The legend of the chief of the village in Muong Lam

(Baonghean) -Some elders said that the chief of Muong Lam commune named Xong At participated in feeding soldiers during the resistance war against the French, but eventually got caught up in internal ethnic conflicts and was brutally murdered.

The story of the village chief Lang Van At only remains in the memories of the elderly. The layers of sediment have buried the old village under Ban Ve Lake. Photo: Huu Vi

Throughout the development history of the Thai Muong in the mountainous region of Nghe An, the chiefs have always played a very important role.

If you ask who is the most famous person in Muong Lam, also the largest Thai Muong in the Nam Non River basin, in the Western region of Nghe An, you will receive the answer of Mr. Xong At (Chief of At). He was the chief of the commune, also the last ruler in Muong Lam until the feudal Muong Ban administrative system was abolished. Most of the Muong Lam area today has been submerged in the Ban Ve hydroelectric reservoir, the largest hydroelectric project in North Central Vietnam.

In the memory of the elders, this powerful chief is a tall, thin man, and many people still tell stories about Xong At in different ways.

According to Mr. Luong Van Hoan, who lives freely in a place called Khe Hoc in the middle of Ban Ve hydroelectric lake, Xong At is originally from Don Phuc commune, Con Cuong district. His full name is Lang Van At, a descendant of the famous Lang Vi family in Western Nghe An.

The prosperous villages of the ancient Muong Lam land no longer exist. Photo: Huu Vi

During the reign of the Southwestern region of Nghe An, the Lang Vi mandarins often appointed descendants of their clan to hold positions of authority such as district chief, canton chief, and village chief. Xong At was one of those appointed. Currently, no one remembers when Xong At became canton chief in Muong Lam area, nor is there any document recording the appointment of Xong At as canton chief. Stories about him are mostly just legends with folk colors. That is why the Luong clan in Muong Lam area recognizes Xong At as their ancestor.

An anecdote tells that: When he first arrived in Xong At, he was not popular with the people. People often discriminated against those who came from far away, especially appointed dignitaries. The people were only familiar with the familiar administrators who were from the village. For a year, he could not think of any way to win the hearts of the people and the village chiefs. Although he went to most of the villages to learn about the lifestyle and lived in harmony with everyone, there was still a distance between him and them.

The life of the Muong Lam people has changed a lot. The old village has become a wharf with rafts floating on the Ban Ve Hydroelectric Reservoir. Photo: Huu Vi

Then one year, he decided to slaughter three young buffaloes from his herd of more than a hundred buffaloes to organize a festival. During the early spring festival, which lasted for three days, Xong At won a crossbow shooting and rapids rowing competition. From then on, many people admired his talent. Wherever he went, along the Nam Non River with its many rapids and waterfalls, Xong At was welcomed. During the festival, he sent people to invite many village governors in Tuong Duong district to attend. Because of that, many people knew his reputation. Later, no matter which village he went to, he was supported and welcomed. This created conditions for him to always gain advantages on his official career path.

Legend has it that, thanks to his prestige, he was able to reconcile many conflicts between the Muong officials. Therefore, the Nam Non River basin was always peaceful until the French came to plunder and exploit alluvial gold on the Nam Non River. Xong At was very angry but had to endure because he did not receive support from the government or the Hue court.

Mr. Luong Van Tien, residing in Huoi Hoc residential area, said that his father used to be a "family member" (servant) in Xong At's house. He said: In 1945, after the August Revolution succeeded, although he was no longer a village chief, he still made contributions to the revolution. Around 1947 and 1948, he participated in feeding soldiers. Although he had finished his civil service, Xong At's economic conditions were still quite good, so there were always 20-30 soldiers living in the house. He participated in feeding soldiers to serve the resistance committee until 1952 when he passed away.

The road to Huu Khuong, the area where chief Lang Van At ruled nearly 80 years ago. Photo: Huu Vi

There are many stories about Xong At's death. Mr. Luong Van Tien said he heard his father tell about this incident. At that time, a conflict arose in his family. A relative took advantage of the absence of people in the village to secretly shoot and kill Xong At. "My father said that at that time, every time there was a wedding in the village, the whole village attended. That day was my father's wedding, when the whole village went to the wedding, only Xong At was home alone. A relative brought a gun and shot and killed the village chief and then fled to Laos."

Another story tells that: Xong At was shot dead at night. Before that, someone was afraid of shooting by mistake, so he told his wife: Tonight, don't sleep next to your husband. The village chief's wife didn't understand why the other person told her that, but she still did as he said without saying anything to her husband. That night, everyone heard three gunshots, ran over and saw the former village chief had collapsed dead. The murderer had also disappeared.

Today, many elders in the old Tuong Duong area, mainly Con Cuong and Tuong Duong districts, still pass on the legends about Xong At, the village chief who was respected by many people.

You Wei