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Preface
In the fierce Battle of Sujiafu in 1932, Teng Haiqing, the commander of the 5th Company of the 32nd Regiment of the Red Army, demonstrated excellent command ability and led the soldiers to a remarkable victory. Such an order was undoubtedly incomprehensible to Teng Haiqing, who had just won the victory. Why was he demoted after the victory? What kind of intentions were hidden behind the appointment? What will be Teng Haiqing's reaction after taking office?
Teng Haiqing was born in 1909 and spent his childhood in Chujishi Village, Jinzhai County, Anhui Province. Due to his poor family, Teng Haiqing was unable to receive formal education, and in his early years, he mainly herded cattle in the landlord's house, contributing meager financial support to the family. As he grew older, at the age of 15, his family deemed him independent enough to be sent to Huoshan County to earn a living, where he spent five years as a general helper.
This arduous part-time job experience made Teng Haiqing deeply feel the social injustice and the suffering of the people. This made him firmly believe that young people with ideals and ambitions should not just stick to remote and poor places, but should rise up to change their destiny and help the nation get out of the sea of suffering.
In 1929, at the age of 20, Teng Haiqing witnessed the Liuhuo Uprising in his hometown of Jinzhai County, a major event that inspired his revolutionary feelings. Driven by this surging enthusiasm, he joined the anti-Japanese guerrillas without hesitation and began his revolutionary career.
The establishment of the Hubei-Henan-Anhui Soviet Region benefited from the successive outbreaks of peasant uprisings in the region, including the Jute Uprising, the Shangnan Uprising, and the Liuhuo Uprising. After the first defeat of the National Revolution, areas such as Lu'an, Huoshan and Huoqiu were exploited and oppressed by warlords for a long time, and the local people suffered unspeakably.
In this context, the Liuhuo area, where Teng Haiqing is located, has become a hot spot of protest. The tyranny of local warlords and gangsters forced the peasants to hand over their year-end harvests to these tyrannical forces. Poor peasants have a problem with even the most basic survival, let alone any savings.
Under the active promotion of the Liuhuo County Party Committee, in the spring of 1929, under the call and organization of the Communist Party, many peasants picked up their farm tools one after another and embarked on the road of armed struggle. Under the leadership of the Liuhuo County Party Committee, the peasants launched a spring famine movement against the oppression of the warlords. As a result of the accumulation of successive struggles, the revolutionary situation in the regions gradually became clearer, and the broad masses of peasants and communists gradually realized that only through armed struggle could their lives be truly changed.
In June 1932, the Red Fourth Army, which had just won victory at Sujiafu, immediately reversed course and launched an attack on the Mall area. During this operation, Teng Haiqing was assigned to lead his troops to pursue the enemy to Huangguang. After fierce pursuit and engagement, the enemy army chose to surrender out of exhaustion.
After the war, Teng Haiqing began to count the results of the battle, and they destroyed more than 9,000 enemies and captured more than 7,000 firearms. While he was busy checking his weapons, a soldier brought in two horses, whose fur was reddish-brown and shiny, and their limbs were very precious. Teng Haiqing was overjoyed in his heart, thinking that as a company commander, he couldn't ride a horse, and if this was spread, it would definitely become a joke. He was determined to practice his horseback riding skills in private, and then hand in the two horses when he was proficient.
Just when he was trying to ride out of the camp to practice, he happened to meet the division commander Ni Zhiliang and the political commissar Gan Ji. Seeing this, the division commander asked curiously: "Which unit are you from, and where did these two horses come from?" The onlookers watched this scene nervously, and the atmosphere suddenly became tense.
Teng Haiqing replied wittily: "Report to the division commander, I am the company commander of the 5th Company of the 32nd Regiment, these two horses have just been captured from the enemy, and I am preparing to help you and the political commissar lead them to the rear." When the division commander heard this, he laughed, praised his wit, and then ordered his soldiers to lead the horses away.
Teng Haiqing breathed a sigh of relief, secretly rejoicing on his on-the-spot performance, but he was still nervous in his heart, worried that his small movements would be detected. Soon he received a notice from the battalion commander and was recalled to the division headquarters. Worried, he feared that he would be punished for this horse incident.
After arriving at the division headquarters, Teng Haiqing was surprised to find that he had been appointed platoon commander of the communications platoon. Puzzled, he asked why the division commander was suddenly demoted. The division commander just smiled and said nothing and showed him around the new unit. Teng Haiqing realized that although his position seemed to be lowered, what he wanted to command was the elite soldiers in the army, which was actually a potential promotion.
This discovery made him suddenly enlightened, and the worries in his heart disappeared. Since then, Teng Haiqing has been full of enthusiasm in his new post, has made tremendous contributions to the troops, and has left a deep mark on the division headquarters.
In the autumn of 1932, the Red Fourth Front Army withdrew from the Hubei-Henan-Anhui Soviet region and moved to a more dangerous area. On October 12, just as they were crossing the Pinghan Line, they suddenly encountered the Sixth Division of the Nationalist Army led by Wei Lihuang and Hu Zongnan, and a fierce and bloody decisive battle began. In this confrontation, there was a huge disparity in strength between the enemy and the enemy, but the Red Army soldiers showed extraordinary courage and perseverance.
When the battle was at its most intense, the communications platoon led by Teng Haiqing marched forward bravely and engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the national army. During the battle, a grenade exploded next to Teng Haiqing, and he was seriously injured in the explosion: the gunpowder burned his eyes and almost lost his sight, and the shrapnel not only pierced his right arm, but also knocked out several front teeth.
According to the rules of the Long March, soldiers who were seriously injured and had difficulty moving should stay in the homes of local people to be resettled. Teng Haiqing clutched the 10 silver dollars given to him by the leader, and felt deeply lost: "The revolution has not yet succeeded, how can I retreat here?" In the midst of grief, Teng Haiqing let out a heart-rending cry: "I want to continue the revolution, I can't just leave my comrades-in-arms!"
Despite his visual impairment, Teng Haiqing still insisted on groping his way forward with his crutches and followed the army alone. It was not until late at night that he finally caught up with the rearguard and learned that there was a field hospital on the hillside ahead. He shouted excitedly, "I want to see the dean!"
After the division commander Ni Zhiliang learned of Teng Haiqing's insistence, he personally went to the hospital to visit him. Seeing Teng Haiqing's strong will to survive, Ni Zhiliang said to the dean: "He is the platoon commander of the communications platoon, and his responsibilities are equivalent to the deputy regimental level, and he should be given corresponding medical treatment."
Ni Zhiliang's support allowed Teng Haiqing to remain in the army and continue his treatment. After a month of arduous rehabilitation, despite the loss of his left eye, Teng Haiqing finally recovered and returned to the division's communications team. Teng Haiqing's performance in the army attracted the attention of the high-level, and Ni Zhiliang decided to send him to the area of the fourth company to carry out the "red expansion" mission.
In just one month, Teng Haiqing, with his excellent organizational and leadership skills, grew a two-person squad into a guerrilla force of more than 300 people. This team was soon organized into a regular unit and named the Special Service Company of the 31st Red Regiment, with Teng Haiqing serving as the company commander's instructor and continuing to exert his outstanding leadership in the revolution.
In the spring of 1944, when our army was planning a key counterattack against the enemy forces in Balizhuang, General Peng Xuefeng took the initiative to propose a personal expedition. Teng Haiqing, knowing that Peng Xuefeng had been in battle frequently recently, was deeply worried about his physical strength and safety, so he suggested that the 11th Brigade under his command attack first, hoping that Peng Xuefeng could stay in the rear and avoid the risk of the front line.
"The 4th Division can be adjusted slightly, and the 11th Brigade under my command will take the lead, and you don't have to be in danger yourself, General. Teng Haiqing sincerely proposed, Peng Xuefeng expressed gratitude for Teng Haiqing's concern, but resolutely chose to go to the battlefield in person. As a result, Peng Xuefeng was unfortunately hit by an enemy grenade in the final stage of the battle and died heroically in Balizhuang. This news was a great blow to Teng Haiqing, who regarded Peng Xuefeng not only as a respected superior, but also as a brother-in-arms.
Faced with this loss, Teng Haiqing had little time to mourn, and then went north to Shandong to participate in the layout of the war there. When the situation was urgent and Chen Yi, commander of the Shandong Military Region, personally went to the front line to supervise the battle, Teng Haiqing cherished the memory of Peng Xuefeng and was determined not to let history repeat itself. He resolutely expressed his concern to Chen Yi: "Commander, you need to obey my deployment today, for the sake of the battle and your safety, please return to the rear for the time being." Chen Yi understood Teng Haiqing's concerns, respected his decision, and withdrew to the rear security headquarters under the escort of the soldiers.
Teng Haiqing was appointed commander of the Second Column of the East China Field Army. In this position, he demonstrated outstanding military talent and leadership, leading his troops to a series of fierce battles to victory, not only consolidating positions in the theater of operations, but also effectively boosting morale. Every decision made by Teng Haiqing on the battlefield reflected his deep memory and lessons of Peng Xuefeng's sacrifice, and he always insisted on taking the safety of officers and the effectiveness of the battle as an important consideration in decision-making.
In 1955, Teng Haiqing was awarded the honor of lieutenant general for his outstanding contribution to the Anti-Japanese War and his brave fighting spirit, and in 1967, under the direct guidance of Jiang and Kang, the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region was overly radical in policy measures that led to the intensification of contradictions, which made the regional conflict escalate and spread widely. During this period, the discontent of the masses grew, the situation quickly spiraled out of control, and the social order was seriously challenged.
In 1969, the central government finally realized the seriousness of the situation and quickly issued a document demanding that those wrongly convicted be rehabilitated and that those who were not seriously suspected be immediately released. In this context, Teng Haiqing, as an executor, had to face the problem-solving process he had participated in before. Although his method has good intentions, the actual effect has aroused strong dissatisfaction among some people, and the problem has gradually expanded.
Teng Haiqing is a hero on the battlefield, but he is incapable of local politics and governance. In particular, when implementing some policies in Inner Mongolia, his decisions have been widely questioned and seen as having a negative impact on people's lives and regional development. The 1967 bloody clashes in Inner Mongolia were a severe test of his leadership, but his handling of the conflict did not effectively solve the problem, but only exacerbated the conflict.
As the situation deteriorated further between 1969 and early 1970, the central government was forced to make personnel adjustments, and Teng Haiqing was dismissed from his post as director of the Revolutionary Committee of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. This change further underscores the depth and severity of the problem.
Despite his mistakes in local work, Teng Haiqing's revolutionary contributions were recognized by the central authorities. Fortunately, he did not suffer severe political punishment, but was transferred to the Beijing Military Region in May 1971, which, although he did not hold a position of real power, provided him with a respite and a moment of reflection.
In 1975, Teng Haiqing was transferred to the deputy commander of the Jinan Military Region, responsible for militia construction, military mobilization, and civil air defense and urban defense. This change in position provides him with a new platform to return to the front line and develop his abilities. In his new position, Teng Haiqing has made great efforts to improve regional defense capabilities and the organization and management of the militia, and his work has been recognized and praised to a certain extent, showing his indomitable spirit in the face of challenges.
In 1987, the veteran general was retired. At that time, Teng Haiqing was 78 years old, but when he recalled the days of the Anti-Japanese War, his eyes still flashed with the enthusiasm and determination of his youth. He recounted how he marched with his troops wounded, how he won in the face of outnumbered numbers, and how he faced death with fortitude and determination when a bullet pierced his throat. Although Teng Haiqing was plagued by illness in his later years, he never complained of pain, but whenever he talked about the painful separation of those sacrificed comrades-in-arms and families, he burst into tears and was sad.
In 1997, Teng Haiqing was admitted to the hospital for treatment due to illness. Although his illness has weakened his health, he is still concerned about the development of education in his hometown of Jinzhai County. At the end of his life, Teng Haiqing still did not forget his original intention and decided to donate his life savings to the education of Jinzhai. He specifically instructed his daughter, Teng Aihua, to ensure that the money could be used to improve and upgrade the school conditions in her hometown.
The following year, Teng Aihua took active action and established the "Haiqing Hope Primary School" in Jinzhai County in the name of her father. Not only does this school provide modern educational facilities, but it has also become a benchmark for education in the region. At the same time, Teng Aihua also set up the "Teng Haiqing, Wang Bin and Couple Education Award Fund" to reward students with excellent academic performance and difficult economic conditions, which greatly alleviated the economic pressure on children in their hometown to receive education.
Teng Haiqing has devoted his life to the revolution and construction of the country, and his contribution to his hometown also shows the importance he attaches to education and his deep concern for the next generation. Teng Haiqing was not only a respectable old revolutionary, but his actions also deeply affected the lives of the people in his hometown.