Brotherhood Garden

Brotherhood Garden

In the autumn of 1938, Commander Xiao Hua of the Eighth Route Army’s Eastern Advance Anti-Japanese Vanguard Column established the anti-Japanese base in the Hebei-Shandong Border Region and was stationed in Leling. At that time, Mou Yizhi, the magistrate of Leling County under the Nationalist government, was a local official with strong patriotism. To gain Commander Xiao Hua’s help and support, he contacted Xiao Hua through the village head of Dachang Village in Zhujizhen. On an evening in September, the three of them came deep into this jujube grove, swore brotherhood under the trees, and discussed plans for the revolution together. At the time, Commander Xiao Hua smiled and said, “In the Three Kingdoms period, there was the Peach Garden Oath of Liu, Guan, and Zhang. Now, aren’t we making a Jujube Grove Oath of Brotherhood?” Mou Yizhi excitedly raised his hand to everyone and declared, “We vow to be like these old jujube trees—fearless, undaunted by blades and fire, no matter how harsh the environment, we will fight to the end for the resistance and for the well-being of the people.”

In ancient times, there were the three brothers who swore brotherhood in the Peach Garden; today, there are three patriots who swore brotherhood in the Jujube Grove. Since then, “Brotherhood Garden” has become a much-told tale among the people, further inspiring the determination of the jujube-growing folks to fight to the bitter end.

Source: Party History and Chronicles Office of Leling City