Introduction to the poet: Ji Hongchang (November 18, 1895 – November 24, 1934), originally named Ji Xingsan and styled Hongchang, was a native of Fugou, Henan Province. He was a renowned patriotic general and national hero of the War of Resistance against Japan in modern China. Born into a poor farming family, he joined the army as a young man and gradually distinguished himself through bravery in battle and notable strategic talent.

In the 1920s, he served in the Beiyang Army and later under Feng Yuxiang, rising to the rank of brigade commander in the National Army and corps commander in the National Revolutionary Army. Domestically, he opposed the internecine warlord conflicts; externally, he firmly advocated resisting Japanese aggression. After the September 18 Incident of 1931, he resolutely threw himself into the national salvation movement, actively organizing volunteer forces and opposing the Kuomintang government’s policy of compromise and retreat.

In 1932, under political pressure, he was forced into exile overseas. He traveled across Europe and the United States, publicizing China’s anti-Japanese cause and leaving behind the stirring words: “I die for the people; though dead, I still live.” Returning to China in 1934, he was arrested by the Kuomintang authorities for participating in anti-Chiang activities. On November 24 of that year, he met his heroic death in Beiping at the age of only thirty-nine. Before his execution, he shouted: “Down with Japanese imperialism! Down with the Kuomintang reactionaries!”

Throughout his life, Ji Hongchang upheld integrity and unyielding resolve. His sacrifice not only embodied the moral backbone of the nation but also became a vital spiritual force inspiring later generations to rise and struggle. The poem above was Ji Hongchang’s final testament before his martyrdom in 1934. He also urged his family: “The revolutionary cause is unfinished. My death is of no regret. I hope you will continue to strive and not lose heart because of my death.”