February 8, 1946, was the third day of their wedding, chu daming, deputy brigade commander of the 12th Brigade of the 4th Column of the Jinji-Hebei Luyu Field Army, and his wife Zhou Yu. But at noon on this day, Chu Daming took a pistol and chased after Zhou Yu in the village outside the camp, Zhou Yu was scattered with short hair, whimpering and crying while running, and Chu Daming chased after him and shouted: "Shoot you, shoot you!" ”
Chu Daming
After the sentry saw it, he immediately reported to the brigade commander Zhou Xihan, who rushed all the way over, and Zhou Yu saw that the brigade commander was coming and quickly hid behind him.
Zhou Xihan scolded Chu Daming, "Old Chu, what are you doing here?" ”
Chu Daming had no choice but to put away his pistol and said in a nonchalant manner, "You don't care, we're both joking!" ”
Zhou Xihan said solemnly, "Is there such a joke?" ”
What the hell is going on? First of all, we have to start with Chu Daming as a person.
Chu Daming, whose original name was Chu Dazhi, was born in 1916 to a poor peasant family in Chujiawan Village, Hefengqiao Township, Shangcheng County, Henan Province, and began to apprentice with a village langzhong surnamed Li at the age of 11. During his medical practice, Chu Daming had the privilege of getting to know Chen Xinglang, an underground communist party member sent by Dong Biwu to work in the Dabie Mountains in the name of practicing medicine, and under his influence, he joined the Shangbei District Peasants' Association as the leader of the children's regiment, and soon joined the Red Guard Corps of the Peasants' Association.
At the beginning of 1932, Chu Daming officially joined the Red Army, and at first the leaders saw that he was very thin and had studied medicine, so they arranged for him to go to the hospital as a nurse, but it was not long before he was clamoring to go to the front. In July of that year, Xu Shiyou, the commander of the 34th Regiment of the Red 12th Division, took a fancy to Chu Daming and transferred him to his side as a guard.
Xu Shiyou
Xu Shiyou was a famous fierce general of the Red Army, often rushing to the front of the team during battles, Chu Daming was deeply influenced by him, and always followed Xu Shiyou around in battle, and every time they fought, both of them were blood-spattered suits. Chu Daming often said to his comrades-in-arms: "As soon as the commander of the Shiyou Regiment arrives at a critical juncture, he will pick up a large blade to fight the charge, can I watch the liveliness from behind as a guard?" ”
In January 1933, at the age of 17, Chu Daming gloriously joined the Communist Party of China because of his outstanding performance. After that, he successively served as squad leader, platoon leader, company commander, etc., and participated in the Long March with the Red Fourth Front.
After the outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, at the end of 1937, Chu Daming followed the 129th Division's eastward column to the ji'nan area east of the Pinghan Railway to open up anti-Japanese base areas behind enemy lines. In November 1938, after the reorganization of the troops, Chu Daming was appointed as the commander of the 2nd Battalion of the 20th Regiment of the Ji'nan Military Region.
The 2nd Battalion was a miscellaneous army composed of the Landlords' Nursing Home Andh's Association and the Kuomintang Army's routs, and the former battalion commander plotted to defect to the enemy and was just shot dead by Chen Zaidao, commander of the Ji'nan Military Region. However, after Chu Daming took office, he quickly changed the decline of the troops.
At that time, the equipment gap between the Eighth Route Army and the Japanese army was very obvious, and the same was true for the 2nd Battalion, but Chu Daming had his own unique skill, that is, fighting bayonets. After he took office, he often took the warriors to practice assassination, and he also said to the warriors: "Rabbits rely on their legs, and wolves rely on their teeth." Our people's army lacks guns and guns, and it all depends on courage and tenacity. This is the truth of fighting, whoever is fierce wins! ”
Soldiers of the Eighth Route Army practice assassination
Chu Daming also often said: "Fighting with bayonets is a heroic spirit." The soldier who did not dare to fight the bayonet could not tell him how many tactics he had. Even the bravest warriors have their legs and stomachs whirring, and the cadres must rush ahead! ”
Chu Daming did exactly this, in a battle in mid-August 1939, he rushed into the Japanese barracks with the battalion headquarters communication squad, and two Japanese soldiers rushed over with bayonets, and several soldiers who had not fought were stunned for a while. But Chu Daming shouted, "Look at me! Then he rushed up.
Chu Daming first shot and killed a ghost, the bayonet of another devil stabbed over, he turned over and hid, and then held the ghost on the ground to fight, he bit the other party's hand fiercely, the other party in a hurry to jerk his hand, actually took off Chu Daming's two front teeth! Chu Daming roared, and the tiger was furious, and he pulled out the eyeballs of the Japanese army alive. The recruits were also infected by Chu Daming's bravery and rushed up to stab the devils to death.
After this battle, Chu Daming's prestige spread throughout southern Hebei, causing the enemy to be frightened. The 2nd Battalion was also very excited and restored morale. Chen Zaidao gave special instructions and set two gold teeth for Chu Daming.
In a battle in December 1939, Chu Daming led the soldiers and the Japanese to fight the bayonet, the bayonet broke, he smashed it with the butt, and finally the rifle broke in two, and he wrestled with the enemy. During the tumbling, Chu Daming took advantage of the situation to bite off half of the Japanese soldier's ear, and the Japanese soldier was so painful that he had to let go of his hand, and he slammed his fist into the other person's head, directly killing him. In the course of the battle, Chu Daming was wounded in the leg, but he ignored it and insisted on leading his troops to eliminate all the enemies.
Because of his outstanding military achievements, Chu Daming was promoted to deputy commander of the 20th Regiment in June 1942 and was given the title of "Tiger General".
But Chu Daming is by no means a brave and unscrupulous person, he in view of the characteristics of the enemy's artillery towers in the Ji'nan Plain, in order to reduce the casualties of the attack, together with the soldiers invented the "earth tank", that is, the 5 thick cotton was soaked and tied to a large square table, this "soil tank" is very thick, the machine gun is not easy to penetrate, the grenade can only blow through a layer of skin, is a major cover weapon for attacking the enemy bunker.
Eighth Route Army's self-made "earth tank"
Chu Daming also groped out the tactic of "digging holes through the wall" in street battles, that is, avoiding the streets and alleys when attacking, walking from the houses and courtyards, chiseling walls and digging holes in the walls, and hiding and roundabout combat. This method of warfare was highly praised by Chen Geng, commander of the 386th Brigade: "This is a major invention of Chu Daming, and street warfare must be fought in this way to reduce casualties and should be promoted." ”
In October 1942, Liu Zhijian, deputy director of the Political Department of the 129th Division, was suddenly attacked by the Japanese army during a meeting in Zaoqiang County, Hebei Province, and he himself was wounded and captured. In order to rescue Liu Zhijian, Liu Bocheng and Deng Xiaoping issued a death order to the Ji'nan Military Region: "To live, you must see people, you must see corpses when you die, you must ignore all casualties, and if you can't get them back alive, even if you kill the corpses, you must also snatch them out." In short, we must snatch Liu Zhijian back! ”
Just at this time, Chu Daming was ordered to lead two companies to the rear of the military region to collect cotton clothes, which just solved the problem of insufficient rescue troops in the military region. The military region then ordered him to lead his troops to set up an ambush on the enemy's way to escort Liu Zhijian and snatch Liu Zhijian back at all costs.
Liu Zhijian
After Chu Daming accepted the task, he immediately mobilized the officers and men: "It is the glory of our regiment that such an arduous task as pulling teeth out of the tiger's mouth is entrusted to us, and no one is allowed to win, but cannot be defeated, and no one is allowed to be a breeder, and he is desperately trying to snatch Director Liu back!"
After arriving at the ambush area, Chu Daming divided the task of rescue: 4 companies were responsible for rescue, and 6 companies attacked the Japanese army to cover the 4 companies to complete the task.
Soon after, a group of enemy troops walked on the road, in front of the puppet army opened the road, in the middle were several large cars, the one on the car was Liu Zhijian in civilian clothes, followed by more than 30 Japanese troops, the enemy had a total of seventy or eighty people.
After the enemy entered the ambush circle of our army, Chu Daming gave an order, and in an instant, the guns on the left and right wings of the road were loud. The Japanese army was suddenly confused, pressed into the ditches on both sides of the road, and allowed the commander to brandish the saber "eight grids, eight grids" to scold, and no one dared to look up.
Under the cover of the fire of the 6th Company, the 4th Company quickly approached the cart where Liu Zhijian was being held. Soldier Ji Zhiming flew into the car, protected Liu Zhijian lying in the carriage, and fired left and right at the same time, 20 shots and 40 bullets were fired from the pistol in a few seconds, and all the Japanese troops were annihilated. Then several soldiers carried Liu Zhijian out of the car, and Ji Zhiming picked him up and ran to the command post, and soon ran to a safe area.
Later, Liu Zhijian became a founding lieutenant general, and when Mao Zedong awarded him the title, he once said humorously: "You are the crippled Son of Liu who robbed the law field by the good Han of Ji'nan!" ”
In July 1943, Chu Daming was promoted to the rank of commander of the 20th Regiment. Under his leadership, the 20th Regiment soon became a strong force, known as the "Chu Regiment".
Wu Xiaomin, the director of the political department of the 20th Regiment, was born in a Jinshang family and wore a pair of 700-degree myopia glasses, and when he first took office, Chu Daming stared at his glasses that were as thick as the bottom of a wine bottle, and he could not speak for half a day with his mouth open, so he asked him to take up a ghost head and take office.
At first, Wu Xiaomin felt that he was really a show to meet the soldiers, and it was not clear what was reasonable, but after the 20th Regiment stayed for a long time, he was deeply infected by Chu Daming and soon personally led a company to a devil's turret. After this battle, Chu Daming was very satisfied with Wu Xiaomin and specially accepted him as an "apprentice". Under the cultivation of Chu Daming, Wu Xiaomin later grew up to become a founding major general.
Wu Xiaomin
In the autumn of 1943, the 20th Regiment was ordered to be transferred from the Ji'nan Military Region to the Taiyue Military Region, under the 386th Brigade. In November 1944, due to his outstanding military achievements, the Taiyue Military Region awarded Chu Daming the title of "Special Combat Hero". Chen Geng, commander of the Taiyue Military Region, admired this fierce general very much, and he once praised Chu Daming and said: "The Taiyue warrior is fierce, and chu Daming is the first to be promoted. ”
On September 9, 1944, Chu Daming was unfortunately wounded by a bullet in the abdomen during the Second Qingfu Campaign and was sent to the field hospital in the rear for treatment. Here he was carefully cared for by a little girl named Zhou Yu in a nearby village, and Zhou Yu heard a lot of Chu Daming's heroic deeds and admired him very much, so one day he had the courage to confess to him: "Commander, do you want me?" I'll make you an aunt! ”
Chu Daming smiled and said, "No, I'm 9 years older than you, it's not appropriate." Besides, the army has been fighting, and cadres and fighters cannot start a family, but I can treat you as a little sister. ”
At the beginning of 1945, Chu Daming returned to the team after recovering from his injuries, and soon after he heard that Zhou Yu's mother had died of illness, he took out all his meager allowance to help Zhou Yu.
In October 1945, the 386th Brigade was reorganized into the 4th Column 10th Brigade, and Chu Daming was promoted to deputy brigade commander. In February 1946, Zhou Yu suddenly rode a donkey to the 10th Brigade, and she came to marry Chu Daming this time.
It turned out that after Chu Daming left, the women's director of the county heard about Zhou Yu and him, thinking that they were in love, so he came to inquire about the situation. Zhou Yu then reported truthfully and stated that she and Chu Daming were now brother and sister.
After listening, the director couldn't help but laugh and said: "Silly girl, he said to establish a brother-sister relationship, this is the beginning of love; when you have difficulties, he gives you money, which in fact affirms the relationship between the two." Chu Daming is the combat hero of the Eighth Route Army, the troops are fighting in the front, and we women's rescue association will take a good look at his fiancée! ”
After Zhou Yu heard these words, she couldn't help but be overjoyed, so she finally made up her mind to come to the army to find Chu Daming to marry.
At this time, Zhou Yu was 19 years old, a big girl, the brigade commander Zhou Xihan and the political commissar Liu Zhong were very satisfied with her, Zhou Xihan's lover Zhou Xuan brought someone to decorate a new house for her, and Liu Zhong immediately reported Chu Daming's "marriage application" to Chen Geng and was quickly approved. Chu Daming was thus "married".
Although Chu Daming was reluctant in his heart, the matter had reached this point, so he had to hold a wedding with Zhou Yu on February 5, 1946.
At noon on February 8, Chu Daming was lying on the bed, Zhou Yu went to bed and hugged him, describing to him her ideal married life: she was carrying water, fetching water, cooking rice, in order to create a warm and happy family, she was not afraid of pain, not afraid of tiredness...
Unexpectedly, after Chu Daming heard these words, he launched a fire, and he scolded Zhou Yu and said, "I said that some of our cadres don't want to fight after they get married, it turns out that you mother-in-law have been harmed, and today Lao Tzu must shoot you!" ”
Hence the farce at the beginning of this article. Afterwards, Zhou Yu had to admit: Chu Daming was really a strange person!
Chu Daming (bottom left)
In August 1946, in order to resist the Kuomintang army that had committed large-scale northern crimes, the 4th Column of the Taiyue Military Region launched the Battle of Tongpu. Chu Daming was injured again in the battle, a bullet pierced his arm, he just glanced at it, and scolded: "Blind dog eyes, even Lao Tzu dares to fight!" ”
The hygienist wanted to bandage Chu Daming, but he pushed him out. At this time, a bullet hit him in the chest again, and he held the tree hard and did not fall. Not long after, a shell exploded next to him, and shrapnel was inserted into his abdomen. The military doctor asked someone to carry a stretcher, but Chu Daming pulled out a pistol and said, "Whoever dares to carry me, Lao Tzu killed him!" ”
When Zhou Xihan arrived, Chu Daming had already become a bloody man, and Zhou Xi could not speak in Chinese: "Comrade Chu Daming, the brigade party committee has decided that you should go to the hospital immediately!" This is under the command of Me and Comrade Wu Xiaomin. This only lifted Chu Daming down the position.
Zhou Xihan
During this battle, Chu Daming was injured in the lungs, liver, and intestines, and the injuries were very serious, and it took more than a week to wake up. Zhou Yu, who was guarding the bedside, saw her husband wake up, clutched his hand tightly, and tears came from his eyes.
Chu Daming joked: "I reported to Lenin the day before yesterday, and he criticized me and said, 'Chiang Kai-shek has not yet been defeated. Lenin did not take me, I am back! ”
After that, under the careful care of Zhou Yu and after more than 20 days of treatment, Chu Daming gradually recovered.
Chu Daming's injury alarmed the Central Military Commission, and after he recovered from his injuries, the Central Military Commission wanted to transfer him to Yan'an, Chu Daming did not do it, and the Central Military Commission wanted to transfer him to the Taihang troops as a brigade commander, but Chen Geng was reluctant to let him go, so he called the Central Military Commission back: Chu Daming is very important in the 10th Brigade, and cannot be transferred away for the time being. That's what kept him.
Chen Geng
In November 1946, after repeated requests from Chu Daming, the attending doctor finally agreed to his return to the team, but Zhou Yu was always kept in the dark. On the night of November 18, Chu Daming and his wife slept a little earlier than usual, and he said a lot to Zhou Yu, saying that after having a child, the girl's name was Zhou Xue, the boy's name was Chu Ping, and he also said: "After I die, you can find another one..."
But before Chu Daming could finish speaking, Zhou Yu blocked his mouth, and then they fell into the long river of love. After the exhausted Zhou Yu sweetly made a slight snoring sound, Chu Daming quietly dressed, walked out of the door, and shouted to the guards: "Get on the horse!" ”
Chu Daming and Zhou Yu probably didn't expect that this time, it was a farewell!
Zhou Xihan saw that Chu Daming had not yet recovered from his injury and returned to the team, and said very painfully: "Old Chu, why did you not get well and run out?" ”
Chu Daming said, "As soon as I lay on the bed, my wound hurt, and it would be better to fight a battle." ”
On January 17, 1947, our army launched the Fenxiao Campaign. Chu Daming came to the front line again, and the 10th Brigade launched several attacks on the enemy's positions, but because the enemy's fire was too fierce, it could not rush through. Chu Daming was very anxious, and suddenly pulled off his hat and threw it away, stood up and yelled, "I can't believe it!" "After saying that, I will personally lead the charge."
Everyone hurriedly pressed Chu Daming down, and Chu Daming said angrily, "What are you doing according to me?" Hurry up and find a way to attack! ”
The troops organized another charge, but were still overwhelmed by enemy fire. Chu Daming was anxious in his heart, and he got up violently, and everyone pressed him down again: "Lie down, deputy brigade commander!" ”
But it was too late, 4 bullets hit Chu Daming's chest, blood spurted out at once, and he fell on the position with a "hmm" sound. Chu Daming died in this way, only 31 years old.
Comrades-in-arms bid farewell to Chu Daming's body
With hatred, the soldiers roared with hatred, "Avenge the deputy brigade commander", and rushed towards the enemy. After the bloody battle of our army, on January 29, the Fenxiao Campaign ended in victory, annihilating more than 12,000 enemy troops.
After the bad news of Chu Daming's sacrifice reached the command, Zhou Xihan couldn't help but cry bitterly, and he roared, who had always been gentle: "Impossible! I'm going to settle accounts with you!" ”
Chen Geng also left tears, and he was silent for a long time before he said loudly: "Chu Daming is a hero, a very good comrade, and the loss is too great!" ”
After that, Chen Geng sent a telegram to the Central Military Commission:
Comrade Chu Daming is 32 years old, a native of Henan, joined the Party in 1931, and is currently the deputy brigade commander of the 10th Brigade of our column. He struggled hard for the cause of the party and the people for 16 years and was gloriously injured more than twenty times. In every battle, he was a soldier in the first place, bravely sacrificed himself, and the spirit of heroic sacrifice was admired by the whole army; he played a great role in the improvement of the fighting style of our army and the improvement of the fighting style of the troops. Unfortunately, his glorious sacrifice in this Battle of Fenxiao was indeed a great loss for our party, and the whole army was extremely sympathetic.
After the battle, Chu Daming's body returned to Taiyue District with his troops for burial. On the 300-mile wind and snow march, 6,000 officers and men of the 10th Brigade did not want to be separated from their deputy brigade commander, and they all rushed to carry coffins for Chu Daming.
In March 1947, the 4th Column of the Jinji-Hebei Luyu Military Region once again awarded Chu Daming the glorious title of "Special Combat Hero". "Special Combat Heroes" are generally awarded to grass-roots commanders and fighters, and in the history of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, it is extremely rare for brigade and regiment cadres to be awarded this title twice.
After the founding of New China, Chen Geng still had an unforgettable memory of Chu Daming, and he once entrusted the comrades of the 4 Columns to sort out the deeds of Chu Daming, which wrote:
Chu Daming has more than 60 scars on his body, but he has never been proud of his achievements; he has been injured more than 20 times and is still a pioneer. He is a great hero who can sing and cry, and he is also a hero who has been buried. It doesn't matter if his name is buried, if his brave spirit is lost, the bones of the army will be deficient in calcium, and the chest of the country will not stand up!