War veterans recall stories of fighting against Japanese invasion

Grass-root hero Gu Boda

Ma also told a story about a grass-root hero's battle of wits against the Japanese.

The brave man was Gu Boda, a boatman from Rugao county, and his story was widely known in the local community.

Late at night on September 26, 1938, a group of Japanese soldiers wanted to cross the river and found Gu, who lived on the river bank and asked him to punt boat for them. In the light from the soldiers' torch he saw his cousin Pan Shengjun, who was also working for the troops, before they exchanged a meaningful glance, hinting to each other what to do next.

After safely taking several ordinary soldiers across the river, six leaders of the Japanese army jumped onto the boat. Gu and Pan steered them to the deepest part of the river and sunk the boat, leaving the Japanese soldiers on the shore unable to save their leaders.

Gu was praised as a grass-root hero for his contribution as a whole Japanese unit in the region was eradicated after the leaders' death.