Chapter 63

Although the number of prisoners 'complaining' activities gathered was somewhat beyond He Zhengdao's imagination, he still clearly understood that to make these prisoners truly determined to follow the Red Army, the division needed to win battles to prove itself.

In this era, for many ordinary soldiers from poor peasant families, their expectations of being soldiers were very low. Even without pay, as long as they could have a full meal, it was enough. But more importantly, they hoped to survive.

If they followed an army that often lost battles, a few words of encouragement would not be very effective. Such a hastily assembled force could not be expected to be loyal. After all, everyone knew that a bad life was better than a good death.

This meant that the division needed to win battles to boost the confidence of these prisoner soldiers in following the Red Army. At the same time, the political and ideological education of these new recruits was particularly important.

Any ideology, when instilled repeatedly, would form a subconscious thought. In this aspect, He Zhengdao entrusted all the work to Yao Shengjun. He even considered whether to borrow some political or military cadres from headquarters.

However, this idea was quickly dismissed. The reason was simple: the nature of the division was somewhat different. Even though most of the division's backbone had been prisoners before, and these new recruits were also converted from Nationalist Army prisoners.

Moreover, the First Red Army was also short of people and cadres. Asking headquarters for people would likely cause dissatisfaction among other unit commanders. Therefore, after comprehensive consideration, He Zhengdao still believed that internal solutions were better.

After a night's rest, the reconnaissance company, still serving as the division's vanguard, set out early in the morning to begin reconnaissance in the direction of Qianxi. According to intelligence, a Qian Army division was stationed in Qianxi and was currently reorganizing.

Although these units were not concentrated in one place, He Zhengdao was also aware that with the current strength of the division, a direct confrontation would likely result in a disadvantage. Therefore, the upcoming battles still needed to be won through surprise and strategy.

When the people of Renhuai woke up the next day, they were shocked to find that the soldiers who had been patrolling in Nationalist Army uniforms the previous day were now wearing Red Army uniforms. At that moment, the people finally understood what had happened yesterday!

"Heaven! These people are actually Red Army in disguise!"

Compared to the people's sudden realization, the merchants who had sold various supplies to the Red Army the previous day felt their legs go numb. If the Nationalist Army retook control of Renhuai after the Red Army left, would they be charged with aiding the enemy?

Some even felt that after the Red Army left, they should take their money and run. They could find another place to open a shop, rather than wait for the Nationalist Army to arrive and charge them with aiding the enemy and confiscate their property!

These concerns of the merchants were not something He Zhengdao would consider. After executing the Qian Army officers and the notorious officials, the evidence of their crimes was also posted throughout the city.

After breakfast, the division's soldiers, who had packed their bags, began to leave the city. But not long after leaving, the troops came to the foot of a large mountain and lined up by battalion.

As many wondered why they were lining up here, over twenty coffins appeared in everyone's sight. The first coffin was carried by He Zhengdao himself, and the other coffins were carried by division officers.

Even without a sound, many of the newly joined Red Army prisoners felt honored to see these people lying in the coffins. To have a division commander carry a coffin was a glorious death!

Watching the coffin-bearing procession slowly move to the halfway point of the mountain and place the coffins in the dug graves, He Zhengdao and others personally filled the graves with soil and erected tombstones in front of the mounds.

The chief of staff, Wang Tianlin, who was responsible for the burial ceremony, loudly said, "All present, salute the fallen brothers!"

Following Wang Tianlin's order, the orderlies quickly relayed the command to the soldiers watching below. Instantly, the veterans of the division quickly saluted with tears in their eyes.

Tears in this situation were both a sign of grief for fallen comrades and a sense of being moved. Compared to other comrades who had fallen during the campaign, the grand burial ceremony for the Red Army undoubtedly stirred their hearts.

As the division commander, He Zhengdao loudly said to the guard beside him, "Guard, raise your guns!"

Ten guards, who had been previously instructed, quickly raised their rifles, pointing the muzzles skyward. Upon hearing He Zhengdao's command, "Salute the comrades! Fire!"

The sharp gunshots echoed in the hearts of the soldiers below. This ceremony, in the era before He Zhengdao's arrival, might not have been significant, but here it was enough to make the soldiers willing to die for the cause.

After five concentrated shots, the ten guards also felt a surge of emotion. They even envied the comrades lying in the coffins. After all, funerals were also highly valued in this era.

The simple ceremony ended, and He Zhengdao said to Wang Tianlin, "Chief of Staff, place the stone at the entrance!"

"Yes, Commander!"

A prominent stone was quickly erected at the entrance to the cemetery. The division officers who had carried the coffins soon saw the inscription on the stone. They understood how important this cemetery was to He Zhengdao.

The inscription was simple, with only two large lines: "Those who dare to destroy the Red Army graves will be pursued to the ends of the earth and killed." The threatening words were clearly a warning to those who might dare to desecrate the cemetery, that they would face retribution from the Red Army.

Even more touching to the officers was the small line below the inscription, which included He Zhengdao's position and name. The erection of the stone was a promise He Zhengdao made to the fallen.

Although such a stone might not be effective, for the timid, if they dared to desecrate the cemetery, they would have to be prepared for retribution from the Red Army. Even the Nationalist Army soldiers would be the same!

When He Zhengdao stood before the division about to set out, looking at the nearly 7,000-strong formation, he loudly said, "Comrades, we will continue our journey and fight against the reactionary warlords who are trying to encircle and suppress us.

The comrades buried here were all martyrs from the previous night. This special funeral is to remind everyone of a principle. The division will never forget any fallen brother.

In the future battles, many of us may have to sacrifice our young and precious lives. I cannot promise that when you fall, you will receive a funeral like today.

But I can promise you that as long as the Red Army exists and there are still people in the division, the stories of these fallen comrades will be passed down, and history will not erase your contributions."

These words made many Red Army soldiers feel that following He Zhengdao in battle was indeed a fortunate thing. On the long campaign, how many Red Army soldiers had fallen without their bodies being properly buried.

But now, these fallen soldiers not only had coffins and a proper burial, but also the division commander leading the funeral procession and the entire division paying their respects. For these ordinary soldiers from peasant families, this was a funeral to aspire to!

As the soldiers looked at He Zhengdao with fervent hearts, the young division commander continued, "An ancient philosopher once said, 'All men must die, but death can be weightier than Mount Tai or lighter than a feather.'

The comrades lying in the graves, perhaps in the eyes of many of you, will be forgotten over time. No one will remember what they looked like, what they did, or why they died.

But I believe that when we achieve the ideals of national liberation and freedom, their deaths will be as heavy as Mount Tai. Anyone who has sacrificed their life for this ideal will be remembered by future generations.

The road ahead may be difficult, and in the pursuit of democracy and freedom, we may have to sacrifice countless lives. But I hope you remember that we are soldiers, soldiers of China.

Wearing this uniform, no matter where you come from, you must understand that as a soldier, you must fulfill the duty of protecting your country. We come from all over, but I believe many of you, like me, are from poor backgrounds.

We now carry guns and fight to ensure that our descendants will not suffer the hardships we have endured and will not be bullied by the rich and powerful. Anyone who dares to stand in our way will be met with our guns, making them tremble with fear.

If we are fortunate enough to live to see the realization of our ideals, we can proudly tell our descendants that the peaceful and prosperous life they enjoy is the result of our and countless revolutionary martyrs' sacrifices.

I also believe that history will not forget what you have done today, and your descendants will not forget the blood and sweat you have shed. At that time, even if you die, you will die with honor, as heavy as Mount Tai!"

The powerful and inspiring speech, combined with the previous burial ceremony, filled many Red Army soldiers with fearlessness about the future. The new recruits who had just joined the division also felt a surge of passion in their hearts!

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