Chapter 48 - Sacred Mountain in Myanmar (Part II)

The old man sighed deeply when Chen Shaoxian asked him, “Your grandfather killed more Japanese soldiers than I’ve ever seen. Huh? He never told you about that?” Seeing Chen Shaoxian shake his head, the old man quickly added, “Then I shouldn’t speak of it. I know your grandfather’s temper; if he wants something kept secret, it stays secret. Don’t tell him I said anything-I still want a few more good years.”

After saying this, the old man took a deep breath as if recalling something, touched the scar on his face, and after a long pause, finally said, “Your grandfather is a remarkable man.”

Chen Shaoxian was pleased to know that his own grandfather had fought against the Japanese. He said to the old man, “I still don’t know your full name.”

The old man laughed heartily, “I’m getting old, look at this confusion! My name is Nie Baoguo. After I got this scar, people started calling me Scar Nie, a nickname given by your grandfather.” He spoke with pride, clearly unbothered by the scar on his face, almost treating it like a badge of honor.

Chen Shaoxian respectfully asked, “Grandpa Nie, did you need to discuss something with my grandfather?”

The old man delighted to be addressed as Grandpa Nie, laughed heartily and said, “I came to consult your grandfather on some matters and also to see this old friend. It’s been decades since we last met.”

Suddenly, Nie Baoguo’s tone grew somber as he looked out the window and said, “I’m getting old, and this time I didn’t get to see him. I don’t know if there will be another chance.” Then, with a resigned laugh and looking at Chen Shaoxian and then Xiao Zhuang, he said, “Seeing you gives me comfort, knowing our generation has successors.”

Before Chen Shaoxian could speak to Xiao Zhuang, he heard Nie Baoguo’s tone, indicating there might be a connection between them, so he turned to Xiao Zhuang and asked, “Xiao Zhuang, how are you related to him?”

“Oh, right, you know each other, don’t you?” Nie Baoguo recalled, asking as he saw Chen Shaoxian and Xiao Zhuang nod. Nie Baoguo said with relief, “Then our families have become friends through generations. Xiao Zhuang is my grandson, if…” He suddenly stopped, shook his head.

Chen Shaoxian noticed that Nie Baoguo’s eyes reddened when he spoke, and Xiao Zhuang clenched his fist suddenly, sensing there was more to the story.

Nie Baoguo sipped his tea and reminisced, saying, “Your grandfather’s taste hasn’t changed, and it’s getting late. We have things to do, but I’m glad to have met you today. When your grandfather returns, tell him I visited and if he has time, he should come to Beijing to meet up.”

“Wait a moment,” Chen Shaoxian stopped the elder. “If it’s not too much trouble, could you tell me the purpose of your visit?” Seeing Nie Baoguo shake his head without speaking, Chen Shaoxian continued, “Even though I’m not as skilled as my grandfather, I have learned quite a bit from him. I might not be able to handle everything, but I can help analyze the situation.”

Hearing this, Nie Baoguo sat back down on the sofa and looked at Chen Shaoxian, saying, “This is a state secret. You must not speak of it to anyone.”

Chen Shaoxian nodded seriously, and Nie Baoguo disclosed, “During the war against the Japanese army, there was intelligence that the Japanese had plundered many treasures from our country. Because the war was so intense at the time, these treasures were not sent back to Japan immediately. Instead, a military unit was dispatched along the Myanmar route. However, once this unit reached Myanmar, they vanished without a trace. At that time, the Chinese Expeditionary Force was deploying into Myanmar, and everyone assumed that this Japanese unit had been wiped out, but the treasures remained unaccounted for. As the war escalated, those who knew of this incident either died in battle or the matter was forgotten.

“It wasn’t until after the liberation, a clerk was organizing archives and stumbled upon this clue. After reporting it to the superiors, it was taken very seriously, but it was shelved again during the Korean War and later the Cultural Revolution¹.”

“Only half a year ago, before the clerk passed away, he brought it up again. The authorities assigned specialists to research and follow the leads. Finally, a month ago, remnants of Japanese documents were found, and a report was compiled and submitted to the higher-ups.”

“However, the contents of the documents were shocking. They revealed that during the outbreak of the Myanmar conflict, the Japanese army started constructing defense works in the mountains along the China-Myanmar border. While digging through the mountains, a group of Japanese soldiers discovered a natural karst cave. The geographical location of this cave was so ideal that the Japanese commander decided to use it as the basis for their defense works.”

“As construction began, people started disappearing continuously. Since those who disappeared were Myanmar laborers forcibly conscripted, the Japanese army commanders did not pay much attention, assuming they had escaped. Thus, more troops were deployed to guard the mountain. However, as Japanese soldiers also began to vanish, it finally caught the attention of the higher-ups in the Japanese army.”

“The disappearances of these Japanese soldiers were peculiar; their weapons and personal belongings were left intact, but the men themselves were nowhere to be found.”

“Due to the urgency of the war, more troops were dispatched to increase security while also hastening the completion of the defense works. Yet, the number of disappearances continued to rise, and many were driven mad by fear, to the point where even the Japanese soldiers could no longer endure these non-combat losses.”

“Eventually, all Japanese soldiers were withdrawn and replaced entirely by Myanmar laborers, who were promised that they would be sent home and generously compensated upon completion of the project. A few disobedient individuals were also executed to deter the other Myanmar laborers.”

“As the project neared completion, this group of Myanmar laborers suddenly vanished into thin air. When the Japanese army sent people to investigate, they found only abandoned tools on the mountain, but the laborers were gone without a trace.”

“As the fighting intensified, the Japanese army took desperate measures, completing all defense works by themselves. To prevent further disappearances, it was decided that work would only be done during the day, and everyone would retreat down the mountain at night. This strategy proved effective, as the disappearances decreased.”

“However, when the Japanese army was expanding a storage area, they discovered numerous bodies of varying appearances buried in the soil beneath, bodies of both Japanese soldiers and Myanmar laborers.”

“The Japanese army commander was driven to madness, issuing a frantic order to dig further. As digging continued, a large number of bodies were unearthed, some decomposed and others reduced to skeletons, identifiable as Japanese soldiers and Myanmar laborers by their clothing.”

“In his report, the Japanese army commander described the mountain as a monster devouring people, with the bodies resembling digested food. After completing his report, he committed seppuku, and the site of the defense works was sealed off.”

“The Japanese military unit tasked with transporting national treasures was the last to occupy this eerie site, and then they too disappeared.”

Chen Shaoxian was somewhat alarmed by this, reminded of the stories of the Cannibal Forest. There are a few such places around the world where numerous bodies are found each year, though these are typically suicides. To him, these events seemed trivial compared to the tales Grandpa Nie had told.

Footnote:

1. 1. Cultural Revolution(文化大革命): The Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) was a socio-political movement in China initiated by Mao Zedong with the aim of preserving Chinese Communism by purging remnants of capitalist and traditional elements from Chinese society.