By Dong Qiang
As China has made major strategic achievements in containing the novel corona virus at home, colleges and universities nationwide have finally begun a new semester.
When taking a look at the celebrity alumni, a freshman at the School of Architecture of Tsinghua University surprisingly found out that 70 years ago, Lin Huiyin, an important Chinese architect and a professor of architecture at Tsinghua University, hand-made camel-hair-stuffed vests for the Chinese People’s Volunteers (CPV) soldiers, with a goodwill to fend them off the freezing winter.
Similarly, Professor Fang Guangtao from Nanjing University not only sent his son to join the CPV, but also criticized his son for the “individualistic” idea of only wanting to join the air force. At the Soochow University, Professor Liu Baichuan took the lead in the university to send his son to join the CPV, setting an example in society.
Seventy years ago, inspired and summoned by the slogan of “resisting US aggression and aiding Korea and defending our homeland”, people from different trades and professions united as one and went all out to reach out to China’s neighbor and fight against foreign aggression. “Be a hero at war, a model at work” was the aspiration shared by a whole generation. One strand of force supporting this overwhelming wave was from the intellectuals, who were therefore held in high esteem by all walks of life.
At that time, young students were eager to join the army and fight on the battlefield. This scene was once seen during the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, when young students trekked to Yan’an carrying their baggage and cherishing an undying hope. A historical record from the PLA General Cadre Department showed that the military had taken in 337,383 intellectuals during the three years since China joined the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea. This exact figure provided solid proof that the “100,000 student recruits” mentioned in the folk saying was a vague estimate, while, in fact, the number had reached as many as 337,000.
On the battlefield, intellectual-turned commanders and soldiers in the CPV gave the US-led United Nations forces quite a hard time by constantly making surprising moves. Wang Yang, commander of the 116th division, graduated from the Northern Shaanxi Public School, a cadre school with the nature of the United front established by the Communist Party of China during the Anti-Japanese War, was a learned general of only 30 years old but well versed in the Art of War by Sun Tzu. During the Battle of Yunshan, on November 1, 1950, the 116th division launched attack at Yunshan city located in North Pyongan Province, DPRK, Wang Yang commanded three regiments to rattle the US troops by hand-to-hand fighting at close quarter, the US troops fell into chaotic panic and fled in disorder.
Intellectual-turned CPV soldiers working at the transportation route for logistics supply that was reputed as being “unbreakable” were just as courageous and ingenious. The US-led UN Forces placed massive amounts of destructive weapons such as time bombs, butterfly bombs and caltrops along the railroads to block the Chinese trains transporting 1.43 million sets of winter uniforms to the frontline. The approach of trawling along the railroads invented by “student soldiers” played a significant role in sweeping the bombs and other obstacles effectively and accurately, so that CPV troops were able to get their new winter clothes in time. When the armistice negotiations were being held, the American army negotiators were surprised to see that the CPV troops had put on new winter uniforms.
Looking back on that period of history, we'd realize that the participation of intellectuals was just a fine epitome of China's nationwide efforts, involving both service members and civilians, to resist US aggression and aid Korea. They displayed the strong patriotic feeling and staunch national confidence of the whole Chinese nation.
The Chinese intellectuals in the CPV also enlighten us today. Their stories tell us that intellectuals should not bury themselves in books and studies, but should conscientiously walk out of their ivory towers and open their eyes, ears and mind to the big world outside the academic circle. Only when they merge into the masses and apply what they learn to practices can they unleash great creativity and innovation and make real contributions to the country and the people.
Intellectuals should know what’s going on in the world and hold their ground when faced with cardinal questions of right and wrong – that’s how they can safeguard the country from smears and attacks.
Intellectuals should know what’s going on in the country and hone their abilities through solving practical problems – that’s how they can generate concrete benefits for the people.
Intellectuals should know the trend of the time and prepare for the unexpected while taking on challenges – that’s how they can make real contributions to the Chinese nation.
