In the magnificent modern and modern history of China, the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression is undoubtedly an important chapter. In 1937, the Lugou Bridge Incident broke out, and the Chinese nation faced a severe test. Against such a historical background, the Communist Party and the Kuomintang put aside their previous grievances and formed an anti-Japanese national united front. The Red Army was reorganized into the 18th Route Army of the National Revolutionary Army, which later became the Eighth Route Army, and a legend began from there. In this great historical journey, how did many ordinary soldiers swim against the current and write what extraordinary chapters? This cannot help but make people think deeply.
Back in the summer of 1937, there was tension throughout the country. The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Kuomintang held intense negotiations in Lushan, and in the end, the reorganization plan of the Red Army was finalized: the three divisions were expanded to six brigades and twelve regiments, with a strength of 45,000 troops. Although this decision seemed at the time to be a weakening of the Red Army, in reality it provided the Red Army generals with the opportunity to show their talents on a wider stage.
In this series of adaptations, we see the use of "de-escalation" of many Red Army generals. For example, Lin Biao, He Long, Xu Xiangqian, and Liu Bocheng, senior generals at the army level, had to accept division-level posts, while the original corps-level or army-level cadres became brigade-level generals. This kind of demotion seems to be a grievance, but it is also a kind of exercise and test.
Li Desheng is particularly eye-catching. Born in 1916, he was originally an ordinary squad leader in the Red Fourth Front Army. Although he joined the revolution late and was expelled from the party during the Long March for opposing Zhang Guotao's separatist actions, these difficulties did not stop him from moving forward. After the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, Li Desheng grew rapidly, and by the end of the Anti-Japanese War, he was already a regiment commander.
Behind this is his Bole Chen Xilian's discernment. Chen Xilian, a native of Huang'an, Hubei, like Li Desheng, also started as an ordinary soldier, and the acquaintance of the two can be said to be a kind of strange fate on the battlefield. Chen Xilian experienced poverty in his early years, and was a cattle herder in a landlord's family, but was later rejected in the Red Army's conscription because he was not tall enough. But his persistence and enthusiasm impressed the recruiters, and he embarked on the road of revolution. He rose through the ranks quickly, quickly going from a company commander to a military district commander.
One evening in 1970, Li Desheng suddenly told the driver: "Prepare the car and go to the Jingxi Hotel." "The action of this night was unusual for the driver. The driver was curious why the chief suddenly traveled at night, and after arriving at the hotel, he finally understood that Li Desheng wanted to meet his old superior, Chen Xilian. Time flies, the former squad leader is now the commander of the military region, and Chen Xilian still holds a high position in the army.
Such a reunion is not only a meeting of two old comrades-in-arms, but also a symphony of the times. On the battlefield of resistance against Japan, the two fought side by side and experienced the test of life and death together. After the war, although their fates were different, this deep comradeship did not change.
From squad leader to commander of the military region, Li Desheng's promotion path is particularly legendary. And this is probably inseparable from the support of Chen Xilian, the "Bole". The promotion in the past is not only a recognition of Li Desheng's potential, but also a trust in his loyalty and ability. Chen Xilian's influence in the military and his importance to Li Desheng enabled the latter to grow rapidly in a challenging military career.
What we see here is a deep mentor-apprentice relationship, and a rare vision of a leader. This kind of relationship is not uncommon in the history of the Chinese military, but it has always been warm and uplifting. Through this story, we can get a glimpse of the living conditions and psychological changes of the soldiers of that era, and how they realized their personal value and growth in the baptism of war and years.
This reunion is not only a gathering of old comrades-in-arms, but also a historical review. Through this conversation, we can understand that despite the passage of time, certain things such as trust and respect are eternal. The continuation of this emotion is a kind of respect for the past and an expectation for the future.
Behind the story is a deep reflection on growth, trust, and change. In the war-torn era, an ordinary squad leader can grow into a commander of a military region, which is not only the result of personal struggle, but also an opportunity given by the times. Li Desheng and Chen Xilian let us understand that in the journey of life, opportunities always favor those who are ready. Whether it is Chen Xilian's promotion of Li Desheng or Li Desheng's own unremitting efforts, they all reflect the true meaning of "God rewards diligence". All this tells us that history is not only a memory of the past, but also an inspiration for the future.