In the spring of 1943, the Japanese army gathered a large number of troops and divided them into four directions to conduct a raid on the Yanfu area. At this time, the weather was freezing cold and the Japanese army's menacing raids plunged the entire northern Jiangsu Plain into

In the spring of 1943, the Japanese army gathered a large number of troops and divided them into four directions to raid the Yanfu area. At this time, the weather was freezing and the Japanese army's fierce mopping up offensive plunged the entire Jiangsu Plain into an extremely tense atmosphere. All the soldiers and civilians in the Yanfu area were mobilized and prepared to crush this crazy Japanese attack.

As the war situation further deteriorated, the New Fourth Army decided to break out of the enemy's encirclement and advance into enemy-occupied areas to attack the puppet troops and disrupt the enemy's offensive. This required the entire army to march for more than a hundred miles day and night, and frequently fight against the Japanese and puppet troops in enemy-occupied areas.

Such a dangerous combat mission is very dangerous for Xin'an Tour Group, most of whom are only teenagers, the youngest is 9 years old, and there are many lesbians. So the superiors asked the comrades of the Xin'an Tour Group (Xin Brigade) to take off their military uniforms and put on plain clothes to fight guerrillas with the local militia.

Japanese puppet troops quickly occupied the central area of ​​Yanfu District, set up many strongholds, and continued to launch large-scale searches towards the seaside. Several small units of the new brigade interspersed among the gaps between the Japanese and puppet troops. They had to march every day, and the difficulties faced by the troops were increasing. In order to avoid the sharp edges of the Japanese and puppet troops, the squadron followed the instructions of the superiors to "concentrate transfer, disperse and hide", and once again streamlined the squadron, and sent some younger comrades and sick comrades to people's homes to "lay ambushes."

One morning, the leader of the new brigade said to 14-year-old member Chen Tong: "The enemy is very crazy, and the struggle is getting more and more intense. The large army will march and fight all night, and we are going to send you to the home of a fellow villager to ambush you." Chen Tong knew that this was the best arrangement, because little comrades like them would only slow down the marching speed of the large troops on the road, and would not be able to protect themselves in battle.

But the separation was always reluctant. Chen Tong shed tears. She told the regiment leader that she would definitely remember the regiment leader's words, ambush and protect herself, and preserve her strength for the revolution. Then the regiment leader asked a local guerrilla to escort Chen Tong to Uncle Chen's home by the sea. When leaving, the group leader told Chen Tong: is the safest among the masses, and we are invincible by relying on the masses.

Uncle Chen’s house is built against the seawall. The house is made of clay bricks. The house is in disrepair and looks dilapidated. There were roars one after another from the sea outside the dam, the northwest wind was blowing on the large grass beach, and a pile of thatch was burning on the muddy ground in the hut. This pile of thatch was used for heating in winter.

Uncle Chen's family has three members. Aunt Chen is a middle-aged woman with gray hair. Uncle Chen is an honest and honest salt-burner. There is also a daughter in the family who is two or three years older than Chen Tong. Because the daughter of a poor family did not study, she helped Uncle Chen cut grass and burn salt on weekdays.

It was freezing cold outside, and the north wind was blowing, making people tremble with fear. Aunt Chen was worried that Chen Tong was freezing and kept the fire going. Aunt Chen's family is wearing only thin clothes and eats salt wormwood seeds (the seeds of beach weeds). Every once in a while, Uncle Chen would push a cart loaded with salt and sell it at a market more than 50 miles away. In exchange, he would get some corn residue mixed with salt and wormwood to eat.

Uncle Chen’s family lived a very hard life. Most families in that era were poor. Every time Uncle Chen goes to the market to sell salt, he always comes back with some news about the New Fourth Army.

After Chen Tong arrived at Uncle Chen's house, Uncle Chen's family treated her like their own daughter. Aunt Chen told Chen Tong: "You are our child. As long as the uncle and aunt are here, no one can touch you."

Chen Tong The aunt also told Chen Tong that when the salt tyrants were rampant, the people were oppressed and suffered terribly. After the New Fourth Army overthrew the salt tyrants, life began to get better. Although the Japanese and puppet troops are rampant today, they will one day be eliminated.

Although Uncle Chen's family and Chen Tong firmly believed that victory ultimately belonged to the people, the situation was becoming increasingly severe. The Japanese and puppet troops searched the beach several times, and several times they were only a mile or two away from the hut.The expression on Uncle Chen's face became more and more serious. Aunt Chen often ran outside the house to look around, and even deliberately let Uncle Chen go out with a basket in her arms to inquire about the enemy's situation.

At that time, Chen Tong's external identity was to pretend to be the second daughter of Uncle Chen and his wife, but Chen Tong's Subei words were not authentic. Aunt Chen was worried that one day the enemy would come, so she taught Chen Tong all night to practice saying su. Northern dialect . After a period of practice, Chen Tong's Subei words were very good, but if the puppet troops did not retreat on the 5th, Uncle Chen's family would not be relieved.

One morning, when Aunt Chen was helping Chen Tong pack the sheets, she found a grenade under the pillow. This grenade was stolen by Chen Tong without telling the regiment leader. Chen Tong knew that doing so violated discipline, but she believed that this "mopping up" was different from the past. If she encountered the enemy, she could fight to the death with the enemy.

Aunt Chen looked at the grenade and told Chen Tong not to use it unless absolutely necessary. If the enemy really comes, she will deal with it with all her strength. If there is really no way out, she will use this grenade to fight.

In the evening of the next day, Uncle Chen hurried back to the house from the beach. He was sweating profusely, his face was gloomy, and his brows were pinched together nervously. But his eyes were firm. He told Aunt Chen and Chen Tong that the Japanese and puppet troops were already coming towards the hut. Don't panic, everyone, you can defeat the enemy by staying calm.

The enemy was not far away. Aunt Chen urgently wiped Chen Tong's face and neck with pot cigarette ash, then covered her hands and feet with mud, and dressed her up as a peasant girl boiling salt on the beach. Chen Tong put on a shabby dress, and her hair was deliberately made fluffy and messy. The uncle got a comb for her and put it in her hair, telling her that this was the standard outfit for girls from Yanfu families.

At this time, the Japanese cavalry appeared on the beach. The cavalry galloped over from the beach, and the knives in the hands of the Japanese invaders sparkled in the sun. The cavalry was getting closer and closer, and the sound of horse hooves could be heard clearly. The aunt hugged Chen Tong tightly, their hearts beating together.

Auntie told Chen Tong that if the Japanese army found out that she was the New Fourth Army, not only would she die, but their whole family would also die. But they will do their best to protect her, even if she is killed by the Japanese invaders.

Chen Tong said that if the Japanese invaders really caught her, they would sacrifice her alone and she would not drag down Uncle Chen's family. Aunt Chen said that the enemy was extremely ferocious and they were already prepared and prepared for the worst. Aunt Chen hid a kitchen knife under her cloth pocket and hid behind the door. Uncle Chen put a steel fork beside the door. He squatted next to the steel fork and looked out through the crack in the door. Once the Japanese invaders really burst into the door, we must fight them desperately.

Seeing this, Chen Tong ran back into the house and took out the grenade. Although she was young, she was not afraid. She had also been trained to throw grenades. She held a grenade in one hand and hid it behind her back holding the grenade cord with the other. After the Japanese invaders broke into the house, she fired a grenade and killed them. The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chen was also a brave child. She took a stick and stood behind Mrs. Chen, staring closely at the gate.

The cavalry of the Japanese army galloped, and the sound of horse hooves became louder and louder, and then the sound of the wind was clearly heard. The hut was quiet, and the four people in the house were holding their breath and staring at Uncle Chen's resolute face outside. The aunt's firm eyes have already predicted that a battle is coming.

At this time, Uncle Chen cursed in a low voice: "No! There are some idiots mixed in among the Japanese cavalry!" Aunt Chen quickly said to Chen Tong, be careful of these idiots, they are the most dangerous. Bad, many of them are familiar with the local area, it is they who are leading the devils to harm the villagers.

There were dozens of Japanese cavalry in this group. The cavalry formed a line and galloped in twos and threes from far to near, leaving from the door of the hut. After two or three cavalrymen left, two or three more followed. Looking out from the gap in the door, one can clearly see the Japanese on the ocean horse and the gleaming saber in their hands.

The enemy is close at hand, life and death are in an instant. As long as one person from this group of Japanese cavalry dismounts and rushes in, the consequences will be disastrous. After most of the Japanese cavalry galloped out, only three cavalry were left behind. These three Japanese cavalry were not in a hurry to move forward, but slowed down and walked behind.

A few minutes later, the three Japanese cavalry arrived at the door of Uncle Chen's house. Uncle Chen looked through the crack in the door and discovered that one of the cavalrymen was Ergouzi. The three cavalrymen slowly came to the door. The two Japanese soldiers suddenly turned around and jumped off their horses and walked straight towards the door.

Chen Tong and others who were hiding behind the gate became nervous. Uncle Chen held the steel fork in his hand. Aunt Chen leaned forward. Chen Tong heard the footsteps of the Japanese from far and near, and held the grenade in his hand. Her hands began to break out in cold sweat. This was her first time fighting the Japanese. Although she had practiced fighting the Japanese with grenades countless times, she had never actually practiced it on the battlefield, so she felt a little nervous.

Just when the people in the house were preparing to fight to the death, the two Japanese who came to the door suddenly turned around and sat down on the threshold. Immediately, the two Japs began chattering, while Er Gouzi fawningly held the horse aside and handed them a box of cigarettes.

The two Japs started smoking and chattering again, completely unable to understand what they were talking about. At this time, Chen Tong and others behind the door were holding their breath and watching every move of the enemy. Uncle Chen signaled everyone not to make any noise and not to alert the enemy if they did not move.

The two Japs were sitting on the threshold, smoking and talking, accompanied by Ergouzi on the road beside the door, nodding and bending. After sitting like this for about a few minutes, the two Japanese soldiers stood up and looked into the distance. Maybe they saw that the large group of Japanese soldiers had gone away. Then the two Japanese soldiers became anxious and quickly got on their horses and whipped them. , running towards the distance.

This scene happened in the blink of an eye. It was not until they were sure that the Japanese were far away that Chen Tong and others came to their senses and breathed a heavy sigh of relief. The scene just now was too dangerous. Once the Japanese soldiers broke into the home, there would inevitably be a fierce battle, and the consequences would be disastrous. Fortunately, there was no danger this time. It seemed that the two Japs and Ergouzi had deserted and did not notice what was going on behind the door.

After the Japanese cavalry left, they never came to search the hut again. Chen Tong continued to hide in Uncle Chen's home until the New Fourth Army returned to the base area after the "mopping up". Chen Tong then said goodbye to Uncle Chen's family and returned to the army.

This thrilling scene made Chen Tong unforgettable for the rest of his life. After the victory of the Liberation War, Chen Tong returned to the beach to look for Uncle Chen's family. It's a pity that due to frequent wars, Uncle Chen's family has moved to nowhere, and that small house has long since disappeared..

Although Chen Tong did not find Uncle Chen's family, Chen Tong believed that they must still be alive and well, because victory already belongs to the people, and no one dares to bully and oppress him anymore.

We can be invincible by relying on the People's New Fourth Army. The words of the head of are right...