preface
On October 28, 1952, Mao Zedong ended his inspection tour in Jinan, accompanied by Xu Shiyou and others, and took a special train to Xuzhou.
Pictured: Mao Zedong gets off the train
This special train is speeding in the southwest of Lunan, and the car is full of laughter and laughter.
Mao Zedong told stories to his beloved on the special train
On the train, Mao Zedong drew a match, lit a cigarette and took a deep breath, saying: "Our next stop is Xuzhou, which has been a place where soldiers and families have fought since ancient times." ”
Xu Shiyou himself, who was particularly interested in strategic locations and military stories, hurriedly proposed to Mao Zedong: "The chairman is rich in historical knowledge, please tell me about the military stories here." ”
Mao Zedong and Xu Shiyou speak
Mao Zedong said: "Our friends are worthy of being born in the military and are very interested in the military!" Well, I'll just talk about it and meet your requirements. ”
Then Mao Zedong said: "In history, there is a dispute between Xiang Yu in the late Qin and early Han Dynasties and Liu Bang's Chu-Han, and the famous Huaihai Campaign took place here recently. ”
"Hey, I was sick at the time, but unfortunately I couldn't participate in such a big Huaihai campaign." Xu Shiyou said regretfully.
Mao Zedong smiled and said, "There are many famous battles in the world, and you have not been able to participate in them, but it is a great pity!" ”
Xu Shiyou shook his head and said, "The Battle of Huaihai was fought fiercely, and I couldn't lie down when I was recuperating in Jiaodong. ”
Picture Xu Shiyou in the Tiananmen Tower
Seeing that Xu Shiyou began to blame himself, Mao Zedong began to comfort himself with this tiger general: "Comrade Shiyou, recuperating from illness is also the need of the revolution!" After recovering from the disease, you can fight on the battlefield again! ”
Mao Zedong looked at Xu Shiyou and saw that he no longer blamed himself, so he took a sip of water, moistened his throat and continued: "In the last years of the Qin Dynasty, because the common people could no longer bear the tyranny of the Qin Dynasty, Chen Sheng and Wu Guang set off the first peasant uprising in Chinese history. ”
"With the outbreak of a nationwide peasant uprising, the old people of the original Six Kingdoms were not willing to be lonely, and rose up against Qin, and Liu Bang at that time was still a Surabaya pavilion chief, equivalent to a township chief now, when he was 48 years old."
"And that Xiang Yu, who aimed at 'ten thousand enemies', was only 28 years old at the time, and he was still a 'Communist Youth League'!"
Picture 丨 Mao Zedong
"Chen Sheng and Wu Guang's attack went smoothly at first, but when they reached a place not far from Xianyang, they were defeated by the Qin Dynasty general Zhang Handan and his troops, and Chen Sheng retreated to the area of today's Mengcheng in Anhui Province, where he was killed by The Coachman Zhuang Jia, and Chen Sheng's and Wu Guang's rebel army ended in failure."
"What happened to Xiang Yu and Liu Bang?" Xu Shiyou had heard of Liu Bang and Xiang Yu in the play, and asked impatiently.
Mao Zedong smoked a cigarette and continued to tell stories for Aijiang: "At this time, the anti-Qin forces were mainly Xiang and Liu, but Xiang Liang was defeated and killed by Zhang Handan in Dingtao because of pride, and Liu Bang and Xiang Yu took the Chu Huai King they had established from Xuyi and retreated to Xuzhou. ”
At this point, Mao Zedong also stepped on the floor of the train with his foot, indicating that they were in the land under their feet.
Picture 丨 Xu Shiyou
After that, he continued: "Zhang Handan thought that by killing Xiang Liang, the Chu army would no longer pose a threat, so he attacked the Zhao state with his division. ”
"As a result, it is conceivable that Zhang Handan is also a famous general of a generation, under the powerful military front, Zhao Guo is in danger, and the King of ChuHuai sent Xiang Yu to rescue Zhao, and then let Liu Bang enter Guanzhong, and then directly take Xianyang."
"But before that, King Huai of Chu said to the generals, 'The first to enter the pass is the king', which means that whoever occupies Guanzhong first will be crowned king.
Liu Bang led his army from Yan Commandery and quickly captured Changyi, Gaoyang, Pingyang and other places, and successfully entered the pass, the Qin prince Infant Kaesong surrendered, and the Qin Dynasty, which had just completed 14 years of unification, was destroyed. ”
"After Liu Bang entered the city, he set up the 'Three Chapters of the Covenant Law', so he was very popular with the Qin people, and Liu Bang also sent troops to guard Hangu Pass."
Picture 丨 Mao Zedong in Yan'an
"What about that necklace?" Xu Shiyou asked urgently.
Mao Zedong glanced at Xu Shiyou and continued: "Xiang Yu led a large army to fight a battle, wiped out the last large army of the Qin Dynasty, and then led his troops to march west, Liu Bang had already pacified Guanzhong, he Xiang Yu heard this anger, and personally led 400,000 troops to destroy Liu Bang. ”
"Liu Bang only had 100,000 horses at that time, and he did not dare to compete with Xiang Yu, so he had to seek perfection at the 'Hongmen Banquet' to avoid a bloody battle with Xiang Yu."
"After being assigned to Guanzhong by Xiang Yu, Liu Bang began to 'secretly cross Chen Cang', and then he used Guanzhong as a base to compete with Xiang Yu for the world, so he began a four-year-long Chu-Han rivalry, and finally Liu Bang defeated Xiang Yu."
Mao Zedong turned his words around and said, "Liu Bang's 100,000 horses can defeat Xiang Yu's 400,000 horses, and our 600,000 men in the Battle of Huaihai can also defeat Chiang Kai-shek's 800,000 horses." ”
Pictured xu Shiyou inspecting the troops
"Our general intention in fighting the Huaihai Campaign was to eliminate the Liu Zhi clique in Xuzhou on the spot, but our army did not have the strength to swallow this behemoth in one bite, so we concentrated yiye and sanye, plus the local troops were only 600,000 people, while the Kuomintang army had 800,000 troops.
In fact, the Huaihai Campaign of that year was carried out in three stages, and in the first stage, the People's Liberation Army first ate the Huang Baitao Corps in the north with its absolute superiority in strength, smashed Chiang Kai-shek's attempt to advance north and south, and opened up the Jinpu Road.
The second stage: the annihilation of the Huang Wei Corps; it is the key to carrying forward the past and the future of the whole campaign, and it must be fought well.
Xu Shiyou is with Mao Zedong
Although the People's Liberation Army eliminated Huang Baitao in the first stage, it could not swallow the Du Yuming clique in one bite, so it had to eat one bite at a time and eliminate them one by one.
Liu Bocheng had an image metaphor at that time: "This is like a person with a good appetite going to a banquet, eating one (Huang Wei), sandwiching one (Qiu Qingquan, Li Mi, Sun Yuanliang), and looking at one (Li Yannian, Liu Ruming). ”
Finally, the superior forces were concentrated and annihilated the enemy forces one by one in several stages of operation.
After the annihilation of the Huang Wei Corps, the Huaihai battlefield completely changed the situation on the battlefield, and the People's Liberation Army also surpassed the enemy in terms of total strength.
In the third stage, it began to encircle and not annihilate Du Yuming's clique, launched a political offensive against the enemy, and the People's Liberation Army also carried out "embattled" like Liu Bang did with Xiang Yu.
On December 17, 1948, Mao Zedong wrote a radio transcript of "Urging Du Yuming and Others to Surrender" in the name of the two major field army headquarters in the Central Plains and East China.
Mao Zedong and Xu Shiyou said: "This letter of urging was broadcast uninterruptedly on the position every day, and sure enough, the enemy was in a situation of lack of food and ammunition, cold and hungry, and this broadcast shook the enemy's military heart, and officers and men in squads, platoons, and companies, despite the tight blockade, escaped the line of fire and surrendered to us." ”
"In 20 days, as many as 14,000 people surrendered one after another, almost equal to the strength of two divisions, and Du Yuming's group was disintegrating day by day." Chairman Mao Zedong triumphantly "showed off" with General Xu Shiyou: "Our army's rice and white steamed buns have also become weapons to strike at the enemy!" In the end, we completely annihilated the Du Yuming Group. ”
Pictured with Mao Zedong's smile
"Chairman, the Battle of Huaihai is the only one of the three major battles in which the total strength of the total strength is won more, it is 600,000 vs. 800,000, and I heard that Stalin praised it as a miracle!" Xu Shiyou said seriously.
Mao nodded at him and agreed with Stalin.
Building a new China requires culture and knowledge
After thinking about it, Mao Zedong said deeply and seriously: "War is like this, it is a bloody politics, either you die or I live!" We spent 66 days here, defeating 800,000 Kuomintang troops and annihilating 550,000 enemy troops with 600,000 people, which not only shook the Kuomintang army and the Nanjing government, but also shocked the whole world! ”
After stopping, Mao Zedong smoked a cigarette, and his emotions also became excited, and he gestured and said: "Xiang Yu takes the gap as the boundary and divides the world in the middle, but we do not rule by drawing the river, and carry the revolution through to the end!" ”
Pictured by Mao Zedong and Xu Shiyou
Then, Mao Zedong continued: "Liu Bang's victory over Xiang Yu was not smooth sailing, there were also repetitions; the key is that Xiang Yu took the gap as the boundary and divided the world in the middle, and could not carry the revolution to the end. ”
"When Liu Bang began to take Advantage of Xiang Yu to fight Zhao, he quickly moved east, and hundreds of thousands of troops quickly occupied Pengcheng."
"Although Xiang Yu finally recaptured his capital, he himself was in a situation of being beaten everywhere, and in the case of running for his life, he proposed to divide the world with a chasm as the boundary, the middle dividing the world, the west being Liu And the east being Xiang, and thereafter Liu Bang and Xiang Yu had a long-term confrontation."
Mao Zedong took a sip of water: "Liu Bang is a very ghostly man, after negotiations he ostensibly agreed to both sides to disperse the army, and as a result, xiang Yu suddenly launched an attack when he retreated; according to folklore, at Tuanshan Mountain, the peak of the Jiuli Mountains in Yuzhou, Han Xin had commanded an army to engage in a fierce battle with Xiang Yu, and Xiang Yu retreated to the bottom of the hill and was surrounded by the Han legion. ”
Pictured by General Xu Shiyou
Mao Zedong seems to have returned to two thousand years ago: "Liu Bang and Zhang Liang adopted the scheme of 'ambush on ten sides' and 'embattled', disintegrating the Chu army from military strength and psychology, and Xiang Yu sang despair and generosity and sorrow."
Li Ba Shan is full of qi and the world, and the unfavorable times will not pass away.
If you don't die, what can you do, what about Yu Xi Yu Xi Nai?
Xiang Yu attacked that night, and there were only 800 soldiers and pawns in his entourage, and when he got lost in Yinling, he returned to Dongcheng, and only 28" horses were left with his entourage of cavalry.
"When I came to Wujiang, Xiang Yu sighed: I took eight thousand disciples and soldiers from Jiangdong to oppose the violent Qin, and now I am the only one left, even if Jiangdong's father can tolerate me, I don't have the face to see them."
"After drawing his sword and killing himself, the war ended with Liu Shengxiang's defeat."
Mao Zedong continued: "By the way, the play of 'Overlord Farewell' is the story of Xiang Yulin before he committed suicide!" ”
Picture Xu Shiyou and Nie Fengzhi
"Xiang Yu's defeat was really miserable!" Xu Shiyou sighed and said.
Mao Zedong said meaningfully: "After the victory in the Battle of Huaihai, the main forces and elite divisions of the Kuomintang army on the southern front have been wiped out. ”
"At this time, Chiang Kai-shek retreated behind the scenes, and Li Zongren came to the foreground and proposed to engage in something like 'crossing the river to rule'.
Xu Shiyou said: "The chairman already had a number in mind, and we will definitely carry the revolution through to the end!" ”
"Yes, history is always strikingly similar, also in the land of Xuzhou, Liu Bang defeated Xiang Yu, we defeated Chiang Kai-shek, so we must accept the lessons of history, never be the overlord of Chu, take the gap as the boundary, divide the world in the middle, and form a pattern of 'southern and northern dynasties'."
Pictured: Chairman Mao Zedong
"We must 'we should chase the poor and the poor with courage, and not sell ourselves as the overlords of fame and learning,' carry the revolution through to the end, and not give the reactionary forces a chance to breathe."
At this time, Mao Zedong suddenly sighed and became very heavy and serious: "The revolution has finally succeeded, but it has not been easy to come by, take the Huaihai Campaign, for example, this is a victory that the people have pushed out with a small cart!" ”
Mao Zedong looked at his beloved general and said in a serious tone: "Comrade Xu Shiyou, you have fought many battles, but you really read very few books, and you must read more books in the future. ”
Hearing the chairman's words, Xu Shiyou nodded his head heavily and said: "Please rest assured chairman, in order to establish a country and a safe state, I Xu Shiyou will be Chairman Mao's 'sword'!" ”
Picture 丨 Mao Zedong looking into the distance
When Mao Zedong heard Xu Shiyou's words, he was slightly stunned, and then burst out laughing: "You Xu Shiyou are not my Mao Zedong's 'sword', but to be the 'sword' of the motherland and the people!" ”
Xu Shiyou stood up and stood up: "Yes! I want to be the 'sword' of the motherland and the people! ”
Xu Shiyou reads the Book of Han
Twenty-one years later, at a meeting of the Politburo on December 12, 1973, Mao Zedong proposed that the commanders of the military regions should be reconciled with each other, and also proposed that Deng Xiaoping participate in the leadership of the Central Military Commission.
After the central government has completed its decision-making, it requires that the commanders of eight of the eleven major military regions in the country be transferred, and that after receiving the news, they must take up their posts on the same day.
In late December, the Central Military Commission notified the responsible persons of the major military regions to come to Beijing for a meeting, and on the afternoon of December 20, Chairman Mao Zedong received forty-six senior generals from the Central Military Commission meeting at Chun Lotus Zhai in Zhongnanhai.
Pictured: Mao Zedong at the Tiananmen Tower
Chun Lotus Zhai in Zhongnanhai is an ancient palace-like building covered with glazed tiles, with roof cornices, dragon climbing beasts lying down, and golden splendor.
The promenade on both sides is a carved wall with four large wooden doors with silver gilded glaze, and eight round and smooth jade pillars stand proudly there.
Across the vestibule is the spacious main hall, where carpets, chandeliers, sofas, and large coffee tables have been decorated as a modern conference room.
I saw dozens of senior generals in green uniforms sitting solemnly, waiting intently for the two hidden wooden doors in the center, waiting for Chairman Mao Zedong's arrival.
Picture Xu Shiyou and son Xu Guang
After a while, the two wooden doors were pushed open, and the burly Mao Ze walked out with the support of the staff, followed by Zhou Enlai and Ye Jianying, followed by the chairman.
I saw dozens of senior generals of the republic standing up in unison, watching the arrival of Mao Zedong.
Mao Zedong looked at Commander-in-Chief Zhu De, the head of the Ten Marshals, and held out his hands, and the hands of the two were tightly clasped together.
Mao Zedong said, "Mr. Zhu, are you okay, you are the Red Commander, your Commander-in-Chief!"
Pictured: Mao Zedong and Zhu De working together
As soon as Chairman Mao's words were uttered, they washed away the serious atmosphere in the hall.
After that, Mao Zedong lit a cigarette and continued: "I have invited you to a meeting of the Central Military Commission, that is, to discuss military issues, and the commanders of the major military regions throughout the country have been transferred to each other. ”
Xu Shiyou "snapped" up and replied in his unique voice: "I resolutely obey the orders of the chairman!" ”
Mao Zedong looked at Xu Shiyou, waved his hand to signal him to sit down, and said: "I have invited a military division to the Central Military Commission, named Deng Xiaoping, and I have also invited a chief of the general staff for everyone." ”
Picture Xu Shiyou and Deng Xiaoping
"Some people are afraid of him, but they are more decisive, and he is your old boss." Speaking of this, Mao Zedong turned back to Deng Xiaoping and said:
"Comrade Xiaoping, everyone is a little afraid of you, I will send you two sentences: soft with rigidity, cotton hidden needles." A little nicer on the outside, steel companies on the inside. ”
In his speech, Mao Zedong quoted a sentence from the Book of Jin and Liu Yuanhai: "I often hate to follow Lu Wuwu and to irrigate without writing." ”
Speaking of this, Mao Zedong turned his head to look at Xu Shiyou, who was sitting in the last row, beckoned him to come to the front.
Chairman Mao and Deng Xiaoping talk
Then he said: "There was a Zhou Bo in the Han Dynasty, a native of Pei County, Jiangsu Province, and Liu Bang was a fellow countryman, who could fight wars and have military achievements, but he didn't like to learn culture, Comrade Xu Shiyou, you are also a Zhou Bo!" They are all heavy martial arts and light texts, and there is a special "Zhou Bo Biography" in the "Book of Han", you can also look at it! ”
When Xu Shiyou heard Chairman Mao's question, he replied crisply and bluntly: "Report Chairman, I have been studying since the last time you asked me to study culture!" ”
Mao Zedong said, "Okay! "Hanshu Zhou Bo Biography" You all look at it! ”
Chairman Mao said in a serious tone: "You are military generals and you also love to fight, but you must also talk about some literature, and you must combine civil and military affairs!" ”
Mao Zedong was talking about ancient and modern times, but most of the generals present, including Xu Shiyou, could not understand it.
Figure丨 Deng Xiaoping
However, the generals were infected by Chairman Mao's majestic demeanor and his humorous smile...
At the meeting, Mao Zedong also handed over to Xu Shiyou the Chinese-English combination of Copernicus's "Celestial Movement" and Bruno's "On Infinity, the Universe and the Worlds" for him to forward to the Nanjing Purple Mountain Observatory.
Finally, he instructed Xu Shiyou: "You should also read more books on natural sciences in this category." ”
Chairman Mao suddenly remembered something, looked at Xu Shiyou and said mysteriously: "I let you watch "Dream of the Red Chamber" before, did you read it?" ”
Xu Shiyou immediately replied: "Please rest assured Chairman, I have seen it!" ”
Chairman Mao solemnly said: "You must read this book more than five times to have a feeling, remember, you must read it more than five times!" ”
Since then, Xu Shiyou's bedside has always had a copy of "Dream of the Red Chamber", but until Xu Shiyou's death, the first volume of "Dream of the Red Chamber" at the head of his bed is only relatively old, but the back is the same as the new...
After Xu Shiyou's death, he left two books, one is "Dream of the Red Chamber" and the other is "Hanshu Zhou Bo Biography".
With Mao Zedong's instructions, Xu Shiyou wanted to read them seriously, but in the face of a series of strange advisers, he could never understand them.
After consulting others and translating the full text of the "Biography of Zhou Bo" into the vernacular, Xu Shiyou understood what was actually said in this book.
Tu Shu Xu Shiyou received grassroots fighters
It can be said that of the several books that Chairman Mao instructed Xu Shiyou to read, the only one he really read and understood was probably this "Hanshu Zhou Bo Biography"!