Chinese TV dramas normally portray duchesses as elegant aristocratic ladies who did nothing but watch opera. But in reality, several Chinese duchesses rode on horseback and led soldiers to fight the Japanese invaders 70 years ago.[Special coverage]
Su He, 67, is the nephew of Erinchendalai, wife of Duke Qi of Inner Mongolia. He remembers the stories his aunt once told him.
"Angered by the Japanese occupation of areas in the Muminggan Banner, the duke provided constant support to Chinese soldiers who fought the invaders," he said. In the summer of 1942, the duke was assassinated.
The duchess spent half a year planning to join forces to fight the Japanese. When she decided to carry out the plan, the enemy, tipped off by traitors, attempted to intercept the team.
"My aunt, with about 60 followers, rode on horseback," Su said. They were caught by Japanese soldiers in two trucks. Upon discovering the leader was a royal lady, the Japanese officer ordered her to turn in all weapons before having two soldiers send them back.
When the trucks left, Erinchendalai suddenly pulled out a pistol from her boot. "She was such a good shooter that the two Japanese soldiers didn't dare to move," Su said.
Erinchendalai then said to her followers, "I am not going back. If any of you would like to return, return now. But leave behind your horses."
Only a few people returned. Erinchendalai later became a commander in Muminggan Banner. She was not the only duchess engaged in warfare.
In 1938, two other duchesses joined the army after their husbands died. Leading hundreds of Mongolian soldiers, they fought many battles against the Japanese.
One of the ladies was later assassinated, while Erinchendalai and another duchess became officials in Inner Mongolia after the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.
"My aunt was not only a good shooter, but also a good singer," Su said. He recalled a song from more than 70 years ago that encouraged people to fight.
"After we lost our duke, we were upset," he hummed on the grassland in a hoarse voice. "The sun shines upon the land, but our Banner is in darkness. After we lost our duke, were were determined to fight."
