Share of Yan Changrong. Photo provided by Changrong Town People's Government

The breeze blows through the green pines and cypresses, and walks along the bluestone road. The Yan Changrong Martyrs Monument is filled with white flowers. The people who come to mourn are solemn and solemn, bow deeply to the monument, expressing endless grief for the heroes.

In Changrong Town, Xinghua City, Jiangsu Province, a famous anti-Japanese general of the New Fourth Army - Yan Changrong. He used his life to give this land the brightest background color, and also allowed the word "Changrong" to carry the eternal red glory.

"Young strong men join the army, and the tiger roars in Jingxiang. The Long March is full of ambition; Yan'an resists the Great War, and becomes steel after hundreds of tempers..." The sound of recitations came from the north side of the monument, and a song "Changrong Fu" brought time back to that war-torn era.

Yan Changrong was born in Songzi, Hubei in 1914. In 1933, he joined the Communist Party of China and fought in many places with the Red Army. He served as platoon leader, company commander, battalion commander, and regiment commander. In September 1943, Yan Changrong led his troops to attack Tangzizhen, a waterway traffic fortress that is easy to defend and difficult to attack. He died heroically in order to cover his comrades' transfer in the battle, and was only 29 years old.

To commemorate Yan Changrong, in 1943, the Anti-Japanese Government of Xinghua County renamed Tangzi Town Changrong Town. The following year, a tomb was built in Xita Village, Hetawei.

Time flies, and people's remembrance of the martyrs Yan Changrong has never changed. "The children in our town know Yan Changrong's story since childhood." Every Qingming Festival, teachers and students from Changrong Town Central School come to pay homage to the martyrs' tombs and hold a "Red Story Meeting". "The hero's deeds have long been engraved into the hearts of Changrong people." said Zhang Ye, a teacher at Changrong Town Central School.

In recent years, the Party Committee and Government of Changrong Town have inherited the red gene with innovative thinking, maintained the "red family background" and made good use of the "red resources". The dots are connected into lines, converting red resources into industrial advantages, Changrong Town rebuilt the Yanchangrong Martyrs Monument, build a red scenic spot, build scenic avenues, exhibition halls, etc., and fully launch retired fighter jets, tanks, armored transport vehicles, howitzers and other weapons and equipment approved by the Equipment Development Department of the Central Military Commission. "The scenic spot receives more than 30,000 tourists every year, becoming a demonstration base for Xinghua City's all-round tourism, a treasure land for red resources, and a red highland for party spirit education." said Xue Mei, secretary of the Party Committee of Changrong Town.

"Today's prosperity is prosperous, political and harmonious, all industries are prosperous, people are prosperous, and thousands of households are well-off!" The end of "Changrong Fu" depicts the realistic picture of Changrong Town. This heroic town that has come from the war continues its red blood with perseverance and hope, and is striving to write a chapter of revitalization in the new era.