Under the surveillance of a Qing heavy cruiser, a light cruiser, and six destroyers, this 8,000-ton, dirty and worn-out old cargo ship from the Northern Qing Dynasty carried 1,500 Nanming prisoners of war, including Xiang Xiaoqiang and Zheng Yucong.
, after 20 hours of jolting on the sea at a medium speed of 12 knots, on August 18, we arrived at the meeting point at sea between the two sides.
In this meeting, the Ming army clearly learned the lessons from the last time and became more tough. It sent the battlecruiser Zhurong, two heavy cruisers, and twelve destroyers to form a powerful squadron, which was completely overwhelmed by absolute superiority.
As soon as the two sides met, the Ming fleet quickly
After controlling the entire sea area, a destroyer quickly approached the Qing army cargo ship. The two ships came together, and the personnel boarded the cargo ship. They saw Xiang Xiaoqiang and Zheng Yucong, and checked 1,500 Ming army prisoners of war. After confirming that everything was correct, three destroyers surrounded
Take the Qing army cargo ship and sail back to your own fleet.
Just when the commander of the Qing fleet thought that the Ming army was going to take advantage of their superiority to steal the hostages, but he did not dare to fight, three tall cruise ships appeared behind the Ming fleet. These three large passenger ships were all 30,000 tons.
class, carrying the first batch of 17,500 Qing prisoners of war who voluntarily returned to the Northern Qing Dynasty, the younger brother of Emperor Guangwu, and several representatives of the Southern Ming Dynasty. In addition, one of the cruise ships carried several boxes containing 250 kilograms of
Gold and tungsten bars.
The Qing side put down the small boats and boarded three cruise ships. After they checked that the hostages were correct and the cargo was correct, representatives from both sides signed for confirmation. At this point, the first batch of exchanges was completed. These three cruise ships will follow the Qing fleet to Beiqing.
On the morning of August 19, Xiang Xiaoqiang, Zheng Yucong and the first batch of 1,500 Ming Dynasty officers and soldiers landed at Shanghai Port and returned to Nanjing by train.
…
Outside Nanjing Railway Station, hundreds of military vehicles and requisitioned buses were parked. Carrying 965 Ming Dynasty officers and soldiers, they slowly entered the city from Zhengyang Gate in the south of the city to the sound of majestic military music.
On both sides of the majestic city tower of Zhengyang Gate, two thousand firecrackers were hung and crackling. A strip of red silk was hung on the city gate, with four large characters inscribed by Queen Zhu Yourong:
——Welcome home!
These skinny Ming Dynasty officers and soldiers had suffered a lot of injustice in the north. They just wanted to come back, but they didn't expect that they would receive such high treatment when they came back. They were so excited that tears filled their eyes.
There has not been a war between the Ming and Qing Dynasties for more than thirty years. In the Ming and Qing wars more than thirty years ago, many people from the Ming army were captured. After the war, the two sides exchanged prisoners. But more than thirty years ago, the Ming people
The concept of being a prisoner, even if they are not morally demanding on them, is at least dishonorable. But
These thirty years were also the thirty years when the Ming Dynasty's reform and reform were the most rapid and people's thinking changed the most. In addition, the "new citizens" and prisoners of war turmoil affected the hearts of the people of the Ming Dynasty. What are prisoners of war and not prisoners of war?
has been thrown aside, and everyone has formed a concept subconsciously:
These officers and soldiers are our children. They suffered outside and now they are finally back.
Among the 1,500 officers and soldiers, 535 were in relatively poor physical condition. They were sent to the hospital for treatment after landing in Shanghai. The remaining 965 officers and soldiers were all in relatively poor health. In fact, according to Nanming’s
The standard here, this
All 1,500 people had to be hospitalized for recuperation, but everyone wanted to participate in the entrance ceremony in Nanjing and be received by the Queen. In the end, it was the doctors in Shanghai who made the decision and "forcibly withheld" some of the patients who were in poor health from hospitalization, and released the rest.
Arrive in Nanjing.
…
The motorcade drove slowly along the avenue, with the military band playing and marching in front. The loud military music was floating in the sky, as if these were not prisoners of war who had just been released, but troops returning to Beijing in triumph.
Nanjing citizens and students crowded on both sides of the road, waving small national flags and cheering.
There were tens of thousands of people in the crowd who were family members of Ming army prisoners of war. Only a small number of them were family members of the 965 officers and soldiers. Most of the rest were family members of the thousands of prisoners of war who were still in Beiqing. They crowded on both sides of the road.
Although most of these people were old people, young women, and children, all the citizens spontaneously gave up the best positions for them so that they could come to the front.
The families of the prisoners of war crowded out from the crowds on both sides, threw themselves on both sides of the military vehicles and buses, and trotted after them while clinging to the windows of the cars, looking for and calling their sons, husbands, and brothers. From time to time they broke out.
There was a cry of joy when the relatives saw each other, and then there was a cry.
The commander of the convoy was also moved by all this. He couldn't bear to see these relatives holding each other's hands through the car window, crying and running away. This seemed cruel. But now there are hundreds of cars entering the city, and they are all lined up.
The convoy was marching on this road, and it was impossible for the convoy to stop every once in a while to allow those soldiers who had found their relatives to get off the car and reunite. He could only order the convoy to drive slower, as slowly as possible, so that
Let those relatives talk and be more relaxed under the car.
The motorcade traveled north along Yanping Road, turned east at Xinjiekou, and drove onto Changping Road. Finally, at the easternmost end of Changping Road, No. 1 Changping Road - in front of Xihuamen Square in the Forbidden City of Nanjing.
gather.
Xihuamen is the west gate of the Forbidden City in Nanjing. Although Xihuamen Square is very wide, many families of prisoners of war, Imperial Guards, and relevant military and political officials have gathered here, so hundreds of cars are here in Changping.
There is a stop on both sides of the road at the west end.
Outside the bright red palace wall of Xihua Gate, Zhu Yourong had already stood outside the palace gate early and had been waiting for half an hour. On both sides of her stood Yanping King Zheng Gongyin, Chief Minister Shen Rongxuan, and Chief of General Staff of the Headquarters.
Zhang Zhaoxian, the three eldest princesses, Zheng Yucong, Xiang Xiaoqiang, and a dozen other military and political officials...
…
965 officers and soldiers, wearing brand-new Ming Dynasty Army uniforms, jumped out of the car. Although they were tortured and weak, they all burst out with 120% spirit, lined up, reported numbers, and lined up amidst the high-pitched passwords.
It has returned to its original organizational structure, as if it was back to the time of the Nanjing defense battle before being captured.
The square was crowded with thousands of people, but it was unusually quiet, with only the officers and soldiers giving orders one after another.
"Chief of General Staff——" the deputy division commander ran to the palace gate and stood at attention and shouted, "The Ming Dynasty Army's new 74th Motorized Infantry Division——, there are actually 965 people——, the formation is completed——, please give instructions——
!!!”
Zhang Zhaoxian turned around again, faced Zhu Yourong, and performed the military salute.
Zhu Yourong took a step forward and did not speak. Instead, he unexpectedly extended his hand to the deputy division commander and wanted to shake his hand. The commander of the new 74th Motorized Infantry Division had been killed in action. The deputy division commander was stunned at this moment.
He immediately puffed up his chest and shook hands with Zhu Yourong.
"Thank you for your hard work!" Zhu Yourong said softly, "We will never forget the huge sacrifice you made for the people, the country, and me."
The deputy division commander leaned down and choked with sobs:
"Your Majesty is serious... In the battle to defend Nanjing, we did not contribute much... Compared with our brother troops, we are far behind..."
Zhu Yourong said:
"But you pay more."
The deputy division commander lowered his head and choked:
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Then, he turned around and made a gesture. Two soldiers from the 74th Motorized Rifle Division came out, carried Zhang Liansheng's urn amidst the slow rhythm of the military drums, and walked slowly in goose steps to Zhu Yourong.
.
Next to Zhu Yourong, Zhang Zhao first held a tray. Zhu Yourong picked up a first-class plum blossom medal from the tray and solemnly placed it on Zhang Liansheng's urn.
Then, she took off her broad-brimmed hat and bowed her head in silence.
All military and political officials, officers and soldiers, as well as citizens in the square also bowed their heads in silence.
Now they all know about Zhang Liansheng. Now he has become a symbol of the unyielding Ming Dynasty prisoners of war.
Next, medals were awarded to the 1,500 officers and soldiers who returned to the Ming Dynasty. Each person received a second-class Plum Blossom Medal, and there were many for each person. At this moment, in several hospital wards in Shanghai, there were also officers holding medal trays and filling the beds one by one.
Weared by officers and soldiers.
In the Xihuamen Square outside the Forbidden City in Nanjing, four people, Zhu Yourong, Zheng Gongyin, Zhang Zhaoxian and Shen Rongxuan, personally decorated the 965 officers and soldiers with medals. Except for the four of them, there were no other officers below them. This is also a tribute to these officers and soldiers who have suffered so much.
This is a great honor for them. Their second-level Plum Blossom Medal must have been personally worn on their chests by one of the Queen, King Yanping, the First Minister, and the Chief of General Staff.
…
The ceremony lasted until noon.
After the afternoon ceremony, Xiang Xiaoqiang rushed to the imperial headquarters.