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Text | Zhu Xiaoyue loves Kanyu
Edit | Zhu Xiaoyue loves Kanyu
In the spring of 1955, the founding lieutenant general Lin Weixian revisited his old superior, Luo Houfu. The reunion of the two is filled with mixed emotions in the midst of joy. Lin Weixian found out that Luo Lao was just a colonel, which made him teary-eyed. Luo Houfu showed extraordinary courage and determination during the revolutionary years, and his perseverance and sacrifice made him a role model for a new generation. Why does Luo Houfu's honor not match his contributions? What does his journey make us reflect on? Let's take Xiao Zhu into this story.
Luo Houfu was born in 1909 in Huang'an County, Hubei Province, in a predominantly agricultural area. Like many of his contemporaries, Luo Houfu came from a poor family background and experienced the hardships of life in the barren land from an early age. At that time, the oppression of the landlords made the peasants' lives extremely difficult, and Luo Houfu personally experienced this social injustice.
Luo Houfu joined the Red Guards in the Huang'an area in 1929, showing his early revolutionary consciousness. In 1930, his fighting career entered a new stage, officially becoming a member of the Red Army, and in the same year he joined the Communist Party of China, demonstrating his firm commitment to the communist cause. In the Hubei-Henan-Anhui Revolutionary Base Area, Luo Houfu quickly rose from a grassroots commander to a key military leader, successively serving as company commander and battalion political commissar, and his performance in these positions demonstrated his military talent and leadership.
After the Red Fourth Front Army and the Red 25th Army withdrew from the Hubei-Henan-Anhui Soviet Region, Luo Houfu, under the guidance of Gao Jingting, continued to stay in the base area and served as the commander of the Third Guerrilla Division. During this period, he led the division in a grueling guerrilla war that lasted for three years. Luo Houfu's tactical wisdom and perseverance were fully demonstrated during this period, and he led the guerrilla division to persevere in many encounters with the enemy, playing a key role in protecting the safety of the base area and the local people.
It was not until the Kuomintang and the Communist Party reached a cooperation agreement that the Third Guerrilla Division was reorganized as part of the New Fourth Army. Luo Houfu's leadership skills enabled him to also gain important responsibilities in the New Fourth Army, and he continued to display his military skills and revolutionary spirit on a wider battlefield. His troops performed well in the Sino-Japanese War, repeatedly performed successful combat missions, effectively weakened the enemy's combat effectiveness, and accumulated valuable experience for the final victory.
During these early years of revolution and war, Luo Houfu not only became an outstanding military commander, but also became a staunch representative of the Party in the army and among the people. His actions and decision-making have always adhered to the principles and goals of the Communist Party, and he has won widespread respect and trust. This experience laid the foundation for his future leadership in the military and political fields of New China, and became the cornerstone of his numerous honors and achievements.
With the full-scale outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japan, the Red 28th Army was reorganized and transformed into the fourth detachment of the New Fourth Army, with Gao Jingting as the commander. In this transformation, Luo Houfu assumed a number of key positions in the New Fourth Army, including the commander of the Sixth Guerrilla Brigade, the commander of the 14th Brigade of the Fifth Division of the New Fourth Army, and the commander of the First Army Division.
During the fierce years of the Anti-Japanese War, Luo Houfu demonstrated outstanding military leadership. He commanded his troops to carry out a number of guerrilla tactics in the Dabie Mountain area, and launched numerous encounters with the Japanese puppet army. Under his leadership, the troops not only successfully resisted the enemy's repeated sieges, but also effectively weakened the enemy's combat effectiveness, making a significant contribution to the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japan.
After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, Luo Houfu's position continued to rise, and he successively served as the deputy commander of the Jianghan Military Region and the deputy commander of the Northwest Hubei Military Region, and was finally appointed as the deputy brigade commander of the Independent Brigade of the Central Plains Military Region. In these positions, Loh was responsible for coordinating and managing strategic deployments and military operations within the military districts, and his leadership ensured the stability and security of these regions.
Luo Houfu's military career was full of heroism and sacrifice. His tenacity on the battlefield and deep understanding of tactics allowed him to win multiple battles. His tactical wisdom and bravery not only earned him respect within the army, but also made him a key figure in the reconstruction and development of the army after the founding of the People's Republic of China. His contribution to post-war recovery and national reconstruction has earned him a place in China's modern military history and will be remembered by future generations.
In August 1947, when the troops led by Liu Bocheng and Deng Xiaoping completed the feat of leaping thousands of miles into the Dabie Mountains, they made a strategic convergence with the troops under the command of Luo Houfu. This meeting was not only a strategic alliance, but also a recognition of the contribution of Luo Houfu and his troops in the continuous war of resistance in the Dabie Mountains.
After joining Luo Houfu and his troops, Liu Bocheng and Deng Xiaoping expressed deep respect and appreciation for him. They showed Luo Houfu that because of his persistence and brave fighting, the Dabie Mountain area has always been a strong fortress of the war of resistance. "The red flag of Dabie Mountain does not fall, and the gunfire continues, in which you Luo Houfu played a decisive role. Their remarks not only affirmed Law's strategic acumen and leadership, but also underscored his key role in maintaining the vitality of the region's war of resistance.
In a difficult environment, Luo Houfu's troops not only effectively resisted the enemy forces, but also maintained the revolutionary spirit and fighting spirit in the region. In the eyes of Deng Xiaoping and Liu Bocheng, Luo Houfu's contribution went far beyond command on the battlefield, and his leadership went deep into improving the morale of soldiers and maintaining the confidence of local people. They expressed high respect and praise for Lo's leadership style and adherence to strategic goals.
This convergence marked the further unification of the anti-Japanese forces in Dabie Mountain, and also heralded the dawn of victory in the anti-Japanese war. The performance of Luo Houfu and his troops in this historic rendezvous is regarded as one of the key turning points in the War of Resistance Against Japan. This not only consolidated his leadership position among his colleagues, but also left a strong mark on the history of the Chinese revolution, and his name and contributions have been recorded in countless war reports and annals.
In the early years of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Luo Houfu was appointed deputy chief of staff and deputy director of the Political Department of the Hubei Military Region, positions that gave him important influence in the military region. At the 1955 military rank conferment ceremony, although Luo Houfu only received the rank of colonel, he was also awarded three important first-class medals in recognition of his outstanding contributions in many historical periods. These medals include the Order of August 1, the Order of Independence and Freedom, and the Order of Liberation of the First Class, which symbolize his outstanding performance in the Agrarian Revolution, the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and the War of Liberation, respectively.
In 1955, the founding lieutenant general Lin Weixian took the train to Wuhan, and his heart was full of thoughts of the past years and the expectation of a reunion in the future. The old chief, Luo Houfu, whom he had not seen for many years, was his protector and mentor in the hard battle. Lin Weixian is full of expectations for this visit, and he hopes to personally express his deep respect and gratitude to the people who saved his life.
When Lin Weixian finally reunited with Luo Houfu, he was shocked by the rank on the other party's shoulder. He stared at Luo Houfu's colonel's epaulette, couldn't help but burst into tears, and asked with a trembling voice: "Old chief, your experience and contributions far exceed this rank, is this fair? You have shown extraordinary courage and wisdom in countless battles, and your dedication to the country is unparalleled, why is there only such a reward?"
Facing Lin Weixian's emotions, Luo Houfu replied with a smile and calmness: "Brother Lin, although the military rank is a kind of recognition, it is not the end of our pursuit. Every effort we make is for the great cause of communism, not for personal glory. In those challenging times, every fighter of the Communist Party shouldered a heavy historical responsibility, and our goal was to serve the party and the people wholeheartedly, and this spirit is our true glory.
Luo Houfu went on to recount his combat experience, how he led his soldiers to break through the siege of the enemy, and his perseverance in extremely difficult conditions. He talked about how he shared the pain and hardship with the soldiers on cold winter nights, and how he insisted on protecting the local people from the war despite the extreme scarcity of supplies.
Lin Wei was deeply moved after listening to it first, and realized that what Luo Houfu said was extremely true. He realized that true leaders are not just about pursuing positions and reputations, but about embodying values and beliefs through practical actions. Lin Weixian's respect and admiration for Luo Houfu was thus deepened, and he understood that the true glory did not lie in the star medal on his shoulder, but in a heart that always served the people.
This profound dialogue was not only an emotional exchange between the two old comrades-in-arms, but also a collision of ideas and spirits. Luo Houfu's perseverance and dedication inspired Lin Weixian to rethink the relationship between personal honor and collective responsibility. This exchange made the relationship between the two stronger, and also made Lin Weixian more determined to pursue higher ideals in the subsequent career.
In 1961, Luo Houfu's military career reached a new peak when he was promoted to major general, an acknowledgment of his long-standing contributions to China's military and political spheres. This honor is not only a reflection of the importance of the role he played at a critical moment in history, but also a public acknowledgment of his personal sacrifice and dedication.
General Roh's health began to deteriorate in the following years. After decades of war and hard work, his physical condition gradually declined. On May 11, 1975, General Luo Houfu died of illness in Wuhan at the age of 67. His death not only attracted attention in military circles, but also caused a deep sense of loss among the general public, because he was not only an outstanding military commander, but also a public servant who was deeply loved by the people.
General Luo Houfu's funeral was held in Wuhan and was attended by thousands of soldiers, government officials, and ordinary people to pay their last respects to the great general. In speeches by military and political leaders, they praised General Law's loyalty to the country and his heroism in several military campaigns. His strategic insight and boundless concern for his soldiers are regarded as exemplary in the military leadership of the new China.
The life of General Luo Houfu was an example of selfless dedication to the country and its people, and his death marked the end of an era. Although he has been dead for many years, the impact he left on for posterity continues. His career and personal qualities serve as a model for a new generation of military and political leaders. Not only did General Luo Houfu earn respect on the battlefield, his contributions to peacetime nation-building were equally indelible, and his legacy will continue to inspire the future development of the Chinese military and the nation.
Resources:
"General Luo Houfu's Two or Three Things" Yang Huitian