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Text | Zhu Xiaoyue loves Kanyu
Edit | Zhu Xiaoyue loves Kanyu
In China's modern history, the Cultural Revolution was undoubtedly a period of turmoil and conflict. Tao Zhu, a state-level cadre who was favored by Chairman Mao in the past, became a typical victim of unjust cases in this political storm. His tragedy stemmed not only from the calculations of his political opponents, but also from the betrayal of his own brother, which led to his unjust death. Why did even blood ties break down in that chaotic era? What deep historical and human problems does Tao Zhu's story reflect? Let's take Xiao Zhu into this story.
Tao Zhu was born in 1908, and when he was 10 years old, his father was assassinated by the warlords of the Beiyang government for actively supporting the Dharma protection movement led by Sun Yat-sen. The incident was devastating to Tao Zhu's family, and the loss of financial resources forced him to interrupt his studies to take on the burden of supporting his family, and he chose to become a carpenter, one of the few viable professions at the time.
As the tide of revolution in China gradually heats up, in 1926, Tao Zhu decided to devote himself to the revolutionary cause, he put down the carpenter's tools and embarked on a train to Guangzhou, which was the hot spot of the revolution at that time. In Guangzhou, Tao Zhu resolutely signed up for the selection of the Whampoa Military Academy, hoping to become an officer who could fight for the cause of national independence and people's liberation through military training.
After successfully entering the fifth batch of enlisted students of the Whampoa Military Academy, Tao Zhu underwent four months of rigorous training, during which time he not only learned military skills and tactics, but was also deeply influenced by revolutionary ideas. In October 1926, he was promoted to the officer class infantry section for his outstanding performance, and was assigned to the 12th District Team of the 3rd Brigade of the 1st Student Corps. There, Tao Zhu continued to receive a more specialized military education, and his leadership skills and loyalty to the revolutionary cause began to be noticed and affirmed by his superiors.
Tao Zhu's experience at the Whampoa Military Academy not only honed his physical fitness and combat skills, but more importantly, this experience made him deeply understand the importance of teamwork and strategic thinking. This laid a solid foundation for him to play an important role in China's revolution and construction in the future.
On a gloomy morning in 1933, Tao Zhu was suddenly attacked and captured on the streets of Shanghai, and the traitorous act behind it became a turning point in his fate. Tao Zhu's brother was also arrested, and the two were unfortunately imprisoned in a secret prison set up by the same enemy. In this cage of despair and suffering, Tao Zhu demonstrated the firm will of the Communist Party, who was uncompromising in the face of harsh torture and mental torture, upholding the Party's beliefs and vowing to die unyieldingly.
In stark contrast to Tao Zhu, his elder brother succumbed to the psychological and physical brutality of his enemies. In the face of a series of threats and temptations, the elder brother not only gave up resistance, but instead joined the enemy's camp and became a tool against the Communist Party. This betrayal not only destroyed the deep affection between the brothers, but also left an unhealable wound in Tao Zhu's heart.
Although the two are in the same prison, they are like the end of the world. Tao Zhu suffered a lot in prison, but he still held his head high every time he was tried, inspiring other prisoners with his tenacity and courage. And his elder brother, in the praise and preferential treatment of the enemy, gradually lost himself and became an accomplice of the counter-revolution. This kind of opposing choice not only indicates the division of the family, but also a severe test of morality and faith in the fierce political struggle.
With the full-scale outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japan, the Nationalist Government and the CCP reached a consensus on cooperation. In this historical context, after the consultation and efforts of Zhou Enlai and Ye Jianying, Tao Zhu was finally rescued from the enemy's prison in 1938. After learning the news of the imminent fall of Wuhan, according to Zhou Enlai's urgent instructions, Tao Zhu quickly threw himself into a more urgent combat mission.
In October 1938, in the face of the rapid advance of the Japanese army and the loss of Wuhan, Tao Zhu was entrusted with the important task of organizing and directing the anti-Japanese guerrilla war in central Hubei. He demonstrated outstanding military command skills, quickly mobilized local anti-Japanese forces, and built up a flexible and mobile guerrilla force. Under Tao Zhu's guidance, this team not only effectively harassed the Japanese army's logistics lines, but also successfully disrupted the enemy's supply chain many times, inflicting heavy losses on the Japanese army.
Tao Zhu's carefully planned guerrilla tactics included night attacks on enemy camps, sabotage of railways and bridges, and ambush of enemy patrols. He worked closely with the local anti-Japanese forces, making full use of the terrain and the support of the masses, making the guerrillas' movements flexible and unpredictable. Through these successive small-scale but highly effective operations, he succeeded in pinning down a large number of Japanese troops, buying valuable time for the adjustment and counterattack of the main forces.
Tao Zhu's outstanding performance on the battlefield behind the anti-Japanese enemy line not only strengthened the defense of the anti-Japanese base area, but also greatly improved the morale of the local people. His leadership and tactical flexibility became an important fulcrum of the anti-Japanese war in the region, which greatly encouraged the enthusiasm of the anti-Japanese soldiers and the masses. The experience of this period deepened Tao Zhu's experience in military command and popular mobilization, and laid a solid foundation for his subsequent political and military career.
In the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the problem of public order in the southwest region was very serious, especially in Guangxi, where banditry was rampant, posing a serious threat to national security and regional development. At that time, the situation in Guangxi was not only difficult, but even attracted direct criticism from Chairman Mao, which put the entire region's leadership under great pressure.
At this critical moment, due to health problems, Zhang Yunyi, secretary of the Guangxi Provincial Party Committee, was forced to leave his post and go to Guangzhou for treatment, and Tao Zhu was urgently dispatched to act as secretary of the Guangxi Provincial Party Committee. Knowing the gravity of the situation when he took office, he immediately took a series of decisive measures to meet the challenges. Working closely with core team members such as deputy Li Tianyou, Tao Zhu not only mobilized the masses to participate in the crackdown, but also stepped up the crackdown on those who possessed illegal firearms.
They acted swiftly and efficiently, and through a series of well-organized raids, they succeeded in seizing large quantities of illegal weapons and severely punishing the bandit bullies who had been in trouble for a long time. These measures quickly restored regional stability, effectively eliminated hidden dangers in Guangxi, and finally brought about a fundamental change in Guangxi's public order situation.
Tao Zhu's firm and decisive actions were recognized by Chairman Mao and the central leadership, and his achievements in Guangxi also won him the praise of "a cow in the party". After a successful year in Guangxi, Tao Zhu returned to Wuhan, but he did not stay long, and he was soon transferred to Guangzhou, where he began to lead the Lingnan region for more than a decade. There, his political career and influence continued to expand, and he became a key figure in the region's political change and social development.
In 1965, the needs of national strategy and development prompted Tao Zhu to be recalled to the Central Committee as Vice Premier of the State Council. The importance of this role lies in the fact that it directly influences the formulation and implementation of national policies, and Tao Zhu has demonstrated excellent leadership and decision-making skills in this role. Soon after, his political career reached a new peak when he was elected to the Politburo Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee.
At this time, China is in a critical transition period and needs sound policies to lead the country forward. Tao Zhu's work at the State Council is mainly focused on economic management and supervision of major national projects, and he is particularly concerned about the promotion of economic modernization. Under his advocacy and promotion, the state has launched a series of programs aimed at improving industrial production capacity and scientific and technological progress.
In the position of a member of the Politburo Standing Committee, Tao Zhu is not only a key figure in policy implementation, but also a core member of political decision-making. With his unique political insight and pragmatic work attitude, he has made important contributions to China's political and economic stability. As the Cultural Revolution progressed, Tao Zhu gradually realized the gravity of the situation and realized that some radical factions were pushing the Cultural Revolution to a dangerous brink.
Tao Zhu had reservations about such extreme political actions and began to resist radical "leftist" moves in public. He not only stood up on many occasions to protect those who had been wrongfully convicted, but also actively worked to stop those who tried to eliminate dissent through violent means. These actions infuriated Jiang Qing and his team, who saw Tao Zhu as an immediate threat and began to orchestrate actions to discredit and suppress him.
The Jiang Qing clique produced a series of false evidence and gossip at all costs to portray Tao Zhu as a counter-revolutionary. They even mobilized Tao Zhu's own brother as a key witness to issue false accusations against Tao Zhu, an act that greatly damaged Tao Zhu's political career and personal reputation.
Tao Zhu's political career suddenly took a tragic turn, and it all started with false accusations from his own brother. These charges led to his swift removal from the post of vice premier of the State Council and forced him to go to prison. In that cold cell, he was forced to write a letter of repentance, one of the mental tortures inflicted by his political enemies. The prolonged detention and mental stress greatly affected his health, especially without medical assistance.
Despite knowing that he was suffering from a potentially life-threatening illness, prison administrators ruthlessly denied him requests for medical treatment. As a result, Tao Zhu's health deteriorated rapidly, and he was increasingly weakened by the double blow of physical and mental blows. During his years in prison, he repeatedly sought medical attention, but these requests were ruthlessly denied.
At the end of 1969, Tao Zhu ended his life in illness and loneliness at the age of 61. This news shocked many people who knew the inside story, and it also triggered a certain degree of reflection and discussion in political circles. His death was not only a great loss to a talented politician, but also one of many tragedies during the Cultural Revolution, revealing the brutality of political struggle and the contempt for individual life.
This retelling of history is not only to commemorate Tao Zhu's contributions and encounters, but also to reflect on the profound consequences of that turbulent era. His story reminds future generations of the importance of human fragility and dignity in the midst of political strife, and the challenge of maintaining faith and dignity in the face of totalitarian oppression.
After Tao Zhu's death, his brother felt deep guilt and remorse, and the accumulation of this emotion caused him to have a nervous breakdown and his life fell into extreme sorrow. Years later, in 1978, as the political atmosphere changed, Comrade Chen Yun presided over the rehabilitation of Tao Zhu, an action aimed at restoring his reputation, which had been damaged by a wrongful conviction.
Chen Yun's intervention ensured that Tao Zhu's historical status could be fairly assessed. In the process of rehabilitation, detailed investigation and review revealed many injustices, and gradually cleared Tao Zhu's grievances during the Cultural Revolution. In 1978, a special memorial service was held, not only to commemorate Tao Zhu's contributions, but also to appease his dead soul and make up for past mistakes.
At the memorial service, Chen Yun and other high-ranking officials delivered speeches, emphasizing Tao Zhu's sacrifices and contributions to the country and the people. The memorial service attracted not only politicians, but also many former colleagues and ordinary people to pay tribute to the memory of this hero who dedicated his life to the country.
Tao Zhu's elder brother expressed his deep nostalgia for his younger brother and endless remorse at the memorial service. He repented affectionately before the spirit, hoping to receive Tao Zhu's forgiveness, a scene that deeply touched everyone present. The memorial service became an occasion of healing and forgiveness, not only restoring Tao Zhu's reputation, but also giving some solace to family and friends who had been suffering from misunderstandings.
Main references: "The Biography of Tao Zhu" and "The History of the Fourth Field Army"