After leaving Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, Luo Ziling and Yang Qingyin went to the Presidential Palace and Zhonghua Gate Fortress.
These places were still crowded with tourists, especially the Presidential Palace, which was more lively than a market.
After leaving the Presidential Palace, the two went to Zhonghua Gate Fortress.
Compared to the city walls of Chang’an, Jinling’s city walls were much less impressive.
Chang’an did not experience the flames of war during the Anti-Japanese War, nor were there major battles in the Liberation War, so most of the Ming Dynasty city walls and even gatehouses were preserved intact. In contrast, Jinling City suffered heavy damage during the defense battle of 1937. It was also baptized by artillery fire during the Liberation War, resulting in severe damage to the city walls. The gatehouse on Zhonghua Gate Fortress was destroyed by shells when the Japanese attacked, and it hasn’t been restored to this day.
Of course, the Zhonghua Gate Fortress remains very sturdy. During the era of hot weaponry, Huaxia’s defending army relied on this Ming Dynasty structure to withstand several days of fierce attack by the Japanese army. Eventually, however, Jinling City fell, followed by a massacre beyond words.
Standing on Zhonghua Gate Fortress, Luo Ziling couldn’t help but sigh.
Yang Qingyin really enjoyed visiting these historically rich places with Luo Ziling.
She studied history and had a strong interest in it.
Luo Ziling was also fond of history and knew a lot about it.
Every time he traveled with Luo Ziling, he would talk about many historical anecdotes.
Some anecdotes are known only to those well-read in books; many things cannot be learned from textbooks.
Moreover, some things in textbooks are completely distorted, not reflecting the truth of history.
During their visit, Luo Ziling and Yang Qingyin talked about Zhu Yuanzhang and Shen Wansan, as well as the fierce battles when the Japanese attacked Jinling in 1937. Yang Qingyin listened intently and lamented history with Luo Ziling.
Ye Xiaoli and Shi Yidan followed them closely, not standing far away, so they overheard most of Luo Ziling and Yang Qingyin’s discussions. Luo Ziling and Yang Qingyin’s vast knowledge earned their admiration. Women generally don’t know as much about history as men; the main reason being that women are usually less interested in history.
However, if guided, many women who are not interested in history may develop an interest, like Ye Xiaoli and Shi Yidan, who had served in the military, had some interest in history, though not as much as men.
Their discussions were enjoyable for them.
They listened attentively like hearing a story.
Through the exchanges between Yang Qingyin and Luo Ziling, they learned a lot of historical knowledge they previously did not know.
For example, the history of Zhonghua Gate, originally called Jubao Gate, why the richest man of the Ming Dynasty, Shen Wansan, died, the fierce battles when the Japanese attacked Jinling, and even learned for the first time the names of the generals defending Jinling City at that time.
Following Luo Ziling and Yang Qingyin on their tour was quite rewarding.
The next day, they woke up early, dressed appropriately, and prepared to attend an event at the memorial hall.
Ye Xiaoli had already arranged everything.
Luo Ziling wore a black Zhongshan suit, with a white shirt underneath.
Yang Qingyin was similarly dressed, wearing a black jacket with a white shirt.
Ye Xiaoli had arranged for their participation in the event, so they encountered no trouble entering the memorial venue.
Perhaps it was a sign from above, but the clear sky from yesterday was now replaced with overcast clouds.
Soon after Luo Ziling and Yang Qingyin arrived at the memorial event site, a drizzle began.
On this special day, even the sky seemed to be mourning.
Luo Ziling and Yang Qingyin’s position was quite forward.
Coincidentally, standing next to Luo Ziling was someone who looked like a leader, who recognized him.
When Luo Ziling had gone to Jinling to find Luo Xusheng, they had crossed paths.
Luo Ziling didn’t remember the person’s appearance, but the other recognized him instantly.
Seeing Luo Ziling also attending the event, he was quite moved.
Due to the somber atmosphere of the venue, they did not talk much.
Then the flag-raising ceremony began, with the Five-star Red Flag raised to the top of the flagpole, then slowly lowered to halfway.
Today, flags were flown at half-mast in memory of the heroes who fought for the country and the innocent victims from over eighty years ago.
Participants in the memorial event gathered early, with the official event starting at ten o’clock.
Everyone stood on the square for a long time, but no one complained.
Whether they were soldiers, students, or other participants, they all held white flowers and stood quietly.
The numbers on the stone tablet, 1937.12.13 and 300000, painfully pierced the nerves.
The rivers and mountains mourned, the heavens and earth grieved. Luo Ziling could imagine what the people living in Jinling City experienced during that winter over eighty years ago. Many died untimely deaths, leaving behind dark days that survivors would rather not recall.
Taking advantage of the waiting time before the memorial event began, Luo Ziling sent out a microblog.
He took several photos of the memorial event site, the half-mast Five-star Red Flag, the special stone tablet, the relief sculptures, and the dark sky.
"Today is the anniversary of the massacre, also our national day of public mourning. Let us together remember that humiliating history we’d rather forget and commemorate our fellow countrymen that perished. In December 1937, after Jinling fell, a Huaxia person died under the invaders’ knives every twelve seconds. What does the number of 300,000 victims mean? It was once estimated that if all the massacre victims stood hand in hand, the line would stretch from Jinling to Qiantang, extending 320 kilometers. The total weight of blood from their bodies would reach 1,200 tons, and their corpses could fill 2,500 railway carriages! ’Victims 300,000’ is not a cold number but a historical tragedy composed of individual lives, so vivid and painful. We must remember that history, and we ought to remember that history. These humiliations, fragile historical records cannot bear, some blood and tears can never be washed away by lengthy years!"
Originally, Luo Ziling planned to end there, but after thinking for a moment, he added: "As an ordinary Huaxia person, today, no matter what you are doing, I hope you can spare a minute at ten o’clock in the morning, and join us here participating in the memorial event to mourn for our deceased countrymen. And tell them, today’s Huaxia is strong, today’s motherland is prosperous, humiliation has become a thing of the past and can never occur to us Huaxia people again. No one can make us yield!!! But no matter what, we must not forget, we dare not forget that humiliating history that eternally wounds us; our present strength, our peaceful life, are paid for with blood by the heroes who fought for the country, inch of rivers and mountains, inch of blood."
After editing this text, Luo Ziling checked it several times to ensure there were no typos or awkward sentences, then sent it out without hesitation.