In the long river of history, there is such a hero, his life can be described as a phoenix nirvana, reborn from the ashes. In 1916, a poor family ushered in a small life in Xinxian County, Henan, and he was Li Desheng. From an apprentice tailor without a salary to a heroic Red Army soldier on the battlefield of resistance against Japan; from a dilapidated thatched hut to the solemn auditorium of the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery, what kind of legend is his life? How did a child who came out of the mud step by step rise to the high position of a revolutionary leader? How did he influence our generation? Today, let us walk into the world of Li Desheng and see the extraordinary life of this old general.
Maybe many people don't know what kind of story is hidden behind the name Li Desheng. This is not only a legend from poverty to hero, but also a memory of the years of blood and fire. In 1916, Li Desheng was born in an ordinary farming family in Xinxian County, Henan Province, and his family was so poor that even a full meal became a luxury. In that era of scarcity of materials, the little Li Desheng began his career of struggle.
As a child, due to his family's poverty, he began his apprenticeship early, helping in a tailor's shop. The boss here is very picky, and the amount of food he gives can't even fill the stomach of a child. In addition to facing needlework and thread, Li Desheng also had to endure the torture of hunger every day. But it was in this environment that he developed his tenacity and endurance. Soon after, he had enough of starvation and resolutely changed his job and went to a landlord's house to herd cattle. Although the landlord and his wife complained about him, at least he was able to breathe freely on the hillside, which was a relief for him.
In 1928, an important year, a Soviet government was established in Li Desheng's area, and a children's regiment was formed in his village. This regiment is not only a playground for children, but also a small revolutionary school. Li Desheng grew up rapidly here, and with his familiarity with the terrain and agility, he became the leader of the children's group. He led the other members of the regiment to stand guard, check pedestrians, and even liaise and pass on information.
This experience is extremely important to Li Desheng. Not only did he get acquainted with many Red Army soldiers, but he gradually set his future goal - to become a real Red Army. The opportunity soon came, and through the recommendation of his uncle, he was able to contact a battalion commander in the Red Army. The battalion commander had a good first impression of him, but he was only worried that he was too young. So, the battalion commander proposed a test - a race with a communicator. For Li Desheng, who is familiar with mountain roads, this is almost a piece of cake. He lived up to expectations, winning the race by a landslide, and from then on, his Red Army career officially began.
Li Desheng performed well in the Red Army, and with his extraordinary courage and intelligence, he quickly grew from an ordinary soldier to a squad leader, platoon leader, and even a regiment commander. He participated in many famous battles, each of which was known for his courage to fight. During the Long March, he led his troops to break through the enemy's encirclement many times, and made great contributions to the safe transfer of large troops.
The cruelty of the war also left a deep imprint on Li Desheng. In a fierce battle, one of his best friends dies to protect him. This deeply devastated Li Desheng and strengthened his determination to serve the country and the people. After the war, Li Desheng did not choose a comfortable life, but continued to stay in the army to help the construction and development of New China.
His military prowess and leadership were gradually recognized, and he was eventually promoted to senior general. In peacetime, Li Desheng turned to economic construction, paying special attention to the improvement of the living standards of the common people. He has promoted a number of reform measures that have given hope to people in many impoverished areas. His efforts have given him a high prestige and affinity among the people.
On May 8, 2011, Li Desheng died of illness at the age of 95. His memorial service was held at the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery, and on this day, countless people came to bid farewell to the old general. His children, despite their grief, remained polite and respectful in the midst of the mourners. There were also many former comrades-in-arms and ordinary people present, who either sent wreaths or wept silently to commemorate the hero's life.
At the memorial service, a particularly touching scene was nearly 1,000 villagers from Li Desheng's hometown of Xinxian County, Henan. They traveled thousands of miles to Beijing just to see off General Li Desheng on his last journey. Among them were old and young, and each of them had a face full of admiration and reluctance for this hero. Many of them have improved their living conditions with the help of Li Desheng, and their arrival is not only a tribute to Li Desheng's memory, but also the highest respect for his lifelong service to the people.
Among these fellow villagers, an elderly man said in front of the camera: "General Li is the pride of our new county, and his life is to serve the people." We hope that he will be able to return to his roots and rest in peace with the more than 50,000 martyrs in his hometown. These words not only moved everyone present, but also let more people learn about the life of this ordinary and great veteran general through the media.