When it comes to the founding general Hong Xuezhi, almost everyone knows that he is a native of Jinzhai, Anhui, born in 1913. Hong Xuezhi's father was an honest and responsible farmer who made a living as a sharecropper for the landlord's family, and after a year of hard work, he could only barely maintain food and clothing. Although life was very difficult, his father gritted his teeth and sent Hong Xuezhi to the school. After graduating from elementary school, the family was really unable to provide for him, and Hong Xuezhi was forced to drop out of school, first herding cattle for the landlord's family, and later as an apprentice for others.
In 1929, at the age of 16, Hong Xuezhi joined the Red Army and followed the troops in countless fierce battles with the enemy in the Eyu-Anhui and Sichuan-Shaanxi Su districts. Because of his many meritorious achievements in the battle, Hong Xuezhi made rapid progress, and at the age of 22, he became the director of the political department of the Fourth Army. After the Red First and Red Fourth Fronts met the division, Zhang Guotao vigorously advocated the south. At the beginning of the south, the red four consecutive battles were victorious, and Zhang Guotao was satisfied with this, believing that Liu Xiang was vulnerable and put forward the slogan of "fighting to Chengdu and eating rice".
In order to protect himself, Liu Xiang dispatched all the main forces of the Sichuan army to fight a decisive battle at Baizhangguan and Hongsi. Due to the disparity in troop strength, Hongsi eventually lost at Baizhang pass and was forced to move to the area around Chuankang. At the end of April 1936, Red Fourth came to the Furnace Area to rest. In order to boost morale, the Headquarters of the Front decided to hold a singing competition. In this game, Zhang Wen, a female soldier from the 4th Army Supply Department, was the most brilliant and won the championship in one fell swoop.
Zhang Wenqingxiu's appearance and beautiful singing voice left a deep impression on Hong Xuezhi who was present, and he immediately found his crush. In the afternoon of the same day, Hong Xuezhi found xie political commissar of the ministry of supply and asked him to come forward to protect himself. Commissar Xie was an enthusiastic man with a very good relationship with Hong Xuezhi, and he immediately accepted it with his mouth full. After dinner, Commissar Xie sent someone to call Zhang Wen to his room and said straight to the point: "I am a rough person, I like to go straight to things, Director Hong has taken a fancy to you, wants to marry you as a wife, do you agree or disagree?" ”
Zhang Wen is a native of Tongjiang, Sichuan, because his family was poor, he suffered a lot when he was a child, and at the age of 9, he went to bring children to the landlord's family. The landlord's wife was very vicious, and when she was slightly unsatisfactory, she took Zhang Wen out of anger, so she was beaten and scolded. At the end of 1932, Hongsi came to northern Sichuan and founded the Sichuan-Shaanxi Su District, where they divided up the land with local tycoons, and the lives of the poor people were improved. Seeing the landlord bullies who used to be mighty and blessed, one by one, Zhang Wen had an indescribable happiness in his heart.
Three months later, Zhang Wen joined the Red Army with his second brother Zhang Xihan and was assigned to work in the clothing factory of the supply department of the 4th Army. Zhang Wen's mind is skillful, his hands and feet are sharp, and after completing his quota every day, he takes the initiative to help those comrades who are slow. In the big family of the Red Army, Zhang Wen was in a happy mood and very comfortable. After work and on the march, she always loved to sing the folk songs of her hometown to her comrades-in-arms, and every time she won warm applause, and her comrades affectionately called her "Little Lark".
After practicing for a long time, coupled with a good voice, Zhang Wen stood out in this singing competition. She did not expect that Hong Xuezhi, director of the military political department, would take a fancy to herself because of this, and after listening to the words of Political Commissar Xie, 17-year-old Zhang Wen blushed shyly. After hesitating for a while, she said: "Commissar Xie, I can't make up my mind about such a big matter myself, I want to discuss with the second brother, and then give you a reply, do you think it's okay?" Commissar Xie nodded in agreement.
After Zhang Wen met his second brother, he told the story of the incident and said that he did not agree with this family affair, because Hong Xuezhi was not only 6 years older than himself, but also a numb face (Hong Xuezhi had smallpox when he was a child). Zhang Xihan was well-informed, and after listening to his sister's words, he enlightened her: "Director Hong is only 23 years old, not too big, what is wrong with the hemp on his face?" Remember, a good face can't be eaten as a meal, and where is the perfect person? Director Hong has good character and ability, which is his greatest advantage, and I see this family affair! Zhang Wen thought about it carefully, and his brother said that every sentence was reasonable, so he nodded his head and agreed. Soon after, Hong Xuezhi and Zhang Wen held a simple wedding. After marriage, the two spent 70 years together, and their love has become a good story among the founding generals.