Chapter 19 Chapter Eight: The Sky and the Earth (2)

Mr. Peng came over and said: "The enemy is in a mess, but we are not in a hurry to celebrate. Now, the most important thing is: don't let the enemy have a chance to breathe, and don't let them escape from Yan'an. They wanted to come by themselves, and we didn't invite it to come..." He stared into the distance, and said frankly: "Chairman Mao has long said that Yan'an will become a heavy burden for Hu Zongnan's gang, and this burden will take them Crushed to death. Now the enemy has fully understood this truth, but it is too late for them to throw away this burden!"

A soldier handed Mr. Peng a telegram from the Party Central Committee, Chairman Mao and Vice Chairman Zhou. Mr. Peng read the telegram several times, thought for a while, looked up slightly at the clear sky, and looked at the eagle flying in the clear sky.Then, with his deep eyes, he stared at the distant hill, where the tried and tested people's soldiers were advancing. The commander asked Brigadier Chen: "Which regiment of your brigade is the troops passing in the lower ditch?" "X Tuan. Look, isn't that Li Cheng?" The commander said: "Let Li Cheng go up!"

After a while, Li Cheng, political commissar of the regiment, came up with the correspondent. The commander asked: "Has the first battalion of your regiment passed?" Li Cheng looked at the marching troops in the ditch and said, "Now our regiment's direct subordinates are passing by; the first battalion is our regiment's rearguard, and they haven't come yet." The commander said: "When the first battalion comes, let Zhou Dayong come up." Li Cheng sent a correspondent down to call Zhou Dayong.In a blink of an eye, Zhou Dayong galloped up the hillside with Ma Shun.

The commander praised and said: "Look, how mighty Zhou Dayong is!" Before the words were finished, Zhou Dayong jumped off his horse and walked up to the commander of the column. He saw that Mr. Peng was here, and there were so many leaders standing beside Mr. Peng.He hastily raised his hands in salute, his heart beating beeping.But when he looked at Mr. Peng's simple and serious face, his affection and intimacy strongly controlled him.This feeling is formed from many victorious battles experienced personally. The commander said: "Mr. Peng! This is Comrade Zhou Dayong."

"I know. We have talked a few times." Mr. Peng held Zhou Dayong's hand tightly, and looked into Zhou Dayong's eyes seriously and kindly for a long time.He carefully asked about Zhou Dayong's physical condition, work situation and the emotions of the soldiers.Then, while stroking the mane of Zhou Dayong's horse, he said: "Comrade Zhou Dayong! You can command a battalion at the age of twenty-four. Now commanding a battalion is much more complicated than in the past! Do you remember us That conversation on the march?" Zhou Dayong said: "Remember, Mr. Peng." How could he not remember?It was the night when the Shajiadian battle was over, and the troops were marching in the ravine.Comrades, it's fun, you talk about all kinds of interesting things in the battle, and finally you talk about the unlucky enemy.At this time, one of the chiefs walked with Zhou Dayong, quietly listening to the soldiers talking, and sometimes interjecting a sentence or two.After a while, the chief said: "Of course the enemy will be defeated. If nothing else, just talk about how powerful the 1.5 million people in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region and our soldiers can exert. I still can’t figure it out.” Afterwards, Zhou Dayong knew that the chief who said this was Mr. Peng.

Mr. Peng shifted his gaze from Zhou Dayong to the column commander and cadres, and said nothing.But from his serious and upright face and sharp and deep eyes, everyone felt that he seemed to be saying: "Comrades! We must learn from the working people's righteousness, determination, bravery and self-sacrifice spirit." Everyone saluted Mr. Peng and was about to leave. Mr. Peng came over and shook hands with everyone. Zhou Dayong went down the mountain and rushed to the side of the formation of the first battalion.The tall black and shiny horse he was riding was foaming at the mouth and shaking its mane, like a ferocious lion.It pricked up its ears, raised its head high towards the sky, and let out a few short and sharp calls; then, it raised its two front legs and stood up straight.Zhou Dayong turned the horse's head around, and tightened the biting side.The horse was circling on the ground, and he tended to jump off the horse and hand it over to the breeder.He walked into the ranks of the first company and talked to the soldiers.

Ah, there are more than a hundred soldiers in the first company, except for the old soldiers who returned from injury, most of them are new fighters.Some of these new fighters are converted farmers from Shanxi who volunteered to join the army; some are well-trained militiamen from the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region;First Company-- This powerful force, this victorious combat unit, made Zhou Dayong feel excited and proud. Zhou Dayong had only been away from the First Company for a few days, and the comrades felt that he had been away for three to five years.The soldiers greeted their battalion commanders in response.Especially the veterans of the first company, they all seemed to have a lot to say to their battalion commander.Zhou Dayong felt that returning to the first company was like returning home.He couldn't help thinking of many things: how many vicious battles he fought with the veterans of this company, and how many roads he walked together day and night!We have been exposed to the rain together, hungry, and a pot of thick soup; many soldiers have slept with him wearing a cotton jacket.On the battlefield, I scolded them even when I was in a hurry.He also praised them happily when he won the battle.In the days we spent together, there were joys to the fullest, generous oaths, heroic bloodshed, and sad tears!Many of the soldiers of the 1st Company who fought beside him fell.Those people each have their own temperaments, experiences, and ideas. Now, they have left the world, leaving all their unfinished wishes, ideals, and careers to the living.Zhou Dayong thought of those who had died, and he felt that these soldiers and cadres in front of him were especially cute, precious, rare, strong and simple.

Zhou Dayong shouted: "Comrades, it will be even better if Wang Huo and Ma Quanyou come back in a few days. Wang Huo will be the instructor and Ma Quanyou will be the company commander. Hu Hu, Quanyou, Jiang Guo, Changsheng, the four There is nothing more glamorous about being screwed together to do the work of the first company!" Ma Changsheng, the deputy company commander of the first company, said in a low voice: "I'm still eight feet away!" He tilted his neck, his stubborn eyes opened fiercely.Zhou Dayong is too familiar with his appearance! Li Jiangguo, the deputy instructor of the first company, said: "Battle Commander, you brought us out of the first company. You work in the battalion. In the future, we will carry out assault missions, so give us an extra company."

Zhou Dayong said: "Hey, you want me to talk about some personal feelings? I really don't worry about back pain when I talk! Li Jiangguo, to be serious, let the soldiers beat up our company's flags! " The soldiers set up the seven or eight small flags with the words "firm and loyal", "tactful and tenacious", "attack like a tiger, defend like Mount Tai" and so on.The small flags have changed color after being exposed to rain, sun, fire and smoke for many times; some flags still have patches of black blood on them.How many times must soldiers brave the enemy's fire to plant these flags on the enemy's fortifications.How many times must the first man take one of these many flags and fall in front of the enemy's position, the second jumps over the corpse of his comrade and grabs the flag... the third... the fourth ...

Zhou Dayong looked at the flags fluttering in the wind.Soldiers also looked at these flags.They remembered fierce battles, heroic deeds, and arduous journeys!The new soldiers also looked at these flags affectionately. From these flags, they knew the heroic deeds of the troops and learned about the glorious history of revolutionary struggle. The commander of the first battalion, Zhou Dayong, got on his horse and slammed his legs on the horse's belly. The big black horse, which looked like an ingot of ink, passed by the ranks of troops like an arrow. .The soldiers all looked at Zhou Dayong's handsome back with admiring and kind eyes.

In the middle of the night on May 19th, the troops passed through Ganguyi, a small town eighty miles east of Yan'an.They wanted to pass through this town, turn south and cross the Yanhe River, heading towards the ravine covered with shoots in the southeast of Yan'an. Brigadier Chen and Political Commissar Yang stood on the steps beside the street, and beside them stood more than a dozen staff officers, guards, and correspondents. Brigadier Chen looked at the infantry, artillery, and ammunition packs flashing past him; he heard the sound of footsteps, the clash of weapons, and the sound of horseshoes.He thought: "The troops passing through this town tonight, the commanders and fighters may have endless thoughts!" Today is September 19th, half a year ago today Yan'an was occupied by the enemy, half a year ago today he followed the column commander Lead your brigade of soldiers through this town.In the small valley next to this town, when the soldiers heard the news that our army had withdrawn from Yan'an, they cried and swore an oath: "Defend the Party Central Committee, defend Chairman Mao, defend Yan'an, and defend the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region!" Among the people, many people have given their lives to realize their vows. In the past six months, battle after battle flashed through Chen Xingyun's mind... Yes, how much blood and sweat the people's soldiers should have put in and how much hardship they had endured during the half-year battle! He looked at the town, at the sky west of the town.Yes, eighty miles to the west along this road is Yan'an ---Yan'an where our Party Central Committee and Chairman Mao once lived for more than ten years.He listened to the Yan River rushing eastward from the side of the small town.He thought: This river flows from Yan'an, from the roots of the caves where the Party Central Committee, Chairman Mao and Vice-Chairman Zhou lived in Yan'an, and from the root of the cave where Commander-in-Chief Zhu lived in Wangjiaping flow. Commissar Yang walked down the steps of the street and shouted: "Old Chen! During the War of Resistance Against Japan, I went from Yan'an to the front, and then returned to Yan'an from the front to study, passing through this town back and forth. I thought: This small town at least knows China. More than half of the revolutionary fighters. Because during the War of Resistance Against Japan, most people passed here from Yan'an to the front or back to Yan'an from the front." Brigadier Chen gave a "hmm" and then fell silent again.He remembered that on March 19th this year, when his brigade passed through this town, he and the chief of staff of the regiment, Wei Yi, had also said these words, but now Wei Yi is buried on the Huangtu Mountain in northern Shaanxi.A pang of grief came over him.Chen Xingyun stood here motionless, contemplating this blood-soaked land! Yang Kewen emotionally narrated all kinds of things about his past study in Yan'an, rectification and participation in the mass production movement.Brigadier Chen didn't say anything.He looked at the sky in Yan'an, and his mood became painful and angry.Yan'an is still lying at the enemy's feet, and now even this clear and clear Yanhe River still flows with the blood of the people of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region! Brigadier Chen watched the soldiers marching hastily. As the soldiers hurried forward, they talked about the town enthusiastically. This town has changed.It has been trampled, burned, and looted many times by the enemy, and has become desolate and miserable.The doors and window panels on the street were all burned by the enemy.Half a person's tall wormwood grows in the open space on both sides of the street. It's eerie here.Suddenly, there are lights shining in the grass.Those old people who couldn't escape came out tremblingly from the bushes with their lamps in their hands, shone the lights on the soldiers, looked at them in horror for a while, and said, "Ah, our team is finally back!" Weeping cries -- the people's soldiers have heard the cries thousands of times: the son was killed by the enemy, the daughter-in-law was raped by the enemy and then committed suicide, the food was robbed, the house was burned, and the land was barren! ... Brigadier Chen lightly touched the brigade political commissar with his shoulder and said, "Let's go! go! " Commissar Yang grabbed the saddle and prepared to mount.He said: "These lackeys of the United States are death, disaster, plague..." His voice was low and trembling. The troops *# After crossing the Yanhe River, they marched through the night and took control of Nanniwan, more than 90 miles southeast of Yan'an, and then moved towards Laoshan, the throat of the Xianyu Highway 50 miles southeast of Yan'an. A gloomy sky, with a drizzle of rain.The black forests on the hilltops near and far were covered in mist. The soldiers of Brigadier Chen's brigade gathered in a clearing on the top of the hill from the small road in the forest.The army has recruited a large number of recruits, and the brigade has more than 3,000 soldiers. The soldiers stood neatly with their guns, their clothes wet from the rain. They looked down from the top of the mountain, and white clouds were flying on the mountainside.There are thick yellow leaves under the feet, but the treetops are covered with red leaves.The autumn wind blows, and the body is cold. Yang Kewen, political commissar of the brigade, walked in front of the soldiers.His keen eyes glanced over the faces of the soldiers.He said, "Comrades, let's go to war!" The faces of the soldiers shone with excitement, and the joy of fighting surged in their hearts.Some squeezed forward, and some stood on fallen tree trunks. "Comrades, our main force has chased the defeated enemy from the Chakou area to the outskirts of Yan'an...and recovered many strongholds in the outskirts of Yan'an. Comrades, when the Hu bandits went north to the Mizhi area to encircle and annihilate our army a month ago, some There are nearly 100,000 people, and less than half of the enemies have fled back to Yan'an." The soldiers raised their guns and shouted: "Destroy Chiang's bandit army! Take back Yan'an!" "Liberate the Great Northwest!" "Liberate all of China!" "Long live the Communist Party of China!" "Comrades, I heard that Chiang Kai-shek flew to Yan'an again in a hurry yesterday, but he saw that Yan'an was too dangerous, so he boarded a plane and flew back to Nanjing that day. Comrades, now, let alone Chiang Kai-shek, Truman flew to Yan'an, It can't save Hu Zongnan's life either!" The soldiers applauded loudly.The sound of applause and slogans shook the valley. "Comrades, our army of Liu and Deng advanced into the Dabie Mountains and liberated many counties. Our Chen Geng Corps liberated more than a dozen counties along the 500-mile railway line from Tongguan to Luoyang. Hu Zongnan wanted to escape from northern Shaanxi and go to the conservative Xi'an, reinforce the Central Plains. Comrades, the task given to us by our superiors is: to seize Laoshan and cut off the enemy's escape route. Comrades, at the end of 1935, Comrade Liu Zhidan and his comrades led the invincible Workers' and Peasants' Red Army in northern Shaanxi. A division of the Kuomintang gangsters was wiped out in Laoshan. In the past, our Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army showed its prestige here, and today we will show our prestige here! Comrades, we want to take Laoshan, and we want to defeat the remnants of the Jianghu bandit army Buried in Yan'an!" The soldiers shouted: "Take Law Hill!" "Bury Jiang and Hu bandits in Yan'an!" "Carry forward the heroic spirit of the Red Army of Workers and Peasants!" The first battalion commander Zhou Dayong, the instructor Wang Chengde and the deputy battalion commander Wei Gang stood in front of the soldiers of the battalion.When the political commissar of the brigade was speaking, the three of them stared fixedly at the chief, for fear of missing a word.Because their battalion is the assault battalion that captured Laoshan today. Wei Gang said to Wang Chengde: "Beat those bastards! You must take Laoshan! If you can't even take Laoshan today, who will give you the task of taking Yan'an tomorrow!" He turned his head and turned to Zhou Dayong Said, "Speak up, let me lead the commando?" Zhou Dayong didn't say anything.He was looking back at the soldiers of the 1st Company behind him.He saw Li Jiangguo, the deputy instructor, Ma Changsheng, the deputy company commander, Ning Jinshan, the first platoon leader, Li Yuming, the second platoon leader, and San Niu, the junior health worker.They were all very high-spirited, as if they were about to show off their talents and make great achievements. Wei Gang said: "Battle Commander--the storm is coming; if you want to fight, do it quickly.--What do you want the first company to do? Hey, pay attention, the brigade commander is here!" Brigadier Chen appeared from the woods, and a huge force flowed through the soldiers. The brigade commander was drenched and wore a pair of worn shoes tied to his feet with strips of cloth. His sideburns were over an inch long, dripping with water.At first glance, his face was grim.He was silent for a while, then raised his head and stared at the soldiers. Brigadier Chen took two steps forward, his body--that steel-frame-like body full of tenacious strength, immediately made the soldiers more excited and vivid. As was often the case in the past, as soon as Brigadier Chen saw the soldiers, he felt an unstoppable force surging through him.He feels that every soldier is an indomitable person, an earth-shaking hero.He could see in the warriors a strange strength that some did not see. The eyes of the brigade commander met the eyes of many soldiers.In this meeting of eyes, he and the soldiers communicated with each other.The exchange of feelings sparked. Although Brigadier Chen did not necessarily see everyone's face, the soldiers felt that he saw everyone of them.The soldiers, especially the veterans, felt that their requirements, hopes, tempers, and tastes were all understood by their brigade commanders.Because, he has enjoyed the joy of fighting with them, and shared the anxiety and anger after being frustrated; he has camped and rained with them, gnawed corn sticks, hungry, marched barefoot, and participated in continuous battles; With smoke and fire, many deaths have been defeated! Brigadier Chen wiped the rainwater from his face with his hands, and then wiped the water from his hands on the tree trunks beside him.He said: "Comrades, your clothes are soaked!" He thought for a while. "Comrades, we fought valiantly. Hungry, cold, walking barefoot..." How much his words must have reminded the soldiers!The things he said were all passed by the soldiers: in the deep mountains and forests, in the desert outside the Great Wall... Difficult journeys, heroic battles! The soldiers shouted: "Difficulties do not scare us!" "The Party Central Committee, Chairman Mao, and Vice Chairman Zhou will overcome difficulties together with us!" All kinds of birds hiding in the woods around the soldiers suddenly flew up; the woods rained heavily like a torrential rain. "Comrades, there is no one in the world who loves the land of their birth and our people more than us Communists. People say: What's so good about the bare mountains in northern Shaanxi! But we are desperate for every inch of land here. People say The desert is desolate, but we are willing to fight in the desert. We know that every inch of land in China was carved out by our heroic ancestors with blood and sweat. Soldiers of our People's Army have traveled all over China on their own two legs in the past twenty years. We know that this vast land holds endless treasures.However, we also know that in this fertile land, there are still many people suffering from poverty, hunger, humiliation, and pain... Comrades, which one of us has not shed tears for these tragedies?That is why we take up arms to fight for the status of our class, for human life. ...Let the US imperialists and their lackeys remember: the great descendants of the great nation will never be slaves, never surrender! "As he spoke, he pressed his palms down, as if he wanted to suppress all the injustices and evils of the old society. Sometimes, he pushed forward with his palms, as if he wanted to suppress all the injustices and evils on the way forward Difficulties and obstacles are overthrown. His habitual gestures in these speeches also seem to show this meaning: no matter what mountains and rivers, they must give way to us; whoever wants to block our progress, we will destroy him and trample him down. He continued to talk, and when he talked about the crimes of the enemy and the suffering of the people, his chest was slightly forward, his teeth were clenched, his iron jaw trembled slightly, and his piercing eyes looked straight at the soldiers.The eyes of the warriors followed his gesture.The hearts of the soldiers were beating with his words and emotions.Every word he said was the words of a soldier.His words reminded the soldiers of the pain of the old society, made the fire of revenge in their hearts even greater, and made them yearn for tomorrow with stronger feelings. Brigadier Chen is full of loyal fire.In his pair of stubborn eyes, a fortitude and unyielding light shot out. "Comrades, the running dog of American imperialism -- Chiang Kai-shek, a poisonous snake that ravages the people, is about to die, but he still struggles before he dies. We must use cannons, machine guns, bayonets, and explosives to strike hard and hard. Hit the enemy where he is deadly until he is killed! "Comrades, it is time to fight again! Chairman Mao, Vice Chairman Zhou and Deputy Commander Peng ordered us: resolutely take down the gate of Yan'an - Laoshan!" The soldiers shouted in unison: "Promote the tenacity of the proletariat!" "Resolutely take Laoshan!" "Bury the enemy in Yan'an!" Brigadier Chen waved his hand and said: "Chairman Mao, Vice-Chairman Zhou and Mr. Peng are waiting for the news of our victory. May comrades always win! Long live the Communist Party of China! Long live Chairman Mao! Long live the soldiers!" The cheers and slogans filled the barren hilltop forest with life. In order to ensure the victory of the battle on this day, the directors of each company also put in extra effort.They bought a lot of corn cobs, boiled them, and gave two to each of them.The soldiers took advantage of the few minutes before departure to gnaw corn sticks in a hurry. A soldier took three grain sticks and presented them to Brigadier Chen, saying: "We each get two sticks. In order to welcome you, the chief of staff of our company gave you three sticks." Brigadier Chen took over the sticks and said, "Tell your chief of staff: each of you gets two sticks. Why give me three? It's not fair!" In a blink of an eye, Brigadier Chen understood: the soldier who gave him the corn stick just now represented the three soldiers.Each of them ate one stick less, and the three they saved were sent to Brigadier Chen.Brigadier Chen looked for the three soldiers everywhere, and wanted to return the grain sticks to them.But where can he find it? Brigadier Chen said to Zhao Jin and Li Cheng, "Why don't you give me some sticks to chew on!" Zhao Jin said: "Brigade Commander, we are here to invite you! Look, under the big tree above, there are sticks to chew on and boiled water to drink." Li Cheng said: "Brigade Commander, we not only treat people to dinner, but also manage their fill." They went through the woods and happened to meet Zhou Dayong. Zhou Dayong saluted, wiped the rainwater off his face, and stood straight to the side. Brigadier Chen looked at Zhou Dayong and said to Li Cheng and Zhao Jin, "Young old revolutionary is a fierce general of your regiment!" He smiled heartily. Zhao Jin looked at Zhou Dayong seriously and said, "Yes!" Brigadier Chen said: "Comrade Zhou Dayong! Today you are mainly attacking Laoshan, and you will make a name for yourself!" Zhou Dayong stood straight, mouth tightly shut, looked at the brigade commander without blinking, and said: "Don't worry, chiefs, we will definitely take down Laoshan!" After that, he thought about something. Brigadier Chen thought: "The war has taught him to think." He said: "I know, you will subdue the enemy!" Brigadier Chen looked at the black clouds over Yan'an; stretched out his ears, as if he wanted to hear the violent artillery fire on the outskirts of Yan'an.He turned his head, looked at Zhou Dayong, looked at Zhao Jin and Li Cheng, and said: "You must hit the enemy hard and take down Laoshan. But it doesn't mean everything will be fine if you win Laoshan.You also have to tell the soldiers that the day has come to recover the holy land of democracy in Yan'an, and the day has come to liberate the Northwest and march to the Pamirs!You must tell the soldiers that there is still a long way to go, the closer to victory, the harder the struggle, and let the soldiers always remember that the soldiers educated by the Communist Party are always invincible! "He turned to Zhou Dayong, and said: "Go!I believe that you will definitely show your prestige.Go, head held high! " Zhou Dayong, Wang Chengde, and Wei Gang, like an invincible banner, led the soldiers through the forest of shoots in the ditch, and attacked the gate of Yan'an - Laoshan towering in the sky. ... The brigade commander Chen Xingyun, the brigade political commissar Yang Kewen, the regimental commander Zhao Jin, and the regiment political commissar Li Cheng led the staff to a high mountain.They used binoculars to look at the hill where the battalion commander Zhou Dayong led the soldiers to attack, and then looked at the north. In the north, over the sky above the Great Wall, a powerful storm suddenly rushed up, sparking lightning and making loud noises.The storm sandwiched thunder, and with unstoppable momentum, rolled over the forest, rolled over the hills around Yan'an, rolled over the Yellow River Basin that the Chinese nation has fought for thousands of years, and galloped away into the distance. ... Kashgar city on the side of the Pamirs in 1949 Completed in Beijing in the summer of 1954 postscript At the beginning of 1956, when this book was rearranged, I made some revisions: Thousands of words have been deleted and 20,000 to 30,000 words have been added. Although there are many changes in some places, these changes are all technical in general.This rearrangement also made some changes in the wording. Many readers wrote to me and asked me: "The Red Army reached northern Shaanxi after a 25,000-mile long march at the end of 1935, and it is written in the book that Zhou Dayong joined the Red Army in 1936 and also went on a long march. This is a bit unreasonable!" We usually say that the "Long March of the Red Army" mostly refers to the Red Army directly led by the Party Central Committee, which is what we usually call the "Central Red Army."In fact, the Red Army of Chinese Workers and Peasants was divided into several long marches. The Red Front Army began its strategic shift in October 1934, and in October 1935 it successfully arrived at the revolutionary base in northern Shaanxi.The Red Second Front Army began its northward transfer in early 1936. On the way, it joined the Red Fourth Front Army. In November of the same year, it arrived in northern Shaanxi and joined the Red First Front Army in victory.It can be seen from this that Zhou Dayong joined the Red Army at the beginning of 1936, and later went on the Long March with the Second Red Army, which is in line with the historical situation. The author was in Xi'an in September 1958 reprint postscript Published, twenty-five years ago.I never wrote a word for the press about it.Instead, it took many years to write a lot of materials in insults and tramples, "confessing" the "heinous crime" I committed because I wrote it.During those years, I asked myself thousands of times: Is it possible that a young man devoted himself to the revolution and went through life and death in a difficult environment in order to fight for such a "destiny" with the masses? In the early summer of 1947, shortly after the enemy aggressively attacked Yan'an, I went to the Second Column of the Northwest Field Army—later the Second Army of the People's Liberation Army.Followed the troops to participate in many battles, traveled to most places in the Northwest, crossed deserts, grasslands, Gobi, and crossed countless mountains and rivers, until the end of 1949 marched to the Pamirs.This arduous struggle and the self-sacrifice shown by countless heroes have taught me an education that will never be forgotten.Therefore, when the troops arrived at the border of the motherland and continued to chase and suppress the remnants of the enemy in the smoke, I started to write this work. This war is too great and too heroic.I feel sorry for the martyrs and people who shed blood and sweat in the war by writing something casually to describe it.However, it is easier said than done to write a long novel and improve and create something on the level of our existing works describing war!Leaving aside my experience, academic qualifications, research on literature, understanding of art, mastery of writing skills, and other aspects of self-cultivation, etc., just talking about the objective conditions at that time is daunting!It was an area inhabited by ethnic minorities, the language was not fluent, the customs were very different, and there were no books and materials for reference; what I relied on was a copy of Chairman Mao's "Strategic Issues in China's Revolutionary War" mimeographed; The summary of the battle; the comments and editorials published by Xinhua News Agency on the war situation in various periods; and the news, newsletters, prose features, reportage and scripts I wrote during the war.There are also diaries written during the war, nearly 2 million words.I sincerely thank Xinhua News Agency for training me and for training me through journalistic work, because it requires you to study hard; it requires you not only to see some specific battles and many seemingly isolated incidents, but also requires you to focus on the Northwest battlefield , Focusing on the changes and developments in various battlefields across the country, as well as in the international situation.Without this condition, living in a simple barracks in the remote frontier that has just been seized from the reactionaries, you must have narrow vision, so you can only discuss the facts, and it is impossible to write a long-length work with more weight. In the past, people were too busy fighting to write larger works about war.At that time, there were still a few novels about rural life and land reform, and one or two about militia and guerrilla struggles. Besides a few novels and novellas, there were also works about the struggle of our People’s Liberation Army. Some short stories and reportage works.I have read these works repeatedly and gained a lot of lessons and inspirations from them.However, these existing achievements and experiences are not enough.That is to say, in describing the revolutionary war, we not only rely on our current achievements, but also turn more to the new Chinese literature headed by Mr. Lu Xun, as well as Chinese classical literature and literary masterpieces of the early Soviet revolution. At that time, I soberly assessed the difficulties I faced.So I decided to write a full-length reportage work, starting from the withdrawal from Yan'an until the march to the Pamirs, describing the entire process of the Liberation War in the Northwest. Bundles of materials were piled on the ground of the barracks cell, and if one wanted to get in, one had to jump up and down and "over the hills".During that period, during the day, I rode a horse and went out for interviews, or sent messages, and wrote newsletters, reflecting our army’s wars and preparations for production and construction; at night, I sat down to write this work.In more than nine months, I actually wrote nearly a million words.They are all real people and real events, recording what they saw, heard, and felt during the war in chronological order.The manuscripts were all copied from the backs of the seized KMT's crude newspapers and propaganda materials.Therefore, the first draft weighed more than ten catties. At the end of 1950, just after the first draft was completed, a telegram was received that my mother was critically ill.At that time, it took at least three months or even half a year to go back to my hometown on the bank of the Yellow River from the icy and snowy frontier by riding a horse or taking a car.Burning inside and out, I took a telegram to find our corps commander, a famous hero on the Northwest battlefield.He expressed deep sympathy and let me take a military plane, which seemed to be unique in the Northwest at that time, to Xi'an.Then we passed through many places where we fought on the north bank of the Weihe River, walked for several days in the severe cold and snow, and finally returned to our hometown.At the age of seventeen, I left this place where I spent my miserable childhood, and now I have returned.Some people may think that I am carrying a large bundle of things, which must be a valuable gift for my mother, but in fact it is this manuscript; plus the pistol in my waist, this is all I have. In the middle of the night, I rushed to the front of my mother's room, and immediately stopped in my tracks, tears rolling down my face!In front of the door is flat snow, more than half a foot thick, and even a footprint can't be seen; the door is broken and closed; there is no light, no fireworks, like a small temple that no one has lived in for many years. ... Seeing all this, everything is understood!Pushing open the door and going in, I saw a mat on half of the kang, and my mother was lying on it! There is a broken earthen pot in the corner of the kang, and there is a letter sealed with the stamp of "Military Post" that I wrote to my mother for many years in the midst of military affairs. After life left her, my body became so thin... I sat on this bundle of manuscripts, stretched out my arms, embraced my mother who could never answer my cry, and cried bitterly! ... She was the child bride of a poor peasant family who had suffered for generations since she was a child. She lost her husband in her twenties and has been looking after me, the only child.She, an illiterate rural woman, suffered oppression, humiliation, hunger and all the pain and misfortunes brought to the working people by the old society.What a miserable life she had been!In 1948, my hometown was liberated. After a long period of ups and downs, she returned to her hometown from Yunfang and saw her homeland.The newly established people's government took care of the son's military family members on the front line in many ways. ... She finally looked forward to the new society.However, the serious illness took her life! I went out when I was young, and now I have returned from thousands of miles, almost like an unaccompanied traveler with no place to live.Therefore, after burying my mother, I moved to live in the county people's government.Then, I spent more than a month working day and night to revise this manuscript.When I was writing, my mother's face often appeared in front of my eyes; the blood-stained mountains, rivers, and Gobi Desert also often appeared in front of my eyes!Every page of this crude manuscript paper is dripping with my tears!From my mother, I saw the tragic past of the Chinese people; from the soldiers I wrote about, I saw the overwhelming power of the people who have been oppressed and bullied for thousands of years to fight.So, I felt: Although the long reportage manuscript in front of me has some shining fragments, it is far from satisfying my inner desire.What's more, on the whole, it seems lengthy, messy and boring.I, restless, thinking hard, finally made up my mind: to start again on this basis; I must write a work of art that is worthy of the dead and the living.It should be recorded in it: the suffering of the soldiers in the old world and the heroism of creating a new era, as well as their great achievements that moved the world and wept ghosts and gods.Yes, I may not be able to write a great work that is worthy of this great era, but I must convey the unforgettable spirit of the loyal and simple people's soldiers who regard death as home, so that contemporaries and later generations will forever miss them, They serve as role models for themselves.This is not only the need of creation, but also the need of my inner turbulent thoughts and feelings. Determined, I picked up the package of manuscripts and stood silently in front of my mother's new grave for a moment, looking at the plateau mountains and rivers covered with loess, and then rushed to the frontier of the motherland thousands of miles away... ... Sleepless nights, unsatisfactory food, and the change of seasons seem to have nothing to do with me.If you send me to a big city to study, I will bring the manuscript to the big city; if you let me work on the grassland, I will carry the manuscript on the back of a horse; in his arms, for fear of burning it in frontier cities that are often on fire. 写着，写着，有多少次，遇到难以跨越的困难，便不断地反悔着，埋怨自己不自量力。可是想起了中国人民苦难的过去；想起了我们脚下的土地；想起了那些死去和活着的战友，抚摸烈士的遗物，便从他们身上汲取了力量，又鼓起勇气来。……钢笔把手指磨起硬茧，眼珠上布满血丝，饿了啃一口冷馒头，累了头上敷上块湿毛巾……写到那些激动人心的场景时，笔跟不上手，手跟不上心，热血冲击胸膛，眼泪滴落在稿纸上……这样，在工作之余，一年又一年，把百万字的报告文学，改为六十多万字的长篇小说，又把六十多万字变成十七万字，又把十七万字变成四十万字，再把四十万字变为三十多万字……在四年多的漫长岁月里，九易其稿，反复增添删削何止数百次。直到一九五三年终，最后完成了这部作品，并在一九五四年夏出版了。那些被我涂抹过的稿纸，可以拉一马车。才气横溢的人，洋洋数十万言，也许挥洒自如，视若等闲。而我却是十足的笨人，除了拚命的学习和劳动，别无所长啊！ 这部作品，离我自己想象的样子，差得很远；离时代的要求，差得更远。但是，它的每一字每一句，都灌注着我的心血与汗水；它的每一字每一句，都凝结着我的热爱与憎恨，悲痛与欢乐，思考与追求，憧憬与理想…… 幼年，不知幸福为何物，后来又度过抗日战争的艰苦年代，所以到了部队上，并不觉得特别苦，更不需要什么"适应过程"。相反的，战斗的生活每时每刻都在我眼前展示出一片新的天地，给我带来说不尽的欢乐和内心的充实。战争年代，干部和群众中的精华，大都集中在部队里；在你的前后左右，尽是出类拔萃的人。你和这些人战斗在一起，岂非人生一大幸事？你和这些人生活在一起，心里不就充满着崇敬和热爱之情吗？总之，我的经历使我很容易与部队的指挥员、战士们生活在一起，容易在思想感情上产生强烈的共鸣。也就是说，只要老老实实和他们一道前进，全心全意地跟他们学习，是很容易理解他们的。从而在写作中刻画指战员的形象时，困难也就少些。 但是，由于我在部队工作的几年，时常在基层，因而对高级指挥员，便所知有限。因此，我要塑造彭德怀将军的形象，可以说是困难重重。当时有不少描写过我军指挥员的好作品，但主要是写营以下干部的。要写老一辈无产阶级革命家，还没有经验。然而，我当时认定：除了千方百计从各个方面表现党中央、毛主席的统帅全局、亲自指挥西北战场军民对敌斗争的决定性地位外，要写出彭德怀将军这个形象，对体现党的军事路线，对表现战争的规模，特别是对作品思想和艺术方面，有着非常重大的作用。 写以前，在行军途中或群众和部队举行的会上，当然不止一次见过彭总，但是坐到一块儿谈话，却只有一次。一九四八年秋末，在黄龙山的一个窑洞里，彭总给全体前线记者谈话，谈了三四个小时，参加的有一二十人，这些人现在活着的还有十几个。当时，彭总根本认不得我这个普通干部，怎么能授意我为他写什么书--"树碑立传"呢？这是活着的人可以作证的。只是在战争年代，我作为部队的一员，深深地感到：在那与人民群众和包括我在内的每一个革命战士都是生死攸关的严重的历史关头，他临危不惧，按照党的意志，忠诚地执行毛主席军事路线，带领我们在那样困苦的条件下，以少胜多，连打胜仗，最后解放了全西北。而且，他忠心耿耿，时时把人民群众和战士们放在心上，觉得他自己就是比群众和战士多吃一口青菜，也是深为惭愧的！"先天下之忧而优，后天下之乐而乐"，就是他的写照。这一切，在我心里产生的不是抽象的意念，而是激动人心的巨大的形象。伟大的中国革命，造就了许多光辉灿烂的巨人-- 毛主席、周副主席、朱总司令，以及包括彭总在内的为人民所敬佩、所爱戴的老帅们，……这老一辈无产阶级革命家，数十年如一日，为中国人民解放事业，无私无畏、舍身奋斗，同人民息息相关，和群众生死与共。这种崇高品格，整个中华民族都引以为荣地传诵着。当年，部队的干部、战士和人民群众中，流传着关于彭总的许多热爱党、热爱革命事业、痛恨阶级敌人，刚正无私、艰苦朴素的事情，这一切都使我深为所动。我是带着广大指战员强烈的崇敬心情来描绘彭德怀将军的形象的。他是来自现实斗争生活，也是来自广大指战员的心里。 我想，塑造为人民造福、使大地生辉的一代英雄的形象，不正是革命文艺工作者的起码的职责吗？作者在这方面作各种尝试和探索，有什么不好呢？难道像"四人帮"之流那样把战士们流的血当作污水来看待，是公平的吗？难道把中国人民精神上优美的东西摧残殆尽，才甘心吗？ 总之，我写的时候，没有什么能耐。我就是忘不了战士们，忘不了人民群众，忘不了那一场壮烈的战争，忘不了战斗生活对自己的教育，忘不了几千年来中华民族流血斗争的历史。今天看来，它只不过如实地把那场伟大的斗争点滴地记录下来罢了。但就是这样一部作品，还非得从中国的大地上扫除出去不可！一个时代的文学，是大家创造的；创作经验，是大家辛勤劳动而积累起来的。如果连这样一部反映历史真实的作品也要铲除消灭，那中国文学还有什么希望呢？是最先尝试着塑造老一辈无产阶级革命家形象的小说之一，一个世纪的四分之一过去了，在长篇小说领域里的这个方面，似乎是停滞不前。这是多么让人痛苦和百思莫解的文学状况啊！后代的人会愤怒地责问我们： 追随老一辈无产阶级革命家战斗过的可以执笔为文的人，留给我们的就是这样一份贫乏的文学遗产么？ 林彪、"四人帮"的逻辑是：我说你写的是毒草，就是毒草；我说你是"黑帮"，你就是"黑帮"。但是，历史和客观现实，是不以任何人的意志为转移的。谁违犯这铁的法则，谁就碰得头破血流，不管他地位多高，权势多大。 在解放初期，一本书印近百万册，比较少见。由此可知，群众并不厌弃它。可是一九五九年以后，这本书不叫印了。不叫印了就通知一下作者吧，不。作者无权过问，也不敢过问。到了一九六三年后半年，我在乡村"社教"，听说有人下令叫烧毁这本书。要烧毁，通知一下作者好不好？不通知。不仅当时不通知，就是到目前为止，也没有人通知我一声！最近，为了写这篇"后记"，我才费了一番功夫，请别的同志查出这样两份文件。现抄录如下： 文化部１９６３年９月２日〈６３〉文出密字第１３９４号通知：人民文学出版社出版的小说（杜鹏程著）应立即停售和停止借阅。……立即遵照执行…… 隔了不久，又急忙发出另一通知： 文化部〈６４〉文群密字２９１号补充通知：……关于一书……就地销毁，……不必封存。……立即遵照办理。 一声令下，烟火冲天；有的地方还派了保卫工作人员"监烧"，直到看到烧为灰烬为止，生怕有"胆大妄为之徒"，偷走一本，从而谬种流传，祸延子孙后代！ 长夜深思："焚书"是古已有之的，然而它在我们今天重演，这表明了什么呢？它表明中国人民灾难深重！后来我们大家经历的事实，不是极其惨痛地证明了这种看法吗？ 当时，书是悄悄"销毁"了，可是并没有找什么麻烦。这也算是"宽大"吧！可是，一九六六年以后，那就大祸临头了！抄家、批斗、游街、示众、蹲牛棚、劳动改造……专政方式，名目繁多。早年，戴过"八路"和"解放"的臂章的胳膊上，现在换了一块白布，上写："反革命修正主义分子"。早年浴血奋战的地方，现在成了自己被侮辱"示众"的场所。不明真相的青少年向我们吐唾沫，抛石头，而我们纵然有多少错误与弱点，但确是为了使他们能过人的生活，而含辛茹苦地战斗在这个世界上！说我因为写此书而"发了财"，其实的稿费的百分之九十，交了党费和捐献给国家。吃每一顿饭，都要站在毛主席像下"请罪"，在恶声辱骂中，夹着碗，低着头，念念有词地背诵着人家规定好的"请罪词"……在生活的舞台上，我真是扮演了不少角色呵！ 但是，这还只是在一个城市或一个省的范围里闹腾。紧接着，当时由"四人帮"控制的舆论阵地《人民日报》，于一九六七年十二月十九日，不惜花费一个整版的篇幅刊出了那篇大作--《〈保卫延安〉--利用小说反党的活标本》。一支毒箭便是号令，接着就万箭齐发。对这部作品长达数年之久的全国范围的大规模残酷围剿开始了。 从那时起，我的处境空前恶劣起来了，加在我身上的各种折磨手段也升级了。在长时期的摧残下，我的身心几乎到了被摧毁的程度…… 更可悲的是，当年我在的部队的领导同志和战友，特别是在边疆工作的同志，有许多人为此受到冲击、审查、拷打，没完没了。他们流血牺牲为创建这个国家作出了贡献，因此就"罪该万死"吗？有的读者，和我素不相识，只是由于曾经赞扬过这本书，也受到迫害或者被投到监狱。株连之广，为害之烈，比起封建社会的残酷的"文字狱"，来，毫不逊色！围剿的黑文，用的全是林彪、"四人帮"帽子工厂的破烂货和法西斯棍棒，不顾事实，不讲道理。你明明是在歌颂毛主席，他却硬说你"恶毒攻击毛主席"；你明明是要表现彭德怀将军如何忠实执行党的军事路线，他却硬说你"为彭德怀篡党夺权作吹鼓手"；你明明是在歌颂人民和人民战士，他却硬说你"宣扬资产阶级军事路线，丑化人民军队和人民群众"；你明明是歌颂伟大的人民战争，他硬要说你"宣扬战争恐怖论"，等等。这些颠倒是非的污蔑，用不着一一批驳，有这部书在，读者自有明断。 在"四人帮"一手遮天的时候，我曾痛苦地想过一个问题：一本书，几年前，报纸上说它如何好，几年后，还是同样的报纸，却又说它如何如何十恶不赦；那么，后代人看到这些互相矛盾的文字记载，将作何感想呢？这使我感受到：不仅仅是文学作品，就是历史的以及其它记述人类生活的书籍，在某一时期中，可以用强权和欺诈的手段，在冠冕堂皇的外衣下，塞满歪曲历史和生活的肮脏东西，但是人民总是厌弃这类东西的。在他们心里不容抹煞地存在着另一本书--在那里历史和生活保持着它本来面目……这甚至只是一本无文字可考的书，然而，我们要阅读的，正是这本印在人民心上的书。无数激动人心的事实告诉我们：人民群众对真理与谎言、正义与邪恶、以及对是非功过的分辨，最有力、最公平、最不可抗拒。人们该怎么想，还怎么想；该怎么说，还怎么说；该看什么书，还是照看不误。因为人民不可能永远被蒙蔽，而从根本上说，这恰恰使他们的分辨力得到了锻炼，得到了加强，这也是时代给我们的伟大赐予！也正因为看到了这种"赐予"，我们的心才没有被摧毁呵！ 的遭遇说明：不能像"四人帮"那样因为一时的政治需要，而任意修改历史，从而株连反映有关历史的作品和作家。作家应当对什么负责？他只能对人民群众负责；对历史负责；对他所反映的那个时代负责；对共产主义理想负责。这难道不是普通的常识吗？可是，"四人帮"之流，把普通常识竟搞得如此混乱不堪，使人哭笑不得。 纵览我们刚刚经历过的这一段历史，使人不能不这样想： 是的，有人要怎样乱干就怎样乱干，要怎么胡说就怎么胡说，但是，这样干，这样说，把中国人民置于何地？须知，一切胡作非为的惨痛后果，全都落到人民群众的头上--缺吃的，是他们；少穿的，是他们；忍受一切艰难困苦、遭受精神摧残的，都是他们呵！这难道不是有目共睹的事实吗？ 十多年来，我们看到林彪、"四人帮"从头至尾的一场大表演。虽然我遭受了迫害，但也受到了很大的锻炼：经见丰富得多了，头脑清醒得多了。我还活着，还在执笔为文，然而许多贡献很大、被人民所珍视的作家，却满怀遗恨过早地离开了我们！现在党中央给我们创造了很好的条件，正带领我们在实现四个现代化的新的长征路上奋勇前进。我们老老少少，都应该奋发起来，努力向前！ 我始终忘不了彭德怀将军在战争年代说过的一句话："我这个人没有什么，要说有一点长处的话，那就是不忘本。"照我的理解，这个"本"，就是革命事业，这个"本"，就是人民群众的利益。是的，如果忘了这个本，我们活到世界上干什么？如果忘了这个本，地位再高，权势再大，与人民何益？与粪土何异？ 是的，我们被折磨得内外是伤，但依然昂首挺立，而且满怀着激情和热爱，注视着这个辽阔广大的国家，注视着这块用我们的血汗和眼泪浸透过的土地，注视着这英勇顽强而多灾多难的人民呵！ 这本书，一九五四年夏季出版，那是小三十二开的竖排本。印数较多。这是第一个本子。到了一九五六年，我进行过一次较大的修改，删去数千字，增添了两三万字。这是大三十二开的竖排本，算是第二个本子。到了一九五八年，我又在这个基础上把这本书作了一些修改，以大三十二开的横排本出版，这算是第三个本子。最后这个本子，比起前几个本子，充实得多了。可惜，出版不久即被"烧毁"，因此看到过这个本子的读者比较少。 现在出的这是第四个本子。出版前，我虽然以一九五八年第三个本子为基础作了校订，但是按照许多读者的意见，基本上没有动，为的是让没有阅读过此书的读者看一看，被"四人帮"泼了那么多污水的书，到底是什么样子。 当初，这本书从看初稿、定稿、审查、出版，全是由人民解放军总政治部文化部负责的。总政文化部费了很多精力，设法把我从新疆的工作岗位上借调出来，因而，从一九五三年春到五四年春，我有整整一年时间住在北京，这使我能集中全力，对作品反复推敲修改。总之，没有他们的关怀和帮助，这本书根本不可能和读者见面。《解放军文艺》在此书尚未出版时，就在一九五四年一、二月分别选发了"蟠龙镇"和"沙家店"两章。那种对我国文学事业的热情的关怀和扶植，是令人难以忘怀的。战争中，我在部队上得到锻炼，写作中又得到部队领导机关的帮助。时至今日，如果说我还能作一点工作的话，那完全是党、人民军队和人民群众培养的结果呵！而且不管怎样折腾，总是活下来，总是不让那些祸国殃民的恶魔把自己的信念摧毁，那力量也是从这儿来的。 在这第四个本子印行的时候，我把冯雪峰同志在《文艺报》一九五四年的第十四、十五两期发表的《论〈保卫延安〉》（发表时的题名为：《〈保卫延安〉的地位和重要性》），放在卷首，以表达对这位文艺界的老前辈的深切悼念。他当初写评论时，看的是一九五四年的第一版。后来出的版本，变动较大，如对彭德怀将军的描写，就增添了数千字，比他当初看到的那个本子，可以说，有一定的提高。他如果健在，在有些具体讲法上，也一定会根据新的情况，有所补充。但是，总的说，他的文章，高屋建瓴，很有气魄，他的论断是独特的，他的眼光是犀利的，至今读起来，仍令人激动和敬佩。一九五三年底，总政文化部已经把稿子完全定下来，列为"解放军文艺丛书"之一，交给人民文学出版社出版。当时的中国作家协会副主席，著名的文艺理论家冯雪峰同志，兼任着人民文学出版社社长，他看到这部作品的打字稿。他和我素不相识，只是阅读中发现此稿有值得注意的地方，于是约我谈过数次，爽直，精辟而恳切地指出这部作品的长处与不足。那关怀与爱护的情景，至今犹历历在目。他看过打字稿，看过清样，书印出来又反复读了。他为我国文学中有这样一部作品，而兴奋得夜不能眠。想想这位参加过二万五千里长征的老战士，有着光辉革命阅历的文艺理论家，对我们的文学事业关怀和热爱，再看看近二十年来他和许多同志曾经为之付出心血的的遭遇，使人心里充满了无法排解的寂寞和悲哀！如今，这位忠诚、倔强而耿直的老前辈，与世长辞了，我的悲痛是无法表达的！然而，为我们的文学事业呕心沥血的人，为我国人民革命事业鞠躬尽瘁的人，他们的英名和业绩是永存的。 前行者，一个个倒下了，放下了他们的工作担子。我们活着的人，不管怎样渺小，还是要挑起这担子，奋然前行。人民群众迫切需要的四个现代化，在向我们召唤。只要一息尚存，就要继续用血汗和生命来书写新的历史篇章。 杜鹏程 １９７８年１２月１２日草于西安 １９７９年元月底修改于北京