Episode 35 Asylum

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In the underground chamber of the mosque, an oil lamp fluttered weakly. On the dim stone wall, a huge figure is projected.

Xiang Xiaoqiang's injuries are good and bad. The initial danger to life seems to have passed. However, in the underground chamber, there are hardly any conditions for care. Sanitation is also very poor.

Fortunately, his gunshot wound was a penetrating wound, which went in the front chest and came out in the back, but fortunately it did not hurt the internal organs, and the bullet did not stay inside. Otherwise, complex surgery is required. Under these conditions, Xiang Xiaoqiang is finished.

When the wound is suppurated, the pus can also flow out and will not accumulate in the chest cavity. This is good for the injury. But Xiang Xiaoqiang still had a fever for a while.

Now there are no antibiotics, and quinine, aspirin or something, only the Soviet military doctors have them, and they are very tightly controlled, and the imams can't get them. I can only go to the Chinese medicine shop in Dihua City to buy bezoar pills to reduce fever.

The effect of bezoar pills is good in reducing fever, but the main ingredient is bezoar, which is expensive. Fourteen Gege had already taken out a few gold coins and a gemstone brooch on his body, and asked the imam to take care of it, as it was expensive to maintain the cost of medicine.

The old imam was given a "makeover" this morning and was allowed to move freely in the afternoon. When he came back from the city, he bought a large bag of various medicines at once. Because he heard that now the Soviet army was about to transform all the private capital in the city, and soon, everything for food, clothing, even the most basic things, could not be bought and sold freely. The presiding officers of several mosques in the city, because they "die without repentance" and refuse to accept reform, will be shot tomorrow.

Now, it's chaos outside. The Soviets are confiscating land, grain, farm tools, livestock, the Koran and prohibiting people from praying five times a day. In the north and south of the Tianshan Mountains, there are already resistance forces everywhere. The Soviet army had to go out every day to sweep in order to maintain basic security near Dihua. But in the middle of nowhere, I heard that every day one or two villages were burned down by the Soviet Cossack cavalry, and all the people were killed.

The old imam said that Allah had decreed that all men should take up arms. The "holy war" against the aggressor began.

……

Xiang Xiaoqiang was lying on the bed, clenching his teeth, trembling all over, and making a muffled sound in his throat. Fourteen Gege knelt beside him, crossed his hands and put them to his mouth, looking at the imam in front of the bed, with tears in his eyes, and praying with the imam in his mouth. Now, not only Xiang Xiaoqiang's illness, but even the hope of escaping back is getting slimmer and slimmer. Fourteen Gege had almost cut off all other hopes, and this strange belief at the moment seemed to have become all her hopes, and the spiritual pillar for her to persevere.

The imam stood beside the bed, folded his arms in his hands, lowered his head and closed his eyes, and recited softly in a low, soft voice, in Arabic similar to a whispering song:

"In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Merciful—

"Praise be to Allah. Lord of the worlds, Lord of the Most Merciful and Merciful, Lord of the Day of Retribution.

"We worship only you, and we ask you to help us and guide us on the right path.

"The way of those whom you bless is not the way of those who are wrecked. Nor is it the path of the stray......

……

"In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Merciful—

"The iniquity they have done will be revealed to them;

"The punishment they mocked will come upon them.

Or they will say to them, 'Today I have neglected you, as you neglected this meeting today. Your destination is Hellfire, and you will have no helper.

"It is because you take the signs of Allah as a laughing stock, and earthly life has deceived you.

"Today they will not be sent out of the Fire, nor will they be invited.

"Praise be to Allah, Lord of the heavens, Lord of the earth, Lord of the worlds!

"The greatness of heaven and earth belongs to him alone; He is the Almighty, the Wise......"

……

"In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Merciful—

"Swear by the poor and the stars.

"How do you know what a Daystar is? It's the brilliant star.

"Everybody, there is a protector.

"Let a man consider what he himself has made ......

……

Although Xiang Xiaoqiang had a fever, his mind was unusually active. Every time he had a fever, as long as it wasn't too high and burning, he felt that his mind was very clear and he was running faster than usual. He opened his hot eyes, looked at the fourteen grids who were praying beside the bed, and looked at the imam standing by the lamp and chanting, and felt a very satisfied feeling. When a person is sick, as long as there is the dearest and most loved person at the bedside to cry for you and sigh for you, no matter how uncomfortable the body is, the heart is satisfied.

The imam recited the scriptures in Arabic, but Xiang Xiaoqiang could not understand. But he only found the sound to be very pleasant, melodious, and seemed to reach every word to his heart, no less contagious than the Mass hymns he had heard in church.

Every time the imam recites the scriptures like this, Xiang Xiaoqiang's tense nerves can gradually relax, and his anxiety is much better.

Although it is the northern frontier, although it is poor, backward and closed, what amazes Xiang Xiaoqiang is that every imam in every mosque here can read the full text of the Quran in Arabic, although they are also locals, and some have never even walked out of a radius of dozens of miles in their lives. She had to marvel at the power of this faith. A Qur'an, a simple word: Allah, for many years has made countless people go to the fire, dedicate themselves to it, and fight for it. Now, when the sacred Koran in their hearts is defiled, they even dare to use their flesh and blood against the Soviet machine guns, artillery, planes, and tanks, and they go forward without hesitation.

There is no second faith in the world that can unite believers so that they can stand together resolutely regardless of nationality, race, color, wealth or poverty. There is no second faith in the world that allows believers to believe so deeply and so devoutly, and they do not hesitate to sacrifice everything in order to defend and promote their faith. Not Christianity, not Bolsheviks, not Nazis, not fascists.

It's a great faith, but it's also a terrible one. It can bravely resist the oppression that is dozens of times stronger, and at the same time, Xiang Xiaoqiang knows that once it is extreme, it will be enough to stain the world with blood.

Such a powerful force, even if it cannot be held in the hand, should be used well.

Xiang Xiaoqiang's choice of the last defensive stronghold at the Grand Mosque at that time was largely based on this consideration. This is very symbolic: the Soviet army is desperately attacking the mosque, and the Ming army is desperately defending the mosque. And the local Muslims are seeing it.

Even if you couldn't see anything at the time, you can't tell who is good and who is bad, but now the locals should understand. What did the Ming army do when they were here? And what did the Soviets do here? Thinking of the symbolic "mosque defense battle", the local people's hearts completely fell to the side of the Ming army. And Xiang Xiaoqiang knew that during the war of reunification, although the people's hearts were completely on the side of the Ming army, basically the Ming army and the Qing army were fighting, and the people of the Northern Qing Dynasty were all obedient to the people and would only be spectators. And now it's different. The people here, especially the Muslims, are not obedient people. Once you've won the hearts and minds of the people here, it means that someone is really fighting alongside you.

……

Xiang Xiaoqiang and Shishige listened to the imam talk about the above situation every day, and listened to how a large number of Soviet soldiers were assassinated, blown up, and poisoned...... Now, the Soviets have issued an order that for every Soviet soldier killed, ten local civilians must be shot. But even so, the safety of Soviet soldiers was not guaranteed. Xiang Xiaoqiang knew that on this special battlefield, it would not be long before the Soviet Red Army, which was well-disciplined and full of a sense of justice and honor, would become an army that did all kinds of evil. Now the Soviets have begun to deal with the resistance by doubling down on hostages and indiscriminately massacring entire villages.

It is said that the US troops stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan in later generations were bombed all day long, and they were so careful for fear of accidentally injuring civilians, which has not been done for several years. The Soviet army is doing this now, like the Japanese devils, Xiang Xiaoqiang has already dared to bet with his head: this land will never belong to the Soviet Union.

"Master, thank you so much...... Xiang Xiaoqiang said weakly while lying on the bed, "Our army is only temporarily retreating, and it will fight back...... You tell everyone, don't worry, they can't grow...... When the time comes, I will personally contribute money to donate to build a mosque in northern Xinjiang, and you can choose a place and ask you to be the host...... Repay you for saving your life......"

Xiang Xiaoqiang has to say this sentence almost every day. He was afraid that the old imam would not be able to bear the pressure that day and sold him. Every day, the old imam doesn't talk to him. But today, he seemed to be finally unhappy, frowned and said:

"You Han people talk too hypocritically, and it always seems to be a deal. You are not a believer. How can an unbeliever donate to build a mosque out of sincerity? Allah does not lack the stones that are built up. To Allah is all that is in heaven and earth, and He wants only to save the world. Allah does not like such transactions. Either you believe in the truth. That's much more merit than building a mosque with money......"

Xiang Xiaoqiang and Fourteen Gege glanced at each other, and said in their hearts: Yes, there is such an unappreciative person. If you want to be with us, you go to the temple to donate and repair the golden Buddha, and the abbot will have to offer you as an uncle.

Channel, this price is a bit big, Xiang Xiaoqiang did not pick up. But he knew that he couldn't talk nonsense about this kind of thing in the future.

……

The next day, the old imam brought back a piece of news, and I don't know if it was good or bad. The cooking class above has been withdrawn, and there is no longer cooking here. However, throughout the day, Soviet soldiers watched the Ming prisoners of war at work and tidy up the ruins. As for why the ruins were tidied up, I heard that it was to be turned into a museum, which would display some texts, photographs, and objects to expose how the local old aristocracy, landlords, and capitalists used religious superstition to oppress the people before the Soviet army came to liberate. It is estimated that many people will have to come to visit.

Xiang Xiaoqiang is very worried, in this way, it is bound to carry out a comprehensive cleanup of the ruins. Then the ground should also be trimmed. Then, it is quite possible that the entrance to the secret room will be found.

But on the other hand, after the conversion into a museum, there will not be a garrison 24 hours a day like now. At night it may be empty, making it easy to escape.

"Fourteen," Xiang Xiaoqiang had a fever, swinging, but still muttered, "In a few days...... You go out at night...... Let's steal a radio station for me first......"

Fourteen Gege helped him wipe his forehead and sighed:

"Alas, the temperature is up again...... Started talking nonsense again. You think it's so easy to steal. It's so easy to steal and use. ”

"Damn......" Xiang Xiaoqiang's teeth trembled, and he said in a trembling voice, "Then we ...... How do I get back...... How do you know where the front has gone...... How do you know which way to run......

At this time, Fourteen Gege suddenly "shhh

"Quiet ......"

Xiang Xiaoqiang stopped talking and listened with his ears propped up. Maybe something happened to the old imam, and he came down again.

The sound is not right. It seemed to be overhead, and there was a faint commotion. There seems to be a shouting of "one, two, three".

"They're ...... Cleaning up the ruins ......" Xiang Xiaoqiang said tremblingly, "It's ...... Clean up to ...... We had a ...... on top of our heads We're done...... ...... was discovered."

Fourteen Gege whispered:

"Shhhh Don't talk! ”

Xiang Xiaoqiang slowly grabbed one of Fourteen Gege's hands and said weakly:

"Fourteen...... We're going to be separated...... We're going to Siberia...... Labor reform...... I'm in the men's camp...... You're ...... women's camp."

"Shh

"I love you......"

"I see."

"Love You Always......"

"Uh-huh."

"I'm so ......"

"Shut up!"

Fourteen Gege pressed Xiang Xiaoqiang's mouth, and at the same time pressed his ear against the stone wall, holding his breath and listening carefully.

There was a faint sound of talking in the stone wall, first in Russian, and then in stiff Chinese, presumably a translator of the Soviet army. Then, there was another burst of Chinese, and it seemed to be all with a southern accent.

"It's a prisoner of war of the Ming army!"

Fourteen Gege whispered.

Xiang Xiaoqiang nodded, closed his eyes weakly, and was trembling again.

After a while, it was clear that the prisoners of war above had "jingled" to work. At the same time, the sound of Chinese conversation is constantly coming down through the stones.

A voice said:

"Brother, how did you get beaten like this by them?"

Another voice said:

"Cut, they said I insulted Stalin, and a dozen small soldiers almost didn't kill me. Shoot me at gunpoint and beat me, what kind of ability? One kind of take the gun away, and I'll let them get on the ...... together."

Another voice said:

"Well, you just blow it. But be quiet, let Lao Maozi hear that he has to beat you. ”

The voice said:

"How did I blow it. As long as I don't use a gun, I really hit a dozen of them one by one. At the beginning, I was in the port of Dadonggou, and two other brothers and two of them brought a whole shipload of small Japan to the sea......"