Chapter 14 The six days and nights that led me to Yulin

After I was arrested, the Party did everything possible to rescue me.On the one hand, they publicized the inhumane "treatment" I suffered; on the other hand, they mobilized people in the county's educational circles to sign a letter, angrily accusing the government of atrocities, and strongly demanding my release.The enemy thinks that I am the key figure in their crackdown on the underground party organization in Anding County, and cannot be released easily;So I adopted the method of "killing two birds with one stone", that is, forcing Anding County to submit my case to the Military Judiciary Office of Shaanxi Province.In this way, the interrogation can be continued and the indignation of the masses can be eased. On July 30, a company of the enemy Zhang Jiannan escorted me from Anding County to the Yulin Military Law Office.

When I passed by Wayaobao Hedong Village on the 31st, my parents and folks saw me off.My old father, my wife who was always terrified at that time, my eldest brother, nephew, niece and other relatives and friends, seeing that I was seriously injured and would be dragged in heavy handcuffs and shackles, with a dangerous future, all of them were heartbroken.For my escort, a row of more than 30 people cleared the way, and the two rows on the left and right held steel guns with bayonets attached to block the crowds on both sides who came to see me off.With a smile on my face, I lifted up my shackled hands to show respect, and I said to my father, "I am not guilty! Don't be too sad, old man. Your eldest brother, nephew and fellow villagers will take care of you. I will never I am ashamed of you and your folks. You should be proud of me, please take care!" I faltered, but walked forward firmly.

On August 1, 1933, after a arduous journey of 90 miles, I finally arrived at Qingjian County.I was on death row at the detention center.The enemy stepped up guards and guards, and even my eldest brother Li Zongyuan was not allowed to deliver water and food.My elder brother was sent by my father to take care of me.Pain, fatigue, hunger and thirst combined with fleas and bedbugs kept me up all night. When it was dawn to set off, I couldn't get on the road at all.The enemy company commander was furious and asked the jailer for questioning, only to find out that the warden did not allow outsiders to meet with me, the "key criminal", and he was not allowed to give anything away.But the enemy company commander was afraid of having long nights and dreams, so he hurried on his way, and they quarreled endlessly over this.I took the opportunity to tell them: My wounds festered, I was not allowed to eat or drink, and I was bitten by bedbugs and fleas all night, so I couldn't move a single step.If you want to kill me, just kill me in Qingjian County!The enemy company commander saw that I was really having a hard time moving, so he forced me to go on. There was something wrong with me, and I couldn't escape the blame; he didn't have the right to execute me casually, and he had to take me to Yulin.He couldn't walk but couldn't go, and couldn't go without walking. The situation of riding a tiger made him furious, and he immediately used force against the warden and jailers.Inside and outside the yamen, sticks and sticks were flying horizontally, creating a mess.The crowd gathered more and more, and I took this opportunity to expose all kinds of dark crimes in the prison to the onlookers.The warden and the jailer, who were beaten to the point of bleeding, couldn't stand it anymore, so they had to kneel in front of me and beg for mercy.

I took advantage of their internal conflicts and proposed: departure is possible, but there are conditions: first, no additional instruments of torture are allowed when arriving at the accommodation, and they must be able to eat and sleep well; second, when passing through villages and towns, they must stop and rest; third, I didn’t drink any soup all day yesterday, and I can’t leave until I’m full today; festering wounds need to be treated with dressings; fourth, my brother will take care of me on the way, and the escort troops can’t interfere.The enemy company commander wished that I could leave, and he fully agreed to the conditions proposed.

Along the way, the enemy company commander struck up a conversation with me from time to time, and on the surface he was not so fierce. I knew he wanted me to hurry on my way.I took the opportunity to tell some educational historical stories to the soldiers: Lin Chong’s flight to Liangshan at night, Hong Xiuquan’s Jintian uprising in the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, Li Zicheng’s becoming emperor, the history of imperialist invasion of China after the Opium War in 1840, and the history of the struggle of the Chinese people, etc.The officers interfered at first, and gradually they all came together to listen.After all, most of the soldiers were people from poor backgrounds. From time to time, they brought me water and fruit, and tried to alleviate my pain as much as possible.

The enemy company commander did not relax his vigilance because of this. When passing Jiuli Mountain, he reorganized his formation and sent a platoon to go up the mountain in advance to guard.Guard posts were set up on all narrow roads, cliffs and other dangerous roads, not only to prevent guerrillas from robbing people, but also to fear that I would jump off the cliff and die.When passing a step on the mountain road, the enemy company commander was even more frightened and guarded tightly. After arriving in Suide County, I was still on death row.The prison of the Kuomintang is a hell on earth. Although my brother brought me water and food this time, and I had a "bed", I was still bitten by fleas and mosquitoes, and the wounds festered even worse.

In the early morning of August 3, he departed from Suide Death Row Prison, passed by Shilipu, Ershilipu, and Sanshilipu, and headed towards Mizhi County.The scorching sun at noon in midsummer soaked the wound in sweat, and the blood bubbles from the bug bites in the prison were bleeding pus, and every step I took felt dizzy.Regardless of whether the enemy company commander agreed or not, I dragged the heavy shackles to the tree to enjoy the shade, reprimanded him for violating the conditions established in Qingjian County, and reminded the soldiers to see his ugly face clearly. My eldest brother caressed the wound on my chest and back, tears streaming down my face.He bought watermelon and shaguo to quench my thirst, and the soldiers also brought me water one after another because they had a chance to breathe.

In the evening, when I arrived in Mizhi County, I was put on death row again.The head guard actually offered to pay 5 silver dollars to let him sleep, otherwise he would be tortured.I categorically reject this unreasonable threat.He immediately called for four or five executioners, pulled me between two brick walls a foot wide, put an iron ring around my neck, and tied it tightly to a stake with an iron cable, so that my neck could only be leaned backwards. , the body cannot move.Suddenly scorpions, fleas, bedbugs, mosquitoes and other poisonous insects crawled all over the body. In the early morning of the 4th, when the enemy urged us to set off again, I took off my shirt, showing my horrible body and resolutely refused to go on the road.The escorting soldiers had already expressed their admiration for my character along the way. Seeing that the enemy company commander and prison guards were so treacherous and cruel, they broke into the county government hall one by one without waiting for the enemy company commander to express their views, and beat the warden to death. fly.The onlookers were also filled with righteous indignation.The county magistrate hid in the squire's house and did not dare to come forward, so he sent a so-called prestigious gentleman to intercede with me, saying that he would punish the guards severely, improve the prison conditions, and asked me to go on the road.I sternly reprimanded them: I don't know how many innocent people were imprisoned in your cell in Mizhi County, and how many people were brutally tortured to death by you.Treat me with hypocrisy now, and abuse others later.I won't be leaving today, but I want to see how you can improve!

The squire was frightened to death, so he had to intercede with my eldest brother.The kind-hearted elder brother promised with a naive fantasy.He begged me bitterly, let's continue on the road, you let them go this time, and you don't dare to abuse you again, maybe there will be salvation?I really can't refuse my brother who has broken his heart for me.I rushed to Yuhebao in a semi-conscious state.While passing through Zhenchuanbao, I heard the sad news that Bi Weizhou, Wang Zhaoqing, Gao Luxiao, Cui Mingdao, Gao Shou, Gao Qingen, Wang Pinxiao, Wang Shouyi and other comrades of the Northern Shaanxi Special Committee were killed on August 3.

I spent the saddest night in Yuhebao.These comrades are all young Communists with lofty ideals, talents, and firm will.They protected the party organization with their lives, showing the noble sentiments of the Communist Party members.Their sacrifices made me feel very sorry, and at the same time made me more determined to fight against the enemy. I will follow their example and sacrifice everything for a noble cause.