In 1958, China was in the midst of a period of massive social reform and political turmoil. In this year, the Communist Party of China promoted the Great Leap Forward Movement, which sought to achieve rapid development of agriculture and industry through collectivized management and the establishment of people's communes. It is precisely in this general environment that the military field is inevitably involved in a series of political struggles.
Su Yu, the general who made great achievements in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the War of Liberation, unexpectedly became the focus of criticism at the enlarged meeting of the Military Commission in 1958. In the history of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, Su Yu was known for his military talent and firm political stance, and his military career and political career were inseparable.
Peng Dehuai, as the then Minister of National Defense, had a high prestige in China's military and political circles due to his military talent and straightforward personality. And He Long is also an outstanding military strategist and politician, and his influence in the party should not be underestimated. The two had completely different attitudes towards Su Yu, reflecting the collision of interests and views of different factions in the party at that time.
The atmosphere of the meeting was tense and heavy, Peng Dehuai's brows were tightly locked, he looked at the information in front of him, took a deep breath, and began his speech. "Comrades, we must be here today to seriously discuss Comrade Su Yu's practice on a number of major issues. ”
He described in detail Su Yu's decision-making process and the problems he failed to report adequately. "Comrade Su Yu, what do you think?" Peng Dehuai's gaze looked directly at Su Yu, waiting for his explanation.
Su Yu stood up, his voice calm but a little resolute, "Mr. Peng, regarding the operation of the Matsu Islands, I have indeed asked my superiors for instructions, and they have been approved. I think the progress since then has been due to errors in communication and understanding. Su Yu explained in detail the arrangement and implementation of the entire operation, trying to clear up misunderstandings.
"This is a major national matter, how can you do it privately without approval?" Peng Dehuai's tone became even more stern.
He Long chose to be silent at this time, he pondered, his eyes complicated. He did not immediately support or oppose Peng Dehuai's views, but weighed the weight of each word in his heart.
Su Yu responded, "Under the situation at that time, the responsibilities of the General Staff and the Ministry of Defense overlapped, and there was indeed some confusion.
As the meeting progressed, the atmosphere became more and more tense. But Su Yu's every explanation did not seem to be able to completely calm Peng Dehuai's doubts. Eventually, Peng Dehuai blamed Su Yu for the mistake of extreme individualism, an accusation that attracted widespread attention and discussion at the meeting.
As the meeting ended, Peng Dehuai's influence allowed his views to prevail, despite Su Yu's explanations and justifications. Although Su Yu was not directly punished, the meeting undoubtedly had an impact on his military career and reputation. He Long's silence was also impressive, and his unspoken words seemed to hint at a deeper struggle for power and ideology within the party.
Although Su Yu continued his military duties after the meeting, the incident clearly deepened the estrangement between him and some of the party's top brass. This period of history has become a corner in the history of the People's Liberation Army that is difficult to ignore, reflecting the complexity of that era and the fierceness of various political struggles.
Looking back on this period of history, we not only witnessed the plight of an outstanding general in the midst of a political storm, but also reflected on the far-reaching impact of power struggles on personal destiny and even national events. The confrontation between Su Yu and Peng Dehuai, these two military giants, is not only a conflict of personal views and personalities, but also a collision of different political ideas in the context of the times.
Through the reflection of these historical episodes, we can better understand the weight of responsibility and power, as well as the difficulty and challenge of making decisions in a complex environment. Looking back at yesterday today, we can learn not only the historical facts themselves, but more importantly, the wisdom and warnings we draw from them.
In this way, we can better face the choices and judgments made in daily life, whether as national decision-makers or ordinary individuals, and be more wise and prudent.