Son honors 'Invisible General's' legacy of sacrifice

Han Jing reflected on his father's legacy as he sat at home recently to watch the grand parade in Tian'anmen Square commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

"From the troops, I saw steel and spirit; from the people, the will of a united nation," he said, emphasizing the importance of understanding the sacrifices made during the 14-year resistance, which shaped his father's allegiance to the Communist Party of China.

His father, Han Liancheng, known as the "Invisible General", was renowned for his covert intelligence work inside the Kuomintang ranks and was the only founding general from the Ningxia Hui autonomous region.

Despite a promising career as Chief of the Kuomintang 16th Group Army, Han Liancheng secretly aligned with the Communist Party in 1942 after being recruited by Zhou Enlai, who later became premier of the People's Republic of China.

His decision was made on the belief that the communists were the true defenders of the nation against Japan's invasion.

"My father was a professional soldier who valued precision and truth," Han Jing recalled.

Today, Han Jing is dedicated to preserving his father's legacy by working on a television series titled Dadie Wuxing (The Invisible Spy), based on the covert operations of Han Liancheng and other heroes. He believes it is crucial for today's youth to appreciate the hard-won peace and understand the essence of war.

Etched on a wall at the Laiwu Campaign Memorial in Shandong province are the general's last words: "I had no personal ambitions. My only wish is for our country to prosper, and for all our people to live in unity and happiness."