Among the founding generals of the founding of New China, there is such a special existence, his life has been dedicated to the country and the people, selfless dedication has become synonymous with him, in addition to the outstanding contributions made to the revolution during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, he is still a very simple person in life, the picture of him riding a tricycle to a meeting has always echoed in people's minds, he is General Wang Zhen.
Wang Zhen was born in 1908 and is a native of Liuyang, Hunan. At the age of 14, he went to Changsha to work as a worker because of his poor family, and later came into contact with the Communist Party organization, he actively participated in the workers' movement, and officially joined the Communist Party of China in 1927. After the defeat of the Great Revolution, Wang Zhen resolutely joined the struggle against the Kuomintang reactionaries.
In 1929, Wang Zhen participated in the construction of the Xianggan Revolutionary Base Area and served as the political commissar of the Xiangdong Independent Regiment. In the struggle in the base area, he fought bravely and won the third class "Red Star Medal". In 1934, Wang Zhen served as the political commissar of the Red Sixth Army. In 1935, in order to get rid of the Kuomintang's "encirclement and suppression", the Red Sixth Army also began the Long March, and in 1936, it met with the Red Fourth Front in Sichuan.
After the outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japan, Wang Zhen served as the political commissar of the 120th Division of the Eighth Route Army, and he led his troops to the anti-Japanese front, ambushed the enemy army many times, and achieved great results. In 1939, Wang Zhen commanded the 359th Brigade in battle, and won successive victories. In the later Battle of Apricot Tree Mouth, Wang Zhen was attacked by Japanese gas bombs, but he still led his troops deep into the enemy camp and finally won the victory. In 1944, according to the instructions of the leadership, the Eighth Route Army, with Wang Zhen as its commander, carried out operations in the south and opened up new revolutionary base areas.
After the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, Wang Zhen served as deputy commander of the Central Plains Military Region and assisted Li Xiannian in commanding the breakthrough of the Central Plains. After the founding of New China, Wang Zhen held important posts such as a member of the Northwest Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, and he conscientiously implemented the party's ethnic policy and carried out land reform.
At the 1955 ceremony, Wang Zhen was awarded the rank of founding general. In 1988, he was also awarded the Medal of Merit of the Red Star, First Class. In 1993, Wang Zhen died in Guangzhou at the age of 85. After his death, he also donated corneas.
In fact, during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, Wang Zhen gave the impression of "not trimming the edges", and he was very frugal in eating, wearing, living, and traveling. After the founding of the country, he still maintained frugal behavior, he never cared how many patches were on his clothes, and really carried frugality to the end. The reason he did this was that he hoped that he could save this money, perhaps some use for the army, no matter where he was, Wang Zhen appeared in the people's vision in an old military uniform.
And the origin of Wang Zhen's ride on a tricycle to a meeting is also because he is frugal. At that time, in order to facilitate Wang Zhen's work, the superior leaders specially equipped Wang Zhen with a small car. This car is Wang Zhen's treasure, but in addition to the needs of work, Wang Zhen has never used this car for personal affairs, even if his mother is sick and going to the hospital, he has not used this public car.
This car is not a luxury car, it is even a little bulky to operate, and from time to time it has a temper tantrum with Wang Zhen, and it is common for strikes to stop. But Wang Zhen never expressed dissatisfaction, nor did he ask for a better car, his requirement for the car was that he could walk. Who would have thought that this car would actually strike on Wang Zhen's way to a meeting in Zhongnanhai.
Wang Zhen is also a person with a strong sense of time, never late, in desperation, Wang Zhen can only stop a tricycle on the road, explain the situation to the master, and let him carry himself to the meeting. Wang Zhen took a tricycle to Zhongnanhai, but was stopped by the guards at the door, saying that he would not let him in.
At this time, Wang Zhen was anxious, jumped off the tricycle and the doorman explained, but the doorman said that there was never a precedent for a tricycle to enter, and Wang Zhen was not happy to hear it: "I was ordered to come to the meeting, I did not say that I would not come by tricycle, there was no such rule." The doorman had to let Wang Zhen's tricycle in, so on the avenue of Zhongnanhai, there was a picture of a tricycle speeding forward.
There are many deeds about General Wang Zhen, and his heart is all in the motherland and the people, and he is a person who truly dedicates himself selflessly to the country and the people.