文：林养正

编辑：Geoffrey 校对：程筱筱 翻译：吕峰

若一去不回，那便一去不回—纪念天桥上的那位勇士。 两千二百年前， 一位名不见传的燕国使者，以秦国叛将之首和割地契约为见面礼，面见秦王。 他对面的，是普天之下最有威势之人。强大，冷酷。他的目光里，透露着一股属于上位者的威严。那是身拥百万雄兵，踏遍八荒，横扫六合，连灭韩赵，即将掌控天下的人才有的威严。 但他凌然不惧。缓缓为秦王打开地图。 当地图全部打开的一瞬间，情况突然发生了剧变。一把匕首，出现在地图中，使者的手握着匕首把柄。 在同一刹那，使者握着匕首，朝着秦王胸膛狠狠地刺去。这位小小使者，逆天逆命而行，试图终结这位上位者，试图以一人之力做到数十万大军无法做到的事情，试图拯救天下苍生。

最终，因朝廷内安保森严，这位使者失败了，没能打破天道，逆天改命。 但他的精神，却永久地流传下来，流传了不止百倍于这位秦王建立大一统王朝的时间，流传到了今天。 两千二百年后。 一位名不经传的电磁学家，以装修工人的装扮为掩饰，登上天桥，面见全体国民。 他将要面对的，是整个中国一言九鼎的人。他排除异己，修改宪法。将所有跟他意见相左的人，通通斩灭。乃至一言而将十四亿人关在家中三年，害死和自己观点不同的二号总理。他也想和两千二百年前的那位一样，登基为帝，大权独揽，甚至同样妄图长生不死。 但他同样凌然不惧。缓缓展开横幅，打开音响。 当横幅全部展开的那一刻，吸引了闹市区，车水马龙，每一个人的目光。“不要核酸要吃饭、不要封控要自由、不要谎言要尊严、不要文革要改革、不要领袖要选票、不做奴才做公民”，以及，“罢工罢课罢免独裁国贼习近平”，就像一把尖刀，把一介草民代表全体中国人发出的诉求，狠狠地刺进了中南海的心脏。 他同样作为一介凡人百姓，试图逆天逆命。他以自己为全国的榜样，向全国人民发出抵抗暴政的呼吁。

他试图号召这片土地上的每一个人，团结起来，罢工罢课，走上街头。试图以一己之力拉下习近平的第三任期，做到美国总统都无法做到的事情，让民主和人权的光辉照耀中国大地。 最终，因习皇威势过盛，这位凡人失败了，没有阻止习近平的第三连任、大权独揽。 但似乎，又没有完全失败。他的精神，同样流传了下来，塑造了一个月后的白纸运动，以及后续的天桥勇士方艺融、梅士林，以及千千万万的勇士。他以一具布衣百姓之躯，发出了让意欲称帝的独裁者颤抖的声音。 两千二百年前的他，明知此行必死无疑，却还是义无反顾地踏上了前往秦都咸阳的道路。因为他的燕国弱小，无法抵抗秦军的灭国攻势。

于是有此一行，此行为了天下，为了苍生，为了燕国，也为了其余五国。 为了这些，他甘愿赴死。“风萧萧兮易水寒，壮士一去兮不复返”就是对他最好的写照。 两千二百年后的他，明知此行必被抓捕，身陷囹圄，秘密失踪，却还是义无反顾地踏上了前往四通桥的道路。他的勇气，比两千二百年前的他，有过之而无不及。因为两千二百年前的他只会被乱刀砍死，而两千二百年后的他，却不知会面临怎样的恐怖。科技在进步，人心在变坏，作恶的手段，折磨人的方式也在升级。恐惧来源于未知，刑不可知则威不可测。他的恐惧，必然比两千二百年前的他更甚。 但他还是去了。他背后，没有站着一个国家。他与国安、政保、国家机器的武力差距，比秦国和燕国的差距还大上千百倍。他知道自己此行，必然面临着用语言难以形容的恐怖。他知道自己此行，必然导致永久性失去自由、尊严甚至人格，自己被折磨，家人被牵连。但他义无反顾，选择直面。若一去不回，那便一去不回。 两千二百年前的壮举，虽然没有改变秦国不可一世的军队统一六国。然，这股反秦的勇气却深入了每个人的心中，在十数年后的大泽乡起义中爆发了巨大的能量。水能载舟可亦能覆舟，当秦国的暴政日益加剧，兴建长城，焚书坑儒，严刑峻法，沉重劳役共同成为压垮骆驼的稻草时，人民的反抗就来了。

当反抗的临界点到来，那位不可一世自立为帝妄图长生不死的秦始皇，那个百万雄军横扫六国的秦国，比每个人想象都更快地，如同雪崩般轰然倒塌。 两千二百年后的壮举，虽然没有改变共产党看似不可一世的强大，奴役控制着整个中国。然，这股反共的勇气却深入了每个人的心里。现在已有很多人模仿他站了出来，未来规模更大的新的“大泽乡起义”也必将很快到来。当中共的暴政日益加剧，动态清零，防火长城，红色洗脑，恐怖治国，活摘器官，大肆抓捕异议人士，这些共同点燃人民情绪的临界点时，人民的反抗就来了。

到那一天，那位试图复辟帝制同样妄想长生不死的憨熊维尼，那个支援全球独裁政体成为当代邪恶轴心之首的中共，也必然会在很短的时间内，轰然倒塌。 曾经是秦，当下是共。 不同的是当皇帝的人和迫害他人的手段，相同的是人权和民主同样未曾降临这片土地。

这片土地，两千二百年来从未改变过体制。当皇帝的人换了一批批，但皇帝的思想从未远离过这里。 但这片土地，也同样未曾缺乏过反抗暴政的人。只是每一次旧的政权倒台，新的政权依然不会还权于民，不断如此循环。 只愿中共尽快倒台，在倒台后，不要再进入历史的专职轮回，把民主和人权永久性地种在这里。

林养正

In Memory of the Brave

Written by: Lin YangzhengEdited by: GeoffreyProofread by: Cheng XiaoxiaoTranslated by: Lyu Feng

Abstract:This essay juxtaposes the attempted assassination of the King of Qin by Jing Ke with the Sitong Bridge protester, using historical allegory to reflect on the present. It praises the courage of individuals who stand up against overwhelming power. The author argues that although such acts of resistance may not immediately change reality, they transmit the spirit of opposing tyranny and pursuing human rights and freedom, becoming a vital spark for future social awakening. The piece is emotionally intense, centered on commemorating the brave, while expressing hope for China’s future transition toward democracy and freedom.

If one goes and never returns, then so be it—this is in memory of the brave man on the overpass.

Over two thousand two hundred years ago,an obscure envoy from the State of Yan brought with him the severed head of a Qin defector and a treaty of territorial concession as gifts, and went to meet the King of Qin.

Standing before him was the most powerful man under heaven—mighty, cold, and commanding.In his gaze lay the authority of one who commanded millions of troops, who had swept across lands in all directions, annihilated Han and Zhao, and stood on the verge of unifying the world.

Yet the envoy did not tremble.He slowly unfolded a map before the king.

At the very moment the map was fully opened,everything changed.

A dagger appeared within the map.The envoy grasped its handle—

And in that instant, he lunged toward the king’s chest.

This insignificant envoy defied fate itself.He attempted to end the rule of the supreme ruler,to achieve alone what hundreds of thousands of soldiers could not,to save all under heaven.

In the end, due to the tight security of the Qin court,he failed.

He did not overturn destiny.But his spirit endured—lasting far longer than the empire that the King of Qin would go on to build,surviving to this very day.

Two thousand two hundred years later.

An unknown electromagnetics researcher, disguised as a construction worker, climbed onto an overpass to address the entire nation.

What he faced was a man whose word carried absolute authority across China.He purged dissent, amended the constitution,eliminated all who opposed him,confined 1.4 billion people to their homes for three years with a single command,and sought to consolidate power indefinitely—even aspiring, like the ruler two millennia ago,to reign unchallenged.

Yet he, too, did not tremble.

He slowly unfurled banners and turned on a loudspeaker.

As the banners were fully displayed,they captured the attention of a bustling city—every passerby, every vehicle, every eye.

“Don’t want PCR tests, want food.Don’t want lockdowns, want freedom.Don’t want lies, want dignity.Don’t want the Cultural Revolution, want reform.Don’t want a leader, want votes.Don’t be slaves, be citizens.”

And:

“Strike, boycott, and remove the dictator Xi Jinping.”

Like a blade, these words pierced straight into the heart of power.

As an ordinary citizen,he too defied fate.

He made himself an example for the nation,calling upon the people to resist tyranny.

He attempted to rally the people of this land—to strike, to boycott, to take to the streets.

He sought, with his own strength,to end a third term of rule,to accomplish what even foreign governments could not,to bring the light of democracy and human rights to China.

In the end,overwhelmed by the power of the regime,he failed.

He did not stop the consolidation of power.

And yet—perhaps he did not entirely fail.

His spirit endured.

It helped give rise to the White Paper Movement one month later,and to countless others who followed—new “bridge warriors,”and innumerable brave individuals.

With nothing but the body of an ordinary citizen,he gave voice to a force that made a would-be ruler tremble.

Two thousand two hundred years ago,that man knew he would not return—yet he still set out for the Qin capital.

Because Yan was weak,unable to withstand Qin’s conquest.

So he went—for the world,for the people,for his state,and for all others.

“For the wind is bleak and the Yi River cold;the hero departs, never to return.”

Two thousand two hundred years later,this man also knew his fate—arrest, disappearance, imprisonment.

Yet he still went.

His courage surpassed even that of his predecessor.

For the man of old would face only death by blades,but the man of today faces unknown horrors.

Technology has advanced.So too have the methods of cruelty.

Fear arises from the unknown—and when punishment is unknowable,its terror is immeasurable.

Yet still, he went.

Behind him stood no nation.Against him stood the machinery of the state—a disparity far greater than that between Yan and Qin.

He knew what awaited him:the loss of freedom, dignity, even identity;suffering for himself, consequences for his family.

And still—he chose to face it.

If he goes and never returns,then so be it.

Two thousand two hundred years ago,though that act did not prevent Qin from unifying the six states,the spirit of resistance spread.

Years later, it erupted in uprising.

When oppression intensified—forced labor, harsh laws, ideological suppression—the people rose.

And the mighty empire collapsedfaster than anyone imagined.

Two thousand two hundred years later,though this act has not yet overturned the present system,the spirit of resistance has taken root.

More people are standing up.And perhaps, a greater awakening lies ahead.

When pressures accumulate—restrictions, censorship, ideological control, repression—the threshold will be reached.

And resistance will come.

Once it was Qin.Today it is another power.

What has changed are the rulers and their methods.What has not changedis the absence of human rights and democracy.

For over two thousand years,this land has not escaped this cycle.

Rulers change,but the idea of absolute rule persists.

Yet neither has this land lacked those who resist.

Again and again,old regimes fall,new ones rise—yet power is never truly returned to the people.

May this cycle finally end.

May democracy and human rightstake root here—not temporarily,but forever.