《報國》作為沈從文寫給同鄉軍人的公開信,貫穿著他對湘西歷史、當下與未來的思考,從中可以側面解讀湘西苗疆在抗日戰爭之時所負的光榮與重負。文中一以貫之的是作者對土匪污名與家鄉人自卑自棄的悲痛,128師驚天地、泣鬼神戰斗的悲壯,對嫡系傾軋下不公平遭遇的悲憤,以及對家園憂患意識的悲憫。沈從文呼吁同鄉人應該不計前嫌、不計得失、積極地抗日救國,因為他懂得雪國恥重於解鄉恨,救國才能救民族的道理。在此意義上,沈從文是民族的先覺者,他的主張與選擇,似乎預見到了苗疆今天的安定與繁榮。

Serving Homeland is a public letter written by Shen Congwen to his township fellow soldiers which demonstrates his reflections on the history,present and future of Xiangxi. From this letter,we can indirectly interpret the glory and burden of Miao people of Xiangxi during the War of Resistance against Japan.Throughout the letter,the author expresses his painful grief for the stigma of bandit and his self abased hometown people,his solemn grief for the furious battle of the 128 Division,his indignation for the unfair treatment encountered by his relatives and his sympathy for the hardship of his hometown. In the letter,Shen Congwen appeals to his countrymen to resist against Japan and serve the homeland regardless of the past,the gain or loss for he knows that national humiliation overweighs hometown hatred and that people can be saved only after the nation is saved. In this sense,Shen Congwen is a national illuminati whose proposition and choice seem to foresee today's peace and prosperity of the Miao people.