in newspapers and magazines. This means that the "Lao Tzu" has begun to recruit soldiers.
Later, , who was 98 years old, became the commander-in-chief, Zhang Yilin was the deputy, Li Genyuan was the chief of staff, and Li Hengsheng was the logistics minister. Zhang Yilin and Li Genyuan have already introduced it above. Who are Ma Xiangbo and Li Hengsheng? He doesn't mean ordinary people.
Ma Xiangbo
Ma Xiangbo is the founder of Fudan University and has a strong appeal. Li Hengsheng is a famous industrialist who once donated one million yuan in anti-Japanese funds in one fell swoop. Literary, military generals and wealthy people gathered together, and the leadership team of the "Lao Tzu Army" began to take shape. After the recruitment information was widely published in the newspaper, it immediately caused a huge response nationwide.
The elderly are happy and feel that their old bones are finally useful.Even if you die, what are you afraid of? This is to sacrifice one's life for the country and die. Many elderly people sent telegrams and letters, requiring them to sign up.
The elderly still have such ambitions, how can young and middle-aged people not be shocked? Even women and children responded to join the war.
Soldiers and Boy Scouts
For a moment, heroic feelings surged in the hearts of every Chinese people, and the call for the War of Resistance resounded across the country. Guo Moruo also wrote an article for him, saying that Zhang Yilin and Li Genyuan are "the biggest elders in the world".
The people of the whole country were deeply shocked and felt that something was feasible, but Chiang Kai-shek disagreed.
On September 16, Chiang Kai-shek called Zhang Yilin and told them that "The key to being strict and tidy, the military name cannot be used lightly", and directly called "Lao Tzu".
Just like that, the "Lao Tzu's Army" plan to build a miscarriage, which eventually became a regret. It is precisely because of this that the "Lao Tzu Army" has become little known and drowned in the torrent of history. However, the patriotic feelings of the two old men will not disappear with the miscarriage of "Lao Tzu Jun".
Scenes after the war
According to incomplete statistics, starting from the "August 13 Incident", Suzhou local fan clubs, Red Cross Society, etc. have successively treated about 50,000 injured soldiers and held about 150,000 refugees.
The rescue operation was not forced to be terminated until the Japanese invaders approached Suzhou. The two old men Zhang Yilin and Li Genyuan played a huge role in achieving such results.
In the Battle of Songhu, most of the soldiers in the Anti-Japanese War were killed and injured. Due to the fierce war, there was no time to restrain the corpses, and many soldiers were so violent that they were wilderness.
is Zhang Yilin and Li Genyuan organized the Red Cross Society, and went to Shanghai to collect corpses for the anti-Japanese martyrs, dressed in mourning, and buried them in Shanren Bridge, Suzhou.
Shanrenqiao Village, Suzhou
In order to resettle the affected people, Li Genyuan fought until mid-November. At that time, the Japanese army was approaching Suzhou, and he chose to leave after arranging the last batch of refugees.
And Zhang Yilin didn't leave until Suzhou fell. Disguised as a monk, hid in a temple in the west of the city, and used his wealth and reputation to continue to organize the anti-Japanese war and resettle the wounded refugees.
But Suzhou has fallen after all. It is too dangerous to stay such a prestigious old man like Zhang Yilin. After being persuaded by others, he traveled from Shanghai to Hong Kong and went to Wuhan.
Later, Zhang Yilin was hired as a national political officer. In October 1943, he died of illness in Chongqing at the age of 76. In his life, he never saw the day when the War of Resistance Against Japan was victorious.
Li Genyuan
In comparison, Li Genyuan has become much lucky and lived to the time when the founding of New China. After 1949, Li Genyuan served as a member of the Southwest Military and Political Commissar and a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. He died of illness in Beijing in 1965 at the age of 86.
