Song Zuying is a famous soprano singer and a national first-class actor. However, she also has a status, that is, a soldier.
She is a "veteran" with nearly 30 years of military experience.
When did Song Zuying join the army?
It was in 1991.
She once said: "In July 1991, I graduated from the music department of the Nationalities College. Originally, I didn't want to go to the army, and I have begun to contact local groups. However, director Wang Xianping of CCTV is my friend, and he has a good relationship with Li Xing, the head of the Haizheng Song and Dance Troupe. Wang Xianping recommended me to the Haizheng Song and Dance Troupe. "Haizheng Song and Dance Troupe, also known as "Haizheng Cultural and Labor Troupe".
After joining the army, Song Zuying integrated himself into a part of the army and demanded himself according to the standards of soldiers in every word and deed. She once said: "This environment will make me think of myself as a soldier all the time." At the same time, as a literary and artistic soldier, I have the responsibility and obligation to sing for the vast number of officers and men. ”
After entering the new century, in 2005, Song Zuying served as the deputy head of the cultural and industrial troupe. In 2013, he was promoted to head of the Haizheng Cultural and Industrial Troupe.
At that time, many people said that Song Zuying had been promoted to "civilian general at the rank of major general". It was a female general.
In fact, this statement is wrong.
Because our army does not have the term "civilian general". Song Zuying is a civilian cadre, referring to the major general in terms of rank, and is equivalent to the rank of major general in terms of treatment, but is not really a major general. She did not hold the rank of major general.
Song Zuying was not a general. So, in our army, are there any female generals?
Of course there is, more than one.
For example, in 1988, when our army resumed the rank system, five female soldiers received the rank of general.
They are: Nie Li, Wu Xiaoheng, Li Xikai, Hu Feipei, Liao Wenhai.
The five female servicemen were awarded the rank of general in 1988.
So, when our army first conferred the rank in 1955, were any female soldiers awarded the rank of general?
Of course there is, though, only one.
She is Major General Li Zhen.
Li Zhen, whose original name was Li Danwa, was born in 1908 to a poor peasant family in Xiaobanqiao, Liuyang County.
Due to her family's poverty, Li Zhen was sold by her parents to a family as a child bride at the age of 6.
In her in-laws' home, Li Zhen was often beaten and scolded, and she had to do heavy and tired work. Once, because of a small matter, the mother-in-law scolded Li Zhen, and Li Zhen explained the reason. Unexpectedly, Li Zhen's husband was furious and actually picked up a stick and hit Li Zhen with his head covered in the face.
Although the heavens and the earth are big, where is my home? Li Zhen could not see a glimmer of life and was ready to throw herself into the river. At this time, the neighbor's mother-in-law Liu advised her with tears in her eyes: "Dan baby! Women are born to suffer! You see me, in my sixties, I still have to go up the mountain to cut firewood, and I have to be beaten and scolded by my husband. O woman's life! We women are going to confess our lives..."
However, Li Zhen was reluctant to be a "person who confessed her fate", and she decided to turn a new page.
In 1926, a group of revolutionaries came to Li Zhen's hometown and called on the poor people to rise up and make a revolution.
Li Zhen, 18, resolutely walked out of the house and went to register.
When she signed up, the person in charge asked her what her name was.
Li Zhen thought to herself, I have decided to make a revolution, I can no longer call Danwa, what is it good to call? These days, she often hears that she wants to be unyielding to the revolution, so she decided to call li zhen!
After joining the revolution, Li Zhen's revolutionary thinking was very firm, his growth rate was very fast, and he gloriously joined the party.
In the spring of 1928, Mr. Peng allocated 20 guns to Li Zhen and others and formed a guerrilla group. Li Zhen served as chairman of the Soldiers' Committee.
Although she is a lesbian, Li Zhen is very brave in battle. In one battle, the guerrillas were besieged by the enemy, and Li Zhen immediately commanded the fighters to launch a counterattack. When the ammunition ran out, the enemy was facing the enemy step by step. Li Zhen said to everyone: "We would rather sacrifice than let the enemy catch it alive." Jump down the cliff together! ”
Li Zhen and the others jumped off the cliff, and fortunately, they were blocked by the branches and survived.
In 1928, during the battle against the Zhangjiafang Regimental Defense Bureau, Li Zhen disguised herself as a bride. Sit in a palanquin and direct the battle.
The palanquin was carried all the way to the door of the regimental defense bureau, and the enemy was defenseless. Li Zhen suddenly sent out a signal to move in the palanquin, and the guerrillas took advantage of the situation to rush in, catching the enemy by surprise, and the Zhangjiafang regimental defense bureau was destroyed by the nest.
After the start of the Long March, Li Zhen moved with the Red Second Front. During the Long March, she was appointed head of organization for the Red Sixth Army.
On the long march road, through the introduction of Ren Bishi's wife Chen Chunying, under the personal presidency of General He, Li Zhen and General Gan Siqi married and formed a pair of revolutionary partners.
When the troops crossed the meadow, Li Zhen gave birth to a son, who died prematurely due to extremely difficult conditions.
When the War of Resistance Broke Out, a school for women cadres was established in Yan'an. Li Zhen served as the principal of the school.
After that, Li Zhen served as the chief of the organization section of the 120th Division's teaching regiment and the director of the division's directly subordinate political office.
During the Liberation War, Li Zhen moved to the northwest with the First Field Army (Northwest Field Army) and participated in a series of battles to liberate the Great Northwest.
After the founding of New China, Li Zhen went with the volunteer army to the front line of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea. Mr. Peng appointed Li Zhen as secretary general of the Volunteer Military and Political Department.
In September 1955, Gan Siqi and Li Zhen walked into Huairen Hall together. When Li Zhen received the Liberation Medal of the First Class from the highest chief, he was so excited that he could not speak.
The Duke of Zhou personally awarded the rank of general to Gan Siqi and the rank of major general to Li Zhen.
Zhou Gong said to Li Zhen: "Congratulations, Comrade Li Zhen, you are the first female general of our new China, and Gan Siqi is also the only husband and wife star!" ”
Li Zhen was the first female general in New China and the only female general in our army.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, she held many important positions. In 1980, she was the deputy of the Grand Military District.
On March 11, 1990, General Li Zhen died of illness in Beijing at the age of 82.