In 1967, Xiao Yongyin came to Wuxi by car and met his friend Xu Shiyou, whom he hadn't seen for a long time. After the two exchanged pleasantries, Xu Shiyou suddenly showed a bitter face: "I am facing a problem now!"
Xiao Yongyin asked in surprise, "What's wrong?"
Xu Shiyou said: "Tao Yong's child is still wandering, what should I do?"
Xiao Yongyin smiled: "This matter is on me!"
What happened to Tao Yong's child? and how did Xiao Yongyin solve it?
Friendship on the battlefield
In 1947, after a detailed analysis, the East China Field Army of the People's Liberation Army decided to launch an encirclement and annihilation war against the integrated 74th Division, the "head of the five main forces" of the Kuomintang.
At this time, Tao Yong was appointed commander of the fourth column of the East China Field Army. After learning the news that the 74th Division was going to be annihilated, Tao Yong couldn't sleep with excitement.
Before this, Tao Yonggang led the crowd to annihilate the 72nd Division. The 74th Division is a notoriously "hard bone" and is the vanguard of Lao Chiang, which is superior to the 72nd Division.
If the 74th Division can be taken down this time, then Lao Jiang will become the end of the strong crossbow in the true sense. The dawn of victory was at hand, and the entire army was in a state of euphoria.
In order to ensure the smooth progress of the battle, the troops held combat meetings for several days in succession to discuss countermeasures to contain the enemy.
The higher authorities issued an order, and Tao Yong's fourth column and Xu Shiyou's ninth column directly advanced to attack the enemy, luring the enemy into the encirclement of the troops. The mission was commanded by Xu Shiyou.
Xu Shiyou and Tao Yong fought side by side as early as 1933. At that time, the two had a superior-subordinate relationship, Tao Yong was a new recruit with a reckless temperament, and Xu Shiyou often took care of him.
This time, he could go into battle with Xu Shiyou to kill the enemy, and Tao Yong was overjoyed. He walked out of the conference room side by side with Xu Shiyou: "I am looking forward to getting your command again!"
Xu Shiyou was worried. Tao Yong's combat style is informal, and he has great momentum, he has fought hundreds of wars in the past two years, and now he has been promoted again, Xu Shiyou is worried that he will not obey discipline.
Xu Shiyou had a bad temper, and almost all of his subordinates were scolded by him. Both of them are acute, and they have not cooperated for a long time, so it is very likely that there will be conflicts due to disagreements.
Will this mission be successfully accomplished? Xu Shiyou had doubts.
After the two separated, Tao Yong returned to his tent, and before he could enter, he heard two soldiers whispering.
"Have you heard? This mission, our fourth column will be handed over to the command of the ninth column!"
"I think Commander Tao's ability is not inferior to Commander Xu! And we just won the battle, this commander's position should be given to Commander Tao!"
They fought with Tao Yong and were already impressed by Tao Yong's brave fighting style. Now that an unfamiliar leader has taken command, they are somewhat unconvinced.
Tao Yong was furious when he heard this, strode in, and reprimanded the two soldiers: "You dare to question the arrangement of the organization! Commander Xu has fought more battles than you have eaten salt, where can you arrange it!"
When the two fighters saw Tao Yong lose his temper, they knew that they had lost their words and immediately apologized to him. Tao Yong's anger did not subside, he knew that there must be more than these two people in the team who had this kind of thought.
The most taboo in military combat is the instability of the army's heart, and a thought popped up in Tao Yong's mind: Why don't the two columns eat and live together and cultivate a tacit understanding during the period before the battle?
In the evening, he invited Xu Shiyou to come and said his thoughts. Xu Shiyou was surprised that Tao Yong, such an arrogant person, would be willing to obey himself!
Tao Yong was afraid that he would think too much, so he expressed his attitude: "Commander Xu will always be someone I respect!"
Xu Shiyou was very moved and immediately agreed to his proposal.
Since then, Xu Shiyou has no worries, and he has nothing to say to Tao Yong, and the two have become close friends.
On May 14, the East China Field Army launched an encirclement and annihilation battle against the 74th Division. Xu Shiyou and Tao Yong tacitly cooperated and introduced the enemy into Meng Lianggu's encirclement.
After three days and three nights of bloody fighting, the 74th Division was successfully annihilated.
On the night of the celebration banquet, Tao Yong got drunk and found Xu Shiyou to talk: "I will follow you in the future, don't dislike me for being stupid!" Xu Shiyou laughed after listening to it.
Since then, the two have fought side by side many times, and Tao Yong has become Xu Shiyou's most loyal subordinate. But the two didn't expect that what awaited them in the future would be such a sad ending.
Search for orphans
In 1967, Tao Yong and his wife passed away one after another. After Xu Shiyou heard about this, he couldn't stand the blow and fainted. He never imagined that his best friend, who was drinking together not long ago, would suddenly leave.
After being depressed for a while, Xu Shiyou suddenly remembered that Tao Yong still had a few children under his knees! Xu Shiyou immediately called his subordinates and asked him to investigate the whereabouts of these eight children.
At that time, the older of Tao Yong's children had already joined the workforce. The remaining four small ones have no permanent place to live and have to live on the streets.
When Tao Yong's men found them, they were being beaten up by a group of thugs. Tao Yong's subordinates immediately stepped forward to stop drinking. When the group dispersed, the four dirty children looked up.
All they tried to protect was a few moldy steamed buns!
Tao Yong's subordinates immediately led the children to Xu Shiyou's home, and he informed Xu Shiyou of what he had seen.
The decisive general suddenly burst into tears. Xu Shiyou looked at these children and touched them. This is his child, who is like a brother!
He immediately announced that he would keep the children with him.
The subordinates on the side hesitated: "The commander is cautious! Now take the children over, I'm afraid it will cause trouble to the commander, so it's better to send them to the military region guest house!"
Xu Shiyou was furious when he heard this: "Tao Yong is my best friend, I can't protect him, can't I even protect his children?"
Xu Shiyou made up his mind, he turned his head and comforted the group of children: "Don't be afraid, children, stay here with peace of mind, with your uncle here, no one dares to bully you." ”
Since the death of Tao Yong and his wife, these eight children have suffered a lot of cold eyes. When wandering on the streets, he will be chased and bitten by wild dogs from time to time, and he will be bullied by thugs.
They were extremely wary of strangers and couldn't believe Xu Shiyou's words. Xu Shiyou noticed that they were guarding against him, and sighed secretly in his heart, "It's still a long time, and he will patiently eliminate the child's concerns."
Xu Shiyou set his sights on Tao Yong's youngest daughter. The little girl stood pitifully as thin as a bamboo, with tears still on her face.
When the little girl was born, Xu Shiyou hugged her. At that time, Xu Shiyou joked to Tao Yong: "People are old people, you are old women!"
Thinking of the past, Xu Shiyou's heart was sour again. He beckoned to the girl: "Come over and let Uncle see, they have grown so big." ”
The little girl had a good impression of the loving uncle in front of her, and reminded her of her father, and she cried, "Uncle, where are my father and mother? I haven't seen them for a long time." ”
Xu Shiyou endured the pain and said: "Your parents have gone to work in other places, let your uncle take care of you in the future, okay?"
The little girl nodded and cried. Hearing the news from their parents, several other older children couldn't help but cry.
Xu Shiyou called his children over, asked them to play with the little guests, and carefully told them not to mention their parents.
In this way, under Xu Shiyou's careful care, several children slowly let down their guards against Xu Shiyou.
But the good times didn't last long, and the superiors learned that Xu Shiyou had taken in Tao Yong's child and called him to reprimand him.
Xu Shiyou was not surprised that he would be criticized by his superiors. He didn't care if he would be punished, he was only afraid that he would implicate the child.
He can only ensure the food and clothing of his children now, but it is not a long-term solution. When they grow up, they always have to work and get married!
For the sake of the children's future, it is necessary to make proper arrangements. Xu Shiyou remembered a person, and this person was Xiao Yongyin, commander of the armored corps of the Nanjing Military Region.
Settle the orphans
In 1967, Xiao Yongyin received a phone call from Wuxi. After hanging up the phone, he immediately rushed to Wuxi by car, and he knew in his heart that Xu Shiyou was in trouble.
After Xiao Yongyin saw Xu Shiyou, he hurriedly asked the doubts in his heart: "The commander is in a hurry to find me, is there any trouble?"
Xu Shiyou sighed and said: "Tao Yong's children are wandering in Shanghai, I don't worry, I found everyone back, now I want to give them a safe place to go, only you can help me in this matter." ”
The reason why Xu Shiyou found Xiao Yongyin is because only Xiao Yongyin is powerful and safe now. Xiao Yongyin's face was solemn and he did not speak.
Xu Shiyou asked for help, and he felt a little uncomfortable in his heart: "I know that this is a big risk, but I can't watch these children wander around." You must help me!"
Xiao Yongyin shook his head: "I'm not afraid of trouble, they are the orphans of heroes, I will definitely help with this." We have to make sure this group of kids is safe!"
Xu Shiyou patted him on the shoulder: "I'm relieved to have your words!"
The two discussed for a while and decided to send the child to Nanjing to serve as a soldier. After careful arrangements, the children successfully arrived at the Nanjing Military Region.
A few children went incognito and gradually settled down. Looking at their reborn appearance, Xu Shiyou and Xiao Yongyin surged with hope in their hearts.
The two are slowly looking for the children left behind by other deceased comrades. Boys find a way to send them to the army, and girls find people to adopt them, and they are sent to school when they are too young.
As there were more and more "little soldiers" in the team, the clues were soon discovered.
Someone secretly reported it to the superiors, and when the superiors learned of the incident, they immediately sent people to Xiao Yongyin's troops to inspect it.
After Xiao Yongyin received the news, he sent the group of children to the armored training unit in the north overnight. This unit is trained in a confidential manner, and it is not allowed to enter unless there are special circumstances.
When the inspectors arrived, they left without finding the children. The children are safe, and Xiao Yongyin is also relieved. At this time, Xu Shiyou called.
He expressed his guilt to Xiao Yongyin on the phone: "In the final analysis, I have caused you a burden, if the superiors hold you accountable, you can put the responsibility on me." ”
Xiao Yongyin smiled indifferently: "What if you find out? And I don't think there's anything wrong with that. ”
After all, what they want to hide is a group of living children, who will be exposed one day, and it is not a way to hide like this. After Xiao Yongyin put the phone away, he directly made a review report and explained the matter to Premier Zhou.
Surprisingly, Premier Zhou did not dispose of him, as if acquiescing in his behavior. Xiao Yongyin was very moved in his heart.
In that turbulent era, many people did not dare to make mistakes, and most of them chose to protect themselves. But Xu Shiyou and Xiao Yongyin have always done what they think is right.
They are willing to take this risk, not only because they can't forget the hard years they have fought with their comrades, but also because they have never forgotten their original intentions.