On April 14, 1995, Zhong Zhiguang, Yang Dezhi, Wang Ping, Zhang Zhen, Chi Haotian and other senior state generals gathered at the home of founding general Chen Shiyu to celebrate his 86th birthday. Although the old general was a little weak, he had a good look and was talking and laughing with everyone. On the table in front of him, there were several large teacups, and the smell of jasmine wafted from them. Just in front of the table, suddenly placed a jar filled with clear water. After everyone took a few sips of tea, Chen Shiyu said in a low voice, "I am very happy that everyone can come to celebrate my birthday." Maybe you still don't understand what this jar of water is for, right? Let me tell you about it. After saying that, he leaned forward slightly, sat up straight, and his thoughts returned to a few days ago.
General Chen Shiyu was a general who was considered to have made outstanding contributions in the history of New China. He came from a poor background and made a living as a domestic servant. Later, through the study of the peasant association, he had new ideas, joined the Communist Youth League, and soon entered the military. In 1927, he participated in the Autumn Harvest Uprising and went up Jinggangshan with his troops. With his military achievements, he gradually rose to the post of chief of staff of the division and participated in successive "anti-encirclement and suppression" battles. During the Long March, he commanded the sapper team and built bridges in every mountain and water, effectively ensuring the advance of the troops.
During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, he served as chief of staff of the 343rd Brigade of the 115th Division of the Eighth Route Army and served as the main force in the Battle of Pingxingguan. In the ensuing "Battle of Guangyang", he led his troops to annihilate thousands of Japanese troops and set a precedent for capturing Japanese prisoners. In 1943, Chen Shiyu commanded the battle to conquer ganyu county, annihilating more than 2,000 puppet troops at the cost of sacrificing 3 people, creating a war miracle.
During the Liberation War, Chen Shiyu served as chief of staff of the East China Field Army, participated in many battles such as Subei, Lunan, and Meng Lianggu, and cooperated with chen Yi and Su Yu. In the Battle of Huaihai, he led three columns to support the Central Plains Field Army in encircling and annihilating Huang Wei, and bravely took on the main offensive task. After the victory of the battle, he also left all the spoils of war to the Central Plains Field Army, showing the high style and brightness of the revolutionary soldiers.
After the liberation of the whole country, Chen Shiyu served as the commander of the engineering corps and continued to lead the troops throughout the mountains and rivers of the motherland. In 1958, he personally led the engineers into the Northwest Great Gobi, braving the sweltering heat and cold to find suitable missile and atomic bomb test sites in the desert. After the site selection was completed, Chen Shiyu also commanded the engineers to build more than 100,000 square meters of buildings in a very short period of time, as well as the largest airport in Asia at that time. At the same time, 546 kilometers of roads have been built and more than 1,800 kilometers of communication lines have been erected. Before the Soviet experts withdrew, the first phase of the test site was completed, ensuring the smooth progress of the "two bombs" test. For six years, he and the engineers were as missing. After the atomic bomb was successfully exploded, he appeared in people's field of vision again. At that time, Chairman Mao shook his hand and said, "You have made meritorious deeds!" Nesting is well built! ”
Whether it is the road to the founding of the country or the road to a strong country, Chen Shiyu has personally participated. The hardships suffered during this period are unimaginable to ordinary people. With his contribution, it is very normal, even deserved, to enjoy the blessings and make the standard of living higher. What's more, he also holds the engineering power of the national army. However, his life has always been very poor. Chen Shiyu was a level 5 cadre of the state, and his monthly salary was 342 yuan, which was a high income at that time. But his family has six children and an adopted daughter, and some relatives and old subordinates need to be helped, so sometimes it is not even enough to ensure food and clothing. According to the standard, Chen Shiyu had two Chinese cigarettes, four pounds of pork, and four pounds of soybeans every month, but these children still often did not have enough to eat. Later, he built a pig pen in front of his own small building and raised a piglet. When the pigs had just grown to forty or fifty pounds, he slaughtered the pigs in order to save feed, and the family had a full meal.
It can be seen that Chen Shiyu loves his children, but his requirements for them are also very strict. Chen Shiyu's son, Chen Renkang, grew up in the army and came up with two strict rules: no money from the family, and no phone calls to the family. The son had everything he could only rely on his son to support himself; another time, his daughter Chen Xiaoqin had a fever and it was difficult to insist on walking more than ten miles to school, so he proposed to his father to send her by bus. Chen Shiyu immediately said with a straight face: "The car is the state, it is distributed to me for work, not for my family, and the children of the people will not think of using the car when they are sick." ”
Chen Shiyu's frugality is also consistent in his daily work. Once on the train, at his level, it is necessary to pack a soft sleeper, but other entourage must buy a ticket to sit in a hard seat. In order to save the transportation cost, Chen Shiyu did not let others buy tickets, but squeezed into the soft sleeping car with himself. He did this in order to save the country some travel expenses. Another time, someone helped him collect his salary, found that it was less than 26 yuan, and went to ask the comrade in charge of finance. The financial officer said that Commander Chen once again used Zhongjipu to go to Liangxiang, and he specifically instructed us to deduct the expenses from our salaries according to the regulations! Another time, his children went to the National Day party, and as a result, they picked up a lily flower parachute on the viewing platform, thought it looked good, and took it home. After Chen Shiyu saw it, he immediately said to the children: "Public property, not a penny of cheap can not be stained!" Send this thing to the Military Affairs Office right away! Later, the comrades of the Military Affairs Office smiled when they saw the parachute and said, "Commander Chen asked you to be a little too strict, and we also threw away this thing for us." ”
There are many more examples like this. Chen Shiyu was like this, and throughout his life he pursued the principle of thrift and thrift and not taking advantage of the state. His children have also grown up to become talents of the country under the inspiration of their fathers.
After leaving the party, Chen Shiyu still refused to rest, and actively trained party members and cadres every day and participated in the study of party history and military history. Later, he also participated in the Choir of Demobilized Soldiers and took to the stage of the Great Hall of the People as an artist.
But in the end, the years are not spared. After entering 1995, the old general's health deteriorated, with many heart attacks and swelling of the whole body. Many people realize that this year's birthday is likely to be his last birthday. Many old comrades proposed that Chen Shiyu should be given a more solemn birthday banquet, which was more lively, and could not let him go too shabby. That being the case, someone needs to make a budget and allocate some money from public funds to handle it.
After the budget is completed, as usual, Chen Shiyu needs to sign and agree to it. When the staff brought him the budget table, Chen Shiyu was very unhappy and asked, "What is this?" Who made you do that? ”
The staff replied somewhat unnaturally: "Commander Chen, this is the budget for your birthday, and it is also the intention of all of us." ”
Chen Shiyu said angrily, "When did I ever do this?" Don't change my life's style just because of a single birthday! You should know that our Party has always had discipline and cannot invite guests to dinner with public funds. I've done this all my life. Knowing that there is discipline and asking for money for writing a report, is this not a problem for the leaders of the Central Military Commission? We Communists throw away our heads and spill our blood for our own enjoyment! ”
The birthday party was over. On the day of April 14, Chen Shiyu got up early in the morning and let people get a jar of clear water to put in the middle of the living room, no matter who came, they must be able to see it. Later, the number of people who worshiped shou slowly increased, and everyone replaced wine with tea, and they talked very happily, so there was the scene at the beginning of this article.
In everyone's doubtful eyes, Chen Shiyu said slowly, "Do you know Feng Yuxiang?" He was a typical example of the Kuomintang army's honesty and honesty in performing official duties. Every time he celebrates his birthday, he also refuses luxury. Once, a subordinate sent him a pot of clean water as a gift, and Feng Yuxiang was very happy, saying that water is what people need most, and it is also the cheapest. He was going to tell his subordinates that officials should be as innocent as water! At present, some cadres have not experienced arduous wars, and when they become officials, they do not want to seek the welfare of the people, but instead think about themselves, which is very worrying. We sacrificed so many excellent sons and daughters for liberation. If they knew that in the end there were some cadres who rode on the heads of the people again, they would not be at peace under the Nine Springs. If we do not set strict demands on ourselves, the masses of the people will abandon us. ”
Everyone humbly listened to the old general's heartfelt words and applauded from the bottom of their hearts. Although there are no big fish and meat and fine wine, Chen Shiyu's birthday is particularly meaningful. Later, some people praised this birthday as "a temple of clear water to celebrate the birthday".
Sadly, many people feel right. On July 22 of that year, General Chen lao closed his eyes forever. Before his death, he used his trembling hands to write the famous work of the Tang Dynasty poet Zhang Ji, "Fengqiao Night Berth".
The moon is falling and the frost is full of frost, and the river maple fishing fire is sad and sleepy.
Hanshan Temple outside Gusu City, midnight bell to the passenger ship.
Since joining the revolution, Chen Shiyu has not returned to his hometown for 68 years. When he was working, he refused to use the state's money to do private things, nor did he give up his work, so he never had the opportunity to return to his hometown. By the time he was idle, he was dying of old age. Perhaps at the last moment, he wanted to borrow Zhang Ji's famous sentence to express his wandering heart.