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Text | Zhu Xiaoyue loves Kanyu
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In 1988, the Chinese People's Liberation Army implemented a new military rank system, and the highest rank was adjusted to general. As part of this reform, a total of 17 senior officers were awarded the rank of general, 12 of whom were awarded the honour again. Hong Xuezhi became a special case, he was not only awarded the rank of general again, but also known as the "six-star general" because he had two sets of general's epaulettes. In the case that there are still 27 founding generals alive, why did Hong Xuezhi win this honor, and what are the considerations behind this?
Hong Xuezhi was born in Jinzhai, Anhui Province in 1913 and began his extraordinary revolutionary career in 1929 when he joined the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army. In the same year, at the age of 16, he actively participated in the Shangnan Uprising, and immediately joined the Communist Party of China, laying down his firm political beliefs and the direction of future battles.
With his fearless courage and determination, the young Hong Xuezhi quickly rose to prominence in the Red Army. In 1929, he was incorporated into the Fourth Front of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, and soon after showed his heroism on the battlefield. Hong Xuezhi showed fearlessness in every battle, always rushing to the front line, especially when he was 19 years old, when he was appointed commander of a heavy machine gun company, and his leadership and fighting spirit were recognized by his comrades.
In the autumn of 1932, the Red Fourth Front carried out the order of a strategic westward shift. This transfer is not only geographical, but also a severe test for the officers and men participating in the war, such as Hong Xuezhi, and other grassroots commanders. Through these battles, Hong Xuezhi demonstrated unwavering determination and superior combat skills, especially in the fierce battles at the mouth of the Huang'an River, Zaoyang and Ziwu Town, where his heavy machine gun company played a key role.
With the Red Army's entry into the Nanba region of Sichuan, Hong Xuezhi's role gradually changed, and he was appointed battalion political commissar and director of the regimental political office. In these positions, he not only participated in a number of key battles, such as the three-way "siege" of Tian Songyao and the six-way "siege" of Liu Xiang, but also his command ability was greatly verified in the night attack on Sanjiaba of the 217th Regiment. This operation succeeded in defeating four enemy regiments, for which the Red Fourth Front awarded its troops the "Night Attack Victory" award flag.
In June 1932, Hong Xuezhi was promoted to director of the Political Department of the 93rd Division, and in October he was transferred to the director of the Political Department of the Red 4th Army. In the process of establishing a revolutionary base in Sichuan and Shaanxi, he demonstrated outstanding leadership and mobilization skills. He not only led his troops in fierce battles with the enemy on the front lines, but also went deep into the countryside, promoted land reform, mobilized the masses to participate in the revolution, and helped establish Soviet power and local armed forces. These experiences not only enriched Hong Xuezhi's experience in military command and political work, but also enabled him to be highly praised and commended by the military and the front army on many occasions.
This history of Hong Xuezhi is not only a testament to his personal qualities and leadership skills, but also a vivid demonstration of his fearless, brave and innovative command. Through these successful campaigns and effective mass work, Hong Xuezhi established his leading position in the Red Army and made indelible contributions to the cause of the Chinese revolution.
During the War of Resistance Against Japan, General Hong Xuezhi showed extraordinary military talent and bravery, especially when participating in key battles such as the Battle of the Hundred Regiments in the Taihang Mountain area. In 1940, he completed a seemingly impossible task: when the Japanese army was at its strongest, he successfully led his troops through six provinces, broke through the blockade line set up by many Japanese troops, and finally reached the headquarters of the New Fourth Army in Yancheng, Jiangsu Province. This feat was performed without any casualties in the troops, demonstrating his superior tactical vision and ability to manage the troops.
In the long-term confrontation with the Japanese army, Hong Xuezhi's troops not only successfully avoided many large-scale enemy sweeps, but were also able to effectively deal a heavy blow to the enemy army and annihilate a large number of enemy troops. His tactics were flexible and changeable, and he was able to quickly adjust his battle plan according to the situation on the battlefield, which was especially evident in the battles in Funing, Huaiyin, and Huai'an. Hong Xuezhi's command was extremely critical in these battles, he not only ensured the continuity of the battle, but also effectively used the terrain and local forces, posing a great threat to the Japanese army.
By 1945, as the Chinese army entered the stage of a full-scale counteroffensive, Hong Xuezhi continued to demonstrate his tactical talents and leadership on the front lines. He was involved in a number of large-scale battles that played an important role in ultimately driving victory in the war. His tactical arrangements are always carefully designed to make the most of the enemy's weaknesses and strike with precision, minimizing his own losses while maximizing the enemy's damage.
General Hung's military career is a constant testament to his leadership and tactical wisdom. Through continuous fighting and command, he not only won the trust and admiration of the soldiers on the battlefield, but also contributed great strength to the victory of China's War of Resistance against Japan. His achievements have left an indelible mark on military history and have become a model for future generations to learn from and emulate.
In May 1951, Hong Xuezhi was appointed as the logistics commander of the Volunteer Army, and was jointly responsible for logistics work with political commissar Zhou Chunquan. In the early days of his tenure, Hong Xuezhi immediately combined the logistics support experience he had accumulated in the War of Liberation with the reality of the current battlefield and proposed a set of innovative logistics supply plans. He advocated combining the supply of divisions with the supply of formations, optimizing the distribution of materials, and ensuring the stability of the supply lines of the front-line troops.
Just two months later, the northern part of the Korean Peninsula was hit by a rare flood, which damaged important road bridges and posed a serious threat to logistical supply lines. In the face of this sudden situation, Hong Xuezhi and Chen Geng quickly responded and mobilized 11 armies, 9 engineer regiments, and 3 engineering brigades in the rear, as well as all available personnel of the organs, to devote themselves to the work of emergency traffic repair.
Under the careful organization and command of Hong Xuezhi, this huge contingent successfully restored the main lines of communication in the theater after fighting continuously for 25 days and nights. Hong Xuezhi not only pays attention to the timely distribution of materials, he also emphasizes the quality and speed of emergency repair work to ensure that materials can reach the front line smoothly in any weather conditions.
This operation not only effectively guaranteed the operational needs of the volunteers, but also greatly improved the emergency response capability and coordination mechanism of the logistics department. Hong Xuezhi's leadership and decision-making during this crisis demonstrated his excellent organizational skills and deep understanding of the importance of logistics support, further reinforcing the central position of logistics support in the overall military operation. These contributions of his have provided a solid logistical support for subsequent combat operations and ensured the continuous combat capability of the volunteer army in a complex environment.
In September 1955, at the first military rank awarding ceremony, an important moment in the history of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, the 42-year-old Hong Xuezhi was awarded the rank of general, marking that he officially became one of the founding generals after the founding of New China. This honor is not only a recognition of his long-term outstanding contributions to military combat and logistics management, but also symbolizes his important position in the military history of the People's Republic of China.
In December 1956, Hong Xuezhi was appointed head of the General Logistics Department, a position that put him in charge of the logistics support of the whole army. During his tenure as minister, Hong Xuezhi relied on his rich experience in logistics management and profound strategic vision to lead the development of our army's logistics department in the direction of modernization and regularization. His leadership has greatly improved the efficiency and quality of logistics support and ensured the troops' sustained combat capability in various complex environments.
Hong Xuezhi has adopted a series of innovative measures in logistics construction. He promoted the informatization of logistics and material management, and optimized the operation of material allocation and supply chain by introducing modern management methods and technologies, such as computer management systems. He also attached importance to the professional training of logistics units and established a number of training bases to improve the professional skills and emergency response capabilities of logistics personnel.
1988 marked an important turning point in the history of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, with the implementation of a new rank system abolishing the ranks of marshal and general and making general the highest rank. In this major reform, a total of 17 senior generals were awarded the rank of general, and 12 of them were not the first to receive this honor. These generals included Hong Xuezhi, Zhang Zhen, Qin Jiwei, Liu Huaqing, Li Desheng, You Taizhong, Guo Linxiang, Wang Chenghan, Xiang Shouzhi, Li Yaowen, Xu Xin, and Liu Zhenhua.
Among these experienced generals, Hong Xuezhi's situation is particularly prominent, he is not only the only veteran who has been awarded the rank of general this time to receive this honor for the second time, but also because the general's epaulettes are designed with three stars, he has two sets of general's epaulettes, and he is also known as a "six-star general" inside and outside the army. This one-of-a-kind honor not only reflects Hong's outstanding contributions to the military field, but also symbolizes his central leadership role in many major military reforms and battles.
Hong Xuezhi's military career spanned many eras, and his experience was varied, including his heroic performance in the War of Liberation and his key contributions to military construction and logistics support from the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China to the reform and opening up period. His re-attainment of the rank of general is not only a recognition of his personal military talents, but also a full affirmation of his long-term service to the People's Liberation Army and his outstanding contributions to China's security.
Hong Xuezhi's unique position also reflects the unique way in which the Chinese military inherits and develops its military traditions, emphasizing respect and recognition of historical contributions. His life and career set an example for a new generation of military personnel, demonstrating the importance of loyalty and dedication, and the need to constantly adapt and innovate in the face of new challenges.
At the third meeting of the Seventh National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in March 1990, Hong Xuezhi submitted his resignation and was elected vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. Faced with this new role, Hong Xuezhi expressed his loyalty to the party, emphasizing that as a member of the Communist Party, he was always ready to go wherever he was needed. His words reveal a deep humility: "I am still a novice to the work of the CPPCC, and in the face of new challenges, I must learn from scratch. A true revolutionary is always learning.
Throughout his military career, Hong Xuezhi has always forged ahead bravely and made unremitting efforts for the country's security and development. After entering the era of peace, his focus turned to the country's long-term development strategy, and he never turned a deaf ear to the country's call. His colleagues who worked side by side with him spoke highly of his character and talents, and they described this great leader as a man of vision and deep affection for the people.
Hong Xuezhi's life fully embodies the heroism and dedication of Chinese soldiers. His military achievements are as respectable as his service in the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. His military career left indelible traces, especially his title of "six-star general" and his significant contribution to the development of China's military strategy. His position in the history of the new Chinese armed forces is not only remembered for his military talents, but also admired for his profound feelings for the people and his unremitting spirit of serving the country. The story of General Hong Hak-chi is a profound inspiration to future generations, and his life and career demonstrate the sense of responsibility and charisma of a true leader.