Elegiac Couplet for General Wang Mingzhang[1]

(May 1938)

Fought fiercely to defend the isolated city,[2] looked death calmly in the face—the true character of a revolutionary soldier;
Resolved to annihilate the powerful foe,[3] gave his life for the nation—winning glory for the Chinese nation.

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[1] During the Battle of Tai'erzhuang in 1938, Wang Mingzhang, a division commander of the Kuomintang army, led his troops in holding Teng County, thereby gaining time for the army to complete its combat mission. However, Wang Mingzhang himself died a martyr's death along with all the officers and soldiers of his division when the city fell. In Wuhan, the National Government held a public memorial ceremony. Mao Zedong and other leaders of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China—Chen Shaoyu, Qin Bangxian, Wu Yuzhang, and Dong Biwu—jointly sent this elegiac couplet. Wang Mingzhang (1893–1938), a native of Xindu, Sichuan. In his early years, he participated in the anti-Qing patriotic movement. Later, he specialized in military studies at the Sichuan Army Officers' Academy. In 1935, he became the division commander of the 122nd Division of the 41st Army of the National Revolutionary Army. In March 1938, he served as the frontline commander-in-chief of the 41st Army. During the Battle of Tai'erzhuang (now part of Zaozhuang City), he led his troops in holding Teng County, engaging in bloody combat with the Japanese invaders for three days and nights. On the 17th, he was unfortunately struck by a bullet and died in battle.

[2] "Defend the isolated city" refers to Wang Mingzhang leading his troops in holding Teng County.

[3] "Powerful foe" refers to the Japanese invaders.