HOT SPRING
Li Zongren's subordinate general Yuexi Hot Spring for wound healing
There used to be a temple of loyalty and martyrs in Yuexi Hot Spring Town, which was built from 1943 to 1944.
Yuexi Tangchifan was the location of the 48th Army Headquarters of the KMT under General Li Zongren during the Anti-Japanese War. Over the past 70 years, the "glorious death of war" and "the Tomb of the dead generals in the war of resistance against Japan" have gone on... Despite being eroded by wind and rain, these inscriptions still remember the tenacious battles and sacrifices that took place in the Dabie Mountains of Anhui Province.
Repaired Stone Stele
Stele original appearance
In May 1938, Li Zongren led the Ministry to participate in the Xuzhou Battle. On May 19, Xuzhou collapsed. After the Xuzhou Battle, the Kuomintang chose Dabie Mountain as the strategic center of Central China, because it is located at the junction of Hubei, Henan and Anhui provinces, with steep mountains and dangerous terrain. It has great military value to peer into Jinpu in the east, go out to Pinghan in the west, go down to the Yangtze River in the South and attack Longhai in the north.
Li Zongren led the army from Shanghai, Zhejiang and Jiangxi to the Dabie Mountains. He fought with the Japanese army all the way, causing heavy casualties. At the end of August, it withdrew to the mall to replenish its forces, and then reorganized into the 7th and 48th armies. There are two new divisions in the 48th Army, 138 divisions and 176 divisions, respectively. Since then, the two divisions have fought against Japanese invaders in Dabie Mountain, Anqing and other places for a long time.
In 1940, the 48 military headquarters moved from Dushan in Lu'an to Shengougou Port in Huoshan County. Since then, the army has been directly under the jurisdiction of the 5th battle area. The 138 divisions are located in Taihu, Qianshan and Yuexi, and the 176 divisions are located in Tongcheng and Lujiang. In January 1942, the 48 military headquarters moved from Shengou Port in Huoshan County to Tangchiding Liu ancestral temple in Yuexi County (formerly a division headquarters).
Yuexi County, located in the hinterland of the Dabie Mountains, spans the Yangtze River and Huaihe River basins and is the only pure mountain county in 39 counties and cities in the Dabie Mountains. The average elevation of the county is 600 meters, with 69 peaks over kilometers. The highest elevation is 1755 meters, the second highest peak of the Dabie Mountains. There are many dangerous places in Yuexi. The general headquarters of the 48th Army is located in Tangchifang. One important consideration is that there are hot springs. Hot springs not only make it convenient for soldiers to "take a hot bath", but also, more importantly, they are known as "the classical prescription of nature, the Yuan medicine of heaven and earth", and have certain healing value. Su Zuxin, a famous general of the Anti-Japanese War and commander of the 48th Army, learned that Tangchi hot spring has a long history and inscriptions can be found. In the Ming Dynasty, Jiangchi bathed to treat illnesses.
Su Zuxin reported to Li Zongren, Commander-in-Chi of the Fifth War Zone: "Tangchitu has a good terrain, surrounded by mountains, with a long waist-shaped basin in the middle. There are good fields and 10,000 mu of rice planted all over the place, which can ensure that military food is safe. Especially important, here Shengyong hot springs can be used for bathing and healing soldiers.
Li Zongren has seen the topographic map of the Dabie Mountains countless times to understand the topographic features of Tangchiding. It is located in the center of the basin of Tiantang Town, which is "steep on all sides, open as a hall". Li Zongren agreed with the move of the 48th Army Department to Tangchiling. He said to Su Zuxin, "Brother Yufu, I may go to Tangchiling Bubble Hot Spring some day." Su Zuxin answered, "I look forward to the early visit of the Commander!
After the 48 military headquarters moved to Tangchifang, Su Zuxin took the bodyguards to soak in hot springs. Seeing that the sanitation was not good here, he ordered the bathtub to be rebuilt. A new "big soup pond" was built and "small soup pond" was renovated. Su Zuxin and all the officers and soldiers under his leadership went to the "Big Tangchi" to bathe and became a military bathing pool. Local villagers take baths in "Xiaotangchi", and their daily customs are the same as before.
The 48th Army got along well with the local people in Yuexi. Folklore says, "To eat vegetables, we need to eat cabbage hearts, and to marry Guangxi soldiers." Guangxi soldier, good conscience!" Tang Chifang became a better place for the 48th Army to rest. The wounded and sick in the front were sent here for medical treatment and recuperation. At that time, many young people in Yuexi joined the 48th Army, and some girls married 48th officers and soldiers. Yang Zanmo, the chief of staff of the 48th Army, later recalled: "In order to stabilize the army, the army allowed officers above company commanders to find wives in the local area. Forty-eight officers have taken away many women in the garrison. There are dozens of people in Nanning, most in Yuexi, buried hills, Huaining, Tongcheng and Anqing. We have been stationed in Yuexi for four years. In addition to building camps and villages for us, building forts and carrying out transportation, the broad masses also provide us with pork, chicken and duck, oil, salt, firewood, rice, vegetables and so on.
The 48th Army got along well with the local people in Yuexi. Folklore says, "To eat vegetables, we need to eat cabbage hearts, and to marry Guangxi soldiers." Guangxi soldier, good conscience!" Tang Chifang became a better place for the 48th Army to rest. The wounded and sick in the front were sent here for medical treatment and recuperation. At that time, many young people in Yuexi joined the 48th Army, and some girls married 48th officers and soldiers. Yang Zanmo, the chief of staff of the 48th Army, later recalled: "In order to stabilize the army, the army allowed officers above company commanders to find wives in the local area. Forty-eight officers have taken away many women in the garrison. There are dozens of people in Nanning, most in Yuexi, buried hills, Huaining, Tongcheng and Anqing. We have been stationed in Yuexi for four years. In addition to building camps and villages for us, building forts and carrying out transportation, the broad masses also provide us with pork, chicken and duck, oil, salt, firewood, rice, vegetables and so on.
It is reported that Jiang Huaxiu, Chiang Kai-shek's only relative and niece, went to Yuexi to marry Major General Wei Yongcheng, the political director of the command headquarters of the Fifth War Zone, in Tangchifang. Chiang Kai-shek objected to Jiang Huaxiu's love affair with Wei Yongcheng, a young member of the Gui Family. All the dirty words came out: "Niang Xipi!" So many men in China are dead? Just look for a Guangxi lao!" However, Wei Yongcheng's charm surpassed Chiang Kai-shek's power, and Jiang Huaxiu did not marry Wei Yongcheng.
Jiang Huaxiu and Wei Yongcheng
Wei Yongcheng wrote to Jiang Huaxiu: "Xiu of Yuexi, Xiu is in the high mountains. I paved from the deep ditch, from Tushiyi to Tongluo Village, and was attracted by the magnificent scenery of the locality. Pine stone, stone flying clouds, step by step, changing scenery, the scenery is infinite and beautiful. I am a native of Guilin and the landscape of Guilin is the best in the world, but compared with the western part of the Dabie Mountains, the scenery of Guilin is more like exquisite bonsai, lacking this shocking atmosphere. Local people have seldom suffered from rheumatism and skin diseases, and they live a long life. The reason for this is not unrelated to long-term bathing in hot springs.
Wei Yongcheng also said, "The hot springs in Tangchili are very clear, clean and odorless. Eczema on many soldiers disappears when they soak in hot springs twice."
Jiang Huaxiu, a great lady, risked her life to step into the magical land of the Dabie Mountains when the Japanese invaders'iron hoofs raged everywhere. She and Wei Yongcheng experienced Yuexi Hot Spring and felt that it was indeed well-known. After a few days, her skin became smooth and lubricated. Originally, she wanted to stay in Yuexi and serve the war with Wei Yongcheng. However, Chairman Jiang's wife, Ms. Song Meiling, sent a telegram requesting Wei and Jiang to leave Yuexi quickly and rush to Xi'an. Song Meiling promised that in Xi'an, she would marry herself and handle their marriage affairs. Since Chiang Kai-shek agreed to their choice, Wei Jiang had to telex Song Meiling and immediately set off for Xi'an to marry him. The next year, Wei Yongcheng and Jiang Huaxiu returned to the Dabie Mountains of the Fifth War Zone. Jiang Huaxiu founded Lihuang Zhongzheng Primary School in Jinzhai and served as principal.
One day in September 1943, Li Zongren, then commander of the fifth war zone of the Kuomintang, accompanied by Li Pinxian, commander of the 21st Army Group and chairman of the Anhui National Government, visited the forty-eight troops stationed in Jinzhai. Su Zuxin, commander of the army, and Li Pinghe (brother of Li Pinxian), then head of Yuexi County of the National Government, arranged for local gentry to welcome Li Zongren in Tangchi Old Street. After Li Zongren dismounted in Tangchi Old Street, he shook hands with representatives of gentry and gave a brief speech in the Old Street. Then, surrounded by his followers, he went to the forty-eight military headquarters. After lunch, take a short rest. Su Zuxin invites Li Zongren to soak in the hot spring to relieve the fatigue of the journey. Li Zongren agreed and went to Tangchi, more than 100 meters away from the military headquarters. He spent nearly an hour with General Su Zuxin and other generals. Some of the women in the 48th Army who accompanied Li Zongren also soaked in hot springs. Later, during his stay in Yuexi, Li Zongren soaked in hot springs every day. He praised him: "This hot spring water is clear, soaked for a moment, exhausted, really top grade, Forty-eight soldiers of our army are blessed!"
Li Zongren image
The local chief of the Li clan learned that Li Zongren had visited Yuexi County and invited a number of Qisu surnamed Li to visit the military headquarters and hold a banquet. At that time, the banquet was attended by General Li Yang, the Chief Executive of the Fifth War Zone, General Li Benyi, the Head of the Army 176 Division, and Li Pinghe, the Head of Yuexi County, and so on. The matron told Li Zongren about his plan to compile the genealogy of Dunhu Tang and asked for his inscription. Li Zongren happily wrote, titled "long history", "deep roots and lush leaves", Li Ben titled "glorious ancestors spread throughout the centuries, prosperous offspring" and Li Pinhe's County long titled "connecting the past with the future, pursuing the future carefully". Four inscriptions are now found in Dun Mutang's Li's genealogy.
Li Zongren's inscription "a long history"
At the end of September 1943, Li Zongren received Chongqing Central Telegraph and became Chairman of the Military Commission of the National Government and Director of the Hanzhong Camp. Before leaving Yuexi, he had a long chat with Su Zuxin in the hot spring pool. Su Zuxin talked about the remarkable effect of hot spring treatment, and the battle effectiveness of the 48th Army recovered very well. Li Zongren highly praised the 138 division's anti-aircraft artillery unit for shooting down enemy planes, killing the commander of the 11th Japanese invading army and the commander of the dispatched army in central China, and participating in the tomb field attack to formulate the Nanjing Massacre Plan.
Su Zuxin said, "Every time I soak in hot springs, I feel very comfortable. It's especially gratifying to see the wounded soldiers recovered under the auxiliary treatment of hot springs. But when I think of those soldiers who died in battle, I feel very uneasy!
Li Zongren thought deeply. He said, "Swear to kill the Japanese slaves and never return!" We, as well as our descendants, must not forget the martyrs who died for our country!"
Next, they talked about the idea of building the "Anti-Japanese loyal martyr temple" in the buried hills and Yuexi. They both thought that the matter could not be delayed and that it had to be started immediately.
Soon after, Su Zuxin personally chose the site and opened a cemetery in Phoenix Mountain, Tangchili, the seat of the 48 Military Headquarters (now the seat of the Hot Spring Town Government), to build martyrs'cemeteries and loyal martyrs' temples for memorial service to the loyal souls of the anti-Japanese generals. Through extensive conscription of money and money for husband's service, lieutenants and officers, as well as people from Anhui and Guizhou, all donated money to build the forty-eighth Army Battalion, the 4th Battalion, under the responsibility of the officers and soldiers of the forty-eighth Army Battalion. There are three tombs with an area of 400 square meters. Sixty-nine dead soldiers (65 in one word) were buried in the Anti-Japanese War, and more than 400 unknown martyrs were later relocated. A stone tablet in front of the tomb is 150 centimeters high and 70 centimeters wide. It is written in italics as "Glorious Monument to the Death of War". In the middle, it is written as "Tomb of the Dead Officers and Soldiers in the War of Resistance", and the money is given as "All Officers and Soldiers Stand Together". Completed in October 1944, all the officers and soldiers of the 48 Military Headquarters and local county officials, Shang Gentlemen, jointly held the inauguration ceremony of the Temple of Loyalty and Martyrs in Tangchifang. Su Zuxin solemnly inscribed the couplet:
Several men returned from the war, trying to see the ancient and modern times at home and abroad, and the good generals and loyal ministers died at the same time.
Where is the hometown, no matter Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangdong and Guangxi, paradise is different.
Only when the country is strong enough to resist foreign aggression can the people be happy and glorious. Inspired by the spirit of the national strategy for the revitalization and development of the old revolutionary areas in the Dabie Mountains, Tianyuan International Health Culture Group of Shengshi, Anhui, entered Yuexi in 2009, invested 2 billion yuan in the construction of Tianyuewan Hot Spring Health Holiday Area. Since its opening in 2014, the project has received more than 3 million tourists from home and abroad, involving more than 30 countries and regions.
Tianyue Bay is rated as "National AAAA Tourist Scenic Area", "Provincial Tourist Holiday Area", "Anhui Provincial Health Tourism Demonstration Base of Traditional Chinese Medicine", "Anhui Provincial Top Ten Tourism Projects", "Anhui Provincial Cultural Industry Demonstration Base" and "Top Ten Kang Yang Hot Springs" in East China. The project has been included in the "China health cell engineering construction experimental base", "China's aging industry association livable health demonstration base and standardized old-age construction base" and "the great health building base along the belt".
Now it has become the cultural style and recreational base of the eight ministries, such as the Ministry of Water Resources, SASASAC, the Ministry of Communications, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the Russian high-end guest health resort base, and the designated "leisure tour" and "leisure care" base of the old-age service institutions in Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Jinan and Hefei. Tianyue Bay is actively building a large health base and "Tianyue Bay Dabie Mountain International Health Town" in central China, and declaring a national tourist resort.