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The Critical Decision Moment
On the early morning of March 15, 1966, Liu Yingjun and his artillery unit drove three cannons from their base to a training ground on the outskirts of Jiamusi City. As the convoy approached the bus stop along the road, a passerby suddenly raised a camera to photograph the horses, startling one of them. The flash and click of the camera spooked a draft horse, already nervous, causing it to bolt and attempt to break free from its reins. This sudden action triggered a chain reaction, unsettling the other horses.
Liu Yingjun swiftly leaped from the driver's seat, grabbing the reins of the runaway horse. He pressed his shoulder against the horse's neck, struggling to steer it away from pedestrians and children playing nearby.
In this urgent situation, the horse's immense strength proved challenging to control. Liu Yingjun exerted all his might, sinking deep into the soft roadside soil with each step. Nevertheless, he persisted, determined to subdue the frightened animal.
As the carriage gained speed, bystanders along the road scattered. However, six children ahead, frozen in fear by the unfolding danger, stood directly in its path. Liu Yingjun saw this and acted swiftly, adjusting his position. He wrapped the reins tightly around his arm, pulling back forcefully to slow the horse's charge. The strain left deep marks on his skin, but it wasn't enough to halt the horse's frantic momentum.
Realizing the imminent danger, Liu Yingjun changed tactics. Stepping forward, he ran alongside the horse and aimed a powerful kick at its hind leg. The impact momentarily destabilized the horse, but it continued to struggle forward.
Undeterred, Liu Yingjun tightened the reins again, adjusting his angle, and kicked once more. This time, the horse lost balance, its front hooves lifting off the ground before crashing heavily to the side, overturning the cannon carriage.
Sacrifice and Honor
After rescuing the six children, the overturned cannon pinned Liu Yingjun underneath. The horse collapsed, ceasing its struggle. Swiftly responding comrades and bystanders rushed forward. Several attempted to lift the heavy cannon but struggled due to its weight. More people were quickly mobilized, and with great effort, they managed to lift the carriage slightly, eventually pulling Liu Yingjun free.
As Liu Yingjun was extricated, his injuries were evident: blood and dust stained his uniform. His right arm bore deep purplish marks from the tightly wound reins, while his chest showed signs of compression from the heavy object.
At the medical station, doctors and nurses battled to save Liu Yingjun. His injuries were severe: multiple bone fractures and internal bleeding from the immense weight of the cannon. Despite their frantic efforts, they couldn't save his life.
News of Liu Yingjun's death plunged his artillery unit into profound grief. To honor his heroic act, the Party Committee posthumously awarded him the First-Class Merit and recognized him as a formal member of the Communist Party of China.
On March 15, 1967, the first anniversary of Liu Yingjun's sacrifice, the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications issued a commemorative stamp series nationwide. Two stamps depicted Liu Yingjun driving the cannon and his courageous moment stopping the spooked horse. Simultaneously, the Jiamusi City People's Government decided to build a Martyrs' Cemetery at the site of Liu Yingjun's sacrifice, solemnly commemorating his bravery. The cemetery, located adjacent to the incident's highway, featured Liu Yingjun's statue, with his life story engraved behind it.
Liu Yingjun's hometown of Changchun also took action. To honor the young martyr, the Changchun Municipal People's Government officially named his birthplace \"Yingjun Commune.\" With administrative adjustments, \"Yingjun Commune\" was later renamed \"Yingjun Township.\" Additionally, a \"Liu Yingjun Memorial Hall\" was specially constructed. Located at the center of Yingjun Township, the museum displayed a vast collection of artifacts related to Liu Yingjun.
In 1972, due to various historical reasons, the Liu Yingjun Memorial Hall had to close its exhibitions, gradually falling into disuse. The closure left many visitors who had come to admire the hero's deeds feeling regretful. For a period, the hero's story seemed to pass down only through limited texts and oral tales.
It wasn't until the early 2000s that the Changchun Municipal Government decided to reopen the memorial hall to honor Liu Yingjun's heroic deeds. After numerous meetings, restoring the memorial hall was designated a significant cultural project, with special funds allocated for renovation. Through extensive efforts, the memorial hall was rejuvenated and reopened to the public.
Gratitude and Life of the Rescued Children
Afterward, the six children who were rescued learned of Liu Yingjun's heroic sacrifice. In gratitude, their parents decided to rename them in memory of Liu Yingjun. The children were renamed Zhao Ji, Zhao Ying, Zhao Jun, Wang Zhaoguo, Liu Jiying, and Cao Wenhe.
Zhao Ji, the eldest in the Zhao family, was greatly admired from a young age. At the time of the rescue, he was already a teenager, witnessing the entire accident. He vividly remembered the young soldier's heroic act of self-sacrifice to protect them. After graduating from high school, Zhao Ji chose to work in a steel factory, living a modest but stable life. Later, due to family reasons, he opted to temporarily leave his job and engage in small business ventures. He ventured into the clothing business and wholesale of grains and oils, although success was elusive. Unfortunately, Zhao Ji passed away from a cerebral hemorrhage in his forties, leaving his family in profound grief.
Zhao Ying, the second eldest in the Zhao family, had the most turbulent life among the six children rescued by Liu Yingjun. In 1983, he got into a conflict and injured someone, leading to imprisonment. During his time in prison, he reflected deeply on his actions and often thought of Liu Yingjun's sacrifice. He behaved well in prison and eventually earned early release. Every March 15th, he would visit Liu Yingjun's cemetery with a bouquet of flowers, wiping the tombstone clean. He rarely spoke much, but when asked, he always said, \"I owe the hero too much.\"
Zhao Jun, the third eldest in the Zhao family and the youngest of the six children rescued, was only five years old at the time of the accident. Although he couldn't recall many details as he grew up, he knew his life was exchanged for Liu Yingjun's sacrifice. When Zhao Jun grew up, he became a textile printing and dyeing worker in a factory, leading a simple and stable life. In 1993, the factory closed due to poor management, forcing Zhao Jun to face unemployment. He pursued various opportunities, including running a business and freight transport, and later attempted management work. Although life was once difficult, Zhao Jun never forgot Liu Yingjun's kindness.
Liu Jiying, Wang Zhaoguo, and Cao Wenhe's Life Trajectories
Among the six rescued children, Liu Jiying was the only girl. Originally named Liu Yinghui, she changed her name to Liu Jiying after learning of Liu Yingjun's heroic sacrifice, expressing gratitude to her lifesaver. In 1975, Liu Jiying enlisted in the army, where she was assigned to a medical position, becoming a military medic. During her military career, she accompanied medical teams to remote areas, providing medical services to civilians.
After completing her service, Liu Jiying chose to return to civilian life. Instead of returning to her hometown, she moved to Jiangsu province due to marriage. There, she found stable employment at a local hospital. She maintained the rigorous work ethic cultivated in the military, actively participating in daily medical care and organizing public health clinics.
Similarly, Wang Zhaoguo was one of the six rescued children. His life journey was filled with hardships. In 1976, he responded to the country's call to go to the countryside for reclamation, working in the cafeteria of a farm, preparing meals for the reclamation team members. He worked long hours daily, helping with agricultural tools or farming, devoting himself to completing the reclamation task, and rarely resting.
In 1979, he left the reclamation site and entered a factory, working as a textile printing and dyeing worker. The factory's working environment was simple but hard, and he was responsible for dyeing and drying fabrics in the workshop. Sometimes, he stood for hours. However, his temper also became a bit irritable in the long-term work. Once he argued with someone, and accidentally injured the individual, who received him was he sentenced year life the prison,
