Chapter 18 Red Army Tomb
Li Changsheng is 49 years old this year. Apart from the high-ranking NPC director and CPPCC chairman, he is the only cadre who enjoys the rank of deputy director after the secretary and county magistrate. According to convention, the former secretary and county magistrate should be transferred at the same time, and he should succeed one of them.
But Li Mingyong put the iron forward. Li Changsheng was very dissatisfied with this, but this is the reality. A higher-ranking official can crush a person to death. Old party members should be aware of this.
Some of them were disappointed and planned to retire to the second line early, but there was already a director for the People's Congress and the CPPCC, so the Municipal Party Committee sought his opinion and transferred him to the Municipal Working Committee to take up the full-time position.
But Li Changsheng was a native of Tongxian County and did not intend to move again before retiring. He finally decided to serve another term.
Therefore, Li Changsheng is the local boss of this team. Lao Tongxian, Tie Xiangqian, repeatedly told Hu Jiao to respect Deputy Secretary Li and ask for his advice more.
He has been the deputy secretary in charge of the work for five years. Almost half of the section-level cadres in Tong County were promoted and appointed by Li Changsheng directly or indirectly.
What is prestige?
In ancient times, people said that students and former officials were everywhere in the world, which was used to describe the phenomenon of circles in officialdom. Li Changsheng's position in Tong County was the most obvious explanation.
Li Mingyong talked to Tie Xiangqian about Li Changsheng's influence. If Tie Xiangqian felt pressured, it would be better to transfer Li Changsheng away by force.
Tie Xiangqian holds a negative attitude towards this. When he was Li Mingyong's secretary, he had many dealings with the main leaders of various counties, districts and municipal agencies.
He also had contact with Li Changsheng and had a certain personal relationship with him.
Tie Xiangqian told the story frankly, and Li Mingyong didn't say anything more. He believed in Tie Xiangqian's ability.
At eight o'clock in the morning, after breakfast, Hu Jiao had already given all the canned food to Hu Dawei and only took the luggage and books.
This time we will truly travel light.
Li Changsheng doesn't like sitting in the leadership position in the back row, which is different from other cadres. The seat next to the driver is usually occupied by a full-time secretary.
But Li Changsheng wanted to snatch it.
Because the traffic conditions in towns and villages are really terrible, and the back seat of an off-road vehicle is right on the rear wheels, and who can stand being bumpy for several hours?
On the contrary, the two front driving seats are in the middle of the car, so the bumps are less severe, and the driver can drive slower and take a nap to replenish his energy.
Moreover, government vehicles are in short supply below the county level, with no fewer than five people on each trip. Although the off-road vehicle has seven seats, there are only five spaces including the driver.
If you sit at the back, you will inevitably have to squeeze with other people. As a leader, it is difficult for you to say anything, and it is even more uncomfortable to sit with the leader.
If there were four people sitting in the back row, it would be a torture.
Therefore, Li Changsheng always sits in the front row. He doesn't have to worry about the people in the back and saves himself.
There were originally two cars going today, but the other deputy county magistrate received an emergency meeting notice from the municipal government and had to change the plan.
There were six people including the driver, Li Changsheng, Deputy Minister of Organization Lan Jing, Hu Jiao, Tang Kaiming from the Organization Department, and Li Changsheng's secretary You Lin.
Considering that Hu Jiao would not come back after he left, it would be a waste to call another car, so Li Changsheng suggested that everyone make the arduous journey.
Originally the county party committee had notified the Tieshu Township government last night and asked them to drive over to pick us up, but we set out yesterday afternoon and still hadn’t seen any sign of them until morning.
I guess the car either broke down on the road or was stuck in traffic somewhere.
Leaving Dangkou Town, the county seat of Tong County, and crossing the Hongqi Bridge, the road extends along the cliff, with a steep wall on one side and a canyon several dozen meters deep on the other.
If any accident happens, such as brake failure or steering failure, you can only risk your life and hope you won't die from the fall.
Hu Jiao couldn't help but feel his hair stand on end when he thought about this. When he came here yesterday, he was sitting next to the passenger seat and didn't see the dangerous abyss on the other side.
Today, I was sitting behind Li Changsheng and looking out the window. The car seemed to be flying in the clouds. Looking at the bottomless canyon, I was terrified.
Li Changsheng turned his head and pointed out the window. "Xiao Hu, most of the cadres working in Tong County claim that they work hard. Is this a realistic meaning?"
Hu Jiao couldn't help but nod, "That's right! It's a life-threatening thing. Fortunately, the craftsmen in the small car class have good skills. Otherwise, it would be worse than eight characters."
The driver's surname was Wang. He couldn't help laughing when he heard what Hu Jiao said. "Secretary Hu, what you said is right. Our Tong County Party Committee and Government have never had any major traffic accidents since their establishment. The accidents were caused by stupid drivers in the towns and villages."
Li Changsheng couldn't help but praise him, "Xiao Wang is right. Especially after Hu Dawei transferred to the county party committee, the drivers of the small car team have to organize safety training or activities every week. For so many years, there have been no accidents. It's rare, rare."
Lan Jing is in his early thirties and is from Fenghuang. In fact, he and Hu Jiao are high school classmates, but a few years older than Hu Jiao. His father was the deputy commissioner before Fenghuang was changed into a city. Now he is retired and living at home.
"Secretary Li is right. Hu Dawei usually speaks roughly and seems to be arrogant, but he manages the small car team and everyone is convinced, right, Xiao Wang?"
When Xiao Wang heard his boss being praised, he couldn't help but show his satisfaction, "Of course, we brothers respect Brother Hu. If it were anyone else, it wouldn't work. Li Laoer, the one driving for Director Wang now, last year, his wife had a difficult labor and heavy bleeding, and the director of the obstetrics and gynecology department happened to have a bad cold and fever. Brother Hu rushed to the ward, knelt down and asked the man to come out, and that's how he saved her. Also, during the New Year and other festivals, the masters have worked hard for a year, and the small car team is the first to get the New Year's goods, so Brother Hu has his say, and we don't say anything."
Li Changsheng sighed after hearing this, "If you hadn't told me, I wouldn't have noticed that Xiao Li's lover... eh, Hu Dawei, is just not well educated enough. This year, he finally got a technical secondary school diploma, right, Xiao Lan?"
Lan Jing smiled and said yes.
Li Changsheng continued, "I nominated him for director several times, but it was stuck because of this. The news spread throughout the compound, but there was nothing I could do. The policy was there, right?"
Xiao Wang also sighed, feeling sorry for Hu Dawei, "We have also advised Brother Hu, but he said he gets dizzy when he reads and can't concentrate. Technical secondary school cost him half his life, and college would cost him his life, wouldn't it?"
Everyone in the car burst into laughter and thought Hu Dawei was an interesting person.
We talked and laughed all the way. Five kilometers out of the county town, there was a three-way fork in the road. One led to Hongjiang, one passed through Linshan Township, and the other led to Tieshu.
The previous road, though seemingly steep, was smooth. This time, before leaving the main road, the road leading to the iron tree was already making people's scalps numb.
The road surface was full of uneven stones and hard mud, and the width of the entire road was only wide enough to protect the tractor.
When the off-road vehicle goes up, it basically rides on the roadbed on both sides. If the wheels tilt, the chassis will make a loud noise, which is very painful.
Li Changsheng comforted Xiao Wang, who had a serious face, "Slow down, we are not in a hurry."
Xiao Wang stared ahead, not daring to look to the side. He had only driven one kilometer when he began to get angry. "Those damn people in Tieshu think trees are more valuable than people. Look at this road. It's not that the county government doesn't want to repair it. If they just file a report, look at how well this road has been repaired..."
Just as he said this, he saw a green jeep coming towards him from afar. Xiao Wang stepped on the brakes and stopped. "Oh! I drove a kilometer in vain. Back up the car. It's Liu Laopi from Tieshu Township Government."
Li Changsheng also smiled bitterly, "It's okay, it's okay, it's only one kilometer."
Hu Jiao held on to the door handle tightly to prevent himself from being hit on the head by the car being bumped up. He was tall and there were four people squeezed in the back, so he could hardly move left or right. But when the car was bumped up, the four people jumped up in unison and he was hit twice.
In this way, the off-road vehicle drove backwards, and the jeep followed. The two vehicles were butting heads, and Xiao Wang twisted his neck and kept falling.
Li Changsheng also turned around and looked at Hu Jiao and chuckled, "This is called Slow Three, one retreat and one advance, and then we'll do Samba later."
Hu Jiao smiled bitterly and shook his head, then asked Xiao Wang, "Why do you call me Liu Laopi?"
Xiao Wang grinned, "Look at the exhaust of that jeep, and then listen to the sound of the exhaust pipe."
Hu Jiao rolled down the car window. As soon as the jeep stepped on the accelerator, a cloud of black smoke came out from the back. Then he heard a sound like a tractor starting, "BON, BON" and occasionally a "puff" sound.
After more than ten minutes, the off-road vehicle backed up to the main road, made way, and the jeep turned around on the spot.
Liu Laopi opened the car door and was covered in mud, with many parts of his body already dry.
Liu Laopi is not very old, and looks to be in his twenties, but he looks very bad. Anyone else would get angry after driving 49 kilometers all night.
Xiao Wang also opened the car door, "Old fart, where are you stuck?"
“The Red Army Tomb.”
Xiao Wang laughed loudly, "You accompanied the old revolutionaries to take over the mountain and became the king. You were an underground party member for a night?"
"Yes, look at me. Fortunately, I met two old sheep herders. Otherwise, I would have to wait for you."
Li Changsheng pointed at Hu Jiao and introduced him, "This is your new secretary and village head Hu Jiao. You must have been hungry all night. There are biscuits in the car. Eat some first before continuing your journey."
Liu Laopi hurried forward, lifted his clothes, and was about to wipe his hands when Hu Jiao grabbed them and said, "You've worked hard. Eat something first."
Liu Laopi was stunned, then he laughed and said, "It's okay, the shepherd will give me some roasted potatoes. Hello, Secretary Hu."
Xiao Wang kicked him in the butt mischievously, "You idiot, why don't you get in the car?"
Hu Jiao rushed to say, "Secretary Li, I'll go with Xiao Liu."
Lan Jing hurriedly stopped him, "No, let's be open-minded, okay?"
Tang Kaiming looked reluctant, but he had to obey his boss.
Hu Jiao held Tang Kaiming still, turned to Li Changsheng and Lan Jing and said, "It's okay. I'll be driving on this road for a long time anyway, so I'll need to get used to it. You guys get in the car first and don't worry about me."
Li Changsheng nodded and said, "Okay. Then you can experience it in advance. These are the difficulties that need to be overcome."
After sending several people to the SUV, Hu Jiao walked to the passenger seat of the jeep and reached out to open the door, but he couldn't turn it open. Liu Laopi hurriedly leaned over and pushed and smashed the door from the inside before it opened.
Hu Jiao couldn't help but frown. After getting in, the car door couldn't be closed. Liu Laopi had to get out of the car, walk around, and bang the door hard, and finally managed to close it.
Hu Jiao lamented in his heart, there was going to be a car accident, there was no way he could jump out of the car.
In the SUV behind, Xiao Wang leaned over the steering wheel, laughing so hard that his shoulders twitched as he watched Liu Laupi close the door.
Li Changsheng could only shake his head. Every year, the county finances could only allocate money to subsidize the wages of Tieshu Township, and there was really not enough money to buy a good car for them.
Liu Laopi's face flushed. After starting the car, he heard the loud fart sound in the car, which made him even more uncomfortable. He shouted loudly: "Secretary Hu, there is nothing we can do. Our township really can't afford to buy a car. When we talk about buying a car, the leaders said that there is no point in buying a car when we can't even afford to eat. This car is already eight years old."
Hu Jiao finally figured out the first thing he had to do when he arrived at Tieshu: buy a car!
What is bigger than the fortune? Hu Jiao doesn't believe in that. This broken car, except for the wheels that can move, probably has no good parts left. If there is a problem with the steering or brakes one day, no matter how big the fortune is, it will take dozens of meters to fix it. If the car can be left with an intact body, it will be considered the good deeds of the ancestors.
The funds allocated from the province have been deposited into Tieshu’s financial account, 2.4 million yuan. This is the poverty alleviation and development fund brought by Hu Jiao.
I did some calculations in my mind and realized that buying a mid-range SUV would cost more than 200,000 yuan, and after completing the registration procedures, the total cost would be just over 300,000 yuan.
Don’t be afraid of spending money or what people say, you have to buy a car first no matter what!
"It's okay, Xiao Liu... What's your full name?"
Liu Laopi chuckled and said, "My name is Liu Sheng. Secretary, don't mind. I'm used to people calling me Laopi anyway."
Hu Jiao laughed and said, "That won't work. Let's go back and start researching how to buy a car. We can't let you always have this nickname. Let's buy an off-road vehicle too!"
"real?"
"real!"
"Oh my, Secretary, this, this, what do you want me to say? This is really great! I have been looking forward to it for a long time. My biggest wish in this life is to drive an off-road vehicle! Hey, I never thought that I, Liu Laopi, would have the chance to fart! Thank you so much!"
Hu Jiao was infected by Liu Laopi's emotions and smiled, "I am selfish. To be honest, riding this car is like putting your head on your belt and risking your life."
Liu Laopi nodded vigorously: "That's right! I still can't find a wife, girls are afraid... Hey, I'm not afraid of the secretary laughing at me, but my current girlfriend has been with me for six years, and I dare not say anything, like a thief. Every time I go out, she is worried. If her family knew, we would definitely fail."
Hu Jiao couldn't help but pat his shoulder. "I promise you that you will get married smoothly by May Day this year at the latest! Also, from now on, you will be called Liu Sheng. It's an auspicious name."
Liu Laopi said excitedly: "Okay, listen to the secretary. When I drive an off-road vehicle and drive the county party committee's small car team every day, I will piss them off to death!"
A jeep cannot go fast. Driving on this kind of road requires high skills and concentration, and one must also pay attention to all surroundings, such as how the wheels should move and where to pass so that the rear wheel does not fall off.
It took two hours and more than thirty kilometers to reach the iron tree.
The mountains here are endless. At the fork in the mountain, after passing the fork, it is a straight downhill road with many turns.
The name of the mountain is Red Army, formerly known as Horn Mountain. It is shaped like a charge horn, and the mouth of the mountain faces a row of tall peaks that look like bayonets.
Tieshu Township is located on the river beach under the mountain peak. It cannot be seen from the mountain as it is shrouded in mountain fog.
Standing facing the mountain, he could feel the murderous aura coming from the bayonet on the opposite side. Hu Jiao couldn't help but take a deep breath. This is the wonder of nature!
The Red Army Cemetery is located in the Horn Mountain. The road passes in front of the cemetery. More than ten meters away from the road, there is a circle of low stone walls facing the Bayonet Peak.
There is a large stele with small stele neatly arranged behind it in the shape of a five-pointed star.
Liu Sheng pointed at the large stele and said, "Secretary, look, that is the general's tomb."
There is a bright five-pointed star on the top of the monument, and the inscription is written in iron pen and silver hook. It was written by the former head of the Military Commission himself:
Tomb of General Chen Hu.
There is a sense of fierceness in the strokes, especially in the character “虎”, which gives people a sense of dominance as if they were wielding swords and guns.
General Chen Hu, when he walked out of Tieshu, led a group of people and first joined the National Army. During his studies at the second military academy, he was persuaded by the revolutionary pioneer Liu Lao to join the Xinhua Communist Party. After the collapse of the KMT-CPC cooperation, during the transfer of the Red Army, the general led two battalions to rebel and were incorporated into the later guard regiment.
Escorted the leaders of the Party and the country all the way and safely arrived in northern Shaanxi.
During the Anti-Japanese War, he served as the commander of a column. On the battlefield, he was known as Chen the Tiger. The troops under his command were called the Tiger Army, which made the enemy tremble with fear.
The leader once exclaimed: When the tiger general appears, the whole world will cry.
After the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the general unfortunately fell ill, but he always insisted on staying on the front line until he died of illness one year before liberation. He participated in 95 battles during his lifetime and never lost a single one.
His guard at the time later recalled that before the general died, he murmured to himself, "The general will die in a hundred battles"... He participated in ninety-five battles in his life, only five short of a hundred battles, but those five times became a lifelong regret.
After liberation, he was awarded the rank of lieutenant general.
Unfortunately, the general never married until his death and had no children. Several leaders at the time advised him to get married first, but the general said: How can I have a family if the world is not at peace?
After the general passed away, according to his will, he was moved and buried back to his hometown in the third year after the national liberation. This is how the current Red Army Cemetery came into being.
During the Qingming Festival every year, the main leading cadres and representatives of primary and secondary school students in Tong County go to the cemetery to sweep the tombs. Leaders from the Central Military Commission, military regions, and provincial and municipal levels are sometimes present.
The two cars stopped and people got off one after another.
There is an unwritten rule that all party and government officials, regardless of official or personal matters, who pass by this place must bow three times, or go in and out to weed and pay homage to the older generation of revolutionary martyrs.
And they had to stop, because after turning the corner of the mountain, they would reach the place where Liu Sheng's car got stuck yesterday. There was a big hole there, and Liu Sheng had not had time to fill it in order to hurry on.
Several people were familiar with the stories of the generals and the Red Army, but no one deliberately used them to carry out revolutionary education.
After bowing three times, he didn't get in the car, but went to fill the hole first.
Unexpectedly, when he turned around, he saw that several large stones had already filled the hole. Liu Sheng smiled and said, "It was probably filled by the two shepherds."
Li Changsheng said, "Speaking of the people of Tieshu, they are the most simple, kind-hearted, and hardworking people. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many revolutionary martyrs and a famous general. Xiao Hu, look at the mountains and forests around here. In other places, let alone afforestation, how many can be preserved intact? Look at the trees in this forest again. The youngest ones are only a few decades old. If you go up, there are hundreds of years old. These are the real wealth!"
Looking at the endless mountains and forests, the peaks are shrouded in mist and the tide is heavy. Li Changsheng pointed in the direction of Tieshu Township. "Other counties in Fenghuang City have serious soil erosion. In the past ten years, several counties have suffered from mountain torrents, landslides, and mud-rock flows. In Tong County, even if the rainfall is too heavy, the rising water is still clear mountain water. Therefore, Tong County is blessed by Tieshu Township. Tieshu accounts for 80% of the water source in the county. If it weren't for the intact forests of Tieshu and its considerable development, several rivers in Tong County might have suffered some disasters."
These words have special meaning, especially the look in Li Changsheng's eyes when he looked at the Red Army's tomb, which was filled with deep awe and a hint of admiration.
Maybe it is an illusion, but the iron tree forest resources are now well protected, and almost all of them are from the surviving old Red Army soldiers and the dead martyrs.
If the government is serious about taking action, how can a mere Tieshu Township resist?
Moreover, not all the people in Tieshu Township are united. There are always people who are blinded by interests.
After turning the mountain pass and getting in the car, Hu Jiao kept thinking about Li Changsheng's words. Perhaps the key to breaking the deadlock was still the Red Army Tomb.
As the saying goes, the person who tied the bell must be the one to untie it.
Turning down Red Army Mountain, this section of road is completely different from the previous Samba section. The road surface is flat and covered with fine sand and gravel.
Hu Jiao secretly sighed that General Hu's influence was indeed deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. The people of Tieshu were closed and self-contained, but their respect and love for the general was passed down from generation to generation. It could be seen from the road construction that the people of Tieshu did not care whether outsiders came to see the general or not, but they came to see the general themselves and repaired the road for the general to go home, which was indeed out of sincerity.
Even if it offends the mountain god.
