Nine Songs of Anti-Japanese War

Chapter 12

12. There is no peace in the Land of Fragrant Flowers (Note 1)

Tianjin is heading towards the British Concession Club (Note 2), and the roses along the road are in full bloom.

Rose is a kind of flower that blooms almost all year round and is easy to maintain.When it was placed on the side of the road casually, it bloomed vigorously.This is what Tianjin likes, but he has no mood to appreciate it.

He pushed open the door of the club: "Mr. Manchester, Mr. Southampton, you have a good time."

Two Englishmen are playing pool.The Tianjin they saw was slightly different from the past: when Tianjin went to the foreign concession to meet foreigners, they were generally well-dressed and showed full courtesy.This time, he was only wearing a homely robe, as if he was about to take off his coat to enjoy the cool at the exit of the circuit, and he was clearly in a bad mood.

"Let's play a game with us, Mr. Tianjin." Manchester said, "I just drove back the group of dwarfs in the Japanese Concession, they are really annoying, don't let the Japanese-British friendship keep people's interest away, they smell weird. "

"Yes, there are many kilns in the Japanese Concession," Tianjin said.

Manchester nodded: "There have been more people here since you were occupied. You are really a group of uncivilized barbarians... Hey, are you going to fight or not?"

"Don't fight." Tianjin half leaned against the wall, looking drowsy, "I'm tired, running at both ends and always being disturbed, it's useless to tell you. You didn't call me here to play with you? Why don't you sleep?" Sleep."

Southampton put down his cue and smiled: "It's the first time I saw Mr. Tianjin lose his temper. It's really not true. Come with us now and meet your compatriots-this way, you will definitely feel better if you whisper something about yourself. .”

As soon as I flew, I flew to Kowloon Island.

Shanghai and Hong Kong? !Southampton guy who doesn't know the situation, this is called "the mood will be much better"?

Tianjin is not prejudiced against the two of them.It's just that the personalities are too far apart, and it's difficult to have in-depth private chats, let alone "own whispers".Being on the same coast, they were all forced to become pioneers when the national crisis hit, but Tianjin's personality had been formed before, and his heart was still rooted in the yellow land.Shanghai and Hong Kong are far different.

Therefore, it is difficult for them to have a relaxed atmosphere together.Especially when it comes to the domestic situation, both Tianjin and Shanghai are a bit cautious, and the British are present, so it is not convenient for them to intervene in their identity as Hong Kong.

"Two gentlemen, please stay away for the time being. I will discuss with you in detail about the order of the King of London in a moment." Hong Kong felt that the atmosphere was too tense, so he issued an order to evict his current family without blinking.

As soon as the two left, Hong Kong threw away a cup of black tea for socializing.Shanghai glanced at him, but did not follow suit, but pushed his cup away slightly.Tianjin knows, the nonsense is over.

"I heard that Tokyo has returned to China. Shanghai, have you and the people around you felt better in the past few months...?" Tianjin said with lowered eyelids.

"It's okay. Anyway, I spent most of my time in the concession, and I just barely hid in the shelter built by the colonists. It's ironic when you think about it." Shanghai dialect never forgets to hint at Hong Kong.He slightly curled the corner of his mouth and said, "I'm not as busy as you. Your story should be more exciting than ours, let's talk about it."

"mine?"

"Is it inconvenient?"

"No... I'm actually very willing. Complaining to Hebei will put pressure on them as well. It's much better with you, but... how should I talk about this? My own city is fine, but Beiping City just...be a In summary, it is...

"The number of people who died in Beiping City was obviously more than that in other occupied areas."

The wind is blowing.The endless Yangtze River rolls in.

Wuhan stepped onto the temporary command platform, and his mind was in a trance for a very short time.He seems to have returned to the scene where he led an army uprising 20 years ago. It is also a mighty army lined up in rows. It is also the endless wind and river in Jingchu. It is also a star with a clear goal and no regrets. Heart.

But it is not what it used to be.

He was still tired then.Having lived for too long and seen too much, I have long been accustomed to being extinguished by the cold reality after burning briefly.Dynasties rise and dynasties fall.What about the Wuchang Uprising?He suppressed his restlessness and charged forward for the country's tomorrow. Once he succeeded, the obstruction of the Beiyang warlords finally extinguished the glory of the revolution.

Although he saw the wings of hope at that time, there was still deep doubt behind the pride.

Now……?

There is no longer any hope.As the land was gradually eroded and his compatriots left one by one, he became numb to the word "hope".Yes, what he was facing was darkness, the despair of not knowing when it would end.

A piece of pure, unadulterated darkness, on the contrary, annihilated the wavering mood.Wuhan no longer has distracting thoughts.

After recalling the tasks of Yichang and other family members, Changsha's voice suddenly jumped into:

"Aha, it's my turn to take the lead if you don't live up to your expectations. Speaking of duty, we in Nanchu are dedicated to putting out fires for you."

[…I'd rather not have you on top.Just stay behind for a while, okay? ]

[How many people know how long the war has tormented us? ]

[So—I will do my best.Believe me.this time. ]

"Wuhan!"

Wuhan was taking a deep breath of Jiangfeng and was about to start speaking when Min rushed up from the commander's platform, followed by Jiangxi's Nanchang. "The two county kings who will lead the enemy army this time have been determined!" Nanchang waved two pieces of paper and shouted out of breath, "Be careful, you boy, they are all difficult guys!"

"Who?"

"As far as I know, they are the most loyal supporters of Tokyo, and they are just as ruthless! They joined the war not long after September [-]th, and they have killed us several times before..."

"I said... who the hell..." Wuhan sweated coldly, now is not the time to give an impromptu speech to Nanchang.

"Hiroshima and Nagasaki." Min interrupted Nanchang.

They looked at Wuhan, and Wuhan's face did change, but it was just a sneer: "I thought Tokyo had changed his mind and wanted to come back. If he really came back, it would be fine, and he could still express his anger for the people last time. Not to mention the two minions. "

"Yes, the general must have this kind of momentum. My Jiujiang family is still waiting for you to give orders." Nanchang shook his head and laughed. words?"

Min seemed to smile, and this "seem" has been quite rare in the past year: "The king of Wuhan County does not underestimate the enemy."

Wuhan nodded, a little moved.He and Min had a very tacit understanding. When encountering difficulties, Min was often the first person to turn to him for help.But as time passed, the political views of the two gradually drifted apart.Wuhan is gratified that that tacit understanding still exists, even if... the people are forced to take it back.

"There are too many people in Wuhan who want to protect, and he will never be reckless. Do you understand, Nanchang?"

Xi'an spent the whole day exchanging information with the North, analyzing the strategic intentions of the Japanese army in North China for Chongqing.When the sun was about to set, he returned to his room exhausted, only to see that Luoyang had rolled up his bedding and packed his luggage, not at all the posture of Xian who welcomed him back...cough.

"What are you doing?" Xi'an didn't care that he was falling asleep.It takes a lot of effort to roll up the bed and collect the luggage, unlike a joke, Luoyang is not that kind of person.

"Leave." Luo Yang replied generously, curling his black hair with his fingertips, and looked at him innocently.

"...Why." Xi'an turned to the door.I admit that after I came to the mountain city, I was busy with work and didn't have much time to accompany you, but there is no way to do it. Besides, you also have things to do, but you are just a little more free than me.Even if you have an opinion, you should say it well, how embarrassing it is for me to just pack up and leave, my classmate from Luoyang.

"No reason, just leave."

"Oh." Xi'an secretly slandered, "Then let me deduce it. Miss your family?"

Luoyang nodded slightly in satisfaction, showing a look of half regret and half determination, and pulled him to sit down: "It can only be regarded as half right. Henan is about to meet the enemy. My city is a very important strategic area in the Central Plains. I can't call Someone else will take care of it. Especially... I have to help Zhengzhou and Kaifeng, sorry."

Wouldn't it be nice to say no sooner, I'm physically and mentally exhausted now and I can't stand your scare.Xi'an breathed a sigh of relief, held Luoyang's hand and said lightly, "You should have a good rest tonight."

"Tonight?" Luo Yang shook his hand, "I told Chongqing, so I'm leaving right away?"

"...! Isn't it almost night...!"

"I miss my family very much, and the task is urgent, so...seeing that you are so tired, I will clean it up by myself." Luoyang folded his arms, and his beautiful face turned aside on purpose.Seeing that Xi'an was annoyed and helpless and unable to answer, he picked up his suitcase and went out: "Then, my Majesty Xijing, see you some other day."

Luoyang couldn't walk a few steps before Xi'an hugged him from behind. "Stay for one night, it won't get in the way." Xi'an said briefly, sweeping away the helplessness just now.

"..." Luo Yang leaned into his arms, lowered his eyes, "You fully know that I did it on purpose, and you also know that I can't refuse you... It makes people feel uncomfortable."

Xi'an sighed: "It's because you came up with this idea that you are more confusing. You promised to leave tomorrow?"

"Yes." Luo Yang suddenly turned around and smiled, "Considering that you have been working hard, you can replace me tonight. Don't worry, I won't treat you badly."

On the return flight, Tianjin stood by the porthole looking at the blue sky and white clouds, not only tinnitus but also full of depression.This is not of the same nature as the depression when it came.

[Forget about Shanghai.Hong Kong will jump out to agree, really helpless...]

The scene that caused his depression happened hours ago.In the dark age, it is not easy to see a few brothers from the same family, and there is no need to be hypocritical to care about the original closeness.Tianjin then frankly told them about all the tragedies since the city of Beiping was broken down, the people's rape under the banner of Gouppio, the regret that he couldn't stop the indiscriminate killing of innocent people, and the villainous people who appeared like mushrooms after the rain. The flattering smile of the invader.

"I can't help but think," Tianjin sighed after narrating these things, "if Beiping is still here, it is he who manages this city called the 'Blessed Land', which was once thought to be forever lucky and will not suffer trauma... Will the situation be better? Can he save more people than me?"

"I haven't come up with an answer for a long time. I know it's because I dare not make a conclusion. It's his city and his territory, and he grew up with a temperament. He must be able to handle it better than me. But, when I think of myself driving him away and saying big things about taking care of him, that kind of guilt... But can I go to him?"

"The torment suffered by Beiping City was gradual. It was not a massacre or a tragedy. It was exhausted bit by bit and suffered humiliation bit by bit. Such things, in my Tianjin City, in all the fallen It can be seen everywhere, but it is the most obvious and special. We can still resist because most of the land is still there, and there is still hope... In the long run, will it be okay? In another ten years, will I still have...the strength? I have no idea."

After finishing the Tianjin language, he raised his head and poured down a whole glass of water.

Shanghai fiddled with his sleeves.Hong Kong looks at the white doves hovering in the sky.

"I'm causing you trouble, talking to myself..."

"The most serious problem is that I can't come to share with you in person in Peking," Shanghai said.He looked very serious, but his eyes were half sly, "As for whether his situation is really better, it doesn't seem to be that important. Because once he comes, you don't have to worry about whether your management is worse than him. .”

Tianjin said: "It's okay, let's explain it this way."

"Therefore, it is necessary to let Beiping understand these things. He is busy with the rise and fall of the country all day long, but he doesn't know the situation in his own city. It's ridiculous. It can't be because your hearts will become rusty when he leaves, and it's even more ridiculous. You can't let your hard work be buried like this, he should know."

"Wait a minute!" Tianjing said in shock, "I can't tell him, I have deliberately concealed it from him for the past two years... He has too many troubles, I don't want to..."

"What's the matter with one more item? Brother Tianjin is too considerate of others, which will spoil him. If Beiping is really a mature person, he won't be unable to sit still and run to you when he hears the truth as you feared." .In short, there should be no such concealment between you.” Shanghai comforted him with a mischievous smile.

"Ha." Tianjin took a deep breath, showing his signature smile. It would be even better if it was accompanied by Allegro and other cross talk background music, "What we said earlier is nothing, just to tease you~ha~"

"..."

Only then did Hong Kong speak like a gourd: "Brother Tianjin, I will go to enjoy your cross talk when I have time, not right now. I agree with Mr. Hu on these matters."

"but I……"

"You don't have to tell Beiping yourself. I'm a foreign friend, and I don't have any concerns about contacting Chongqing. Let me tell you."

Hong Kong said with a blank face, then turned around and was about to go to Britain, without giving Tianjin a chance to turn around.

Tianjin said goodbye to them depressed.Then--

Depressedly facing Baiyun, he sighed.

[My ability to bluff people has degenerated like this?No, it's me and these two who are completely at odds with each other! ]

"Brother Cheng, do you think I'm stupid?"

"It's silly, seeing you wandering in front of your house for so long and walking out of a complete gossip formation."

"That is also a kind of ability."

"Yeah, yes, you have the ability of the old capital, like me, you can't get out."

Chengdu smiled noncommittally, picked up his clothes and sat down on the steps in front of the North Bungalow.He turned his face to look at Peiping, with unfocused eyes and a perfunctory demeanor, Peiping's half-heartedness was clearly written on his face with his Chengdu observation ability. "It's noon, why don't you rest in the house? The war in Wuhan has just begun, and you are still busy in the afternoon."

"I feel uncomfortable, and my efficiency is not high when I rest."

Peiping didn't want to talk too much with outsiders, and it was clearly written on his face.But Chengdu refused to return without success.Almost since he was born ignorantly, it has become a habit to take a leisurely stroll and have fun even in the most critical moment, otherwise he would not have slipped to the gate of Peking in the middle of the day, let alone sit down and pose for a long talk .

This habit has been ridiculed by Chongqing many times, just as he laughed at Chongqing's impatience.Not long ago, Chongqing even abused its power at an informal meeting to criticize the "Chengdu county king's lax work attitude and neglect of the overall crisis of the country."Dujiangyan whispered that the acting capital of Chongqing should often follow him, but the criticism failed, and the other people at the meeting laughed so hard that they poured out tea.

"Brother Peiping, don't blame me for being unreasonable. The person who called you this morning was Hong Kong? The kid is still in the UK. It's not easy to call from such a distance, and we talked for a long time."

"Did you hear that?" Pei Ping blinked his eyes as if sighing.He wasn't surprised, but when he thought that Chengdu seemed to be idle and running around, but actually everything was in place, no one didn't feel relieved.The only thing to be thankful for is that Chengdu didn't use this ability to become a bag of inquiries.

"I happened to pass by. It seems that most of the time Hong Kong is talking, and you are listening. Biting your lip while 'um'."

"Bite your lip?" It doesn't fit his Peking style.

"I don't know if it's my illusion, but your little tricks have been quite a lot recently."

[Because I have been hit too much recently]——For cities, two years can certainly be classified as "recent".Beiping bit his lower lip subconsciously again, looked directly at Chengdu and said, "Then you should know what he said. I have already explained the general content to Chongqing, this is our obligation."

Chengdu didn't mean to beat around the bush to cover Beiping's words, and he wasn't embarrassed when Peiping said that: "Well, I know. I won't ask what brother Peiping's plan is now. Do you know why Hong Kong told you about Tianjin's troubles?"

"Tianjin has troubles, so I hide it from me, for fear of messing up my position. I was overheard by Shanghai and Hong Kong by chance, and Hong Kong came here to tell me out of some subtle motives."

"What kind of subtle motive?" Chengdu smiled, "Leaving aside Shanghai, Hong Kong has always had complicated thoughts about you. Want to see you at a loss?"

"Maybe he just wanted me to understand the situation. He should have told me earlier..." Beiping couldn't continue.

"If you want to go, I can help you clean up."

"Just kidding. Where am I going? But... I have made up my mind that the past era has passed, and Tianjin no longer has to share my pain. But now...? I can't hear the wailing of the people, and leave it all to I went to Tianjin. I shrank back, blocked my ears, and waited for my loved ones to be tortured. I couldn’t make a sound..."

Chengdu suspects that he saw the flash of tears.He immediately realized that Peiping's sadness was not only caused by a phone call, but also the sum of too much grief and anger he had experienced in the past few years.Hong Kong's words are just an opportunity.

"Brother Peiping." Cheng Cheng stood up, the smile on his lips dissipated, "If there is a chance, I really want to invite you to take a walk in my garden in the city, your mood will be calmer."

"garden?"

"I kept it secretly, not a well-known scenic spot. It is beautiful, with all kinds of flowers. It was opened when Xi'an came to me for refuge 2000 years ago. At that time, he asked me to plant peony, red peony. .The climate and soil in the southwest are different from those in the north, and it has failed many times before it can be planted. I don’t know how many generations it is now.”

"That's the Han Dynasty. Which turmoil? Maybe I have the impression."

"forgotten."

"……that's it?"

"In the Tang Dynasty, Xi'an came to seek refuge several times, including the Anshi Rebellion. Not only in Xi'an, but also in Luoyang, etc. The emperors of China are just like this. In prosperous times, they are powerful everywhere, and in troubled times, remember to find a fixed and stable rear—such as me , trying to make a comeback. I have seen too much."

"So many that I don't even bother to remember what happened?"

"Yes."

Chengdu suddenly stretched out his hand and pulled Peiping up, speaking at an unusually fast pace: "Brother Peiping, there are some things that are not suitable for the current situation, but I still want to say them. What's wrong with the Japanese? They really can destroy us, a country that has experienced countless times. A nation in distress? Today’s crisis really cannot be replicated, and there is no history to compare it with? When we talk about patriotism and a gloomy future, the nation will perish. Restless, lack of confidence. Aren’t you infected? Don’t you feel that you are sitting in the back and doing nothing, wanting to go to the front line, wanting to help Tianjin, but being unable to leave due to responsibilities? You have lost that kind of tranquility, the tranquility of not panicking when the sky falls What I know is that no matter Xi’an, Luoyang or other kings, they come to me and to the rear for a temporary rest, returning in triumph tomorrow. You are the same. You can go back, one day. No need Wait too long."

"..."

"You have to learn from me."

"It's so strange, I've given you a bunch of big ideas." Bei Ping rolled his eyes and said with a faint smile, "I seem to have calmed down a bit."

"Do you have a plan now?"

"Tianjin is a very strong person, he can hold on. I should write more letters to communicate with him, then clear my mind and continue to fulfill my obligations by my side in Chongqing. I told him that I will definitely come back in the near future. Come to him. If you don't tell me, I almost forgot."

"Chengdu, I agree with what you said!" A penetrating male voice suddenly exploded from the roof. When the two looked up, it was Chongqing sitting on the beam and pointing at the fleet of aircraft that was flying towards the skyline. The fluffy short hair is blowing in the wind, "What's the matter with the Japanese, bombers are nothing, I'm still afraid of them? You have the ability to target me!" (Note 3)

"Hey Xiaoyu..." Chengdu was about to say that although the bomber's accuracy is difficult to hit you, it is still a priority to avoid. Because of Chongqing's excitement, he rolled down from the roof and landed on the two of them very accurately.

"Ouch! What a mess!"

"What's your name, it doesn't hurt at all."

"Because you put me on top of me! What's wrong with you, Peiping, it's not uncomfortable to be pressed by the two of us. Why don't you scold Xiaoyu at me?"

"...I'm fine."

"You're biting your lip again! If you're feeling uncomfortable, just say it, don't always pretend to be strong...I'm serious, if you continue like this, Peiping, you will become another Tsundere!"

[Where did the coinage come from? 】"Don't yell, I'm thinking of a new Beijing opera... No, it can also be the libretto of Jingyun Dagu." Beiping said with difficulty.

The sound of the rumbling bombardment became denser, and smoke rose from the ground.The shadow of death hovers in the sky of Chongqing City.

【"There is no peace in the land of fragrance of flowers".This sentence is very good. 】

The night of June in Jiangcheng is filled with the sound of frogs.Sitting in a tent by the East Lake, Wuhan checked documents, and was a little disturbed by the noisy frogs.He brushed away a lock of hair that fell on his forehead, and forced his dazed eyes to focus on the text.

"Brother." Huang Gang pushed his glasses into the tent and whispered, "The enemy's detachment in southern Henan is planning to approach Anqing. Once Anqing is captured, we must take action."

"I understand. What countermeasures does the Henan side have? I hope that the battlefield will be in the morning, but I also hope that they can block the enemy for a while longer."

"It doesn't look very good. I came from the border of Anhui and Henan, and I heard them saying that the central government wanted to take advantage of the flood season of the Yellow River to dig up the embankment to stop the Japanese army... Do you think it is true?"

"It's hard to say. It's a crazy proposal, but it's not impossible..." Wuhan pushed the document away, "Forget it, I'm dizzy, Huanggang, please help me read it. This news is really... I hope they don't bad thing!"

The crowing of frogs in East Lake suddenly stopped.The moonlight sprinkled on the dead lake, and the night was everywhere.

The author has something to say:

Note 1: This title is one of the lyrics of the Jingyun Dagu theme song of the TV series "Four Generations Under One Roof". Note 2: Tianjin was a nine-nation concession in those days.This club does exist (I don't know if it is now)

Note 3: Refers to the Chongqing bombing. 1938 was an early stage of exploratory bombing.