Defending the Wall, honoring the heroes

Decades later, the echoes of the battle called to Zhang Guohua, a local Qianxi farmer. As he learned the song growing up, a seed was planted.

"From the song, I knew a place should be built for heroes to be remembered forever. Future generations need a spot to commemorate the heroes and revive that spirit," says the 71-year-old.

For over a decade, driven solely by passion, Zhang scoured the region. He collected relics, including uniform fragments, shell casings, and nearly 100 of the unit's iconic broadswords. One blade belonged to Hou Wanshan, who, at 36, was among the first young martyrs.