Cangzhou Hui

Author: Chief Editor: Wang Huiyin
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1999-09-01
Features: Excerpt: On January 13th, before the implementation of the "Double Ten Agreement"①, the 31st Army of the Kuomintang fought fiercely with the 63rd Regiment in Pingquan (Baguio). In this battle, the enemy was strong and we were weak, the enemy was numerous and we were few. The entire cadre and soldiers of the 63rd Regiment showed no fear of sacrifice and fought bravely, fully demonstrating the traditional fighting spirit of the "Old Detachment". Captain Liu Jinsheng led a company to control a hilltop, and despite three attacks by the enemy's American-equipped unit, they failed to succeed. The battle was extremely brutal, with most platoon leaders of the first battalion. As the situation was deadlocked, both sides agreed that the control of Pingquan would be determined by who held it when the "Double Ten Agreement" took effect. However, due to our inability to transport grenades to the front line, we eventually withdrew.② After the battle, although the unit suffered certain losses, its morale remained high, and they continued their northward journey. Upon reaching Bolianhan, they accepted the mission of escorting a Korean unit from Yan'an's Anti-Japanese Military Academy advancing into Northeast China. On February 15th, they arrived in Kaizhou, Kharkhan County, Hebei, successfully completing the escort mission. On February 20th, the unit arrived in Tongliao, where they took a brief rest. On March 6th, they reached Qian, where they were ordered to suppress bandits in "San Zhao" (Zhaodong, Zhaozhou, Zhaoyuan). On March 11th, they engaged in a fierce battle with bandits in Datong Town, most of them, rescuing over 300-400 civilians who had been captured by the bandits. The remaining bandits fled. During the battle, two of the founding members of the "Old Detachment", who had fought in countless battles and achieved numerous victories, Sun Baoshi (Han Chinese, from Dabeizhaohhe) and Yang Jishan (from Wangsi Village in Nanpi) and soldier Jiang Yiyi (from Dabaitu Village in Cang County). To commemorate the three martyrs, a solemn joint memorial service was held, with people weeping uncontrollably. The funeral procession, consisting of over 10,000 people, escorted the martyrs to their final resting place outside the southern gate of Datong Town. The victory in this suppression campaign dealt a heavy blow to the arrogance of the bandits in the San Zhao region, removing a major threat to the local people.③ In April, the Northeast Bureau mobilized three divisions to attack Changchun. The 63rd Regiment was ordered to march from Datong Town in Heilongjiang to Changchun, Jilin Province, to participate in the battle. The enemy forces in Changchun were the elite "Iron and Stone" troops of the Kuomintang. On the afternoon of April 14th, to prevent the enemy from parachuting in or fleeing, the 60th Regiment first launched an attack on the Sangjiawopeng Airport in the northwest corner of Changchun. The enemy's defenses were formidable, their fortifications strong, and with the advantage of high ground, they were difficult to attack. The battle was extremely tough. The main attacking company, the fourth company, was reduced to only 26 men, with the company commander Liu Yushan and two-thirds of the soldiers. By nightfall, the seventh and ninth companies broke through the enemy's defenses from the northeast corner of the airport, while the fifth company set fire to the enemy's oil depot in the northwest corner, causing chaos among the enemy. Taking advantage of the situation, our forces launched a fierce attack, capturing the airport. The next day, the army captured Changchun, eliminating over 20,000 enemy soldiers.① On May 23rd, due to strategic needs, the entire 63rd Regiment withdrew from Changchun and moved to Taolai Zhao, where they were tasked with guarding the Songhua River Bridge. On June 16th, the higher command decided to transfer all Muslim soldiers of the 63rd Regiment to the rear to participate in land reform work. Muslim and Han Chinese comrades bid farewell at the Taolai Zhao railway station, tears in their eyes.② Later, the 63rd Regiment was reorganized into the 387th Regiment of the 43rd Army and fought battles across the country, achieving numerous victories. It later became a strong force guarding the coastal defenses of the motherland. Afterword: Remembering the nine months of pregnancy, the birth of a child. "Cangzhou Hui" has gone through years of nurturing and is finally ready to meet the readers. Whether it was the sweat of the past or the fragrance of this autumn, it has made my heart restless, filling me with many reflections! The study of the history and culture of the Hui ethnic group, like other minority groups, has always been difficult and sensitive. Few dared to touch upon it in the old society, and it was once considered a taboo subject in New China. However, whenever I, as a minority cadre on the ethnic work front, think of Cangzhou, a place where the Hui ethnic group has lived for generations, with a population of 200,000 Hui people and a 700-year history, yet lacking a systematic and comprehensive reflection of their history and culture, I can't help but feel an indescribable sense of guilt and regret. Thus, I quietly harbored a "wild idea" and silently began my efforts. In 1992, I started collecting materials, and in 1994, I began writing. The first draft was completed in early 1996, and the table of contents was sent to the consultants and relevant leaders. I was supported by the active encouragement and assistance of leaders such as Wu Hongbin, Zhang Zhijiang, Wang Shuqing, and Liu Zhenuo from the Cangzhou Municipal Bureau of Nationalities and Religious Affairs, as well as other leaders at various levels. Comrade Shi Zhenuo, Deputy Director of the Provincial Bureau of Nationalities and Religious Affairs, distributed the table of contents at the National Hui Ancient Books Conference in Qinghai, making it a key project for ethnic in Hebei Province and stirring a small ripple in the long silence of the study of Cangzhou Hui history and culture. In June 1997, the draft was submitted to the Provincial Bureau of Nationalities and Religious Affairs, the Cangzhou Municipal Committee, Government, People's Congress, and Political Consultative Committee for review, as well as to authoritative figures from the National Islamic Association, the Provincial Islamic Association, and the consultants of this book. At the same time, extensive opinions were solicited. In September, the manuscript was approved by the Provincial Bureau of Nationalities and Religious Affairs. Based on opinions and suggestions from all sides, the original manuscript was repeatedly adjusted and revised, and the lower limit was extended from 1995 to 1997. In May 1998, the manuscript was presented at the Sixth National Hui Ancient Books Cooperation Conference in Cangzhou, where it received praise from experts and scholars. At this point, the dream of completing the book began to come true. "Dreams" are often sweet, but achieving them requires more hardship. There were no ready-made materials, and I had to search for them like searching for a needle in a haystack among the people. Transportation was scarce, and field interviews often relied on buses, hitchhiking, and bicycles. Funds were limited, and I had to humble myself to seek help everywhere. My regular work could not be neglected, and all book-related matters had to be done in my spare time. For years, I had no days off, working until 3 a.m. at night, sometimes dozing off from exhaustion, and other times staying awake all night, even on New Year's Eve. It was indeed hard. However, these hardships were self-imposed, and they were something I should bear. Especially when I witnessed the extraordinary warmth of the Hui people, who welcomed me with tea and food, running back and forth, and the hope for "Cangzhou Hui" that shone through their joy and enthusiasm during my interviews, I felt no regrets! I am a person who enjoys hardship, and I am also a lucky one. A small work has received the care of leaders at all levels, attracted the attention of many friends concerned about the Hui cause, and touched the hearts of Hui people from all over the country. First, I would like to thank the leaders of the Provincial and Municipal Bureaus of Nationalities and Religious Affairs, the Municipal People's Committee, the Municipal Government, the Municipal People's Congress, the Municipal Political Consultative Committee, and the Municipal Bureau of Nationalities and Religious Affairs for their continuous care, encouragement, and support. Former Mayor Wu Zhenhua, current Mayor Bo Shaoyuan, Mayor Zhang Qinghua, Deputy Mayor Wang Guoqiang, and Deputy Mayor Xu Wenbo, Vice Mayor Zhang Chunrong, Vice Mayor Jiang Guifang, Deputy Secretary-General of the Municipal Government Hu Xueyong, and Deputy Secretary-General He Boping, as well as leaders from the Municipal People's Congress, the Municipal Political Consultative Committee, and various departments, have all personally reviewed the manuscript and offered valuable suggestions. Especially Comrade Wu Zhenhua, the former Mayor (Han Chinese), who reviewed the manuscript overnight after receiving it, inquired about it multiple times, and personally wrote a letter of encouragement and a preface for it, truly reflecting the leadership of the Party at the grassroots level and the support and care of a Han Chinese leader for the Hui cause. It can be said that without the support and care of leaders at all levels and departments, this book would not have been published. In addition to the direct leaders, leaders such as Hu Liangyu, former Vice Director of the Provincial People's Congress, Wang Lianfang, former Vice Director of the Yunnan Provincial People's Congress, Liu Shusheng, Deputy Secretary-General of the Yunnan Provincial Committee and Chairman of the Provincial Political Consultative Committee, Ma Yuhuai, Vice Chairman of the National Political Consultative Committee, Wu Qingyun, Vice Chairman of the Shaanxi Provincial Political Consultative Committee, former Deputy Minister of the Central United Front Work Department Song Kun, Liu Zhong, Vice Chairman of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Ma Guochao, Political Commissar of the Logistics Department of the Navy Aviation Corps, Ma Xian, Vice Chairman of the National Islamic Association, Ding Qingxuan, Chairman of the Hebei Islamic Association, former Editor-in-Chief and Secretary-General of the "United Front" magazine of the National Bureau of Nationalities, Ding Lei, wife of the founder of the Jinan Revolutionary Movement, Hu Zhenhua, doctoral supervisor at the Central University for Nationalities, Ding Wenlou, President of the Central University for Nationalities University Press, Liu Jitang, Deputy Director of the Municipal Party History and Research Office (Han Chinese), Jin Ziheng, Deputy Chief Editor of the Municipal Transport Bureau, Ma Zhenwu, Imām and translator of the Quran at the Cangzhou Railway Station Islamic Mosque, and many others, have given enthusiastic help and support from different perspectives. Some even served as consultants for this book. What moved me deeply was that Director Wang Lianfang, 77 years old, endured her illness and wrote a lengthy preface and comments for me while lying in bed. Mr. Song Zhi, 70 years old and in poor health, carefully reviewed the entire manuscript in the scorching summer, noted comments, and wrote a postscript. Mr. Jin Ziheng, 84 years old, showed great enthusiasm for the writing of this book throughout, reviewed it twice, and provided many guidance and assistance. Their spirit and knowledge will always be my teachers. In terms of religious knowledge and revolutionary history, Vice Chairman Ma Xian of the National Islamic Association and Deputy Director Liu Jitang of the Municipal Party History and Research Office respectively performed their duties diligently, playing an important role in ensuring the reliability and accuracy of the book's content. The ability of one person is limited, but the power of many is boundless. Over the years, I have encountered many difficulties, but none of them could defeat me, the secret being a strong backing that constantly provided me with spiritual and material support. Especially in terms of materials, the various departments of the Municipal Bureau of Nationalities and Religious Affairs, the Nationality and Religious Affairs Bureaus of various counties (cities, districts), the elderly Hui official Liu Baojun, Yin Guang'en, Zhang Wenbiao, Hui Dengliang, Ma Yongchun, Han Hongyuan, former Party History Director of Mengcun County Committee Wang Jianxi (Han Chinese), Hui Zhiqiang, the elder of the Cangzhou Islamic Great Northern Mosque, all provided active support and assistance, greatly enriching the content of this book. In terms of funds, in addition to the leaders of the Provincial and Municipal Bureaus of Nationalities and Religious Affairs, Chairman Liu Shusheng of the Yunnan Provincial Political Consultative Committee, President Ding Wenlou of the Central University for Nationalities University Press, Imam Ding Qingxuan of the Hebei Islamic Association, Director Song Jinglan of the Municipal Finance Bureau (Han Chinese), Mayor Chang Qipu of the Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau, Deputy Mayor Hui Dengfu of the Municipal Transport Bureau, Director Li Tieqiang of the Municipal Survey and Design Institute, President Ma Zhihai of Cangzhou Yueshan Law Firm (Han Chinese), Director Zhang Weidong of the Municipal Commodity Development Center, cadre Zhang Junmei of Cangzhou Petrochemical, Director Hui Junling of the Anatomy Laboratory of the Municipal Health School, Section Chief Hui Junshan of the Municipal Old Cadre Bureau, President Hui Jinlong of Cang County Dachu Village Brick Factory and Municipal People's Representative, General Manager Ma Zhencheng of Xinhua District Commodity Distribution Center, Director Wang Fusheng of the Fifth Automobile Transport Station, Manager Wu Pizhang and Yu Bangzheng of Mengcun Pipe Company, Manager Ding Zhizhen of the Municipal Nationality and Religious Affairs Bureau, employee Liu Xifan of the Municipal Chemical Factory, all contributed a lot of work to raising funds. Some traveled tirelessly to coordinate, while others generously donated to support the publication of this book, making significant contributions to solving the funding problem. In terms of publishing and preparation work, President Ding Wenlou of the Central University for Nationalities University Press provided preferential treatment. Leaders and experts such as Liu Shusheng, Wang Lianfang, Wu Qingyun, Song Kun, Ma Xian, Song Zhi, Wu Zhenhua, Shi Zhenuo, Zhang Chunrong, and others, as well as Comrade Bai Qing'an, the Director of the Municipal People's Congress (Han Chinese), wrote prefaces, inscriptions, and postscripts for the book. Art Editor Liu Zhongwen of the Municipal TV Station and amateur painter Zhang Enbo helped enthusiastically with the design and drawing of the cover and the Hui distribution map. Secretary-General Jin Junshan of the Municipal Poetry Association (Han Chinese) and Vice Chairman Wei Guanglong of the Xian County Calligraphy Association (Han Chinese) wrote congratulatory poems. Their support added even more brilliance to this small work. Reflecting on the completed book, although it was written by one person, it was the effort of many. There are still many people who helped greatly with the writing and publishing of this book that I cannot mention one by one. Here, I extend my heartfelt thanks to all the leaders, gentlemen, and friends mentioned and unmentioned who contributed to this book. At this time, I also want to record the hard work of my family, friends, wife, and daughters, who have shared the same hardships with me over the years. This book, as a local ethnic minority historical document, is different from a simple collection of materials. To avoid errors and improve its policy, theoretical, knowledge, and readability, I referred to a large number of officially published national ethnic theory books and authoritative works by famous experts, ensuring that the book always followed a correct main line. In fact, all the authors of the reference materials have also given invisible support to the formation of "Cangzhou Hui", and I apologize for not thanking them individually. The history of the Hui ethnic group in Cangzhou is long, and the material is abundant, far beyond what one or two books can cover. Although the writing of this book is clumsy, it is sincerely offered as a "bait to draw jade" to the readers, hoping that more knowledgeable people will join in the study of the Hui ethnic group in the future, and that more "jade" will be contributed to society. Wu Piqing March 1999