In 1949, as the Southwest War neared its end, Song Xilian and his remaining troops were trapped by our forces near the Dadu River. Realizing escape was impossible, Song pulled out a gun intending to end his life. Luckily, a guard intervened and convinced him that there might still be a chance. When he was captured, our forces did not recognize him at first, but as he tried to blend in, a person walked up to him and saluted. Had his identity been uncovered?
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The war in the Southwest had become a decisive battle for both sides. Despite the deteriorating situation for the Kuomintang, Chiang Kai-shek clung to hope, relying on the possibility of American intervention. He ordered Hu Zongnan and Song Xilian to join forces to resist the advancing People's Liberation Army (PLA). However, within days, Hu’s elite forces were decimated, and Song’s army quickly crumbled.
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As the PLA closed in on his headquarters, Song abandoned Chiang’s directive to fight to the death, and retreated southward with 10,000 men. Chiang publicly denounced him for this failure, blaming him for the collapse of the Southwest resistance. Although Song knew Chiang would blame him, he saw no escape and planned to rest and regroup in Yibin.
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Upon arrival, however, his troops were blocked by General Guo Rugui’s forces. Guo only allowed Song to enter the city with a small group, sensing that Song was attempting to flee. Surprised to find out that Guo was not working for Chiang but for the PLA, Song continued his flight toward the Dadu River. He was exhausted, and as PLA troops closed in, he almost took his own life again. His guard stopped him, urging him not to give up yet.
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After his capture, Song tried to escape in the chaos of a street battle. But once the PLA soldiers discovered a group of prisoners had fled, they pursued them. In a mountain temple, Song was finally recognized by a PLA officer, Wang Shangshu, who had once been saved by him when he was undercover in the Kuomintang’s military school. The recognition led to an exchange, where Song angrily accused Wang of being ungrateful, but Wang remained calm, explaining he had only done his duty to save him.
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During his transport, Song spoke to a PLA soldier about the future, only to be stunned by the soldier's response. The soldier explained that the PLA’s mission wasn’t just to defeat the enemy but also to build a strong defense and improve the people's lives. Song began to see why the Kuomintang had failed.
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While stopping in Leshan, Song resisted a photographer’s attempt to take a picture of him, fearing it would ruin his reputation. But when the photographer threatened him, he argued back, leading to a tense moment. The next day, Song was summoned to meet with General Yang Yong, who apologized for the incident, and later, the soldier who had threatened him also came to apologize.
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This series of events, including the kindness shown by old comrades like Chen Geng, made Song reflect on his life and the choices he had made. Eventually, he became open to reform. In 1959, he was among the first war criminals to be pardoned. Under the care of the new government, he found stable work and became part of the nation’s rebuilding efforts.
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Through his transformation, Song Xilian moved from a military leader to a man dedicated to serving the people.
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