(Minghui.org) March 12th was the birthday of one of our national heroes, Yue Fei. He was born 914 years ago. A commemorative event was held at his temple in Tangyin County, Henan Province. Over 500 of his descendants from across the nation came for the event. As Falun Gong practitioners from Yue Fei's hometown, four of us drove there early.
It was a cold and windy day in northern China as the Gong and Drum teams performed at the great hall of the temple, which displayed the four Chinese characters “Loyal to the Country.”
We practitioners lit incense to pay their respects to the statutes of Yue Fei and his ancestors. Then we broke up into two groups. One gave out Falun Gong materials and asked that people withdraw from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The other group went to see the people who managed the temple to clarify the truth to them. We also raised the issue of setting up two monuments.
Clarifying the Truth to the Temple Director
At 93, the temple director was still strong and very healthy. “I have worked in this temple for decades for free,” he said. “I don't eat any meals here, either. Yue Fei's devotion to the country inspires me constantly.”
We told him about our idea to set up two monuments inscribed with Master’s two poems “A Visit to Yue Fei Shrine” and “Visiting my Hometown” from Hong Yin. He was very supportive.
We asked him to withdraw from the CCP. He agreed and said he nearly died several times during the CCP's political campaigns over the years.
Eight police officers in two vehicles then showed up to make their rounds, so we left.
Yue Fei's Descendants Learn the Truth
Yue Fei's descendants started arriving around 10:30 a.m. They wore yellow ribbons and medals to commemorate Yue Fei. We talked to Mr. Yue, one of the event organizers. We clarified the truth to him and told him that our master, Mr. Li Hongzhi, visited Chenggang Village, Yue Fei's hometown, 20 years ago and wrote two poems.
I told him that Master had a monument erected in Yue Fei's temple when he came here but that it was destroyed after Jiang Zemin started to persecute Falun Gong in 1999. I hoped that he could help us set up two monuments inscribed with Master's poems celebrating Yue Fei's spirit.
He was very moved and expressed his full support. When he asked to see the poems, I took out a stack of copies of the poems. People nearby asked to see them, too. Mr. Yue said he would distribute them to every one of Yue Fei’s descendants.
Mr. Yue had to leave to hold the ceremony and thanked us before he left. Another of the descendants, a man in his 30s, asked me to tell him more about Falun Gong and the persecution. He listened attentively and was very touched.
He shook my hand and asked me for my phone number. He assured me that, as a descendant of Yue Fei, he would not join any CCP organization and he would ask those descendants who were already CCP members to quit.
He warned me of the police officers behind me and asked me not to say anything more.
After the ceremony, we went to Chenggang Village, Yue Fei's hometown.
Clarifying the Truth to the Village Party Secretary
It was a busy market day in the village. We gave out many fliers, and quite a few villagers withdrew from the CCP. We also lit incense in front of Yue Fei's statue. Then we went to the home of the village Party secretary.
He was having lunch but asked us in after he learned why we had come. I said, “After Jiang Zemin launched the campaign of persecution against Falun Gong in July 1999, the 610 Office instigated some villagers to damage the monument donated by Mr. Li Hongzhi. I'd like to discuss the possibility of setting it up again in the same place.”
He replied, “The current situation won’t allow it. Where are you from? Are you the people distributing the fliers? You'd better leave quickly. You are elderly ladies, so I won’t report you.”
“It will be to your credit if you can get the monument restored,” I said. “I hope you will treat Falun Gong and its practitioners well. You don’t want to have any regrets in the future.”
He did not accept the fliers I offered him and urged us to leave immediately, so we did.
We expected that might happen, but we had explained the facts to him, and his conscience might have been awakened. What we do is give people the opportunity to know the truth.
We believe that Master’s monument will one day be restored and that his poems will inspire people for generations.
