After the founding of the People's Republic of China, in 1955, some people who liberated Chinese people with outstanding contributions were awarded the rank of generals, and these people were called founding generals in later generations. Among the 177 founding lieutenant generals, only one of them had the rank of marshal, but in the end he only received the rank of lieutenant general, and this person was Ni Zhiliang.
Born in 1900, Ni Zhiliang was born into an ordinary family, studied private school for several years, and did not continue his studies after graduating from high school, but went to the grocery store to work. Later, by chance, he joined the Anhui army, and because of his outstanding performance, he served as a squad leader and a platoon leader.
When he was in the army, he not only actively participated in military training, but also often studied theoretical knowledge assiduously, and finally was admitted to the Whampoa Military Academy in 1925 and received formal theoretical education. In 1928, he joined the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, but quit for medical reasons. After recuperating, he went to Xincai County to participate in the secret work of the party.
After the "April 12" incident, Ni Zhiliang was unfortunately arrested and imprisoned, but not long after, an uprising to rescue imprisoned party members and revolutionary volunteers broke out, and Ni Zhiliang was successfully rescued. After coming out, Ni Zhiliang could not wait to participate in the Guangzhou uprising led by the party organization. Unfortunately, however, the uprising ended in failure, and Ni Zhiliang once again broke off contact with the party.
Ni Zhiliang, who had disconnected from the party, was seriously injured, and after painstaking efforts, he finally found the party organization in Shanghai and was transferred to the Soviet district, becoming the earliest group of leaders in the Soviet area. Ni Zhiliang, who was in the Soviet District, worked diligently and foresightly, and won the praise of his subordinates.
After the Jute Uprising, the unit was reorganized many times and incorporated into the Red 11th Army, with Ni Zhiliang as the captain of the third brigade. To know that Xu Xiangqian was the deputy division commander at that time, it was not difficult to see that Ni Zhiliang's position was high and powerful.
Later, the Red Fourth Front was established, and Ni Zhiliang was ordered to serve as the commander of the Red 10th Division, and at a young age he was the commander of the First Division, and it is not difficult for us to see that Ni Zhiliang's future prospects are immeasurable. In July 1933, Ni Zhiliang successfully served as the chief of staff of the Red Fourth Front, cooperating with the famous general Xu Shuai at that time.
After the War of Resistance Against Japan, the Red Fourth Front was incorporated into the Eighth Route Army, but Ni Zhiliang was still the chief of staff, Xu Shuai was the deputy division commander, and many of them who had once been above Ni Zhiliang became Ni Zhiliang's subordinates. At the end of 1938, Ni Zhiliang stepped down as chief of staff and became a guerrilla commander.
After seven years as guerrilla commander, he was organizationally transferred to the New Fourth Army and again as chief of staff. However, before he could reach the New Fourth Army, the Japanese army surrendered and the War of Resistance Against Japan was declared over. Ni Zhiliang was sent to Shenyang to sit down.
In the same year that the Japanese army surrendered, the CCP began a struggle against the Kuomintang. In 1946, the CCP launched a struggle to liberate Qiqihar, at that time Ni Zhiliang served as commander to lead the battle, after several years of struggle day and night, Qiqihar was successfully liberated from the Hands of the Kuomintang, and Ni Zhiliang was also praised by everyone.
Later, the Northeast Military and Political University officially announced the move to Qiqihar, trying to promote the development of the city. Ni Zhiliang vigorously supported and went to Qiqihar in the same year that Northeast Military and Political University moved in, serving as the vice president of Northeast Military and Political University. Although he was the vice president, the president of the Northeast Military and Political University at that time was called Lin Shuai, who had been directing the battle in the struggle against the Kuomintang, so Ni Zhiliang could only be responsible for all the affairs of the Northeast Military and Political University.
Under the careful management of Ni Zhiliang, the Northeast Military and Political University has produced many outstanding military talents. After the founding of New China, Ni Zhiliang went to the DPRK to serve as an ambassador to the DPRK in line with the idea that I am a brick and where it needs to be moved. During the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, he actively contacted the Chinese and DPRK sides, and was awarded a medal by the DPRK for his outstanding performance.
In 1952, Ni Zhiliang's health was not very good, and after passing the examination, he returned to the motherland and became the deputy director of the Supervision Department, mainly responsible for the supervision of the whole army. The minister at that time was Ye Shuai, who also had great respect for Ni Zhiliang. Ni Zhiliang had countless partners in his life, most of whom were highly respected and highly respected, and his subordinates were all at the rank of general, but he eventually received only the rank of lieutenant general.
Now most of us seem to be sorry for Ni Zhiliang, but in fact, Lieutenant General Ni Zhiliang himself did not care at all, he said that his contribution to the country itself was enough to show off, and the rank was not important.
Conclusion: Ni Zhiliang's life has been dedicated to the country. In his later years, General Ni's body was overworked and painful because of his youth, but he always insisted on working, often enduring illness and torturing the work of the case, and some people around him advised him to rest, but he only said that as long as I still had a breath, I would contribute everything to my country.
In 1964, the old general was too ill to get out of bed, and he said intermittently in bed, After I die, please hand over all my savings to the state and be moved by everyone. In 1965, Ni Zhiliang died of illness at the age of 65. I heard that the old general was very peaceful when he left.