<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="4" > preface</h1>
On January 8, 1976, the great people's leader Premier Zhou Enlai passed away, and the people of the whole country fell into a state of grief.
Among the many relatives and friends who were related to the people, there was an old gentleman named Zheng Dongguo, who was one of the first Kuomintang generals to participate in the War of Resistance Against Japan and a former student of Premier Zhou.
Pictured | Premier Zhou
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="109" Premier Zhou hosted Zheng Dongguo ></h1>
In the summer of 1950, when the 47-year-old Zheng Dongguo went to Shanghai for medical treatment, passing through Beijing, Premier Zhou Enlai specially hosted a banquet at his home. When he first received Premier Zhou's invitation, Zheng Dongguo was very surprised, and he never imagined that Premier Zhou, who was busy with work affairs every day and bowed down to the cause of the people, would make special time to meet him.
Many years ago at the Whampoa Military Academy, Premier Zhou Enlai and Zheng Dongguo had a friendship between teachers and students. In 1924, Zhou Enlai served as the director of the political department of the Huangpu Military Academy in Guangdong and the director of the political department of the First Army of the National Revolutionary Army, and in the same year, Zheng Dongguo passed the examination and was successfully admitted to the Huangpu Military Academy, becoming a student of the first phase of the Huangpu Military Academy.
During the lecture, Zhou Enlai was personable and spoke with a sonorous and powerful appearance, which made Zheng Dongguo, a student, very impressed.
Pictured| Jeong Dong-kook
At the time of the First Crusade Campaign, Zhou Enlai was the director of the Political Department of the Right Wing Army of the Eastern Crusade, and Zheng Dongguo also participated in the Eastern Crusade with the school army, successively serving as the party representative of the 1 regiment and the company of the 2 regiments and the party representative of the 2 regiment battalion.
Zhou Enlai was extremely talented in his work, his thinking was very meticulous and careful, he was humble and peaceful, and he was an easy person to get along with, which made Zheng Dongguo have a little respect for his teacher Zhou Enlai in his heart.
Soon after, the Second Crusade campaign broke out, Zheng Dongguo originally returned to his hometown in Hunan to visit his relatives, heard about the sudden outbreak of war, and rushed to Shantou, the seat of the Headquarters of the Eastern Crusade Army.
Hearing of this appointment, Zheng Dongguo was a little depressed and depressed, and Zhou Enlai saw the situation and inquired, only to learn that when he was in Guangzhou before, Zheng Dongguo was sent to the Whampoa Military Academy Hospital to serve as a party representative, and Zheng Dongguo only wanted to go to the front line and kill the enemy, and he did not want to be this representative, so when he heard Zhou Enlai's appointment, Zheng Dongguo was naturally reluctant in his heart.
Zhou Enlai intimately informed him that the work of the hospital also needed people, and it was also contributing to the war. Under the patient persuasion of Zhou Enlai, Zheng Dongguo was ordered to take office, and it was not until later that all the soldiers wounded in the field hospital returned to the team, Zheng Dongguo completed the task, and Zhou Enlai personally recommended him as the commander of the 1st Battalion of the 8th Regiment of the 3rd Division of the 1st Army of the National Revolutionary Army.
Pictured| Zheng Dongguo (left) studying tactics
During the Whampoa Military Academy, Zhou Enlai and Zheng Dongguo had a teacher-student friendship, but after that, the two of them chose different paths, Zhou Enlai always unswervingly struggled hard in the revolutionary cause of our party, and Zheng Dongguo became a Kuomintang general with outstanding military achievements.
What makes Zheng Dongguo sigh is that many years later, Premier Zhou, who is full of opportunities, still has him in mind as a student.
This year, when he received Zhou Enlai's invitation, Zheng Dongguo packed up his belongings and went to Premier Zhou's home, and as soon as he entered the living room, Premier Zhou quickly greeted him and warmly shook his hands: "Welcome, we have not seen each other for a long time, it is rare to have this opportunity." ”
Premier Zhou's friendship and enthusiasm made Zheng Dongguo very moved, so many years have experienced many things, at this moment his heart is full of mixed feelings, tears are almost about to burst the embankment, after a long time, Zheng Dongguo choked up a sentence: "Premier Zhou, for decades, I forgot the teachings of my teacher, on the eve of the liberation of Changchun, you also personally wrote to me, I thank you and the Communist Party for the leniency policy ..."
"I won't mention the past, but aren't you here now?" In the future, we will all do more for people. Premier Zhou waved his hand and interrupted Zheng Dongguo's speech.
Pictured | Li Qizhong (first from left) with Zhou Enlai and others
At the dinner table, Premier Zhou and Zheng Dongguo talked happily, li Qizhong, who was also a classmate of the first phase of the Whampoa Military Academy, accompanied him, and Premier Zhou, like a relative, asked Zheng Dongguo about his health and living conditions with concern. Premier Zhou also inquired about Zheng Dongguo's future plans and plans.
Referring to his plans after that, Zheng Dongguo said with some frustration that he was old, had nothing to do, and could not do important things, and only wanted to return to his hometown in Hunan to farm. Hearing Zheng Dongguo say this, Li Qizhong, who was next to him, interjected: "Well, do you dare to call yourself old in front of the teacher?" As soon as Li Qizhong said this sentence, he instantly laughed at everyone present.
Premier Zhou intimately comforted Zheng Dongguo: "Dongguo, you are not yet 50 years old, there is still a lot of time to contribute to the people..." Premier Zhou said to him that now our motherland is the time when it needs to be built, there are still many things to do, and we also need more talents, and Zheng Dongguo is also touched by Premier Zhou's sincere words.
At the dinner table, they agreed that Zheng Dongguo would first go to Shanghai to treat his illness and recuperate, and then obey the organization's arrangements, and if he wanted, he could come to Beijing at any time.
This meeting with his former teacher Zhou Enlai made Zheng Dongguo feel deeply relieved and warm.
Pictured| Premier Zhou Enlai
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="113" > the past of Changchun</h1>
When Zheng Dongguo mentioned the past, Premier Zhou Enlai stopped him. You must know that in the past, he was a Kuomintang general and was assigned the task of holding changchun firmly, while our People's Liberation Army was ordered to attack Changchun in the hope of changchun's early liberation. The past that Zheng Dongguo and Zhou Enlai mentioned in their casual conversation was the Battle of Changchun in 1948.
In January 1948, when the People's Liberation Army in Northeast China was on a rapid offensive and fought bravely, the Kuomintang's war situation in the northeast took a sharp turn for the worse, and Chiang Kai-shek quickly rushed to Shenyang to convene a meeting of all subordinates. At the meeting, Chiang Kai-shek decided to set up the headquarters of the "suppression of bandits" in the northeast, with Wei Lihuang as the commander-in-chief of the "suppression of bandits," and Zheng Dongguo and Fan Hanjie as deputy commanders-in-chief.
Picture | Kuomintang general Wei Lihuang
In February, Liaoyang, Anshan and other important cities were conquered and occupied by the Northeast People's Liberation Army, and under the unfavorable situation of the war, Wei Lihuang made a decision to ask Zheng Dongguo to go to Changchun, Yongji and other places, and direct the troops stationed in Yongji to withdraw to Changchun.
Zheng Dongguo analyzed that at present, the Kuomintang army in the northeast is only left in Shenyang, Changchun, Jinzhou and a few other cities, in order to avoid hundreds of thousands of Kuomintang troops being hit hard again, he suggested to Wei Lihuang, or he can choose to take the initiative to abandon Changchun and concentrate on several other cities.
Zheng Dongguo's opinion was not adopted by Chiang Kai-shek and Wei Lihuang, who thought that if they rushed to abandon Changchun, it might cause a bad impact, and they also hoped that by sticking to Changchun, they would be able to reduce the operational pressure on Jinzhou and Shenyang.
Under the bad situation, Zheng Dongguo wanted to leave the place on the grounds that he had a stomach attack and wanted to go to Beiping for medical treatment, but his request was not agreed by Wei Lihuang, in addition, he was also assigned to the task of holding Changchun, and Zheng Dongguo also knew very well in his heart that Changchun at this time was surrounded by the People's Liberation Army regiment, and whether he could hold it was a problem.
He did not want to go, and his friends around him advised him not to go, but he had to obey. In March, under the constant urging of Chiang Kai-shek, Wei Lihuang and other superiors, Zheng Dongguo had to go to Changchun.
Many years later, Zheng Dongguo recalled that time: "I still had a belief that I was in danger, obliged, and knew that I could not do it, and went to Changchun to start the most difficult and painful period of my life. He described his journey to Changchun with words such as "being ordained in danger" and "obliging", which shows his hesitation and hesitation.
At that time, there were still hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians in Changchun, but the Kuomintang army had difficulties in communicating with the outside world, and all kinds of materials such as grain in the city were scarce, and there was a low morale everywhere.
Zheng Dongguo hoped that with the strong defense of Changchun, he would achieve the goal of long-term adherence.
Zheng Dongguo intended to stick to Changchun, while our People's Liberation Army imposed a policy of prolonged siege on Changchun. On May 19, the People's Liberation Army captured the airfield and cut off the source of supplies for the Nationalist defenders.
In desperation, Zheng Dongguo had to send a distress signal to Chiang Kai-shek and Wei Lihuang, and according to Zheng Dongguo's recollection, he sent a telegram to him at that time and urged him to send supplies, but the more he urged, the fewer planes came to deliver supplies.
Zheng Dongguo said: "At the beginning, there were more than a dozen per day, and then it was reduced to three or four per day, and when it rained on a cloudy day, it stopped flying." Under such harsh conditions, Zheng Dongguo and his men were still clinging to the Changchun battlefield.
Figure | The Battle of Liaoshen
On September 12, 1948, the Liaoshen Campaign broke out, and Lin Biao and Luo Ronghuan led the Northeast People's Liberation Army to launch a fierce attack on the enemy army. In this situation, Zheng Dongguo concentrated the strength of two divisions in an attempt to launch a breakthrough, and under the heroic resistance of the PLA soldiers, Zheng Dongguo and his troops retreated to the city.
On October 14, the Northeast Field Army officially launched a fierce attack on Jinzhou, and the next day, the enemy was completely annihilated and Jinzhou was conquered. Important passages for the Nationalist army in the northeast were also cut off, and Zheng Dongguo and his troops were trapped in Changchun.
Chiang Kai-shek ordered several times that Zheng Dongguo in Changchun lead his troops to break through to Shenyang, but at that time the Nationalist defenders in Changchun were almost exhausted and suffering from hunger, and the soldiers had no confidence to continue fighting. Although Chiang Kai-shek's orders were in front, the generals were reluctant to act, and Chiang Kai-shek's plan to break through to Shenyang was delayed.
In mid-October, Zheng Dongguo decided to lead his troops to carry out Chiang Kai-shek's orders, but on the eve of preparing for the operation, Zeng Zesheng, then commander of the Kuomintang 60th Army, was trapped in Changchun for several days, so he led his troops to declare an uprising, and Zheng Dongguo's breakthrough operation had to be terminated.
Pictured| Zeng Zesheng
Zheng Dongguo's breakthrough operation was almost hopeless, and after Zeng Zesheng's uprising, the representative of our People's Liberation Army also had a brief phone call with Zheng Dongguo, advising him to lay down his weapons and not to make fearless sacrifices for this doomed defeat, but Zheng Dongguo still had some traditional concepts in his heart, and he was full of thoughts: "If you fail, there is nothing else to say except to die in battle, and it is absolutely impossible to lay down your weapons." ”
Although Zheng Dongguo was firm in his heart, his subordinates Yang Youmei, Li Hong, Long Guojun and others had no intention of fighting and wanted to promote peace.
When Zheng Dongguo was in a difficult situation on the battlefield, Zhou Enlai, the leader of our Communist Party, that is, Zheng Dongguo's former teacher at the Whampoa Military Academy, personally wrote a letter to analyze the situation, moved him with affection, understood the reason, and urged him to make a correct decision with sincere words.
Brother Dongguo:
Brother Yi recalled the original intention of the Huangpu Revolution in those years, resolutely held up the banner of anti-imperialism and anti-feudalism, led all the defenders of Changchun, declared anti-imperialism and anti-Chiang Kai-shek, opposed the reactionary rule of the Kuomintang, approved of land reform, and joined the ranks of the People's Liberation Army, then I dare to guarantee that the Chinese People's Liberation Army will follow the lenient policy of the Communist Party of China, not blame the past, welcome the brother's uprising, and treat Zeng and his subordinates equally. The time is urgent, thinking about the old friendship, special telegram to promote the determination. I hope to make contact with generals Xiao Jinguang and Xiao Hua on our front line, so that Generals Wu Huawen and Zeng Zesheng will not be able to concentrate on the former.
Zhou Enlai
October 18
After Zhou Enlai wrote this letter, it was transmitted to the front line in the form of a telegram, and at that time, the city of Changchun was in the midst of war, and the letter written by Zhou Enlai himself failed to reach zheng Dongguo in time.
Pictured| Zhou Enlai
However, Zheng Dongguo finally made the right choice. On October 21, 1948, under the struggle of his subordinates and the liberation consultation with the People's Liberation Army, Zheng Dongguo finally led his troops to lay down their weapons and surrender, and Changchun was finally peacefully liberated.
Zheng Dongguo only learned that his former teacher Zhou Enlai had sent a letter to himself after the peaceful liberation of Changchun, and Zheng Dongguo felt infinite gratitude in his heart for Zhou Enlai's deep concern and concern. Fortunately, he finally lived up to his teacher's expectations, chose to revolt and surrender, and broke away from the ranks of the Kuomintang.
We cannot blame Zheng Dongguo's "loyal heart", and after the First World War in Changchun, Zheng Dongguo's military career has since taken a new turn.
After that, whenever he recalled this past about the liberation of Changchun, Zheng Dongguo always sighed in his heart: "I am sincerely grateful to the great policies of the Communist Party and the painstaking arrangements made by the subordinates. ”
Therefore, when Zheng Dongguo and Zhou Enlai reunited again after many years in 1950, Zheng Dongguo's mood was also very complicated, and those past events came to mind, how could they not sigh. However, as Zhou Enlai said, the past has become a thing of the past, and the future is a new journey.
Tu | arrived in Harbin after the uprising of Zheng Dongguo (center).
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="124" > the bright future of Jeong Dong-kook</h1>
After eating with Zhou Enlai, Zheng Dongguo continued to set off according to the original plan, recuperating his body that had been fighting for many years and had already fallen behind many diseases.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the motherland has been developed in a new way under the leadership of outstanding leaders and the efforts of the people of the whole country, and Zheng Dongguo can also feel the changes brought about by the construction of the motherland. In 1951, Zheng Dongguo wrote to his old friend Li Qizhong, in which he mentioned that the current motherland has a new climate and is developing rapidly, and he wants to go to Beijing again.
After Li Qizhong learned of Zheng Dongguo's wish to go to Beijing, he quickly informed Zhou Enlai of the matter. So as soon as Zheng Dongguo arrived in Beijing, Zhou Enlai would meet him.
I vaguely remember that the last time we met Zheng Dongguo, there was still a lament of "honesty and old age, can still eat or not", but now when I meet with Zhou Enlai again, Zheng Dongguo's attitude has changed greatly, and he has a new understanding of our party, and he actively expressed that he wants to join the ranks of building the motherland.
As for the changes in Zheng Dongguo, Premier Zhou Enlai also expressed great satisfaction, and he said happily: "On behalf of everyone, I welcome you. You are still young, you can serve the people more. "Zhou Enlai, with a broad and broad mind, accepted those benevolent people who were like-minded with our party.
Pictured| Zheng Dongguo and his family
Since then, Zheng Dongguo has also been cordially received by the people's leader Chairman Mao.
At the first session of the First National People's Congress in 1954, Chairman Mao personally proposed that Zheng Dongguo be a member of the National Defense Commission, and Zheng Dongguo would make contributions to the cause of the motherland in his new post.
Zheng Dongguo was invited to attend Chairman Mao's family banquet, and when he thought of going to Chairman Mao's house, Zheng Dongguo was still a little nervous. Fortunately, Chairman Mao was friendly with people, and as soon as Zheng Dongguo entered the room, Chairman Mao immediately stood up from the sofa and greeted Zheng Dongguo, and Ye Jianying, He Long, and several other generals were also on the side.
Seeing Zheng Dongguo, Chairman Mao said cordially: "Zheng Dongguo, your name is so loud." Chairman Mao's humorous words immediately amused everyone present.
Pictured| Chairman Mao
Chairman Mao warmly beckoned Zheng Dongguo to sit down and asked him whether he smoked, and many people knew that Chairman Mao loved to smoke very much, and whenever he was thinking about something important, Chairman Mao sent him back a cigarette. When he received an affirmative answer, Chairman Mao immediately picked up matches and prepared to light a cigarette for Zheng Dongguo.
In fact, Zheng Dongguo wanted to take out a cigarette himself and order it himself, but he did not expect Chairman Mao to be so friendly and make a friendly act of helping himself light a cigarette. Zheng Dongguo couldn't help but think in his heart that if he was in front of Chiang Kai-shek, it must be respectful and respectful, where would this situation occur!
However, it is precisely with this comparison of personal experience that Zheng Dongguo can more deeply feel the approachability of chairman Mao, the people's leader.
Photo | Zheng Dongguo (left) attends the meeting
Zheng Dongguo also devoted himself wholeheartedly to the cause of the construction of the motherland, sparing no effort and doing his best, and he also served as the vice chairman of the fifth, sixth and seventh central committees of the Kuomintang Revolutionary Committee, and invested a lot of effort and energy in the development of the Kuomintang.
During this period, Zheng Dongguo always maintained friendly relations and communication with Chairman Mao, Zhou Enlai and other Communist Party leaders, and also personally felt the great policies of the Communist Party.
In January 1976, Premier Zhou Enlai passed away, Zheng Dongguo learned of this bad news, really could not help the grief in his heart, several times he cried and lost his voice, the sad and sad mood overflowed into words, the former teacher has passed away, but the heart of gratitude lasts forever.
For this friendship with Zhou Enlai for many years, Zheng Dongguo said very sincerely: "Premier Zhou is my lifelong teacher. From him, I experienced the broad mind and lofty quality of communists, and also saw the bright future of New China. ”
Pictured | Zheng Dongguo in his later years
On January 27, 1991, Zheng Dongguo, who had worked hard for the construction and development of the motherland for several years, died of illness in Beijing, completing the road of 88 years of life. Before he died, his last words to his family were: "I am a soldier, and I have a very light view of life and death, don't feel sorry for me, live well..."