Everyone understands history differently. In those years of war, when homes were destroyed and families torn apart, war left behind tragedy after tragedy: spouses and children separated, loved ones divided by life and death, and parents watching their children die before them. And yet, because war brings life and death so close, human feelings become all the more precious and rare, and love grows more steadfast and profound. It is only in such troubled times that true feelings can be expressed so fully, and the capacity to love feels so heartrending.
I love that period of history. Individuals seem insignificant in the face of war, yet the brilliance of human nature shines all the brighter. Of course, the story I'm writing is not history. Its broad setting and major figures are based on historical events, but the main characters are fictional. You may recognize certain familiar faces in them, since novels are often inspired by reality. If you don't like it, or feel it doesn't fit your idea of history, please move along. If you want to learn about history, you can read historical records from that era. This story is simply a love story, about the reunions, partings, separations, and sorrow of a time of war.
A love story sealed away for more than half a century:
A resistance general who rode across the battlefield, and a beautiful, carefree lady of the Republican era;
A chance encounter from Beiping to Guangzhou, and a love made unforgettable amid the misty rains of Jinling.
If there had been no war, he would have taken her to see famous mountains and rivers, savoring the gentle streams and little bridges, and touring the magnificent landscapes of the world.
If there had been no war, they would have been an ordinary couple, greeting the red magnolias and plum blossoms in the morning, listening to music together in the evening, wishing only to support each other and grow old together.
If there had been no war, the history books would have told a different story about them.
In time, history settled into dust, as the world turned and the chaos passed. With only half a lifetime of devotion left, where could they go from here?
"Perhaps if I hadn't met you again back then... at least you wouldn't have left me behind..."
There have been too many changes since then, and I really don't want to keep updating this version. Search for "Love in a Time of War" on Zhihu to find the revised version.
