Geng Biao, the founding father of the People's Republic of China, who "can fight a hard battle on horseback and engage in diplomacy when he gets off", is a well-known all-round general in the People's Liberation Army who can write and fight. In 1955, although he did not participate in the awarding of the title due to his transfer to the diplomatic field, he opened up a new world in the diplomatic field, became the right-hand man of Premier Zhou and President Chen, and was known as the "General Ambassador".
Mr. and Mrs. Geng Biao
From taking off his military uniform and leaving the military in 1950 to serving as a diplomatic ambassador to many overseas countries, Geng Biao has been abroad for nearly a decade. In the diplomatic front of the past decade, Geng Biao has won high praise from Chairman Mao, Premier Zhou, and President Chen with his outstanding diplomatic skills.
However, in 1958, Geng Biao, then a Chinese stationed in Pakistan, made a request for a telegram sent back to China, which caused Mr. Chen to be furious. After Reading it, Mr. Chen immediately gave instructions: I do not agree. So, what telegram did Geng Biao send at that time? What are the requirements? What exactly is said in the telegram? To sort out the reasons behind this period, we must start with Geng Biao's diplomatic career.
< h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="52" > central point general and started a diplomatic career</h1>
Just after New Year's Day in 1950, Geng Biao, then deputy commander and chief of staff of the Nineteenth Corps, immersed himself in the intense military work.
One day, Geng Biao was reading the report in the office, when suddenly the correspondent rushed to the scene, and he saluted and said loudly: "Report, Deputy Commander Geng!" Commissar Li and Commander Yang asked you to go over immediately. ”
Hearing the correspondent's hurried tone, Geng Biao thought in his heart that something big had happened to the corps, so he immediately got up and went. As soon as they arrived at the office, Yang Dezhi and Li Zhimin were already waiting there.
As soon as they met, the two old partners smiled and seemed to have something important to discuss, and suddenly Li Zhimin, a political commissar with a quick heart, spoke first: "Old Geng, tell you a good news, the central authorities have ordered you to be transferred to Beijing to do diplomatic work!"
Geng Biao
Everyone knows that geng biao has always been a general who fought with guns since he joined the revolution, from the successive anti-encirclement and suppression struggles during the Red Army period, to the bloody battles on the Xiang River, the four crossings of Chishui, the conquest of Zunyi, the rush to cross the Dadu River during the Long March, and then to the bloody war of the War of Resistance Against Japan, until the period of the Liberation War, he formed the "Iron Triangle" with Yang Dezhi and Luo Ruiqing to lead the famous "Yang Luogeng Corps", Geng Biao participated in the whole process, which can be said to be a full field.
Now, just one year after the founding of New China, the superior issued such a paper transfer order, which made Geng Biao, who loved the military camp deeply, not mentally prepared at all, and at this time he immediately said doubtfully: "What? Transferred me to diplomacy? "
Yang Dezhi
Seeing Geng Biao's surprised expression, Yang Dezhi guessed at a glance that Geng Biao did not want to leave the military camp and his comrades-in-arms. As a veteran who has been rooted in the military for decades, Yang Dezhi is well aware that this order makes Geng Biao very embarrassed, but standing at the height of the overall situation, Yang Dezhi still carefully enlightened and said something like this:
Old Geng, you can often go back to the army and go to your mother's house in the future!
Of course, the barrel of the gun is important, but diplomacy is also very important!
The central pick you, is the right pick! With your fingers on hand, we are the only ones here who are best suited for diplomacy. ”
Yang Dezhi's words, Xiao Zhi's emotional reasoning, especially the opening sentence "go to the mother's house", made Geng Biao very moved, seeing that the old comrade-in-arms had spoken to this extent, Geng Biao, who had a strong party spirit, resolutely expressed his obedience to the organizational work transfer, and then soon went to Beijing to wait for further arrangements.
Shortly after Geng Biao arrived in Beijing, Premier Zhou, who was in a good position to do everything, took time to visit Geng Biao's residence to pay respects, and during the conversation, Premier Zhou gave Geng Biao careful guidance like a teacher. ”
Premier Zhou
The Prime Minister's words were full of care, like a warm current warming Geng Biao's heart. Shortly thereafter, Geng Biao was officially appointed ambassador to Sweden after diplomatic training and related training. Before taking up his post, the premier personally summoned Geng Biao and said meaningfully: "You are china's first ambassador to Western countries." ”
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="53" > lived up to his mission and became a general ambassador</h1>
In September 1950, Geng Biao went to Sweden as a diplomatic ambassador with the great trust of the motherland, and due to his outstanding ability, he soon concurrently served as China's diplomatic ambassador to Denmark and Finland, and one person was also an ambassador to three countries, which fully demonstrated the high-level affirmation and trust in Geng Biao's ability.
During his tenure as ambassador in Europe, Geng Biao used every possible opportunity to make friends and publicize the foreign policy of New China, and made great achievements, working for a full six years.
In 1956, due to changes in the international situation and the adjustment of foreign policy, Geng Biao was transferred to pakistan according to the requirements of his superiors.
As we all know, Pakistan is a friendly neighbor of our country and is known as the "Pakistan Railway", and the relations between the two countries have always attracted the attention of the chairman.
Once, Chairman Mao personally summoned Geng Biao to discuss important matters, and when talking about the imperialist economic blockade of our country, Chairman Mao said meaningfully:
Pakistan is located between my country and West Asia, Europe, Africa, and as such, it is our gateway from the west to the world. Opening this door will undoubtedly help to thwart the imperialist blockade of our economy. At present, we can't just rely on the south gate (in this case, Hong Kong), we should open the door to the west. ”
It has to be said that Chairman Mao's analysis of the world pattern is very unique and full of wisdom, and after Geng Biao heard Chairman Mao's instructions on "opening the west gate," it was like clearing the direction of work by seeing the clouds and seeing the sun.
During his stay in Pakistan, General Ambassador Geng Biao fulfilled his mission, not only actively participating in the negotiations on China-Pakistan relations and promoting the successful signing of a series of agreements, but also always bearing in mind the chairman's instructions to "open the west gate" and foresight to promote the construction of the China-Pakistan transportation corridor.
Under Geng Biao's line of threading, China and Pakistan have opened air routes, and at the same time, on land, the two countries have actively promoted the construction of international highways between China and Pakistan, which has provided convenient transportation for accelerating economic and trade exchanges between the two countries and opened a door for China.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="35" > a telegram, causing Mr. Chen to get angry</h1>
Fast forward to 1958, when Geng Biao had been engaged in diplomatic work overseas for nearly nine years.
In these nine years, he has been far away from the motherland and away from his old comrades-in-arms in the army, rooted in the cause of diplomacy, and devoted a lot of energy to the development of the motherland's diplomacy.
At this time, he was exactly 49 years old, already nearly half a hundred years old, and the current China-Pakistan relations were already in a stage of steady development. In this case, facing the future career, he came up with the idea of returning to China to work.
After much deliberation in October of that year, Geng Biao sent a telegram to Chen Yi, then foreign minister, with the following contents:
From the beginning of 1950, he was ordered to engage in diplomacy, first to the three Nordic countries and then to Pakistan. I have been engaged in diplomatic work for nearly 9 years, and I hope to transfer my work.
The content of Geng Biao's telegram is very simple, and the problem of transfer work reflected in it is also a common human condition, and it is in line with the principle of organizational procedures.
However, when the telegram was sent back to China, as soon as Chen Yi saw the contents of the telegram, he immediately became very angry and called back: Geng Biao, your dismissal is not right. You didn't do it when I took office? I do not agree with your request. ”
People who are familiar with the history of the party know that Elder Chen is always an optimistic and cheerful personality, always giving people an amiable impression, so why did he make such a big fuss this time? In fact, the reason is very simple, Mr. Chen is also from the army halfway to be responsible for diplomatic work, and when Geng Biao proposed "transfer work", he only had six months to succeed the premier as foreign minister, which is the time when manpower is needed, so Chen Yi is of course not happy about Geng Biao's request.
Mr. Chen
Objectively speaking, Mr. Chen's anger is also for work, and there is no other selfishness, which is also in line with Mr. Chen's personality, and Geng Biao's request to "transfer work" is also a common sentiment of people.
At this embarrassing moment, after the premier learned of this matter, he mediated from it in time and personally sent a telegram to Geng Biao to do work:
In the past 9 years, your work in diplomacy has been successful, after so many years of tempering, you are more familiar with foreign affairs, and it seems that it is appropriate to work in this post; Our diplomacy will be carried out more in the future, and it is now necessary to pay close attention to the development and changes in the world situation, and I hope that you will stay and work on the outer war line with peace of mind. ”
The prime minister's telegram was of far-reaching significance and full of exhortations, and when it came to this, Geng Biao once again showed the organizational concept and discipline of an old party member, resolutely obeying the organization's arrangements, and then he continued to stick to the Pakistan Railways for a long time.
In 1960, according to the work arrangement, Geng Biao served as deputy foreign minister under the arrangement of the premier, becoming Chen Yi's right and left hand, and the cooperation was very pleasant.
Finally, it is worth mentioning that after the reform and opening up, Geng Biao became old and strong, and re-entered the military circles as defense minister, and the general who served as the defense minister in front of him was either a marshal or a general, so he also became the only "titleless" defense minister. Here, let us pay tribute to General Geng!