During the War of Liberation, the people's army was invincible and invincible wherever it went. And during this period, a very interesting thing happened, a majestic general on a horse was walking on the road, and suddenly a veteran oil boy jumped out and stopped him. He did not come to assassinate the general, nor did he ask for him, but asked him for a cigarette.
When the people next to him were about to drive him away, the general dismounted without saying a word. Respectfully, he took out the good cigarette on his body as required and handed one to the veteran. The general who made this incredible move was named You Taizhong, and the person who asked him for cigarettes was called Lao Song. What happened between them?
You Taizhong
By chance, he joined the Red Army
You Taizhong was born in 1918, and like most people of his time, his family was very poor, and his father died not long after he was born. The old mother in the family also became blind due to illness, so he became the pillar of the family at a young age. He was very sensible and willing to work, and at the age of twelve he herded cattle for a certain landowner's family to earn a small amount of money to support the family.
However, the landlord will not treat him as a person, and in the eyes of the landlord, You Taizhong is not as valuable as an ox. When Xiao You only wanted to herd the cattle and make more money, until one day, when he herded cattle for the landlord, something happened halfway.
When he came back to his senses, he found that the landlord's cow was missing, and a cow at that time was very valuable to the agricultural society, and he was also very anxious, and he did not know how to explain it. If you can't find it for a whole day without eating or drinking, the landlord must have asked him to pay for it. At this point, his family will not survive.
However, there were local Red Army units stationed here, and the reputation of the Red Army for relieving the toiling people also spread throughout the area. In the end, Xiao You still did not find the cow, and in desperation, he had to run to the Red Army garrison at night.
However, after arriving at the gate of the station, he was a little afraid to enter. While wandering, the old Song of the cooking class noticed him, so he took him in, saw him gray-faced, and gave him something to eat and drink.
After gobbling up, You Taizhong said that he wanted to join the Red Army, as long as he could join, he could do anything.
However, the Red Army had regulations, and You Taizhong was only twelve years old and very thin, so he was not qualified to join the Red Army. But You Taizhong was unwilling to go back to be bullied by the landlord, and after telling his story, Old Song saw that he was so pitiful, so he made an exception and kept him.
However, it was still stipulated that You Taizhong should not run around, so You Taizhong became a member of Old Song's cooking class.
Years later, You Taizhong is still very moved when he mentions this past, and his kindness to the elder Song of the cooking class is even more unforgettable. He has always regarded the old squad leader as his father, and even if You Taizhong later became a regiment commander, brigade commander, division commander and even a founding major general step by step, he still loved and cared about this cooking squad leader.
Zhan Caifang
However, Xiao You did not know that he would become a general on the battlefield in the future, and at this time, You Taizhong could be said to have felt the unexpected warmth of his family for the first time. He was not satisfied with being a supernumerary in the cooking class, so he decided to apply to the leadership of the team to officially join the Red Army.
Old Song and others in the cooking class liked this young but very clever child, and there were indeed many teenage young soldiers in the ranks of the Red Army. So the leader also agreed, let him continue to follow Old Song, and after You Taizhong learned about it, his heart was even more indescribably excited.
As the ranks of the Red Army continued to shift, Lao Song discovered that You Taizhong was not only quick-witted, but also had excellent memory and some leadership skills.
So he recommended You Taizhong to the chief, hoping that a good seedling like him could take a better position. His abilities were further honed and displayed, and soon after an organized investigation, You Taizhong became a political officer in the team.
Party spirit and blood are complete
In 1935, You Taizhong's Red Fourth Front Army was forced to shift strategically, and You Taizhong also accompanied the team on a long march. During this time, he personally experienced an unprecedented and tragic march.
Almost half of the soldiers fell during the Long March, and You Taizhong almost died. The Long March Road was not only precipitous, but also bombed by enemy planes of the Kuomintang reactionaries, and surrounded by enemies in front and behind.
Even if you get away with the enemy's bullets, a minor illness can break a fighter. The army lacks medical care and medicine, and when sick and injured, they can only carry it hard. You Taizhong was malnourished when he was a child, and his immunity was naturally not high. After accidentally contracting the disease, he couldn't even walk, and what awaited him seemed to be falling on the grass.
When his life was at stake, You Taizhong met Zhan Caifang, who was then the political commissar of the Red 31st Army. He saw You Taizhong faltering and in danger. Unexpectedly, he directly let You Taizhong ride his horse, and You Taizhong listened to it and was unwilling.
In desperation, Political Commissar Zhan let him hold the tail of his war horse and move forward. Perhaps this is the power of faith, You Taizhong led the horse's tail all the way, actually survived, and finally reached northern Shaanxi.
In the early days of the Anti-Japanese War, as the front-line commander of the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army, his prestige was also known by various generals and soldiers at that time. In battles large and small, You Taizhong, who was in his early 20s, vividly embodied the comprehensive quality of the Communist Party.
As an officer of the Political Department, in order to better do the ideological work of grassroots soldiers, the leader of the team sent You Taizhong to the 271st Regiment to carry out tasks. You Taizhong's outstanding performance and ability in political work have always been seen by the leadership.
Although You Taizhong was young when he served as a political officer in the army, the soldiers with whom he often interacted found him very calm and sophisticated. This is especially reflected in the fact that things are not impulsive and at the same time very principled.
When the order to join forces with the Kuomintang was first received, the organization did not explain much why, and some of the fighters had been oppressed by the Kuomintang reactionaries. However, You Taizhong did not question the party's decision at all, and in addition to absolute obedience, he also tried to do a good job in the ideological work of others, which was greatly appreciated by the superior chiefs.
During the Liberation War, the leap into Dabie Mountain was a military operation recorded in history, and this tough battle You Taizhong was also famous. When Deng Xiaoping summed up this battle, he praised You Taizhong very emotionally, saying that he was a fierce general of Erye and a meritorious minister!
In the autumn of 1948, in order to ensure and expand the strategic initiative achieved, our army decided to take the initiative to plunge into Chiang Kai-shek's chest, Dabie Mountain. If successful, it could divert the enemy's attention and make the enemy's attack on Shandong and northern Shaanxi fail.
When our army began to advance into Dabie Mountain, the Nationalist government really realized the danger. So they sent a dozen well-equipped divisions to frantically chase and block the three divisions in front of our army. At one point, it was only more than 20 kilometers away, and the situation was very critical.
There was a turbulent river in front of it, and a large number of pursuing troops in the back, and our army could only rush forward with a bang. The 18th Brigade took the lead in breaking through a bloody road, and under the leadership of You Taizhong, the 18th Brigade soon rushed to the south and north banks of the Ruhe River to fight. On the south bank was responsible for the task of consolidating and expanding the breakthrough.
The two chiefs Liu and Deng and the core organs such as the Central Plains Bureau and the Field Bureau are behind them, and if they fail, then I am afraid that they will also fall into an extremely passive situation.
You Taizhong and Political Commissar Zhang Guoquan, who were well aware of the heavy responsibility, each set out with a regiment, and they braved hardships and dangers, and began to rush across the pontoon bridge under heavy enemy artillery fire. The two villages that the 18th Brigade had just hit were taken over by You Taizhong and others.
Unexpectedly, the Kuomintang soldiers who had been scattered before regrouped and carried out a crazy counterattack, and the scale was getting bigger and bigger, and the momentum continued to attack.
The more crisis the moment, the more You Taizhong rushed to the front line to command the battle, and did not close his eyes for a whole day and night. After dawn, enemy planes also rushed over, and the situation was extremely critical.
Not only that, the pontoon bridge built by our army was also blown up by enemy aircraft, and the troops had to interrupt the crossing of the river. You Taizhong was in danger, and immediately ordered the chief of staff to personally come out and lead an engineer company to quickly repair the pontoon bridge under enemy fire.
Immediately afterwards, You Taizhong ordered two regiments to counterattack on the enemy's right at the same time, so as to cover the sappers and build bridges. After a bloody battle, the heads and staff of various organs successfully crossed the river.
became a general and is also the "little Youzi" of the old Song
In late November 1949, although the People's Republic of China had been founded, the remnants of the Nationalist Army were still there, and the 34th Division of the Second Field was ordered to march to Chongqing. Before that, he had been fighting for days, coupled with many days of rapid marching, no matter how powerful the warrior was, he was also flesh and blood, and it was inevitable that he would be physically and mentally exhausted. However, as soon as they heard that there were still toiling people ahead who had not been liberated, everyone cheered up again.
In the cooking class of the troops, there were several soldiers who were addicted to smoking, they fought continuously, and the materials were relatively tight, and they did not smoke for several days. Not to mention physical exhaustion, even walking is sleepy. Seeing this, Class Elder Song told them to rest in place for a while, and then run to keep up.
Everyone didn't understand what kind of medicine was sold in Old Song's gourd, but at least they could rest for a while, and everyone was very happy. Not long after, I saw division commander You Taizhong with a group of people from the division command post, riding horses and hurriedly coming. When Old Song saw You Taizhong coming, he immediately got up and ran to the middle of the road, waving his hands and shouting: "Little Youzi! Come down quickly. ”
Seeing that his squad leader called the division commander so, and directly stopped his horse, the soldiers of the cooking squad were so shocked that they could not speak. If this were in the national army, he might have been shot, but everyone also thought that the division commander would definitely lose his temper.
Who knew that You Taizhong not only didn't say anything, but turned over and dismounted, and said to Old Song very politely: "What instructions does the old squad leader have?" Old Song then said: "Is there smoke?" Here's a few. After hearing the words of the old squad leader, You Taizhong quickly called the guards and asked him to bring all his cigarettes to the old squad leader.
After giving it, he asked loudly: "Does the old squad leader have any other requirements?" Old Song was also a veteran, and knew that the troops still had tasks, so he said that there were no other requirements. Hurriedly let Xiao Youzi go to command the troops to hurry, delaying the military situation, this responsibility can not be bearable! Then Old Song'er held a few cigarettes in one hand and waved them with the other, signaling You Taizhong to leave quickly.
Although he still called him Xiao Youzi, Old Song also understood that he was not the thin boy he was back then, and You Taizhong, who had made great achievements along the way, was now a veritable division commander. But Old Song is still the kind-hearted old Song back then, or the veteran oil son who took a few puffs of smoke.
Although the situation was turbulent, the two did not see each other several times, but at this time the two seemed to go back to the past, to the days when they cooked in the cooking class.
When Old Song was leaving, he saw the other party's frizzy appearance and said a few more words. Saying that You Taizhong has become a division commander, he can't be so big anymore, and some tears rolled in his eyes.
Maybe instead of asking for a cigarette, Old Song wants to take the opportunity to ask for a cigarette and say a few words with this former little friend in this way.
Be diligent and thrifty, and care for your subordinates
You Taizhong has been accustomed to a hard life since he was a child, and after becoming a general of New China, he did not covet pleasure and still lived a very frugal life. His name for frugality, as well as his bravery, was well known in the army.
You Taizhong is thrifty himself, but he cares deeply about the lives of his subordinates, and he treats every soldier in the team as if it were his own family. They and the fighters have the same food, clothing, housing and transportation, and they never engage in specialization. So approachable, You Taizhong was very respected in the army, and his team was also united, and he was extremely convinced of him as a chief.
Time flies, and by 1980, You Taizhong served as the first secretary of Inner Mongolia, the commander of the military region, and the chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. Although the country was much more stable and rich than during the war, the environment in Inner Mongolia at that time was still extremely harsh. There is still a lack of materials, but You Taizhong still eats and lives with his subordinates as always, and does not do anything special in life.
Once You Taizhong went to the barracks to check the situation, and the barracks quickly began to talk after getting the news. A luxurious banquet was specially set up to prepare for You Taizhong. But You Taizhong was very disgusted with this set, and seeing these banquets specially set up for him, he walked towards the cafeteria without looking back, and casually cooked two dishes as lunch.
As a result, the person in charge of the barracks still did not understand, but thought that You Taizhong just did not like this grand occasion. Therefore, a "leader-only" point was set up in the canteen to provide meals for You Taizhong. You Taizhong still turned a blind eye, still as usual, what ordinary soldiers eat, he went to the canteen to eat a few dishes at random.
Now it was the person in charge of the barracks who was dumbfounded, so he cautiously asked You Taizhong, saying that there was still some meat in the cafeteria, do you want to get some? You Taizhong replied lightly: "These precious meats should be prepared for those soldiers who have trained hard to protect their homes and defend the country, so you should stop bothering to curry favor with the leaders." ”
Since then, when You Taizhong went to the cafeteria again, he had never seen this kind of "special passage" again, and he was very satisfied with this change.
brief summary
In 1998, You Taizhong, who had been a lifelong soldier, died in Guangzhou at the age of 80. He left no property behind his children, only a pair of Huangshan town stones counted as relics. It is engraved with a couplet - between the bamboos, above the plum, this is the old general's encouragement to the children, but why is it not a portrayal of his life?
bibliography
[1] Wu Dongfeng. Friends of Party Members and Cadres,2013(02):38-39.
[1] Wu Dongfeng. Chivalrous and courageous You Taizhong." Friends of Party Members and Cadres .02(2013):38-39.
doi:CNKI:SUN:DYGB.0.2013-02-038.
[1] Wu Dongfeng. (2013). Friends of Party Members and Cadres (02), 38-39.
doi:CNKI:SUN:DYGB.0.2013-02-038.
[1] CHEN Fubin. The tiger general is rooted in the practice of war: A glimpse of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression from You Taizhong, the front-line commander of the Eighth Route Army[J].Military History,2015(04):38-42.)
