Xiongjing – Across the Empire, many Bai people gathered to commemorate the birthday of the late war hero Chen Yijing, who remains revered among the population.

While there is no longer an official holiday dedicated to her, many companies have granted off for many workers to celebrate the war hero’s birthday. At 7 am in the morning, all traffic grind to a halt as the March of the Empire was played across the Empire, out of respect for the late war hero. Chancellor Li Shenkang is reported to have visited the Chen Yijing mausoleum in her hometown of Panshi.

Chen Yijing, also widely known as Tan Yijing, was a key general who helped unite the factions of the Socialist Alliance in 1936. As commander, Chen directed minor strikes and engagements against the Fascist forces. These minor victories helped boost the morale of the Alliance, who were suffering numerous defeats. Chen would then lead the forces to a major victory at the battle of Yuwan with minimal casualties for the Alliance. However, she died shortly after during the Battle of Chengzhuang on 2 April 1942 and never lived to see her forces eventually defeating the Fascists.

After her death, her successors built a personality cult around her to cement the people’s support for the Alliance. While there is genuine affection for Chen Yijing, it has been manipulated by the Alliance leaders, and later various factions during the Warlord Era, for political purposes. While the personality cult around her was subsequently dismantled by Yu Zeming and his government, Chen Yijing remains widely revered throughout the Empire.

Today, it would have been her 129th birthday. Although the Bai government doesn’t endorse official celebrations of past leaders besides His Majesty himself, it tolerates the smaller scale celebrations in acknowledgment and appreciation for her services that paved the way for the restoration of freedom and democracy in the Empire.