Ma Xiliang, whose original name was Ma Xing, was a talented revolutionary soldier at that time. He dropped out of high school, but he was interested in poetry and prose. In Wang Zhen's memory, Ma Xiliang was a small warrior who lifted his head to shovel open the wasteland, and was a big talent who signed a contract with Xinhua Daily and Liberation Daily in July. Although Wang Zhen only attended primary school and private school for a few years because of his childhood poverty, he was ridiculed as a "clown".
But he loved to read, knew the importance of knowledge, and preferred to make friends with intellectuals. Zhou Suyuan, Hua, and Yu Mingyu were all close friends of his, and he devoted his life to solving the problem of the low living conditions of intellectuals.
Therefore, when the former "pen pole" of the 359 brigade wrote a letter, Wang Zhen subconsciously believed that his personal life was in trouble. Who knows, when I opened the letter from the mountains, a line of sad handwriting came into view: "Do you remember the 1,000 cartons of life-saving grain?"
In the winter of 1945, Chiang Kai-shek tore up the armistice agreement in a fit of rage, and with his sophisticated American equipment, approached the Liberated Areas Military Region step by step. At this time, after general Wang Zhen conquered Zaoyang in Hubei Province, he led his army to continue to advance to southern Hubei. Although there were heavy casualties in the counterattack, the huge victories of Shuanggou, Tanghe, Huyang and Qi Yi were enough to boost morale.
Just when everything was fine, Wang Zhen planned to return to his hometown with the county. During a short break in Luoyang, the warriors supported each other and struggled in the snow, but the weather was not good. When he marched into Huan Tan, a bad news came: the road was blocked by heavy snow, and the 359 brigade was scattered!
Looking at the heavy snow and facing the grim situation in front of him, Wang Zhen lit a cigarette in his hand and fell into deep contemplation. Now that large and medium-sized cities were under Chiang Kai-shek's control, it was impossible for the 359th Brigade to raise a large amount of grain in a short period of time. Wang Zhen was a crack soldier marching and fighting, but changing food with his bare hands was beyond his reach. However, hunger and ice and snow do not wait for anyone, just sit back and die, either starving to death or freezing to death.
It wasn't until the cigarette butt burned his fingers that Wang Zhen reacted, suddenly threw away the cigarette butt, and wrote a rescue letter to the surrounding troops, with little hope. At the same time, Brigadier General Guo Peng, Political Commissar Wang Enmao, and several staff officers called Li Shi, commissioner of the Northern Hubei Administration, asking local comrades for full assistance in purchasing grain.
There is no fixed source of finance and the economy is tight. There was no fixed office space, a wallet, stakes and stones were their office space; there were few staff, and the administrative staff were all military. They often joined the fight quickly in times of turmoil and settled down slightly in times of calm. In such a bad situation, Li Shi saw the "sky-high price of grain" offered by the military leaders, but he did not shirk his responsibility
"We are family, you are trapped, we are responsible. Wait a day or two, there will be good news. This loyal MEMBER of the Communist Party of China, who served as director of the Department of Culture and Education of Hubei Province after the founding of New China and later director of the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, knew the situation in the region very well and formed an indissoluble relationship with the local people.
He thought to himself that it would take time and money to buy such a large amount of grain in the Kuomintang area. The sheer volume of food purchases may even expose the status and plight of the marching troops. What do we do, perhaps, "solve on the spot"? I am the Commissioner of the Huan Tan Administrative Office, and the army is here. Huan Tan is the foothold of the people's power.
Li Shi immediately assigned several people to go to the villagers to see if they could fight with them, and the soldiers who did not get enough water could not enter. However, the masses reported that in recent years, the years have not been good, the snow has closed the road, the people can barely eat enough to eat, wear and warm, and the alms are acceptable. If it can meet the food needs of the 359 Brigade, it is a drop in the bucket.
At this time, a colleague mentioned: Why don't you ask Liao Youxiang and Liao Fuchu, the richest people in Huantan, for help? When the owner of the Liao family and his son are absent, can an old woman become the master of this important event of borrowing food? At this time, Li Shi's confidence was greatly reduced, and his back full of anger could not help but make a mistake.
With trepidation, Shi Li told us his intentions, which showed that the troops were now trapped in heavy snow, hungry and cold. Unexpectedly, the 90-year-old grandmother was clear-headed and quick to react, and immediately said: "I can be the home of my son and grandson, all the belongings of the Liao family come and go, and none of the things are approved by the grandmother."
Just when Shi Li was happy, thirsty, and ready to be further persuaded, the grandmother of the Liao family, on crutches, said to Lin Biao: "I am both patriotic and reasonable in the Liao family. In the past, I fought against Japan. The Liao family was unequivocal and obliged to donate money and guns to the New Fourth Army. And Chiang Kai-shek, he is not a good thing.
The Communist Party has its own views on hitting the world. My old lady understands the policy of the Communist Party and is reasonable. Now that the Communist Party is in trouble, can the Liao family still watch by standing by? Open your mouth and give a number! After a few words, Li Shi's blood boiled and his heart surged and he said, "White rice is no more than a thousand tons." At that time, I took out a pen and asked my grandmother to "report the grain loan", wrote Li Shi's signature on the front, and stamped the customs office of "Northern Hubei Bureau".
Who knows, the "landlady" was on the order: "Open all the granaries and pull out as many cattle and sheep as possible in the village." A year has passed, slaughter more pigs, let the troops eat and drink well. Seeing that Li Shi was really typing an IOU, his brow frowned, the corners of his mouth were stretched, and his thin arm was thrown away on crutches, he grabbed the so-called IOU, tore it into pieces three times and five times, and then said: "This food is a gift from the Liao Family Patriotic Army."
No IOUs. My old lady just wants one thing. When Li Shiyi heard this, he immediately replied, "Mother-in-law, you say." Su Rong, the grandmother of the Liao family, said: "One day, the Liao family village will be liberated, don't treat the men and women of the Liao family badly." Food? The old woman had grey temples and bright eyes. Heavy snow was falling and the north wind was howling, but Liao Jiazhai opened its doors.
A pair of cattle and sheep dragged 2,000 stones of rice, the clean meat of 50 fat pigs slaughtered, and the white and sweet turnips, marching towards the garrison of the 359 Brigade. The wheels rolled, and the military and civilian love of fish and water melted the cold winter and warmed the soldiers who fought in all directions. When the Kuomintang spread in the Wuhan newspaper that "the 359th Brigade of the Communist Army was cut off from grain, and many people were hungry and cold,
Several units were completely destroyed", the soldiers of the 359th Brigade were resting, thinking of marching into Chiang Kai-shek's area. This was an important link in the 359th Brigade's final breakthrough in the Central Plains. Imprisoned, unfortunately imprisoned, Ma Xing was asked to write a letter to Wang Zhen. Many years later, Ma Xiliang became a famous writer. The former "military scholar" shined in major newspapers. The tip of his pen, tempered by blood and fire, specializes in real-life reportage.
He even published an article titled "I Raise Military Food for the 359th Brigade" in the 5th issue of Spring and Autumn in 1988. It can be seen that this is Li Shi's dictation, which should be sorted out by Ma Xiliang. One day, Ma Xiliang received a letter, opened the envelope, and saw the handsome handwriting of the visitor: "Mr. Ma Xiliang, I have read your article from the recent Spring and Autumn magazine, and I have found your address from the editorial office.
Sorry for the trouble. "Look down," Li Shi dictated, and the articles you sorted out were very true, and I was deeply moved by the valuable style of seeking truth from facts in "Spring and Autumn", which made the dying people feel a thousand emotions. Your Liao Fuchu is me, and I am a "sinner" who was released early. Because there is no way to complain, I am looking for you..." Marsilington read the whole letter, and could hardly suppress the fear and grief in his heart.
After Wang Zhen received Ma Xiliang's letter, he pondered for a long time and felt a thousand emotions. He immediately summoned the relevant departments and personnel to personally approve the liao fu's initial case that year. As instructed, the court went through the archives decades ago and began its trial. Ma Xiliang, Wang Zhen, and cadres of the 359th Brigade all testified on Liao Fuchu's behalf. In October 1991, Liao Fuchu received a judgment from the Yingcheng People's Court.
After 40 years, Yingcheng had long since been changed into a county, and Liao Fuchu had been able to sink into the snow. "Since 1988, Liao Fuchu has appealed to the court on the grounds that he was a supporter of the revolution, asking him to reiterate ... This court holds that although the defendant of the original trial, Liao Fuchu, held a false position before liberation, he was innocent during his term of office, which made a useful contribution to our party.
summary:
After liberation, no action was taken to destroy the fruits of the revolution ... In accordance with the provisions of Articles 149 and 150 of the Criminal Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China, the verdict is as follows: The complainant Liao Fuchu is acquitted. When asked about Liao Fuchu's feelings, the two white-bearded old men said with tears in their eyes: "I have always believed in the soldiers of the 359 Brigade, and I believe that the Communist Party of China will realistically give me a dream."