Chapter 53: Yoshino reveals the secret of his heinous crime, and Yunyue works together to resolve the crisis
At the end of 1961, a book called "Memoirs of Unit 731" was published in Canada. It caused a sensation upon its release, remained on the bestseller list, and was translated into various languages and quickly spread around the world.
The author is a retired Japanese officer who invaded China, named Yoshino Takashi. The book recounts the crimes of Japan during World War II, when it established a military base code-named 731 in Northeast China, where it conducted human experiments and secretly researched biological and chemical weapons.
For more than a decade, at least tens of thousands of civilians were detained at the base by the Japanese army for experiments involving bacteria, poison gas, human-animal hybridization, and even live dissections... People were tied to special devices and baked at high temperatures to observe the process of their body moisture being completely evaporated until they turned into mummies, or they were forced into high-pressure chambers to record their survival time under extreme pressure... The various cruel methods used were appalling, and the crimes and bloodshed were too numerous to list.
One narrative recounts the story of world-class music master Xiao Xiangyue, who was secretly imprisoned at Base 731 in 1943 by order of General Yamamoto, then-Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Army in China, and subjected to inhumane torture. He Qisheng, a foreign affairs officer of the Nanjing puppet government, falsely infiltrated the base on Yamamoto's orders, intending to rescue Xiao Xiangyue. However, he was discovered and killed instantly. Xiao Xiangyue was subsequently abducted by the commander of the Central China Theater, Watanabe Hiko, and the Buddhist monk Kongneng. Base 731 then used He Qisheng's body to pass off as Xiao Xiangyue's to General Yamamoto.
After Watanabe Hiko and Master Kongneng took Xiao Xiangyue away, Yoshino Takashi sent a telegram to headquarters, falsely reporting, "We have followed Commander-in-Chief Yamamoto's instructions and executed the prisoner Xiao Xiangyue on the spot." This is how the telegram intercepted by Commander Du of the North came about. Shortly thereafter, Yoshino Takashi lost both legs in a fire and was allowed to retire and return to Japan, where he has lived since then in his remote hometown of Aomori Prefecture. After Japan's defeat, he escaped prosecution and immigrated to Canada with his family. For over two decades, tormented by his conscience, he wrote down the secrets he knew of that period in "Memoirs of Unit 731."
The intelligence network established by the Moren Consortium is pervasive. This book was presented to Luo Guyun's desk before it was published. The brothers had different opinions. Yi Han felt that this was like rubbing salt into Yue'er's wounds. He simply banned it and did not allow it to be published. Sun Mu meant that Yue'er's suffering should not be in vain... This book should be published to expose the brutal crimes of the Japanese and let the people of the world seek justice for Yue'er! Luo Guyun was undecided. Yi Shui said: "Third brother is still the same as before, always wanting to take charge of Yue'er's affairs! Now that he has recovered his memory, shouldn't he, the person involved, have the final say on whether to ban or publish it?"
Luo Guyun hesitated for a long time, but still gave the manuscript to Yue'er with a nervous mood.
On the night when Xiao Xiangyue was reading the manuscript, Luo Guyun was beside him, pouring tea and water, never leaving his side, and stealing glances at his expression from time to time, fearing that he was too excited or couldn't bear it. Xiao Xiangyue closed the book, feeling both amused and sad: "Brother, you are making my eyes blurry, how can I read?" Yi Shui pulled him: "Come on, come on, we are waiting for you..." and dragged him out. Before leaving, Luo Guyun shouted to Daxue: "Watch carefully, and report to me immediately if anything happens!"
During the Crescent's around-the-world voyage, the brothers often met on the cruise ship, occasionally playing mahjong. Luo Guoyun, absentmindedly playing cards, suddenly said, "Yue'er should have finished reading by now." Yi Han said, "Even if Yue'er could read ten lines at a glance, it would take her all night. Why are you so anxious, Third Brother?" Yi Shui laughed heartily, "If you want to win Third Brother's money, now's the time! Look how distracted he is... Haha, he's lost!" Sun Mu checked his watch, "It's getting late. I guess Yue'er has read the general idea. Let's go ask him after this round and see what he means..."
As they were talking, Xiao Xiangyue walked in, manuscript in hand. Luo Guyun sprang to his feet. "Yue'er, come and sit down! Have you...have you finished reading?" Xiao Xiangyue nodded. "Yes, I've skimmed it, but haven't read it in detail yet." Yi Han said, "This book is too realistic and gory. I was worried it might upset Yue'er, so I wanted to destroy it. Now that I've read it, what do you think?"
Xiao Xiangyue lowered her head and was silent for a moment: "Yue'er is not qualified to decide the fate of this book. This book... belongs to the millions of innocent souls like Wangcai who died in vain..." She added: "Where is the author of the book? Yue'er wants to meet him..."
Yi Han said, "After Yoshino Takashi handed the manuscript to the publishing house, he returned to Japan, was formally ordained, and became a monk under Master Kongneng..." Luo Guoyun said, "I thought Yue'er might have something to ask him after reading the book, so I took him on the boat two days ago and he's ready..."
Yoshino Takashi, dressed in a black monk's robe, threw away his crutches and crawled in without his legs. He was trembling all over and tears were streaming down his face. He didn't dare to look up at Xiao Xiangyue, and kept muttering, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."
Yi Shui snorted coldly: "It's too late to say sorry now!" Luo Guyun said: "Mr. Yoshino, please sit down. My Yue'er has something to ask you, just answer truthfully." He pulled Xiao Xiangyue's hand and held it tightly in his palm.
Xiao Xiangyue pondered for a moment: "Watanabe Yu didn't want me to die so soon, so why did you send me to the hyperbaric chamber?" Yoshino Takashi shuddered and kowtowed several times before replying: "Misunderstanding! It was all a misunderstanding! The highest commander of the base, Lieutenant General Morita, was away at the time. I thought Mr. Xiao was the same as the other prisoners... so... I sent you to the hyperbaric chamber... Later I learned that they were conducting a neurotransmitter toxin experiment on Mr. Xiao..."
Sun Mu was surprised and asked, "What? Neurotransmitter toxin?" Yoshino said, "...Yes...Yes, Lieutenant General Morita returned to the base and scolded me, saying that I had ruined the boss's plan. What they wanted was to control Mr. Xiao's spirit and thoughts, making him lose his mind and allow them to drive and manipulate him..."
Luo Guyun sneered, "That's just my guess... Considering Watanabe Xiong's behavior, letting Yue'er die on her own in the biochemical base is so unlike him! A living, at the mercy of others, Yue'er is obviously more valuable than a dead one!" Yi Han gritted his teeth and said, "That old scoundrel Watanabe Xiong is too sinister! But... how could Yue'er know his intentions?"
Xiao Xiangyue said: "Watanabe Xiong sent me to the front of the base and said that he would not let me die easily. He wanted to make me unable to live or die, and live like a ghost. In that devil's cave, after other people were injected with needles, some of their skin ulcerated, and some bled from all seven orifices, but I did not have these symptoms. I just had a splitting headache, fainted, and woke up... I guessed that their methods of dealing with me were different..." Yoshino said: "Yes... yes, everything about Mr. Xiao is top secret, only Commander Morita knows. Later I found out that they observed you for several months, recording data every day, and did not find any signs of you losing your mind..."
Yi Han asked, "So, their experiment on Yue'er failed?" Yoshino said, "Yes... yes, they couldn't figure it out, so they had to dissect Mr. Xiao's body..."
Sun Mu slapped his thigh and said, "That's right! The mass in Yue'er's brain is both compressing and protecting his brain nerves! When we were in Dr. Jefferson's laboratory, we discovered that he was insensitive to any drugs that stimulated his brain nerves. Those toxins injected into his body might make him extremely weak or cause hallucinations, but he wouldn't lose his mind..."
Luo Guyun asked, "Is Yue'er's subsequent amnesia related to the neurotransmitter toxin she was injected with?" Sun Mu said, "Very likely! God has eyes. All the cruel means inflicted on Yue'er, by some strange coincidence, ultimately helped him..."
Yi Shui laughed and said, "That old villain Watanabe Xiong has a perfect plan! Using Yue'er, a living, breathing person who is at his disposal, to control Watanabe Yan and deal with my third brother is the perfect solution... Unfortunately, man proposes, God disposes! Yue'er's brain structure is different from that of an ordinary person, so he can't resist the poison!"
Sun Mu nodded: "Well, this is also related to Yue'er's strong willpower! The power of the spirit is very terrifying. Sometimes, it can be so strong that science cannot explain it..."
Xiao Xiangyue asked again, "How did you deal with Mr. He's body?"
"Many people die at the base every day, thrown into mass graves or incinerated in the incinerator. But... Mr. He's body was frozen..." Yoshino swallowed, eyes lowered. "When General Watanabe and Master Kong Neng took you away, I immediately sent a telegram to headquarters, falsely claiming that I had executed Mr. Xiao on the spot, following Commander-in-Chief Yamamoto's orders. Minutes later, I received another telegram from headquarters demanding that Mr. Xiao's body be preserved and not destroyed. I knew something was amiss. Mr. He's physique was similar to Mr. Xiao's, so I froze his body, hoping to get away with it... Later, several German experts arrived at the base, and their top commander, Lieutenant General Morita, said they wanted to dissect Mr. Xiao... no... He Qisheng's body. Seeing that the truth was about to be revealed, I started a fire that reduced everything to ashes. To make the scene convincing, I burned my own legs. Later, I was allowed to retire and return to Japan..."
It was already early morning when he finished questioning Yoshino Takashi. Before falling asleep, Xiao Xiangyue whispered, "Mr. He was a pitiful man. Regardless of whether he was insane or not, he ultimately died saving Yue'er. Mr. He had no father or mother, no children, no brothers or sisters. If it weren't for this book, perhaps no one in the world would remember his name, or know that such a person ever existed..." Luo Guyun gently stroked his cheek and said, "Yue'er, don't think about anything. Close your eyes and rest. I understand what you mean..."
The account of Xiao Xiangyue in "Memoirs of Unit 731" quickly went viral, garnering widespread attention and discussion. Initially, people assumed it was a shared name, unable to believe that this seemingly flawless, God's favorite, possessing so many virtues, could have endured such unimaginable cruelty. Everyone mentioned in the book is dead, with only Master Sono still alive. Every day, curious minds visit the Watanabe family's former residence in Kobe Onsen, searching for Master Sono, who guarded Watanabe Hiko's grave and sought to verify the story. People were stunned and in disbelief, unable to believe that the man who composed "Anwa Qu" and moved the world with his music could have been so deeply wounded by humanity's darkest sin. It was a real-life example of the world kissing me with pain, and I'll repay it with song!
The book vividly describes how Xiao Xiangyue was used as a living experimental subject, injected with various unknown toxins, and then confined in a hyperbaric chamber. Some fans of Xiao Xiangyue wept as they read the book. Unable to find a place to vent their grief, they frantically bought his albums, selling out so quickly that publishers had to rush production. Crowds of fans gathered daily outside the Royal Swedish Academy of Music and downstairs of the Morn Building.
Xiao Xiangyue hadn't appeared in public for two years. Although he had released some works, his music was still widely known, not his real self. Paul was the first to report most of the news about him, and the BBC's phone was flooded with calls. All sorts of media outlets were desperate to get even the slightest glimmer of information, hoping Paul would be able to interview him.
Unable to reach Xiao Xiangyue, Paul sought a breakthrough through those close to him. Wu Xiaoxin, Secretary-General of the Yunyue Foundation, and Fang Hua, Confidential Secretary, who remained at the Moren Building to handle official business, appeared in exclusive interviews with Paul, recounting their experiences. Xiao Xiangyue's story of being shot and wounded to protect the students, willingly remaining a hostage in exchange for their safe return, moved countless people to tears. People clamored for his reappearance, allowing the world to express their love, apology, comfort, and immense respect.
Since that night, the Crescent Moon continued its voyage. Luo Guyun and Xiao Xiangyue continued their travels. The turmoil of the outside world had nothing to do with them, nor did the clamorous public opinion affect them.
That day, the cruise ship docked in Cape Town, South Africa. The two drove onto land and arrived at a small, black-populated town called Styron. The town was steeped in history, and the local indigenous handicrafts scattered throughout the streets and alleys caught Xiao Xiangyue's eye.
After just a short stroll, Luo Guyun had a nagging feeling that someone was sneaking up on him. They deliberately led him through two winding streets, further confirming their presence. They were all black, and there seemed to be quite a few of them! He couldn't help but wonder: how could they, disguised as ordinary locals, wearing straw hats, be spotted so quickly in this remote area? Who could they be?
The two of them disembarked without any entourage. Firstly, Xiao Xiangyue disliked company, preferring to wander leisurely. Secondly, Luo Guoyun was confident that his presence alone was sufficient to protect Yue'er. He remained composed, quickly calculating his response.
After walking two more blocks, I felt that the number of black people following behind me was increasing, and I couldn't help but feel secretly frightened... When I got off the boat, Wu Fang said that Cape Town often had riots and armed conflicts, and he insisted on sending a team of people to accompany and protect us. I didn't take it seriously. Now that the other party had a lot of people, I had to find out their details before making any plans. When they walked to a slightly wider street, Luo Guoyun smiled and said, "The coffee here is very famous. Yue'er is tired, let's sit down and have a cup of coffee and rest for a while before going on."
Luo Guoyun ordered an iced drink and a warm one for Xiao Xiangyue. The two of them sat on the street and drank slowly. The people following them also stopped, not daring to approach, whispering to each other. Xiao Xiangyue also noticed a large crowd not far away.
Suddenly, a black man burst out of the crowd, arms outstretched, and lunged toward him. Luo Guyun, already prepared, raised his hand to block the man several steps away, shouting, "What are you doing?" The man's lunge missed, but he remained with his arms outstretched, his words incoherent and agitated, "It's you! It's really you! Mr. Chaled! Mr. Xiangyue! It's you! I'm Rambo, it's Rambo..." He then shouted in the local dialect to the dense crowd behind him, "This is my benefactor, my benefactor! Everyone, kneel down! Welcome my benefactor!"
The black man was Rambo, the man who had committed the campus kidnapping that year. After Xiao Xiangyue's interview program aired, Rambo's plight garnered widespread public sympathy. Under pressure, the Argentine government released him the following year. He returned to his homeland of South Africa, where he has become a local tribal leader.
Luo Guoyun and Xiao Xiangyue also recognized the bearded man in front of them. Xiao Xiangyue exclaimed in surprise, "Rambo! Is that you? You...are out of prison?" Rambo nodded vigorously, "I've been out for almost ten years! Some children in the tribe said they saw my benefactor at the market, and I couldn't believe it! We often watch your shows on TV and listen to your records. You look familiar to everyone in our tribe, from the eighty-year-old elders to the young children...Everyone in the tribe has come out, and everyone has confirmed that it's you, it really is you..."
Rambo knelt on one knee, placed one hand on his chest, and said loudly: "Benefactor! Please allow all of us in the tribe to welcome you as the most distinguished guest of our tribe with the highest etiquette!"
A car stopped across the street. A white man opened the door, raised the camera hanging from his neck, and ran over while snapping several photos. Xiao Xiangyue opened her mouth wide: "Paul! Why are you here?" Paul wiped the sweat from his forehead and shouted: "Xiangyue, I finally see you! Did you know that the whole world has been looking for you!"
To interview Xiao Xiangyue, Paul learned that the Crescent would be docking in Cape Town, South Africa, so he flew directly from London to Cape Town and found the cruise ship docked at the pier. The staff on the cruise ship told him that his host had gone to Styron, so he drove over without stopping.
Looking at the people crawling on the ground, Paul asked in surprise, "What's going on?" Luo Guyun briefly told him the whole story.
Paul was very surprised: "What a coincidence! Great! Let's go to the tribe as guests and take more photos of Xiangyue's different scenes, and take them back to comfort the fans who are eagerly waiting for the moon..." He added, "I just came from the boat, and there is a food box in the car that A Kuan asked me to bring to Xiangyue. He said that the owner has been away for a day and is afraid that he will not be used to the food outside, so we have to prepare some..." Luo Guyun was a little hesitant at first, but he felt that Yue'er could not eat most of the things in the tribe, so he nodded in agreement.
As night fell, people sang and danced around the bonfire. Luo Guoyun, Xiao Xiangyue, and Paul sat at the head of the table, flanked by Rambo and the tribe's priest, Mosang. Nuts, berries, roasted meat, and other foods were placed before each person, and rhino horns were filled with fine wine.
Luo Guyun removed the nuts and various unnamed foods from Xiao Xiangyue's front, picked up some barbecued meat, tore off some, and placed them on his plate. He then poured him some warm ginseng tea, opened the food box A Kuan had prepared, and saw the colorful and balanced ingredients inside. They were all Yue'er's favorites, and he felt relieved. He raised the rhino horn and drank with everyone.
Paul asked, "Is your situation better now?" Rambo said, "Ever since our benefactor spoke up for us on the talk show, the white government doesn't dare to openly oppress us anymore. It's just that the best resources all belong to the white people, and we can only make a living by selling handicrafts or doing heavy manual labor." Mosan said, "They also designated areas where white people are active, and we black people are not allowed to go..."
The screams and cries of children pierced the night air, destroying the joyful and harmonious atmosphere. A large black man, holding a gleaming dagger and holding a white girl, about seven or eight years old, ran towards them in panic.
Rambo's face changed, he stood up and shouted: "Hassan, what are you doing! If you do this, our entire tribe will suffer disaster!" The big man roared: "The lives of white children are lives, but the lives of our black children are not lives?" He grabbed the little girl's hair, put the sharp knife to her neck, and said angrily: "I want her to be buried with my son!" The little girl was so scared that she cried and struggled desperately.
Priest Mosan quickly whispered to the three people, "Hassan's son mistakenly broke into the white population yesterday and was mistaken for a thief by the white police, who shot him dead..." Before he finished speaking, a boy from the tribe came running over to report, "Oh no! I heard that Hassan kidnapped the mayor's daughter. All the police in the city are out! Many are chasing us..."
There was a chaotic sound of footsteps in the jungle. Hundreds of heavily armed white police officers, armed with guns, approached and quickly surrounded the joyful crowd. A white woman stood at the front, crying out loudly, "Lucy... Lucy... my daughter... give me back my daughter..."
The mayor held his wife and pointed a gun at Rambo, threatening, "Tell him to let my daughter go, or you will all die!" Hassan dragged the girl back to the corner, roaring in fear, "No... No, I won't let her go!"
There was a "bang" of a gunshot, and the black man closest to Hassan fell down.
Luo Guoyun quickly grabbed Xiao Xiangyue and buried his head in his chest, preventing him from witnessing the blood-splattering scene. The tribesmen were enraged, and they all took up spears, muskets, and other weapons, ready to fight the white people to the death. The scene was in chaos.
Xiao Xiangyue, leaning against Luo Guoyun's chest, spotted a shabby organ not far away, its cover missing. It must have been used by the priests to lead the tribesmen in chanting. She whispered in his ear, "Yue'er is fine," and broke free from the arms that were tightly around him, running over to play the instrument.
Luo Guyun grabbed a spear and held it against his chest. He leaned against Xiao Xiangyue and shouted, "Don't move! Don't shoot!"
Amidst the tense situation, Xiao Xiangyue calmly played the organ, seeming to be transported to another world. The worn organ flowed out the most beautiful music in the world. He was playing "Anhe Qu." This piece is one of the most famous pieces in musical history, with numerous adaptations and familiar to many. But in the midst of this imminent gunfight, played by him personally, it held an even more soul-stirring power.
A pure, gentle melody echoed through the night sky. A profound, serene, sacred atmosphere permeated the air. Emotions gradually calmed, and a strange silence descended upon the surroundings. The crackling of the blazing bonfire seemed to accompany the music. The white policemen's guns trembled slightly, as if remembering a Christmas Eve when their mother had played the same melody in the living room. The black man, half-conscious, heard the ancient ballad his grandmother sang by the campfire in his childhood, and his weapon-carrying arm began to droop. Hassan loosened his grip on the knife, letting it clang to the ground. He covered his face with his hands and sobbed.
Luo Guyun threw away his spear, quickly went over, picked up the girl, and returned her to her mother.
The piano music had stopped. Most of the white people recognized the young Mr. Charade playing the piano. The mayor and his wife, holding their daughter, were stunned and speechless with surprise and gratitude.
Luo Guyun kicked the police officer who had just fired the shot to the ground. He shouted, "I heard that all of you are out in force. Who killed Hassan's son yesterday? Come forward!" In the crowd, several police officers dragged a white young man, also in police uniform, to the front.
The mayor of the city hall finally reacted and announced loudly: "Kill...kill people, pay with your life. These two scum will be handed over to the people of the tribe for disposal!" The mayor's wife hugged her daughter and rubbed her eyes: "Mr. Chalaide, is it really you? You...how come you are here..." The mayor of the city hall calmed down: "Since Mr. Chalaide has come to our place, please allow me to invite..." Luo Guyun interrupted him and waved his hand: "No need, you can take your people and retreat first. Mr. Chalaide came here to collect folk songs and find creative inspiration. Please don't disturb him..."
Several black youths tied up the two white policemen on the ground and tied them to a pillar. The crowd erupted in excitement. Mosan said excitedly, "The white government doesn't treat us black people as human beings. If we die, we die. There will never be fairness and justice! If not, Hassan wouldn't have kidnapped innocent children... From now on, our black lives matter..." Rambo burst into tears of gratitude: "Your benefactor has saved our entire family again. What can we give in return..."
Luo Guoyun said, "I heard frogs croaking earlier. Do you have frogs here?" Rambo said, "Our tribe has always had a tradition of growing rice, and the rice fields are full of frogs. We call them clawed toads, and priests use them when they pray for rain..." Luo Guoyun said happily, "Then go catch some..." Rambo said curiously, "Does my benefactor also want to pray for rain? I'll arrange for people to catch them right away! As many as you want..."
When Luo Guyun heard the frogs croaking, he thought that Yue'er hadn't eaten fresh frog legs for a long time, so he could catch some and cook frog leg porridge for him.
There was another sound of footsteps in the jungle, and Wu Fang appeared in front of them with a team of guards: "General, Xiangyue! I finally found you! I just ran into the mayor and learned that you were here..."
The town of Stellen was only a two-hour drive from the port. Wu Fang, concerned that they hadn't returned by dinner time and Paul hadn't returned, brought people to look for them.
On the way back, Wu Fang drove. Paul, sitting in the passenger seat, was still immersed in excitement: "So cool! So cool! The General and Xiangyue, one civil, one martial, one active, one quiet, they easily calmed the situation! That... that double sword combination in your Chinese martial arts novels, invincible? I guess this is what it means? No... no, it's more like using a little force to move a great object... facing a mountain collapsing in front of you, but remaining calm..." Paul racked his brains, reciting every Chinese word he could think of.
Wu Fang said calmly, "What storms have our General and Xiangyue not seen? My life was saved by the young master!" Paul said quickly, "I heard about this from Xiaoxin and Secretary Fang. I came here specifically to interview Captain Wu!" He added, "I panicked at first, but then I saw Xiangyue playing the piano calmly and without any fear! I felt relieved. The sound of the piano seemed to have cast a spell on me, and I forgot to take pictures. When I came to my senses, I snapped a few pictures of Xiangyue playing the piano. I don't know how they turned out. I'll go back and develop them and see..."
Xiao Xiangyue, who was sitting in the back row, rested her head on Luo Guyun's shoulder and murmured softly, "Brother is by my side, Yue'er, what do you have to be afraid of..." Luo Guyun looked at his watch and said, "It's a little late today, Yue'er, are you sleepy?" He rested his head on his thigh and lay down flat, hugging him and saying, "Yue'er, I first heard this song "Anhe Qu" in He Qisheng's prison, the second time was at the Chongqing Peace Talks Gala, and the third time was at the parade ground during the Spring Festival that year. Why does it feel a little different every time?"
Xiao Xiangyue said softly, "Well... Yue'er likes to make some impromptu adaptations based on the atmosphere of the scene. Today, when I played, I incorporated elements of local spiritual songs, or soul music, because of its deep emotions and spiritual appeal, which makes it easier for them to resonate..."
Paul exclaimed, "Genius! Absolutely genius! What? Xiangyue even performed in prison? And even performed during the Chongqing peace talks? Looks like I need to dig deeper into Xiangyue's past! You know, any news about Xiangyue will be talked about by the world now, not to mention these explosive tidbits! Haha, I'm making a killing..."
Paul's photo of Xiao Xiangyue playing the organ went viral upon its release. Shot from the front, the image shows the blurred silhouette of Luo Guoyun behind him, surrounded by countless people of varying skin colors, armed with a variety of weapons. The flickering bonfire illuminates his perfectly defined features, his calm, focused expression, and his refined elegance, creating a stark contrast to the hail of bullets and the tense atmosphere surrounding him. Years later, this image has become an undeniable classic, and Paul also won the Pulitzer Prize that year for this photo.
The photo was reprinted in various newspapers and magazines, accompanied by Paul's brilliant report. The world witnessed Xiao Xiangyue's heroic act of bravery in the face of danger and successful rescue of the white girl hostage. Using her extraordinary musical talent, she resolved racial tensions and averted a bloody conflict that could have resulted in hundreds of deaths.
Public opinion was in an uproar, with related news dominating the headlines of major media outlets for extended periods. Its influence transcended the confines of music enthusiasts, spreading to all walks of life, even to the point of myth. Rumor had it that at the scene of the conflict, Xiao Xiangyue's music emanated a holy light, enveloping everyone and bringing them to an instant state of silence. Some even enshrined his photo, as if it were a deity, hoping for his blessing...
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