（9）白求恩坐下后，司令员指着墙上地图向他介绍：“国民党放弃了这个有八十万平方公里、二千五百万人口的地方。日本人集中了山西、河北、察哈尔三省兵力来对付我们。白求恩同志，可以说，你现在是在战争的中心了。”

(9) After Bethune took his seat, the Commander pointed to a map on the wall and explained: “The Guomindang has abandoned this area, which spans 800,000 square kilometres and is home to 25 million people. The Japanese have concentrated their forces from Shanxi, Hebei, and Chahar provinces to confront us. Comrade Bethune, you could say that you are now at the very heart of the war.”