Podcasts about Xue

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2026 38:23

Last time we spoke about the Hubei-Henan Campaign of 1940-1941. In November 1940, a Central Hubei operation using multiple task forces aimed to exploit Chinese dispersal, achieving only local successes and no lasting territorial gains. The Japanese then tried again in late January 1941 with a major offensive into southern Henan. Despite concentrating a large force, the campaign failed strategically. After the Henan failure, Japan attempted to regain momentum in spring 1941 by attacking western Hubei around Yichang on the Yangtze. Despite an initial barrage and rapid early gains, Japanese forces became exposed in a narrow salient. The Chinese reorganized their river defenses and launched a converging counteroffensive, driving the invaders back and ending the engagement where it began, with the Japanese suffering heavy casualties and their westward push thwarted. #206 The Battle of Shanggao Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. The year 1940 had brought a particular humiliation. In August of that year, Communist General Peng Dehuai had launched the Hundred Regiments Offensive — a massive, coordinated assault across North China that shattered Japanese rail and supply lines, embarrassed Imperial General Headquarters, and demonstrated that the Chinese were far from finished. Japan's response had been brutal, the infamous "Three Alls" campaign of reprisals across the countryside. But the damage had been done, and the attention of Imperial General Headquarters shifted northward. The autumn of 1940 had also seen the First Battle of Changsha, where the Japanese 11th Army under General Sonobe Yahachirō pushed south into Hunan Province expecting to overwhelm the Chinese defenders and finally deal a decisive blow to Chiang Kai-shek's armies. Instead, General Xue Yue — the "Tiger of Changsha" — had allowed the Japanese to advance deep into his prepared killing ground before counterattacking from multiple directions. The Japanese had been forced to retreat in disorder, and the front in Hunan and Jiangxi settled once again into sullen stalemate. It was in this atmosphere of frustrated ambition and strategic inertia that the seeds of Shanggao were sown. By February 1941, Imperial General Headquarters had decided to redeploy the 33rd Division — then garrisoned in the town of Anyi, in northwestern Jiangxi — to North China. The transfer was scheduled to begin in early April, and it made strategic sense: the north required reinforcement, and the front in Jiangxi had been quiet enough that one division could be spared. The problem was that the 33rd Division's departure would leave a gap in Japanese dispositions, and no significant offensive operation had yet been conducted to weaken the Chinese forces that would be left facing a thinned-out Japanese line. Lieutenant General Ōga Shigeru, the energetic commander of the Japanese 34th Division, saw opportunity in the window that existed before the 33rd departed. His division was concentrated around Xishan and Wanshou Palace, astride the Xiang–Gan Highway — the main road running westward through Jiangxi — and across that highway lay the town of Shanggao and the Chinese forces defending it. Ōga proposed exploiting the presence of both divisions for a coordinated strike: a sharp, limited offensive to crush Chinese field forces around Nanchang and the Jiangxi interior before the 33rd Division's train north. The 11th Army headquarters, now commanded by General Marube, endorsed a cautious concept — a "quick strike" with limited objectives. But the 34th Division's staff, energized by Ōga's ambition, had already run well ahead of this guidance. Large-scale requisitioning of coolies for logistics was underway; training exercises aimed at the specific terrain around Shanggao had been conducted; planning had progressed in far more detail than a "limited" operation warranted. This eagerness would prove to be the Japanese undoing before the first shot was fired. Chinese intelligence networks, always attentive to the movement of porters and the telltale preparations that preceded a Japanese offensive, quickly detected the scale of these preparations and reported them to General Luo Zhuoying, commander of the Chinese 19th Army Group. By the time the Japanese columns were forming up to march, Luo had already hardened his defenses and laid the groundwork for a trap. General Luo Zhuoying was not a passive commander. He served simultaneously as commander of the 19th Army Group and as Deputy Commander of the 9th War Zone — the latter post placing him directly under General Xue Yue, the victor of Changsha. Luo had spent the lull after Changsha doing what Chinese commanders across the theater had learned was essential: reorganizing, retraining, and above all improving the defensive architecture of his sector. The plan Luo devised for meeting the anticipated Japanese offensive was elegant in its simplicity and demanding in its execution. Rather than contesting the Japanese advance at the frontier, he would allow the enemy to push westward, yielding ground through three successive defensive lines while bleeding the attackers at every step. The first and second lines would slow the Japanese, exact casualties, and stretch their logistics. The third line — anchored at Shanggao itself — would be the killing ground. There, the Chinese forces would hold fast while other formations swung around the Japanese flanks and rear to close the encirclement. The Japanese, having marched deep into Chinese-held territory with their supply lines thinning and their flanks exposed, would find themselves surrounded rather than victorious. For this plan to work, each Chinese formation had to perform its role with discipline. The 70th Corps, deployed in the north along the arc from Shitou Street through Fengxin to Jing'an, would have to conduct a controlled fighting retreat — yielding ground but making the Japanese pay for it, never breaking and running. The 49th Corps would hold the southern flank and create conditions for flanking action. And the 74th Corps — General Wang Yaowu's elite formation, comprising the 51st, 57th, and 58th Divisions — would hold the final line at Shanggao and serve as the anvil upon which the Japanese advance would shatter. The 74th Corps was by 1941 one of the most battle-hardened formations in the Nationalist Army. It had fought at Shanghai in 1937, at Wuhan in 1938, and in the hills and valleys of Jiangxi through the years since. Its men knew the terrain around Shanggao. They had prepared positions in depth, studied the approaches, and rehearsed the defensive plan Luo had designed. When the Japanese came, they would be ready. Against the Chinese 70,000 — distributed across eleven divisions in four corps, with additional provincial security forces for local coverage — the Japanese would throw roughly 20,000 men: three major formations advancing in coordinated columns. The disparity in numbers was stark, but the Japanese had the advantages of offensive initiative, air superiority, and the formidable fighting quality that the Imperial Army had demonstrated throughout the war in China. The question was whether those advantages would be enough to overcome a prepared defense wielded by a commander who had invited the attack. The operational plan devised by the Japanese 11th Army called for three columns to converge simultaneously on Shanggao from north, center, and south — a classic encirclement concept that, if executed with precision, would catch the Chinese defenders in a tightening vice. In the north, the main force of the 33rd Division under Lieutenant General Sakurai Shōzō would drive westward from its bases around Anyi and Ganzhoujie, descending the Liao River valley to threaten the Chinese right flank and prevent the 70th Corps from interfering with operations in the center.In the center, Ōga's 34th Division would advance along the Xiang–Gan Highway — the direct route from Nanchang toward Shanggao — capturing the town of Gao'an along the way and pressing relentlessly westward until it reached the main defensive positions. This was the principal striking force, the column designed to crack open the Chinese defenses and seize the objective.In the south, the Independent Mixed 20th Brigade under Major General Ikeda would cross the Jin River and advance along its south bank, eventually swinging north to link up with the 34th Division and complete the encirclement of whatever Chinese forces remained in the Shanggao area. The plan was coherent on paper. But it contained a structural flaw so serious that, in retrospect, it is difficult to understand how the 11th Army's staff allowed it to proceed uncorrected. The success of any converging operation depends on synchronization — on each column hitting its objectives on schedule and maintaining communication with the others so that each can react to developments on the other prongs. Yet the 11th Army headquarters made no recorded effort to coordinate the 33rd and 34th Divisions before the battle began. There was no forward command post established to oversee the operation. General Marube remained at Hankou, hundreds of miles to the north, throughout the battle — as remote from the fighting as a Tokyo bureaucrat. Operational decisions were left entirely to the individual divisions, with no mechanism to coordinate their actions if something went wrong. Something was going to go wrong. Luo Zhuoying had seen to that. On the morning of March 15, 1941, all three Japanese columns stepped off simultaneously, advancing into the misty hills and rice paddies of northwestern Jiangxi. In the north, Sakurai's 33rd Division moved briskly from Anyi toward Fengxin. The town fell by noon, and the division pressed westward in good order. The Japanese infantry moved confidently along the Liao River valley, experienced soldiers who had fought across China and had no particular reason to expect what was coming. The Chinese 70th Corps gave ground — as it had been ordered to — but did so on its own terms, occupying and then abandoning successive pieces of high ground along both banks of the river, making the Japanese advance uncomfortable and costly. Gradually, almost imperceptibly, the 33rd Division was being drawn forward into terrain that favored the defender. By March 18 and 19, the 33rd Division had pushed all the way to Guzhu'ao and Huamenlo — a considerable advance, but one that had taken the division far from its base at Anyi. And it was here, far from support and with flanks increasingly exposed, that the Chinese blocking forces closed in. Chinese infantry, who had been waiting in prepared positions in the high ground overlooking the river valley, launched coordinated counter-attacks that struck the 33rd Division from multiple directions. The fighting was fierce and costly. In two days of close combat, the division suffered more than 2,500 casualties — a grievous toll that represented a significant fraction of its effective strength. The northern column had been stopped dead. On March 19, Sakurai ordered the 33rd Division to reverse course. By March 23, after four days of painful withdrawal under pressure, it had pulled back to Anyi — the same place it had started. The northern prong of the Japanese offensive had accomplished nothing except the loss of thousands of men. In the south, the Independent Mixed 20th Brigade had a rougher start. Its initial attempt to cross the Gan-Jin river junction at noon on March 15 was repulsed by Chinese defenders, and it was only under cover of darkness that the brigade managed to force a crossing. Once across, it moved westward along the south bank of the Jin River, but progress was slow and contested. A detachment — the Gan River Detachment — ran into fierce resistance from the 26th Division of the Chinese 49th Corps on March 19. The brigade's main body meanwhile fought its way through the 51st Division of the 74th Corps, but the 107th Division and elements of the 51st managed to contain the advance at the Laichunling–Zhutoushan line. On the night of March 20, the main body of the 20th Brigade crossed the Jin River at Huifu to link up with the 34th Division — but a portion of its troops, cut off on the south bank, was destroyed by Chinese forces. The southern column was across the Jin River, but it had taken losses and was already engaged in ways its planners had not anticipated. In the center, the 34th Division fared best in the early going. Ōga's division moved westward from Xishan along the Xiang–Gan Highway on March 16, and by the 17th had captured Gao'an — a meaningful early success. The Chinese 74th Corps, executing Luo's plan faithfully, dispatched only screening forces east of the Tangpu River to slow the Japanese advance rather than contesting it decisively. The main body of the 74th Corps fell back to the third-line positions at Sixi, Guanqiao, and Tangpu, preparing the killing ground that Luo had designated. Simultaneously, the 26th Division and most of the 105th Division from the 49th Corps were shifted across the Gan River to operate south of the Jin River on the Japanese left flank, and the 72nd Corps was ordered to maneuver on a wide envelopment around Daxia and south of Ganfang. By March 20–21, the 34th Division had pressed forward to attack the Chinese positions at Sixi and Guanqiao. Ōga's men were confident — they had taken Gao'an, they were moving, and the objective of Shanggao lay within reach. But as the division pushed toward Shangjijia, it ran squarely into the 57th and 58th Divisions of the 74th Corps, fighting with a tenacity that told the Japanese plainly enough: this was where the Chinese intended to stand. The week of March 21–24 brought the battle to its crisis. The 34th Division hammered at the Chinese positions defending Shanggao itself, while on the flanks, the fighting took on a character that neither side had entirely anticipated. On March 21, General Wang Yaowu — commanding the 74th Corps from his headquarters in Shanggao — decided it was time to do more than absorb Japanese blows. He ordered General Li Tianxia to clear Japanese forces from the south bank of the Jin River and advance on Gao'an, with the aim of cutting the 34th Division's supply line and threatening its rear. It was an aggressive move, and if it had worked, it might have produced a decisive result earlier than history would record. It did not work — at least not immediately. That very evening, the Independent Mixed 20th Brigade, which had been reorganizing after the chaos of the river crossing, launched a powerful offensive at dawn on the 22nd. Li Tianxia's lead elements had barely set out from Shitou Street when they collided head-on with the main force of the 20th Brigade, which had crossed back from the north bank of the Jin River. The Japanese thrust was coordinated and aggressive: one column circled wide to attack Lazhu Mountain; another swung south of Hu Family west of Shitou Street to strike Li's division in the flank and rear; and nine aircraft with four artillery pieces bombarded the Chinese positions from north to south. Li's division could not hold against this convergent assault and fell back to the high ground southwest of Shitou Street. Wang Yaowu reacted quickly. He ordered Li's main body to wheel left to face the new threat and simultaneously dispatched the Army's Field Supplementary Regiment — held in reserve near Yintang — on a forced march to Huayang to block the Japanese westward drive. This regiment, racing down roads strafed by nine enemy aircraft, covered 15 li per hour and seized Huayang and the high ground to its northeast by around seven in the morning. By nine, the 20th Brigade arrived in strength and — supported by more than ten aircraft — launched a fierce assault on the regiment's positions. The regiment's officers and men held firm, taking heavy casualties but refusing to break. Frustrated at Huayang, the 20th Brigade shifted its effort to the Kuang Family area, linking up with over a thousand men who had crossed from Baichetou to the south bank and pushing along the river toward Xiongfang in an attempt to outflank the Chinese left wing. The Supplementary Regiment sent its 1st Battalion with a mortar company to meet this threat, and the two forces met in a fierce engagement. When the Japanese reinforced their assault and deployed incendiary bombs and poison gas, Xiongfang fell by early afternoon — but Li Tianxia immediately sent two regiments from his right flank to take it back, and by midnight the position was in Chinese hands again. Shitou Street and Jigong Ridge were simultaneously recaptured. The Independent Mixed 20th Brigade now found itself in an increasingly uncomfortable position, fighting with the Jin River at its back and the initiative slipping away. Meanwhile, the main event was being fought in the rubble and ridgelines around Shanggao itself. From March 22 to 25, the 34th Division and whatever remnants of the 20th Brigade could contribute threw themselves repeatedly at the defensive line anchored on Stone Arch Bridge, Xia Po Bridge, Xu Lou, Pan Family Bridge, Cloud Head Mountain, and Lei Family Mountain. This was not the fluid, mobile warfare that the Japanese had envisioned but brutal, grinding attritional combat for individual strongpoints and ridgelines, with positions changing hands multiple times in a single day. The Japanese air arm was deeply involved. Ōga's division had close air support that could operate even in poor weather, and Group 3 of the Japanese Air Force hammered the Chinese positions with sustained effort. On the morning of March 24, after the 34th Division fed in more than 3,000 additional troops transferred across the Jin River, the Air Force dispatched over seventy aircraft that dropped more than 1,700 bombs, largely destroying the defensive positions of Liao Lingqi's division. The Japanese exploited the resulting chaos and twice broke through gaps in the line — but were driven out each time by Chinese counterattacks. At noon, enemy aircraft bombarded in relays and Japanese infantry broke through at Xia Po Bridge. It was at this moment that Li Hanqing, commanding the Chinese infantry defense in that sector, did what officers throughout history have done when systems fail and only personal example can stem the tide: he personally led his officer cadre in repeated counter-attacks, hand-to-hand fighting in the rubble until the Japanese were finally expelled. By this point, the 34th Division's offensive capacity was nearly spent. At the same time — and this was the critical shift that would determine the battle's outcome — General Luo Zhuoying recognized that the moment to spring the trap had arrived. The northern column had already been broken and sent reeling back toward Anyi. The southern column was pinned against the Jin River with its back to the water. The central column was bled white against the defenses of Shanggao. Luo now ordered all his armies to close in from multiple directions. On the morning of March 22, he had already begun revising his orders; by noon on the 23rd, the forces of Liu Duoquan and Li Jue had occupied Shitou Street, Guanqiao Street, and Yanggong Market, pressing on Huifu and Gaoyao. The encirclement of the 34th Division was not yet complete, but its shape was unmistakably forming. By March 25, the 34th Division knew it was in mortal danger. Surrounded on three sides, its ammunition running low and its casualty lists growing by the hour, the division urgently appealed to the 11th Army for rescue. The message that arrived in Hankou was a shock. General Marube and his staff, who had remained at their distant headquarters throughout the battle without establishing a forward command post, had not properly grasped the scale of the disaster unfolding in Jiangxi. The lack of coordination between the 33rd and 34th Divisions — the structural flaw that had been built into the operation from its conception — had allowed Luo Zhuoying to defeat each column separately, and now the central column faced annihilation. The 11th Army responded in a scramble. Chief of Staff Kinoshita was dispatched by aircraft to Nanchang with Operations Staff Officer Lieutenant Colonel Yamaguchi and Captain Ōne to organize a relief operation. The 33rd Division — barely recovered from its own battering in the north — was ordered to sortie immediately and fight its way to the 34th Division's relief. Sakurai organized his battered 33rd Division into three rescue columns. Infantry Brigade Commander Araki Shōji took the right column, leading Infantry Regiment 215 with one mountain artillery battalion. Infantry Regiment 214 formed the left column. The divisional commander himself led the central column with the main divisional force. On March 24 and 25, all three columns sortied from strongpoints at Niuxing, Fengxin, and other positions, attacking across the Wuqiao River and through Cunqian Street toward Tangpu and Guanqiao. The relief operation brought the battle to its most complicated moment. On the morning of March 25, the 33rd Division launched a fierce assault on the forces that Luo Zhuoying had positioned to tighten the encirclement from the north — striking Zhang Yanchuan's division at Kengkou Leng, Jiezipo, and Nancha Luo. Zhang's division, struck simultaneously from the front and rear, withdrew at dusk to near Tu Di Wang Temple, where it linked up with Tang Boyin's division. What happened next became one of the most controversial decisions of the entire battle. Zhang Yanchuan was serving as deputy army commander in the absence of Li Jue from the front. Surveying the situation — his own division under heavy pressure, the 33rd Division's relief columns pushing aggressively — Zhang concluded that the position was untenable. On his own authority, without authorization from Luo Zhuoying or any superior commander, he withdrew both his own and Tang Boyin's divisions to Fenghuang Market and Zhuangfang. The consequence was immediate and severe. The withdrawal opened a corridor through which the 33rd Division entered Guanqiao and linked up with the encircled 34th Division. An encirclement that had taken days of blood and sacrifice to construct was torn open by a single unauthorized decision. Luo Zhuoying, when he received word of Zhang's withdrawal the following morning, was furious — but he could not change what had already happened. He could only adapt. The breakout itself was an ordeal. A portion of the 34th Division that attempted to escape to the east was intercepted near Huifu by a division of the 49th Corps and lost roughly half its strength before being compelled to turn back. The main body ultimately broke out on March 27, withdrawing in march order that told its own story of disaster: headquarters, baggage, artillery, casualties, field hospital, rear guard — all moving in what the records describe as "a wretched state." On the night of March 27, Japanese troops escorting the 34th Division's field hospital — a field artillery company of the 8th Battery — were completely annihilated in a Chinese night attack. When the division reached Longtuan Xu on March 28, the stretcher-bearer column carrying the wounded stretched some seven to eight kilometers along the road. That same day, the 33rd Division's Infantry Regiment 214 finally made contact with the 34th Division's headquarters, completing what amounted to a rescue of men who had already endured their defeat. The 33rd Division's mountain artillery batteries exhausted their entire ammunition supply covering the retreat and required emergency aerial resupply drops to continue. The 34th Division limped back to its original garrison on April 2. Despite the setback caused by Zhang Yanchuan's unauthorized withdrawal, Luo Zhuoying did not abandon his design. Assessing his situation on the morning of March 26, he found reason for cautious optimism: Wang Yaowu's army was still making progress at Shanggao; the Japanese south of the Jin River had largely been cleared; and Sichuan Army and Northeastern Army units that had been moving to reinforce the battle had now reached the field, meaning Chinese forces retained significant numerical superiority. He resolved to execute a second encirclement. At nine in the morning of March 26, Luo issued strict orders: Zhang Yanchuan's and Tang Boyin's divisions were to immediately comply with their original orders and block the enemy near Guanqiao; Yu Chengwan's division was to attack northward via Pan Family Bridge; Liao Lingqi's and Song Yingzhong's divisions were to press toward Guanqiao with full force; Wang Kejun's division was to strike the enemy's flank and rear east of Guanqiao; Fu Yi's division was to advance south of Jiang Family Isle; and Chen Liangji's division was to swing southeast via Changpu to complete the enemy's destruction. The second ring was being drawn. On March 28, as the 34th Division's battered column trudged eastward toward survival, Wang Kejun's division advancing from Yanggong Market moved to intercept it. The Chinese occupied high ground north and south of Yanggong Market and along Mozi Ridge, and what followed was a grinding all-day battle that fixed the Japanese column at the Xiama Bei–Huxing Ridge line. Part of the 20th Brigade, moving up from Gao'an to assist the withdrawing 34th Division, was blocked near Long Tu Market. Liao Lingqi's division pursued the enemy rear guard to the Changling–Manmei high ground, where the fighting erupted with renewed intensity. At noon, part of Li Tianxia's division arrived and deployed along the Shangluoxiang–Shanyuan–Fangtounao line to harass the Japanese right flank; part of Yu Chengwan's division reached Longxing Mountain and outflanked Guanqiao Street from the south. The surviving Japanese defenders in Guanqiao withdrew into the town for a last stand, and after Liao's division pressed the assault, street fighting raged until five in the afternoon, when over 600 defenders were annihilated. Over 2,000 troops of the Independent Mixed 20th Brigade conducted a fighting withdrawal from Long Tu Market and Yanggong Market, covered by Japanese aircraft bombing to shield the 34th Division's retreat. By noon on March 30, the Japanese had abandoned both strongpoints and scattered northeastward. One group of over 600 men fled directly into the main positions of Zhang Yanchuan's division — an ironic fate, given Zhang's earlier withdrawal — and were largely annihilated. The encircling forces had been essentially dispersed, and the two pursuit columns now pressed forward under the overall direction of General Xue Yue, who had assumed personal coordination of the chase. On March 27, Luo Zhuoying — confident that victory was secured — issued a general order for a final offensive and announced substantial cash rewards to his troops: prizes offered for the capture of Japanese officers, artillery pieces, regimental colors, and other materiel. The rewards were both a practical incentive and a mark of how far the battle had tipped. By midnight on March 31, Chen Hongshi's advance column had recovered Gao'an; Wang Tiehan's division had recovered Xiangfu Guan. On April 2, the divisions of Zhang Yanchuan and Song Yingzhong recovered Fengxin; that afternoon Wang Tiehan's division took back Xishan and Wanshou Palace — the very base from which the 34th Division had launched its offensive. By April 3, the pursuing armies had reached the vicinity of Dacheng and Ganzhoujie. On April 8 and 9, the 70th Corps recovered the outpost strongpoints around Anyi before halting operations. The Japanese had retreated into their original positions and were defending from prepared terrain. The pursuit was over. The Battle of Shanggao had lasted nineteen days and nights. No battle of the Second Sino-Japanese War was ever free of the fog of competing claims, and Shanggao was no exception. On March 29, before the pursuit had even concluded, Luo Zhuoying telegraphed Chiang Kai-shek with his accounting of the victory. His numbers were dramatic: Major General Iwanaga, the Japanese infantry commander, killed; regimental commander Colonel Hamada, killed; over 15,000 Japanese killed or wounded in total. Chinese losses, Luo reported, exceeded 20,000. Ten guns, over a thousand rifles, and numerous machine guns had been captured. His superior, General Xue Yue, was skeptical. In a telegram to Chiang Kai-shek on April 5, Xue reduced Luo's numbers by twenty percent, reporting 12,520 Japanese killed or wounded and 14 prisoners captured. The discrepancy between two Chinese commanders reporting on the same battle speaks to the difficulty of battlefield accounting in any era, and suggests something of the competitive pressures that shaped how Chinese commanders reported their victories to Chongqing. The official Chinese histories, compiled after the war in the History of the War of Resistance, reported approximately 15,000 Japanese killed or wounded, 17 prisoners taken, and significant quantities of captured materiel: 6 mountain guns, 1 mortar, 24 light machine guns, 408 rifles, 24 grenade launchers, and over 111,717 rounds of various ammunition. Chinese casualties, by the same records, were 17,119 killed or wounded and 2,814 missing. Japanese records for the battle do not survive — a consequence of the wholesale destruction of Imperial Army documentation at the war's end. Contemporary scholars, working from other sources, estimate actual Japanese combat losses at approximately 5,500 killed and wounded. This is substantially lower than the Chinese claims, as was nearly always the case in the war, but represents a significant defeat by any measure: roughly a quarter of the force committed, many of them veterans impossible to replace. Chiang Kai-shek subsequently awarded the victorious Chinese units a commendation prize of 150,000 yuan — a substantial sum that marked the battle's significance in Nationalist eyes. The outcome at Shanggao was not accidental. Several interlocking factors combined to produce a Chinese victory, and each deserves consideration. The most fundamental was Luo Zhuoying's defensive plan. The decision to trade space for time — to absorb the Japanese advance through three successive defensive lines rather than contest the frontier — required both tactical confidence and a willingness to accept initial setbacks that could easily be misread as defeat. Chinese forces had to give ground, and they did. They had to suffer through the early days of Japanese advance without breaking and running, drawing the enemy forward and allowing the encirclement to take shape. That they largely succeeded in executing this plan reflects the improving quality of the Nationalist Army by 1941: better trained, better led at the operational level, and — critically — equipped with a strategic design that matched the actual balance of forces. The defeat in detail of the Japanese columns was equally important. By neutralizing the 33rd Division in the north before it could contribute to the central effort, and by pinning the 20th Brigade against the Jin River with its back to the water, Luo's forces ensured that the 34th Division faced the third-line defenses essentially alone — outnumbered, overextended, and unsupported. The Japanese operational concept had been a three-pronged convergence; what actually materialized was a single exhausted division hammering at a prepared defense while two other columns were rendered ineffective. The absence of coordination within the Japanese 11th Army was a gift that kept giving throughout the battle. No forward command post. No mechanism for the divisions to adjust their operations in response to each other's situations. No ability to recognize, in real time, that the northern column was being destroyed and redirect resources accordingly. General Marube's decision to remain at Hankou while his men died in Jiangxi was not merely an administrative failure; it was an operational catastrophe. Japanese commanders acknowledged this failing explicitly after the battle, but the acknowledgment changed nothing for the dead. Zhang Yanchuan's unauthorized withdrawal — the single most consequential individual decision of the battle — ultimately prevented a complete annihilation of the 34th Division rather than affecting the battle's outcome. The 34th Division escaped; but it did so in a "wretched state," having lost enormous numbers of men and equipment. It broke out, not triumphed. The encirclement Luo had constructed was torn open, but the Japanese paid dearly for the breach. The consequences of Shanggao rippled outward in ways that shaped the subsequent course of the war in central China. The transfer of the 33rd Division to North China — the original logistical rationale for the entire operation — was delayed by the division's involvement and subsequent losses at Shanggao. When it finally arrived at the Battle of Central Plains the following month, it did so on the eve of battle with no time for preparation or orientation, entering combat under severely disadvantaged conditions. The operation that was supposed to facilitate a smooth redeployment had instead damaged one of the two units involved and delayed the other. For the Chinese 74th Corps, Shanggao had an ironic consequence. The Japanese 11th Army, following the battle, formally designated the 74th Corps as a priority target — a "standing enemy" and directed its forces to seek out and destroy it in future operations. At the First Battle of Changsha that September, the 11th Army specifically oriented its forces against the 74th Corps, a testament to the lasting impression that corps's fierce resistance at Shanggao had made on its adversaries. The compliment of being specifically targeted by the enemy was one the 74th Corps had earned in blood at Shanggao's ridgelines and shattered bridges. More broadly, the battle was widely regarded at the time, and has been regarded since, as one of the most significant Chinese tactical victories of the first four years of the War of Resistance. Its significance lay not only in the casualties inflicted — those were contested and probably inflated in the Chinese records — but in what it demonstrated. The improving tactical and operational competence of the Nationalist Army was on display. The deliberate defense, the layered withdrawal, the coordinated encirclement — these were not the operations of an army that had been fighting desperately for survival since 1937 and had learned nothing. They were the operations of an army that had studied its defeats and adapted. Shanggao did not change the strategic situation in China. The front in Jiangxi remained where it had been; the Japanese still occupied Nanchang and the major cities; Chiang Kai-shek was still in Chongqing and the war was still far from over. But it demonstrated something important: that the Chinese Army, given capable commanders, a sound plan, and the discipline to execute it, could do more than survive Japanese offensives. It could reverse them, encircle them, and pursue them back to where they came from. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. In March–April 1940, Japanese forces attacked Shanggao with a limited, multi-pronged plan. Chinese troops used elastic defense and coordinated counter-moves, turning initial advantages into a trap. After intense fighting and air strikes, a coordinated encirclement and timely breakout routed the Japanese, forcing retreat despite their numbers in a costly battle.

history china battle japan fall war chinese japanese kings army chief tokyo captain resistance large tiger air force shanghai batteries assessing li frustrated corps wuhan contemporary surrounded divisions operational zhang warzone brigades generals battalion nationalists government accountability office surveying jing sixi liao sakurai chongqing hubei first battle pacific war lieutenant general infantry regiment hunan henan yangtze luo deputy commander chiang kai changsha second sino japanese war shigeru jiangxi xue china podcast north china central plains hankou imperial army chinese army anyi hunan province nanchang craig watson army group

英语新闻丨官方通报“鹅腿阿姨卖鸭腿”

china school chinese market public journalism beijing chen hashtags peking university tsinghua university henan renmin university xue

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2026 5:03

Beijing's market regulators have launched an official probe into the street vendor known as "goose leg auntie" after she admitted that the popular grilled legs she has sold for years are actually made from duck.北京知名摊主“鹅腿阿姨”承认，其多年售卖的网红烤腿实际为鸭腿。目前，北京市市场监管部门已对其展开正式调查。"We are verifying conduct suspected of misleading consumers and will handle the case according to the law," the Haidian district administration for market regulation said on Thursday, adding that authorities have immediately launched an investigation and questioned individuals involved.海淀区市场监管局于周四表示，目前正在核实涉嫌误导消费者的相关行为，将依法依规处理此案，同时已第一时间启动调查，并约谈相关当事人。The announcement came after Chen Xiufeng, 56, the vendor behind the nickname, confessed in a customer group chat that she had switched from goose legs to duck legs more than a decade ago but kept the name "goose leg auntie." Hashtags related to the incident quickly went viral on Chinese social media on Wednesday, drawing widespread criticism and calls for stronger consumer protection.56岁的摊主陈秀凤，也就是网友熟知的“鹅腿阿姨”，在顾客群聊中坦言，自己十多年前就将售卖的鹅腿换成了鸭腿，却一直保留“鹅腿阿姨”的名号。周三，相关话题迅速刷屏国内社交媒体，引发广泛舆论批评，网友纷纷呼吁加强消费者权益保护力度。Chen rose to fame in late 2023 when students from Peking University, Tsinghua University and Renmin University of China were seen lining up for hours at her stall.2023年末，北大、清华、人大三校学生为她的摊位排队数小时的画面走红网络，“鹅腿阿姨”就此爆火出圈。But on Tuesday, Chen posted an announcement in one of her customer group chats saying that the raw material is duck legs.但在本周二，陈秀凤在顾客群中发文承认，自己售卖的烤腿原材料为鸭腿。"I will make it clear in the future. If you mind, please do not place orders. The name ‘goose leg auntie' has been used for over 10 years. There is no fraud involved," she wrote.她写道：“以后我会标注清楚，介意的顾客请勿下单。‘鹅腿阿姨'这个名字已经用了十多年，我不存在欺诈行为。”The admission came after a customer in Beijing's central business area, Guomao, reported her to authorities. Chen also claimed in the group that she had been "reported by an office elite" and was "cooperating with relevant departments".此次事件曝光，源于一名北京国贸商圈的顾客向有关部门举报。陈秀凤也在群聊中表示，自己是被“职场精英举报”，目前正在配合相关部门调查。Hashtags about the incident quickly topped trending lists on Chinese social media. Many students expressed a sense of betrayal.该事件相关话题迅速登顶社交媒体热搜榜单，不少常年购买的学生表示深感被欺骗。Xue Siyuan, a master's student at Renmin University's School of Journalism, said that when he learned the supposed goose leg was actually duck, his first reaction was bewilderment.中国人民大学新闻学院硕士研究生薛思远表示，得知自己一直吃的鹅腿其实是鸭腿时，第一反应是十分错愕。He said he would not call himself angry, but rather "a little unsettled".他称自己谈不上愤怒，更多的是心里有些不舒服。Xue joined Chen's group-buy chat in May 2022, but did not try the grilled legs until around October that year.薛思远在2022年5月加入了摊主的团购群，同年10月左右才首次购买烤腿。"I always thought I was eating goose legs, because she promoted herself as ‘goose leg auntie' and sold ‘goose legs'," Xue recalled.薛思远回忆道：“她一直以‘鹅腿阿姨'自居，售卖的产品也标注为鹅腿，我从头到尾都以为自己吃的是鹅腿。”"It was really popular — getting a leg was almost impossible. She opened orders at fixed times every day, and you had to grab it the moment it opened," Xue said.他表示：“当时她家的烤腿特别火爆，根本很难抢到。每天固定时间开售，必须准时抢单才能买到。”Market data reveal a significant price difference between goose and duck legs. According to wholesale platform 1688.com, frozen duck legs cost only 2 to 3 yuan (30 to 44 cents) each, while goose legs are more expensive, at 6 to 7 yuan each.市场数据显示，鹅腿和鸭腿的成本差价悬殊。据1688批发平台数据，冷冻鸭腿单只成本仅2至3元，而冷冻鹅腿单只成本高达6至7元。As the controversy deepened, consumers came forward with photos showing that some of the roasted legs they had purchased appeared greenish in color. Chen's family responded that the green color came from a "vegetable juice marinade", describing it as their "secret recipe".随着舆论持续发酵，有消费者晒出照片，反映购买的烤腿表皮泛绿。对此，摊主家属回应称，烤腿发绿是使用了蔬菜汁酱料腌制所致，属于自家的秘制配方。Fu Jian, director of Henan Zejin Law Firm, told Dahe News — a newspaper in Henan — that by continuing to use the "goose leg" name to promote sales without informing customers of the ingredient change, Chen violated consumers' right to know and could face claims for triple damages under China's Consumer Rights Protection Law.河南泽槿律师事务所主任付建接受《大河报》采访时表示，摊主在未告知消费者食材更换的前提下，持续以“鹅腿”名义宣传售卖，侵犯了消费者的知情权，根据我国《消费者权益保护法》，消费者可主张三倍赔偿。The China Consumers Association told China Newsweek, a Beijing-based magazine, on Thursday that it had noticed the incident and would collect leads and report them to relevant government departments.中国消费者协会本周四向《中国新闻周刊》回应，已关注到此次事件，将收集相关线索并上报至主管部门。Chen said she switched from goose legs to duck legs after just one or two months when the supply of goose legs was cut off, but kept the name because longtime customers already knew about the change.摊主本人解释，早年摆摊一两个月后，鹅腿货源就出现断供，因此更换为鸭腿。她之所以保留原名，是认为老顾客都知晓这一情况。Public records show that between 2024 and 2026, Chen applied for multiple trademarks for the name "goose leg auntie" across various categories, some of which have been successfully registered.公开资料显示，2024年至2026年期间，陈秀凤曾多次申请“鹅腿阿姨”多品类商标，且部分商标已注册成功。revelation /ˌrevəˈleɪʃn/意外曝光；揭秘；真相披露backlash /ˈbæklæʃ/强烈反对；舆论反噬；负面反响probe /prəʊb/调查；核查，探究confess /kənˈfes/承认；坦白，供认bewilderment /bɪˈwɪldəmənt/困惑；错愕，茫然marinade /ˌmærɪˈneɪd/腌料；腌制酱汁

The Mechanics of Magick: Singing Bowls and the Ritual Physics of Resonance

TheOccultRejects

Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2026 97:35 Transcription Available

If you enjoy this episode, we're sure you will enjoy more content like this on The Occult Rejects. In fact, we have curated playlists on occult topics like grimoires, esoteric concepts and phenomena, occult history, analyzing true crime and cults with an occult lens, Para politics, and occultism in music. Whether you enjoy consuming your content visually or via audio, we've got you covered - and it will always be provided free of charge. So, if you enjoy what we do and want to support our work of providing accessible, free content on various platforms, please consider making a donation to the links provided below. Thank you and enjoy the episode!Links For The Occult Rejectshttps://linktr.ee/theoccultrejectsOccult Research Institutehttps://www.occultresearchinstitute.org/Cash Apphttps://cash.app/$theoccultrejectsVenmo@TheOccultRejectsBuy Me A Coffeebuymeacoffee.com/TheOccultRejectsPatreonhttps://www.patreon.com/TheOccultRejectsBibliographyThe Mechanics of Magick: Singing Bowls and the Ritual Physics of ResonanceCore Singing Bowl ResearchStanhope, Jessica, and Philip Weinstein. “The Human Health Effects of Singing Bowls: A Systematic Review.” Complementary Therapies in Medicine 51 (2020): 102412. Use for the honesty frame: promising findings around mental health and cardiovascular measures, but limited evidence and need for stronger study design.Cai, Yiqing, Guo-Yan Yang, Yibo Liu, Xiang-yun Zou, Heng Yin, Xinyan Jin, Xue-han Liu, Chenlu Wang, Nicola Robinson, and Jian-Ping Liu. “Therapeutic Effects of Singing Bowls: A Systematic Review of Clinical Studies.” Integrative Medicine Research 14, no. 2 (2025): 101144. Use for the newer clinical overview. Important correction: this appears as 101144, not 101176. Good for anxiety, depression, sleep quality, cognition, autistic behavior, and EEG-related outcomes while still keeping the evidence cautious.Lin, F. W., et al. “Effects of Tibetan Singing Bowl Intervention on Psychological and Physiological Health in Adults: A Systematic Review.” 2025. Useful as another recent review angle, especially for psychological health, physiological measures, HRV, and brainwave-related discussion. Keep it secondary behind Stanhope and Cai.Landry, Jayan Marie. “Physiological and Psychological Effects of a Himalayan Singing Bowl in Meditation Practice: A Quantitative Analysis.” American Journal of Health Promotion 28, no. 5 (2014): 306–309. Use for the controlled relaxation study: 51 participants, randomized crossover design, singing bowl exposure or silence before directed relaxation.Goldsby, Tamara L., Michael E. Goldsby, Mary McWalters, and Paul J. Mills. “Effects of Singing Bowl Sound Meditation on Mood, Tension, and Well-Being: An Observational Study.” Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine 22, no. 3 (2017): 401–406. Use for reductions in tension, anger, fatigue, depressed mood, anxiety, and stress after singing bowl meditation. Good, but frame as observational, not definitive.Rio-Alamos, Cristina, et al. “Acute Relaxation Response Induced by Tibetan Singing Bowl Sounds: A Randomized Controlled Trial.” European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education 13, no. 2 (2023): 317–328. Use for Tibetan singing bowl treatment compared with progressive muscle relaxation and a waiting-list control in anxious nonclinical adults.Walter, Nina, et al. “Neurophysiological Effects of a Singing Bowl Massage.” Medicina 58, no. 5 (2022): 594. Use for EEG, ECG, and respiration during singing bowl massage; the authors interpret the results as a shift toward a more mindful or meditative state.Goldsby, Tamara L., et al. “Mood, Emotional, and Spiritual Well-Being Interrelationships.” Religions 13, no. 2 (2022). Useful follow-up for spiritual well-being, emotional interpretation, and how people understand sound-healing experiences.Sound, Anxiety, HRV, and Brainwave CautionMallik, Adiel, and Frank A. Russo. “The Effects of Music & Auditory Beat Stimulation on Anxiety: A Randomized Clinical Trial.” PLOS ONE 17, no. 3 (2022): e0259312. Use this carefully for the broader point that sound-based treatments can reduce somatic and cognitive state anxiety. Do not use it as proof that singing bowls automatically entrain brainwaves.Ingendoh, Ruth Maria, Ella S. Posny, and Angela Heine. “Binaural Beats to Entrain the Brain? A Systematic Review of the Effects of Binaural Beat Stimulation on Brain Oscillatory Activity, and the Implications for Psychological Research and Intervention.” PLOS ONE 18, no. 5 (2023): e0286023. Very useful caution source. Use it when warning against overclaiming “brainwave entrainment” and frequency-healing claims.Vilímek, et al. 2022. Low-frequency sound / HRV / vibroacoustic-related research. Use cautiously if you want to discuss low-frequency vibration, body sensation, and autonomic response. I'd keep this as a secondary source unless you want a dedicated paragraph on vibroacoustics.Physics, Resonance, and CymaticsTerwagne, Denis, and John W. M. Bush. “Tibetan Singing Bowls.” Nonlinearity 24, no. 8 (2011): R51–R66. Use for the physics section: wall vibrations, water-surface waves, Faraday-wave effects, droplet motion, and the visible demonstration of resonance.Jenny, Hans. Cymatics: A Study of Wave Phenomena and Vibration. Newmarket, NH: MACROmedia, 2001. Use carefully for visual sound-pattern history. Good for imagery and occult imagination, but don't overuse it as clinical proof.Rossing, Thomas D. The Science of Sound. 3rd ed. San Francisco: Addison Wesley, 2002. Useful general acoustics source for resonance, overtones, vibration, sound waves, and instrument physics.Sound Baths, Wellness Culture, and Modern RitualSobo, Elisa J. “Sound Baths, Trauma Talk, and the Wellness Paradox in the USA.” Medical Anthropology 43, no. 5 (2024): 367–382. Excellent for the modern sound-bath/wellness-culture angle, especially trauma language, nervous-system talk, ritual performance, and how providers frame sound baths.Sobo, Elisa J. “A Beginner's Guide to Sound Baths — What They Are, How to Choose a Good One and What the Research Shows.” The Conversation (2024). Useful for accessible show-note language and ethical/practical framing.Sobo, Elisa J. “Healing Vibrations.” Anthropology News 64, no. 5 (2023): 28–32, 49. Good anthropology/public-facing source for sound healing and wellness culture.Tibetan Singing Bowls, History, and Cultural CommodificationGrimes, Samuel. “Where Did ‘Tibetan' Singing Bowls Really Come From?” Tricycle (2020). Use for the contested-history section. Strong source for questioning popular origin stories around “Tibetan” singing bowls.Joffe, Ben. “Anthropology and Tibetan Buddhism / Cultural Commodification / Tibetan Mystique.” 2015. Use for the larger argument about how Tibetan/Himalayan aura gets packaged in Western spiritual markets. Good support for the “Tibet as imagined storehouse of hidden wisdom” point.Scheidegger, Daniel A. “Tibetan Ritual Music.” Use for actual Tibetan Buddhist ritual sound: bells, cymbals, long horns, drums, chant, and liturgical soundscape. This helps separate real Tibetan ritual sound from overblown modern singing-bowl mythology.Lopez, Donald S. Prisoners of Shangri-La: Tibetan Buddhism and the West. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1998. Excellent support for Western romanticization of Tibet.Bishop, Peter. The Myth of Shangri-La: Tibet, Travel Writing, and the Western Creation of Sacred Landscape. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1989. Very useful for the “Tibet as fantasy geography” angle.Ritual, Sound, and Religious ExperienceEliade, Mircea. Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1964. Use carefully. Good for altered-state technologies and ritual sound/trance, but don't treat it as the final word on shamanism.Rouget, Gilbert. Music and Trance: A Theory of the Relations Between Music and Possession. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1985. Excellent for sound, music, trance, possession, rhythm, and ritual performance.Becker, Judith. Deep Listeners: Music, Emotion, and Trancing. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2004. Strong source for deep listening, music, emotion, trance, and the body.Husserl, Edmund. On the Phenomenology of the Consciousness of Internal Time. Useful if you want to get philosophical about tone, decay, waiting, and how sound reveals time.Ihde, Don. Listening and Voice: Phenomenologies of Sound. Albany: SUNY Press, 2007. Good for sound as experience, listening, voice, and embodied perception.Placebo, Meaning Response, and Healing RitualMoerman, Daniel E. Meaning, Medicine and the “Placebo Effect.” Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002. Use for “meaning response” instead of treating placebo as “fake.”Benedetti, Fabrizio. Placebo Effects: Understanding the Mechanisms in Health and Disease. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009. Useful for placebo mechanisms, expectation, physiology, and therapeutic context.Kaptchuk, Ted J., and Franklin G. Miller. “Placebo Effects in Medicine.” New England Journal of Medicine 373 (2015): 8–9. Good short medical source for placebo effects as real psychobiological phenomena.Csordas, Thomas J. The Sacred Self: A Cultural Phenomenology of Charismatic Healing. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1994. Useful for healing, embodiment, ritual, and religious experience.Embodied Cognition, Extended Mind, and Ritual ToolsClAlso want to remind people about the website, if you're into reading we have tons of information by multiple contributors, and we got t-shirts up on the site if you're interested. Fun fact, the art is all based on the eyeball. A

united states music history health conversations education guide anxiety sound west religion brain fun psychology western medicine emotional myth journal disease effects bush consciousness emotion ritual mood hans implications investigation tension physics psychological lopez intervention mechanics possession denis anthropology medicina becker tibet vibration placebos tibetans ecstasy vil resonance magick american journal mechanisms edmund liu hrv alternative medicine new england journal eeg fabrizio good one newmarket physiological chicago press zou ecg health promotion tibetan buddhists cai california press faraday european journal plos one placebo effect phenomenology systematic review binaural beats benedetti tricycle travel writing joffe singing bowls stanhope psychological effects mircea sobo xiang medical anthropology sound baths husserl cambridge cambridge university press oxford oxford university press chicago university berkeley university clinical studies complementary therapies tibetan singing bowls embodied cognition adiel psychological research goldsby rouget entrain xue occult rejects placebo effects rossing paul j mills

3.197 Fall and Rise of China: First Battle of Changsha

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2026 42:07

Last time we spoke about the beginning of the first battle of Changsha. From Chongqing, Chiang debated defensive strategies for Hunan, ultimately adopting Plan B after Xue Yue's pleas, focusing on successive resistance north of Changsha to thwart Japanese advances. Japanese forces, under Okamura Yasuji, launched assaults in Jiangxi and Hunan. In Jiangxi, the 106th and 101st Divisions attacked Huibu and Gao'an, where Chinese troops under Luo Zhuoying and Song Kentang fiercely resisted. Gao'an fell briefly but was recaptured by the 32nd Army and the elite 74th Army, with heavy casualties on both sides, as recounted by soldier Liu Qihuai. In Hunan, Japanese units crossed the Xin Qiang River and landed at Yingtian, facing brutal opposition. At Bijia Mountain, Qin Yizhi's 195th Division held for four days; Battalion Commander Shi Enhua's reinforced unit perished entirely, their fragmented remains mourned by locals. Along the Miluo River, Chen Pei's 37th Army fortified positions, repelling waves of Japanese attacks, including suicide squads disguised as civilians. Recruit Yang Peyao's unit endured bombardments, inflicting significant enemy losses before withdrawing at dusk. #197 The First Battle of Changsha Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. Major Luo Wenlang, battalion commander of the 3rd Battalion, 55th Regiment, 19th Division of the 28th Army, harbored a peculiar quirk: he couldn't sleep soundly without unwrapping his leg bindings, a small ritual that anchored him in the chaos of war. Since the war's eruption, such luxuries were rare, and unwrapping his bindings every night became an impossibility, leaving him to endure restless slumbers. Tonight, however, sleep eluded him entirely; he tossed and turned on his makeshift bed, his mind a whirlwind of unrest. Two days after the northern Hunan battle ignited like a powder keg, the 55th Regiment received urgent orders from Division Commander Tang Boyin to race to Wukou in Pingjiang County. Their path wound through Luo Wenlang's hometown of Fulinpu, a twist of fate that stirred conflicting emotions. Entering the village under the cover of night, the entire battalion encamped in the commander's modest family village, with battalion headquarters naturally established in his ancestral home. Luo yearned to step across that familiar threshold but dreaded it, for his parents remained oblivious to a devastating truth. They slaughtered chickens and prepared meat, hosting the battalion staff with drinks and hospitality, after all, this was their son's unit gracing their home. Luo orchestrated door planks and straw for bedding, posted sentries, and deftly evaded his parents until they retired. Before dawn broke, he mustered the troops, ensured they were fed, and led them onward, slipping away like a shadow. By noon on the 22nd, they reached Wukou, only to receive fresh directives: rush to Yingtian to bolster the 95th Division against the enemy's audacious landings. The 3rd Battalion spearheaded the division's reinforcements, marching relentlessly through day and night, arriving at Dongtang, over 30 kilometers southeast of Yingtian—on the 23rd, hearts sinking upon learning Yingtian had already fallen into enemy clutches. Luo Wenlang sought out the retreating 95th Division Commander Luo Qi to beg for a mission, his resolve unyielding. Luo Qi, anticipating his arrival, relayed Commander Guan Linzheng's ironclad instructions: The 19th Division's reinforcements would assume Dongtang's defenses. With the main force still en route, Luo Qi tasked Luo's battalion with relieving a segment held by a replacement regiment. He handed over a map, sketching a line with a pencil, a simple stroke that thrust Luo Wenlang and his men onto the front lines of fate. An operations staff was dispatched to guide them to the position and oversee the handover. As the troops advanced, they encountered scattered soldiers fleeing like startled rabbits; seizing a platoon leader revealed they were indeed from the replacement regiment. Mere minutes from division HQ, the enemy was already closing in, a predator's breath hot on their necks. Luo Wenlang and Deputy Battalion Commander Wu Yacui split the battalion, launching a counterattack on Dongtang from dual routes. Fortune favored them; the Japanese held only an exhausted company, crumbling under a single, ferocious charge. They swiftly deployed two companies to the positions, reserving one as a bulwark. By dusk, the full 55th Regiment arrived, accompanied by the rest of the 19th Division's reinforcements, allowing the battered 95th Division, ravaged at Yingtian, to withdraw for desperate reorganization. The regimental commander positioned Luo's 3rd Battalion on the regiment's vulnerable left wing. In the blink of an eye, it was the 27th, aligning with the 15th of the eighth lunar month. Amid the relentless great battle, few noted the calendar, and the skies hung heavy with clouds. Luo Wenlang twisted on his straw bed, his thoughts a snarled knot of anxiety and memory. At 11 p.m., gunfire shattered the night; a barrage of machine gun bullets riddled the battalion HQ house, raining thatch and dust upon Luo like fallout from a storm. Catastrophe had struck! Luo surged toward the positions with the bugler—his battalion signal chief—and the reserve force, ascending the hilltop in a frenzy. Halfway up, he spotted 8th Company's Lieutenant Platoon Leader Rong Fayu leading over 20 soldiers in retreat. Bellowing "Why unauthorized retreat?" while brandishing his pistol, he compelled Rong to rally and turn back. The Japanese had launched a nocturnal assault; 8th Company Commander Yi Zuitao lay slain by a fatal shot, over a dozen comrades felled in brutal close combat, the survivors scattered like leaves in the wind; the high ground now belonged to the enemy. Upon learning of Dongtang's loss, the regimental commander personally led the regimental reserve, his face etched with urgency. Under flickering lantern light, poring over the map with Luo, Division Commander Tang Boyin telephoned, his voice a whipcrack of command: Recapture it before dawn, or both would face the merciless hand of military justice. After seizing the high ground, the enemy hesitated to press further; Luo surmised the darkness concealed paths, and their numbers were not overwhelming. Forgoing the regimental reserve, he led 7th Company's 4 squads and remnants of the routed 8th Company in a stealthy ascent. Near the position, a ravine concealed over 20 8th Company soldiers, rallied by Sergeant Squad Leader Tan Tianrong, who had lurked in wait for reinforcements, dreading exposure at dawn under the enemy's gaze. Spotting the battalion commander personally spearheading the counterattack, Tan Tianrong's face lit with fierce joy; his men, armed with grenades, surged as the vanguard. Intimate with the terrain even in blindness, they hurled explosives into bunkers, trenches, and works. The commander orchestrated the charge; the Japanese force of 40-50 men crumbled, over half slain or maimed, the remnants fleeing northward to their village stronghold. It was past 4 a.m.; the moon pierced the clouds, bathing the earth in a silvery glow. With positions reclaimed, the night revealed its secret: tonight was Mid-Autumn. Moonlight unraveled the tangled threads of his past; Luo draped his clothes over his shoulders, sat beneath the luminous orb, and wept in solitary anguish. Before the war, devastating news had arrived: his brother Luo Yinong had been killed in Jiangxi. Luo had three brothers; the eldest shouldered half the family's burdens, their bond unbreakable. The brother had enlisted first in the 50th Army, climbing to battalion commander through sheer valor. He and his younger brother had followed suit, inspired by that call to arms. Wartime conscription demanded only one per family, but battling the devils was a duty for the nation and its people. His brother had risen to deputy regimental commander before his end. The 50th Army notified him first. Engulfed in battle, there had been no time to console his grieving parents or tend to the funeral; it weighed on his heart like an unyielding stone. His sister-in-law, diligent and unassuming, cared for a young boy and carried another child; the long, arduous days ahead loomed like an endless shadow. The night dew brought a biting chill, the moon an icy sentinel; Luo shivered uncontrollably, his tears mingling with the frost. The sky hung heavy with overcast gloom, yet the moon lurked beyond the clouds, casting a faint, ethereal light that warded off utter darkness. Along the road, a unit's elongated black shadow snaked southward in hurried silence, a serpent of weary resolve pressing through the night. Qin Yizhi reined in his horse, pausing to gaze back: the queue stretched onward, silent and impeccably orderly, belying the exhaustion of a force scarred by days of ferocious combat, their spirits unbroken amid the shadows. After the Japanese seized the 195th Division's defiant outpost at Bijia Mountain, they surged across the Xin Qiang River in a merciless onslaught. The river, shallow enough to wade knee-deep, offered no true impediment; the real barrier was forged from the defenders' scorching blood, a crimson testament to their unyielding stand. The 195th Division clashed in a maelstrom of cruelty; positions were heaped with corpses time and again, the Xin Qiang's waters churning blood-red in relentless cycles of carnage. From the night of the 23rd to the dawn of the 25th, respite was a forgotten dream; Okamura Yasuji, in a gesture of grim respect, inscribed Qin's name in elegant calligraphy and hung it within his command tent, a haunting trophy of the foe's tenacity. Following their triumphant landing at Yingtian, the Japanese entangled the Ninth War Zone's left-wing defenders in a protracted snare, their advances grinding slowly like a predator toying with prey, menacing the flanks of the frontal troops with insidious intent. On the evening of the 27th, Xue Yue issued the fateful order for the 15th Army Group to withdraw to the precarious ground between the Miluo River and Shangshan City, ushering this blood-soaked force into an all-night march toward the next defensive crucible. Late into the night, a brief halt was called. Soldiers slumped to the ground, adjusting leg wraps and gear with mechanical precision; logistics teams darted through the ranks, distributing rations like lifelines; cooks, having forged ahead, arrived with steaming pots of rice soup, infusing the air with a rare warmth. Though no clamor broke the hush, a quiet camaraderie enveloped the queue, a fleeting balm against the war's chill. The division staff claimed a flat expanse beside a farmhouse yard for their respite. Qin settled onto a stone roller used for grinding grain, nibbling at his meager ration and sipping the hot soup that steamed in the cool air. Suddenly, moonlight pierced the clouds, cascading down in silvery streams; the familiar contours of the farmhouse stirred a flood of warmth in his heart, evoking memories of home. Chongqing, Huangshan Villa. Every window was shrouded in double layers of thick curtains, sealing out any sliver of betraying light, as if the very walls conspired to guard secrets from the encroaching night. Tonight's ethereal protagonist rose languidly from the eastern valley, its orange-red moonlight casting an aura of drowsy reluctance, as though it had not fully shaken off the slumber of the day. The feeble glow dappled the building's roof, balcony, and the surrounding hillsides, intersections, and thickets, where armed shadows lurked, capturing every rustle in the oppressive silence. Only upon close inspection could one discern the faint specks of moonlight glinting off steel helmets. Yet, beyond those fortified walls, another realm pulsed with life, a vibrant contrast to the shadowed vigilance outside. The front hall, living room, and dining room blazed with brilliant light. Vibrant flowers, dominated by chrysanthemums in full, defiant bloom, infused the air with color and fragrance; a phonograph murmured a cheerful Guangdong melody, weaving an atmosphere thick with festive joy, a deliberate illusion amid the storm of war. Chiang Kai-shek, clad in a flowing black silk gown, strode ahead with poised grace, escorting his guests into the dining room alongside the elegantly attired Soong May-ling, their conversation laced with laughter and warmth. At the table, Soong May-ling's smile was a beacon of diplomacy, as she artfully arranged the seating to suit hierarchies and alliances, while servers in crisp white uniforms moved with nimble precision. This was Chiang Kai-shek's intimate Mid-Autumn family banquet; beyond a handful of pivotal military and political figures, the gathering brimmed with relatives. Guests and kin alike noted Chiang's buoyant spirits tonight; his smiles were wide and genuine, his discourse light and expansive, delving into casual topics with uncharacteristic ease. In September 1939, China's War of Resistance Against Japan had entered its grueling third year. After the initial cataclysm of turmoil and disarray, the government and military had clawed their way to stability, adapting to this unprecedented historical crucible, with operations finally aligning into a semblance of order. According to figures proclaimed by Minister of Military Affairs He Yingqin to Chinese and foreign reporters on the 13th of this month, Japanese invaders had seized 521 counties across 12 provinces, a vast swath of conquest. Yet, the Japanese imperialists had exacted this toll at a staggering cost. Just prior, on August 30, the Hirannuma Cabinet, installed a mere eight months earlier, had collapsed in mass resignation. Hirannuma Kiichiro's predecessor, Konoe Fumimaro, had similarly bowed out amid governmental failures, chiefly the unmet ambitions in the Sino-Japanese War that he had boldly promised to parliament, exacerbating domestic political and economic woes. Days ago, when Wang Pengsheng briefed Chiang on Japan's turbulent politics, he quipped: "Konoe said three months to destroy China; three months didn't work, nor three years, who knows about 30 or 300. Hirannuma had no solutions, down in eight months. Does Abe have good ideas? How long can he be prime minister?" Indeed, Abe Nobuyuki, Hirannuma's successor, would endure a mere four and a half months before resigning in ignominy. Tonight's feast showcased Chiang's favored cuisines: delicate Jiangsu-Zhejiang dishes mingled with robust Sichuan flavors. Chiang abstained from alcohol, raising his cup in mere symbolic toasts to his guests. During the meal, as if by unspoken accord, no one broached the raging domestic battles or the volatile international landscape; conversations meandered through trivialities, skirting anything heavy or discordant, a fragile bubble of normalcy. On September 3, Britain and France had declared war on Germany, shattering the global order in a seismic shift. Foreign newspapers already bandied the term "Second World War," a phrase that evoked freshness, exhilaration, and sheer terror in equal measure. China's diplomacy surged with newfound vigor. In April, Ambassador to the US Wang Zhengting had negotiated a $20 million loan with American banks on China's behalf. In May, Stalin responded to Chiang's overtures, agreeing to exchange arms for Chinese tea, wool, raw hides, and more. A month later, the first consignment of light and heavy weapons—including artillery and heavy machine guns—arrived via clandestine routes through Xinjiang and Mongolia, bolstering the central army's frontlines. In August, Hu Shih, Wellington Koo, and Chien Tai represented the Nationalist Government at the 19th League of Nations Assembly, laying bare the Japanese imperialists' atrocities in China before the world and rallying global forces for peace to support China's defiant stand. Soon after, British and American civic groups ignited "China Week" campaigns, pressing their governments to aid the beleaguered nation. Waves of foreign volunteers streamed in from distant shores: doctors, journalists, ordnance engineers, even retired soldiers clamoring to join the fray on the frontlines. "If we could pull America into this war..." Through Soong May-ling's subtle, persuasive influence, Chiang allowed himself to daydream of that prosperous, dynamic young powerhouse across the vast ocean. Thus, on this Mid-Autumn night, his talk turned to America, to his correspondence with President Roosevelt regarding the "tung oil loan." That saga had unfolded the previous October; T.V. Soong had jetted to America, securing a loan with China's tung oil, a commodity scarce in the US, as collateral. China had boldly requested $400 million; America countered with $25 million, a classic tale of "ask high, settle low." Yet, the funds were secured. One success paved the way for many. Soong May-ling had once confided to Chiang: "In mobilizing US aid for China's resistance, I'll make a difference." When Chiang responded with a smile, "Thank you, Madam," he could scarcely foresee how his beautiful wife's extraordinary prowess in fulfilling this solemn vow would astonish him, etching eternal glory for Chinese women worldwide and elevating Soong May-ling to the zenith of her life's achievements. The most direct echo of the First Battle of Changsha's thunderous saga resides in the Ninth War Zone's meticulous report on the northern Hunan and southern Hubei operations, submitted to the Chongqing Military Committee and Chiang Kai-shek himself, a faded relic now entombed amid the vast ocean of Nationalist Government military and political archives in Nanjing's Second Historical Archives of China. This document, a painstaking compilation of combat dispatches from divisions, armies, and army groups, stands as a testament to valor and sacrifice. Tragically, time's relentless march and human folly have ravaged this priceless artifact, leaving only shards and whispers to conjure the heart-wrenching inferno of that bloody clash. "October 24, Year 28. Urgent. To Chongqing. Chairman Chiang. Secret. Submitted by Commander Xue on orders." The rice paper has yellowed to a deep, somber hue, brittle and parched; a careless touch could reduce it to dust. Some pages lie fractured, their remnants affixed to white paper, forever unable to reclaim their original wholeness. Leafing through page by page unleashes a pungent miasma, a scorched, acrid, decayed blend that assaults the senses. Traces of fire and water mar the original rice paper sheets, with countless fragments glued haphazardly to white backings, their sequences lost to eternity. "...The Xin Qiang River spanning from Lujiao to Leishi Mountain, defending a front of over 110 li..." "Enemy 13th and 33rd Divisions, parts of the Hata Detachment, naval units, and artillery, cavalry, engineers totaling..." "...Began attacking us first with artillery... fortifications completely destroyed, then infantry charged; relying on our officers and men all resolved to coexist with the homeland..." "...And launched balloons to direct artillery... our army braved the cannons... repelled them, corpses filling the river, turning the water red..." "Division casualties also reached over a thousand... failed to inflict greater strikes and annihilate... deep inner guilt, besides vigorously training troops awaiting orders to kill the enemy..." "...Attack casualties heavy, then concentrated large forces... artillery fire so dense like continuous firecrackers for hours... released poison gas, Wang Street garrison all heroically sacrificed, then breached... Zhao Gongwu kowtows, October 15" Zhao Gongwu commanded the 2nd Division under Zhang Yaoming's 52nd Army. This unit first held the line along the Xin Qiang River, then fell back to northeast of Fengjiang Bridge to staunch the enemy tide once more; after October 6, it hammered southward-marching Japanese from the west in the Yanglin Street and Dajing Street regions. Through these crucibles, the division bled over half its strength. A fragment of an envelope clings to a sheet of white paper, its words faintly visible: "Changsha 126-3 Zhang Yaoming," "Hunan Jinjing Air Mail," "Combat Process by..." and the like. The stamp remains remarkably intact—a philatelic gem now. Measuring 1.5 cm square, it features Sun Yat-sen's portrait at its center, inscribed "Republic of China Post" below, with "5" in the upper right, "fen" to the left, and "5" in each lower corner. I sat at the long table in the spacious, brightly lit reading room, staring vacantly, my thoughts grinding to a halt. These remnants are all that endure for posterity, of that monumental battle, of the scorching blood and vanished lives of countless unnamed Chinese soldiers. With hands that once gripped a rifle, I gently caressed those pages from a bygone era; they were cold, devoid of any lingering breath. As the full moon of the 15th of the eighth month dissolved into the golden-red blaze of sunrise, Qin Yizhi's 195th Division had already plunged into the rugged mountains and dense forests encircling Fulinpu. Per directives from 15th Army Group Commander Guan Linzheng, the 195th was to forge a new defensive bastion centered on Fulinpu, 40 to 70 kilometers from Changsha. Their mandate: stall the Japanese southward juggernaut, granting precious time for allied forces to muster and fortify around the city. Despite the grueling all-night march, morale soared undimmed. The advance chief of staff doled out positions to each regiment, and the troops dove into fortification labors with fervent zeal. The 195th Division's unyielding stand along the Xin Qiang River had already etched preliminary glory upon this unit in its baptism of fire. "Fame in one battle" echoed as a battle cry throughout the division, where collective honor intertwined with personal valor. Honor and triumph formed the bedrock for soldiers and armies alike. Yet, another fire fueled their resolve. On September 23, amid the Japanese forcing the Xin Qiang River, Guan Linzheng's voice crackled over the phone to Qin Yizhi: "Facing you is the 6th Division." The 6th Division, a name that ignited fury in Chinese troops and civilians, forever linked to the demonic specter of Tani Hisao. Moments later, the whisper spread like wildfire through every trench: "The Japanese army that perpetrated the Nanjing Massacre is right in front." Agitation rippled through the ranks; some donned fresh uniforms and shoes from their packs, casting aside the worn; others flouted discipline to bid farewells to hometown comrades: "Today we fight to the death here; see you in the next life." "Tell my mother I died fighting the Nanjing Massacre enemies." Some company commanders commanded their mess sergeants to expend all funds on hearty feasts. All Japanese were foes, but the 6th Division embodied a blood debt, an unforgivable vendetta; the Chinese nation does not lightly forget its tormentors. In the Xin Qiang River maelstrom, the 195th Division battled with heroic ferocity. Some soldiers, in their final breaths, murmured: "Die then; it's worth it." Others lamented slaying too few devils, gritting teeth, eyes refusing to close in eternal regret. Now under Inaba Shiro's command, the 6th Division splintered southward after breaching the Xin Qiang; roughly a thousand hounded the 195th to Fulinpu. On the morning of September 29, the Japanese blundered into the 195th's meticulously laid ambush. Qin Yizhi, pulse racing with excitement and tension, fumbled the binoculars from his guard's hand. His command sliced the air: "Begin." War history chronicles: "The 6th Division advanced south from the Miluo River along the Xinshi-Liqiao road and Xinshi-Fulinpu routes. The over a thousand reaching Fulinpu were ambushed by the Nationalist 195th Division, suffering heavy losses." As Japanese artillery and aircraft unleashed hell upon the 195th's positions, Qin orchestrated a swift southward withdrawal to the environs of Shangshan City. Again, without pause, they erected fortifications and set deadly traps. On the morning of September 30, the pursuers from Fulinpu closed in on Shangshan, their numbers swollen to over 1,500. Qin Yizhi clenched his jaw, his demeanor icy calm, allowing the Japanese to creep into the kill zone before barking: "Hit them hard!" Combat raged from dawn to dusk, obliterating over 700 foes. Qin ascended a hill, surveying through binoculars, then erupted: "Bad! The enemy is retreating." Upon receiving Qin's telegram, Guan Linzheng scrutinized the map, momentarily stunned, then replied: "Enemy shows no retreat signs yet; proceed per original plan. Your unit to block at Shangshan City line until October 2." Xianning, Okamura Yasuji's 11th Army HQ. Combat maps bristled with markings, staff officers darting amid ringing phones and clattering telegrams. The colossal red arrow in northern Hunan had fractured into tributaries, surging over 100 km southward from the outset; one tendril pierced to Yong'an City, a mere 30 km from Changsha. Vast swaths of northern Hunan lay conquered, yet Okamura sensed the tide turning, it was time to retreat. The Chinese employed their time-honored gradual resistance, battling while retreating with cunning grace. Some units fell back directly, others amassed on flanks—what portent did that hold? In Okamura's shrewd mind loomed an equally shrewd Xue Yue; he envisioned his adversary methodically weaving a snare. Post-Yingtian landing, the 15th Army Group's timely evasion had unraveled his "Xiang-Gan Operation Plan" like fragile thread. If encircling and annihilating the Chinese main force proved unattainable, what purpose in pressing onward? Telegrams from 3rd Division's Fujita Susumu, 6th's Inaba Shiro, and 13th's Tanaka Seiichi piled on his desk, pleading to assault Changsha—for headlines and Imperial accolades, perhaps, but blind to their exposed supply lines vulnerable to enemy thrusts? Ground logistics teetered on collapse; the air force resorted to airdrops for isolated regiments. Venturing further south would stretch lines to breaking; a severed artery spelled doom for the vanguard. When would these commanders mature into true stewards of the Imperial Army? Okamura fretted and pitied them in equal measure. At 4 p.m. on September 30, Okamura decreed a halt to advances at Shangshan and Yong'an. He commenced orchestrating the retreat. Changsha, Yuelu Mountain, Ninth War Zone Command Forward HQ. October 1. Xue Yue stood before the map, Guan's latest telegram clutched in hand. Qin's second missive insisted on Japanese withdrawal, corroborated by 15th Army Group scouts from Yingtian: This morning (October 1), Japanese transports unloaded artillery stowed the previous night, hauling it back to Yueyang; intercepted wires revealed a regiment aborting its southward push, standing idle. Guan assessed the mosaic and commanded counteroffensives: intercept if feasible, pursue relentlessly, deny the Japanese escape; he relayed retreat indicators to Xue. Xue paced the chamber, head bowed in contemplation. Chief of Staff Wu Yizhi, Staff Director Zhao Zili, and their cadre tracked his every step with expectant eyes, awaiting the verdict. Xue's thoughts whirled through military stratagems and beyond. Pre-war, Xue had segmented the war zone's forces into tripartite blocs: Northern Hunan under Guan Linzheng's 15th, Yang Sen's 27th, and Shang Zhen's 20th Army Groups as "A Cluster"; Northern Jiangxi Nanchang with Yunnan Army Lu Han's 1st Army Group and the 74th Army as "B Cluster"; the Wuning, Xiushui, Hunan-Hubei-Jiangxi border guarded by Sichuan Army Wang Lingji's 30th Army Corps, Fan Songpu's Border Advance Army, and 8th Army; augmented by 3 armies' 7 divisions in general reserve. Before the storm broke, Xue pored over maps, tracing every mountain, river, road, and bridge, envisioning burial grounds for the invaders. Now, beneath Changsha, 200,000 troops formed a tightening net. The "decisive battle in Changsha suburbs" blueprint had been wired to Chongqing. Chiang and the nation yearned for a resounding triumph as the resistance pivoted into a new epoch?! A masterful drama, honed over half a month's toil, neared its crescendo; yet that cunning fox appeared to sniff the trap's metallic tang, freezing in place. "Commander, phone from Minister Chen." "Brother Boling, good news." Chen Cheng's voice brimmed with levity, "Your formal appointment published. What? Ninth War Zone Commander! First to congratulate; document tomorrow." Shedding the "acting" prefix was inevitable; Chiang had intimated as much long ago. But for a man and general, true worth lay not in titles, but in forging indelible feats. Splendor was judged not by underlings, colleagues, or superiors, but by peers in the craft of war. Unmoved by the promotion, Xue exhaled a profound sigh. Though the 15th's intelligence couldn't confirm a wholesale retreat, preparations for dual contingencies were imperative. Victories came hard; a splendid battle, harder still. He summoned Wu Yizhi and Zhao Zili to devise countermeasures for the enemy's potential flight. October 2, Sichuan Army Yang Sen's 27th Army Group, Yang Gancai's 134th Division special service company, under Company Commander Wan Mingyu, slogged through the profound mountains and forests on the northern Mufu Mountains' flanks. The 134th's covert mandate: infiltrate enemy rear via treacherous terrain, sabotage supply arteries in the Chongyang-Xianning sector, and deliver a dagger to the Japanese spine when opportunity struck, bolstering frontal defenses. Past 3 p.m., a crystalline mountain stream materialized. Wan decreed a respite. Over 100 soldiers, drained from a half-day's ascent, collapsed like puppets with severed strings. Most propped their torsos with rifles in one hand, fanning hats to ward off the relentless forest mosquitoes with the other. Regaining breath, they devoured rations washed down with stream water. Some unfurled towels and ventured downstream, letting the cool flow rinse away layers of sweat. Then, a muted engine drone encroached from the heavens. Wan peered through the foliage: a low-flying plane vectored southward, its wings emblazoned with the Rising Sun. A transport; Wan recognized the temporary Japanese airfield near Xianning. With lines overextended, airdrops sustained isolated units. Wan was prying open a can with his bayonet, the tip etching a cross on the lid before levering along the edge; paired with a rice ball, it promised a savory repast. His orderly proffered a cup of fresh stream water; 2nd Platoon Leader Hu Yaozong perched nearby on a rock, smirking, poised to pilfer from the opened tin. Wan warded off this Sichuan Pixian compatriot. The plane droned overhead then. Both glanced skyward; the platoon quipped: "Open quick, damn, I'll repay two cans later." Commander: "Want cans? Sky has; shoot plane down, enough for two lifetimes, bloat your mother-in-law first." The can hailed from a prior supply raid. Platoon: "You want me to shoot the plane?" Commander: "Bastard! You shooting or not?" The platoon snatched the light machine gun from a tree fork, jamming the butt against his belly, one hand on the grip, aiming crudely: "Come down, you turtle son!" The other hand squeezed the trigger. Wan assumed jest, resuming his task. "Da-da-da..." Wan jolted; the half-opened can tumbled to his feet, spilling Japanese fish onto Chinese soil. Recoil floored the platoon; he hurled the gun like a branding iron, face ashen. Inspecting the trigger, he snarled: "Whose damn fault, why no safety?!" The gunner dashed over; tall and even-tempered: "Safety was on; how'd it fire without pulling?" Wan's initial panic: "Damn! Position exposed." The company spearheaded the division's reinforced regiment to raze a recent Japanese depot, guarded by a mere company—but exposure doomed the regiment deep in hostile territory. The assault had been plotted for days; pre-departure, Yang Gancai had toasted them. Wan had sworn a blood oath: No return to Sichuan without success. Hu had jested then: "No Sichuan return means wanting Hunan girl as concubine." Banter was fine in peace, but in war's grip, this was no trifling errand. Wan unleashed a torrent of curses, rising to survey the environs. The main force lagged 15 km behind; advance or abort post-blunder? Enemy rear was a labyrinth; this isolated band teetered on a razor's edge. As if to compel a choice, the radio operator approached; Wan itched to lash out. In his fury and indecision, a miracle unfolded. The transport's engines hacked like a consumptive invalid, then a witness spied the plane banking left, plummeting, its nose inexorably toward a colossal rock 3-4 km distant. It rebounded twice on the stone, nose and left wing crumpling; the fuselage, fragile as parchment, tumbled gently, skewing onto the slope amid splintered trees. Wan gaped, then bellowed: "Assemble!" The men snapped from reverie, charging downhill in a frenzied cascade. One hour later, 134th Deputy Commander and Reinforced Regiment Commander Liu decoded Wan's vanguard transmission via radio. Another hour passed before Liu received Yang Gancai's directive: Abort Mountain Leopard operation; return with documents expeditiously. One day hence, October 3, Okamura Yasuji's original retreat order from October 2 dawn, addressed to northern Hunan's 6th, 33rd Divisions, Nara and Uemura Detachments, plus its Chinese translation, landed on Xue Yue's desk. Fifteen days later, at the Changsha Victory Celebration, unit accolades were proclaimed; for "shooting down enemy plane, obtaining vital enemy documents," meritorious honors went to 134th Commander Yang Gancai and Deputy Liu. Each received 1000 yuan and one 3rd Class Baoding Medal. Okamura's October 2 order original: Chinese forces retreated to Miluo and Xiushui Rivers banks assembling; to avoid disadvantage, this army should quickly withdraw to original positions, restore combat strength. Withdrawal plan as follows: … Xue's October 3 order original: "Northern Hunan frontal units with current posture immediately pursue facing enemy fiercely, must capture in Chongyang-Yueyang south area. ... Pursuit units may detach part to monitor and sweep enemy collection troops; main force execute overtaking pursuit... Already deep behind enemy advance units vigorously destroy enemy transport lines, cut escape routes." From October 3, Chinese forces unleashed ferocious counteroffensives against the Japanese on three fronts: northern Hunan, southern Hubei, and the Hunan-Hubei-Jiangxi border; the invaders receded like a vanishing tide, never to reclaim their ground. The 25th and 195th Divisions hounded the 6th Division and Nara Detachment from Fulinpu back to the Miluo River, then to the Xin Qiang River. On October 8, the Japanese fled across the Xin Qiang; the 195th's 566th Brigade surged in pursuit, launching a nocturnal raid on Xitang-Jianshan. Gains were modest, but the enemy, entrenched in their den, resisted with feral tenacity. Qin commanded the brigade's withdrawal southward; northern Hunan operations concluded. In southern Hubei, the 79th Army chased remnants of the 33rd Division from Sanyan Bridge to Pingjiang, across Nanjiang Bridge, hounding them back to their Tongcheng lair. On the Hunan-Hubei-Jiangxi border, 30th Army Group Commander Wang Lingji orchestrated a pincer against Japanese at Xiushui. The foes retreated to Sandu, mounting a stubborn defense. Chinese assaults faltered for three days; on the fourth night's blitz, victory crowned their efforts, expelling the invaders to their original Wuning stronghold. With both armies reclaiming pre-war lines, the First Battle of Changsha drew to its resounding close. Over days, Xue Yue received a deluge of congratulatory telegrams and letters from the Nationalist Government, Military Committee, National Assembly, myriad civic groups, party officials, and social luminaries. As hoped, among them was Chiang Kai-shek's effusive missive, brimming with joy. For Xue Yue, this one sufficed. Chiang Kai-shek's telegram to Xue Yue: "In this northern Hunan campaign, over half the enemy was annihilated. The triumphant news has invigorated the nation, all due to effective command and soldiers' valor; I commend without reservation. Thoroughly investigate and report meritorious personnel from this battle; also report the dead and wounded for awards and relief. With this initial victory foundation laid, our officers and men's responsibilities grow heavier; urge your subordinates to extra vigilance, redoubled effort, avoiding arrogance or complacency, to amass great achievements, my deepest hopes." As if countering Chongqing's high-powered broadcasts, Japanese radios in Wuhan, Nanjing, Beiping, and Manchukuo blared at full volume: "In this Xiang-Gan operation, valiant Imperial forces penetrated over 100 km into northern Hunan, sweeping anti-peace elements, routing Chinese central main forces, inflicting over 40,000 enemy casualties, a pivotal triumph advancing the holy war. Having achieved objectives, Imperial troops have victoriously withdrawn..." In the aftermath of the First Battle of Changsha, the Japanese high command spun a tale of calculated restraint, insisting their assault was merely a spoiling raid, a calculated jab never intended to seize and hold the city indefinitely. With brazen confidence, they downplayed their toll, claiming a mere 850 souls lost to death and 2,700 wounded in the fray, while boastfully asserting they had slain 44,000 Chinese defenders and taken 4,000 captive, painting a picture of overwhelming triumph amid the smoke and ruin. Yet, foreign military observers, peering through the fog of propaganda with detached scrutiny, painted a starkly different canvas. They gauged Chinese losses at a far more tempered 20,000 killed and wounded, a heavy but bearable scar on the nation's resolve, while estimating Japanese casualties soared to around 30,000, a grievous hemorrhage that belied the invaders' claims of minimal sacrifice. Military historian Michael Clodfelter, sifting through the annals of conflict, ventured an even grimmer tally: a staggering 50,000 Japanese casualties endured in the relentless clash, a testament to the ferocity of Chinese resistance and the high price of imperial ambition. In the battle's locale, neither side claimed clear victory, but globally for the resistance, it favored China. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. The First Battle of Changsha unfolded in September 1939 during China's War of Resistance Against Japan. Japanese forces under Okamura Yasuji advanced into Hunan and Jiangxi, crossing rivers and capturing key positions like Yingtian amid fierce Chinese defenses led by Xue Yue.

america american china secret france japan fall british germany war chinese japanese kings victory army open safety chief fortune attack world war ii league fame military enemy britain position pursuit ambassadors ground soldiers minister entering combat republic amid waves measuring foreign plan b moments commander halfway gains mother in law joseph stalin wuhan urgent began catastrophe intimate moonlight hq banter imperial roosevelt mongolia divisions mere spotting vast withdrawal shedding vibrant brigades cluster assemble hu wartime tragically generals regaining traces liu rising sun venturing madam xinjiang splendor submitted battalion nationalists government accountability office army corps wan regiment yong sichuan national assembly chiang agitation recapture nanjing inspecting rong recoil guangdong chongqing hubei sandu guan first battle pacific war soong qin hunan engulfed unmoved luo deputy commander forgoing chiang kai okamura sun yat changsha telegrams sino japanese war jiangxi xue china podcast nanjing massacre manchukuo mid autumn imperial army china post leafing china first craig watson army group

3.196 Fall and Rise of China: Road to Changsha: Rivers of Carnage at Miluo and Bijia

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2026 41:57

Last time we spoke about the Xiang-Gan Operation. In 1939, during the Second Sino-Japanese War's stalemate phase, Chiang Kai-shek received intelligence from Wang Pengsheng about Japan's "Xiang-Gan Operation," a plan to pressure Chongqing by advancing on Hunan and supporting Wang Jingwei's puppet regime in Nanjing. Chiang, based in Chongqing's Huangshan Villa, coordinated defenses in the Ninth War Zone. Deputy Chief Bai Chongxi proposed Plan A, luring Japanese forces deep to Hengyang for annihilation, minimizing movements and exploiting supply vulnerabilities. Chen Cheng and acting commander Xue Yue favored Plan B, emphasizing successive resistance north of Changsha to prevent its fall and counter propaganda.Initially approving Plan A, Chiang switched to Plan B after Xue's insistent telegrams highlighted risks like pincer attacks from Guangzhou and political fallout. Xue, haunted by past failures like Lanfeng and Nanchang, sought redemption. Troops under generals like Guan Linzheng fortified positions along the Xin Qiang and Miluo Rivers, with slogans invoking Taierzhuang's prestige. #196 The Road to Changsha: Rivers of Carnage at Miluo and Bijia Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. At 7 a.m. on September 14, over 2,000 troops from Nakai Ryotaro's 106th Division launched a fierce attack on the positions of Wan Baobang's 184th Division in Huibu. When this telegram crackled into the command centers of Chongqing, Guilin, and Changsha simultaneously, a hush fell over those who read it, each uttering the same grave words: "It has begun." Huibu, a forgotten speck in Jiangxi Province, clung precariously close to the Hunan border. It was here, in this unassuming town, that the curtain rose on a brutal symphony of war, the opening act of a larger tragedy. The Japanese 106th and 101st Divisions, fresh from their iron grip on Nanchang, clashed once more with the beleaguered units under General Luo Zhuoying, the front-line commander whose failed bid to reclaim Nanchang still burned like an open wound after five agonizing months of tense standoff, where every shadow hid a potential ambush. This was the calculated first thrust of Okamura Yasuji's insidious "Xiang-Gan Operation" plan: unleash an assault in Jiangxi to draw and pin down Chinese forces, forging the anvil for the hammer blow soon to fall in northern Hunan. The Japanese horde splintered into two relentless routes, surging toward Gao'an and Xiu Shui like twin serpents through the mist-shrouded hills and tangled jungles. Against them stood the Chinese 1st and 19th Army Groups, arrayed in ironclad formation, igniting a ferocious battle that echoed through the valleys with the thunder of gunfire and the cries of the fallen. When Luo Zhuoying received the urgent telephone report from the front lines, not even a flicker of the expected tension crossed his steely facade. The map of the battlefield was etched into his mind, vivid as a fresh scar, with no need to consult paper when strategy pulsed in his veins. His voice remained calm, almost detached, as he issued orders that carried the weight of life and death. The confidential staff scribbling down the commands couldn't help but notice the eerie mismatch between General Luo's serene tone and the savage directives spilling forth. "Order all units to strictly hold their positions, use their own reserves to reinforce critical areas, do not expect the general reserve, retake lost positions on their own. Anyone whose defense zone is breached by the enemy, affecting the overall operation, will be executed without mercy!" After dictating this decree of unyielding resolve, he summoned Deputy Chief of Staff Yang Xiuqi with a pointed command: "Don't handle anything else; just keep an eye on Gao'an for me." As the focus shifted to this critical stronghold, Gao'an stood as the town nearest Nanchang still clutched in Chinese hands, a stubborn thorn in the Japanese side, one they were hell-bent on yanking out with overwhelming fury. On September 15, 1939, the invaders shattered several forward positions of Song Kentang's 32nd Army encircling Gao'an, advancing like a tidal wave from east, west, and north. The soldiers of Li Zhaoying's 139th Division and Tang Yongliang's 141st Division clung desperately to their increasingly pulverized fortifications, enduring a hellstorm of Japanese aircraft and artillery that rained death from the skies. Wave after wave of wounded and martyred heroes were hauled from the lines, their blood staining the earth, while swathes of Japanese troops crumpled at the front in heaps of defeat. Army Commander Song Kentang, his brows furrowed in grim calculation, pondered pulling his forces back from Gao'an to blunt the enemy's razor-sharp advance. But as night cloaked the battlefield, Yang Xiuqi arrived under direct orders to oversee the fray, bearing Luo Zhuoying's unshakeable edict: Hold Gao'an firmly; no withdrawal allowed. The onslaught intensified the next day, September 16, as the Japanese unleashed a frenzy of continuous assaults, their bombs reducing front-line positions to smoking craters. By dusk, each unit had bled over half its strength, yet they held amid the rubble, defiant ghosts in a landscape of ruin. That night, Song Kentang and Yang Xiuqi faced each other with expressions etched in worry, shadows dancing across their faces in the dim light. Song implored Yang to relay to Commander Luo that without reinforcements to hammer the enemy's flanks, clinging on until tomorrow's eve would be impossible—he urged a tactical withdrawal. Yang dispatched the dire situation and Song's plea via overnight telegram to Luo Zhuoying, but by noon on the 17th, silence reigned, no reply pierced the growing dread. Yang Xiuqi recalled that on the afternoon of the 17th, a relentless drizzle fell like tears from the heavens. He accompanied a reception team to a crossroads, witnessing a heartbreaking procession from the front to a makeshift hospital south of Gao'an city. Severely wounded streamed in on stretchers, the lightly injured limped on their own, porters whispered of abandoned guns littering the positions, and military police reported a surge of deserters. In the cold calculus of combat statistics, there lurked a "missing" category—most were those who had fled the carnage. On the 18th, combat erupted at dawn's first light. Japanese planes obliterated Gao'an city into a flattened wasteland, their infantry charging with unprecedented savagery. At noon, Song Kentang issued the fateful order: withdraw from the city and seize the hillsides to the south. Gao'an thus slipped into enemy clutches, a bitter loss that echoed like a death knell. That evening, Operations Section Chief Ji informed Yang Xiuqi of urgent directives from Guilin Office Director Bai Chongxi and War Zone Commander Xue Yue: the 32nd Army must orchestrate an immediate counterattack on Gao'an, with the "ace army" en route. The "ace army" was none other than Wang Yaowu's 74th Army, the Ninth War Zone's prized general reserve. Yang's orderly, fetching water past Song Kentang's quarters, overheard the commander's resigned growl: "If they say fight, then fight; at worst, we'll lose all our men." That night, Army Commander Song Kentang descended to Tang Yongliang's 139th Division to personally oversee the assault, striking from south to north. The 141st Division, bolstered by Li Tianxia's 51st Division and Shi Zhongcheng's 57th Division of the 74th Army, flanked like wolves from both sides, weaving an encirclement around the Japanese in and around Gao'an city. "The 51st Division's code name was 'Vanguard.' This was truly a formidable unit; that night, with a fierce charge, they recaptured Cunqian Street, then built fortifications and stabilized the position," Yang Xiuqi said. Liu Qihuai, an elderly man who was a squad leader in the 4th Company of the 3rd Regiment of the 51st Division during the Gao'an battle, where his thigh was pierced, recalled: "At that time, I was young and remembered one phrase passed down by veterans: The fearful die first, the fearless die later. In the first few battles, I gritted my teeth and charged head-on. Later, I grew bolder, became flexible in battle, calm-headed, quick-eyed and -handed. Once, right after a skirmish, the company commander punched me in the chest and said, 'Good kid, you know how to fight!' and made me squad leader. On the battlefield, bullets don't care if you're afraid or not; those unafraid of sacrifice, brave and tenacious, often seize the initiative for our army but also bear the brunt, suffering the heaviest casualties. On the third day of fighting Gao'an, the wound ticket said Republic Year 28 (1939) September 21. That day, we charged into the city for street fighting with the little devils, all mixed up. I was closely following the deputy company commander, but lost him; no one could find anyone, it was all about who had the quickest eyes. Watching front, left, right, rooftops, and fearing the ones lying on the ground were feigning death to get up and shoot—wished I had more eyes. I killed a devil poking out from a broken wall, thought that wall section could be a cover for observation and shooting, so I rushed toward it. As I got closer to that dead devil, suddenly my thigh felt stabbed; I ran a few more steps before realizing I was hit, and seeing blood, I couldn't stand. The bullet came at an angle; later I thought it might have been friendly fire, since I was charging ahead and there were no devils on the sides. But I didn't dare say that then; admitting it wouldn't count as a combat wound. I was carried by stretcher bearers to the aid station in a Gu clan's ancestral hall. Next to my stretcher was a Henan soldier from the 32nd Army with a through-and-through calf wound; he was quite cheerful, friendly right away. He said our 74th Army could fight because our helmets were special, all bought from the old Russians (Soviets), bulletproof, bullets would spin on the head. I said great, next battle let's swap. Being wounded, I feared disability most; death wasn't scary—die early, reincarnate early. Lying on the stretcher, still joking; we were truly young then. Later, I met a platoon leader surnamed Dang from my company who was wounded around the same time; he said that Henan soldier was transferred to a rear hospital, got gangrene, had his leg amputated, and died a few days later..." According to war history records: At dawn on September 22, with the cooperation of the 74th Army, the 32nd Army's "139th and 141st Divisions fiercely attacked Gao'an city. Since the city walls had been destroyed by the unit before withdrawing, the Japanese could not hold firm and began retreating." By 8 a.m., the entire city was recaptured, "pursuing north in victory. A portion of the 141st Division advanced to Huangpo Bridge." The next day, they recaptured Xiangfuguan, Sigong Mountain, and other places northeast of Gao'an, "restoring the pre-war positions." September 18 was a date the Japanese favored for their grim expeditions, a cursed numeral etched into the annals of invasion and strife. At dawn's first whisper, the Japanese 6th and 33rd Divisions, the Nara Detachment, Uemura Detachment, and their attached artillery, armored, engineer, aviation, and naval units gathered in their respective starting zones, adhering to the precise timings decreed by Okamura Yasuji. They held silent prayer ceremonies, an eerie ritual amid the gathering storm. Over 50,000 Japanese officers and soldiers turned their faces eastward, their hands momentarily abandoning weapons to clasp before their chests, peering through the dense, rain-laden clouds blanketing China toward an imagined sun ascending from a blood-red sea. As the silent prayers dissolved into the mist, hands seized weapons once more. General Okamura Yasuji, prowling the lines of the 6th Division to inspect and ignite the assault, drew his command sword with a savage flourish and barked a short, guttural command in the tongue of his island nation to his fervent compatriots. In response, tens of thousands of military boots thundered in unison upon this foreign soil, so distant from the homeland that flickered in their devotional visions. The offensive in northern Hunan had erupted, a cataclysm of steel and fury. On Okamura Yasuji's military map, three bold red arrows aligned menacingly along the Xin Qiang River, like lethal shafts poised to pierce the south bank. The scattered Chinese forward positions on a handful of high points north of the river appeared as mere pebbles before an inexorable tidal wave. Among these fragile defenses, the one thrust farthest into the jaws of peril was the Bijia Mountain position, held by Qin Yizhi's 195th Division under Zhang Yaoming's 52nd Army—a protruding bastion shaped like an oval with twin camel-like peaks. On Okamura's map, this defiant outpost bore no unit designation or commander's name, perhaps dismissed as inconsequential in the shadow of the massive onslaught. Qin Yizhi recalled: "The enemy broke through the left-wing Songjiawan position on the north bank on the 19th. From dawn on the 20th, they attacked Shi Enhua's battalion at Bijia Mountain from the north and west. Besides artillery, they used planes for repeated bombings. This battalion was the most forward in our division; my attention was always here. The 195th Division was newly added to the 52nd Army after Yueyang's fall in late 1938, based on Henan security forces with poor military quality. I was transferred from army chief of staff to division commander and immediately focused on rigorous military training. First train company commanders, then platoon leaders, finally squad leaders. Marksmanship, bayoneting, grenade throwing—everyone passes; fail and get demoted. This is fighting the devils; personal death is minor, but who takes responsibility for failing the mission? Shi Enhua was my old subordinate from the 25th Division, Huangpu 8th Class graduate as platoon leader. He was upright, brave in combat; I promoted him to company and battalion commander. Shi Enhua had an older brother, Shi Enrong, Huangpu 7th Class, also in my unit, killed at Taierzhuang. Army Commander Zhang Yaoming said holding Bijia Mountain for 3 days completes the task; strive for more to blunt the enemy's edge, consume them heavily before they cross the river, making later battles easier. I barely slept those days. Shi Enhua led a reinforced battalion, over 500 men; this time it was truly bitter. By the second day, fortifications were basically blasted away; by the third day, September 22, the battalion had over half casualties. At dusk, visibility good, I went to a high ground by the river and looked across with binoculars. Shells flipped up patches of yellow earth on the mountain; fortifications in ruins. The chief of staff said the friendly position on Bijia Mountain's right wing was also lost. I called Shi Enhua: 'You've held for three days and nights, meeting army requirements. Troops have heavy casualties, surrounded on three sides; if unable to hold, withdraw if necessary.' Shi Enhua said only: 'A soldier has no "if necessary."' From dawn the next day, intense gunfire at Bijia Mountain; operations officer reported over a dozen tanks supporting infantry. I called for Shi Enhua; the orderly said the battalion commander was at the front. I asked how many troops left; the orderly cried. I ordered him to immediately convey: Withdraw to south bank at once, no delay! Shi Enhua and his brother Shi Enrong were both my subordinates. After Enrong's death, his father visited the troops; the old man tearfully shook my hand: 'Enrong died for the country, in his rightful place.' Enhua's family was affluent; his father educated, deeply principled. Around 3 p.m., I called again, finally reached Shi Enhua. I yelled angrily why not withdraw; Shi said: 'Division Commander, not that we won't; the enemy has us surrounded, we can't.' I ordered him to organize remaining forces for breakout; I'd assign artillery to suppress and send troops on south bank for support. Shi Enhua was silent for a while, finally said: 'Division Commander, see you in the next life!' A reinforced battalion, over 500 men: battalion commander, company commanders, platoon leaders, squad leaders, soldiers. A complete, orderly unit… After the battle, Japanese soldiers made locals collect bodies on the mountain; thousands from nearby villages went, all wanting to see these Chinese soldiers who fought for 4 days. On the mountain, everyone knelt; the hill was covered in fragmented corpses, not one intact for burial; the people wailed loudly." On the night of September 22, under the dim, ethereal glow of the moonlight, the Xiang River flowed in silent mystery, its gentle waves lapping against the shore like whispered secrets of impending doom. Amid this serene rhythm, a faint, ominous hum of engines pierced the air. Upon the river's surface, shadowy vessels glided, not a mere handful, but a colossal fleet, a dark armada poised for conquest! The right wing of the Japanese attacking formation was the 5th Brigade, commanded by Major General Uemura Mikio under Fujita Susumu's 3rd Division. This formidable force—comprising 4 infantry battalions, 1 mountain artillery battalion, two engineer regiments, and two transport companies—bore a perilous mission: "After the frontal offensive begins, advance up the Xiang River to land at Yingtian in Xiangyin County, detour to the area of Daniqiao, Xinkaishi, Qingshansi, and Malinshi south of the Miluo River, cut off the retreat of the Chinese forces, and support the 6th Division, 33rd Division, and 26th Brigade in attacking the area north of Changsha." The Yingtian landing occupied a pivotal, treacherous role in Okamura Yasuji's grand operational scheme, a devastating thrust aimed at the left wing of the Chinese defenses, designed to sever the southern retreat of troops entrenched along the Xin Qiang River and Miluo River lines, while plunging a lethal dagger into their exposed flanks. Among the Japanese soldiers charged with this grim duty was Yoshida Yujin, who in the 1970s resided in Higashi Ward, Osaka, Valley Town 3-chome, once a private first class in the 5th Brigade's 7th Infantry Battalion, 5th Company. He recalled: "It was a few days before the Mid-Autumn Festival, and we were on the 'Xiang-Gan Operation' mission. One night, the troops assembled and boarded naval speedboats near Yueyang. I remember the mission involved our brigade plus attached units, totaling over 3,000 men. The speedboats formed a long line on the river; the one I was on seemed to be near the front. The speedboats ran without lights or whistles for concealment. We headed upstream along the Xiang River. That night, there was a not-quite-full, dark red moon in the sky, with dim reflections on the water; other boats and the land were black. We sat tightly packed in the cabins or on deck, rifles against shoulders, no talking allowed, only hearing the rumble of engines and soft water sounds. Around 1 or 2 a.m., Squad Leader Aota whispered: 'Entering combat zone.' We all instinctively grabbed our rifles, staring at the dark shoreline. About two hours before dawn, we finally reached the landing site. As we disembarked, gunfire erupted from a nearby hillside; the Chinese army had spotted us. Machine guns fired from the boats ahead; urged by the squad leader, we jumped off, wading knee-deep water to run from the shore. The company commander ordered several squads to deploy in battle formation, seize the hill attacking us, and cover the following boats' landing. After the attack began, it drew enemy fire; bullets whistled overhead and around us. Soon, enemy direct-fire cannons bombarded the fleet fiercely. Turning back in the explosion's flash, I saw our boat and an adjacent one hit and sinking, plus a few not yet ashore hit—those on board must have suffered heavy casualties. Because of the fierce enemy fire, our progress was slow. It was dark, targets unclear; 'Follow up, follow up' commands came constantly. Advancing in darkness, uneven ground caused frequent falls, impossible to move fast. Per plan, our battalion was to land at Tuxing Port between Yingtian and Xiongzui, then immediately occupy a place called Liuxing Mountain south of Yingtian as a foothold, before cutting southeast into the main battlefield. Landing led to immediate combat; everyone was momentarily at a loss. Along the riverbank, many spots fired guns and cannons toward the river, making our intent to seize that hill meaningless. When I and another soldier carried a wounded to the company's aid station, I saw officers studying maps with flashlights, probably unsure of position and attack direction. Soon came the order: Conceal in place. At dawn's first light, our planes bombed enemy positions; seven or eight planes dropped bombs and strafed several high grounds controlling the riverbank. By full daylight, we received orders to capture a village. The squad leader ordered us to advance in battle formation. This village, whose name I now forget, was on a hillside not far from the riverbank, with a simple trench in front. We rushed to the trench, threw a few grenades, and jumped in; my foot softly stepped on an enemy soldier's corpse. I jumped in fright, looked down, and saw two bullet holes side by side in his head—from a machine gun. Though I'd been in several battles, I was still afraid; before each, I'd pray inwardly, making a small wish. This time, my wish was to live through the Mid-Autumn Festival. Around 9 a.m., several more battalions landed at another crossing near Yingtian and soon linked with us. After our battalion occupied the empty small village, we turned to attack Yingtian Town. Around noon, we reached a kilometer outside the town, eating in a dry ditch. I heard the company commander say the company had over a dozen killed and wounded each. After eating, we joined the final assault on Yingtian Town. Bayonets fixed on rifles, per tactics, in groups of three or four, alternating cover, advancing stepwise. Enemy fire was quite fierce; we could only rush to forward advantageous positions when planes bombed, then conceal immediately after they left, pushing forward step by step. At 4 p.m., we attacked into the bombed-out ruins of Yingtian streets, engaging in street-by-street fighting with the enemy. My combat group had four; before entering the streets, Oyama-kun was unfortunately killed. After entering, the three of us stayed close. Rushing into a small temple in the town's northwest corner, one of us, my good friend Kurata, was hit in the abdomen and fell. I quickly dropped, took out bandages to wrap him. His expression was pained, holding breath in his lungs, face flushed red. I forcefully pried his hands from his belly; blood surged out. I stuffed gauze in, shouting: 'Medic, medic!' Kurata was my middle school classmate, same grade different class; we met on the school baseball team. His mother was a very kind woman, always smiling beautifully. Sometimes after extended practice, she'd bring water and snacks, wait by the field until done, and share with the team. The medic was nowhere; I was so anxious tears flowed. Kurata teared up too, wanted to say something but dared not breathe, suffering greatly. I picked him up to retreat; after a few steps, a shell exploded nearby, my head boomed, and I knew nothing. When I woke, Company Commander Miki was slapping my face hard; my mouth tasted salty. I got up, felt myself—no injuries; realized I'd been stunned. The commander, seeing me awake, patted my shoulder and handed my gun. Seeing people walking upright, I knew the battle was over. I asked: 'Where's Kurata-kun?' He said: 'He did his duty.' Not far, over thirty bodies lay side by side awaiting transport; I recognized them one by one and found Kurata. No longer curled, he lay flat, comfortably. His face waxy yellow, an arm blown off, abdominal blood soaking his uniform. I knelt beside him, tears unending. My mind kept thinking: I can't live either, because back home, I couldn't face that kind, always beautifully smiling woman; I can't live. Our unit advanced southeast; the column lacked many familiar faces. Before the unit crossed a mountain, I looked back once. Yingtian, a small town on the Xiang River's east bank..." According to war history records: "On the morning of September 23, the Japanese Nara Detachment at Yanglin Street and the 6th Division near Qibutang west of Xin Qiang forcibly crossed the Xin Qiang River (shallow enough to wade). A portion of the Uemura Detachment, supported by naval vessels, assaulted landings at Lujiao and Jiumazui on the left flank of Chinese positions. The Chinese 2nd Division and 195th Division bravely resisted the facing enemy. At this time, the Japanese used over a hundred small boats to carry the main Uemura Detachment force, supported by naval guns and air fire, detouring via Heyehu and Guhu to land south of the Miluo River mouth, at Yingtian, Tuxing Port, Duigongzui, etc., with about 1,500 troops. The Chinese 95th Division immediately counterattacked. Around 10 a.m., the Japanese reinforced landings toward Qingshan, Yanjia Mountain, and Liuxing Mountain south of Yingtian. Chinese counterattacks in these areas failed, and the Japanese captured the line from Yingtian to Qianqiuping." After triumphing at the Xin Qiang River and securing their perilous landing at Yingtian, Okamura Yasuji, adhering to his meticulously crafted deployment, drove his forces relentlessly toward the second defensive bulwark in northern Hunan, the formidable Miluo River, a line that could spell the difference between survival and annihilation. The Miluo River, snaking midway but northward between Yueyang and Changsha, stood as a natural fortress, a gift from the earth that Chinese forces could wield as a shield against the invaders. Chen Pei's 37th Army, under the 15th Army Group, had arrayed Liang Zhongjiang's 60th Division and Luo Qi's 95th Division along its southern bank, a wall of determination forged in the face of encroaching doom. With the Xin Qiang River defenses shattered and the Changsha region pulsing with tension, precious time was needed to fortify further, so Xue Yue issued a draconian order: do not abandon the Miluo River line under any circumstances. Over 20,000 officers and men of the 37th Army toiled ceaselessly through day and night, bolstering fortifications with sweat and resolve, their hearts heavy with the dread of the inferno soon to descend. The 2nd Company of the 1st Battalion, 3rd Regiment of the 37th Army's 60th Division had been entrenched at Xinshi for a full three months, a vigil that turned the town into a pressure cooker of anticipation. Since the eruption of battle at the Xin Qiang River on September 18, the nerves of this riverside outpost had been strung taut, ready to snap at the slightest provocation. Yang Peyao, who would later endure a crippling foot wound that left him disabled, was then a fresh-faced one-year recruit, his innocence yet to be scorched by the fires of war. He harbored a naive conviction that combat was preferable to the drudgery of peacetime; training and fortification labor were exhausting, meals meager and uninspiring, but in the heat of battle, hardships seemed to vanish, and rations improved with each passing day. This notion stemmed from his unit's lack of real action since his enlistment, just endless standbys and guard duties where the enemy remained a phantom, never materializing. That day marked the 13th of the eighth lunar month; Yang Peyao and his entire regiment stood on high alert at their positions beside the dock, as routine as the river's flow. The Xin Qiang River line had held for five grueling days and nights; since two days prior, front-line troops had been streaming southward in retreat, their weary forms a harbinger of the storm to come. Xinshi served as the vital crossroads of east-west and north-south highways, a choke point for withdrawals from the Xin Qiang River, and the precarious junction between the 60th and 95th Divisions of the 37th Army. Army Commander Chen Pei had personally inspected the defenses multiple times, his eyes scanning for any weakness that could unravel their stand. One fateful day, as Yang Peyao's battalion labored to thicken fortification covers, the commander and Division Commander Liang Zhongjiang strode by; Yang overheard the commander's voice, sharp as a blade, declaring to the division commander: "No words; execute on the spot!" After the officers vanished from sight, Yang turned to a grizzled 40-something veteran in his squad: "Uncle Zhao, don't know who the commander is so fierce about executing?" Old Zhao replied with the weary wisdom of one who had seen too much: "Once fighting starts, people die, some by devils' hands, some by officers'; that's a soldier's fate." Around 10 a.m., regimental orders crackled through: Battle was imminent today; front-line troops would withdraw by noon, with Japanese hounds nipping at their heels; all positions must vigilantly scan the north bank; lunch would not be rotated, meals delivered straight to the lines. Yang Peyao positioned himself outside the fortification, peering intently across the water. The Miluo River stretched about 600 meters wide here, bridged by a military pontoon for vehicles linking the north-south highways. Not far upstream on the south bank loomed Xinshi Town; the highway skirted west of it, arrowing straight south to Changsha. With the town as a dividing line, the east fell under the 60th Division's domain, the west to the 95th; Yang's battalion clung to the division's edge, perilously adjacent to the town. Since assuming their post, he had heard tales of the south bank fortifications, erected over a full year: clusters of reinforced concrete bunkers interlinked in a defiant network. With reports of Japanese heavy artillery and aerial onslaughts at the Xin Qiang River, the commander had demanded further reinforcements, ensuring they could withstand multiple direct hits from the sky's fury. At 11:30 a.m., the company phone buzzed with instructions to fetch lunch from the kitchen. As Yang Peyao and another recruit emerged, they beheld another unit trudging across the bridge, a grim procession of battered souls. These brothers had fought through hell itself, their forms caked in grime and soot, the Republic of China flag at their vanguard tattered and filthy like a discarded rag. Stretcher bearers hauled an endless line of wounded and lifeless bodies; Yang caught sight of one injured soldier sitting rigidly on his litter, his upper body and head swathed in bandages, only his wide, haunted eyes visible, staring blankly in his direction. The unit took nearly an hour to cross, a somber parade of exhaustion. Returning with empty bowls after their meal, Yang spotted two collection vehicles groaning under loads of supplies and stragglers rumbling over the bridge. Trailing not far behind were clusters of three to five refugees, burdened with children, their faces etched with desperation. Since taking position, Yang had witnessed such southward streams daily on this crucial route, ghosts fleeing the advancing nightmare. Then the squad leader bellowed his name, jolting him back into the fortification. The company relayed urgent word: Japanese forces were tailing the 79th Army southward, poised to reach the Miluo River imminently. Before the squad leader could finish, the sharp "da-da-da" of machine gun fire erupted nearby. Yang's head buzzed with adrenaline; this was his first true taste of combat since enlisting. Though he had thumped his chest in pre-battle rallies, the real crackle of gunfire twisted his guts, nearly overwhelming him with fear. He dove to his assigned spot: assisting machine gunner Old Zhao by swapping ammo drums. Peering through the narrow firing slit, a vivid, stereoscopic tableau unfolded before him, forever seared into his memory. A thin man in a blue gown, bespectacled like a rural teacher, hoisted a light machine gun, firing wildly as he charged; behind him, a woman clutched a child, racing northward from the bridge's center. Several farmer-like figures miraculously produced machine guns, blasting away while advancing; beside them, women, elders, and old crones, some crouched with hands over heads on the bridge, others fled back, a few leaped into the churning river. The chaos erupted so abruptly that even these battle-ready soldiers froze in shock. Two disguised Japanese assailants stormed the nearest semi-underground permanent fortification by the bridge, circling it while unleashing fire, likely hunting for an entry. One yanked a grenade pin with his teeth, jamming it through the slit; the air quivered silently before exploding, and they lunged toward another target. Several Chinese soldiers, not yet hunkered in their bunkers, stood frozen, as if the pandemonium were a distant spectacle unrelated to them. In that surreal moment, Japanese machine guns spared these bystanders, fixating instead on the bridgehead bunkers. Then, a soldier erupted from a bunker with a primal yell, bayoneted rifle in hand, charging the armed intruders. As the Japanese wheeled around, he closed in, thrusting before bullets felled him, but his stab missed as they evaded; his cry was silenced mid-roar. Over a dozen members of this Japanese suicide squad, masquerading as fleeing Chinese civilians, surged toward the bridge's southern end; our machine guns finally thundered to life, dropping the invaders one by one on the span, yet the survivors pressed on in a desperate sprint. Yang's machine gun roared to life; he watched battle-hardened Old Zhao, sweat streaming, eyes narrowed in fury, teeth gritted, lips pulled back in a savage grimace. They sealed the bridge with a hail of lead; amid the deafening cacophony, Yang caught a frantic shout: "Blow the bridge! Damn it, blow the bridge!" Yang braced for the nightmare of a Japanese bursting in, raking their backs with fire. But then, the bridgehead and the entire river defenses shuddered under a barrage of shells. From the first shot to now, mere minutes had elapsed; yet the opposite bank already bristled with khaki uniforms and the glaring Rising Sun flags fluttering like omens of death. What followed was a relentless alternation of aerial and artillery bombardments, a symphony of destruction. Later, Yang queried Old Zhao: Many in the suicide squad had crossed, so weren't they afraid of bombing their own? Old Zhao pondered deeply, then sighed with bitter resignation: "No matter the country, soldiers' lives are cheap." As the bombing ceased, Japanese forces, now in plain sight and within lethal range, charged in waves from the bridge and through the water toward the south bank; one wave crumpled, only for another to rise, an unyielding, inexhaustible horde. Ammunition was plentiful in the fortification; Old Zhao mentioned three "bases" had been issued—Yang couldn't recall the exact rounds per base. Hours blurred into a frenzy, the ground carpeted with gleaming brass casings; this, Yang realized, was the commander's invocation of the "Art of War: 'Strike when half crossed'", a tactical masterstroke amid the carnage. Japanese blood stained this ancient, storied river crimson; Yang's reinforced concrete bastion cracked wide under the onslaught. In the cataclysmic blast of a heavy bomb from above, the other gunner bled from every orifice, collapsing unconscious and being dragged away. Old Zhao, eyes bloodshot and nose trickling red, paused during a drum swap: "Might not make it this time; don't forget me." Then, with grim pride: "Remember, killed 8 enemy, 1 horse." At dusk, the Japanese assault faltered, granting a fleeting respite. The fortification's survivors scrambled out, frantically repairing and piling more soil. The company commander passed by, eyeing the fissure: "You guys are lucky; this is the best in the company." The squad leader inquired: "Heavy casualties?" The commander paused, his response evasive: "Depends how higher-ups say to fight." Soon after, orders circulated: Two per squad to retrieve ammo and rations from the company; prepare for nocturnal warfare. The squad leader dispatched Yang for rations, handling bullets himself. While distributing the meager sustenance, fresh word arrived: Immediate withdrawal. As darkness enveloped the battlefield, our mortars and small mountain guns hammered the opposite Japanese positions. In column formation, Yang stole one last glance at this place of grueling training, endless drills, and now, brutal initiation. Fortifications erected over a year, inhabited for three months, defended for half a day. At the Xinshi positions on the Miluo River's south bank, recruit Yang Peyao had fought his first battle in his personal saga of the War of Resistance Against Japan. He emerged unscathed, no death or wound; alongside Old Zhao, they had felled 11 enemies and two horses. In a quiet revelation, he discovered Old Zhao wasn't the unflinching hero he proclaimed, trudging onward, Yang secretly tallied his insights. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. After debating Plans A and B, Chiang adopted Plan B, emphasizing resistance north of Changsha. Japanese forces assaulted Jiangxi and Hunan, capturing Gao'an briefly before Chinese troops, including the 74th Army, recaptured it. At Bijia Mountain, Shi Enhua's battalion held for four days, perishing entirely. The Uemura Detachment landed at Yingtian amid fierce resistance, suffering heavy losses. Defenders at the Miluo River repelled waves of attacks, with suicide squads and bombardments inflicting carnage before a tactical withdrawal.

3.195 Fall and Rise of China: Xiang-Gan Operation

Cracks Podcast con Oso Trava

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2026 32:59

Last time we spoke about the Wang Jingwei Regime. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, tensions between Chiang Kai-shek and Wang Jingwei escalated amid Japan's aggressive invasion. Disillusioned by Chiang's scorched-earth tactics, such as the Yellow River flood and Changsha fire, Wang defected from Chongqing in December 1938, fleeing to Hanoi to negotiate peace with Japan. An assassination attempt, likely ordered by Chiang, killed Wang's secretary Zeng Zhongming, deepening the rift and sparking retaliatory violence. Wang's group, aided by Japanese agents like Kagesa Sadaaki, navigated scandals and leaks, including a forged agreement exposed in the press. After grueling negotiations in Shanghai and Tokyo, Wang conceded to harsh Japanese terms, including limited sovereignty and economic controls. On March 30, 1940, he established the Reorganized National Government (RNG) in Nanjing, adopting the nationalist flag with a controversial yellow pennant symbolizing "peace, anticommunism, nation-building." Despite Wang's vision of constitutional democracy, the RNG functioned as a wartime puppet, isolated from Chongqing and resented as traitorous. Wang died in 1944, and the regime collapsed in 1945. #195 The Xiang-Gan Operation Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. In the sweltering grip of August 1939, Chongqing languished under an unbearably hot summer, the air thick with humidity and the weight of impending doom. Perched on a sun-baked hillside along the southern bank of the Jialing River, roughly 10 kilometers from the chaotic heart of the city, loomed a two-story Western-style building. This fortress of stone and resolve, known as the "Huangshan Villa," stood as Chiang Kai-shek's official residence in Chongqing, a sanctuary amid the storm of war. Unless urgent meetings or crises at the Military Affairs Commission demanded his presence, it was here that Chiang orchestrated the fate of a nation on the brink. One fateful evening, as shadows lengthened across the villa, the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics delivered a chilling report from Wang Pengsheng, the director of the Military Affairs Commission's Institute for International Affairs. Wang was no ordinary operative; he was a knowledgeable, experienced, and sharp-minded intellectual, a master of Japanese affairs, and one of Chiang's most trusted aides, his insights cutting like a blade through the fog of deception. In this urgent dispatch, Wang distilled the latest machinations from Japan. After the traitor Wang Jingwei defected to the enemy, Japan glimpsed a sinister new path to conquer China: ramping up political inducements for surrender, with brutal military offensives reduced to mere supporting roles. On June 20, the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters unleashed "strategy" tasks upon its troops in China—to incite local armies, those ragtag "miscellaneous troops," to betray their own, isolating and pulverizing the central army units. Wang Pengsheng saw through the ruse; this "attacking the heart" and "subduing strategies," drawn from the ancient wisdom of China's military sage Sun Tzu, betrayed the Japanese army's desperate straits, manpower stretched thin, supplies dwindling to the point of desperation. Chiang Kai-shek's eyes narrowed as he gripped his red pencil, underlining a passage in the report with deliberate strokes, marking it as a thunderclap of importance or urgency: To cooperate with the establishment of the Wang puppet regime and exert military pressure on the Chongqing government, under the direction of the Imperial General Headquarters, the commander of the Japanese 11th Army, Okamura Yasuji, had formulated the "Xiang-Gan Operation Plan" targeting the main forces of the central army in the Ninth War Zone and was intensifying preparations for its implementation. The words hung heavy in the air like a gathering storm. Chiang Kai-shek rose abruptly, his body protesting with a stiff ache from hours of unyielding vigilance. He stretched his weary waist and legs, then pushed open the wooden door beside the vast sun-facing window, stepping out onto the balcony as if seeking solace from the encroaching night. The balcony commanded a sweeping vista, a momentary escape from the suffocating confines of strategy and betrayal. Gazing downward, the "Fog Capital" Chongqing emerged in rare clarity, serene and layered beneath the fiery embrace of the evening glow. The distant murmur of the Jialing River, flowing ceaselessly like the pulse of a defiant heart, whispered a fleeting sense of ease amid the turmoil. Yet even this pause carried the echoes of war's relentless march. After the Japanese horde seized Wuhan and surged onward to claim Yueyang—only to halt their southward thrust—both Mao Zedong in his Yan'an stronghold and Chiang Kai-shek in Chongqing etched this moment as a pivotal divide in China's War of Resistance Against Japan. Mao proclaimed the war had plunged into the "stalemate phase," a grinding impasse. Chiang, ever the resolute leader, declared the "second phase of the war of resistance" ignited from this very point. But across the vast national battlefield, the first half of 1939 roared with unquenched fury, the air thick with the acrid smoke of gunpowder. From the year's dawn, the Japanese army, bolstered by five divisions and eight mixed brigades, launched ruthless "security consolidation" operations in North China to fortify their blood-soaked conquests, only to be harried and bloodied by the Communist Eighth Route Army slipping behind enemy lines and the valiant troops of the First and Second War Zones. In late March, the Japanese 11th Army stormed Nanchang, clashing in a maelstrom of fire with the four group armies of the Ninth War Zone under the iron command of front-line commander Luo Zhuoying. For a grueling month and a half, the battle raged, the Japanese claiming the city at a staggering cost in lives. Chiang Kai-shek, his fury mounting, demanded a counterattack from the Ninth War Zone, but it crumbled into tragedy, over 20,000 souls lost, including Lieutenant General Chen Anbao, the indomitable commander of the 29th Army. Nanchang remained in enemy hands, fueling Chiang's rage like an inferno unchecked. Then, in May, the Japanese Kwantung Army clashed with Soviet and Mongolian forces in the epic conflagration at Nomonhan. What ignited a spark of grim satisfaction in Chiang was not merely the Japanese rout, with nearly 20,000 of their ranks obliterated, but the broader ripple: this Japan-Soviet inferno would heap pressure upon the invaders in China, weakening their grasp. As the war sank into its stalemate phase, Chiang turned his gaze inward, fiercely guarding his military strength while awaiting the winds of change. He clung to a core conviction: the essence of the War of Resistance boiled down to that single, unbreakable word—"resist." Troops could be sacrificed, territories forsaken, retreats endured when battles turned dire, but surrender was unthinkable. As long as resistance endured, the nation would hold its place among the world's powers, and its leaders their rightful thrones. In time, the tides of international intrigue would shift; the imperialist giants, driven by their own insatiable interests, would not stand idly by as China fell to Japan's maw. With resolve hardening like steel, Chiang Kai-shek strode back to his imposing desk and seized the telephone, dialing Xu Yongchang, the Minister of Military Orders. His voice cut through the line with unyielding command: instruct Deputy Chief of Staff Bai Chongxi, currently in the Ninth War Zone dissecting the bitter lessons of the Nanchang debacle, to hasten and aid Chen Cheng in crafting ironclad military deployments against the looming Japanese "Xiang-Gan Operation" and submit them without delay. As the last defiant ray of sunlight plunged below the horizon, the sprawl of Chongqing's urban expanse succumbed to an enveloping darkness, a shroud of uncertainty. Since the government had fled southward, Chongqing had become a relentless target for Japanese bombers, their payloads raining death and devastation in waves of tragedy. By night, the city enforced ironclad blackout controls, its citizens huddling in fear behind heavy curtains, their lives reduced to whispers in the shadows. Chiang Kai-shek's mind drifted to the pre-war nights of the mountain city, when thousands of lights danced like stars upon the river's rippling waves. A deep, weary sigh escaped him, carrying the burden of a leader who refused to yield. Far from the shadowed balconies of Chongqing, as China's War of Resistance Against Japan plunged into its harrowing third year, the misty haven of Guilin clung to its gentle, rain-soaked serenity, a fragile oasis amid the chaos of a nation torn asunder. Farmers, oblivious to the headlines screaming from distant newspapers, trudged barefoot through the lush fields, guiding massive water buffaloes with their backward-curving horns and deceptively gentle temperaments. Verdant tea groves blanketed the undulating hills, their leaves whispering secrets to the wind, while breezes carried the haunting, sweet-and-sour melodies of mountain songs that seemed to defy the encroaching shadows of war. Those weary souls fleeing the bloodied front lines stumbled into this paradise, their eyes widening in awe, as if they had crossed into a dream untouched by the nightmare raging beyond. Nestled in the northwestern suburbs of the city, the Guilin Office pulsed with the raw energy of command, its operations post concealed within a colossal karst cave, a labyrinth of nature's own fortifications. Amid the jagged stalagmites and dripping stalactites, wires snaked like veins, cables coiled in tense anticipation, and radio antennas reached out like desperate fingers grasping for signals. These were the nerves of war, linking this hidden nerve center to the smoke-choked, blood-drenched front lines where heroes and horrors collided in the unyielding struggle for resistance. Deputy Chief of Staff of the Military Affairs Commission and Director of the Guilin Office—Bai Chongxi—unfolded the telegram folder thrust into his hands by his confidential staff, his heart pounding with the weight of destiny: "To Director Bai in Guilin: Telegram received. Deploy operations according to Plan A. Zhongzheng" Before departing Changsha, the Second Department had already whispered warnings of the Japanese horde's intent to strike southward, and fatefully, an urgent call from Xu Yongchang had demanded the swift forging of a battle plan to confront the enemy. As Bai Chongxi devoured the enemy intelligence, a bold strategy ignited in his mind like a flare in the darkness. Chen Cheng, the steadfast Commander of the Ninth War Zone, championed the tried-and-true tactic of successive resistance, but with a grim twist: retreat would be capped north of Changsha. Front-line troops would grind down the Japanese invaders, bleeding them dry before slipping to the east and west flanks. There, they would pounce on the enemy's exposed sides as the foes pressed southward, culminating in a devastating annihilation beneath the walls of Changsha with the aid of the garrison. This blueprint minimized troop movements and promised a swift, brutal clash. Yet Chen Cheng, burdened by his dual role as Minister of the Political Department of the Military Affairs Commission, had delegated command to Xue Yue as acting Ninth War Zone Commander. In heated deliberations, Xue Yue tilted toward Chen's vision, his resolve echoing the caution of survival. But Bai Chongxi, his strategic mind a whirlwind of innovation, saw a bolder path through the storm. The Japanese forces lurking in the Wuhan area were fractured, split between the Yangtze's north and south, facing off against China's formidable heavy troops. Though intelligence on the scale of their assault remained shrouded in mystery, Bai knew their drawable forces couldn't exceed half their might, and their endurance in sustained combat would falter like a dying flame. "To swallow the attackers whole, the battlefield must be vast and unforgiving, our forces luring them deeper while retreating to the Hengyang area, stretching the enemy thin across a sprawling 200-kilometer wasteland." There, the invaders would wither in passivity, their food and ammunition lines stretched to breaking. Then, in a masterful stroke, troops from the Jiuling and Mufu Mountains would surge westward, while those west of the Xiang River drove eastward, severing every land and water escape route in a vise of total annihilation. Both plans stood as ironclad fortresses of logic, each unassailable in its reasoning, and were dispatched simultaneously to Chiang Kai-shek, the arbiter of China's fate. By rank and protocol, Bai's vision claimed the mantle of Plan A, while Chen's bore the label of Plan B. Bai Chongxi had voiced his conviction and released it to the winds, content to let Chiang's judgment prevail. Bai Chongxi was a master of strategy, whispered among allies as the "Little Zhuge," his intellect a weapon as sharp as any blade. Yet Chen Cheng shared Chiang's Zhejiang roots and the unbreakable bonds of Huangpu camaraderie, drawing him even closer in the inner circle of trust. On such pivotal matters, Bai Chongxi often chose the path of restraint, yielding rather than clashing in futile strife. Five agonizing days after the plans vanished into the ether, Chiang's telegram pierced the tension, affirming the adoption of Plan A. A surge of quiet triumph coursed through Bai Chongxi as he signed the missive and strode toward the operations map, his steps echoing with purpose. While strategic minds clashed in hidden caves and distant villas, the front lines pulsed with the raw grit of soldiers readying for battle. Guan Linzheng had been assigned a mount since 1930, when he became commander of the 1st Regiment of the 2nd Training Division, during the Central Plains War between Chiang, Feng, and Yan. He led the regiment to cover the retreat of the division's main force under Zhang Zhizhong. Pursued by several times their number of Feng-Yan troops, they fought while retreating in dire straits. From night to dawn, heavy fog descended, obscuring visibility beyond dozens of paces. Guan Linzheng's chestnut horse suddenly neighed loudly and charged back toward the pursuers. After trying to rein it in unsuccessfully, Guan simply ordered the troops to countercharge into the fog. Shouts of killing filled the air, gunfire intense. The Feng-Yan troops, unclear of the situation in the fog, thought Chiang reinforcements had arrived and ordered a retreat. By the time the fog cleared, they were gone. Guan's bold cunning successfully completed the cover mission, and he was promoted to brigade commander of the division's 2nd Brigade after the war. In July 1932, during Chiang Kai-shek's fourth encirclement of the Hubei-Henan-Anhui Soviet, Guan Linzheng was brigade commander of the 4th Army's Independent Brigade. In battle, he was surrounded by Red Army troops led by Chen Geng and Cai Shenyi of the Red 25th Army Corps in the Anhui town of Zhuanfo Temple. His unit suffered heavy casualties, and a beloved horse was killed, leaving him distressed for a long time. With the outbreak of the War of Resistance, Guan Linzheng's military career entered its golden age. He believed this was truly raising an army of justice, fighting for the people and the nation. After promotions, though equipped with cars, he always kept a warhorse, often riding to survey terrain, inspect work, and command battles. In spare moments, he personally exercised and groomed the horse. That day, he led several staff on horseback to the Xin Qiang River front line, dismounting on the southern bank. 52nd Army Commander Zhang Yaoming and 195th Division Commander Qin Yizhi were waiting. According to the Ninth War Zone deployment, the 15th Army Group had positioned Zhang Yaoming's 52nd Army and Xia Chuzhong's 79th Army, a formidable force of six divisions along the southern bank of the Xin Qiang River, stretching from Xin Qiang to Maishi beyond the provincial border. This ironclad first line of defense spanned over 100 kilometers, a vast bulwark against the gathering storm of invasion. Fifty kilometers to the south, Chen Pei's 37th Army, with its Divisions 60 and 95, held the Miluo River from Miluo to Pingjiang as the unyielding second line, ready to absorb any breach. Meanwhile, Li Jue's 70th Army, commanding Divisions 19 and 107 along the eastern bank of the Xiang River, was deployed north and south of Xiangyin, fiercely guarding the critical landing points like Yingtian, points that could spell victory or catastrophe. 195th Division Commander Qin Yizhi reported to Guan Linzheng with a voice charged with resolve: troop morale soared like a battle cry, fortifications stood complete and impenetrable, and the army's slogan for this fateful clash thundered: "Fight with the prestige of Taierzhuang!" The division's mobilization slogan echoed even fiercer: "Win fame in one battle!" Guan Linzheng nodded with grim satisfaction toward Zhang Yaoming, his eyes gleaming with the fire of shared history. Guan had once commanded the 52nd Army himself, leading it through a gauntlet of brilliant, blood-soaked battles on the anti-Japanese front. As the Japanese hordes prepared to surge across the Xin Qiang River southward, this was the first, most perilous barrier, a crucible where legends would be forged or shattered. He had entrusted his most loyal unit to the point of greatest impact, knowing full well the stakes. Zhang Yaoming and the division commanders, who had marched at his side for years through hellfire, understood the gravity: Commander Guan was setting an unassailable example, issuing orders that rippled through the ranks, no one could afford the slightest lapse, or face the merciless blade of military law! "Who's on the north bank?" Guan Linzheng and the others sat on the hard earth, the weight of impending war pressing down; he pointed to the map's symbols for forward positions across the river, his finger tracing lines of fate. "Guarding the Bijia Mountain position is the reinforced 3rd Battalion of the 195th Division's 131st Regiment under Qin Yizhi," Zhang Yaoming replied without hesitation, his tone steady as stone. "Who's on the north bank?" Guan Linzheng repeated as if he hadn't heard, his voice a low rumble, demanding precision in the face of chaos. Zhang Yaoming hesitated slightly, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face, and Qin Yizhi stepped in: "3rd Battalion Commander Shi Enhua, Huangpu 8th Class." The Central Military Academy had held its first five classes in Guangzhou's Huangpu, commonly called Huangpu Military Academy. Afterward, the school moved several times, but students continued using the Huangpu name, partly to inherit the revolutionary spirit against imperialism and feudalism from Huangpu's founding, and partly to indicate their central orthodoxy. Army generals, especially the "old Huangpu" big brothers, approved this practice, calling it Huangpu no matter where the school was. Guan Linzheng glared at Zhang Yaoming, his gaze like sharpened steel, then pressed his knee and rose to his feet. Guan's left knee had been shattered by a bullet in 1925 during the Eastern Expedition against Chen Jiongming, a wound that had nearly claimed his leg and his future. Doctors had decreed amputation to save his life, but Liao Zhongkai, the party representative, had visited the wounded and intervened strenuously, preventing it. Otherwise, there would be no later glory for Guan Linzheng. After careful treatment and diligent exercise, the leg's function mostly recovered, though rising from a squat was slightly difficult. Zhang Yaoming reached out to help, but Guan pushed him away with a fierce independence born of countless battles. The group descended to the riverbank and stood in heavy silence, the air thick with unspoken tension. The horses either stood patiently with heads held high, vigilant sentinels, or lowered them to sniff the grass, casually plucking some to hold in their lips, oblivious to the human storm brewing. The Xin Qiang River, an unnamed small river that had flowed quietly for countless years, had no great turbid waves in flood seasons and still shallow clear ripples in dry periods. It flowed peacefully from its source to Dongting Lake over dozens of kilometers. At this moment, it reflected the figures and thoughts of several soldiers, utterly unaware that in a dozen days, its name would leap to the front pages of newspapers nationwide, baptized in blood and etched into history. Amid these preparations on the front lines, deeper internal conflicts simmered among the high command. Xue Yue regretted taking the position of provincial chairman, a decision that now haunted him like a specter from the battlefield's edge. After the nationwide shock of the "Great Fire of Changsha," Zhang Zhizhong was punished with "suspension with retention," continuing to handle daily affairs amid the ashes. He sent several telegrams requesting resignation from the provincial chairmanship, expressing to the Executive Yuan his "shameless guilt and deep pain." On January 17, 1939, the Chongqing Executive Yuan passed a resolution to reorganize the Hunan Provincial Government. That night, Zhang Zhizhong received Chiang Kai-shek's telegram instructing him to hand over work and report to Chongqing. In December 1938, when the Military Affairs Commission issued the order for Xue Yue to act as Ninth War Zone Commander, Chiang Kai-shek personally spoke with Xue, asking: "Brother Boling, do you think this arrangement is acceptable?" Boling was Xue Yue's courtesy name. Chiang, nine years older, addressed him as brother in private. Xue Yue said: "With Changsha in such a state, I truly lack the ability to handle such a major war zone task." Chiang Kai-shek understood Xue's implication about the disunity of military and political affairs making military work difficult. He said: "You go first; we can consider unifying military and political affairs later." According to He Yaozu, then director of the Military Affairs Commission Office who witnessed this: "My impression was that Xue Yue didn't want to avoid the acting commander role, but wanted to combine military and political powers. Chiang knew this, telling me 'If he's willing, let him do it,' words Chiang said to many seeking positions." On February 1, 1939, the Nationalist Government officially appointed Xue Yue as Chairman of the Hunan Provincial Committee of the Kuomintang and Chairman of Hunan Province. With party, government, and military powers combined, troubles followed incessantly, piling upon him like relentless enemy fire. As war zone commander, he first thought of the troops. Upon taking office, Xue implemented a policy to restrict market rice prices for military grain procurement, proposing "flat prices" to acquire grain cheaply, forcing merchants underground. Upon hearing this, Xue angrily summoned major rice merchants, reprimanded them, and ordered them to deliver quotas. The result: insufficient low-price rice, with black market prices rising daily. After half a year, sharp-tongued Hunanese nicknamed him "Xue Pinggui," a name that became household, a mocking whisper that cut deeper than any blade. Coincidentally, his father passed away. Whether Xue instructed it or subordinates "handled it," obituaries flew everywhere, sent to county-level units across the province. Each county had at least 20 units sending condolences, and higher-level cities and provincial units all sent, leading some to secretly calculate. After Xue Yue took charge in Hunan, his family members were transferred from other provinces, and arranging work according to their abilities was reasonable in that old society. His uncle-in-law Fang Xuefen became head of the Provincial Grain Bureau, brother-in-law Qiu Weiyi head of the Provincial Bank. His brother continued business, transporting Hunan rice to Guangdong for barter. Xue Yue's talents shone not in officialdom. Only before military maps, on battlefields of gunfire and flying shells, could one find the general-like Xue Yue; "heaven-born talent" was for warfare. This descendant of an ordinary farming family in Lechang County, Guangdong, who entered Huangpu Army Primary School at 10, became commander of Sun Yat-sen's bodyguard regiment's 1st Battalion at 24, and once carried a machine gun through hails of bullets to protect Madame Sun Soong Ching-ling from rebel encirclement, earned the nickname "Tiger Cub" in blood and fire. What propelled him to life's peak was the Battle of Changsha. On August 21, 1939, with war clouds over Changsha thickening like a noose, Xue Yue received telegrams and calls from Chiang Kai-shek, Bai Chongxi, and Chen Cheng. Chiang's telegram required immediate deployment according to "Plan A." Bai and Chen urged resolute implementation of the Chairman's instructions. Xue Yue stood motionless before the map, his mind a whirlwind of strategy and defiance. Many articles recalling Xue Yue mentioned his daily habit, or hobby, of studying maps; he could do so all day. With battles, he looked; without, he still studied avidly. Perhaps map-reading had evolved from a commander's work need to a professional soldier's spiritual requirement, a way to express emotions, dispel worries, a soldier's way of existence. After Chiang's order to execute "Plan A," rather than comparing plans on the map for stronger bases for his preferred view, he was organizing thoughts, adjusting emotions, and gathering courage in this soul's sanctuary. Hours later, he turned and called Chief of Staff Zhao Zili, dictating three reasons to persist with "Plan B," instructing him to draft a telegram directly to Chiang Kai-shek. He reminded Zhao that the wording should be forceful yet resilient, making the Chairman clearly feel his firm determination. The Ninth War Zone has sufficient forces and confidence to annihilate the Japanese north of Changsha. If our forces retreat to Hengyang, the Japanese 21st Army under Ando Toshikichi in Guangzhou (with 18th and 104th Divisions, Taiwan Brigade, and attached air units) might advance north along the Yue-Han Railway in support, forming a pincer on us, making the battle hard to control. Following Plan A and allowing the Japanese south would lead to Changsha's fall, exploited by enemy propaganda, causing adverse effects domestically and internationally. These three points presented the potential military and political disadvantages of Plan A as tangible, imminent dangers, more argumentative and unyieldingly firm than his original inclination toward "Plan B." Zhao Zili quickly noted the points, his pen flying across the page with the precision of a seasoned warrior, before retreating to the staff office to draft the telegram that could alter the course of battle. A top student of Huangpu's 6th Class, quick-witted and resourceful, Zhao had risen like a comet through the ranks after a few blistering campaigns, pinning the insignia of major general to his shoulders at the tender age of 31, a feat that stirred envy among his classmates like a storm in their hearts. Zhao Zili, of course, understood Xue Yue's true intent, piercing through the layers of strategy to the raw undercurrent of determination and unresolved fury. In May 1938, to avenge the stinging triumph at Taierzhuang, the Japanese had massed their forces in a vengeful storm, aiming to encircle and annihilate the Chinese main forces east of the Longhai Railway, striking from both east and north with ruthless precision. The northern route's 14th Division, under the cunning Dobashi Kenji, found itself surrounded in Lanfeng by a pantheon of fierce Chinese generals, Song Xilian, Yu Jishi, Hu Zongnan, Qiu Qingquan, Wang Yaowu, Li Hanlun, Gui Yongqing, Sun Tongxuan, and Shang Zhen, warriors whose names echoed like thunder across the battlefields. Chiang Kai-shek himself descended upon Zhengzhou to supervise the carnage, appointing Xue Yue as 1st Corps Commander to orchestrate the generals in a full-throttle offensive on the morning of May 25, with the ironclad goal of obliterating that longtime scourge of China and his 14th Division before the dawn of the 26th shattered the night. The odds were a gambler's dream: 150,000 elite Chinese troops against a mere 20,000 second-rate Japanese soldiers. Victory seemed not just possible, but inevitable; Chiang invited journalists to the front lines for live dispatches, while the Wuhan Political Department feverishly prepared celebrations for the "second great Taierzhuang victory." Chiang Kai-shek was exceptionally angry, his rage boiling over in orders that scorched the ranks, reprimanding army commanders for "inept command, cowardly actions, leading to low morale and hesitation," and that "most army, division, and brigade commanders lacked courage and self-motivation, prolonging the battle." After the Lanfeng Battle, Chiang ordered the dismissal and investigation of future Nationalist Navy Commander Gui Yongqing and 1950s Taiwan Army Commander and Provincial Chairman Huang Jie, and executed 88th Division Commander Long Muhan. But he did not hold Xue Yue accountable for leadership responsibility. For a highly self-respecting person, self-blame is more painful than others' blame. Thereafter, Xue Yue spent more time buried in maps, his eyes tracing lines of terrain like a man possessed, seeking a monumental battle to avenge his wounded pride and redeem his tarnished honor. On March 8, 1939, shortly after Xue Yue assumed the mantle of acting Ninth War Zone Commander, Chiang telegraphed him with urgent resolve: "To secure Nanchang and its rear lines, decide to strike first, take the offensive to thwart the enemy's intentions." Chiang valued Nanchang's strategic position, as did Okamura Yasuji, but Chiang was a step slow, his hesitation a fatal crack. The Japanese, wielding two divisions bolstered by the bulk of their army's tanks and artillery, seized the initiative like predators in the night, storming Nanchang before the Chinese heavy forces could muster. Chen Cheng remained the nominal Ninth War Zone Commander, relegating Xue Yue to a watchful perch in Changsha while entrusting the Nanchang front to his confidant Luo Zhuoying. Xue Yue haunted the command room day and night, monitoring the inferno through frantic phone calls and telegrams, his discomfort gnawing at him like an unhealed wound. He bore witness to Nanchang's fall and the counterattack's agonizing collapse. The Nanchang Battle loss was not Xue's fault, but it scarred the Ninth War Zone under his watch, with generals' whispers spreading like venom, knotting his heart in a tangle of regret and resolve. Months of intense map study and on-site inspections had etched Hunan's terrain into Xue Yue's very soul, birthing a strategy that was bold, unique, and brimming with promise—a phoenix rising from the ashes of defeat. But as Zhao Zili understood with crystal clarity, Commander Xue's telegram to Chiang, a forceful plea to reverse the decision, sprang less from cold military "strategy" than from the seething "resentment" accumulated through repeated failures and humiliations, a fire that demanded reckoning. With Chen Cheng's help, Chiang finally agreed to change the plan, bending to the tide of persuasion. Xue Yue was delighted, his spirit soaring like a liberated eagle; Bai Chongxi was angry, his frustration simmering like a storm held at bay. After the battle erupted, Bai, dispatched by Chiang to assist Xue Yue, arrived at the war zone headquarters on Yuelu Mountain atop the Xiang River's west bank in Changsha but remained silent like a mute bodhisattva, his words locked away in disapproval. Even decades later, in his Memoirs of Bai Chongxi, discussing the First Battle of Changsha, he still did not consider it a victory, saying the Japanese "conducted a planned retreat without much loss, which is a fact." I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. In 1939, amid the Second Sino-Japanese War's stalemate phase, Chiang Kai-shek received intelligence on Japan's Xiang-Gan Operation, aimed at pressuring Chongqing through military advances in Hunan. Deputy Chief Bai Chongxi proposed Plan A for a deep-lure annihilation south of Changsha, while Chen Cheng and Xue Yue favored Plan B for resistance north of the city. After tense debates, Chiang approved Plan B, influenced by Xue's insistence to avoid Changsha's fall and counter Japanese propaganda.

director china battle japan fall doctors war chinese japanese kings victory western army chief class institute tokyo fight resistance farmers front minister operation amid investigation statistics memoir shanghai bureau plan b soviet commander fifty chen wuhan wang guarding troops divisions international affairs brigades mao generals deploy hanoi mongolian nestled shouts yan deputy chief battalion sun tzu zhao pursued feng gazing army corps mao zedong disillusioned guangzhou regiment chiang red army great fire bai nanjing rng guangdong chongqing perched guan first battle pacific war hunan yangtze verdant xiang zhengzhou zhejiang chiang kai kuomintang boling yellow river sun yat changsha second sino japanese war anhui training division xue china podcast north china guilin hunan province nanchang craig watson army group executive yuan

SoS 257: Repensando los primeros pasos de nuestra especie con Cecilia Padilla Iglesias

Sausage of Science

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2025 28:44

Cecilia Padilla Iglesias estudió Ciencias Humanas y de la Evolución en University College de Londres, donde empezó a interesarse por cómo surgió y cambió la diversidad cultural y biológica en nuestra especie. Hizo un máster en Antropología Evolutiva en Cambridge y luego un doctorado en la Universidad de Zúrich sobre cómo los cambios ecológicos y sociales han moldeado la dinámica de las poblaciones humanas. Durante el doctorado pasó varios meses en la República del Congo trabajando con comunidades nómadas de cazadores-recolectores. Hoy trabaja en Cambridge con una beca de investigación, estudiando cómo la vida nómada y la movilidad se reflejan en el genoma de estas poblaciones. La idea central de su trabajo es que la movilidad ha sido clave para la resiliencia de los humanos durante cientos de miles de años, y que fue lo que permitió adaptarse a enormes cambios ecológicos y demográficos en los diferentes ecosistemas que fue habitando. ------------------------------ Encuentra el trabajo comentado en este episodio: Padilla-Iglesias, C., Xue, Z., Leonardi, M., Paijmans, L.A,J., Colucci, M., … Manica, A. (2025). Pan-African metapopulation model explains Homo sapiens genetic and morphological evolution. bioRxiv 2025.05.22.655514; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.05.22.655514 ------------------------------ Contact the Sausage of Science Podcast and the Human Biology Association: Facebook: facebook.com/groups/humanbiologyassociation/, Website: humbio.org, Twitter: @HumBioAssoc Anahí Ruderman, Guest-Co-Host, SoS Co-Producer, E-mail: ruderman@cenpat-conicet.gob.ar

#355. Miguel Quintana Pali - Xcaret, Construir lo Imposible, Coleccionar Cenotes y Saber Cuándo compartir el Éxito

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2025 136:26

Dime qué piensas del episodio.Mi invitado de hoy es Miguel Quintana Pali. Conocido simplemente como “el Arqui”, es el fundador de Xcaret, un proyecto que trasciende el turismo para convertirse en una obra de arte viva, una carta de amor a la historia de México, nuestra naturaleza y nuestra identidad.Pero más allá del parque, Miguel es un explorador de cenotes, un coleccionista de arte popular, un diseñador del inframundo y un emprendedor que ha creado uno de los grupos turísticos más exitosos de América Latina. Hoy hablamos de cómo piensa, qué lo mueve y qué ha aprendido en este camino de vida poco convencional. Porque si alguien ha demostrado que los sueños —o “Xueños” como él los llama— se pueden excavar, diseñar y construir con las manos… es él.Por favor ayúdame y sigue Cracks Podcast en YouTube aquí.“No sabes qué tan fría está el agua hasta que te avientas.”- Miguel Quintana PaliComparte esta frase en TwitterEste episodio es presentado por Laboratorios LABBE, el laboratorio médico que ofrece una amplia gama de análisis clínicos, recolectados de forma segura en la comodidad de tu hogar y por Hostinger la plataforma que te permite tener un dominio y crear tu página de internet usando inteligencia artificial.Qué puedes aprender hoyCómo se construyó XcaretLa institucionalización del grupoCómo transformar una obsesión personal en un negocio multimillonarioCómo validar una idea sin estudios de mercado*Este episodio es presentado por HostingerTengo más de 50 dominios registrados. Sí… cada vez que se me ocurre una idea de negocio, lo primero que hago es asegurar el dominio.Porque para mí, una idea sin dominio… es como una empresa sin nombre.Y es que hoy, si quieres ganar dinero en internet, necesitas una página web.Con el plan Business de Hostinger tienes acceso una herramienta de inteligencia artificial que construye el sitio por ti. Solo escribes dos o tres líneas sobre tu proyecto… haces clic… y listo. Después lo puedes editar con funcionalidad de arrastrar y soltar.Y por si fuera poco, ¡también tienes un dominio gratis!Por escuchar Cracks, Hostinger te regala 10% de descuento si vas a hostinger.com/cracks y usas el código CRACKS*Este episodio es presentado por LABBE¿Sabías que ahora puedes realizarte estudios de laboratorio sin salir de casa u oficina? Ya sea que necesites hacerte análisis por instrucción médica o simplemente para monitorear tus biomarcadores buscando un mejor desempeño, Labbe ofrece una amplia gama de análisis clínicos, recolectados de forma segura en la comodidad de tu hogar.Desde realizarte un perfil de salud general o pruebas específicas, su equipo de profesionales garantiza un servicio de alta calidad y resultados confiables.Para ti que escuchas cracks LABBE te regala 10% de descuento al solicitar tus estudios en labbe.mx usando el código: CRACKS” Ve el episodio en Youtube

business solo desde pero despu latinas saber xito cracks turismo dime construir imposible parque compartir conocido hoteles pali cenotes coleccionar xue

Rocket Lab's New Heights, Webb's Water Mystery, and the Legacy of STS-107

Astronomy Daily - The Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2025 11:16 Transcription Available

Rocket Lab's Neutron Rocket Takes Shape: Rocket Lab has inaugurated its new Launch Complex 3 at Wallops Island, Virginia, marking a significant milestone for their next-generation Neutron rocket. Designed for medium lift capabilities, the Neutron will be able to carry payloads of up to 13,000 kilogrammes to low Earth orbit, featuring a unique reusable fairing that opens and closes during flight.James Webb's Surprising Planet Formation Discovery: The James Webb Space Telescope has observed a protoplanetary disc around the young star Xue 10, revealing an unexpected high concentration of carbon dioxide and a surprising lack of water vapour in the region where rocky planets are expected to form. This finding could reshape our understanding of planet formation and the chemical conditions in early star systems.Unraveling the Mystery of Hypervelocity White Dwarfs: A new study proposes the D6 scenario to explain how hypervelocity white dwarfs are ejected from the Milky Way. This model suggests that a cataclysmic explosion in a binary system can propel one star at incredible speeds, offering insights into type 1A supernovae and their role in cosmic measurements.A Piece of Space History at Auction: A dozen Sacagawea dollar coins that flew on the final mission of the space shuttle Columbia are being auctioned, with proceeds benefiting the Astronaut Memorial Foundation. These coins, recovered after the tragic loss of STS-107, serve as a poignant reminder of the mission and the enduring spirit of exploration.For more cosmic updates, visit our website at astronomydaily.io. Join our community on social media by searching for #AstroDailyPod on Facebook, X, YouTube Music, TikTok, and our new Instagram account! Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.Thank you for tuning in. This is Anna and Avery signing off. Until next time, keep looking up and stay curious about the wonders of our universe.✍️ Episode ReferencesRocket Lab Updates[Rocket Lab](https://www.rocketlabusa.com/)James Webb Discoveries[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/)Hypervelocity White Dwarfs Study[Astrophysical Journal](https://iopscience.iop.org/journal/0004-637X)Columbia Auction Details[Heritage Auctions](https://www.ha.com)Astronomy Daily[Astronomy Daily](http://www.astronomydaily.io/)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-space-news-updates--5648921/support.Sponsor Details:Ensure your online privacy by using NordVPN. To get our special listener deal and save a lot of money, visit www.bitesz.com/nordvpn. You'll be glad you did!Sponsor Details:Ensure your online privacy by using NordVPN. To get our special listener deal and save a lot of money, visit www.bitesz.com/nordvpn. You'll be glad you did!Become a supporter of Astronomy Daily by joining our Supporters Club. Commercial free episodes daily are only a click way... Click Here

spotify tiktok earth water space news mystery planet columbia piece designed rocket formation disc lab unraveling webb supernovas milky way new heights james webb telescope sts 1a nordvpn reusable neutrons dwarfs rocket lab d6 sacagawea space history xue launch complex wallops island

Replay - Get Up Where You Fall Down: Xue Hongyan on Starting Anew in Your 50s; Entrepreneurship; Not Giving Up; Courage and Resilience

Thank You, Mama

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2025 12:22

This episode is a bit different, because in this episode you host Ana Tajder will tell you her guest's mother's story. To Ana's big shock, because of technical difficulties with recording between US and China, the recording of this beautiful interview turned out blank. But Ana believed mama Chen's inspiring story had to be shared, so she shared it herself, using notes she took during the interview. Ana's guest is a Beijing based artist and industrial design professor Xue Hongyan. Xue talks about her mom Chen who, after a life of hard work in a factory, started her own business at 50. Listen for a glimpse into a life of a working-class woman in China, and for important lessons on hard work, resilience, and courage to start a new professional phase in your 50s. Subscribe to Ana's new "Mama Loves…” newsletter here. To contact Ana, to be a guest, or suggest a guest, please send your mail to: info@thankyoumama.net For more about “Thank You, Mama", please visit: http://www.thankyoumama.net Connect with Ana on social media: https://www.instagram.com/anatajder/ https://www.facebook.com/ana.tajder

Ep. 263 - Organizational Agility: Structures That Move at the Speed of Change

WorkCookie - A SEBOC Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2025 61:32

In this Episode: Dr. Emi Barresi, Tom Bradshaw, Dhaval Panchal, LindaAnn Rogers I/O Career Accelerator Course: https://www.seboc.com/job Visit us https://www.seboc.com/ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/sebocLI Join an open-mic event: https://www.seboc.com/events References: Cegarra-Navarro, J.-G., & Martelo-Landroguez, S. (2020). The effect of organizational memory on organizational agility: Testing the role of counter-knowledge and knowledge application. Journal of Intellectual Capital, 21(3), 459–479. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIC-03-2019-0048 Harsch, K., & Festing, M. (2020). Dynamic talent management capabilities and organizational agility—A qualitative exploration. Human Resource Management, 59(1), 43–61. https://doi.org/10.1002/hrm.21972 Liang, H., Wang, N., Xue, Y., & Ge, S. (2017). Unraveling the Alignment Paradox: How Does Business—IT Alignment Shape Organizational Agility? Information Systems Research, 28(4), 863–879. https://doi.org/10.1287/isre.2017.0711 Lu, Y., & K. (Ram) Ramamurthy. (2011). Understanding the Link Between Information Technology Capability and Organizational Agility: An Empirical Examination. MIS Quarterly, 35(4), 931--954. https://doi.org/10.2307/41409967 Mao, H., Liu, S., & Gong, Y. (2024). Balancing structural IT capabilities for organizational agility in digital transformation: a resource orchestration view. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 44(1), 315–344. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOPM-09-2022-0595 Raul ionut riti, Andreea cristina ionică, & Monica leba. (2024). enhancing team and technical agility through safe® methodology and a threedimensional diagnostic approach to antipatterns in the financial industry enhancing team and technical agility through safe® methodology and a threedimensional diagnostic approach to antipatterns in the financial industry. Annals of the University of Petroşani. Economics, 24(2), 95–104. Shafiabady, N., Hadjinicolaou, N., Din, F. U., Bhandari, B., Wu, R. M. X., & Vakilian, J. (2023). Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to predict organizational agility. PloS One, 18(5), e0283066-. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0283066 Spagnoletti, P., Kazemargi, N., & Prencipe, A. (2022). Agile Practices and Organizational Agility in Software Ecosystems. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 69(6), 3604–3617. https://doi.org/10.1109/TEM.2021.3110105 Tallon, P. P., & Pinsonneault, A. (2011). Competing Perspectives on the Link Between Strategic Information Technology Alignment and Organizational Agility: Insights from a Mediation Model. MIS Quarterly, 35(2), 463–486. https://doi.org/10.2307/23044052

NEJM Interview: David Jones on the disparate historical approaches to anemia diagnosis and their lessons for physicians.

New England Journal of Medicine Interviews

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2025 40:04

Watch the NEJM In Studio video of this interview at NEJM.org. David Jones is the Ackerman Professor of the Culture of Medicine at Harvard University. Harleen Marwah, the interviewer, is an Editorial Fellow at the Journal. W. Xue and D.S. Jones. Debating Race and the Diagnosis of Anemia — How Medicine Moved Away from Race-Based Standards. N Engl J Med 2025;392:2168-2173.

Ball Lightning: Weather's Strangest Mystery

I Heart This

Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2025 20:54

Glowing balls of energy appear out of nowhere only to vanish a few seconds later. Ball lightning is strange, rare, and unexplained. In this episode, we explore the mystery, prod at the boundary between folklore and science and ask how, when evidence is scarce, we can figure out what is true. Check out our YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@IHeartThisPodcastReferencesArgyle, E. (1971). Ball lightning as an optical illusion. Nature, 230(5290), 179–180. https://doi.org/10.1038/230179a0Cen, J., Yuan, P., & Xue, S. (2014). Observation of the Optical and Spectral Characteristics of Ball Lightning. Physical Review Letters, 112(3). https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.112.035001Cooray, G., & Cooray, V. (2008). Could some ball lightning observations be optical hallucinations caused by epileptic seizures? The Open Atmospheric Science Journal, 2(1), 101–105. https://doi.org/10.2174/1874282300802010101Jennison, R. C. (1969). Ball lightning. Nature, 224(5222), 895–895. https://doi.org/10.1038/224895a0Neil deGrasse Tyson Videos. (2018, March 6). Neil Tyson Answers “Do You Believe In UFOs?” & Sets The Record Straight!! YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZDjel3dyv0Parks, J. (2024, September 19). Is ball lightning real? The science behind nature's strangest light show. Discover Magazine. https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/is-ball-lightning-real-the-science-behind-natures-strangest-light-showPowerfulJRE. (2021, May 26). Neil deGrasse Tyson's Skepticism Over UFO's. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1u0VDFppCI4Sagan, C. (2008). Demon-Haunted World: Science As A Candle In The Dark. Paw Prints. (Original work published 1995)Stephan, K. D., Sonnenfeld, R., & Keul, A. G. (2022). First comparisons of ball-lightning report website data with lightning-location-network data. Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, 240, 105953. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jastp.2022.105953Weeks, L. (2015, May 28). The windshield-pitting mystery of 1954. Npr.org. https://www.npr.org/sections/npr-history-dept/2015/05/28/410085713/the-windshield-pitting-mystery-of-1954Wikipedia Contributors. (2025a, April 29). Sprite (lightning). Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sprite_(lightning)#HistoryWikipedia Contributors. (2025b, May 3). Ball lightning. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_lightning#Historical_accountsImage Credit: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

nature mystery original journal weather npr wikipedia observation neil degrasse tyson glowing strangest yuan sprite atmospheric optical wikimedia foundation discover magazine sonnenfeld ball lightning xue physical review letters

Project Optimus Series: The Role of Biostatistics

The Syneos Health Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2025 17:26

As regulatory expectations evolve under the FDA's Project Optimus oncology dosing initiative, biostatistics is emerging as a central pillar in designing and executing trials that move beyond the traditional maximum tolerated dose (MTD) approach.In this fourth episode of our Project Optimus series, host Dr. Wael Harb is joined by biostatistics expert X.Q Xue, PhD, Vice President and Global Head, Biostatistics at Syneos Health to explore how statistical science is transforming dose optimization in oncology drug development. Dr. Xue discusses the limitations of legacy 3+3 dose-escalation designs and introduces innovative alternatives, including Bayesian modeling, adaptive trial strategies and randomized parallel dose-response studies, which support more precise dose selection and can ultimately improve patient outcomes and trial efficiency.Together, Drs. Harb and Xue examine how smaller biotech companies can overcome barriers to implementation, the role of simulation and AI in trial planning and how a biostatistics-driven approach may increase the likelihood of late-phase success, reduce post-marketing adjustments and support faster regulatory approvals.The views expressed in this podcast belong solely to the speakers and do not represent those of their organization. If you want access to more future-focused, actionable insights to help biopharmaceutical companies better execute and succeed in a constantly evolving environment, visit the Syneos Health Insights Hub. The perspectives you'll find there are driven by dynamic research and crafted by subject matter experts focused on real answers to help guide decision-making and investment. You can find it all at insightshub.health. Like what you're hearing? Be sure to rate and review us! We want to hear from you! If there's a topic you'd like us to cover on a future episode, contact us at podcast@syneoshealth.com.

ai phd project vice president fda drs global head optimus bayesian biostatistics harb mtd xue syneos health

[The ROAR #4] PC Announces Gene Replacement Therapy Grant Award

Project CASK Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2025 7:03

medicine therapy associate professor neuroscience replacement roar molecular baylor college cask human genetics xue

Bełkot literacki #25 Can Xue, „Tajemniczy pociąg”

Radio Proza

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2025 40:48

Naszego wejścia w rok 2025, przynajmniej bełkotowo, nie można nazwać lekkim, łatwym i przyjemnym. Przyczyniła się do tego w dużym stopniu chińska pisarka Can Xue, a także jej polski wydawca – Państwowy Instytut Wydawniczy. To oni – przy współudziale tłumaczki Katarzyny Sarek – serwują nam lekturę, którą z pewnością można nazwać wymagającą. Na czym polegają trudności w odbiorze „Tajemniczego pociągu”? I czy warto się z nimi zmierzyć? O tym rozmawiamy w składzie Szymon Horała, Kasia Janusik i Waldek Mazur. Jest też między innymi o potencjalnym Noblu dla Xue, jej nietypowej metodzie pisarskiej i dzieciństwie, którego chyba nikt jej nie zazdrości. Realizacja odcinka: Piotr „Piciu” Pflegel. Zapraszamy do słuchania!

jest zapraszamy poci realizacja tajemniczy xue

70. The Seven Things to Look For in a Partner with the Dateable Podcast

Flirtations! with Benjamin, the Flirt Coach

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2025 57:31

Coming up on this episode of Flirtations, we have Yue Xu and Julie Krafchick, the dynamic duo behind the Dateable podcast and the new book, “How to Be Dateable,” to have a conversation with us about, well, dating! Julie and Yue will share with us today the 7 things that matter when looking for a partner and why connection and compatibility goes way beyond some chemistry and attraction. We'll learn about the key qualities to focus on when choosing someone for a relationship, how to avoid getting stuck in surface level connections, and what it really means to be dateable. Along the way, we'll touch on emotional availability, long-term compatibility, and how to create genuine, lasting connections so you can feel more confident and empowered in dating. So, whether you're single, dating, or just curious about what makes relationships thrive, this episode is for you! It's for everyone, basically! Stay tuned! Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review Flirtations on your favorite podcast platform, and share this episode to spread BFE - big flirt energy, all over the world! Enjoying the show and want to support my work? Buy the Flirt Coach a coffee! About our guests: Julie Krafchick & Yue Xu are active daters turned dating insiders, and top influential voices of modern dating, relationships, and connection in the digital world. They're the authors of How To Be Dateable: The Essential Guide to Finding Your Person and Falling in Love and the co-hosts of the hit podcast Dateable, which has been named one of the top podcasts about modern dating and relationships by the New York Times, The Huffington Post, Oprah Daily, and more. Connect with Julie and Xue on Instagram, Take the "Dating Archetype" Quiz, and grab your copy of How to Be Dateable! About your host: Benjamin is a flirt and dating coach sharing his love of flirting and BFE - big flirt energy, with the world! A lifelong introvert and socially anxious member of society, Benjamin now helps singles and daters alike flirt with more confidence, clarity, and fun! As the flirt is all about connection, Benjamin helps the flirt community (the flirties!) date from a place that allows the value of connection in all forms - platonic and romantic connection - to take center stage and transform lives for greater healing and ultimately, a deeper connection with the self. You can connect with Benjamin on Instagram, TikTok, stream the Flirtations Flirtcast everywhere you listen to podcasts (like right here!), and find out more about working together 1:1 here.

tiktok new york times partner falling in love huffington post seven things oprah daily yue dateable bfe xue

#1 Breakdown - Addressing Staffing Challenges Through Improved Planning in Higher Education

Kent State College of Business

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2025 12:43

Xue, Guisen, O. Felix Offodile, Rouzbeh Razavi, Dong-Heon Kwak, and Jose Benitez. "Addressing staffing challenges through improved planning: Demand-driven course schedule planning and instructor assignment in higher education." Decision Support Systems 187 (2024): 114345. This paper presents a novel decision support system (DSS) to address the University Course Timetabling Problem (UCTP). The solution decomposes the NP-complete UCTP into two sub-problems, allowing a structured approach to addressing the complexities inherent in the UCTP process. A mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model is proposed to integrate academic year course schedule planning and instructor assignment, accommodating various constraints to meet student demands. The model optimizes the number of course sections and strategically schedules instructors, aiming to reduce the number of new and distinct courses assigned to them. Historical data from an academic department encompassing multiple disciplines, including Computer Information Systems, Business Management, and Business Analytics, at a large public university in the U.S. is used to develop the model, and the results are compared with the actual course schedule and instructor assignment. The results demonstrate that the proposed DSS would result in a 14% reduction in the number of course sections offered, translating to approximately $130,000 in annual savings. Additionally, it could significantly reduce the number of new courses assigned to instructors by up to 81% and the number of distinct course sections assigned to them by 29%.

challenges planning addressing historical higher education improved staffing business management np business analytics dss computer information systems xue

Episode 165 - When You Prioritize Your Life, Your Business Grows Faster Xue Bravo

Get a "Heck Yes" with Carissa Woo Wedding Photographer and Coach

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2025 42:33

Happy New Year, 2025!This year is going to be incredible, and I'm starting it off strong! I had a relaxing New Year's Eve with my family and am proud to say I woke up hangover-free and ready to crush my goals.Over the past year, I made a major pivot in my life and business, all thanks to my amazing life and business coach, Xue Bravo. She has truly transformed the way I approach both my personal and professional life. Fun fact: I first met Xue when I photographed her for the cover of a magazine! She's a Christian mom of four (younger than me!) and an inspiration in every way.I've been diving headfirst into affiliate marketing, and the possibilities are endless. Huge shoutout to 17hats and Aftershoot for sponsoring this podcast and supporting my journey! Through affiliate digital marketing, I've discovered a path to passive income that has not only helped me but is also transforming the lives of wedding pros and creatives.Want to know how I'm making $1k a day, all from my phone, working just 1–2 hours a day? Watch my 9-minute video—it's a game-changer, and I know you can do it too! https://carissawoo.systeme.io/Hot Topic of the Day:“When You Prioritize Your Life, Your Business Grows Faster.”Today, we're unpacking this powerful concept and sharing actionable tips to help you strike the perfect balance between life and business.Tune in now for inspiration, practical advice, and some exciting updates about what's to come in 2025!Connect with Xue https://www.instagram.com/lifeandbusinesswithxuebravo/https://instagram.com/carissawoo

new year happy new year fun bravo prioritize grows hot topic xue aftershoot

Nov. 5, 2024: So You Want to Be a LIHTC Developer: Getting More Out of Your LIHTC Financial Forecast

Novogradac

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2024

Financial forecasts are essential for every affordable housing developer to anticipate expenses, cash flow and access to capital to build or redevelop properties, including developments built using low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) equity. In the latest installment of the Novogradac Tax Credit Tuesday podcast's recurring "So You Want to Be a LIHTC Developer" series, Michael Novogradac, CPA, and Miao Xue, CPA, delve into six ways that developers can enhance the benefits of financial forecasts. Novogradac and Xue introduce credit adjusters and twinning LIHTCs with renewable energy investment tax credits (ITCs) as well as digging deeper into four areas'development budget and eligible basis schedule, sources and uses and 15-year cash flow waterfall, the taxable income and loss schedule, and income and loss allocations and the Section 704(b) capital schedule'covered in a previous financial forecast-focused installment of "So You Want to Be a LIHTC Developer."

financial developers cpa forecast affordable housing itc lihtc xue itcs novogradac

Butoh in Singapore: Butoh is Dance

Butoh musing with Vangeline

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2024 56:27

In this episode, you can listen to the Q&A after Vangeline's performance of the Slowest Wave in Singapore, organized by the butoh artist XUE and the Singapore Butoh Collective. During the Q&A, Xue, the audience, and Vangeline talk about topics such as the difficulty in describing Butoh, Butoh and neuroscience, The Slowest Wave, and the present and future of Butoh in Singapore. This episode was recorded on September 1st, 2024. Check them out: https://sgbutoh.co/ A couple of corrections: The first Butoh performance was Kinjiki, or Forbidden Ciolors, not Forbidden Flowers. Also, The two women neuroscientists who collaborated on the Slowest Wave, neuroscientists Sadye Paez and Constantina Theofanopoulou, dance flamenco, not tango. If you want to learn more about the Slowest Wave, read here: https://www.vangeline.com/research

dance singapore butoh xue

Zang Fu Chapter14-1 Zang Fu Interrelationships

Learn Traditional Chinese Medicine, Functional Medicine and any kinds of Alternative Medicine

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2024 39:50

Zang Fu, the Organ Systems of Traditional Chinese Medicine: Functions, Interrelationships and Patterns of Disharmony in Theory and Practice Author :Jeremy Ross Page 167-178 Part 3 Interrelationships Chapter14-1 Zang Fu Interrelationships Yin Yang Substances Qi, Xue and Jin Ye Jing and Shen Pathology of the Substances Shen Pi Gan Xin Fei Jing Luo Tissues Tissues Bones and Head Hair Muscles and Lips Tendons and Nails Xue Mai and Face Skin and Body Hair Orifice / Senses Shen and Ears Pi and Mouth Gan and Eyes Xin and Tongue Fei and Nose, Throat and Voice Curious Organs Marrow, Bones and Brain Uterus Xue Mai Dan

theory bones patterns nose throat zang disharmony xue organ systems interrelationships

Victor Koo -- The Power of Contemplative Practices: A Tech Entrepreneur's Journey of Scaling Inwards

Awakin Call

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2024

Victor Koo is a familiar face in China's tech industry. In the 90s, he was president of Sohu, China's second-largest search engine. Subsequently, he founded YouKu, China's largest online video platform with 500 million monthly users (commonly called the "YouTube of China" and later sold to Alibaba). Surprisingly, his journey of scaling began to turn inwards at a tech conference in Sun Valley in 2016, when a networking conversation with a young entrepreneur soon turned towards meditation. Upon hearing that Victor had always wanted to try it, the young entrepreneur let go of the opportunity to network with others, instead guiding Victor to an hour-long meditation. That was the first hour of meditation in Victor's life, a seed that he continues to cultivate through a daily practice now spanning several years. Along the way, on a trip to Thailand, he casually walked into a breathwork course without any context. That session, led by a teacher who had survived Stage-4 terminal cancer through breathwork practice, further opened up his inner world in a striking way. "If I never believed in chakras and energy body within each of us, that session blew all of that disbelief away based on direct experience that lasted over a day." As Victor's inner journey took root, it has also decidedly altered the course of his work in the world. After transitioning from his role at Youku, Victor shifted his focus to inner-purpose-driven service and investing. In late 2016, he co-founded Tianren Culture - a social platform based out of Hong Kong that aims to promote "One Wisdom, One Health" by encouraging and enabling contemplative practices and healthy lifestyles. It focuses especially on those practices and lifestyles with roots in spiritual and natural wisdom and non-dualistic philosophies, positing that human physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health and wellness is interconnected with the health of the broader environment and ecosystem. Tianren Culture partners with foundations, NGOs, and businesses to put in place effective social innovation initiatives to improve physical wellness through overall food system transformation, as well as mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness by supporting scientific research and promoting meditation and breathwork practices. The Tianren team is actively volunteering time for Servicespace's AI-related initiatives, including CompassionGPT. Related to Tianren's work, Victor is also a board director of Good Food Fund and on the advisory board of Global Wellness Institute. Victor's exposure to multiple cultures has been formative in his journey - he was born in Hong Kong, and apart from twenty-five years in China, he has lived extensively in Australia, US, and Japan - with Japan being his current home since the pandemic. He received his BS degree from University of California, Berkeley, where he was also a Regent's scholar and MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he currently serves on the Advisory Council. Victor's professional experience lies mostly at the intersection of the technology and media sectors, as well as private equity and venture capital investments. He continues to serve as Chairman of Heyi (his company that incubated Youku), which now focuses on disruptive innovation and social impact investments in areas such as health, genome, and new protein. He is also a senior advisor of Texas Pacific Group and a business advisor of DeCheng Capital. "If there was one thing I wish I had known before I started my company, it is meditation (by far!) because of the calm and equanimity that it brings you, and really helps you question the purpose of why you're doing what you're doing." It's a piece of advice that Victor can often be found paying forward now to b-school students and young founders. Join us in conversation with this founder-turned-server, as we learn more about his journey of scaling inwards, or as he loves to quote Bruce Lee, to "be like water". The call will be hosted by Xue Devand and Birju Pandya. Xue formerly founded one of the "50 most innovative companies of the world" and now currently runs The Space Between, a venture capital fund aiming to be a "sacred hospitality" company that helps inspire wealthholders to transition their consciousness from being owners of money to being the stewards of money. Birju is Chief Mindfulness Officer/Managing Director at Mobius.life, an integrated capital family office, and a long-time volunteer with Servicespace.

Freedom Starts With You And It Starts Now - Tuesday Talks with Xue Xia

Tuesday Talks with Zishan

Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2024 53:15

Tuesday Talks with Xue Xia Freedom is your definition, plant that seed - What does it look like? Xue works with freedom lovers to get their time back and gain their lifestyle freedom while doing what they love. Xue is also an entrepreneur who runs three online businesses with her partner as they live and explore the world. Loves adventures, living in freedom, and growing with inspiring people. Sometimes she is weird af, unfiltered and inappropriate, but she is coming to terms with that

freedom starts loves tuesday talk xue

英语新闻丨“秦朗丢作业”闹剧落幕，给短视频行业敲响警钟！

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2024 2:44

The Ministry of Public Security has debunked a video that sparked a nationwide search after it was widely circulated on social media.一段视频在社交媒体上引发了全国范围内的传播和关注，公安部对此视频进行了辟谣。The video, depicting homework booklets supposedly lost by a Chinese first grader in Paris, was revealed to be a meticulously crafted ploy for online attention.这个描述中国一年级小孩秦朗在巴黎丢作业的视频，是为了吸引网络关注而精心制作的。The ministry's expose was part of a broader effort to combat online rumors. On Friday, it presented details of 10 prominent cases, highlighting the Paris homework incident as a prime example.公安部的曝光是打击网络谣言的一部分。4月12日，公安部介绍了10个突出案例的细节，其中以“秦朗丢作业”为主要例子。The video was uploaded in February by a blogger surnamed Xu, from Zhejiang province. It showed a Parisian restaurant worker supposedly returning homework found in a restroom. The video said the homework belonged to Qin Lang from Class Eight, without specifying the school. That sparked a social media frenzy, with many netizens attempting to locate the child.这段视频是2024年2月由一位来自浙江的徐姓博主上传的。视频显示，一名巴黎餐厅工作人员正在归还在洗手间发现的作业。视频称，该作业属于八班的秦朗，但没有指明是哪所学校。这在社交媒体上引起了轩然大波，许多网友都试图找到这个孩子。However, the narrative quickly unraveled. A user claiming to be Qin Lang's uncle appeared in the comments section, providing an unverified school name. Subsequent investigations revealed the person making the comment, a person surnamed Yang from Jiangsu province, was another participant in the scheme to gain online attention and was not related to Xu.然而，故事很快就被揭穿了。一位自称是秦朗舅舅的用户出现在评论区，提供了一个未经证实的学校名称。随后的调查显示，发表这番言论的人是来自江苏省的杨某，他是该骗局的另一参与者，目的是吸引网上的关注，与徐某没有关系。Further investigation by authorities exposed the entire charade. Police discovered that Xu, along with her company director, surnamed Xue, scripted the video, purchased generic homework booklets online and staged the entire scene.公安的进一步调查揭露了整个骗局。警方发现，徐某和她的公司经理薛某一起编写了视频，在网上购买了通用的作业手册，并上演了整个场景。Facing administrative penalties and demands for public apologies, Xu admitted her initial lack of "legal awareness" but expressed remorse for the widespread attention and disruption caused by the video. Her social media accounts, boasting millions of followers across many platforms, have been suspended.徐某遭到行政处罚并被要求公开道歉。她承认她最初缺乏“法律意识”，并对该视频引起的广泛关注和混乱表示歉意。她在多个平台上拥有数百万粉丝的社交媒体账户已被封号。The incident underscores China's intensifying efforts to combat online misinformation.这一事件凸显了中国正在加大打击网络虚假信息的力度。In December, the ministry launched a nationwide campaign against online rumors. Over 80,000 leads and 10,000 cases have been investigated, with over 1,500 suspects apprehended and 10,700 individuals facing administrative penalties.2023年12月，公安部在全国范围内发起了一场打击网络谣言的运动。调查了8万多条线索和1万多起案件，逮捕了1500多名犯罪嫌疑人，对10700人进行了行政处罚。The ministry has vowed to continue its crackdown, targeting individuals who spread rumors, fabricate news or exploit trending topics for personal gain. Law enforcement authorities will increase inspections of major social media, livestreaming and short video platforms to identify and address malicious online activity.公安部表示将继续打击那些散布谣言、编造新闻或利用热门话题谋取私利的个人。执法部门将加强对主要社交媒体、直播和短视频平台的检查，以识别和解决恶意网络活动。Meticulously细致地；一丝不苟地Rumor谣传，流言

china law chinese ministry police facing yang parisian subsequent xu zhejiang jiangsu public security xue

EZ News 03/28/24

EZ News

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2024 5:21

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 13-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 20,213 on turnover of 4.5-billion N-T. The market staged a technical rebound on Wednesday as buying rotated to non-tech stocks. However, turnover was down from the previous trading days. Many investors remained wary of a major pullback after the main board scored solid gains in recent sessions to stand above the 20,000-point mark. Investors are also waiting for U-S economic data, which is due out later this week. First high-level Taiwan-France Trade Talks Focus on High-Tech The Ministry of Economics Affairs says representatives for Taiwan and France have held the first round of ministerial-level economic and trade talks. The talks focused on opportunities for collaboration (合作) in the high-tech supply chain. Taiwan's delegation was led by Economics Minister Wang Mei-hua, who met with representatives of France's Ministry of Economics and Finance. According to the economics ministry, the discussions covered possible partnerships in fields such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, renewable energy, and space industries. Carbon Fee Rate to be Decided in One to Two Months Environment Minister Xue Fu-sheng says it will take the government between one and two months to finalize the carbon fee rate. The Ministry of Environment was previously scheduled to announce the carbon fee rate in the first quarter of this year. The environment minister says the delay is because a review committee has not yet decided on the rate. However, Xue says there will be no change to the carbon fee collection schedule. The minister says the government still plans to collect (收) the fees beginning next year. WH: Talks with Israel on Gaza Operation Resume The White House says talks are resuming (恢復) to bring Israeli officials to the US to discuss Gaza operations. AP correspondent Ben Thomas reports. UN Food Waste Report A new United Nations report estimates that 19% of the food produced around the world went to waste in 2022. That's a little more than 1 billion metric tons of food. The updated Food Waste Index shows the biggest share of that waste, about 60%, came in households. Almost 30% came in food service operations, such as restaurants. This comes three years after the U.N.'s first attempt to quantify (量化) the problem as part of trying to cut food waste in half by the year 2030. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－您是否聽過孩子抱怨：數學好無聊！數學好難！學數學真的只能是一直寫寫寫，不斷加減乘除嗎？提供孩子學習數學的新可能！《兒童數學動畫課》把數學變得好玩、好看又好用！輸入 CW150 再享專屬折扣～馬上點擊下方連結吧！ https://cplink.co/e71OXAa6

israel france ministry finance environment economics investors taiwan united nations gaza israelis decided nt u s soundon ben thomas xue

英语新闻丨Campaign to prevent coal mine accidents

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2024 4:34

China is launching a campaign targeting production safety accidents in coal mines following a newly enacted administrative regulation focused on the problem.中国正在开展一场针对煤矿生产安全事故的运动，此前刚刚颁布了一项针对这一问题的行政法规。The regulation was passed at the executive meeting of the State Council, China's Cabinet, last December and will be implemented in May.该条例于2023年12月在国务院常务会议上通过，将于2024年5月实施。Huang Jinsheng, head of the National Mine Safety Administration, said at a news conference held by the State Council Information Office on Sunday that coal mining, a traditionally high-risk industry, has always been a priority for production safety officials.2024年2月4日，国家矿山安全监察局局长黄锦生在国务院新闻办举行的新闻发布会上表示，煤矿作为传统的高危行业，一直是生产安全官员的首要关注点。He emphasized that as the nation seeks to further its socioeconomic development, there have been outstanding issues in coal mine production, such as the "inadequate implementation of safety production responsibilities, incomplete investigations, lax oversight of risks and hidden dangers, and an imperfect management system".他强调，随着国家寻求进一步的社会经济发展，煤矿生产中存在一些突出问题，如“安全生产责任制落实不到位、调查不全面、风险监管松懈、隐患多、管理制度不完善”等。The latest regulation was formulated against this backdrop, said Huang, noting that it's a foundational regulation in mining production safety, comprehensively summarizing the results of safety work in the field in recent years.黄锦生说，该条例就是在此背景下制定的。它是煤矿安全生产的基础性法规，全面总结了近年来该领域安全工作的成果。"The adoption of the regulation will help further implement the primary responsibility of coal mine enterprises in terms of safety production, and further strengthen supervision and monitoring responsibilities," he said.他说：“该条例的通过将有助于进一步落实煤矿企业在安全生产方面的主体责任，进一步加强监督和监测责任。” Production accidents in coal mines across the country have occurred frequently in recent times.近期，全国各地煤矿生产事故频发。In November, there was a major gas explosion at a coal mine in Heilongjiang province. The following month in Heilongjiang, there was an underground mine cart accident at another mine. The combined accidents resulted in 23 deaths and 13 injuries.11月，黑龙江省一煤矿发生重大瓦斯爆炸事故。12月，黑龙江另一煤矿发生井下矿车事故。两起事故共造成23人死亡，13人受伤。Also last month, another explosion happened at a coal mine in Henan province, causing 16 fatalities.就在上个月，河南省一煤矿又发生爆炸事故，造成16人死亡。According to the nation's chief mining production regulator, the regulation clearly stipulates that coal mine production should prioritize people's lives and property, adhering to the principle of "safety first".据国家煤矿生产监管部门负责人介绍，该条例明确规定，煤矿生产应当优先保障人民群众生命财产安全，坚持“安全第一”的原则。The regulation requires coal mine enterprises to regularly conduct safety inspections of their mines, marking the first time the relationship between coal mine enterprises and mines has been explicitly defined in administrative regulations.该条例要求煤矿企业定期对所属煤矿进行安全检查，这是行政法规中首次明确界定煤矿企业与煤矿之间的关系。The regulation also specifically demands that governments at the county level and above supervise and inspect coal mine enterprises, especially front-line production workplaces, said Huang, stressing that doing so increases the accountability of government officials.黄锦生说，该条例还特别要求县级以上政府监督和检查煤矿企业，特别是一线生产场所，这样做提高了政府官员的责任感。It's worth noting some local governments have allowed mines lacking safety guarantees to operate to ensure coal production and supply. Some grassroots governments "turn a blind eye" to illegal activities in coal mines within their jurisdictions, "even providing protection", according to another senior mining supervision official.值得注意的是，一些地方政府允许缺乏安全保障的矿山继续运营，以确保煤炭的生产和供应。另一位高级矿业监管官员表示，一些基层政府对辖区内煤矿的非法活动“视而不见”，“甚至提供保护”。Zhou Dechang, deputy head of the NMSA, underscored that safety must come first before ensuring coal production and supply.国家矿山安全监察局副局长周德昶强调，在确保煤炭生产和供应之前，安全必须放在首位。"They (local governments) cannot knowingly allow mines with significant safety risks to operate without shutting them down. Once a production safety accident occurs, ensuring coal mine production and supply is not an excuse to evade accident responsibility," he said.周德昶表示：“他们（地方政府）不能明知矿山存在重大安全隐患而允许其继续运营而不关闭。一旦发生生产安全事故，确保煤矿生产和供应并不是逃避事故责任的借口。”"Those who are directly responsible must be held accountable, and those suspected of illegal crimes should be transferred to judicial authorities for criminal prosecution."“对直接负责的人员必须追究责任，对涉嫌违法犯罪的人员应当移送司法机关追究刑事责任。”Some local coal mine enterprises prefer to pay the relatively low cost of the fines rather than comply with the law, production regulators said.生产监管部门表示，一些地方煤矿企业宁愿支付相对较低的罚款，也不愿遵守法律，。Xue Jianguang, director for policy and regulation at the NMSA, said penalties imposed by previous laws and regulations were too light.国家矿山安全监察局政策法规处处长薛剑光表示，此前法律法规规定的处罚过轻。To address this, the regulation further increases the cost of illegal activities for enterprises, including raising the minimum amount of fines, Xue said.薛剑光说，为了解决这一问题，该条例进一步增加了企业的违法成本，包括提高罚款的最低数额。"According to China's Production Safety Law, the minimum fines for enterprises involved in minor accidents is 300,000 yuan ($42,100); in relatively big accidents, 1 million yuan; and in major accidents 2 million yuan," he said. "The new regulation raises these minimum fines to 500,000 yuan for minor accidents, 1.5 million yuan for relatively big ones and 5 million yuan for major ones."“根据《中国安全生产法》，对发生一般事故的企业的最低罚款为30万元（4.21万美元）；发生较大事故的，罚款100万元；发生重大事故的，罚款200万元，新条例将这些最低罚款提高到一般事故50万元，较大事故150万元，重大事故500万元。”Coal Mine Production Safety Accidents煤矿生产安全事故 Judicial Prosecution司法追究

china production campaign prevent cabinet accidents huang coal mine henan state council xue heilongjiang nmsa

英语新闻丨Campaign to prevent coal mine accidents

entrepreneur goals reflections takeaways live events xue

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2024 4:34

china production campaign prevent cabinet accidents huang coal mine henan state council xue heilongjiang nmsa

EZ News 12/07/23

EZ News

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2023 6:10

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened marginally down this morning from yesterday's close, at 17,356 on turnover of 1.6-billion N-T. The market retreated from an early rise to end the day slightly higher on Wednesday - as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing saw its gains eroded ( 削弱) ahead of the release of its November sales data. Investor sentiment also turned cautious ahead of the release of U-S nonfarm payroll data tomorrow, as many are waiting for more guidance on the Federal Reserve's monetary policy. Environment Minister in Dubai for COP28 Environment Minister Xue Fu-sheng is in Dubai for the COP28 meeting. According to Ministry of Environment, Xue is leading a delegation of other government officials to the two-week United Nations's annual climate change conference. Taiwan hasn't been formally invited to attend the conference, but officials are attending peripheral (週邊) meetings and holding talks on the sidelines of the event. The environment minister says he's been highlighting Taiwan's plans to reach climate goals and showcasing the government's resolution to pursue efforts to limit the average global temperature rise during those meetings in Dubai. Pufferfish that Killed 1 and Hospitalized 8 Others was "Inedible" And, The Food and Drug Administration says a poisonous pufferfish that was served by a restaurant owner in Nantou County last month has been identified as an lunartail puffer. The meal left one person dead and resulted in eight other people being hospitalized. According to the F-D-A, samples of the fish were sent for testing immediately following the man's death and D-N-A samples identified it as a lunartail puffer - which is an inedible (不可食用的) variety of the fish. The F-D-A says the lunartail puffer can be easily confused with species in the same genus that are edible when properly prepared. The sale, processing and producing of food stuffs made with pufferfish are illegal under the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation. US Ukraine Funding Stalls in Senate US President Joe Biden's push to pass tens of billions of dollars in new aid for Ukraine has stalled in the Senate. Republican lawmakers blocked the funding - which also includes help for Israel - in a protest over a dispute (爭議) about border security policy. Kate Fisher reports from Washington France Charges for Man Who Killed Tourist Near Eiffel Tower Prosecutors say a man accused of fatally stabbing a tourist and injuring two other people over the weekend near the Eiffel Tower has been placed under investigation on charges of murder and attempted murder in connection with a terrorist organization. The suspect went before an investigating magistrate Wednesday who ultimately decides preliminary charges. The stabbing over the weekend killed a German-Filipino tourist at a bridge near the tower. It has drawn special concern from French authorities less than a year before the 2024 Paris Olympics, whose opening ceremony is planned along the Seine river. The man had been under surveillance for suspected Islamic radicalization. Mexico Supreme Court Overturns Bullfighting Ban Mexico's Supreme Court has overturned (推翻) a 2022 ban on bullfighting in Mexico City, opening the way for events to resume, possibly as soon as this month. A panel of justices voted to overturn a May 2022 injunction that said bull fights violated city resident's rights to a healthy environment free from violence. The panel did not explain their arguments for overturning the ban, but fight organizers claimed it violated their right to continue the tradition. The capital had a history of almost 500 years of bullfighting, but there had been no fights since the 2022 injunction. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____.

israel french food ukraine ministry environment supreme court republicans investors dubai senate taiwan killed united nations islamic paris olympics nt drug administration eiffel tower u s sanitation hospitalized environment minister pufferfish xue kate fisher taiwan semiconductor manufacturing

Reflections From A Live Event: We Attended The Same Live Event With Different Goals. These Are Our Takeaways

Do the thing

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2023 52:31

What's the next step to grow your business? Entrepreneurs often reach a standstill when launching new ideas, but connecting with a welcoming, safe community can help your creative juices flow. Today's guests—Will, Mariana, Sara, Xue, Randi, and myself—all attended the same live event. We entered with varying intentions and left with similar takeaways. The people we met and the concepts we learned were nothing short of amazing. And we don't want to keep these lessons secret any longer! Here's how connecting with a safe, like-minded community will give you the clarity needed to take your business to the next level. Special Thanks to Eileen and Harrison Wilder and Jackie Lacroix for this incredible event !! Stay connected with today's inspirational guests: Will: Visit cashflowautomationworkshop.com to get in touch. Mariana: @brandmagnetic on Instagram and host of the Empire Secrets podcast Sara: @therealsaramoses on Instagram and host of the Do It Now podcast Xue: @xuebravo_ on Instagram and host of Making A Million podcast Randi: Follow Do The Thing Formula everywhere to see what's going behind the scenes.

"When you have big dreams but your partner doesn't"

Soul CEO

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2023 11:28

S1 Ep8: What do you do when you have big goals and desires for your life but your partner is stuck in the nine-to-five corporate mindset? Xue called The Life Coach Hotline wondering how she can move forward with her dream life, despite her partner not sharing the same vision. Click here for full show notes, transcript, and more information: https://lindseymangocoaching.com/s1e8 If you want to call in to The Life Coach Hotline, go to lindseymango coaching.com/lifecoachhotline.

partner big dreams xue

How to Use Scheduling & Time Management to Win Back Your Personal Freedom with Xue #55

Life of Yegi's Podcast with Yegi Saryan

Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2023 55:17

On this episode of The Yegi Project we speak to Xue, a freedom & time management coach. After realizing that her corporate job was giving her anxiety and negatively impacting her work/life balance, she and her boyfriend - now husband - decided to quit their jobs without a back-up plan. Even when things didn't go according to plan post quitting, she still found a way to push through the obstacles and successfully start multiple businesses all while having the freedom to travel whenever and wherever she wants. She now works with others to help them optimize their time and gain back their personal freedom as well.Follow Xue! https://www.instagram.com/xueunscripted/ https://stan.store/xueunscripted Follow The Yegi Project on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/theyegiprojectMore About Your Host:Yegi is a young entrepreneur who has always been curious and hardworking. You can say she has always seen things out of the box and been able to creatively solve difficult problems. Her cool and collective spirit in life and business makes you want to be around her. She thrives on inspiring others and helps others see things from a positive point of view. The Yegi Project, is the podcast for the young entrepreneur who may not know where to start, doesn't have anyone to guide them in the right direction and may not have full support from others. This podcast is called The Yegi “Project” because although Yegi is happy with where she is now, she knows that she still has a lot to do to complete her mission and purpose in this world. She aims to use this podcast to work hard alongside all of you to grow to a point where she can make a lasting change in people's lives and in the world. If you would like to be a guest on a future episode of The Yegi Project, please email info@yegiproject.comThe Yegi Project is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and more!https://linktr.ee/theyegiprojectDisclaimer: This podcast or any other The Yegi Project episodes on this platform or other podcast streaming platforms is not legal business or tax advice. I make this content based on my own experience as a business owner and MBA for educational and entertainment purposes only.

spotify mba stitcher time management scheduling personal freedom win back podcast audio xue

#57 - Productividad para CUMPLIR METAS con Xue Neisa

Diario de una emprendedora

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2023 50:29

El día de hoy te traigo una entrevista super especial que tuve con Xue Neisa, una gran amiga y persona super especial en mi vida, con ella he aprendido mucho no solo sobre productividad, sino también mucho sobre amor propio, es más que una amiga, es una mentora y guía en mi vida. Y hoy nos habla sobre 4 aspectos claves que todos debemos trabajar para la consecución de nuestras metas. Instagram de XUE https://www.instagram.com/xueneisa/ Recuerda que puedes escribir por mi Instagram www.anngiavila.com/anngiavila o a mi correo podcastdiariodeunaemprendedora@gmail.com Recuerda que puedes comentar en mis redes sociales: ✒︎ ¿NOS SEGUIMOS EN REDES SOCIALES? ⬇ ✅ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnngiAvila ✅ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnngiAvila/ ✅ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anngiavila/ ✅ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/anngiavila24/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/anngiavila/message

pinterest recuerda metas cumplir productividad xue

Reduced Lead Setting for Diagnostic ECG Interpretation Using Deep Learning Models

Mayo Clinic Cardiovascular CME

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2023 14:17

Reduced Lead Setting for Diagnostic ECG Interpretation Using Deep Learning Models Guests: Joel Xue, Ph.D. Hosts: Anthony H. Kashou, M.D. (@anthonykashoumd) Joining us today to discuss what reduced-lead ECG analysis is, it's clinical value, some of its challenges, and how it compares to standard 12-lead ECG analysis is Joel Xue, Ph.D. Dr. Xue currently leads the AI group of AliveCor and is an adjunct professor of Bioinformatics department at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia. Tune in to learn about using Deep learning models to reduce lead setting for diagnostic ECG interpretation. Specific topics discussed: What is reduced-12-lead ECG, and what is its clinical value? What are the main challenges for the reduced lead ECG analysis? How the Deep learning model method can be applied to reduced lead ECG analysis? Are the analysis performance comparable to the standard 12-lead ECG analysis? Next steps R&D and clinical use. Connect with Mayo Clinic's Cardiovascular Continuing Medical Education online at https://cveducation.mayo.edu or on Twitter @MayoClinicCV and @MayoCVservices. Facebook: MayoCVservices LinkedIn: Mayo Clinic Cardiovascular Services NEW Cardiovascular Education App: The Mayo Clinic Cardiovascular CME App is an innovative educational platform that features cardiology-focused continuing medical education wherever and whenever you need it. Use this app to access other free content and browse upcoming courses. Download it for free in Apple or Google stores today! No CME credit offered for this episode. Podcast episode transcript found here.

ai deep models interpretation mayo clinic emory university reduced diagnostic r d deep learning ecg bioinformatics alivecor xue

Navigating the Tech Job Market: Proven Tips For Job Search Success

Chan with a Plan

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2023 45:12

EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode of Chan with a Plan, Max Speaks with Xue Hua, software engineer in tech and Chief Tech Officer at Boba Talks. During this conversation Xue discusses her journey to getting her job in tech, overcoming obstacles, and preparing for tech company interviews. QUOTES FROM XUE “You'll feel like you're doing everything right, but you're still not landing an offer. It really depends on your learning style. Programming is an iterative process, so they just gave me the project. I didn't have to ask. I wasn't expecting it, and it was a big decision.” “It really depends on your learning style. I've had people learn from books. I've had people learn from Udemy videos. I've had people learn from practicing it.” “They saw that on my resume I had that freelance thing and that really set me apart from the other candidates because they had a problem with their current website or their current management system, and they needed somebody who understood how to make websites or applications. So that really helped me stand apart.” TIMESTAMPS [01:12] Xue's educational background [04:39] Difficulties in learning multiple coding languages [07:38] Resources for learning to code [09:56] Using internships and co-ops to help your career path [11:22] Preparing for first interviews [13:28] Gaining additional experience through projects in your job [16:20] Learning lessons when overcoming job search obstacles [19:07] Lacking the experience needed [20:35] Improving interview skills [24:45] Pivoting in your career [28:48] Tips for getting into top tech companies [33:37] Balancing offers while you wait for others [36:42] Culture shock [41:59] One big career challenge Xue had to overcame RESOURCES & RELEVANT LINKS Xue Hua on Social Media:LinkedIn Chan With A Plan Max Chan on Social Media

EZ News 11/30/22

EZ News

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2022 5:43

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. **Tai-Ex opening ** The Tai-Ex opened down 31-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 14,678 on turnover of 2.9-billion N-T. The market gained ground on Tuesday in a volatile (易變的) trading session, as investors were closely watching the situation in China. The market fluctuated by almost 300 points during the trading day. Semiconductor stocks led an initial downturn, but the local main board made a sharp rebound after investors opted to use temporary declines in the share prices to increase their holdings. **NHI Copayment Plan Could be Delayed ** Health Minister Xue Rui-yuan says plans to implement (實施) an increase in National Health Insurance copayments could be delayed depending on how the island's economy performs in the coming months. The plan is currently slated to be introduced sometime in the first quarter of next year. However, the health minister says an exact timeframe has not yet been decided, as the domestic coronavirus situation and how fast the island's economy can recover from the pandemic could affect the finalizing of an implementation date. Xue says his office will be making further assessments of the overall situation in the coming weeks. **Central Bank Head Cits Weak NT$ as Contributing to Inflation ** Central Bank Governor Yang Jin-long says the New Taiwan dollar will likely depreciate by around 6-per cent against the U-S dollar this year, driving up the price of imports and adding up to 0.3 percentage points to the consumer price index. According to Yang several factors have contributed to (成為因素) rising inflation in Taiwan over the last two years. They include coronavirus-era supply chain bottlenecks, the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war on food and energy prices, and Taiwan's vulnerability as a small economy to price fluctuations on international markets. While the other major factor is imported inflation, which has been driven up by both the rising costs of imported materials and products and by the depreciation of the New Taiwan dollar. **US Senate Passes SameSex Marriage Bill ** The U.S. Senate has passed a landmark (地標性的) bill protecting same-sex and interracial marriage across the country - and it did it with the support of both Democrats and Republicans. Toni Waterman has more. **Finland Calls for Weapons for Ukraine in NZ and Australia ** Finland's leader says it must give more weapons and support to Ukraine to ensure it wins its war against Russia. Prime Minister Sanna Marin made the comments today in Auckland as she embarked on the first-ever visit by a Finnish leader to New Zealand and Australia. Among the aims of the visit are improving diplomatic relations and trade ties. Since the war began, both Finland and Sweden have abandoned their longstanding policies of military nonalignment and applied to join NATO. That was the I.C.R.T. news, Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded every day in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____.

china russia ukraine sweden republicans democrats weapons senate taiwan finland nato yang finnish nz auckland nt contributing u s semiconductors xue

101. Practices To Cope With Comparison To Others

Master Coaching with Ajit

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 4, 2022 34:10

Do you often find yourself comparing yourself to other people in your life? Or that you need to compete with others to get more love and attention? We all feel that way at some - or many - points in our lives, and it can negatively affect our energy and sense of worthiness. So how can we cope with these feelings effectively? In this episode, Coach Ajit coaches Xue Xia, who struggles with these negative thought spirals even when she's at her best in life and career. If you resonate with Xue or have clients in a similar situation, listen in on this conversation for powerful practices and ideas you can start implementing immediately. Key Insights: Understanding why we compare ourselves with others and how it affects our lives. The importance of managing one's energy. How to avoid negative downward spirals. The key to building meaningful relationships with friends. We are nurturing our sense of worthiness and self-love. How to identify triggers and set practices to cope with them. The role of routines and how it impacts our energy daily. Connect with us! IG: @realcoachajit IG: @evercoach FB: Evercoach by Mindvalley Website: www.evercoach.com Thank you so much for checking out this episode of Master Coaching with Ajit. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review on your favorite podcast app, and don't forget to subscribe to enjoy every new episode every single week.

comparison practices selfhelp cope self coaching ajit xue master coaching

August 2022 Discover CircRes

Discover CircRes

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2022 32:38

This month on Episode 39 of Discover CircRes, host Cynthia St. Hilaire highlights four original research articles featured in the August 5th and 19th issues of the journal. This episode also features an interview with Dr Annet Kirabo and Dr Ashley Pitzer from Vanderbilt University on their article, Dendritic Cell ENaC-Dependent Inflammasome Activation Contributes to Salt-Sensitive Hypertension. Article highlights: Jain, et al. Role of UPR in Platelets Orlich et al: SRF Function in Mural Cells of the CNS Xue et al: Gut Microbial IPA Inhibits Atherosclerosis Wang et al: Endothelial ETS1 on Heart Development Cindy St. Hilaire: Hi, welcome to Discover CircRes, the podcast of the American Heart Association's journal Circulation Research. I'm your host, Dr Cindy St. Hilaire from the Vascular Medicine Institute at the University of Pittsburgh, and today I'm going to be highlighting articles from our August 5th and August 19th issues of Circulation Research. I'm also going to have a chat with Dr Annet Kirabo and Dr Ashley Pitzer from Vanderbilt University about their study, Dendritic Cell ENaC-Dependent Inflammasome Activation Contributes to Salt-Sensitive Hypertension. But before I get to the interview, I first want to share an article from our August 5th issue, and that article is titled, Unfolded Protein Response Differentially Modulates the Platelet Phenotype. The first author of this study is Kanika Jain and the corresponding author is John Hwa from Yale University. Self-stress can lead to protein misfolding, and the accumulation of misfolded proteins can lead to a reduction in protein translation and may alter gene transcription, a process collectively known as the unfolded protein response, or UPR. UPR is well documented in nucleated cells; however, it has not been studied in platelets, which are anuclear, but do have a rapid response to cellular stress. In this study, they investigated the UPR in anucleate platelets and explore its role, if any, in platelet physiology and function. They found that treating human and mouse platelets with various stressors caused aggregations of misfolded proteins and induction of UPR-specific factors. Oxidative stress, for example, induced the UPR kinase PERK, while an endoplasmic reticulum stressor induced the transcription of the UPR factor XBP1. The team went on to study the UPR in platelets from people with type II diabetes, which is a population in which platelet mediated thrombosis is a major complication. They showed that protein aggregation and upregulation of the XBP1 pathway in diabetic patient platelets correlated with disease severity. Furthermore, treating the diabetic patient platelets with a chemical chaperone that helps to correct protein misfolding reduced protein aggregations and prevented the cells prothrombotic activation. This work confirms that even without transcription, platelets display stress-induced UPR, and that targeting this response may be a way to reduce thrombotic risk in diabetic patients. Cindy St. Hilaire: The second article I want to share with you is from our August 5th issue and is titled, Mural Cell SRF Controls Pericyte Migration, Vessel Patterning and Blood Flow, and it was led by Michael Orlich from Uppsala University in Sweden. Blood vessels are lined with endothelial cells and surrounded by mural cells. Vascular smooth muscle cells are the mural cells in the case of veins and arteries, and pericytes are the mural cells in the case of capillaries. In the capillaries, pericytes maintain blood-brain and blood-retina barrier function and can mediate vascular tone, similar to smooth muscle cells. While these pericytes and smooth muscle cells are related, they have distinct roles and characteristics. To learn more about the similarities and the differences between pericytes and smooth muscle cells, this group examined how each would be affected by the absence of SRF in the other. SRF is a transcription factor, essential for nonvascular or visceral smooth muscle cell function. In visceral smooth muscle cells, SRF drives expression of smooth muscle actin and other smooth muscle genes. Using mice engineered to lack SRF in mural cells, they show that SRF drives smooth muscle gene expression in these pericytes and smooth muscle cells, and its loss from smooth muscle cells causes atrial venous malformations and diminishes vascular tone. In pericytes, loss of SRF impaired cell migration in angiogenic sprouting. In a mouse model of retinopathy, activation of SRF drove pathological growth of pericytes. This work not only highlights the various functions of SRF in mural cell biology, but it also suggests that it has a role in pathological capillary patterning. Cindy St. Hilaire: The third article I want to share is from our August 19th issue of Circulation Research and is titled, Gut Microbially Produced Indole-3-Propionic Acid Inhibits Atherosclerosis by Promoting Reverse Cholesterol Transport and its Deficiency Is Causally Related to Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease. The first authors are Hongliang Xue and Xu Chen, and the corresponding author is Wenhua Ling from Sun Yat-Sen University in Guangzhou, China. Recent studies provide evidence that disorders in the gut microbiota and gut microbiome derived metabolites affect the development of atherosclerosis. However, which and how specific gut microbial metabolites contribute to the progression of atherosclerosis and the clinical relevance of these alterations remain unclear. Gut microbiome derived metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids and trimethylamine N-oxide, or TMAO, have been found to correlate with atherosclerotic disease severity. This study has now found that serum levels of indole-3-propionic acid, or IPA, are lower in atherosclerosis patients than controls. The team performed unbiased metagenomic and metabolomic analyses on fecal and serum samples from 30 coronary artery disease patients and found that, compared with controls, patients with atherosclerosis had lower gut bacterial diversity, depletion of species that commonly produce IPA and lower levels of IPA in their blood. Examination of a second larger cohort of atherosclerosis patients confirmed this IPA disease correlation. The team also showed serum IPA was reduced in a mouse model of atherosclerosis, and that supplementing such mice with dietary IPA could slow disease progression. Analysis of the macrophages from these mice showed that IPA increased cholesterol efflux, and the team went on to elucidate the molecular steps involved. The results of this study not only unraveled the details of IPA's influence on atherosclerosis, but suggest boosting levels of this metabolite could slow atherosclerotic disease progression. Cindy St. Hilaire: The last article I want to share is also from our August 19th issue, and it's titled, Endothelial Loss of ETS1 Impairs Coronary Vascular Development and Leads to Ventricular Non-Compaction. The first author is Lu Wang and the corresponding author is Paul Grossfeld, and they are at UCSD. Congenital heart defects, or CHDs, are present in nearly 1% of the human population. In some cases, the heart defects result from a genetic error, which can give researchers clues to its etiology. Jacobson syndrome is a complex condition caused by deletions from one end of chromosome 11, and the occurrence of a congenital heart defect in this syndrome has been associated with the loss of the gene ETS1. ETS1 is an angiogenesis promoting transcription factor, but how ETS1 functions in heart development was not known. Wang and colleagues now show that both global or endothelial-specific loss of ETS1 in mice caused differences in embryonic heart development that ultimately led to a muscular wall defect known as ventricular non-compaction. The mice also had defective coronary vasculogenesis associated with decreased abundance of endothelial cells in the ventricular myocardium. RNA sequencing of ventricular tissue revealed that, compared with controls, mice lacking ETS1 had reduced expression of several important angiogenesis genes and upregulation of extracellular matrix factors, which together contributed to the muscular and vascular defects. Cindy St. Hilaire: Today I have with me, Dr Annet Kirabo and Dr Ashley Pitzer, both from Vanderbilt University, and we're going to talk about their paper, Dendritic Cell ENaC-Dependent Inflammasome Activation Contributes to Salt-Sensitive Hypertension. This article is in our August 5th issue of Circulation Research. Thank you both so much for joining me today. Annet Kirabo: Yeah, thank you so much for having us. Ashley Pitzer: Yeah, thank you for having us. Cindy St. Hilaire: Yeah, it's a great paper. I think we're all familiar with hypertension and this idea that too much salt is bad for our cardiovascular system. When I was a kid, my grandparents had those salt replacements on their kitchen table, Mrs. Dash and whatever. But, like you said in the start of your paper, the exact mechanism by which salt intake increases blood pressure and also increases cardiovascular risk, it's not really well understood, and you guys are focusing on the contribution of immune responses in this process or in this pathogenesis. Before we dig into the details of your paper, I was wondering if you could give us a little bit of background about what's known regarding the role of inflammation in this salt-sensitive hypertension pathogenesis. Annet Kirabo: Yeah. It's difficult to know where begin to from, but the role of inflammation in cardiovascular disease have been known for many, many decades. Right now, Dr David Harrison showed more than 10 years ago that T cells contribute to hypertension, but the mechanisms were not known. Back when I was a post doc in David Harrison's lab, we discovered a new mechanism, how immune cells are activated in inflammation and hypertension, whereby we found that there is increased oxidative stress in antigen-presenting cells. This leads to formation of oxidative products known as arachidonic acid or lipid products known as isolevuglandin, or IsoLGs. These IsoLGs are highly, highly reactive and they adapt to lysines on proteins. This is a covalent binding, which leads to permanent alteration of proteins, and so these proteins act as neoantigens that are presented as self-antigens to T cells, leading to an autoimmune-like state in hypertension. Annet Kirabo: We found that these antigen-presenting cells are activated and they start producing a lot of cytokines that paralyze T cells to IL-17 producing T cells that contribute to hypertension. And so, when I started my lab back in 2016, we discovered that excess dietary salt profoundly activates this pathway, and we found for the first time that these antigen-presenting cells, they express ENaC, the epithelial sodium channel, and sodium goes into these antigen-presenting cells and activates the NADPH oxidase, which is an enzyme which produces this reactive oxygen species, leading to this IsoLG formation, which I've talked about, and leading to inflammation. So, three years ago when Ashley joined my lab, she had extensively studied the inflammasome in her PhD program, and she suggested why don't we look at the role of the inflammasome in this pathway and how IsoLG may contribute to this. In her paper that we are discussing right now, she found that in a dependent manner, sodium enters the cell and activates this pathway, and the NLRP3 inflammasome is involved in this process. Cindy St. Hilaire: That's such a wonderful story that fits together so many pieces. One of the things you talk about, which I guess I didn't even appreciate myself is, there are certain individuals out there who are more salt-sensitive than others. Annet Kirabo: Yeah. Cindy St. Hilaire: What is that difference? Do we know the root cause of that? And then also, how many individuals are we talking about are salt-sensitive? Annet Kirabo: Salt-sensitive blood pressure, it is a variable trait and it's normally distributed in the population, but it happens more in some individuals than others. It happens even in 25% of people without any hypertension. These people go to that doctor, that doctor thinks they're normal, they don't have any hypertension, but these people can be at a risk of sudden heart attack or cardiovascular risk or even a stroke, simply because when they eat a salty meal, their blood pressure will go up. Cindy St. Hilaire: Yeah, that's one of my questions. How much salt are we talking about here? And not only how much in a meal, but a sustained amount? How bad is a miso soup a day? Annet Kirabo: Yes. The American Heart Association and the World Health Organization have recommendations. American Heart Association recommends one spoon per day. We have refused to adapt to this recommendation, but that is the recommendation that they have recommended per day to eat. But this is difficult because most of the salt, as you know, is already in our food through processing in our processed foods and we don't have any control over how much salt we have, and there's also a lot of adding of salt at a table. Cindy St. Hilaire: Ashley, your background was more the inflammasome. What were your thoughts entering into this project? Did you have much of a hypertension background? Ashley Pitzer: No. My graduate thesis focused mainly on endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular disease, and so it was a pretty easy segue. But it was just with Annet, so excited about the project and showing me all the data and this robust IL-1 beta production that she was seeing after these immune cells being exposed to high salt, I, with my inflammasome background, was immediately like, this could be playing a role. And so it was, like I said, a pretty easy transition and, as is in the paper, we're doing human studies. All of my research back in grad school was very basic research, so it was very exciting to see how our research was being translated with people having this condition and potentially finding mechanisms where we can target this to help actual people. Cindy St. Hilaire: I think a lot of us who are not in the hypertension field, and maybe this was you before you joined Annet's lab, we really only kind of think of the kidneys and the blood vessels when we think about hypertension, but studies like this are changing that. And I think a lot of Annet's earlier work, as well as the work of others, have shown a role for this epithelial sodium channel as an important player in this salt-induced hypertension. New to me, it's not just found in the kidney, which I totally did not appreciate that. And it's this channel sensing the salt that can trigger this IL-1 beta production that does a whole bunch of other things. Cindy St. Hilaire: What are those other things? What are those cells that are affected and where is this happening? Obviously it's not just kidney cells, but is it only in the kidney or are these systemic cells? What do we think is happening? Ashley Pitzer: That's the question, is, where is this happening? There's been studies at Vanderbilt by Jens Titze and his lab showing, where are these immune cells sensing the salt? And so they've shown that sodium accumulates in the skin, a huge argument is for they're sensing the sodium in the kidney because that's where a lot of it is being processed. But these immune cells travel through the whole body, so they're seeing it where there are the highest amounts of sodium concentration, and so I would argue it's in the kidney. Annet Kirabo: Indeed, because we're now collaborating with Tina Kon, and we have recently published with her a paper in the International Journal of Science, where we have done sodium MRI and we find this accumulation of sodium in the kidney even much more than in the skin. And we know that the kidney is where sodium is highly concentrated. So the working hypothesis in the lab is that these immune cells can be activated wherever they are, in the lymph nodes or not, in other tissues, but they can travel to the kidney. We find that in high salt, if you feed high salt to the mouse, the endothelium in the kidney becomes dysfunctional and it expresses molecules, chemoattractants, that attract these immune cells in the kidney. We think that the high salt accumulation in the kidney can activate these, and then these immune cells are activated and they produce cytokines. Dr Steve Crowley showed that they can produce IL-1 beta, which induces activation of sodium channels that can be induced. We have also actually found that even IL-17 can be produced by these immune cells in the kidney and they can activate sodium channels in the kidney, leading retention of sodium and water and hypertension. Cindy St. Hilaire: Very cool. You used a lot of mice in this paper. Can you tell us, I just want to know a little bit about the models you chose to use, but also how similar is hypertension in mouse and humans? Obviously for atherosclerosis, we have to do lots of things to get them to form a plaque. Is hypertension similar in a mouse and do mice also show this salt-sensitive phenotype? Annet Kirabo: That is an extremely important point. If you read our paper, we use a slightly different approach. Most people do benchside to bed approach. We did the opposite. We did a bed to benchside approach. Cindy St. Hilaire: Always smart. Annet Kirabo: Yeah. We first started humans, and then with some references, we went to the mice, because I think when it comes to salt-sensitive blood pressure, mice are different from humans. In fact, if we look in the lab, we find that female mice are protected from salt-sensitive blood pressure, but we find that in the humans, it's the opposite. Females are more prone to salt-sensitive hypertension. Those are studies that we are doing right now. We haven't published. But we know that it can be different. The model we use most of the time in the lab, the C57 mice, are resistant to salt-sensitive hypertension. These C57 mice would rather die before they raise their blood pressure in response to salt. We can induce salt-sensitivity in these mice like in the paper that we are discussing. When we induce the endothelial dysfunction using L-NAME and we wash it out, then these mice, when you give them, subsequently, salt, suggests that they become salt-sensitive. But we also have a salt-sensitive mouse model that we use, the 129/SV mouse. So we use several models to kind of prove the same thing over and over again with the findings that we found in humans. Cindy St. Hilaire: And you used a technique, which I'm a little bit familiar with, but I'd like to hear, A, about it from you, but also your experience in using it, and that is CITE-seq. So, how does that work? Ashley Pitzer: That was with our human study where we actually had patients come in, who were hypertensive, took them off medication for 2 weeks. They come in, we get baseline samples, we give them a salt load on one day, and then the next day we completely salt deplete them. Cindy St. Hilaire: How much is a salt load? Like a Big Mac? What's a salt load? Ashley Pitzer: Yeah, it's pretty much just like eating Lays chips all day. It's a lot of salt. It's a very salty meal. Annet Kirabo: And then in addition, we also infuse saline too. Cindy St. Hilaire: Oh, wow. Annet Kirabo: Because these people, when they come into the hospital, some them have already eating high salt. This approach is to just maximize the whole system so that then when we sort deplete everybody, it's at the same level and it's just to unify the whole process. But sorry, Ashley, you go ahead. Ashley Pitzer: With the CITE-seq, we're able to take different patients on different days. So we take samples each day, and we can give each sample a barcode, basically. Give them a barcode, we can pool them all together, process them, and we can sequence their RNA, we can probe for a certain amount of protein expression as well. So then when we analyze, we can look at protein expression, so you get the translation and the transcription for each person on each day, and then you're able to compare. And so you get this huge picture and it's a lot of data. Cindy St. Hilaire: How long did it take you to sort through? Ashley Pitzer: Well, we have a statistician who does all of that, because my wheelhouse is here and it is on a different planet. So we have somebody who helps us with that who does an unbiased approach. And then once he does an analysis, gives us back what are the things that are changing the most, and one of those was IL-1 beta. Annet Kirabo: As you can see, our list is huge, this is a massive input of so many collaborators. We have computational people on there that help us with this. I can't even begin to learn these techniques, but with all this collaboration and the resources at Vanderbilt, these things are possible. And so, this is a really powerful approach where you can combine protein expression and you get the specific cells that express the genes and you couple the channel type to the gene expression. Annet Kirabo: We actually found that not all monocytes are the same. There's a specific class that of monocytes, A small class of monocytes that is so angry, and the inflammasome is activated and producing this IL-1 beta, and that is enough to contribute to this phenotype of salt-sensitive hypertension, which dynamically changed according to blood pressure, suggesting that this is a targetable salt-sensitive blood pressure, even in normotensive people, is a targetable trait. And because these monocytes are in blood, can we get a blood sample and routinely diagnose salt-sensitive blood pressure so that doctors are aware and they can appropriately advise patients. Cindy St. Hilaire: This was samples obviously taken from a blood draw, right? So they're circulating. Annet Kirabo: It was a blood draw, yes. Cindy St. Hilaire: What do you think about these immune cells, perhaps, native in the kidney? Do you think the small population of angry cells, like you said, is escaping from the kidney environment? What do you think? Annet Kirabo: When I was a post-doc in David Harrison's lab, we found that the most angry dendritic cells that contribute to this inflammation and hypertension are monocyte-derived. So that's why in the human study we focused on monocytes, because there are so many subtypes of dendritic cells, plasmacytoid dendritic, classical dendritic cells. We have studied all of these subtypes, and we have focused on monocyte-derived dendritic cells because they're the ones that seem to be contributing to this phenotype the most. Cindy St. Hilaire: You guys focused in on the NLRP3 inflammasome, which, obviously it's a really critical component broadly for the innate immune system. Do you think that this is going to be a targetable approach that can be leveraged for hypertension? Or do you think it's too broad? What do you think about that as a therapeutic potential? Ashley Pitzer: Even when you look in our paper, and we use a knockout model, where we use a completely global knockout model, put them on high salt, and we give them back only dendritic cells that are from wild-type mice, so they have that NLRP3, that have been exposed to high salt. We were able to increase blood pressure, but I also did, in mice, where I gave them an IL-1 beta neutralizing antibody, similar to canakinumab, which is the CANTOS trial, and there's not much of a difference. There is, but it's minor. It's very minor. Ashley Pitzer: So, to be able to target in specific cell types in humans one thing, it's very difficult, and maybe one day we can get there. But I think it at least gives us a better idea of what is the full picture, what's the big mechanism going on with immune cells? In part of our human study, we are looking at something to try and be able to identify who is salt sensitive. So if anything, we're able to sit here and potentially have a way of identifying salt-sensitive patients, where, right now, all we can do is have them come in like we do and do a 3-day study, and not everybody can do that. Annet Kirabo: To add onto that, perhaps you know, we are talking about precision medicine. This is an era of precision medicine where you need to really tailor treatments if we can get there, and I think this is one way. CANTOS trial. They had no way of knowing who is salt-sensitive and who is not, it was a global approach, and the lack of differences in blood pressure might be explained that this IL-1 beta pathway is targetable in a specific population whose blood pressure is probably driven by inflammation. There are so many, many mechanisms that drive hypertension, and so perhaps we need to focus this on salt-sensitive people, and maybe we can really use this approach to target. Plus, this is ENaC-dependent. As you know, amiloride has lost favor in the clinic as a treatment of hypertension, because in the majority, it's not effective. But studies have shown that in Black men, for example, who had been categorized salt-resistant, when they give them amiloride, their blood pressure went down, and yet it's not effective in the majority of the people. So, can we bring back, can we take another look at amiloride. As our studies indicate that blockade of ENaC is anti-inflammatory and it's also antioxidant agent, can we at least bring back amiloride and look at it again and we focus it for specific populations of people that may be more prone to salt-sensitive hypertension? Here we have so many targets for potential precision treatment of salt-sensitive potential in this paper. You can target SGK1, which we know is possible, we listed a number of clinical trials that they have used NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors, you can use amiloride for these people, and you can also potentially scavenge IsoLGs. Cindy St. Hilaire: What was the most challenging aspect of this study? There's a lot of moving parts, so what was the biggest challenge? And then, also, what was the most surprising part or the most pleasantly surprising part? Ashley Pitzer: You have to think, most of this was going on right when the pandemic hit. And right before that, we had started our human recruitment for the human study. And so that put a little bit of a time damper on it. Ashley Pitzer: Other than that, it was just, we were finding one thing, developing a new experiment, doing it again, doing it again. And honestly, what was the most surprising and rewarding was just seeing the same thing in, because we took just PBMCs from normotensive patients, treated them with high salt, and saw the changes that we did with the inflammasome. And to see that exactly again in an in vivo model of giving patients high salt and seeing the same thing, it was very rewarding and confirmed that, okay, we're on the right path. Seeing the same thing over and over and over again, it kind of reaffirms that you had a good idea. Annet Kirabo: I might add, one of the most challenging was, initially, the computational. Oh, part of the pandemic I was, the pandemic hit, I had a baby during the pandemic, and it was my time to leave my home, and then all these things were going on. We had a clinical trial where patients had to come in. Vanderbilt was so super supportive ,even checking for COVID-19. Our patients could not have COVID-19. We needed to check them. Cindy St. Hilaire: Yeah. Annet Kirabo: They also had to check for COVID-19. And so during that time, I realized, wait, I need learn computation analysis. I realized I cannot learn, and then reached out to collaborators that helped. That was extremely challenging. And then the other challenging thing that we faced later during the pandemic is vaccinations. In our criteria, these people cannot be vaccinated for reasons. We've studied inflammation, hypertension, and so vaccination was confounding. And even COVID-19 is even more for confounding. So we had this exclusion criteria where we could not recruit anyone. Annet Kirabo: Everybody was having COVID, everybody was being vaccinated, and everybody was in that exclusion criteria, so it was difficult to get people. We have had some slow down, but right now it's beginning to build up. Cindy St. Hilaire: So, what's next? What's the next question? Annet Kirabo: We have so many. Cindy St. Hilaire: That means it was a great study. If you have more, that means it was a great study. Annet Kirabo: Yeah. This study and us, it kind of warms. The inside seat just opened up, we have primary data in the genetic regulation of ENaC, we have primary data where we found. We are trying to figure out the specific ENaC channel in these antigen-presenting cells. We don't know. We found that ENaC delta, for example, it's not found in a kidney or you talked about a kidney contribution versus immune cells. ENaC delta is not found in the kidney, but we have primary data that show that ENaC delta is the most correlated with cardiovascular risk, is the most correlated with kidney disease and all forms of hypertension. So now we're like, ENaC delta expressed in the immune cells, not in the kidney, it is the one that is most involved in cardiovascular disease, so how are we going to tell the world that. Cindy St. Hilaire: Yeah, very cool. Annet Kirabo: Those cells, not necessarily the kidney. The kidney plays a part because the cells are going there, but it's very, very exciting. Plus a number of other lines that we are investigating. Cindy St. Hilaire: It's great. Well, congratulations, again, on this publication, on just getting all this done with what sounds like extremely difficult patient recruitment. So, Dr Kirabo and Dr Pitzer, thank you so much for joining me today and I'm looking forward to these next studies on maybe ENaC delta. Annet Kirabo: Thank you. Thank you so much. Ashley Pitzer: Thank you for having us. Cindy St. Hilaire: That's it for the highlights from the August 5th and August 19th issues of Circulation Research. Thank you for listening. Please check out the CircRes Facebook page and follow us on Twitter and Instagram with the handle @CircRes and hashtag Discover CircRes. Thank you to our guests, Dr Annet Kirabo and Dr Ashley Pitzer. This podcast is produced by Ashara Ratnayaka, edited by Melissa Stoner, and supported by the editorial team of Circulation Research. Some of the copy text for the highlighted articles is provided by Ruth Williams. I'm your host, Dr Cindy St. Hilaire, and this is Discover CircRes, your on the go source for the most exciting discoveries in basic cardiovascular research. This program is copyright of the American Heart Association 2022. Opinions expressed by speakers in this podcast are their own, and not necessarily those of the editors or of the American Heart Association. For more information, visit ahajournals.org.

How Did China Do in Its First Horn of Africa Peace Conference?

The China in Africa Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2022 33:47

China's Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, Xue Bing, wrapped up a two-day peace conference in Addis Ababa last week, Beijing's first-ever effort to mediate conflicts outside of Asia. Xue personally offered to serve as a broker to help resolve many of the ongoing tensions that currently roil the region.Superficially, all of the participants responded favorably to China's efforts but the real test will come in the months ahead to see if Beijing can match its promises with tangible results.Aly Verjee, a non-resident senior advisor at the United States Institute of Peace, is a leading expert in the politics of the Horn of Africa. He joins Cobus to share his impressions of China's performance at the conference and whether he thinks Beijing has what it takes to help mediate the region's various conflicts.JOIN THE DISCUSSION:Twitter: @ChinaGSProject| @stadenesque | @alyverjeeFacebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProjectFOLLOW CAP IN FRENCH AND ARABIC:Français: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChineعربي: www.akhbaralsin-africia.com | @AkhbarAlSinAfrJOIN US ON PATREON!Become a CAP Patreon member and get all sorts of cool stuff including our Week in Review report, an invitation to join monthly Zoom calls with Eric & Cobus, and even an awesome new CAP Podcast mug!www.patreon.com/chinaafricaprojectSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Weekly: LockBit PR Stunt Against Mandiant and Bohrium Targeted Users Via Spear-Phishing Operations

operations users targeted stefano lockbit mandiant pr stunt spear phishing xue

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2022 30:45

ShadowTalk host Stefano alongside Xue, and Kim bring you the latest in threat intelligence. This week they cover: - LockBit x Mandiant PR stunt - Bohrium targets victims in various geographies Get this week's intelligence summary at: https://resources.digitalshadows.com/weekly-intelligence-summary/weekly-intelligence-summary-10-jun/ ***Resources from this week's podcast*** Killnet: The Hactivist Group That Started A Global Cyber War: https://www.digitalshadows.com/blog-and-research/killnet-the-hactivist-group-that-started-a-global-cyber-war/ -Ransomware Gangs and PR Stunts: Why LockBit Faked a Ransomware Attack Against Mandiant https://www.digitalshadows.com/blog-and-research/ransomware-gangs-and-pr-stunts-why-lockbit-faked-a-ransomware-attack-against-mandiant/

Weekly: The Return of Lapsus$, 2 Months of Russia-Ukraine War

cyber russia ukraine stefano cybercrime russia ukraine war lapsus xue

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2022 33:06

ShadowTalk host Stefano alongside Xue, Kim, & Rory bring you the latest in threat intelligence. This week they cover: * Cybercrime group Lapsus$ is back * Cyber activity in the Russia-Ukraine war so far ***Resources from this week's podcast*** The Russia – Ukraine War: Two Months In https://www.digitalshadows.com/blog-and-research/the-russia-ukraine-war-two-months-in/ Opportunity In The Midst Of Chaos: Russian-Speaking Cybercriminals Grapple With Sanctions And Forum Takedowns https://www.digitalshadows.com/blog-and-research/russian-speaking-cybercriminals-grapple-with-sanctions-and-forum-takedowns/ Leaked Chats Show LAPSUS$ Stole T-Mobile Source Code https://krebsonsecurity.com/2022/04/leaked-chats-show-lapsus-stole-t-mobile-source-code/ Subscribe to our threat intelligence email: https://info.digitalshadows.com/SubscribetoEmail-Podcast_Reg.html Also, don't forget to reach out to - shadowtalk@digitalshadows.com - if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for the next episodes.

#28 - Chinese Medicine For Fertility- Woo-woo or Evidence-based?

Fertile Me Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2022 20:04

I am an Integrative Fertility Expert with a background in Chinese medicine so obviously, I talk about it quite a bit. It is not the mainstream medical system in the United States, and there are lots of skepticism around it. Is it real? Is it woo-woo or is there evidence supporting its effectiveness? Those are the big questions that you are probably wondering about before embracing this system that is a few thousand years old to help you get pregnant. Today, I am going to present some of the evidence behind Chinese medicine and you can decide if it's legit or if it's too new agey for you. To follow me on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook: @dradriennewei Reference: Feng, J., Wang, J., Zhang, Y., Zhang, Y., Jia, L., Zhang, D., Zhang, J., Han, Y., & Luo, S. (2021). The efficacy of complementary and alternative medicine in the treatment of female infertility. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : eCAM, 2021, 6634309. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/6634309 Johansson, J., & Stener-Victorin, E. (2013). Polycystic ovary syndrome: effect and mechanisms of acupuncture for ovulation induction. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : eCAM, 2013, 762615. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/762615 Liu, H., Xu, J. Y., Li, L., Shan, B. C., Nie, B. B., & Xue, J. Q. (2013). FMRI evidence of acupoints specificity in two adjacent acupoints. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM, 2013, 932581. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/932581 Liu, L., Liu, Y., Yang, M., Xu, G., Li, R., Xu, X., Pan, X., & Liang, J. (2020). Effectiveness of tonifying-kidney and regulating-liver therapy on diminished ovarian reserve: a systematic review and Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan, 40(3), 343–354. https://doi.org/10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2020.03.001 Maciocia, G. (2015). The foundations of Chinese medicine. Elsevier. Ried, K. (2015). Chinese herbal medicine for female infertility: an updated meta-analysis. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 23(1), 116-128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2014.12.004 Zhang, C., & Xu, X. (2016). Advancement in the treatment of diminished ovarian reserve by traditional Chinese and Western medicine. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 11(4), 1173–1176. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2016.3025

Weekly: Q1 Review Including Russia-Ukraine War, REvil Arrests, Emergence of Lapsus$ & More!

russia ukraine emergence stefano arrests cybercrime russia ukraine war lapsus revil xue

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2022 30:20

ShadowTalk host Stefano alongside Kim, Xue, and Rick bring you the latest in threat intelligence. This week they cover a recap of a highly dynamic quarter including: * Log4j complex mitigation and remediation * REvil arrests * Cybercrime and Russia-Ukraine War * Extortion and the emergence of Lapsus$ ***Resources from this week's podcast*** Log4j: What's Happened Since https://www.digitalshadows.com/blog-and-research/log4j-whats-happened-since/ The Log4j Zero-Day: What We Know So Far https://www.digitalshadows.com/blog-and-research/the-log4j-zero-day-what-we-know-so-far/ Meet Lapsus$: An Unusual Group In The Cyber Extortion Business https://www.digitalshadows.com/blog-and-research/meet-lapsus-an-unusual-group-in-the-cyber-extortion-business/ How Cybercriminals Are Using Messaging Platforms https://www.digitalshadows.com/blog-and-research/how-cybercriminals-are-using-messaging-platforms/ Ransomware Q4 Overview https://www.digitalshadows.com/blog-and-research/ransomware-q4-overview/ Subscribe to our threat intelligence email: https://info.digitalshadows.com/SubscribetoEmail-Podcast_Reg.html Also, don't forget to reach out to - shadowtalk@digitalshadows.com - if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for the next episodes.

Weekly: Conti Leaks, Reactions from Cybercriminals, & Priority Intelligence Requirements