Zhongshan wharf, Xiaguan, Nanjing. In December 1937, the "animal army" began to move westward from here
Former site of Central University (now the fourth archway campus of Southeast University)
Map of animal army moving to the west by Yu Xiaoxiang
Photos of Wang Youting (taken in 1932)
California cattle, Dutch cattle, Australian horse, Yorkshire pig, Turkey Would you be surprised to see such a magical group of animals on the road? From December 1937 to November 1938, on the way from Nanjing to Chongqing, there was such an alternative animal brigade trudging. Their "team leader" was Wang Youting. At that time, they were teachers of Agricultural College of Central University and head of livestock farm.
After the outbreak of the Anti Japanese war in 1937, Central University was ordered to move westward. In the years of war, the southwest rear provides a relatively quiet space for scholars and students to inherit and develop academic. The animal Long March brigade led by Wang Youting is also part of the westward movement.
When the war came, he and more than a thousand animals began to fight
In July 1937, the full-scale Anti Japanese war broke out. The Japanese invaders are about to invade Nanjing. On August 4, Luo Jialun, President of Central University, presided over the school affairs meeting, and urgently deployed relocation measures in response to the outbreak of the war. Wang Youting, a teacher of the Agricultural College of Central University and head of the livestock farm, was appointed to participate in the early stage of the relocation of CUHK to the west, and went to Shapingba, Chongqing, to choose a site for the school, which is planned to lay the foundation for the opening of the school in November.
The people's livelihood wheel for transporting personnel and materials of the West relocation of Central University
On August 14, Japanese bombers began to attack Nanjing continuously. On the same day, the Ministry of education of the national government officially issued an order to approve the relocation of CUHK. In October, the Central University issued the notice of moving to the West and organized the work of moving to the West. In the last ten days, more than 4000 students, staff and their families from seven colleges of Central University started to evacuate to Chongqing by boat in batches
Wedding photo of Wang Youting and his wife in Nanjing in 1932
On December 5, Wang Youting saw off his wife and children at Zhongshan wharf. He himself stayed in Nanjing.
Wang Youting worked in the Agricultural College of Central University, whose number of students, teachers, teaching and scientific research, equipment allocation and excellent breed of livestock and poultry were the best in Asia at that time. Now the war is imminent, and the books and equipment of all departments of Central University have been relocated. Only a large number of livestock gathered from Andemen, Tiexinqiao and Chengxian Street ranch to the livestock farm and playground of dingjiaqiao agricultural college cannot move west with the University. Before leaving Nanjing, Luo Jialun, the president, once came to the livestock farm of the agricultural college, gathered the staff to announce the dismissal, and said goodbye to Wang Youting and others. "The enemy is approaching the capital," he said repeatedly. "You can move the rest of the livestock, or you can send people to give up. We will not blame you."
Former site of Central University (Sipailou campus)
Wang Youting and the left behind workers of the livestock farm believe that the livestock and poultry imported from foreign countries at high prices and raised for many years, such as California cattle, Dutch cattle, Australian horses, Yorkshire pigs in the United Kingdom and Turkey in the United States, are rare varieties and national property for teaching, scientific research and livestock and poultry improvement, which must be "at all costs, never lost and discarded.". Escort the animals that can't be moved to Chongqing and send them to our Central University. Never leave it to the enemy. It's a Chinese dish for Japanese devils! "
Nanjing and Chongqing are separated by thousands of rivers and mountains. What's more, how to safely transfer these more than 1000 animals in the era of war with numerous artillery? Wang Youting, 36, the director of the field, decisively made a decision and directed, immediately started to make wooden crates, respectively raised funds, medicine, food and grass materials, and made specific preparations for the migration of animals to the West.
Four hundred meter animal army is on its way
On December 9, Nanjing was besieged. Both the southeast and the West are surrounded by Japanese troops. The enemy planes in the sky bombard in turn. The sound of guns on the ground is constant day and night. Only the Japanese troops on the North Bank of the Yangtze River have not arrived. At this critical moment, Wang Youting took people to the Bank of Sancha River in the northwest of Nanjing City in the early morning, and hired four big wooden boats to drive quietly to Xiaguan.
Zhongshan Wharf in Xiaguan, Nanjing
In the evening of the same day, except for a few people who were dismissed to go home, all the other staff went out to pack the chickens, ducks, geese, rabbits and other small animals in the livestock farm into the cage separately, and put them on the backs of cattle and horses for carrying, while the pigs, sheep and other livestock were driven away. Under the command of Wang Youting, the leader of the court, they rushed to Xiaguan river. In the cold wind of the starry night, all livestock and poultry were transported to the ship in batches. The Yangtze River made three waves to and fro, and reached the North Bank of Pukou at dawn the next day.
In order to get away from the battlefield as soon as possible, Wang Youting ordered the whole team to go on day and night without any delay. After Jiangpu and Quanjiao, they passed Hefei at the end of December and headed for Xinyang, Henan Province.
The four hundred meter animal army is very slow. More than a hundred cattle and horses carry cages with chickens, ducks, geese and rabbits on their backs. Then hundreds of pigs and sheep can walk only one or twenty miles a day. Sometimes they have to rest for a few days. Wang Youting had to hire peasants' scooters and donkey carts along the way to speed up the westward progress with slow animals.
On the way, the biggest problem is how to solve the food problem of animals. For example, California cattle, Dutch cattle, Australian horses, etc., are specially assigned to prepare feed in a peaceful environment. However, there was a lack of conditions for Wang Youting and his staff to go on the road in wartime. They had to find a way to cut grass along the way and buy feed and grain from the farmers. When the animals became ill, they used the limited medicine they brought out and picked herbs on the spot for diagnosis and treatment. It's dark, so we have to settle down and feed the animals before we can sleep on the ground. All the way to face the rain and snow, all the way to eat and sleep in the open, hard to move
Wrapped in wind, frost, rain and snow, the western expedition team finally arrived at the northern foot of Dabie Mountain at the junction of Henan and Anhui provinces before the Spring Festival in 1938, and temporarily arrived at Ye Jiaji, a relatively safe area in Lu'an. At this time, it is in the middle of winter. It's freezing. People are sleepy and horses are exhausted. Animals are short of food and people are short of food. It's impossible to move on in difficulties.
Wang Youting immediately called Chongqing Central University to inform them that all the animals had been taken out of Nanjing, and now they are going to Chongqing, but the cost of feeding is really difficult. Luo Jialun, the headmaster who received the telegram unexpectedly, was surprised and delighted. He immediately arranged to send the urgent telegram to Ye Jiaji post office for transfer.
There are many crises along the way, such as hiding from soldiers and ruffians, bandits and wars
During the war, there was a lot of war and chaos, and a large number of refugees also retreated westward along this road. In front of us, there are not only retreating troops, but also large forces going to the front. Seeing this vast "animal army", people who avoid the disaster of war on the way are astonished. People don't understand: where are these people going with a large herd of cattle and sheep?
Refugees during the war
A small number of national troops and individual soldiers who had fled from the front line to the West had no choice but to catch chickens, ducks and geese to reward themselves. On the way, there are many times of bandits who run amok and rob. Risking his life, he skillfully went all the way through the customs.
Wang Youting originally planned to travel along the northern foot of Dabie Mountain, take the train south to Wuhan after arriving at Xinyang, and then take the boat West to Chongqing from Hankou. But at this time, the cold winter is coming. After several months of intense "animal army", many people have been exhausted and many livestock and poultry have been infected with diseases. Wang Youting sent an urgent telegram to Chongqing Central University for instructions. They were asked to suspend their march and find a safe place to rest for the winter. So they found a secluded mountain village and camped for rest, waiting for spring to bloom before continuing to move westward.
It's freezing. Although we can light a bonfire to keep warm, some small animals are still frozen to death. Fortunately, during the rest of the mountain village, some young animals were born one after another. Wang Youting broke the ice and carried the water, and carried the lamp to deliver the two calves on a cold night, bringing new hope to everyone
The old map used by Wang Youting in the spring of March 1938, the vigorous "animal army" continued to set out. Before and after the battle in Xuzhou from April to may, they had already passed the shopping mall and arrived near Huangchuan in the middle of June. Wang Youting wanted to lead his team to climb Dabie Mountain and head south to Wuhan. However, the local people insisted on dissuading and informing the wolves in the mountain area that it would be difficult to resist the attack, so they abandoned the plan and went west along the road to Xinyang.
At this time, the rainy season is coming and the road is muddy. On the road day and night, Xuzhou's retreating army and refugees from all walks of life run fast. Cars and artillery cars are crowded all over the road. The "animal army" has to change to the country road. It was not until the middle of August that the team arrived near Xinyang. At this time, the Japanese army has begun to push into Wuhan, and the military and civilian evacuation is urgent. It is impossible to run from Xinyang to Wuhan.
On October 25, 1938, Wuhan fell. Wang Youting led the "animal army" day and night, from Xinyang through the pinghan railway, through the southern foot of Tongbai mountain, to central Hubei, and in the yunmengze area and Wudang Mountain.
During the journey, they saw with their own eyes that the bridge had been destroyed, the village had been set on fire, and the road ahead was occupied by the Japanese Army When it was dangerous, Wang Youting was quick witted and led the "animal army" to make a detour from the country road, braved the Japanese bombardment, broke through the blockade line many times, and advanced in pursuit and bullets
It takes a year, spans half of China, and has a journey of more than 4000 Li