Bloodshed: A Chronicle of the Great Wall War

Author: Nan Feng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-12-01
Features: After consolidating control over Northeast China, the ambitious Japanese still reached out to North China. Song Ziwén led the charge, with Zhang Xueliang in command. However, the Northeast Army, riddled with internal conflicts, had not yet fully mobilized when the Japanese launched a full-scale offensive. The 29th Army, ordered into action at a critical moment, took up positions along the Great Wall and engaged in fierce battles against the well-equipped Japanese forces. Song Zheyuan, Zhang Zichong, and Zhao Dengyu led their troops to fight to the death, repeatedly using Chinese-style broadswords in close-quarters combat. They inflicted heavy casualties on the Japanese at Xifengkou and Luowenyu.
This book describes, in fluent language and vivid details, a brutal and heroic war. It portrays the passion and determination of the (anti-Japanese) people, the iron will and bravery of the soldiers, as well as the hypocrisy, corruption, and indecisiveness of the politicians. This war was a tragic yet triumphant saga, intertwining victory and defeat, glory and shame, and gave rise to a generation of (anti-Japanese) heroes, giving birth to the famous "March of the Iron Big Swords."