Chapter 9 Next to Yuehan Road

(Written on September 9, 1936, see diary on November 15, 1934) Although we have already climbed Dawang Mountain, which covered everyone in mud, Wuwang Mountain, which we will continue to climb the next day, will not be much inferior.Every day, I still walk among the mountains.Coupled with the continuous drizzle, the mud on everyone's bodies has been added.My feet, which had lived in the mud all day long, could not be washed cleanly (and I didn't have time to wash them properly), and they were already stained with ocher yellow. Today I heard that it is heading towards Yuehan Road.The comrades were of course very excited when they heard this, because on the one hand, they would not have to climb such high mountains these days when they were on the side of the railway; , the Red Army can expand even more, and perhaps there will be a chance to rest there, so that the tired legs can be rested, especially those comrades who have never seen the railway, it is more interesting, because they can open "foreign meat"—— Looking at the railway, "Is it iron, mud, or stone?"

Walking down the mountain, there is a vast field.Although this field is only a few miles away, it is a bit strange for us who are walking in the deep mountains to see this place at once.The comrades cheered up and shouted: "Ah! We have reached a big place, hurry up and see the railway!" Twenty miles away from the railway, someone from the general branch came to convey the work: "I arrived at Baishidu today, which is next to the railway. There are many workers. All units must be mobilized to expand the Red Army and compete." The commander mobilized, except for local work. Of course, in addition to taking on this job, many other comrades automatically signed up and rushed to the front of the army to expand the Red Army.All of a sudden, the vigorous Red Expansion Commando ran forward, and everyone came to the campsite to wait for their good news.

Ten miles away from Baishidu, I saw a lot of road construction workers, because the boss was gone, and they were living a hungry life. When they heard the arrival of the Red Army, they were all lined up by the roadside.Although they were hungry, they all smiled joyfully when they saw their army—the Red Army coming, as if to say, "Our savior, the Red Army, has arrived!" Today's destination, Baishidu, appeared in a field that was only three miles away surrounded by pine mountains.There are many houses built on the slope of Songshan Mountain in the east, about a hundred or more; near where we come from, there are also two watchtowers, which are for our army.When the Red Army arrived, the militia guarding the diaolou had already fled. The diaolou had been set on fire for the vanguard troops, and now it was in flames.

There is a street at the west end. Although it is not very long, it is not bad. There are dozens of shops, photo studios, brothels and so on.Passing through Yitianlong, the famous Guangdong-Han Railway runs across it.The railway has not yet been completed, it is just a loess roadbed five or six feet above the field ridge. In the streets, alleys, shops, and workers' houses, there are Red Army comrades coming and going, talking and laughing everywhere, and the masses are also surrounding us everywhere. painful.On the roads everywhere, many people have brought our men to catch local tyrants.These people, especially the workers, had to do this because they were too oppressed and exploited by the gentry and landlords, the bosses, and the "Republic of China government".

Suddenly, someone said that they were distributing the belongings of such and such a rich local tycoon on the street, and the crowd was really overjoyed.The local tyrant who used to beg and worship him can now share his things for free, so workers, those who plow the fields, those who bear burdens, men and women, old and young, all scramble for the first place from every household. He rushed to the rich man's house.All of a sudden, the streets were crowded with people, and groups of people came out with things from the local tyrants' houses, such as clothes, grain, and furniture... and took them home with a smile. , and all of them talked happily: "The Red Army is really good. The local tyrants gave us things. I have never seen such a good team."

The Kwanhong commando came back with five or six new soldiers. Everyone entertained them kindly, publicized them, gave them food, fetched water to wash their feet, gave them souvenirs, and gave them clothes to wear. Make new fighters overwhelmed.A large group of ragged workers suddenly became new soldiers in new clothes. When everyone was discussing how to expand the Red Army and strive to win the competition, the old yellow cook who was cooking suddenly came in with a worker, very happy: "Haha! Look, I have also expanded a new soldier." They are still workers!" Comrades who had worked hard all day long were able to expand the Red Army, which is a very strange thing.In order to increase his enthusiasm, everyone praised him in unison: "Okay! Lao Huang really worked hard, let's expand a few more!" He walked away proudly.

It happened by coincidence: In the past, those who marched in high mountains suddenly came to the flat land and walked on a flat road; in the past it was raining all day long, but today the sky is clear and clear; , rest here tomorrow.Who is not happy about this news!Because even if you only rest for one day tomorrow, your tired legs will have a chance to rest, and you can take a big wash to wash off the dirt on your clothes and body, and you can wash off the name of "Mud Bodhisattva". Everyone came together the next day and started a cleaning campaign: washing clothes, from outerwear to innerwear, from hats to shoes, blankets, bags, and dry food bags; washing the body from head to toe; wiping weapons from guns to bullets, grenade.After eating, I saw people washing clothes everywhere beside the well, on the river bank, and on the ditch. On the corner of the house, on the lawn, and on the branches, there were also clothes and blankets to dry, red, yellow, and white. The black ones immediately made this Baishidu colorful.

The day of rest passed quickly, and the next day passed through Yizhang County and was still heading towards the destination.Because each unit has expanded a lot of new fighters yesterday, the team has become longer.