〈Fireflies, Fly On:The Nanzhuang Ri A-Guai Anti-Japanese Uprising〉7
by Chen Ching-Yang

Chapter Nineteen: The Grand Wedding

On a bright, clear day, nearly a hundred banquet tables filled the Shilihsing plaza. Villagers and guests packed the hall.

President Fujii Taishō attended as the groom’s representative:
“Honorable Headman, I represent President Saku in officiating the marriage of Miss Meilan and Mr. Nobuo.”

Ritual gifts were presented. Following Saisiyat tradition, ancestral rites were performed, Meilan was handed to Nobuo, and the couple bowed three times amid cheers.

In the plaza, young Saisiyat couples danced the Husband-and-Wife Dance. Sticky rice cakes, roasted wild boar, Hakka dishes, and cornelian medicinal wine were served.

At one table, friends chatted.

That night, a great bonfire was lit. Songs and dances from Saisiyat, Atayal, Hakka, and Japanese traditions flowed. Meilan’s Hakka mountain songs, Nobuo’s flawless harmony, Snow’s Atayal dance, and Keiko’s geisha performance moved the crowd to awe—and tears.

Chapter Twenty: A Coal Mine Disaster of Unspeakable Horror

Three years later, the railway built exclusively for coal transport was completed. In October 1901, the Sumitomo Company began extracting coal from the Jiali Coal Mine at the foothills of Mount Jiali. Yet one unexpected accident followed another, leaving Mine Manager Yoshida Nosuke utterly overwhelmed.

First, the hoisting cable of the winding engine snapped. Mine carts that were about to be hauled out of the shaft plunged back down with both carts and men tumbling into the pit, crushing and killing several workers and seriously injuring others. The incident alarmed the Zhunan District Government.

Sakuragi Hirofumi, Director of the District Government’s Commercial Affairs Section, stood with his hands on his hips and demanded grimly, “What on earth are you doing? You’ve only just started production and people are already dying!”

Manager Yoshida replied awkwardly, “Section Chief, it all happened so suddenly. We were just as shocked.”

Sakuragi rebuked him sharply, “Nothing happens without a cause. This wasn’t sudden—it was inevitable. Something must have gone wrong. Manager, show me your accident report.”

“Sir, the written report is here,” said Chief Foreman Toyotomi Rikio, handing the document over. Sakuragi skimmed it quickly, then passed it to Urashima Shichirō, head of the industrial safety inspection team.

“Manager, what kind of report is this?” Sakuragi snapped. “You blame everything on an ‘accident’ and shirk responsibility entirely. This is outrageous!”

Yoshida lowered his head helplessly. “Yes, sir. We will conduct a thorough review and make improvements.”

“Urashima, take your inspection team and examine every stage in detail,” Sakuragi ordered.

“Yes, sir,” Urashima replied.

“Check everything—pre-employment training, machine operation, maintenance. I don’t believe we won’t find the cause,” Sakuragi added.

“Yes, sir,” Urashima responded again, leading his team with checklists to inspect the winding engine and the engine room.

As Sakuragi cross-checked maintenance records and questioned mechanics about recent repairs, he had already formed a preliminary conclusion. Urashima’s inspection took nearly two hours and uncovered several obvious deficiencies.

Sakuragi presented the safety inspection report, ordered Yoshida to sign it, and issued a temporary shutdown order. “Operations will remain suspended until all deficiencies are corrected and a reinspection is passed. I’ll be back in three days, Manager Yoshida. Don’t take my warning lightly. If even one item fails reinspection, your mine will stay closed.”

Yoshida agreed nervously and, together with Foreman Toyotomi and other supervisors, escorted Sakuragi and the inspection team away.

Misfortune continued to plague the Jiali Coal Mine, and troubles for Manager Yoshida Nosuke came one after another.

Two weeks later, a collapse occurred in the Left No. 2 inclined shaft, burying several workers alive. The district government once again dispatched officials to conduct an on-site investigation.

Section Chief Sakuragi Hirofumi looked grim and scolded sternly, “Yoshida, your mine really has no end of problems. You’ve made me come here twice in one month!”

Yoshida bowed repeatedly. “I’m terribly sorry to trouble you again, Section Chief.”

“One apology won’t solve anything,” Sakuragi snapped. “The last inspection report already pointed out inadequate worker training and improper equipment maintenance.”

Yoshida argued cautiously, “This time it was different. The collapse was caused by an earthquake. Such incidents happen at other mines as well.”

“Rubbish!” Sakuragi barked. “Your tunnel support method is flawed. I already warned you last time to adopt the latest ‘T-shaped’ support system. Other mines don’t suffer this kind of accident from a minor earthquake.”

“Yes, sir,” Yoshida could only stand and endure the reprimand.

Sakuragi threatened coldly, “Yoshida, listen carefully. If people keep dying every few days like this, I’ll shut down your mine for good and drive you out.”

“Yes, sir,” Yoshida replied softly.

Pointing north, Sakuragi added, “You should learn from the Lianxing Company. Their safety management is exemplary. Their logging camps, sawmills, and camphor factories—all inherently dangerous—have had no negative safety records in the past four years.”

“Yes, sir. Your lesson is well taken,” Yoshida said, swallowing his grievances.

A month later, a massive influx of groundwater erupted from the Right No. 4 inclined shaft. Several miners were unable to escape and drowned. The Zhunan District Government immediately ordered operations suspended for inspection, and a pall of despair hung over the entire mine.

Section Chief Sakuragi arrived at the site and pointed directly at Yoshida’s nose. “Third time’s the charm, Manager Yoshida. This time you have nothing to say, do you?”

Yoshida protested, “Section Chief, the workers accidentally dug into an aquifer. This was completely unforeseen!”

“You still dare make excuses?” Sakuragi snapped. “Hitting an aquifer means your prior geological surveys and drilling were inadequate. Accidents keep happening. If I don’t act, the public will accuse the government of disregarding human lives, and we won’t be able to answer for it.”

Yoshida said awkwardly, “We’ve provided reasonable compensation to the families of the deceased.”

Sakuragi scolded him angrily, “You still don’t understand the crux of the issue. The point isn’t negotiating compensation after people die—it’s prevention. Even I’ve been reprimanded by the provincial governor over this. I’ve brought a mandatory shutdown order. Your mine will now undergo a strict investigation by higher authorities!”

With that, Sakuragi ordered the shutdown notice posted on the bulletin board and directed his inspection team to begin an exhaustive investigation.

After a month of turmoil, the provincial government finally agreed to resume mining. But less than two months later, a coal seam gas explosion occurred. A series of thunderous blasts could be heard as far away as Luzhang Village at the foot of the mountain.

Manager Yoshida immediately mobilized rescue efforts and sent for help from Luzhang Village. He asked Chief Foreman Toyotomi Rikio, “How many workers are trapped underground?”

Toyotomi, pale-faced, replied, “Report to the manager: all ten morning-shift teams are trapped—120 workers.”

With over a hundred men trapped and temperatures soaring, no one dared descend to attempt a rescue. Yoshida and the others waited anxiously at the pit entrance.

“Get water buckets!” Yoshida shouted. “Pour as much water inside as possible. Tell the night-shift workers to put on heat-resistant suits and masks. You and the foremen lead the way in to rescue them!”

Supervisors and workers remaining outside hurried to fetch buckets, forming a relay to douse the pit.

“Report, Manager,” Toyotomi said. “The smoke is too thick and the heat too intense. Even with protective gear, we can’t get in.”

Hearing the explosions, Belin, who was cutting fodder, instinctively knew something terrible had happened again at the Jiali Coal Mine. “Another accident at Jiali Coal Mine!” two youths from Luzhang Village came running to inform him.

Belin ordered, “Banduwa, blow the horn. Gather everyone. Bring ropes, stretchers, and medicine. We’re going to help with the rescue.”

Messengers sent by Yoshida met the Luzhang rescue team at the mountain foothills. Within half an hour, Belin’s team arrived. Seeing workers dousing water to lower the temperature, Belin immediately directed his men to join the rescue.

Belin asked Yoshida, “How did continuous explosions happen?”

Yoshida said with deep regret, “The workers accidentally broke into a gas-bearing seam. It seems the prior geological surveys and drilling reports were inaccurate.”

By the time the pit cooled, half a day had passed—precious golden rescue time lost. When the combined rescue team finally descended, they could only retrieve one charred, unrecognizable body after another, victims of suffocation and burns, loading them onto mine carts to be hauled up.

The gas explosion shocked the Taipei Governor-General’s Office, which immediately ordered the Jiali Coal Mine closed. With so many fatalities, Manager Yoshida Nosuke was utterly incapable of handling the aftermath and was detained by the district government at the police station. Several mine executives fled overnight to Sumitomo’s Kansai branch, while the real owner, Sumitomo Company, refused to step forward to avoid massive compensation claims.

Some bereaved families from Lianxing Village turned to Ri A’guai for help. Consequently, Nobuo and Changgui came forward, leading all the victims’ families to negotiate with Sumitomo’s Kansai branch.

An employee rushed in anxiously. “President, Saku Nobuo is leading hundreds of bereaved families toward us.”

Ōshima Urasaburō asked in alarm, “Is that true?” He hurried to a second-floor window and looked out. Seeing the approaching crowd, he ordered, “Quickly—have the guards downstairs close the doors.” Faced with overwhelming numbers, he decided to shut the office and refuse engagement.

“Yes, sir,” the employee replied.

The crowd soon arrived. Standing at the gate, Nobuo shouted in Japanese, “President Ōshima, please come out and face the families!”

The families joined in, shouting, “Sumitomo has no conscience!” “Sumitomo is too ashamed to show its face!”

Local residents gathered to watch, and once they learned the truth, many joined the shouting in outrage. Some enraged family members scattered funeral paper at the entrance.

With no recourse, the bereaved families held a discussion and decided to petition the Zhunan District Government the following day.

That evening, District Governor Sakai Shigehito received word that Saku Nobuo would lead the families to file a petition. Unsure whether to meet them or not, Sakai convened an emergency meeting with section chiefs and aides, and invited Colonel Kishi Nobuo, commander of the Third Battalion of the Third Brigade stationed in Zhunan.

Looking anxious, Sakai said, “This Saku Nobuo is said to be no ordinary figure—the heir of the Mitsubishi conglomerate. Tomorrow morning he plans to lead hundreds of families here. Gentlemen, how should we respond?”

Police Chief Ōhara Kaju scoffed. “He’s clearly trying to incite a crowd. I propose strong measures—deploy the police and arrest them on the spot.”

Civil Affairs Chief Chiba Jirō waved his hand. “That won’t do. Saku Nobuo isn’t an ordinary citizen. If they don’t cause trouble and we arrest them anyway, we won’t be able to explain ourselves to our superiors.”

Ōhara sneered, “Chief Chiba, I hear your superior, Director Nakasone, once got publicly scolded by him. Maybe Civil Affairs is wary of him, but the police aren’t. No matter what, he’s still a commoner.”

Commercial Affairs Chief Sakuragi Hirofumi laughed coldly. “Chief Ōhara, you’re oversimplifying this. If arresting him could close the case, I’d welcome it. But the explosion hasn’t been resolved, and more trouble would follow. These past months I’ve been buried in endless reports because of this mine.”

Chiba nodded. “Sakuragi is right. Sumitomo owns the mine and should step up to resolve this. The government has no obligation to clean up a private company’s mess.”

Finance Chief Nagakawa Rakuhira added, “We can afford a small symbolic condolence payment, but we have no obligation—and no resources—for full civil compensation. I propose we accept the petition, forward it truthfully to the provincial government, and let Saku Nobuo pursue a civil lawsuit on behalf of the families. Once the court rules, we’ll act accordingly, including seizing Sumitomo’s assets if necessary. That way we follow the law and offend no one.”

Unsure whether to suppress or placate the crowd, Sakai turned to Colonel Kishi. “Colonel Kishi, you’ve been silent. I’d like to hear your view.”

From a military standpoint, Kishi replied, “Less trouble is better. This appears to be a civil dispute. If they don’t cause disturbances, I won’t order arrests.”

“I’m worried the families might lose control emotionally,” Sakai said.

Kishi patted his chest. “Rest assured. Tomorrow I’ll set up checkpoints at all city gates. No one enters with weapons. My troops will guard the square around the district office. At the first sign of trouble, we’ll act. You can safely accept the petition and proceed as planned.”

Sakai exhaled in relief. “With your assurance, I’m at ease.”

The next morning, Nobuo and Changgui led hundreds of families through the North Gate. Soldiers stopped them at the checkpoint, but Nobuo had already instructed everyone to carry no weapons and maintain composure. The families wore plain mourning clothes; some women wore sackcloth and hemp, crying softly as they walked.

After inspection, the soldiers opened the barricades. Led by Nobuo and Changgui, the families entered the square before the district office, surrounded by thousands of heavily armed troops. Some women and children were so frightened they fell silent.

Governor Sakai emerged when summoned. Seeing mostly widows, orphans, and elderly people, he felt relieved.

Speaking loudly in Japanese, Nobuo declared, “May His Majesty the Emperor cherish his people with benevolence and govern the realm through仁. Your Excellency, as the Emperor’s appointed parent-official of the people, we beg you to show compassion. Our loved ones have perished unjustly, families torn apart. We implore you to uphold justice for the bereaved.”

Nobuo stepped forward, presented the petition personally, and the families knelt together, weeping and pleading, recounting how the mine and Sumitomo had ignored them since the disaster.

Officials and soldiers alike were moved. At Kishi’s signal, Sakai descended the steps, helped an elderly woman to her feet, and wiped her tears with his sleeve. The families were deeply touched and burst into loud sobs.

When the crying subsided, Sakai spoke firmly, “Such a tragedy occurred under my jurisdiction. I will not ignore it. I pledge to handle this impartially and give you justice.”

Finance Chief Nagakawa then announced, “By order of the Governor, emergency relief funds have been allocated. Effective immediately, upon presentation of an official death certificate, families may apply to the Civil Affairs Section for a condolence payment and funeral subsidy of fifty silver yen.”

Hearing this, the families knelt again in gratitude. Thus, the petition concluded peacefully.

Chapter Twenty-One: The Fuse of Conflict

Nobuo and Changgui contributed both money and effort. On the one hand, they assisted the bereaved families in filing a civil lawsuit at the Hsinchu Prefectural District Court, seeking damages from the Sumitomo Corporation. On the other hand, they actively helped arrange collective burials for the victims and resettled the affected families within Lianxing Village.

The Zhunan District Government hastily submitted a report to the Prefectural Government, stating that the petitions from the victims’ families had been properly handled, while simultaneously requesting an emergency provisional seizure of all Sumitomo properties within Hsinchu Prefecture before a court judgment was rendered. Upon receiving the report, the Governor immediately ordered the president of Sumitomo’s Hsinchu branch and several key executives to be summoned.

In the governor’s office, Governor Munesawa Takeo sat at the head of an oval conference table, his expression grave. Civil Affairs Director Nakasone Yasuaki and Commercial Affairs Director Kinoshita Arinobu sat to his left, while Sumitomo Hsinchu Branch President Hashimoto Ryūta and his staff sat in sequence on the right.

Nakasone spoke first:
“The Prefectural Government recently received a report from the Zhunan District Office detailing the Jiali Coal Mine explosion and the handling of petitions from the victims’ families. The report states that after the explosion, your Kansai Branch closed its doors, ignored the bereaved families, and avoided any negotiations to resolve civil compensation. Such conduct clearly violates the civil laws of the Empire of Japan. The District Government therefore requests this Prefectural Government to assist the families by provisionally seizing all properties owned by your company within this prefecture prior to a final civil judgment, as a basis for future compensation.”

Branch President Hashimoto Ryūta immediately responded, “Director, I must state that we cannot accept the request to seize all of our company’s properties within Hsinchu Prefecture.”

“Oh? Is that so?” Nakasone asked. “On what legal grounds does President Hashimoto base this objection? I would like to hear them.”

Hashimoto argued, “The Nanzhuang Jiali Coal Mine is not a property registered under our company’s name.”

Hearing this, Nakasone was both angered and shocked. “Is that so? What is the meaning of this? Are you attempting to evade civil liability?”

Hashimoto explained, “At the time, the mining lease was registered under the personal name of Yoshida Nosuke, not under the Sumitomo Corporation, nor under any branch president of Sumitomo. Director Kinoshita is present and can immediately confirm this to His Excellency the Governor.”

Governor Munesawa Takeo asked on the spot, “Kinoshita, is this true?”

Commercial Affairs Director Kinoshita Arinobu nodded. “Yes, that is indeed the case.”

The governor’s expression darkened immediately. Seeing his superior’s displeasure, Nakasone quickly calculated how to force Sumitomo to commit on the spot. “President, this is clearly an excuse to shirk responsibility. Sumitomo is the financial backer of the Jiali Coal Mine—this is an indisputable fact. How can you evade responsibility simply because the property was registered under Yoshida’s personal name?”

Sumitomo Hsinchu Branch Secretary-General Kitahara Shōhei spoke up:
“Director Nakasone repeatedly tries to implicate our company in the Jiali Coal Mine explosion. May I ask with what intention? While our company did invest funds in Yoshida Nosuke’s coal mine, we never dispatched personnel to directly manage its operations. In other words, our position was merely that of an external investor in a sole proprietorship. The civil and commercial liabilities we bear are equivalent to those of a limited-liability shareholder. Therefore, in this case, we firmly maintain that beyond our original investment, we bear no further civil liability, will pay no additional compensation, and will not accept the Prefectural Government’s administrative order of provisional seizure.”

Governor Munesawa slammed the table angrily. “Bastards! What kind of argument is this?”

Nakasone, seeing this, also flared up. “President Hashimoto, Secretary-General Kitahara—you play off each other with clever words, truly impressive. When the mining lease was publicly tendered, it was your Kansai Branch President Ōshima who bid for it, claiming at the time that the mine belonged to Sumitomo. Now that disaster has struck, you wash your hands of it and claim the Jiali Coal Mine has nothing to do with you. You not only exploit legal loopholes, you practically treat—no, treat me—as a three-year-old child!”
In his rage, Nakasone nearly dragged his superior into the remark, almost saying they treated the governor like a three-year-old.

Sumitomo argued that since it was not the registered owner, the Prefectural Government had no authority to seize its properties. For the moment, Governor Munesawa had no effective means to deal with Sumitomo. Thus, the Zhunan District Office could only announce the auction of the Jiali Coal Mine’s leasehold and all equipment as compensation for the families. But a mine plagued by repeated fatalities attracted no buyers. The bereaved families were left with no avenue for compensation.

It was just before the Lunar New Year. Although the families received aid from Ri A’guai and were resettled at Lianxing Company’s logging camps, camphor factories, lumber mills, and ranches, receiving basic humanitarian care, they obtained only a small condolence payment and burial subsidy from the district government. Deeply dissatisfied with Sumitomo’s complete evasion of civil responsibility, they decided to lay siege over the long term to the residence of Kansai Branch President Ōshima Urasaburō, located by the Zhonggang River at Danan, Nanzhuang, to force him to come forward.

One bereaved man shouted, “President Ōshima, come out and face us! Running away won’t solve anything. Have some conscience!”

Another cried, “President Ōshima, give me back my son’s life!”

A third yelled, “We’re going to storm in! President Ōshima, come out and settle this now!”

A fourth proposed, “Yes! Let’s tear down his residence and see if that turtle still refuses to come out!”

Outside, cries filled the air. Inside the house, the Ōshima family was terrified.

Kawai Minako said, “Saburō, this can’t go on. You might as well go out and explain things to them.”

Ōshima Urasaburō paced the living room with his hands clasped behind his back, his face drawn. “Explain what? Branch President Hashimoto has no intention of stepping in. And the compensation amount is enormous. Even if I sympathize with them, we simply can’t afford it!”

Minako said anxiously, “Do you want them to tear down our house? This has to be resolved somehow.”

Urasaburō roared angrily, “You’re just a woman—what do you know?”

Minako shot back, “I may not know much, but I know we should live with dignity, not hide like this.”

Their son Ōshima Fumio said, “Father, let me talk to them. I’ll tell them we’re not unwilling to take responsibility—we just can’t afford it.”

“Don’t go out there!” Urasaburō shouted. “They’ll tear you apart!”

“I believe they’re reasonable people,” Fumio said, turning toward the courtyard.

“Shigehachi! Ginpō!” Urasaburō yelled. “What are you standing there for? Go pull the young master back!”

It was too late. Fumio had already opened the door and was immediately surrounded by the crowd. The families cried, shouted, and leapt in agitation as the household guards struggled to push through.

Fumio shouted, “I am President Ōshima’s son. Please calm down and listen to me.” Moved by the boy’s courage, the crowd quickly quieted.

“I know how you feel and the injustice you’ve suffered.” Fumio knelt and kowtowed three times, easing their anger. Still kneeling, he said, “It’s not that my father wants to evade responsibility, but at his level of authority, he truly has no power to resolve this matter.”

One man said, “Then have your father find a superior who can resolve it.”

The crowd began clamoring again.

“My father’s superiors have no intention of stepping forward,” Fumio said.

“So this just ends here?” another demanded.

“No,” Fumio replied. “I believe there will be a solution. I’ll go with you as your hostage. I believe my father will find a way.”

“You’re brave,” the man said. “We don’t want to harm you. Go back and have your father come out.”

“This is my choice,” Fumio said. “I’ll go with you.”

Urasaburō rushed out. “Don’t hurt my son. I’ll go with you.”

The families took Ōshima Urasaburō away to Shilihsing Village and placed him under the watch of Instructor Lin.

This immediately alarmed the Nanzhuang Police Garrison. Captain Sanbon Seikichi, upon receiving a report that the bereaved families had kidnapped President Ōshima as a hostage and that his life was in danger, sensed the seriousness of the situation and led nearly a hundred fully armed garrison troops to Shilihsing Village to retrieve him.

That day, Nobuo, Changgui, Ri A’guai, and other Lianxing leaders were inspecting the Donghe Village ranch and were not present. Shortly after the families arrived, and before Instructor Lin had finished questioning Ōshima, Sanbon’s armed troops stormed into the village.

Instructor Lin initially thought they had come merely to retrieve Ōshima. Instead, after reclaiming him, Sanbon fired warning shots into the air and shouted, “Lianxing Village, listen carefully! These rioters kidnapped President Ōshima—this is a grave crime. It has nothing to do with you. Anyone who interferes will be arrested as well.”

With the leaders absent, Instructor Lin decided it was unwise to act rashly and ordered the villagers to withdraw.

Sanbon commanded, “Young men among the families, step forward.” He fired another warning shot. About a dozen youths emerged and were immediately pinned down with rifles.

“Take them away for interrogation,” Sanbon ordered.

Instructor Lin protested, “Captain Sanbon, taking these young men like this is inappropriate.”

Sanbon, one hand on his hip and the other waving a riding crop, said arrogantly, “Old Lin, I respect you as Lianxing’s instructor, but bullets have no eyes. Don’t act recklessly.” The youths were bound and shoved away at gunpoint.

When Ri A’guai and the others returned and heard what had happened, they realized the gravity of the situation. At the families’ request, Ri A’guai instructed Nobuo and Changgui to negotiate bail at the Nanzhuang Police Station.

Privately, the families agreed to mobilize more relatives to surround the station while Nobuo and Changgui negotiated.

“Sumitomo murdered my husband, and now the garrison has taken my son!” an elderly woman wailed. “If they don’t release him today, I don’t want to live!”

“Yes!” an old man shouted. “The Japanese companies and police have gone too far. If they don’t release our youths today, we’ll storm in and fight them!”

The cries grew louder.

Nobuo and Changgui led several hundred family members to the police station. Sanbon, already alerted, deployed his men in combat positions.

Inside, Sanbon sat in the reception room, leaning on a command saber.

Nobuo stated calmly, “Captain Sanbon, I come on behalf of the families to post bail.”

Sanbon sneered. “If you’re here to bail out criminals, why bring such a crowd? To intimidate me?”

“No,” Nobuo said quickly. “They’re just worried about their relatives.”

Sanbon sprang up, pointing outside. “Then why are they surrounding my station with hoes and carrying poles?”

“Release them, and they’ll leave,” Nobuo said.

Sanbon shouted, “Listen carefully. First, they kidnapped President Ōshima—an act of kidnapping under criminal law. I arrested them as offenders caught in the act, lawfully. I will not release them. Second, if those people outside force their way in, I will order my men to open fire.”

“They took President Ōshima only to force Sumitomo to address civil compensation,” Nobuo said. “They did not harm him.”

“I don’t care about motives,” Sanbon said. “Kidnapping is a serious crime. Don’t confuse civil disputes with criminal cases.”

“Captain,” Nobuo asked, “must you let this escalate beyond control?”

Sanbon laughed loudly. “I accept no threats. Disperse them now, or bear the consequences.”

Seeing that Sanbon would not release anyone, Changgui went out to inform the families.

“We’ve done all we can,” he shouted. “Captain Sanbon refuses to release them.”

“My son burned to death in the mine, and now my grandson’s been taken!” an old man cried, raising a hoe. “I’ll fight them with my life!”

“Yes! Let’s storm in!” a woman shouted.

“Calm down—they have guns!” Changgui pleaded, but the fury was uncontrollable.

“Charge!” the old man led the rush. As hundreds neared the wall, the garrison opened fire. Enraged, the crowd broke through the gates, attacking the troops with hoes and poles.

Several were killed, dozens wounded, and over ten arrested. Nobuo and Changgui were arrested on the spot for inciting a riot.

After their arrest, Fujii Taishō, president of Mitsui’s Taipei branch, rushed overnight to Hsinchu, obtained a bail order from Governor Munesawa, and hurried to Nanzhuang to secure Nobuo’s release.

“I am Fujii Taishō of Mitsui,” he shouted at the gate. “I bring a bail order from the Governor.”

Soon he was admitted.

“I am here to bail out Saku Nobuo,” Fujii said.

“Nobuo incited a riot,” Sanbon replied coldly.

“I have the Governor’s bail order,” Fujii said, handing it over.

Sanbon sneered. “No wonder Nobuo dared act so arrogantly—even the Governor fears his father.”

Nobuo was soon released.

But Sanbon, harboring a grudge from an earlier incident when Ri A’guai had driven him out of Lianxing Village, vented his revenge on Changgui. Determined to settle a personal score, he ordered Changgui tortured.

In the basement cell, Lieutenant Kikuchi Shirō grabbed Changgui’s hair and shouted, “Ri Changgui, will you confess or not?”

“There’s nothing to confess,” Changgui replied through pain.

“If Ri A’guai didn’t incite this, who did?” Kikuchi sneered.

“My father did not,” Changgui said. “We only sought justice.”

“Still defiant!” Kikuchi roared. “Beat him!”

Sanbon came down the stairs. “Has he confessed?”

“His mouth’s harder than bone,” Kikuchi said.

“Whip him until he does,” Sanbon ordered.

“Captain, he might die,” Kikuchi hesitated.

“So what? I’ll take responsibility,” Sanbon said.

That night, refusing to implicate Lianxing Village, Changgui left a blood-written note and hanged himself in the cell.

The news enraged the entire village. Ri A’guai was devastated, swearing eternal hatred against the authorities.

When Changgui’s body was brought home, Ri A’guai lifted the shroud and saw his son’s battered corpse. He wept uncontrollably.

“You killed my son!” he roared. “Lianxing Village and you are mortal enemies!”

The next day, the news spread everywhere. Villagers gathered in droves.

Amid grief and fury, the leaders debated their response.

Instructor Lin finally spoke, urging calm and proposing armed preparation and retaliation.

Ri A’guai agreed.

Plans were laid for assassination, arms procurement, militia training, and alliances with neighboring villages.

As the meeting concluded, Nobuo stood torn between his Japanese identity and his place as Lianxing’s son-in-law—unable to stop the coming confrontation, forced to watch as Lianxing Village moved inexorably toward open conflict with the authorities.

Chapter Twenty-Two: The Assault on the Nanzhuang Police Post

All preparations proceeded swiftly and in strict secrecy. The elderly, the weak, women, and children of the village were evacuated in batches to the surrounding mountain areas—Shitoushan, Egongji Mountain, Jiali Mountain, and Luchang Dashan.

Sanbon Seikichi, captain of the Nanzhuang police garrison, had assumed that the death of Ri Changgui would immediately trigger retaliation from Lianxing Village. He therefore ordered all personnel to suspend leave and remain on full alert around the clock.

Half a month passed. Apart from the day of Ri Changgui’s funeral—when the funeral procession passed nearby, hundreds of villagers scattered spirit money along the road, their weeping mingled with curses—nothing else occurred. Sanbon began to think that the tribesmen of Lianxing Village were nothing but paper tigers. No matter how fiercely they brandished knives and clubs, they would never dare confront his garrison; such crude weapons were useless against cannon and rifles. Gradually, he relaxed his vigilance and ceased closely monitoring their movements.

One morning, Sanbon set out with several escorts for the Zhunan District Police Office to report on the handling of the local unrest. No sooner had he left the police post than he was spotted by lookouts from the Luchang community.

Belin led a sniper unit of more than a dozen men, armed with bows and hunting rifles, lying in ambush along both sides of the mountain road toward Sanwan Township.

Walanai signaled with birdsong, “Boss, the target is approaching!”

Belin replied with hand signals: “Kill them all—don’t let a single one escape!”

Walanai answered with hand signals: “Understood, boss!”

Once Sanbon and his party entered Sanwan territory, they were ambushed and assassinated at a secluded spot. Sanbon had no time to react and was killed on the spot along with several escorts. Belin ordered their heads severed, stripped their clothing, and dumped the bodies into pre-dug pits in the grass. The operation was swift and clean—utterly unnoticed.

When Ri A’guai received news of Belin’s successful strike, his morale soared. With the Nanzhuang garrison suddenly leaderless, he judged the moment ideal for an assault. That evening, he immediately mobilized five to six hundred militiamen from the Shilihsing community and deployed them in ambush positions around the police post.

“Everyone,” Ri A’guai announced to the warriors, “Belin has succeeded. With the garrison leaderless, tonight is the best opportunity to attack the police post!”

Ri Changsheng poured millet wine before Changgui’s spirit tablet, while Ri Changfu lit a bundle of incense. The two brothers prayed together:
“Little brother, tonight your eldest and second brothers will avenge you. May your spirit in heaven bless us with success and total victory!”

Old Instructor Lin explained the plan:
“At dusk, Changfu will lead several men, dressed in Sanbon’s uniform and those of his escorts, disguising himself as Sanbon. Using simple Japanese, he’ll trick the guards into opening the gate. Then he’ll ignite the pre-hidden explosive charges and throw them into the buildings inside. Once the explosions sound, all units will attack from the front and rear gates simultaneously. This is dinner time for the garrison—we’ll catch them completely off guard.”

After assigning tasks, every warrior burned with excitement.

That night, dozens of explosions erupted inside the Nanzhuang police post. Caught unprepared, most garrison members had no time to grab their rifles and were immediately hunted down by the charging Lianxing warriors. The fighting lasted less than half an hour. Apart from a few who escaped in the chaos, over a hundred garrison troops were slain on the spot.

The Lianxing warriors carried off all captured artillery, firearms, and ammunition. Before leaving, they set fire to the police post and burned it to the ground.