Northwest Years 西北岁月 Episode 1

In 1927, after the "April 12" counter-revolutionary coup, the Communists were brutally hunted and killed by the Kuomintang and warlords. On the 28th of the same year, Li Dazhao, one of the main founders of the Communist Party of China, died heroically in Beijing. The vigorous revolution went from climax to failure.

Teachers and students in schools in Fuping, Shaanxi organized patriotic activities to commemorate Li Dazhao. Xi Zhongxun, a member of the Communist Youth League who was only 14 years old, actively participated in the activities and was appreciated by his teacher Yan Musan. However, at the event, young teacher Wei Hai suddenly announced on the spot that he was withdrawing from the Communist Party and firmly supported Chiang Kai-shek's "purging the party" policy. Many people angrily accused him of being a wallflower and a two-faced person.

Seeing that Wei Hai was about to put up Qing Communist leaflets next to the portrait of Zhang Dazhao, Xi Zhongxun and others were extremely angry and rushed forward to fight with him until a group of police officers arrived to disperse the crowd. Later, Xi Zhongxun was brought home by his father Xi Zongde. Xi Zongde used the past events of the Xi family to teach his son not to participate in national affairs. However, Xi Zhongxun's attitude made him furious. He took off his shoes and started to beat him. His wife Chai Caihua hurriedly stopped and persuaded him.

On May 11 of the same year, the new warlord He Jingwei stationed in Huxian County, Shaanxi Province massacred the backbone of the peasant movement and members of the Agricultural Association, causing the Suocun Massacre in Huxian County. Xi Zongde's boss sent his nephew to Hu County to ask for payment for the goods, but he was robbed by a warlord on the way. They worked for a whole year without any reward, and they all left angrily. The shopkeeper was even more distraught and shouted that the world was unfair.

That night, Xi Zhongxun went to see his teacher Yan Musan alone. Unfortunately, he was not able to formally join the party because he was not old enough. However, he still stated that he would continue to demand himself according to the standards of a Communist in the future and was always ready to accept the test of the organization. Nowadays, the situation is chaotic, and the Communists are struggling to survive. Yan Musan told Xi Zhongxun that their revolution is like an oil lamp in front of him. It seems to be extinguished, but as long as there is faith, it can continue to ignite. Only by letting the people Awakening, the country is reborn, burning yourself to illuminate others, no longer need to worry about any darkness.

In June of the same year, Feng Yuxiang began to "purge the party" in Shaanxi. Ma Hongkui, the commander-in-chief of the Fourth Route Army of the National Revolutionary Army, cherished talents and wanted to win over Liu Zhidan, the director of the Political Department, but Liu Zhidan refused to give up communism, even though he was pointed at gunpoint. First, we must still walk with the revolution. In the end, Ma Hongkui let Liu Zhidan leave, and Liu Zhidan and his instructor Li Lie fled from the train station with a group of patriotic soldiers.

A few months later, in order to implement the spirit of the August 7th Conference and implement the policy of agrarian revolution and armed uprising, the Kuomintang generals Tang Shu, Li Xiangjiu, and Xie Zichang launched the Shaanxi Qingjian Uprising, established a revolutionary army that broke away from the shackles of feudal warlords, and led the soldiers in the Shaanxi Qingjian Uprising. The first shot against the Kuomintang reactionaries was fired in the northwest region, which shocked the land of Sanqin.

Cheng Jianwen and Song Wenmei shared the good news with Xi Zhongxun and even brought him M Zedong's article. Xi Zhongxun envied that all his friends had joined the party. The three of them were talking and laughing. When they talked about the revolution, Xi Zongde happened to listen and thought that his son now had the idea of ​​​​rebellion with a gun and should be curbed in time.

At this time, Yan Musan brought the good news that Xi Zhongxun had been admitted to the Third Provincial Division of Sanyuan. Xi Zongde was very happy, but he was worried about his son's food and clothing. There was no extra money at home, so Xi Zongde simply went to his old employer to ask for his salary. Unexpectedly, his old employer was forced to hang himself for borrowing money at usury, which made him feel sad and finally understood that this was the era of cannibalism.

In order to allow Xi Zhongxun to go to school with peace of mind, Xi Zongde reluctantly sold his only donkey. As long as his son could study well and become the normal student that the Xi family expected, he would study even if he was selling the iron. When leaving, Xi Zongde personally saw off Xi Zhongxun and persuaded Xi Zhongxun earnestly not to take the road of revolution. As a parent, I really don’t want my children to take risks. I always feel that if the sky falls, there will be someone taller to hold it up, but Xi Zhongxun feels that If everyone thought this way, no one would be willing to take the risk.

In the early autumn of this year, Xi Zhongxun, Cheng Jianwen and Song Wenmei gathered at the Third Provincial Division. Unexpectedly, Wei Hai became famous for publicly quitting the party and won the favor of Wang Fanchen, the principal of the Third Division, who made an exception and hired him. Although Wei Hai's educational level was not high, he relied on flattery and was promoted to director of training within a short period of time. Xi Zhongxun knew that Wei Hai was an anti-communist activist and reminded Cheng Jianwen and Song Wenmei to be more careful in the future.