A large army of Goverment troops had received orders to
withdraw from Kiangsu Province to Kweiyang, the capital of the
province of Kweichow. There they were to entrench themselves
south of the capital, as general headquarters were expecting a
large-scale Japanese offensive in the direction of Yunnan
Province. The goal of the enemy was to sever all communications
and isolate China entirely form the rest of the world.
Following their defeat in Kiangsu, the Government forces
were split up. One division was compelled to retreat through
Honan and further west to Sian, the capital city of Shensi
Province. A battalion belonging to this division was ordered down
to Shanghsien and Shanyang, because the commanding general feared
an enemy dash over this stretch towards Sian.
Lieutenant Lui Tsong was with this detachment. For some
time he had been ailing, but had been unable to secure sick
leave. The usual procedure was to refuse to grant any sick leave
until the case was pronounced extremely critical, and by that
time permission often arrived posthumously. In the lieutenant's
case, the illness had progressed so far that he was numbered in
the ranks of the officially sick. This was the next best thing to
being shot in the nape of the neck for supposedly subversive
activities.
One doctor after another was called, but none ventured
any positive diagnosis. The one treatment they agreed on was that
the patient should drink gallons of medicine several times daily.
This naturally was no inexpensive method, and in a very short
time the lieutenant's savings had all gone into the purchase of
medicines. The doctors had staked their reputations on the
efficacy of their directions, but, contrary to their glib
predictions, the lieutenant grew persisently worse. The only
certainties in the patients mind were that he was on his
deathbed, bereaved of his last friends and stranded in an
outlandish place. These did not exactly infuse him with a boiling
enthusiasm for life.
Yet another time did events substantiate the saying, "A
friend in need is a friend indeed. " A campaign comrade,
Sergeant Kao, heard of his friend's plight. He came on a visit
and invited his friend to stay in his home until he regained his
health. A lancet of light pierced the moodiness of the sick man's
despair about the future: his desire to live had received a new
impulse.
Sergeant Kao's home was no mansion; in fact, it was
limited to two rooms. One was the bedroom with its wide mud kang
constructed in the middle of the earthen floor. At one side of
the kang there was a hole scooped in the ground, so that during
the winter, if the cold became intolerable, the inmates could
fill the hollow with twigs and start a fire. The other room was
everything else combined, living-room, dining-room and kitchen.
The residents of the house moved the kang into the dining-room
and left the bedroom to the lieutenant.
The family budget was the sergeant's stumbling block. He
earned plenty of money, most of which, however, he gambled away
in card playing. It devolved upon his wife, therefore, to stave
off starvation. She was a Christian, but at that moment her
Christianity was somewhat tarnished. At one moment her faith
could soar to the heights, and in the next be precipitated to the
deepest abyss with the speed of jet propulsion. This was
unfortunate both for her own spiritual welfare and for the
impressions the rest of the family received of the Christian
religion. In China, as in other countries, it is a very common
practice to judge the Master from the deportment of His
disciples.
One day she went in to tidy up the patient's chamber. The
lieutenant followed her with his eyes. His friend had not married
a beautiful woman, for she was quite ordinary in appearance. None
the less, there was something remarkable about her that rendered
her attractive. Her flaring temperament didn't provide the
answer, since the lieutenant had heard its expression after his
arrival. He just couldn't explain it, nor could Kao, whom he
cross-examined each time he was home. The latter agreed with the
lieutenant, but still was at a loss for a real solution. The only
hint he had suggested was that the strange something emanating
from his wife probably was connected with the thick, blue-covered
book.
"What's the name of the thick, blue-covered book which
you read every day ? " asked Lui Tsong.
"It's the Bible," replied the sergeant's wife.
"The Bible ? What sort of book is that ? Of what kind of
subject does it treat ? "
"The book tells about everybody and their relationship to
the One and only true God. It also tells about what the Almighty
God has done to save us from sin and condemnation. It is God's
book, written by wise men who knew God. "
"Who is God ? What has He given to us who are alive today
?"
"God is the Lord of heaven and earth. Humankind has
received from Him the finest gift He could have given, His only
begotten Son, Jesus Christ. By His own death, Jesus made it
possible for us to come into direct relationship with the only
living God. Anybody who is restless in spirit can find peace. All
who are possessed of demons can be cured and the sick can be
healed. "
"Is what you just said true ? That he can cure every
disease ? It must be marvelous to come into contact with this
Jesus."
There was not a thing he needed more at that moment than
to be healed. The country was swarming with enemies, and the
Government lacked able, well-trained men who could carry on the
battle with this enemy. How wonderful it would be if he could
retrieve his bodily fitness and do his part through further
military service ! At the moment he felt no urge to be rid of
his sins.
A couple of days later the housewife sat and read aloud
for the patient from the Bible. She read from the sixteenth
chapter of Mark's Gospel: "And these signs shall follow them that
believe; in My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak
with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink
any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on
the sick, and they shall recover."
The lieutenant didn't recall the words that followed
after that. His thoughts had trapped the one sentence which meant
most to him. "They shall lay their hands on the sick and they
shall recover. " This he panted after. Those who believed on
Jesus could perform these miracles. At the side of his kang sat
one of the disciples of Jesus. She could help him to become well.
"Can't you do what the great teacher Mark says they
shall for the sick ? You're indeed one of the Master's disciples,
and as such this power is for you."
Mrs. Kao flushed at the thought. This was the experience
she needed to develop into a stable Christian; this oppurtunity
had been sent by the Lord of Heaven, and now it was hers to use
or abuse. She knelt down at the side of the kang with an
assurance that a miracle was about to happen. It did ! The
uninvolved, childlike prayer sped directly to the heart of God
and gave birth to an immediate answer. The lieutenant had never
listened to such a prayer before. He had heard Buddhist priests
pray, but what came from their lips was nothing more than a cold
marble edifice of repititous words. These words lava-hot from a
peasant's woman's lips were alive, and they would unavoidably
beget life. An exhilaration coursed through his body as he felt
his weakness slough off and the old strength return. That was a
wonderful book which could proffer such might to a person-- a
woman, too, at that. A burning desire to read the Book gripped
him.
As the days went by, the lieutenant improved. He did not
forget to read the Bible, but daily studied long portions from
it. The Bible taught him to pray to God, and also brought him
closer to Him. It came to mean more to him than anything else.
His spiritual life awakened after a long trance. He knew that he
was a sinner, but the Book led him right to the throne of grace,
and there through faith he was saved. Constantly he sallied forth
on new trips of exploration in the Bible, which was ever
revealing new terrority to him. He discovered quickly the
new-found riches of the land and claimed his share as a rightful
son of the King.
Feeling well enough, he thought it time to report to his
commanding officer for resumption of duties. The division to
which he belonged had marched to another province during the time
he was sick. Therefore he reported to the highest officer in the
district, who interviewed him and instructed him to be ready to
travel within three days. He was to go to the northern sector of
Shanghsien, where reinforcements were needed to assist in
guarding the new highway between the mouth of the Black Dragon
River in the east and Lonan to the north.
On the ensuing night the lieutenant had a strange dream,
which deeply impressed him. He dreamed that five other officers
and himself were arrested and were marched under guard over an
unfamiliar road. They passed over an ancient stone bridge, on a
to a small path leading to a dirty shack in a small country town.
The soldiers ordered them to creep through a window into a room
that was empty, dark, and cold. The lieutenant awoke abruptly and
the dream faded away.
Three days afterward, the lieutenant was busily loading
his luggage on to the cart which was to convey him to his
destination when the order for his arrest and the arrest of the
other five officers came. In a flash he noticed that the men he'd
seen in the dream were identical with those whom he now met. His
astonishment grew as the dream unfolded itself in actuality. They
traversed the same road, passed over the same charming and
ancient bridge, and walked along the same narrow lane and were
prodded through the same window. The room they landed in was
wretched. The hard-packed mud floor was rough and slanted
sharply; the walls were peppered with holes, which indicated
clearly that rats and mice were delighted with this dwelling.
While the others resigned themselves to this fate and complained
bitterly, Lui Tsong knelt on the damp floor and started to praise
and thank his Lord. The five others wondered if the good
lieutenant had gone mad, but the latter did not pay any attention
to them. He was wholly occupied in praising his Lord for his
amazing guidance. He was safe because God's triumphing power held
the keys to all the difficulties of the future. The five other
prisoners imagined that the future held nothing but a nightmarish
conclusion which they could not foresee, but which was dismally
void of hope. With some money they managed to bribe their gaoler
into buying them a deck of cards, and, though the price he
demanded was extortionate, they willingly paid it. Not knowing
how long they had yet to live, the five officers whiled away the
hours in idle play. Often the guard would join their card
sessions. The lieutenant used the moments in another manner,
reading his Bible most of the time, but not neglecting to witness
to his comrades of Jesus Christ, the only trustworthy guide for
life.
On the fourth night the lieutenant had another vision.
Together with the other five, he was transferred to another
house, where they were locked up in a room worse than their
present accomaditions. This dream he related to his fellow
prisoners, but they were frankly sceptical. Nevertheless, events
corrobarated his prophetic dream, for after three days they were
all moved to a room which answered precisely to the lieutenant's
description. On sighting their new prison, the five officers,
seized by a senseless rage, swore and cursed for hours on end.
The same evening the lieutenant dreamed afresh. They were
to be shifted to new place in five days. He told this dream to
his companions, but all they did was blaspheme and mock.
"Master-dreamer" was their nickname for him, but he paid no heed
to their derision. Instead, he described their future residence
in meticolous detail. The fifth day had not ended before they
were adjusting themselves to new quarters. On seeing the room,
the other five became silent.
The presages from God continued. Thought the lieutenant
did not conceal a single dream from his comrades in misfortune,
they were not receptive to his persuasive arguments. He was
ridiculed continually, but not as agressively as formerly. They
understood that their prison associate had connections with
higher powers, since each dream had been fulfilled. One of the
five approached Lui and requested him to tell him about his God.
Lui Tsong gladly complied, and it was not long before the light
of the gospel penetrated the soul of this officer. He was the
first sheaf the lieutenant had won for his new faith. Before
retiring for the night he prayed that it might not be his last,
for he wished fervently to develop into a soul-winner for God.
The "Master-dreamer" was again the recipient of a new
revelation from God. From it he understood that he was to be
released. This dream, however, he did not discuss with the
others. A message came from the colonel three days later, stating
that his case has been investigated, with the result that he had
been acquitted since they could not discover any breach of
conduct.
Promptly the lieutenant reported for active service. To
show that they relied on him, the commanding officer despatched
him to Paoki to fetch a large sum of money. At that time
travelling with a big amount of cash was suicidal, since bandits
would frequently ambush travellers, strip them of all their
earthly possessions, and often murder them. Usually people banded
together on such trips. The general procedure was for several
merchants to combine in chartering a bus, which they would load
up with their wealth, worth perhaps millions of dollars
(currency rate then $1 U.S. =$40)
At midnight the bus Lui Tsong was on stopped near
Likiaping, a notorious hive of robber activity, and the
travellers left to hunt up lodgings for the night at the
disreputable roadside inns. Incidents where both patrons and
money were spirited away occurred with sickening regularity. Lui
Tsong went about seeking a more suitable resting place for the
night. He suddenly happened to meet one of his good friends, who
was principal of the local school there. The friend instantly
invited him to spend the night at his home, and Lui Tsong
thankfully accepted.
Lui was jolted awake at three o'clock in the morning.
Shots ! The principal awoke simultaneously. He explained that it
was doubtless the infamous bandits, who made it a custom to
ransack the place from time to time. They had probably heard
about the bus and had come to plunder the travellers of all their
money. The robbers continued their shooting; bullets zipped about
the fleeing Chinese, several of whom, shrieking, fell headlong
never to rise again. Several bullets struck the school building.
The principal, judging that affairs were too hot for him,
hustled off to the mountains. But three times he crawled back to
Lui, beseeching him and imporing him to escape with him. Lui
Tsong, however, was flat on his face praying to God. He confided
to the principal that the robbers would not attack the school, as
he had received confirmation of this through prayer. The
principal, believing that his good friend had lost his reason,
tried once again to persuade the lieutenant to flee with him; but
in vain. Lui Tsong was determined to remain at the school.
Hearing this, the schoolmaster forsook him and rapidly retreated
to the hills.
When the bandits had finished looting the inns, they took
the road up the valley, right past the school, but not one robber
even made a gesture of going in to see if the school-house
contained any booty. This happening was long the talk of the
people in the district. They termed it a divine miracle.
All hope of getting their wages had evaporated from the
thoughts of the soldiers of the 27th Division. Rumours about the
bandit attack had spread incredibly fast. Some claimed that the
robbers had captured the bus. Others asserted that they had
murdered every passenger, sent the bus over a precipice and
vanished into the mountains with all the money. Also rumour had
it that Lieutenant Lui Tsong had been murdered. This, however,
proved to be mere conjecture, for two days later, the unscathed
lieutenant marched into the camp and handed the money over to the
officer in charge. The soldiers indulged in vociferous rejoicing,
and our friend was the popular hero for the day.
This exploit resulted in the lieutenant being ordered to
take a post-graduate course for officers. While in training, he
journeyed about the district, testifying to his God.
The course ended in October, 1945, and, together with
thirteen other officers, he received instructions to report for
duty in the city of Chincun in the north-western province of
Kansu.
Approximately one day's journey from their destination,
the "Master-Dreamer" received a vision from God. In his dream he
saw their rented bus with its four wheels pointing skyward. This
dream recurred three times that night. The lieutenant's soul
became burdened for his fellow passengers, all of whom were
unsaved. But God came to him as he wrestled in prayer, and gave
him the assurance that he would win them before it would be too
late.
Next day at dawn they started on the last lap of the
journey. Lui Tsong perched on the top of the heavily overloaded
bus. He sang the Twenty-third and Forty-Sixth Psalms as only the
Chinese can; these two poems of David had an especially
comforting quality that day. At four o'clock in the afternoon,
the bus drove off the edge of the highway. The lieutenant was
thrown high in the air and hurtled many yards away. But he came
through without a scratch. All the other officers were seriously
injured. Fortunately for them, a truck belonging to the Bank of
China drove up almost immediately after the upset and transported
the wounded to a military hospital, which was short of bandages
and medicines. The lieutenant undertook the responsible task of
travelling back to Shanghsien for medicine. The journey was long
and ardous, but he made it. The elder in Shanghshien sent fifty
packages of medicine with him. The medicine had the grand name,
Jesu chiu en kao (Jesus life-giving balm.) This name strengthened
him each time fatigue threatened to disarm his watchfulness.
When he returned to the field hospital he continued his
intercession for the sick officers. It was a testing struggle. He
prayed that their souls might be saved, for in his estimation
that was the most important thing. He received fresh assurance
that they were going to be saved. God did not disappoint His
humble servant, as each one of the officers acknowledged Jesus
Christ, and accepted Him as their Saviour.
Lui Tsong carried on with the work in which he was
greatly blessed. His Christian life bore the impress of his close
communion with the Eternal. Lukewarm followers were guided
through him into the secret of a conquering life, of
discipleship, the secret of being ever attuned to the voice of
God. The heathen too recognized in him a power foreign to their
idolatrous creeds.
Just prior to the author's departure from China, Lui
Tsong told him of a wonderful vision he had had some days before.
The Lord had taken him by the hand into a garden whose beauty was
indescribable. All kinds of exquisite plants were growing there
in the gay profusion of flowers and trees. Each type seemed to
excel those nearest to them in splendour of colour and
attractiveness. He couldn't point our the most beautiful flower
because as soon as he thought he had found it he would see one
transcending his first choice. In the midst of the garden was a
building uncomparably majestic. A master in his calling had
constructed it. Hand in hand with the Master, he entered that
building, the finest he had ever seen. They went up to a third
story into a room and to a window from which they had a perfect
view of the dazzling garden. Never had he seen anything like it
before. In one section all the earth's fruit was represented, and
a scent intoxicating and benumbing hung over the place. His mouth
involuntarily watered at the thought of the taste and texture of
all those fruits. His eye too caught sight of all the flowers in
the world. The fragrance of flowers from east and west
intermingled with the perfumed blossoms from north and south. The
scent was heavenly, but before he could breathe it in he found
himself outside the house. Questioningly he looked up at the
Master. What did He desire ? Why was he not permitted to inhale
the pleasing aroma from the flowers ? He couldn't understand it.
Again he looked up into the eyes of the Master. They contained
all the love in the world: their beauty surpassed that of the
garden's matchless spray of blossoms. Suddenly Jesus raised His
hand and the garden with the splendid mansion vanished, leaving
in its stead a pile of rubble. Three times this occurred. As in a
flash Lui understood what the Master had shown him. The beautiful
garden was a picture of the world, and its lightning change to a
mound of rubbish a symbol of the world's degeneration. The fact
that this took place three times indicated that the world was
fixed in its course and that not much time remained before it
would be changed abruptly into a mass of ruins.
After the vision, the personality of Lieutenant Lui Tsong
received an unmistakably different motive force. Realizing that
the working day was short, he sent in his resignation to his Army
General, for he wanted to devote himself to the fulltime
preaching of the Gospel of Christ. He must labour while the sun
of grace shone to enable people to come into communion with the
living God. He saw his task clearly, and was determined by the
help of the Master to perform it whole-heartdly.
