Chapter 26 Chapter 6: Miss Yang who sticks to the "island of life"

Let us now talk about the important witness of the Nanjing Massacre, the American missionary Miss Minnie Vautrin.This American woman never had children in her life, but she never gave up the lives of tens of thousands of Chinese children.Therefore, she is called "Guanyin Bodhisattva" by Nanjing people. Vautrin has a Chinese name, Hua Qun. Born in the small town of Seacole, Illinois, USA in 1886, she came to Hefei, China in 1912 to run a school and preach at the age of 26.Such a young and beautiful American girl with advanced education is willing to come to a backward oriental country alone to run a missionary school until she exhausts all the energy of her life.Vautrin's contribution in China, especially the righteous deed of the Japanese army to protect thousands of Chinese women and children during the Nanjing Massacre, is touching and somewhat sad.

This is also the part where the flower of life of this "Miss Yang" blooms most beautifully. From 1919 to May 1940, Vautrin worked as a professor, director of academic affairs, and director of the Department of Education at Jinling Women's College of Arts and Sciences in Nanjing, and served as the dean of the college twice.It can be said that she is an outstanding female educator, a missionary who makes the author compare her to the "Holy Mother". Like all missionaries, Vautrin's initial and most fundamental mission in China was to spread Christian teachings in order to "save the fate of the backward and ignorant sisters", but later the brutal Japanese army changed her mission, which made A pure missionary became a goddess, the Virgin, or what we Chinese call "Guanyin" figure that Nanjing people will never forget for generations.

In the summer of 2014, the author came to the former site of the Jinling Women’s College of Arts and Sciences and paid homage to the statue of Vautrin—the “Miss Foreigner” standing in front of me, with a kind, friendly, and kind face, and this is just a superficial appearance.When I really understood what she did during the Nanjing Massacre, the author understood why Ms. Zhang Chunru burst into tears when reading her diary... The shock of the soul can change a person's belief. There is no truth in the world, and the truth is created by those who grasp the truth.There is no benevolence in the world, and benevolence is brewed by benevolent people.There is no beauty in the world, and beauty comes only after the beautiful people present the real beauty.

Among the thousands of different lives, only those who dedicate their lives to others will have the most brilliant flower of life. Vautrin was such a person. If it is said that Rabe "cured evil with evil" during his stay in Nanjing—he often flaunted his "Nazi" sleeve badge to the Japanese in desperation to frighten off the brutal thugs, then Vautrin spent his whole life with benevolence and beauty. to deal with evildoers.Vautrin was not a foreigner from a wealthy family. Her father, who was a blacksmith, could not give the whole family the slightest luxury. When she was 12 years old, Vautrin was sent to a neighbor's house to do hard work. In the cold winter, she herded cattle for other people's family.When she was a student, she relied on odd jobs to earn tuition fees.In a two-year university, she could only work and study, and it took her 4 years to graduate.Later, in order to run a school and preach in China, she even had to break up with her engaged lover, and she remained unmarried in her last life.

Vautrin devoted her entire life to China, and what we remember most is what she did to protect tens of thousands of refugees in the years after the Japanese army occupied Nanjing... In the summer of 1937, Vautrin had worked in Nanjing Jinling Women's College of Arts and Sciences for 19 years. At this time, she was one of the main persons in charge of the college, and the dean at this time was Wu Yifang, a famous Chinese female educator.This summer is a hot season that changed Vautrin's fate. Originally, she planned to return to the United States for a year's vacation in this summer, but the city where she worked——Nanjing was changed by the Japanese. Miss Qun also changed her destiny accordingly.

I don’t know whether it’s because women’s intuition is stronger than men’s, or because Americans are naturally sensitive to international politics. Vautrin was highly alert to the Japanese’s use of force against China from the very beginning and saw through their ambitions.After the July 7th Incident in Peking this year, Vautrin immediately made his own judgment: "We have received news that after a Japanese soldier disappeared on July 7, there was trouble a few miles south of Peking. How did it disappear? Why did it disappear? No one knows the details. The war has expanded since then, and we dare not say how it will end." This is a letter she wrote to her American friend a few days after the July 7th Incident, Vautrin It was pointed out so poignantly at the time: "Regarding World War I, Milne said: 'Two people were killed in Sarajevo in 1914. All Europe could do about it was to kill 11 million more.' Milne This conclusion doesn't include the personal toll of the war, the death from anger and disease and the damage to the economy, and the growing hatred. China doesn't want war and knows it's not ready. I don't think the Japanese people want war either , but Japan has no control over its weapons of war."

Vautrin was a peace-loving educator.Year after year of graduates leaving Jinling Women's College of Arts and Sciences to go to work, this kind of joy year after year makes Vautrin tireless, because she finds all her interests, happiness and sense of accomplishment from it—even though Her family never understood.But Vautrin felt fulfilled. She was satisfied with the graduates in the summer of 1937. A total of 42 young girls were leaving her to go to work, and 60% of the graduates would become teachers. "Educated women can have more job opportunities." Vautrin was overjoyed. During the past 19 years of working at Jinling Women's College of Arts and Sciences, she realized her ideals better and better year by year.Therefore, when the July 7th Incident happened and the Japanese ignited the flames of war in Shanghai in early August, Vautrin and the others were still studying the enrollment plan for this year.The result of the discussion was: it was decided to postpone the start date of the school year at the beginning of September to September 20th.In fact, the Ministry of Education of the Nationalist Government also suggested that schools in dangerous areas such as Shanghai and Nanjing should postpone the start date of the new school year to this time. People are a little worried about fighting a tough battle, or they don't have the slightest confidence at all.What can a 20-day delay in school start mean? Is the 20-day battle over or will it never end? Is 20 days a consideration for winning or a time for losing?No one seemed to understand.

Things are getting worse.It was late July when I returned to Nanjing from Qingdao vacation.The situation on the way has already made Vautrin feel that the situation has changed: "On the way I encountered 5 open military columns, carrying soldiers, horses and other equipment. In the sweltering heat, these soldiers looked very pitiful, some of them He’s still a boy.” Women are sensitive, and they can see many problems from the details, such as the frequent transfer of the Chinese army, for example, the poor boy among the soldiers explained the problems caused by the army’s combat effectiveness and lack of troops, and so on.

Vautrin had her own affairs. She returned to Nanjing from Qingdao on vacation in advance, mainly to check the newly built teaching staff residence.This new apartment is a project that Vautrin is very concerned about. Dean Wu Yifang has made great efforts for it. The budget for building the house is always exceeding the budget. This makes Vautrin who wants to have an American-style apartment house a bit Anxious - she is looking forward to having an ideal residence in China.But everything changed after the Japanese army entered China, including Vautrin's little wish. "After the campus lights were turned off, on the road outside the campus, the sound of marching soldiers and horses, and the clanging of guns continued for more than two hours... Preparations for war are still going on. Is there no force that can stop these two countries War among men? It is true that when the frenzy of war is unleashed, the situation is like sheep without a shepherd. Yet we know that in any given country there are quite a few anti-war people to prevent war.”

Vautrin is a pacifist, and she is outraged by the footsteps of war.But that is the consequence of the Japanese forcing China, because the Japanese military machine is running fast.After returning to Nanjing, Vautrin recorded the war atmosphere in the city in July and August. The authorities quickly issued an order that was unacceptable but quickly accepted by the people: paint all the roofs black or gray - and the red pillars under the eaves should also be painted out of color. "Otherwise it will become the target of bombs thrown by Japanese planes." The authority said.Everyone is afraid of death, so this plan was quickly responded and implemented. "The poor Drum Tower is also dressed in gray." Vautrin could not accept such a tragic situation.Her Jinling Women's College of Arts and Sciences is an exception not to "wear gray clothes". Dean Wu Yifang and Wei Telin and other female professors who love beauty and members of the school board firmly oppose it.

"Is the Japanese aircraft an exception for you?" Someone in the authorities criticized Vautrin and the others.I don't care!They go their own way.This is also the famous style of Jinling Women's College of Arts and Sciences. On August 13, the Shanghai War kicked off, and all communications from there to Nanjing were cut off, as was the traffic situation.The capital Nanjing began to panic from then on. In the days that followed, Vautrin, like all Nanjingers, dug an air-raid shelter in addition to sticking to her normal work. On the 11th, missionaries Maggie and Anna came to Vautrin, and the three discussed in the office for more than an hour about how Christianity is currently working.There are no conclusions, only worries. "I am now personally boycotting Japanese goods." Vautrin told the church members, but she pointed out, "I will also try my best to get in touch with the Japanese people, so that Japanese workers and farmers can understand what their army has done in China. thing." The days that followed made Vautrin and her colleagues extremely disturbed, because as long as the weather was better, Japanese planes would drop bombs on their heads.The horrific sirens and the tedium of cave life made the women miserable and anxious.During this period, sad news kept coming: either how many people were killed by the Japanese in Shanghai, or how many houses were destroyed in Nanjing, and how many people were killed or injured... "We must go! All women should leave, and all men who don't have to stay should also go." The American embassy came to Vautrin and the others repeatedly. "I have already said that I will not leave, because if I leave, Dr. Wu Yifang and her Chinese colleagues who are under tremendous pressure will have to take on more work. I am the teaching director of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and I especially cannot leave at this time. It is not only my responsibility, but also my mission in China for decades, just like in danger, men should not abandon the ship, and women should not abandon their children." Vautrin told the diplomats of her embassy they said. "We fully understand Miss Vautrin's attitude. It is your personal will to choose to stay or go. The embassy respects you." The embassy's attitude made Vautrin feel happy. She has no other preparations, the only preparation is the same as all Nanjing people: prepare to "greet" any behavior of the Japanese - "greet" helplessly. The situation is getting worse.Not to mention the postponement of the start of school, the school itself is facing the problem of immediate relocation.This has been ordered by the government, and only a small number of guards are left. Students and teachers have to relocate to the interior.Since August, Nanjing City has been in the chaos of mass relocation.Adults are busy, children are crying; soldiers are busy, hooligans are laughing; cars and horses are busy, chickens and dogs are idle... In short, the majestic capital of China is now in chaos before the war.Jinling Women's College currently has three people who are the busiest: Dean Wu Yifang, House Supervisor and member of the Extraordinary Committee Cheng Ruifang, and Vautrin. September 1st, the first day of school in previous years.But on this day of the year, Jinling Women's College of Arts and Sciences is completely different.That night, Vautrin lived in an air-defense dormitory on the top of the mountain with Dean Wu Yifang and another colleague, discussing how to plan the next work of Jinling Women's College of Arts and Sciences, which has no students.Vautrin was deeply impressed by what two Chinese women said when talking about the current situation in their country: "If our country is defeated by the Japanese, it will not be because our people lack courage, but because there are traitors in our ranks! " Who are the traitors in China?Mr. Chiang Kai-shek, who is the main battle, can't be, right?Wang Jingwei?Vautrin could not understand the interior of China, but she did know one thing: Whenever Japanese planes attacked Nanjing at night, the city had already ordered that no lights be turned on in important public places or important institutions and military installations. Some bad guys held up torches in the dark to guide the Japanese military planes.It's scary and very infuriating. This is the traitor that Dean Wu and the others hate, right? ! Another news came from the city: In order not to leave any valuable resources and wealth to the Japanese who might attack Nanjing, the authorities reported that the people and all institutions should cooperate with the "scorched earth policy", that is, China would rather turn Nanjing and other big cities into The scorched earth did not allow the Japanese to gain any benefits after occupation. It's crazy, the creators and winners of wars are crazy, and the victims of war are crazy too!Looking at the ancient capitals of the Six Dynasties of China and the beautiful scenery of the Qinhuai River that she was so fascinated by, Vautrin cried out countless times in her heart, but no one seemed to understand or listen to her.The only thing she is grateful for is that their dean, Ms. Wu Yifang, is an enlightened and independent "leader". Dean Wu neither implemented "blackening" nor "scorched earth". She believes that even if the Japanese butcher knife Putting it on the neck, "we should also show the pride and beauty of the Chinese people."Vautrin admires Dr. Wu Yifang very much, saying that she is the soul and symbol of Jinling Women's College of Arts and Sciences.Wu was the first graduate of the school, went to the United States to study for a doctorate, and came back to take over the post of dean. He is a true educator.Because of Wu Yifang's existence, Jinling Women's College of Arts and Sciences is also a very well-known school in the capital Nanjing. Chiang Kai-shek's wife Song Meiling also often visits and presents some gifts and souvenirs from time to time. The battle in Shanghai became more and more fierce, and the wounded and sick on the front line were transferred to hospitals in the Nanjing area in large numbers.Vautrin and Cheng Ruifang were also ordered by the president to accept the task of distributing condolences to a large number of wounded and sick. Women took to the streets to make donations, mobilized women to sew and wash clothes for the wounded, and even wrote letters for their families. Vautrin felt that she was fully integrated into the real life of the Chinese people.She has forgotten her identity, even her skin color, and the Chinese people completely regard her as "one of my own".At first people called her "Miss Yang", but later they learned that her Chinese name was Hua Qun, so they called her "Miss Hua". In fact, "Miss Hua" is already 51 years old, and she is no longer a girl's age. "Foreigners call unmarried women Miss." Later, some Chinese who didn't understand this also knew why they called the middle-aged Vautrin that way. War pushes human intelligence to the limit.One day Vautrin came to the US embassy on business and found that the diplomats were busy covering a huge Stars and Stripes (American flag) on ​​the roof. "In this way, when Japanese planes drop bombs, they won't throw them on top of our heads!" said the staff of the embassy. "Then what about the people in the whole city?" Vautrin looked at this scene, feeling very sad for the citizens of Nanjing and the Chinese—they couldn't raise their own national flags in their own country to protect their own lives, but foreigners could. Save your life with your own flag. She hated the Japanese even more because of this: Why do you go to China to harm others! The Japanese planes had blown up the city of Nanjing with scars and bruises. "Whose family's goose is this?" Suddenly one day, two policemen came to the school, pointing to several ganders swaying leisurely all over the ground and questioned Vautrin. "Is it still harmful to the war?" Vautrin asked the police very puzzled. "Miss Hua, you don't know. When the Japanese plane comes, the goose man screams 'Wow,' and the Japanese will throw bombs down, so the government asks you to kill them!" The police said. "These are our experimental creatures, it's not fair to kill them!" Vautrin argued, "Besides, if the Japanese knew that the geese were calling and thought it was a rural area, their pilots might have given up bombing us Woolen cloth!" "This..." The policeman really didn't expect Vautrin to say this.But they insisted that "this is an order from the superior" and it must be carried out. "How many dogs do you have?" the policeman asked. Vautrin nodded, but she said: "They are very obedient. Whenever we enter the cave, they will follow, and they never bark." The police seemed to believe Vautrin, and said before leaving: "Then you have to control them too." Vautrin shook her head resignedly and self-deprecatingly as she watched the policemen go away. She really had "war sickness". The city of Nanjing and all the people living here are suffering from the "war disease" more and more seriously. Vautrin was particularly miserable on September 16th.She came out of the air-raid shelter at around 8 o'clock in the evening, and found her "Petler" - the puppy that she picked up and depended on her for life was lying on the ground motionless, with only two small eyes staring pitifully at the owner, tearful of.It turned out that it was bitten by a poisonous snake. "Poor little one! My little baby!" Vautrin picked up the little guy and went straight to the infirmary to give it medicine, but it was too late.Petler soon "freed himself from the pain" forever. Vautrin was so sad that he, Cheng Ruifang and others wrapped the little guy in a white cloth and buried him under a small tree. Vautrin made a point of silently praying for it.This is an indirect crime committed by the Japanese!She thinks so. After burying Pietler, Vautrin devoted herself to preparing her students for the start of the new school year.In the eyes of many people, the Chinese and Japanese troops have been battered in blood in Shanghai. Is it possible for Nanjing Jinling Women's College of Arts and Sciences to resume school?Vautrin was clearly angry when she heard such words, saying: "War is war, and children are children. We cannot stop two countries from war, but we must do everything possible to send innocent children to school." On September 18, Jinling University made a decision to start school in Nanjing on October 4, which greatly encouraged Vautrin.On this day, Vautrin, together with Cheng Ruifang and other colleagues, notified all biology majors to attend classes in Wuchang, because 6 of her students had regained the opportunity to attend classes there. "I personally believe that mothers with children should evacuate to a safe place if possible. However, the rest of us should remain in our jobs if the body can handle the current stress. Our greatest emotional investment is Having a friendly and cooperative relationship with young church members and leaving us when people need us most is, in my opinion, a missed opportunity to serve us.... In my missionary career, a The long-awaited day has finally arrived—women with special responsibilities are treated the same as men with the same responsibilities, and we are not required to leave at the same time as mothers with children." In the diary of that day, Vautrin wrote for herself Proud to remain in Nanjing to continue her sacred work. The next day was the Mid-Autumn Festival, and Vautrin was in a good mood, because it rained—Japanese planes would not come to bomb on rainy days.The sky after the rain is particularly clear, fresh and cool.This is a rare day that Nanjing people have rarely spent since August.During the day, Vautrin went door-to-door to the students' homes to make home visits.Under the shadow of war, the citizens of Nanjing opened their doors and saw a mother-like "Miss Foreigner" come to ask questions about their health and well-being. How could they not be moved and excited? "Sit down, Miss Hua, let's eat mooncakes!" "Come on, Teacher Hua, can my child still go to school this year?" The parents gave Vautrin's arrival the warmest reception and greetings. "In the afternoon, we have a local school opening party in the afternoon, let's go to it together!" Vautrin told her students and their parents with a very affirmative and enthusiastic attitude. 2:30 p.m.Vautrin and several teachers specially arranged a special party in their neighborhood school. More than 30 children and 18 adults participated. She and the children sang familiar songs with the guests, full of hope and expectation. "Boom—" The singing had not stopped, when suddenly, there was a loud explosion of a bomb nearby.The annoying Japanese planes were disrupting and destroying again, which made Vautrin and the children even more contempt and hatred for the Japanese. "Get off! Get off! What's wrong with the children wanting to go to school? What's in the way?" Vautrin threw her head up and cursed at the Japanese bombers flying overhead. "Miss Hua! Hurry up and hide in the air-raid shelter! Hurry up!" Cheng Ruifang and others pulled her into the air-raid shelter vigorously, while Vautrin's chest was still heaving violently and she kept cursing the Japanese plane that dropped the bomb. On September 20, Counselor Paxton of the American Embassy came to Vautrin and read to her a statement from the commander of the Japanese Fleet in Shanghai, "In order to end the war as soon as possible, destroy all military facilities, airports and communication centers in Nanjing." , starting tomorrow, the Japanese army will carry out a real attack on Nanjing, in other words, it is going to really attack Nanjing! "We are ordered by the government to evacuate Nanjing immediately and go hide!" Paxton said. "How can I let go of my children and school?" Vautrin is still the same old saying. "Miss Vautrin, you should be clear that the Japanese army is not as kind as you Christians. Their statement is an ultimatum. If they don't leave, they mean that they will not be responsible for the bombing or killing." "Aren't children and schools an exception?" "Needless to say! Bombs don't have eyes." "Then it's even more important to stay here. I want to see if the Japanese really dare to drop bombs on our children and in the school!" "Oh! You still don't believe it at this point!" Paxton couldn't wrap Vautrin around, and walked away with a shake of his hands. "If you still need anything, you can write to me and the embassy..." He left a friendly and concerned word. "I heard that the national flag of your embassy will be lowered?" Vautrin asked a few steps away. "Yes. Approved by the State Department." Paxton's voice. Vautrin leaned against the stone railing, looking at Paxton's back in the distance, her eyes were full of worry. "I think it would be a tragedy if all the embassies lowered their flags and evacuated their personnel. Because, it would mean that Japan could carry out a ruthless and unscrupulous attack on Nanking without even officially declaring war. Bombing indiscriminately. I hope that the Japanese Air Force will not be able to get this kind of satisfaction..." This is Vautrin's official reply to the embassy after consulting with her female companion, Miss Catherine. During this day, Vautrin attended the weddings of several Chinese girls she knew in succession.At first she didn't understand why so many girls got married all of a sudden, but after inquiring, she found out that the parents of these girls had a common idea, to find a husband's family for their daughters to marry before the Japanese invaded Nanjing. Maybe the girl still has a protection after the war. "Tragedy!" Vautrin felt pain in her heart when she heard this.But what can you do?Standing in front of the statue of Jesus, Vautrin felt powerless.Now, all she can do is to keep the Jinling Women's College of Arts and Science as much as possible.She thought to herself: This is not only her job, but also an ideal home for her children.If their homes are destroyed or destroyed by the Japanese, the children's ideals will surely become bubbles. That's why she decided to stay. "Since they are leaving and there is no one in the embassy, ​​can we let them give us the flag?" Catherine said. When Vautrin heard this, her eyes lit up: "This is a good idea. I heard that Mr. Rabe of Siemens has already placed several German flags in his yard. Japanese planes really dare not go to his yard. Throwing a bomb!" "He put the Nazi flag, and the Japanese were afraid." Catherine said. "Our Star-Spangled Banner can at least make the Japanese feel scruples." Vautrin came to her senses and said, "I'll call the embassy right away before they leave." "Hello, embassy? I'm Vautrin. I want to borrow something from you..." "What? Miss Vautrin, we will be at your service." "Flag. One of those big flags you keep up on roofs." "Oh—understood. Please wait..." The embassy let Vautrin and the others listen to the news. "There is hope." Vautrin made a face at Catherine. "Miss Vautrin, it is my great honor to tell you that our ambassador has agreed to your request." The phone rang, and the other party said. "Thank you so much! Thank you!" Vautrin and Catherine happily hugged each other and cheered.They reported the incident to Dean Wu Yifang. Wu Yifang was also very satisfied, and said, "Go and get it back right away!" "it is good!" After Vautrin and others took a brand new 9-foot American flag back to the school, it was placed flat in the middle of the square lawn on the campus. "It's a little smaller. I'm afraid the bombers on the Japanese plane may not be able to see clearly." Cheng Ruifang came over to take a look, and said so. "Yes, it's too small." Catherine also felt dissatisfied. Vautrin pondered for a moment and said, "Tomorrow we will go buy some cloth and try to make an American flag three times bigger than this!" "Good idea!" Cheng Ruifang and Catherine greeted her. "Boom!" "Boom! Boom!" The Japanese really "fulfilled" their word - began an absolutely destructive bombardment of Nanking. "Forty-one people were killed on the spot in the Ministry of Industry today." Dean Wu Yifang reported the news to Vautrin and others with a heavy heart. In the night after the bombing, the moon poked its head out.Vautrin came out of the air-raid shelter and returned to the laboratory. When she opened the window, she saw the Star-Spangled Banner lying flat on the lawn, and couldn't help but walk out. Under the moonlight, Vautrin stood in front of the national flag of her own country, full of thoughts.She thought of her hometown, Illinois, her sick father, and her younger brother who complained to her... But Vautrin thought more about her own country.She said silently in her heart: Over the years, if my country hadn't been so selfish and greedy, this national flag and the country it represented would have been able to make the Japanese dare not do whatever they wanted!Not now.They are all gone, even the door of the embassy is closed, where is their sense of justice? Vautrin felt extremely painful in her heart.Because of this, she gradually lost trust in her motherland, which is why she was willing to sacrifice her life to stay in Nanjing. "I would rather stand where the Japanese bombs fly for the sake of a few Chinese children, so that my heart will be more peaceful. Please God believe me and understand me, and please my devout Christian father understand me... ..." She crossed herself and prayed.