The heavens start from Changjin Lake

The Japanese army set up five difficult levels. By checking everyone's hands, the Japanese army took the opportunity to find all the Chinese soldiers. They knew that those who had served as soldiers had to use guns every day, which would leave calluses on specific parts of their palms. .

They also checked everyone's shoulders for any indentations from backpacks, their foreheads and hair for signs of military caps, and even the soles of their feet for blisters from months of marching.

With such strict inspections, many people cannot escape.

Once discovered by the Japanese army, they would directly pull the person aside, or let the recruits stab him to death with a bayonet, or shoot him to death with a gun.

Under the gaze of more than 100,000 people, the Japanese army found Chinese soldiers one by one and brutally killed them.

What impressed Rabe deeply was a lame Chinese soldier who broke free from the shackles of a Japanese soldier and grabbed a Japanese soldier with his hands. The commander did not hesitate to order his men to shoot, and he was killed along with a Japanese soldier. Shot to death.

He even shouted: "Oda-kun died together with the Chinese people, and his soul returned to his hometown. He was a hero in the holy war!"

But Rabe clearly remembered what kind of hero he was. When the soldiers opened fire, the captured Japanese soldier was still pleading.

On the evening of the 14th, at a general meeting of members, the International Committee of the Safety Zone learned that the Japanese army arrested 1300 people from a refugee camp near the committee headquarters and executed them.

"We knew that some of these men had been soldiers, but a Japanese officer had promised Rabe that afternoon that they would spare their lives."

YMCA representative George Fitch recorded this incident in his diary: "It now seems obvious what the Japanese are going to do. Japanese soldiers with bayonets lined up these people and tied them up in groups of 100. Get up; for those wearing hats, the Japanese roughly tore off their hats and threw them on the ground. By the lights in front of the cars, we watched helplessly as they were escorted away by Japanese soldiers and walked to death step by step."

The members of the safety zone committee all watched as the 1300 Chinese were taken away by the Japanese. Everyone knew that the Japanese would not let these people go.

These people may be shot to death indiscriminately, or they may be used by Japanese recruits as targets for gun practice and scarecrows for bayonet practice.

Rabe fell into deep self-reproach for this. He wondered whether these people would be able to escape if they were not put into a safe zone, or whether they would not be found by the Japanese.

It was precisely because he allowed the safe zone to take them in that the Japanese were able to find them in the safe zone.

At least outside, they can still resist. In the safe zone, they have nothing.

There is no one to protect them.

Over the next few days, Rabe watched helplessly as the Japanese dragged thousands of Chinese soldiers away from the safety zone and executed them.

In addition, thousands of innocent people who happened to have calluses, marks, or blisters on their fingers, foreheads, and soles were taken away by the Japanese army. These people were rickshaw coolies, manual laborers, or police detectives.

After the Japanese killed these people, they threw their bodies into ponds. Rabe had the impression that there were several ponds in Jinling City, but these ponds disappeared because the Japanese threw their corpses in the ponds and filled them with corpses.

Later, he saw that the Buddhist charity organization in the city had fished out more than 120 corpses from just one small pond.

Compared to the outside world, it is like purgatory on earth.

The cellar of the church has become a safe haven for Zhou Xiaoli and Xia Yuan.

Zhou Xiaoli had wanted to go to the safe area before, but after staying in the cellar for a few days, the cellar was relatively safe.

The most important thing is that on the way to the safe zone, you have to pass through the area occupied by the Japanese, and the road may not be safe.

The most conservative and safest option is to stay in the cellar.

There was enough food and cans in the cellar, a bed and quilts for sleeping, a warm military coat, some books, and candles. If she were not worried about possible exposure, she would light candles and read next to them.

Xia Yuan was lying on the bed sleeping. Zhou Xiaoli read for a while, raised her head, rubbed her eyes, closed the book, walked gently to Xia Yuan's side, and stared at the other person's bruised cheeks.

The wounds on his face had long scabbed over them. They had not been cleaned for a long time, and his face was dark.

She didn't know how many Japanese Xia Yuan had killed when he went out, but every time he went out, he would never come back empty-handed.

Zhou Xiaoli stared at Xia Yuan for a while, then sat on the bed, found a blank notebook, took out her pen, put it in front of her mouth, laughed, and tried to draw in the notebook.

Seeing the lines left on the notebook, she began to formulate language and write it down in the notebook.

"The Japanese came in, and my father was killed with a bayonet by the Japanese to protect me. I was also captured by the Japanese. I had long heard about what the Japanese did in Jinling City. I never thought that it would be my turn this day. In order to play with me, the Japanese caught me and let me go again. They wanted to watch me run away, struggle, and cry helplessly. They let me go and caught me again and again. live."

"Every time they caught me, they would take off a piece of clothing. I was desperate. I thought this was my fate. I was ready to die. I thought, I would rather die than be killed by them." insult."

"Until I met a retreating soldier. He was very powerful. Five Japanese Japs were no match for him. He killed five Japanese Japs and escaped from that place with me."

"I survived."

"But it's not over yet. He goes out to kill the Japanese every night. He says he avenged me. I don't know how many Japanese he killed, but every time he comes back, he brings back a lot of things."

"His presence makes me feel at ease. At least I don't have to hide in fear anymore."

After writing this, Zhou Xiaoli closed the notebook and put it away carefully.

Take out the needle and thread, sew the torn parts of Xia Yuan's clothes and put them on the table.

Taking the book, he walked to the steps of the cellar entrance and sat down, flipping through the books and being extra cautious about what was going on outside.

The church outside was very quiet, without any movement. A gust of wind blew in from time to time through the cracks in the cellar, and penetrated into the cellar through the cracks.

Fortunately, the gap is relatively small, the cellar is deep, and it is very warm in the cellar.

Xia Yuan went out and brought back many Japanese military coats, which made him feel extra warm when he wore them.

When it was noon, Zhou Xiaoli rubbed her tired eyes, came to the table and ate the cold can.

She had just finished eating the canned food and was about to continue reading when she suddenly heard a slight movement outside. It was very small, as if someone was walking around. Zhou Xiaoli put down the book, cautiously approached the tunnel entrance, lay down on the steps, and looked through the gap. Watch from the outside.

There was a faint chatter outside, and Zhou Xiaoli tensed up when she heard the chatter.

It was the voice of the Japs.

Zhou Xiaoli covered her mouth in shock and leaned stiffly on the cellar steps, trembling a little.

The sound was very close to the cellar entrance, so close that you could almost hear the other party's footsteps.

This made Zhou Xiaoli feel frightened. Holding back the fear in her heart, she carefully ran to the cellar and woke up Xia Yuan.

Xia Yuan opened his eyes and heard the conversation outside the cellar. He rubbed his dry eyes and his sleepiness disappeared.

He was careless. The safe environment of the cellar caused him to sleep too deeply. The Japanese soldiers came here and he still hadn't woken up.

Listening to the noise outside, Xia Yuan grabbed the bayonet in his hand and said to Zhou Xiaoli, "Go find a place to hide."

Zhou Xiaoli's whole body was tense and she said nervously: "You must pay attention to safety."

"Don't worry, the Japanese soldiers outside are in the same squad, more than a dozen of them. If they don't find the entrance to the cellar, forget it. If they find it, let's talk about it separately."

Xia Yuan pursed his lips, walked to the entrance of the cellar, and got excited.

He waited quietly.

The entrance to the cellar is under the table in the church kitchen, blending into the ground and inconspicuous. If you don't look carefully, you can't see it at all.

"Fire up, I can't wait."

"Don't worry, find some dry firewood first, and I'll show you my skills tonight."

"That's great. I've been starving for a long time." "I'll go find firewood. You guys wait first."

"It's too cold outside. I think it might snow again tomorrow."

"We'll sleep upstairs tonight. It's quite warm upstairs and we won't be blown by the wind."

The Japanese soldiers outside were chatting and smoking, and a thick smoke filled the kitchen, accompanied by bursts of fragrance.

The Japs were cooking over a fire in the church kitchen. You could clearly smell the smoke and hear their footsteps.

Xia Yuan didn't move.

The Japanese soldiers were allowed to light a fire and cook in the kitchen outside the church.

He didn't act.

If this group of Japanese soldiers were killed, the missing Japanese soldiers would alert the Japanese army, and they would inevitably conduct a blanket investigation of the area.

This increases their risk of exposure.

Until they are discovered, they are safe.

Fortunately, there was no danger. The Japanese had occupied this area for a long time. In their subconscious, this area was safe and there were no Chinese.

They were confident enough to light a fire, cook, and chat in the church.

While chatting about my hometown, I also talked about what happened in Jinling.

They talked about Chinese men and then about Chinese women, and all of them laughed.

Xia Yuan listened expressionlessly.

After eating and drinking, this group of Japanese soldiers did not clean up the kitchen, but ran to the second floor to pack their sleeping bags. However, they could hear the sound of the Japanese soldiers packing up their weapons and equipment. The sound of the collision of weapons and equipment was very clear.

Soon, there was no movement outside.

Xia Yuan signaled Zhou Xiaoli to stay here, and he carefully pushed open the cellar door and quietly came to the bottom of the stairs.

I could hear the noise coming from upstairs very clearly.

"This church was searched so clean, there was nothing."

"This area has been occupied by us for a long time. If there are any items, they have been searched by the team in front."

"We're late."

"Tomorrow we will go to the Chinese people's homes and have a look. Maybe we can find valuable things and flower girls."

"I can't wait to tell you. Go to bed quickly."

Xia Yuan squinted his eyes and walked through the dark hall to the outside.

There were several motorcycles parked outside, with Japanese plaster flags on them. Cans could also be found on the motorcycles, but he did not touch these things.

This place has been occupied by the Japanese. If the Japanese are moved, it will quickly attract the attention of the Japanese army and remind them that there are still armed forces in this area. The Japanese army will inevitably invest more troops in this area. Carry out a blanket search in the area.

He was not worried about being discovered by the Japanese. With his excellent ability, he could easily escape the pursuit of the Japanese, but Zhou Xiaoli could not.

It is a long way from the safe zone, and the safe zone has been blocked by the Japanese at this time, and you can only leave but not enter.

This process is quite dangerous, and the best way is to guard this cellar.

Xia Yuan loosened his clenched fists and quietly returned to the cellar. Through the hall, he could still hear the chatter of this group of Japanese soldiers, who were looking forward to a better future life.

"They didn't find us and were sleeping on the second floor. At least they won't leave today. I'll stay here while you go to sleep."

Xia Yuan decided not to take action tonight.

After several operations in succession, the Japanese army had long noticed his presence. They must not be reckless at this time.

Secondly, the Japanese troops are still on the second floor. If she leaves, Zhou Xiaoli will definitely not be able to sleep tonight. But here, she can sleep peacefully.

"Yeah." Zhou Xiaoli didn't say much. She lay on the bed, covered herself with a quilt, and quickly fell into sleep.

Night, quiet, silent.

Xia Yuan leaned against the cellar door with his gun in his arms, thinking about more things.

When will the Jinling Massacre end and when will I be able to return?

Unknowingly, it has been half a year since he came to this world. During these six months, he has hardly had much rest. He spent most of his time in battles, and most of the time in the cellar.

Being at Wang Ergou's sister's house is the only time I feel safe.

Along the way, everyone around him died. The only one who survived was Chen Jian.

That is, scholars.

I wonder if the scholar has survived such a long time, and where he went after leaving Jiading.

He thought a lot.

I spent this night in such random thoughts.

In the early morning, the warm sunshine rose and shone on the devastated Jinling City.

The beginning of a new day also means the beginning of a new killing.

Early in the morning, the Japanese soldiers upstairs woke up. They continued to occupy the kitchen and lit a fire to cook. They cooked something that smelled delicious.

After eating and drinking, the Japanese soldiers packed up their weapons and equipment and left.

Passed through without any danger.

Xia Yuan breathed a sigh of relief and returned to the cellar. Zhou Xiaoli was still asleep, her brows sometimes relaxed and sometimes frowned together, and half of the quilt fell off.

Xia Yuan covered her with a quilt, casually opened a box of cans, and started eating.

"Well."

"You wake up, brush your teeth, and come over and have something to eat."

The things they used to brush their teeth were charcoal and branches, which Xia Yuan brought from outside. There was also some water in the cellar, which they used to rinse their mouths in addition to drinking.

"Have the Japs left?"

"Leave. The cellar is very hidden. It's safe for now."

Zhou Xiaoli stopped talking and started to pack up.