The first air raid by the Japanese army on Yan'an was dealt a fatal blow. After the news was transmitted back to the Japanese bowl, Terauchi Shouichi, who was the commander of the operation, soon received a telegram from him to return to Japan for questioning. I want to come back to China, but I can't come back in a short time.

Even the Army Headquarters quickly dispatched the land minister Sugiyama Moto, who had said that the "China issue will be resolved in March," to take over the post of commander of the North China Front. To some extent, this is not a disguised punishment of demotion.

Of course, externally, the Japanese Army Headquarters still emphasized that sending Sugiyama Gen to replace Terauchi Shouichi as commander was also to strengthen the Japanese army's rule over North China. In reality, perhaps only the Japanese army itself knows.

Before the new commander arrived, the Army Headquarters also issued an order to stay in place. First, North China entered winter, which was not suitable for large-scale operations, and second, the Japanese army also needed to rest and recuperate.

For the North China Front, the difficulties encountered in the territory of Shanxi. After some discussions, the Army Headquarters is also preparing to transfer two main divisions to strengthen the defensive forces of Shanxi and cooperate in launching next year's Central Plains Campaign.

Naturally, it will take a little time to deploy troops, and the Eighth Route Army also knows that next year will be a crucial year for their development. In order to cope with the Japanese counterattack, it is also necessary to make war reserves for next year's big war.

It was only in this situation that the military and political officials who had finished the military and political meeting at the end of the year gathered for the first time for the first collective burial ceremony of the central government. For such a high-level burial ceremony, it can be said to be a unique thing.

As the person in charge of the burial ceremony, He Zhengdao looked at the nearly 100 coffins placed under the cemetery, and said with a solemn expression: "Soul guard." Cover the coffin! Send the Heroic Soul! ”

Accompanied by He Zhengdao's order, the four guards division soldiers next to each coffin. Quickly close the lid of the coffin rod and seal it tightly. Even if it is an ordinary coffin, it can be regarded as a high-standard burial.

The most important. For this burial ceremony, almost all the people of Yan'an City came. Even students from many colleges and universities spontaneously wore white flowers to participate in this funeral, which He Zhengdao described as the best patriotic education.

The fighters who died in the air defense battle this time, and the fighters who were members of the party, were all allowed to cover a party flag. As for the other fighters, they were allowed to fly a military flag. This kind of etiquette is really beyond the standard!

But the people and soldiers who came to watch the ceremony, even those students in Yan'an. Seeing the silence and solemnity of the whole scene, you can feel a kind of depression and excitement that fills your chest. Many soldiers, and even some envy these officers and soldiers who sacrificed their lives.

With a coffin nailed, He Zhengdao came to the first coffin to take over the lifting bar, and the coffin bearer standing next to him was Zheng Shaoyu, the captain of the flight group. And lying in this coffin is the pilot who died in the air battle.

As for the second coffin, lying in the battalion is the battalion commander of the anti-aircraft machine gun battalion, a battalion-level commander whom Chen Geng also trusts. And the one who carried the coffin for him was also Chen Geng, who took the initiative to ask to carry the coffin.

'All of them. Lift the coffin! Shoot the gun, send your comrades! ’

Under He Zhengdao's strong and powerful order, the officers and men of the guard division who were responsible for carrying the coffin, as well as the pilots who personally came to see off their comrades. Soon there were groups of four. Lift the bodies of these warriors lying in the coffin.

The soldiers of the guard division standing in the aisle of the cemetery were divided into nine groups and arranged on the simply built steps. As He Zhengdao arrived on the first step, ten soldiers of the Guard Division armed with guns. The first shot was fired at the point of the gun.

The crisp sound of gunfire was accompanied by gunsmoke from the muzzle of the gun. The soldiers and civilians who followed the coffin carrying team all felt a solemn mood. But more. There is also mourning for the dead.

Mao Taizu and others, who were at the front of the team, could also feel that after such a grand memorial ceremony. In the future, this guard division of the central station will truly become a fearless iron-blooded division.

What seems to be a bit of an over-the-top ritual now seems to be a real role that should not be underestimated. From the eyes of those people who watched the ceremony and those young students, Mao Taizu and others could feel that these people recognized the Eighth Route Army.

For many Chinese people, it is also a matter of pride to be able to be buried in a grand manner after death. And the burial ceremony of these sacrificed soldiers, in the eyes of the common people, is willing to change them to lie in the coffin!

Every once in a while, a line of gunfire rang out over the cemetery. By the end of the nine collective gunshots, a coffin waiting to be buried had been placed next to the leveled grave.

And Mao Taizu and others, who followed the team, stood at the front of the cemetery. As for the people and students who watched the ceremony, they stood on top of the open space leveled by the cemetery. Looking over, there were people everywhere, but it was hard to hear the noise.

Putting down the pilot's coffin, He Zhengdao stood in the middle of the cemetery again and said: "Send the heroic soul to the ground for peace!" ”

With this order, the coffins that had been carried to the side of the dug grave were carefully placed in the earth. Some people can clearly see that many soldiers of the Eighth Route Army who put their coffins in their coffins have burst into tears.

In particular, the pilots who came to participate in the ceremony felt very sad when they saw the coffin containing the remains of their comrades-in-arms who usually talked and laughed slowly falling into the pit. As the captain, Zheng Shaoyu also felt very remorseful.

It wasn't until this moment that he really understood why He Zhengdao kept emphasizing that they should practice more and not rush to fight. Previously, they had been unconvinced, thinking that the little devil pilot was nothing extraordinary.

But this air battle made them really feel that the little devil pilots had more superb flying skills than them. In that case, they still paid nearly half of the casualties. This makes Zheng Shaoyu how can he not be sad!

Of the 14 fighters that crashed, only eight pilots were eventually rescued, and two of them were afraid that they would never be able to fight again. This is undoubtedly a heavy blow to the newly established Air Force Brigade.

The six pilots who were buried this time were all the first to join the Eighth Route Army. Get along day and night, their feelings are self-evident. And at this moment, they could only watch as these close comrades-in-arms slowly sank into the ground.

Looking at the choked but silent pilot, as well as many students and people who came to see him off, they couldn't help but shed tears. Even those who had opinions about burial of this specification in their hearts before must admit that the effect of this patriotic lesson is incomparable.

On the other hand, He Zhengdao always maintained a solemn expression, watched all the coffins being put into the grave, and said again: "Respectfully all the leaders, send our comrades-in-arms the heroic spirit on their last journey!" Thank them for their feat of sacrificing their lives for the country, and comfort the heroic souls! ”

The heads of the Central Committee and the General Headquarters, who had known about this procedure for a long time, as well as the military and political leaders who participated in the military-political meetings, all spontaneously came to these graves. Pick up the shovel and fill the first handful of dug loess into the grave.

In the eyes of many people and students, they also admired the benevolence and righteousness of these leaders of the Central Committee and the Eighth Route Army Headquarters. With such a leader who loves soldiers, how can the officers and men of such a unit not fight to the death?

When the grave was quickly filled, He Zhengdao continued: "I respectfully ask Comrade Mao Taizu, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Revolutionary Military Committee, to deliver a memorial speech to the martyrs of the Yan'an Air Battle on behalf of the Party Central Committee and the Eighth Route Army Headquarters. ”

In the face of such an arrangement, Mao Taizu had also thought about asking Mr. Zhu to give a sacrificial speech, but in the end, Mr. Zhu still felt that Mr. Mao was more qualified to be this representative. In the end, it was determined that Mao Taizu would serve as the memorial speaker of the public sacrifice.

This is undoubtedly a proof to the outside world that at this moment, Mao Taizu is the highest commander and commander-in-chief of the Central Committee and the Eighth Route Army. And this arrangement, Mao Taizu actually knew that it was still very effective in enhancing his prestige in the army.

Three days ago, the officers and men of the guard division lying in the cemetery at this moment waged a desperate struggle with the Japanese planes that invaded our Yan'an base area with the morale and heroic and tenacious will of the dead as if they were at home.

In the end, he thwarted a large-scale bombing orchestrated by the Japanese army, and created an impressive record of shooting down 76 Japanese planes. It has protected the security of the central station and the safety of the lives and property of the people of Yan'an.

They have forged with their lives the patriotic spirit of fighting for the dignity of the motherland and the nation, the revolutionary spirit of being brave and tenacious and forgetting their lives, and the spirit of fighting for national peace and justice.

In the future, our party and our army will, as always, fight bloody battles for the realization of national liberation and independence. Today they have fallen, and in the future we will have thousands of people standing up and fighting to the end against the invaders who have invaded us.

The Japanese army's plot to intimidate us in this way will not succeed in the end. Our army, our people, will not be intimidated by the threat of the aggressor, but will only fight more and more courageously until the complete victory of the war of resistance is achieved. China will win! ’

A stirring and high-spirited sacrificial words were spoken, accompanied by Mao Taizu's fist and forcefully said the four words of 'China will win'. In the sky above the martyrs' cemetery, the roar of 'China will win' soon sounded like a tsunami.

Everyone who witnessed this memorial ceremony could feel a rush of blood boiling in their chests. As for the officers and men of the guard division, they shouted this sentence with the greatest strength. They really have the urge to face death and will not be afraid to meet it!

Listening to the sound of a hundred responses, Mao Taizu, who gave the sacrificial speech, also had a feeling. After this public memorial ceremony, the military and civilians of Yan'an in the future will truly become a solid cornerstone of the Eighth Route Army.

Thinking of this, Mao Taizu also showed great appreciation in his eyes when he looked at He Zhengdao. He knew very well that the young man in front of him, who seemed to be a little bit of a big move, could always play an extraordinary role and effect.

Such a public memorial ceremony has an irreplaceable role in uniting the hearts of the army and the people and boosting the morale of the army and the people. From this point of view, He Zhengdao's move this time undoubtedly gave the central government and the Eighth Route Army the best propaganda! (To be continued.) )