In 1955, the military rank system was used for the first time in the history of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, and after five years of research, a grand ceremony was held on September 27.
Every founding general is a great achievement, and in the hearts of the people, he is expected by all. Lieutenant General Kong Qingde always laughed and said that he was very happy to be awarded the school officer, and he did not expect to become a lieutenant general. His life is also a great achievement, wonderful.
Over the snowy mountains, climbing over the meadows, the twenty-five thousand miles of the Long March refined the heroic army, from the Nationalist army to the Red Army, from the War of Resistance Against Japan to the War of Liberation, Lieutenant General Kong Qingde's life was a life of fighting.
In the fire of war, he has tempered a character with clear love and hatred, dares to speak out and has something to say, he is the "Kong Cannon" in the mouth of Premier Zhou, he is the iron-blooded general in the hearts of soldiers, and he is also the true man in the hearts of his children.
Born into poverty, he found a new direction in the army
Kong Qingde was born in Qufu, the hometown of Confucius, and was the seventy-third generation descendant of Confucius. The family of seven depends on their father's small income from odd jobs.
One day, a mysterious guest came to the house, and the father borrowed money from the landlord to entertain the guests, but after the guests left, the father was taken away in the name of "harboring bandits". He has since stopped the news, and by the time he hears from his father, he is dead in prison.
The family is already hungry and cold, and suddenly is the only pillar, and the life of orphans and widows is even worse.
In the spring of 1928, the vigorous Northern Expedition entered the second stage, and the whole country shouted "Down with the great powers and eliminate the warlords." It coincided with the capture of Qufu by the Forty-sixth Division led by Chen Tiaoyuan and the beginning of a new round of recruitment.
The 16-year-old Kong Qingde was full of blood and fanggang, and he was worried about his father's death, and resolutely said to his mother: "I am going to join the Northern Expeditionary Army, so that everyone in the family can eat enough, and I can still have the opportunity to avenge my father!" ”
In this way, Kong Qingde, who participated in the Northern Expedition, was assigned to the communication squad of the second battalion of the 272nd Regiment of the 138th Brigade of the 46th Division of the National Revolutionary Army.
In the summer of 1930, when the Central Plains War was about to break out, the 46th Division of the National Revolutionary Army was stationed in Lu'an, and Kong Qingde served as a messenger for the battalion headquarters, when he met his life's nobleman, the battalion commander Wei Mengxian.
Wei Mengxian was a student of the first phase of Huangpu and an underground member of the Communist Party of China, and the arrival of this person made Kong Qingde, who had fought in the National Revolutionary Army for three years, usher in a new life change. Kong Qingde often said: "It was the old camp commander who changed my life, he let me see a different world and have different beliefs." ”
On February 15, 1931, when the sky was full of snow in Lu'an, Wei Mengxian shook up Kong Qingde, who was still asleep, "Hurry up XiaoKong, quickly pass on my order to Chai Hongru, let him take his troops to chengnan pass to assemble, let's go to the Red Army!" ”
Kong Qingde already knew the heart of the battalion commander, and after receiving the order, he excitedly said: "Battalion commander, I have been waiting for this day for a long time!" "A bone crawled up to pass the order." In this way, Kong Qingde followed the battalion commander Wei Mengxian to lead the army to revolt, led more than 200 people to defect to the Red Army, and began a vigorous revolutionary cause.
Although he is a descendant of Confucius, Kong Qingde, who grew up in a poor family, did not know a single character. "I never had the luxury of being able to read and write, and I didn't expect the army to organize us to study!" I will definitely study hard, and I will never leave behind in my work, and I will resolutely live up to the cultivation of the organization! ”
Kong Qingde was moved to tears when he learned of the opportunity to study. Since then, while actively participating in the battle to defend the Soviet zone, Kong Qingde has begun to learn from people, mouths, and hands, accumulating knowledge, learning culture, and raising consciousness. Because of Kong Qingde's excellent performance, it was not long before the organization approved him to join the party.
He spent his life on the road of revolution for his ideals
In the days of living and fighting in the Red Army, Chen Qingde was even more successful, showing amazing military talent, and his courage to fight and his courage and care were appreciated by the leaders.
Shortly after joining the party, because of his heroic combat and excellent command ability, he was promoted by the line of fire and served as a company commander. In the night attack on Dayangzhuang to seize the cannon, it was even more properly commanded, and the first battle became famous.
In January 1938, a Japanese army of more than 300 people with sophisticated equipment entered Dayangzhuang in Ningjin in an attempt to attack Shulu and Xinhe. At that time, the second regiment of the detachment led by Kong Qingde was stationed in Longjiazhuang next door.
When observing the enemy situation with a telescope, Kong Qingde was surprised to find, "There is actually a reflective point there, so dazzling!" They actually have a cannon! Good stuff! It's a rarity. ”
Turning back to the warrior next to him, he said, "Go! Organize the people, let's go grab the cannon! This bold decision startled the warriors around him.
Immediately, Kong Qingde organized a commando team composed of 30 commanders and fighters, brought weapons and equipment, wrapped white towels around his arms to facilitate identification at night, and quietly touched it.
Before the battle, Kong Qingde ordered: "Let's go into the field barefoot, try not to alarm the devil's large troops, grab the cannon and run!" ”
Unexpectedly, the early stage was very smooth, and I accidentally pulled the fire rope while dragging the cannon, which alarmed the devil. Although the two sides fought fiercely, Kong Qingde led everyone to snatch the cannon, and by the time the devils reacted, the cannon had already been transported to the superior troops.
It was later learned that this cannon was given by the Japanese Emperor and was very precious to the Japanese army. The detachment also held a special celebration meeting for grabbing the cannon this time, Xu Xiangqian also personally wrote an inscription affirming the achievements of the second regiment, and Liu Bocheng and Deng Xiaoping even jointly issued a commendation to the brave soldiers who seized the cannon.
Kong Qingde's fame in the First World War greatly encouraged the momentum of the anti-Japanese soldiers and civilians. After this cannon, it also followed Liu Deng's army to the north and south, making great contributions to the War of Resistance Against Japan, and was collected in the museum after the founding of the People's Republic of China. Such things often happen to Kong Qingde, who is good at using his brain and often wins by surprise.
In July of the same year, the Eighth Route Army set up an ambush around the village of Shiquan to block and eliminate more than 800 Japanese troops preparing to attack Yushe. Kong Qingde, who was then the commander of the Second Regiment, received the task of his superiors and immediately reorganized and prepared for battle.
After the ambush was a fierce encounter, when the fierce battle was in full swing, suddenly heavy rain fell from the sky, the Japanese army's sophisticated equipment and bad weather still did not scare our army, Kong Qingde shouted: "Soldiers, rush with me, we must not stop, this battle will be won!" ”
Subsequently, he took the lead in repelling the Japanese army many times, and his right wrist was broken, but fortunately the operation was successful, and he was still able to carry a gun to fight.
Awarded lieutenant general, able to speak eloquently known as "Kong Cannon"
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the war subsided, and without large-scale battles, Kong Qingde shifted his energy to study, army management, and production construction.
In 1950, he went to Nanjing Military Academy to study. On National Day in 1951, as a member of the phalanx of high-level cadres, he participated in the military parade.
Kong Qingde not only fought fiercely, but also studied conscientiously, and he also had a good hand in army building and production construction. He will not go to school, not arrogant, while learning, dare to speak out, Premier Zhou gave him a favorite to call "Kong Cannon".
In 1952, Kong Qingde became the acting commander of the artillery unit of the Central South Military Region. At that time, many artillery units were established throughout the country, because they were all newly built units, with complex structures and equipment, and there was no experience to learn from.
Kong Qingde went down to the grass-roots level, personally studied and understood the performance structure of various artillery pieces, and when he encountered something that did not know how to consult the Soviet advisers in time, he understood and then solved various problems in the troops.
In this way, While learning and doing, Kong Qingde quickly mastered the technology of artillery, and also brought the management of the troops into the right track step by step.
In 1955, the Chinese People's Liberation Army used the rank system for the first time, and many generals who had experienced hundreds of battles were awarded titles. At the award ceremony, Kong Qingde was awarded the rank of lieutenant general and awarded three first-class medals.
After being named, the Zhongnanhai investigator called to inquire about Kong Qingde's attitude, and Kong Qingde replied: "It is my honor to fight for the people of the motherland, and I resolutely obey the organization's arrangements." He often laughed with the civil servants around him: "I don't care what rank I can give me, even if it is a school officer, I didn't expect to pick up a lieutenant general." ”
In addition to participating in the management of the military establishment, Kong Qingde also participated in many local affairs. When he was invited to attend a meeting of medical representatives from various places, Kong Qingde mentioned in his speech: "The army has economic difficulties, and I have no more requirements for you, only two points, I hope you can all do it." One is not to buy counterfeit drugs, and the other is not to buy expensive drugs. ”
After hearing this, representatives of pharmaceutical companies around the world were stunned. With such an outspoken style, "Kong Cannon" is by no means a waste of time.
Another time, Kong Qingde was invited to attend a provincial anti-corruption and clean government conference, and when he spoke, he said: "You invited me to speak, do you say that I am telling the truth, or am I picking up good lies?" If you want to hear the truth, I will say that the fight against corruption and the promotion of clean government should start with the leading body of the provincial party committee. ”
The secretary of the provincial party committee was confused, and Kong Qingde also had the following: "I said that this is based on evidence, I saw that your drivers are not wiping their own cars, they are sitting drinking tea and watching others wipe." Do warriors carry guns to the battlefield, and they also want others to wipe their guns! Whoever does it will do it. ”
Strict self-discipline, a big mountain in the eyes of her daughter
In 1983, Kong Qingde officially left Hugh to spend his old age. After retiring, Kong Qingde still does not forget to insist on studying and always cares about national affairs.
On September 29, 2010, due to ineffective medical treatment, he died in Wuhan at the age of 100, so that General Kong Qingde completed his legendary life.
In 2017, Kong Qingde's fourth daughter, Kong Xiaofan, was interviewed to tell the story of his father in the eyes of his children, and the image of General Kong Qingde in the hearts of the people was further enriched.
He was not only a general who fought and killed, but also a good husband in the eyes of his wife, and a big mountain in the hearts of his children. After the death of his wife, he will avoid the children from shedding tears alone, will "cut the door" to the extreme in daily life, and will cherish the people in the face of great disasters.
"Father never takes credit for himself, he always teaches us to be confident, self-care, self-reliant, although he has power in his hands, we must do better, not only can not abuse power, but also to lead by example." 」
Kong Xiaofan was full of admiration when he mentioned his father. "Before I retired, I worked in a hospital in Guangzhou, and I could have been assigned to a unit house at my personal rank, but at that time, I couldn't come up with so much money for a while, so I didn't want a house." Colleagues in the organization department also wondered why I didn't report that I was Kong Qingde's daughter, so that I could get plenty of time. Only I know that such special care fathers will not allow. ”
"Father slammed the door very much, his vest can wear for more than ten years, patch set patch, not willing to lose." Dozens of pieces of clothing are too expensive, and we have to lie to him when we buy him clothes, saying that he only costs twenty yuan before he is willing to wear them. He also used to dig wild vegetables for us to eat with the guards, saying that he wanted to remember the bittersweet and take our sisters and brothers to plant in the yard.
Never let us sit in official cars, never let us engage in specialization. But in the Wenchuan earthquake, my father donated 5,000 yuan in one go, and let us donate a little more. "The father in the daughter's eyes is strict with himself and has great love.
epilogue
General Kong Qingde spent his life on horseback and was a true man with iron blood. Although the older generation of revolutionaries have passed away one by one, they have exchanged their youth and blood for today's prosperous health, and their revolutionary spirit is worth learning from us and will continue from generation to generation.