In order to combat the People's Liberation Army in central and eastern China, Chiang Kai-shek established the "General Headquarters for Suppression of Bandits" in Xuzhou in June 1948. There were 6 corps under the jurisdiction of Xuzhou's "Suppression General", namely Qiu Qingquan's Second Corps, Li Yannian's Sixth Corps, Huang Baitao's Seventh Corps, Liu Ruming's Eighth Corps, Li Mi's 13th Corps, and Sun Yuanliang's 16th Corps, with a total strength of more than 550,000 troops. Later, Chiang Kai-shek appointed Liu Zhi as the commander of Xuzhou's "Suppression General" and Du Yuming as his deputy commander.
Liu Zhi
In terms of ability, Du Yuming was far above Liu Zhi, and there were many generals within the Kuomintang who were more suitable than him for the position of commander of the "suppression of the general".
During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, Liu Zhi served as deputy commander of the First Theater and commander of the Second Army, and it can be said that Chiang Kai-shek attached great importance to him. However, Liu Zhi was not angry, and when he fought against the Japanese army, his troops were beaten to pieces, and he actually took the lead in absconding as a commander, and was later ridiculed by people as a "long-legged general".
Later, Liu Zhi served as the director of the Zhengzhou Appeasement Office and mobilized 300,000 troops to besiege the Central Plains Liberation Army, but did not want his subordinate Zhao Xitian and the entire Third Division to be completely annihilated by Liu Deng's army across the Yangtze River. When Chiang Kai-shek found out, he directly seized his military power, and At that time, Liu Zhi had two foreign appearances, and Chiang Kai-shek could be described as extremely disappointed in him.
Siege of Zhao Xitian's Third Division
When the results of Liu Zhi's appointment were announced, many people ridiculed: "Xuzhou is the gate of Nanjing, and a tiger should be sent to guard it; if a tiger is not sent, a dog should be sent to guard the door; now a pig should be sent to see that the gate cannot be guarded." ”
But why did such an incompetent "Pig General" instead become the commander of Xuzhou's "Suppression General", far above Du Yuming, Bai Chongxi, and so on?
Liu Zhi has terrifying qualifications
Born in 1892, Liu Zhi was admitted to the Hunan Army Primary School in 1907 at the age of 15, promoted to Wuchang Army Middle School in 1911, and joined the Wuchang Student Army in the same year.
In 1921, Liu Zhi joined the Kuomintang and served as a major aide-de-camp at the General Headquarters of the Guangdong Army, when he was 29 years old. Later, he participated in the Northern Expedition, the "April 12" counter-revolutionary coup, the Jiang-Gui War, the Central Plains War, and the War of Resistance Against Japan.
Du Yuming was still too young compared to this, he only entered the Whampoa Military Academy in 1924 to study, in 1926 Liu Zhi became the division commander and chief of staff, and when he had Jiang Dingwen and Chen Zhiyi under his command, Du Yuming was the lieutenant colonel company commander of a student corps.
Du Yuming
Therefore, among the people available to Chiang Kai-shek at that time, Liu Zhi was undoubtedly the most qualified, which also gave him the chip to become the commander of Xuzhou's "suppression".
Liu Zhi was absolutely loyal to Jiang
Leadership is not entirely capable of using a person, and sometimes loyalty is the most decisive factor, especially in military appointments.
Although Liu Zhi was called "General with Long Legs" and "General Pig", the people had absolute loyalty to Chiang Kai-shek, and in the eyes of politicians, as long as you are loyal, even a pig can take on a big responsibility, and it is not a big deal to send some think tanks around to escort him, such as Du Yuming, who is the deputy commander of Xuzhou's "Suppression General".
Chiang Kai-shek and Liu Zhi
So how loyal was Liu Zhi to Chiang Kai-shek?
In the "Zhongshan Ship Incident" in 1926, Liu Zhi closely followed Chiang Kai-shek's steps, and when Chiang Kai-shek stood on the stage and gave a lecture to the garrison, Liu Zhi immediately announced the arrest list of Communists and took the lead in participating in the arrest. In the 1942 "April 12" counter-revolutionary coup, Liu Zhi rushed to the forefront and wantonly slaughtered our Party personnel, and from then on he was regarded by Chiang Kai-shek as a confidant and became a member of the "Eight Great Kongs".
"April 12" counter-revolutionary coup
When Liu Zhi learned that he had been appointed commander of the "Suppression General", he immediately wept bitterly at Chiang Kai-shek and swore: "If you want me to be an official, you cannot obey orders; It is incumbent upon me to do my best."
Imagine that there are such loyal subordinates, which leader would not be moved, at least Chiang Kai-shek was touched by him, compared with Bai Chongxi, who repeatedly opposed himself, Liu Zhi was simply the best candidate. Although he lost Kaifeng less than ten days after taking office, Chiang Kai-shek still trusted him, how could a city be compared to his men who followed him with a dead heart?
Bai Chongxi
It was precisely by virtue of his seniority and loyalty that Liu Zhi leapt above Du Yuming, Bai Chongxi, and others, and sat on the top seat of Xuzhou's "Suppression General". However, in just 55 days, the People's Liberation Army's Huaye and Nakano troops annihilated his 550,000 troops and captured them.