Chapter 17 Chapter 17 Seeking Liberation, Serfs Support the PLA

In the Battle of Qamdo, the soldiers of the People's Liberation Army were like thunder and lightning, smashing the defense line of the Jinsha River, gathering and annihilating the main force of the Tibetan local army in the Qamdo area.When the old order collapsed, ordinary Tibetans saw a whole new world.Living in darkness, this new world suddenly made them feel brighter. They saw the invisible chain tied to themselves, depriving them of their most basic property and right to life.Every word and deed of the PLA is the most basic material for building this new world.The Tibetan compatriots suddenly realized: they could have behaved in another way, to be a person with a real meaning.

This kind of thought is like a flame that burns blazingly once it is ignited, shooting out unstoppable energy.It is as charming as the song of the siren, so that the Tibetans would not hesitate to shed blood, sweat and even sacrifice their lives.As the army went west, they followed each other like shadows, driving yaks, carrying stretchers, rowing ferries, and raising food and grass.The military and civilians merged into a torrent like the Jinsha River, surging and surging. The support of the overwhelming majority of the Tibetan people was an important factor in the victory of the Qamdo Campaign.

The sky belongs to Chieftain Dege, and the earth belongs to Chieftain Dege. The scorpion on the chieftain's round seal governs everything between heaven and earth.This scorpion with a long tail is only as big as a fingernail, but its power is greater than anyone else. As long as all the subjects of the chieftain see a note with this scorpion, they will immediately go to support errands for free and will be beaten. scold. This poisonous scorpion often appears in the dreams of Qumeibazhen, a girl in her 20s from Gawu Village, Dege County.It barks its fangs and claws, and it's eerie, always scaring Qumeibazhen into a cold sweat.

Before meeting the People's Liberation Army, Qumei Bazhen lived a life that quite represented the characteristics of the old Tibetan areas, fixed, simple, and full of pain; she always walked on that branch road, from Gongya to Dege or Gang support.Accompanying her is a bay red horse.Her family has continued this pattern of life for generations; they are slave children.Qumei Bazhen's father was a slave who was a blacksmith for Dege Chieftain, and died of exhaustion when she was nine years old; while her mother could not stand the torture of Ula's servants and was about to run away.Qumeibazhen hated the Ula guard, a rope that was tied around the slave's neck.She also hated the Tibetan soldiers, she gritted her teeth with hatred.

The People's Liberation Army is here. One day in May 1950, Qumei Bazhen was working for her master on the hillside when a stranger came to Dege Gongya Village.This man was about forty years old, and he claimed to be the servant of Xia Kedaodeng, the head of Yulong. He quietly told Qumei Bazhen that Jinzhu Mami was here!They are the army of the poor, you go up the mountain to mow grass and collect firewood for them, and they will give you money.Early the next morning, Qumeibazhen and nine other villagers went up the mountain with knives and ropes.Along the way, she was worried, whether this trip was a bad one or a good one?Days passed, and at the end of July, they piled up piles of firewood and grass, waiting for the arrival of the "new Han people". What does a "New Han Chinese" look like?Some people say that they are human-bodied and bull-headed, want to eat people, and especially like to eat fat people. Many fat people in the village are too scared to go out.

One day at the end of July, many People's Liberation Army came to Gong Ya.Hearing that the new Han people were coming, Qu Meibazhen was a little frightened, her heart pounding with fright.Later, seeing the People's Liberation Army always smiling and kind, she felt relieved.A tall, thin man in a faded military uniform said kindly to Qumei Bazhen, "Don't be afraid, fellow. We are the People's Liberation Army, and we specialize in doing good things for the poor." The bill was paid according to the price, and Qumeibazhen got 21 silver dollars, a big bunch of white flowers.

Tears welled up in my eyes. For the first time, Qumeibazhen knew that the labor she paid was valuable, and this value belonged to the individual.In the past, I gave free errands to chieftains in return for tears and leather shoes. Now I get some firewood for the People's Liberation Army, but I get a silvery ocean shining like a dream. For a moment, Qumei Bazhen couldn't believe it was true.The People's Liberation Army is like a hero descending from a dream, illusory and unreal.Everything in front of you will not float away like a cloud!In less than half a day, Qumei Bazhen felt that all this became real.She not only owns property, but also has the right to life and personal safety and health.The thin and tall PLA saw that she was wearing tattered clothes, and there was a red and swollen scar on her bare right arm, bleeding and pus, so she hurriedly asked the health worker to apply medicine to her, and put the only blue shirt on her body Take it off and put it on Qumebazhen.Seeing that Qu Meibazhen had bare feet, a PLA soldier handed her one of the two pairs of rubber shoes.The People's Liberation Army made Qumeibazhen feel that she had changed to a different space, where she felt safe and warm.In the eyes of chieftains and Tibetan soldiers, slaves are just "talking animals", but in the eyes of the People's Liberation Army, they are noble people!The sky seemed to turn upside down.So much so that Qumeibazhen felt dizzy.

She is determined to go through fire and water for this brand new world. In October, the Gangtuo battle broke out, and a group of wounded in front of the People's Liberation Army could not be transported.Qumei Bazhen and 11 other slaves formed a stretcher team of migrant workers to transport batches of wounded from Gangtuo to the Dege rear hospital.From Gangtuo to Dege, there is only one trail, which is 50 miles away. The road is rugged and has to pass several steep cliffs. Don't try to find it.In order to ensure the safety of the wounded, the stretcher team usually chooses to travel at night. In order to prevent falls and cause pain to the wounded, she would rather suffer by herself, with the stretcher on her shoulders, her knees kneeling on the ground, and she walked carefully groping.Within a few days, her legs were worn out, and the skin on her two knees was scraped, bloody, and she often suffered from pain and numbness, and lost consciousness.

After the People's Liberation Army crossed the Jinsha River, Qumei Bazhen drove her family's two pack oxen and a horse to help the People's Liberation Army transport food.The food she sent was always not a single grain was missing.Later, the People's Liberation Army trusted her and asked her to carry silver and bullets, which were extremely heavy.Sometimes the pack ox could not eat for several days, and refused to take a step.She had no choice but to carry it by herself. At most, the Yin Yang she carried on her back weighed one or two hundred catties.Before I walked far, blisters developed on my back, and the pain was so painful that I couldn't sleep all night.

Soon after, Qumei Bazhen mobilized more people to join the front transport. She organized three female companions to form a transport team with only a few horses and more than ten pack oxen.At that time, people called them the Little Yak Team.They have successfully completed more than 100 transportation tasks.In February of the following year, Dege County held a pre-support celebration meeting, and Qumei Bazhen was named a model for support.The prize is a white towel, an enamel tea mug, and 5 catties of tea.Liao Zhigao, Chairman of the People's Government of Xikang Province, sent someone to present her with a silk banner with the words "Model Support, Light of Tibetans" written on it.

Qumei Bazhen is just a representative figure who strongly supported the march in Ganzi Prefecture.It is said that more than 100,000 yaks participate in regular transportation on this transportation line.In the four counties of Dege, Baiyu, Shiqu, and Dengke alone, more than 60,000 yaks were dispatched to carry 260,000 loads of materials in just over a year. In the 1950s, "People's Daily" once published such a photo: In the distance, there are two snow-capped mountains. At the foot of the mountains, there is a row of low pine trees, and three or four yaks are grazing.It is in this background that Qumei Bazhen is smiling, standing beside a black and white yak, looking graceful and graceful.She is a young Tibetan girl, wearing a heavy sheepskin coat and a Tibetan fur hat.The smile on his face is like a nameless stream running in the mountains of Tibet. It is kind, natural, pure, and has a breath of spring. In January 1951, Qumei Bazhen went to the Kangding Ethnic Cadre School to study for half a year.After graduation, he was assigned to work at the Women's Federation of Dege County. In 1953, as a representative of Xikang Province, she went to Beijing to participate in the Second National Women's Congress. She was received by Mao Zedong, Liu Shaoqi, and Zhou Enlai, and was later transferred to the Women's Federation of Ganzi Prefecture as the propaganda minister. In 1980, Qumei Bazhen served as the deputy director of the State People's Congress until his retirement.Now, she still lives in the beautiful small town of Kangding. When we saw her in the small building full of Tibetan style, what Qumei Bazhen missed most was her deceased husband, Qin Shihuai, a former staff officer of the 18th Army. In 1955, as introduced by Li Sen, secretary of the Dege County Party Committee at the time, Qu Meibazhen married Qin Shihuai, and the days after marriage were full of sweetness.Qin Shihuai is from Anhui and once worked as a bodyguard for Liu Shaoqi.He participated in the revolution during the War of Liberation and suffered nine wounds, one of which was left by a bullet in his lung. In the 1950s, he went to a Sichuan doctor for an examination and said that three ribs would be removed during the operation, so they were not removed.During the Cultural Revolution, because Liu Shaoqi sent Qin Shihuai and Qumei Bazhen 100 silver dollars, they became running dogs of the capitalist roaders and suffered a lot.When Qin Shihuai died at the age of 60, Qumei Bazhen, who was distraught, found the bullet from the ashes and kept it cherished.When Qumeibazhen took out the bullet from a box, her eye circles turned red.She must have thought of her life-long wife who was in trouble.Our tears flowed out, and our hearts were shaken: what kind of love across nations, regions, and time is this! What makes Qumei Bazhen most proud is that she married a man in a green military uniform. Now, Qumeibazhen is very old and has difficulty walking.She was wearing a light brown sweater decorated with green florals, and her hair was gray.From the 1950s to the present, she has been wearing a green army cap on her head. In the interior, this kind of hat has long disappeared, but in many Tibetan areas, it is a kind of eternal fashion.It condenses an era full of greenery, and also entrusts a feeling that blood is thicker than water.A society in which slaves truly become masters starts from the moment they see the green army cap. From Deng Ke's 155 regiment crossing the river, they found 4 boatmen through the local leader.The boatmen are about 30 or 40 years old, and they are all strong Tibetan farmers.They brought two cowhide boats, and with these two boats, more than 2,000 soldiers from the 155th regiment were transported across the Jinsha River. Afterwards, they carried the cowhide boats on their backs and started a long journey with the troops.It is the first time in Tibet to march with a cowhide boat on its back. A cowhide boat is made of two pieces of cowhide, with a wooden frame in the middle.The Tibetan plateau was very windy and snowy, and the 155th regiment encountered several heavy snowfalls while marching.Walking in the snow with a cowhide boat on his back, he stumbled.I am even more afraid of the wind. The wind blows after 12 o'clock in the noon. The cowhide boat is like a raised sail, and the wind pours straight in. walk sideways.If you really can't walk anymore, just let it go and wait until the wind subsides before you go. Zhang Shiying, deputy instructor of the 1st Battalion of the 155th Regiment, took care of them.We soon got to know each other.When eating, everyone put the food replacement powder and tsampa they brought together, and learned to eat from each other, just like a family.The boatmen also tell stories.When it comes to the Tibetan local army, they grit their teeth. People’s favorite horses are often taken away by the Tibetan local army, and Tibetan girls are often trampled by the Tibetan local army; but the People’s Liberation Army never causes trouble for the common people. He also took the initiative to sweep the yard, carry water, and carry firewood for the Tibetans. This is really an army sent by the "Heavenly Bodhisattva".What surprised these boatmen the most was that there is no distinction between officers and soldiers in the People's Liberation Army, and everyone is equal.Soldiers don't have to bow their heads and stick out their tongues when they see officers.If the Tibetan compatriots were like this, the headman would not have peeled their skins.They also watched the People's Liberation Army hold a meeting. When they heard people shouting slogans, they wondered: How can the people shouting indiscriminately when they are talking on the stage.These are the scenery that old Tibet did not have.The actions of the PLA also brought about a sense of equality.They feel that if they can serve such an army, they will smile even when they are exhausted. When crossing the Zaqu River, the weather was fine.The four boatmen said that this is a Bodhisattva protecting the PLA from crossing the river.The Zaqu River here is not wide, about 20 to 30 meters long, but because it is in the canyon between the two mountains, the flow speed is very fast.It is impossible for the ferry to go in a straight line. If you row across the river and come back, the cowhide boat will deviate from the ferry very far. The boatmen walked to the ferry with their wet cowhide boats on their backs, and crossed another group of soldiers.There are more than 700 people in this army, plus mules, horses, and ammunition, and the progress is slow.The soldiers of the reconnaissance platoon cut down trees to make a few rafts, and used small shovels as oars to speed up the river crossing.The four boatmen did not rest for a day, did not eat or drink, and one boatman's arm was swollen, but he did not rest. After crossing the river, it was already dark. After marching with the army for eight days, the four boatmen completed their mission and were ready to return.Zhang Shiying held those big hands that were grinding the bleeding blisters, opened her mouth and said nothing, but tears rolled out like threads.According to regulations, he gave the boatmen 10 silver dollars each.The boatmen refused to accept them. They said, you are still young children, Tibetan soldiers who are so far away from home to help us beat the dog day, who gave you money, we should row a boat! Fifty years later, Zhang Shiying still regrets one thing: he failed to remember the names of the four boatmen.But what's the point?Those black and red faces flashed in front of my eyes, they represented an honest, simple and simple nation.They are like eagles spreading their wings, soaring under the endless blue sky. Just as the first battalion of the 155th regiment crossed Zhaqu, the third battalion of the regiment also arrived at Dongdong Zhuka on the east bank of the Zhaqu River.There is still more than 100 kilometers away from Qamdo, and the division headquarters ordered to arrive within three days, but there is no means to cross the river.Dongdong Zhuka is a village with only 20 to 30 households. It was night, and the troops did not enter the village, but rested on the river beach with heavy snow. Xiao Meng, Chief of Staff of the 155th Regiment, and Wei Ke, Chief of the Propaganda Section of the 52nd Division, approached Ada, the local leader, and asked him to help Jamu Pai cross the river.Ada said: "Benbo, I have heard that you are new Han people, Bodhisattva soldiers, and Yamu Yamu. It's not that we don't want to help you. The Tibetan local army has issued an order like a volcano. Whoever wants to help the Han people will be beheaded. , like those trees!" As he spoke, Ada pointed to a few trees at the head of the village. The trees had been cut in half, and the stubble was still new.Every time the People's Liberation Army goes to a village, they will see this kind of "decapitated tree".Ada said that this was used by the Tibetan local army to scare the masses. Seeing the People's Liberation Army sleeping on the river beach, the masses were moved, and so was Ada.Those who escaped came back, and each family lent out axes, hatchets, leather ropes, etc. one after another.An old lady named Yangxi handed over the only valuable wool rope in the house, and said that as long as it can drive away the Tibetan local army, I would be happy to use a broken rope!Soon, 14 wooden rafts were tied up, and under the command of Ada, three ferries were selected and began to cross the river.There is a local boatman paddling on each raft, and soldiers also help row the boat with shovels, gun butts and even eating bowls. The first raft passed through a maelstrom and came to the opposite bank.The troops were cheering, when suddenly a puff of dust and smoke rose from the downstream river beach, and five horsemen galloped forward.In front of the People's Liberation Army post, they rolled off their horses and said, "See you, Dabenbo." Wake met them on the river beach. Out of five!The leader was in his forties, with a medium build, wearing a fox fur cap and a pulu shirt. He looked very strong, with a determined expression on his face.The other four people, the younger one was in their thirties and the older one was only fifty years old, they were all strong and strong, not like ordinary serfs.Before Wei Ke could speak, the leader spoke: "The few of us are small heads in Qamdo. When we heard that Jinzhu Mami's army was coming, we came to greet him. The good reputation of the army's strict discipline, like the auspicious cry of cranes, spread throughout the snow-capped mountains and grasslands. We, the people of Qamdo, are like looking forward to it in the cold winter. Like spring, I have been longing for your presence and entrusted us to be representatives, and I am here to ask Jinzhu Mami to liberate Qamdo as soon as possible, and eliminate the Tibetan local army that is pressing on us like a stone!" As he spoke, he took out a khata from his body and bowed to offer it. Probably seeing Wei Ke's surprise, he talked about his life experience.His name is Cicheng, and because he is the head of a hundred households, everyone calls him Jia Bencicheng.His family is the chabahu of the temple.The original Baihutou was the elder brother of Cicheng, who was in charge of 4 villages.Later, a large number of Tibetan local troops came here like wild wolves, sending money and doing all kinds of evil, causing most people to run out of food.The people fled, and the poor tax was not reduced, forcing the small heads to pay as usual; if they failed to pay, they would be whipped, put in a black jail, and their property would be confiscated.After the Englishman Ford came, there were more Ulla servants than a cow's hair, and they were urgently urged.One day, the elder brother of the second generation was late because of Wula's urging, and Ford was furious. He ordered the Tibetan local army to tie him up and beat him with a leather whip. After picking up several roots, they died of injustice not long after they were brought back by the villagers. Elder brother must be holding a breath in his chest.He will not rest in peace.Why doesn't this society allow people to live well?A can't think of a reason this time.He seemed to be locked in an airtight black house, often awakened by the feeling of suffocation at night.He wanted to smash this dark world with both hands, but he was powerless.The People's Liberation Army shattered the darkness. Cicheng also said that after his elder brother died unjustly, he no longer wanted to work for the government.A's current hat is still on his head.But in his dreams, he wanted to avenge his elder brother and drive away the demonic Tibetan local army. Holding the handle of the knife tightly in his hand, Jia Cheng burst into tears this time. He said: "A few days ago, the Tibetan local army retreated from the banks of the Jinsha River, looting things like mad dogs and dispatching messengers. In order to protect the villagers from disaster, I hid, and they couldn't send messengers. Of course , if you get caught, you will have to chop off your head, but also your feet and eyes. I have used this method to fight back before, and I was beaten several times. Jinzhu Mami, please, go to Qamdo quickly, don’t Let the common people suffer!" Waves of heat rolled in Wei Ke's heart.He knew that Cicheng and the others had traveled for two days and one night to find the People's Liberation Army. If they encountered the Tibetan local army, they would die.The crossing of the river was imminent, and Weike briefly publicized the policy to them, and sent them each a few copies of various marching proclamations.This time, Cheng and others flew on the horse, saying that they would rush back and make some preparations to meet their loved ones' Liberation Army. After passing the Zhaqu River, a mule and horse road goes directly to Qamdo along the river.The troops were out of food, and the soldiers stared at gold stars as soon as they walked.Some soldiers fainted on the ground, woke up and grabbed a few handfuls of snow, stuffed their mouths, got up and staggered forward.Some people are dreaming while walking.At dawn, the troops went to a village and saw a group of black people at the head of the village from a distance.Looking closer, it turned out that Jia Bencicheng and others led the villagers to greet them at the head of the village.On both sides of the road, there are wicker baskets full of round roots, leather bags filled with freshly ground tsampa, and copper pots filled with boiling fresh milk, buttered tea, and eggs.This time, A holds a khata and stands in the middle of the road. The Tibetans couldn't help but snatch the soldiers' bowls and teacups and pour milk and tea into them. Wei Ke asked A this time: "How do you know we have run out of food?" Cicheng blinked slyly: "If there is rain, just look at the clouds in the sky; if there are deer, just look at the footprints by the water; your food pockets are all empty, and you have no pack, so what if you are not hungry!" The army researched and decided: pay a better price to Dayang, buy all the food and distribute it to each squad.The crowd held the ocean in their hands, some touched their foreheads, some blew and put it in their ears to hear the echo, and some cried until tears and snot flowed together. The military situation was urgent, the troops ate and moved on.This time, A refused to give up, and said countless good things to stay in the army for a night.He held Weike's hand tightly, tears streaming down his face, as if overnight, they became life and death friends.The troops had gone a long way, and Cheng Cheng was still standing on the high slope at the head of the village this time, looking melancholy and nostalgic. He stood there like an old tree. From then on, every time he passed through a village, people would greet him, offer khatas, and send food.Various notices of the People's Liberation Army are posted in prominent places.Obviously, this is the arrangement of A's success this time. Later, the troops liberated Qamdo, but they were still without food.One day, A came here hurriedly.They sent five yaks and more than 20 sheep, saying they were to comfort the People's Liberation Army.The chief secretary wanted to give him money, but he got angry, blushed and said thickly: "I didn't come here for money. We are friends. Jinzhu Mami has been digging grain in the mouse hole for a living. This friend of mine is still alive." Can you eat? If you want to give me money, you just look down on me." The noise attracted a large crowd of soldiers to watch.After explaining to him again and again, everyone paid the price according to the price.In fact, A's family is not rich this time. His house is very dilapidated, with livestock on the downstairs and people living on the upper floor. There is nothing inside.Wife and two sons in fully patched clothes.When the most distinguished guests come, there are only coarse tsampa and buttered tea at home.In this case, he waited to do so many things to condolence to the troops, which shows how much affection he has! Even if he sacrificed himself, he would get a bright society in return. It is precisely because of the support of such a large number of Tibetans that the Battle of Qamdo was won.The support of people's hearts also determines the general trend and direction of Tibet's historical development.