Yang Dezhi was a legendary general, he was the heroic commander of the Red Army's forced crossing of the Dadu River, and he was deeply valued by Chairman Mao. By the 80s of the last century, many founding generals had withdrawn from the stage of history, but Yang Dezhi ushered in the peak of his political and military career.
He succeeded Deng Xiaoping as chief of the general staff in 1980 and deputy secretary general of the Central Military Commission in 1982, becoming one of the chief commanders of the whole army. As a founding general, Yang Dezhi is really old and strong, which is admirable.
What is even more admirable is Yang Dezhi's character, he is tireless, willing to be a ladder, and has cultivated a number of important leaders of the Central Military Commission with the spirit of bringing the old and the new. Among Yang Dezhi's subordinates, four vice chairmen of the Central Military Commission actually walked out.
The first is Liu Huaqing. Yang Dezhi was a general of the Central Red Army, while Liu Huaqing was a general of the Red 25th Army, and they did not have much intersection in their revolutionary careers. But in 1980, when Yang Dezhi was chief of the general staff, Liu Huaqing was one of the deputy chiefs of the general staff.
Liu Huaqing assisted Yang Dezhi in charge of equipment and military affairs, and became Yang Dezhi's good assistant. In 1982, Liu Huaqing left the General Staff and became commander of the Navy, and in 1989, Liu Huaqing became vice chairman of the Central Military Commission.
The second place is Zhang Zhen. During the revolutionary war years, Zhang Zhen and Yang Dezhi were in different troop sequences, and they did not have much intersection, but after the founding of the People's Republic of China, they both entered the campaign department of Nanjing Military Academy to study, and they were together for three years and consulted with each other.
(Zhang Zhen accompanied Yang Dezhi to inspect the naval unit)
In the 70s, Zhang Zhen served as deputy commander of the Wuhan Military Region, and Yang Dezhi came to the Wuhan Military Region in 1973 as a commander, and he was Zhang Zhen's immediate superior. Zhang Zhen assisted Yang Dezhi in vigorously grasping the training of troops of the military region and became Yang Dezhi's good assistant.
In 1980, Zhang Zhen also served as deputy chief of general staff, again becoming Yang Dezhi's deputy. Zhang Zhen commented on Yang Dezhi as saying that fighting bravely, commanding well, being loyal, and being able to work under his direct leadership is a good learning opportunity.
During the North China exercise, Yang Dezhi knew that Zhang Zhen had served as the chief of staff beside Su Yu in those years and was good at formulating various combat plans, so he gave the task of drawing up the exercise plan to Zhang Zhen and others. The exercise was well received by Deng Xiaoping.
In 1985, Zhang Zhen left the General Staff Headquarters and became president of the National Defense University, and in 1992, Zhang Zhen became vice chairman of the Central Military Commission.
The third place is Zhang Wannian. How did Zhang Wannian also become Yang Dezhi's subordinate? It was when he was in the Wuhan Military Region, Zhang Wannian was the commander of the Iron Army Division, and the political commissar of the Iron Army Division was the secretary of Lin Biao's office, which was implicated in the 913 incident, and Zhang Wannian was also censored.
History has proved that Zhang Wannian is no problem, but the censorship of him has lasted for a long time. Until Yang Dezhi became the commander of the Wuhan Military Region, it did not end. After Yang Dezhi fully understood the situation, he personally went to the Iron Army Division to give a speech, and said that Zhang Wannian had no problem.
The review of Zhang Wannian was now over. The burden that Zhang Wannian had carried for many years was finally removed, and he was very grateful to Yang Dezhi. Later, Zhang Wannian also served as vice chairman of the Central Military Commission.
The fourth place is Chi Haotian. During Yang Dezhi's tenure as chief of the general staff, there were several deputy chiefs of general staff, of which Chi Haotian was the youngest. According to Deng Xiaoping, it is necessary to find a "substitute for the dead ghost" and let Chi Haotian do more work, shoulder more responsibilities, and exercise more.
Chi Haotian became Yang Dezhi's most effective assistant. In 1985, Chi Haotian left the General Staff Headquarters and served as a political commissar in the Jinan Military Region. In 1987, Chi Haotian succeeded Yang Dezhi as chief of the general staff. Coincidentally, Chi Haotian, like Yang Dezhi, entered Beijing from the Jinan Military Region to serve as chief of the general staff.
At the handover ceremony, Chi Haotian gave Yang Dezhi a standard military salute. In 1995, Chi Haotian became vice chairman of the Central Military Commission.
From Liu Huaqing, to Zhang Zhen, to Zhang Wannian and Chi Haotian, they were all former subordinates of Yang Dezhi, all were good assistants to Yang Dezhi, and later served as vice chairmen of the Central Military Commission. Above the Deputy Secretary-General of the Central Military Commission is the Secretary-General, and then the Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission.
The position of vice chairman of the Central Military Commission is higher than that of the deputy secretary general of the Central Military Commission. Their final achievements have surpassed Yang Dezhi, which can be said to be better than blue. But Yang Dezhi will always be their common old chief, worthy of their eternal respect and learning.