Story of five heroes of Langya Mountain

Langya Mountain, situated in Yixian County of Hebei Province in north China, derives its name from its towering and rugged peaks that resemble wolf teeth. It served as one of the Communist Party of China (CPC)'s key guerrilla bases in western Hebei during the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

The mountain's Xiaolianhua Feng or Little Lotus Peak, is where five Chinese soldiers would rather jump off the cliff than be captured by enemies after they helped 40,000 people move to safety 84 years ago.

In 1941, the Japanese troops launched a massive mopping-up campaign against Communist-led forces across the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei border region in North China.

As they advanced, they massacred civilians, torched villages, and plundered everything in their path.

"In mid-September, Japanese and their puppet troops initiated a major sweep operation in the Langya Mountain region, targeting the core forces of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Border Region’s First Sub-district," said Li Fang, curator of Langya Mountain Five Heroes Memorial Hall.

Japanese Imperial Army General Yasuji Okamura's 'iron-rolling' encirclement sealed off the region.

Communist-led troops launched a diversionary attack in the southwest to draw enemy reinforcements away from the northeast, opening a gap for evacuation.

But some soldiers had to stay behind to hold the enemy at bay, buying time for the main force and the civilians.

"The five soldiers of Squad 6, Company 7, Ma Baoyu, Ge Zhenlin, Hu Delin, Hu Fucai, and Song Xueyi, volunteered to cover the retreat," said Li.

After the main forces withdrew, the five soldiers stood at a fateful crossroads.

To the north, they could rejoin their comrades and the civilians, but risk leading the enemy straight to them. To the south, where steep cliffs offered no escape, only a chance to lure the enemy away.

A choice between duty and survival. To protect the people, they would have to become the last line of defense.

With its steep cliffs, dense foliage and labyrinthine caves, Langya Mountains provided perfect conditions for ambush combat and irregular combat operations.

"Vastly outnumbered, the five soldiers conducted hit-and-run ambushes across Langya Mountain’s cliffs - mimicking a larger force to lure enemy troops toward Little Lotus Peak," said Dong Xiaofang, head of Party History Research, Yixian County CPC Committee.

With their last bullets spent, the five soldiers honored their pledge.

Ma Baoyu, Hu Delin and Hu Fucai sacrificed their lives, while Ge Zhenlin and Song Xueyi survived and rejoined their unit.

The five soldiers' devotion - putting others before themselves in the face of certain death - resonates across decades. Now their story lives on in folk songs, films, and textbooks, and their legacy stands as a monument to the courage that shaped modern China.

Story of five heroes of Langya Mountain

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei on Monday said that the United States has lost its diplomatic credibility, accusing Washington of saying one thing and doing another by threatening more attacks while simultaneously proposing negotiations.

Speaking at a weekly press conference in Tehran, Baghaei said the U.S. had twice attacked Iran during negotiations, committing war crimes and showing its disregard for diplomacy.

He stressed that Iran's goal is clear: all its efforts are focused on defending the nation.

Regarding a U.S. ceasefire proposal conveyed by mediators, Baghaei said Iran has already expressed its clear stance and demands.

"Our goal is to protect national interests and security, as well as the legitimate demands of the Iranian people. Iran has long known its demands and red lines, and now our position is very clear," he said.

Responding to U.S. President Donald Trump's so-called "deadline" for Iran to make a deal and reopen the Strait of Hormuz by Tuesday, Baghaei said issuing such threats constitutes a war crime, and any country assisting in such crimes must bear responsibility.

He emphasized that for a ceasefire to be achieved, all of Iran's demands must be met.

"Iran should not hesitate in defending its country because of any so-called 'deadline'. The reason we do not accept a ceasefire is based on past experience. A ceasefire means a brief respite, allowing the other side to strengthen its forces and commit more crimes afterward. No reasonable person would do that. Our demand is to end this imposed war and ensure that the cycle of ceasefire and war does not repeat," he said.

Baghaei also said that the recent U.S. operation to rescue downed fighter jet pilot in central Isfahan Province could be a "deception operation" aimed at stealing Iran's enriched uranium.

The operation, however, ended in failure, Baghaei said.

Iran is believed to be in possession of a stockpile of 60-percent enriched uranium that is reportedly buried "under the rubble" of its bombed nuclear facilities, including the one located in Isfahan.

Regarding the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, Baghaei said that over the past few days, Iran has taken a series of security measures to safeguard the Strait of Hormuz.

He emphasized that Iran has made it clear that it will absolutely not allow enemy vessels to pass through.

In addition, he said that Iran has decided to hold talks with Oman to reach a protocol on vessel passage through the Strait of Hormuz. These talks will continue until a final result is achieved, he said.

Iran accuses US of mismatch between rhetoric and action