Longquan Town

Name: Longquan Town
ISBN: 9787520539418

梅俨 / 良田China Culture and History Press · ChinaOct 2024

3.1

Word count: 326K words
Chapters: 49
ISBN: 9787520539418

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Summary

Drawing on the tragic history of the people of southern Hebei during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression—their subjugation and suffering under invasion—this book views events through the eyes of ordinary people. It portrays how the grassroots residents of Longquan Town, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, rose up against the invaders, defended their homes and country, and joined the nationwide movement to resist Japan and save the nation. The book lays bare the horrifying, outrageous atrocities committed by the Japanese invaders, and vividly describes how the people of Longquan Town used traditional Chinese stratagems—such as “luring the tiger from the mountain,” “the golden cicada shedding its shell,” “a chain of schemes,” and “sowing discord”—to contend with the invaders, sabotage the enemy’s “important operations,” and defend national interests and dignity. Along the way unfold moving stories of love and hate. It urges readers to remember history, cherish peace, and take warning for the future, and to strive in unity for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Editor's review

This is a work about the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression told from the perspective of ordinary people in southern Hebei. Its distinctive feature is that it focuses on the lower-class residents of Longquan Town, depicting their miserable situation under the enslavement of the invaders and their process of rising up in resistance under the leadership of the Communist Party of China and joining the nationwide movement to resist aggression and save the nation. The book emphasizes plots in which the people use traditional stratagems such as "luring the tiger from the mountain," "escaping by shedding one's shell," "a chain of schemes," and "sowing discord" to contend with the invaders and sabotage the enemy's "important enterprise sites." It contains both the wisdom of struggle and the love and hatred among the characters, and the narrative combines a sense of historical weight with strong storytelling. For readers who wish to understand the history of the War of Resistance from the perspective of ordinary people, this book offers a concrete and detailed window for observation. It should be read as a literary historical narrative, with attention to the characters' fates and the wisdom of the people, while the theme of remembering history and cherishing peace runs throughout.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in the history of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression who want to understand it from the perspective of ordinary people
Readers who enjoy novels about the War of Resistance featuring plots of strategic contest
Students and general readers who hope to understand the spirit of national resistance through specific stories
Readers concerned with the role of grassroots people in history and who prefer ensemble narratives

Not a good fit for

Researchers of the history of the War of Resistance who expect rigorous historical verification and archival evidence
Readers who prefer light entertainment and do not wish to encounter the harsh realities of war
Readers with low tolerance for literary narrative who read only pure historical sources

Reading tips

First learn the basic background of the War of Resistance in southern Hebei, then read the main text; this makes it easier to enter the setting.
Pay attention to the use of traditional stratagems in the book, and while reading, sort out the implementation process and results of each scheme.
Understand the characters' fates within the larger context of the War of Resistance, and avoid reading it merely as a plot-driven story.
After reading, compare it with local historical materials on the War of Resistance to distinguish between literary narrative and historical fact.

About the publisher

China Culture and History Press China · Founded in 1980

China Culture and History Press has long devoted itself to modern and contemporary literature and culture-and-history reading matter, with publishing directions centered on classic works, social novels, prose and miscellaneous writings, and Eastern philosophy, alongside culture-and-history periodicals such as Zongheng. Among the more than 1,500 titles in the collection, representative books include Zhang Henshui's Ti Xiao Yin Yuan, Lu Xun's Complete Classic Works (10 volumes) and Wild Grass, and Lao She's Four Generations Under One Roof series and the boxed set of Lao She's Classic Works (10 volumes), while its author resources are concentrated on figures such as Zhang Henshui, Lu Xun, Lao She and Sima Qian. Its publishing character lies in solid editorial work on culture-and-history source texts and in issuing famous authors' works in sets, balancing the readability of individual texts with the systematic presentation of complete collections for focused reading and collecting. Beyond these directions, public information on the press's contemporary original publishing is limited, so it is not elaborated here.

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FAQ

Is this book a historical work or a novel?

This book draws on the real historical background of the people of southern Hebei during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, but it unfolds its narrative through the ensemble of Longquan Town's residents and their loves and hatreds, with obvious literary treatment. It should be read as a literary narrative based on historical subject matter, not as a rigorously researched work of historiography.

Did the traditional stratagems described in the book actually happen?

The book describes plots in which the people use traditional stratagems such as "luring the tiger from the mountain," "escaping by shedding one's shell," "a chain of schemes," and "sowing discord" to contend with the invaders and sabotage the enemy's "important enterprise sites." These are the aspects the work particularly emphasizes; readers may understand them as a literary presentation of the people's wisdom in struggle, while specific historical facts need to be verified against local historical sources.

Can I read this without knowing the background of the War of Resistance in southern Hebei?

Yes. The story begins with the daily life and experiences of the people of Longquan Town, and the relationships among the characters unfold gradually through the narrative. If you spend a little time beforehand learning the basic situation in southern Hebei during the War of Resistance, you will more smoothly understand the place names, the situation, and the characters' choices while reading.

Is this book suitable to recommend to students?

It is suitable for middle school students and above with some historical background. The book contains relatively heavy descriptions of the invaders' atrocities; teachers or parents can guide the reading in connection with the history of the War of Resistance in the curriculum, helping students understand the theme of remembering history and cherishing peace rather than stopping at the level of plot.

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About the author

梅俨 Author · Chinese

Mei Yan is a Chinese author about whom relatively little public information is available, and what can be confirmed centers mainly on her or his writing activity. The work Longquan Town is classified as a social novel, a genre that usually focuses on how ordinary people live within society, on human relationships and on the changes of an era, using a small town or grassroots setting to reflect broader social realities. On the basis of the available material, Mei Yan's writing tends toward a realistic narrative approach, grounded in a specific local space and presenting the conflicts and transformations of social life. Because public information about the author's life, writing career and other works is limited, the full shape of Mei Yan's literary output is difficult to describe, and readers and researchers can only understand the choice of subject and narrative style through Longquan Town.

良田 Author · Chinese

Liang Tian is a Chinese author about whom little public information is available. Only one work by this author is currently listed: the social novel Longquan Town. Based on this limited record, Liang Tian's writing falls within the category of social fiction and appears to focus on realistic scenes of life among a particular place or group of people. Since no reliable records of birth and death dates, education, or writing career are available, the author's personal biography cannot be described in detail, nor should conclusions be drawn about identity or credentials. As for Longquan Town, its title points to a specific place, and together with its classification as social fiction, it can be understood as the author using a small town as a point of entry to present human relations, social ties, and everyday circumstances. Writing of this kind usually builds credibility through the observation of realistic detail rather than reliance on sensational plotting. Liang Tian has produced very few works so far, and a fuller picture of the author's creative profile will depend on more published works and public materials.