As night fell, moonlight shone on the dilapidated streets, and a man in a People's Liberation Army uniform hobbled on his way home. He was Bao Xianzhi, the political commissar of the Second Field Army, an officer who had just come out of the war and was looking forward to returning home to visit his family. Macheng, a place he had been away from for seventeen years, was now filled with endless thoughts and worries in his heart.

But the scene of the warm family reunion he was looking forward to ushered in an unexpected silence and desolation. When Bao Xianzhi stood in front of his house, the closed old door looked particularly heavy. The traces of time have carved a deep imprint on the door, as if telling an untold story.

He gently pushed the door and entered, only to see that the courtyard was overgrown with weeds, and the familiar atmosphere of life had long since dissipated.

Heavy encirclement and suppression and difficult transfer

In July 1932, Chiang Kai-shek mobilized a huge army force, 300,000 heavy troops gathered like an iron stream to march towards the Hubei-Henan-Anhui Soviet area, gathering elite troops from the Kuomintang army, who carried a large number of weapons and equipment, intending to wipe out the strength of the Red Army in one fell swoop.

The scorching summer sun is like fire, and in the hot weather, the dust is flying, and the sound of horses' hooves, human voices, and gunfire are intertwined, forming a tense and fierce battlefield picture. In the face of such a formidable enemy, the Red Army did not flinch, and they used familiar terrain and guerrilla tactics to engage the enemy again and again.

In the forests, in the valleys, and even in the narrow spaces of small villages, the resolute steps and shouting slogans of the Red Army soldiers could be heard. Although they were poorly equipped and lacked sufficient ammunition supplies, each and every one of them showed an indomitable spirit, interpreting the persistence of ideals and the desire for victory with their actions.

As the battle continued, the Kuomintang army took advantage of its overwhelming superiority in strength and gradually reduced the scope of the Red Army's activities. After careful consideration, the command of the Red Army made an extremely difficult decision - to leave the base area that they had carefully cultivated for many years and move to the Sichuan-Shaanxi area.

This decision not only means saying goodbye to the base that he has worked so hard to build, but also means that an unknown and difficult journey is about to begin. The process of transfer was extremely difficult, and the Red Army had to cross many obstacles and cross mountains and rivers.

They experienced hunger, fatigue and the pursuit of the enemy, but no matter what difficulties they faced, the Red Army soldiers did not give up, they helped each other, and together they overcame difficulties, showing a high sense of collective honor and sacrifice. On the long road of transfer, the Red Army also had to constantly engage in encounters with enemy forces, and each battle tested their will and combat effectiveness.

Despite the difficult conditions, a high degree of organizational discipline was maintained within the Red Army, and in the evenings they rested in makeshift camps, where the commanders discussed their next steps by rudimentary fires. Even in such a difficult situation, the Red Army worked hard to maintain the vitality and morale of its ranks, inspiring and strengthening its convictions through songs and stories.

Separation and perseverance

It was in this environment that Bao Xianzhi, an ordinary Red Army soldier, made a major decision - he decided to go home and say goodbye to his wife. Bao Xianzhi's wife, pregnant with a new life about to be born, waited alone in their simple but warm home. Her heart is filled with worries about her husband and uncertainty about the future.

As Bao Xianzhi walked through the path of the village, every step seemed heavy. He knew that this farewell might be goodbye. Despite the weight of parting weighing on his heart, he tried to remain calm and not let his wife see his inner struggle and uneasiness. Their home, although simple, is full of traces of life.

In the corner of the wall are a few pieces of shabby furniture, a wooden table, and a few bowls and plates are scattered on it, which looks very simple. Bao Xianzhi stood at the door, took a deep breath, and pushed the door open. When his wife heard the voice, she turned to look at the door, a flash of surprise and joy in her eyes. But soon, that joy was replaced by a wordless sadness.

They stared at each other, and the words seemed redundant. Bao Xianzhi slowly approached and hugged his wife tightly. At that moment, all words turned pale and weak, and their hearts were closely connected, feeling each other's body temperature and breathing. But time did not allow them to stay too much, and Bao Xianzhi knew that he had to return to the army as soon as possible.

He gently stroked his wife's cheek, tried to leave some words of comfort, then turned and stepped out of the house. When Bao Xianzhi returned to the army, his heart was full of heaviness. The mobilization of troops has begun, and everyone is preparing for the upcoming Long March.

This is an unprecedented challenge, and they will have to face extreme natural conditions and constant pursuit by the enemy. For Bao Xianzhi, in addition to these difficult material conditions, the concern for his family and the worry about his wife and unborn child in his heart are an unspeakable burden.

Liberation and searching

In the spring of 1949, with the sudden change in the political situation in Chinese mainland, the PLA won decisive victories on several fronts. In this series of victories, Bao Xianzhi, as the political commissar of the 11th Army, witnessed the transition from war to peace, and the dawn of the coming of New China.

After learning the news of the liberation of his beloved hometown of Macheng, he decided to use the vacation to return home to visit his family. This is the first time in 17 years that he has set foot on the journey home, and his heart is full of thoughts and concerns for his family. Bao Xianzhi's return journey was no longer a difficult trek during the war, but a train of peace, through the newly liberated towns and through the countryside transformed by the revolution.

Along the way, he witnessed the changes in the face of the country, and his expectation of seeing his family became stronger and stronger. However, when he finally arrived at his hometown, he was greeted by depression and silence. His hometown of Macheng, a place he once remembered vividly, now seemed both familiar and unfamiliar.

Most of the houses on both sides of the street are dilapidated, and the traces of the war have not completely disappeared. Bao Xianzhi walked along the road in his memory and walked towards his home. As he approached, an inexplicable premonition rose in his mind. This premonition became a reality when he stood in front of his own house – the door was closed, the house looked dilapidated, and the smell of fireworks had disappeared.

The door that had been in and out so many times was now locked, and the small courtyard in front of it was overgrown with weeds, apparently uninhabited for a long time. Bao Xianzhi stood quietly outside the door, his gaze through the crack in the door, trying to catch any sign of life in the home, but could find nothing but silence and abandonment.

He walked to his neighbors' houses, hoping to get some information from them. The neighbors looked a little surprised when they saw Bao Xianzhi, a high-ranking officer in a People's Liberation Army uniform, standing in front of them. Under Bao Xianzhi's questioning, the neighbors showed sympathetic eyes, and they told him that in those turbulent years, many families were destroyed, and Bao Xianzhi's family was not spared.

They told Bao Xianzhi that his wife and newborn child had been sold far away by the patriarch shortly after the Red Army had withdrawn in exchange for the necessities of life.

Hearing this, Bao Xianzhi stood there, his face not changing much, but every word hit his heart like a hammer. He thanked his neighbors and slowly returned to his house. At that moment, his heart was filled with an endless sense of heaviness and powerlessness.

Truth and acceptance

Guided by the heavy footsteps in Bao Xianzhi's heart, he embarked on a journey to find the past. The clues provided by the neighbors, though vague, were his only hope. He learned that many years ago, after the Red Army withdrew from the Hubei-Henan-Anhui Soviet region, the Kuomintang troops quickly occupied this area.

In the chaos that followed, his family suffered misfortune - his wife and newborn child were betrayed by the patriarch to a hunchbacked peasant far away in Guojiagang for only fifty oceans. This news was undoubtedly a bolt from the blue for Bao Xianzhi, who had just returned from the victory of the war.

But he doesn't have time to dwell on his grief, he has to find them. Guojiagang is not far away, but for Bao Xianzhi, this journey is like crossing thousands of mountains and rivers. When he finally arrived at Guojiagang, the scene in front of him made him stop. It is a typical rural village with rice paddies, creeks and scattered farmhouses that make for a peaceful idyllic landscape.

Bao Xianzhi began asking villagers about the hunchbacked peasant's residence, and soon he was standing in front of a simple farmhouse. Although the farmhouse is dilapidated, the small courtyard in front of the door is full of vegetables and flowers, which seems to be very industrious and attentive. He took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

The door slowly opened, and a middle-aged man appeared in the doorway, his back was indeed slightly bent, and at a glance he knew that it was the hunchbacked peasant. At the sight of Bao Xianzhi's military uniform and epaulettes, the peasants obviously felt very nervous, and the expressions on their faces were complicated. Bao Xianzhi did not immediately express his intentions, but asked some information about the family.

The peasant replied cautiously, while constantly looking at Bao Xianzhi. After a brief conversation, Bao Xianzhi finally asked directly about the whereabouts of his wife and children. Hearing this question, the farmer's face changed, and he seemed to realize Bao Xianzhi's identity.

The farmer led Bao Xianzhi into the house and gave a detailed account of the past few years. His wife died of illness at an early age, leaving only their children. Although the hunchbacked farmer lived in poverty, he did his best to take care of his children as if they were his own. Bao Xianzhi listened to his narration, and everything in front of him seemed to show the kindness and care of this farmer to the child.

After learning the news that his wife had died, Bao Xianzhi's heart was like a knife, but when he saw his child, the long-lost blood connection made him feel a little comforted. Although the child did not know him, there was an undeniable resemblance to that face.

Reunion and glory

After endless suffering and a long separation, he was finally reunited with his son. The child, who had been cared for by the hunchbacked farmer for many years, had grown into a teenager. Although the family relationship between them has been missing for many years, the blood connection and the natural intimacy between father and son make the two quickly establish a deep relationship.

Bao Xianzhi returned to the army with his son, a decision that was not only based on personal emotional considerations, but also in the hope that his son could grow up in the general environment of New China and receive better education and training. Their lives gradually got back on track, and the son adapted well to the new environment and started his own studies and life.

At the same time, Bao Xianzhi himself continued to hold important positions in the army and participated in various construction work in New China. In 1955, Bao Xianzhi was awarded the rank of lieutenant general for his outstanding contributions to the long revolutionary war and his outstanding performance in the construction of New China.

Resources:

1. Liu Yonghui.Founding Lieutenant General Bao Xianzhi's life fragment[J].Party History Wenyuan,2023(2):45-47