On May 1, 1953, the grand occasion to celebrate the "May Day" International Labor Day was held in Tiananmen Square in Beijing. As one of the famous generals, General Sun Yi was invited to participate in this grand military parade. As he stood on the viewing platform and admired the joyful procession of workers, peasants, and students, a slightly strange detail caught his attention. He found that whenever he looked up at Chairman Mao on the city tower, he could always see Luo Ruiqing next to him staring straight at him. What is the reason for this? How is General Sun Yi's experience related to this bizarre scene? Let's find out.
1. General Sun Yi: The legendary life of a poor peasant child to a hero of the Red Army
Sun Yi was born into a poor peasant family, and his hometown is located in Dacheng County, Langfang City, Hebei Province. Although his parents were poor, they attached great importance to their children's education, they were frugal, tightened their belts and insisted on Sun Yi's education. However, the good times did not last long, and in 1920, Sun Yi's parents finally couldn't afford his tuition, so they could only make a painful decision to let Sun Yi drop out of school.
In the face of his parents' decision, Sun Yi showed unexpected maturity and strength. He thanked his parents for everything he had done for him and said that he would make a living on his own and ease the burden on his family. This filial piety made the parents very pleased. Sixteen-year-old Sun Yi left his hometown in this way and began a wandering life alone.
It was a turbulent time, warlords fighting each other, and gunsmoke everywhere. Sun Yi came to Shanghai, Xiamen, Chaozhou and other places, but he has never been able to find a stable job and lives a life of displacement. In the end, he could only go to Kaifeng and take refuge with his brother who was on an errand there. However, his brother's income is also very meager, and Sun Yi's arrival undoubtedly increases the burden of his life.
Half a year later, Sun Yi finally found a job in Kaifeng, but it didn't take long for him to lose his job again. The stressed elder brother finally broke out, and yelled at Sun Yi angrily: "It's better for you to pull a foreign car than to be idle here with me!" This sharp sentence deeply hurt Sun Yi's self-esteem. He resolutely left his brother's residence and went to the recruitment office in Kaifeng to sign up for the army.
In this way, Sun Yi began his military career. After enlisting in the army, he was incorporated into the Kaifeng Supplementary Battalion of the Henan Army and became an ordinary soldier. Despite the hardships of life in the barracks, at least the problem of food and clothing was solved. With his extraordinary talent, Sun Yi was quickly promoted, and was gradually promoted to major staff officer of the 26th Route Army Staff Office of the National Revolutionary Army.
However, after serving in the old army for a long time, Sun Yi's ideological realm has been stagnant. His original intention of enlisting in the army was just to earn a living, and he did not understand the true meaning of being a soldier. It wasn't until he met Zhao Bosheng, chief of staff of the 26th Army, that he had a yearning for the Red Army.
Zhao Bosheng took good care of Sun Yi and cared about him like a brother. During a casual chat, Zhao Bosheng talked about the deeds of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, and Sun Yi learned about this people's army that truly served the people. The Red Army, unlike them, had lofty ideals and firm convictions, fought for the liberation of the people. This made Sun Yi yearn for it, and he increasingly lost interest in staying in the decaying old army.
By coincidence, in 1931, Sun Yi's 26th Army had the Ningdu Uprising, and under the influence of Zhao Bosheng, he resolutely joined the rebel army and began his career in the Red Army. Since then, Sun Yi has served as the chief of the reconnaissance section and chief of staff of the Red 14th Army, and has paid sweat and blood in an extremely difficult environment, and finally became a heroic general of the Red Army.
2. General Sun Yi and Tian Xiujuan: A rare red marriage
In the magnificent life course of General Sun Yi, there is a rare red marriage experience worth remembering. His lover Tian Xiujuan is also an outstanding revolutionary soldier, and the combination of the two is full of revolutionary romance.
Tian Xiujuan, formerly known as Zhang Xiushan, was born in 1912 in a wealthy family in Pingyao County, Shanxi Province. She was devastated by feudal ideology since she was a child, sold as a child bride at the age of 8, and forced to marry a violent and alcoholic old man at the age of 16, and endured countless tortures and abuses. It was this painful experience that gave her a deep understanding of the dark side of feudal society and ignited her desire for freedom and equality.
In 1937, when the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression broke out, Tian Xiujuan took the opportunity to escape from her tyrannical husband, threw herself into the base area led by the Communist Party, and joined the Eighth Route Army. In the war-torn era, she made many achievements and soon became an excellent guerrilla. She is not afraid of hardships and dangers, takes the lead, is brave and good at fighting, and enjoys a high reputation among her comrades.
In 1943, Tian Xiujuan was ordered to go to Yan'an and be trained as a cadre. During her time in Yan'an, she had the good fortune to get acquainted with Sun Yi, who was already the chief of staff of the Red 14th Army at that time. The two hit it off at first sight and developed a crush on each other. Sun Yi is upright and loves the people, enthusiastic about revolution, and Tian Xiujuan is brave and good at fighting, not afraid of hardships and dangers, the two have similar interests and love each other.
However, in that particular era, it seemed a bit extravagant to fall in love. The national liberation movement was in full swing, and the cadres of the party and the army were all wholeheartedly devoted themselves to the revolutionary cause. Therefore, Sun Yi and Tian Xiujuan's relationship has always been in a state of secret love, and the two have never been publicly intimate.
It wasn't until 1947 that Comrade Nie Rongzhen, as the superior leader of the two, saw the clue and took the initiative to match them. Nie Rongzhen personally approached Tian Xiujuan and made it clear that the central government had agreed to her and Sun Yi to be married. In the face of the leader's approval, Tian Xiujuan was grateful and readily agreed.
In this way, under the simple conditions of Yan'an, Sun Yi and Tian Xiujuan held an ordinary and grand "red wedding". Chairman Mao, Zhou Enlai and other proletarian revolutionaries of the older generation attended in person to offer blessings to the newcomers. Although there were no ornate gowns and lavish guests, the couple was brimming with a revolutionary glow that was more sacred and solemn than any ceremony.
After marriage, Tian Xiujuan continued to fight on the front line, while Sun Yi served in the army. Although the two rarely see each other, they care for each other and interpret the belief that "revolution is the backbone" with their actions. They have defended their common ideals and beliefs with practical actions, and have shared weal and woe. This noble revolutionary sentiment is destined that their marriage will not be a simple husband and wife love, but a kind of adherence to faith and career.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Sun Yi and Tian Xiujuan lived separately in Beijing and Yan'an. Until 1950, Tian Xiujuan was transferred from Yan'an to Beijing to reunite with her husband. Since then, they have been loving, self-made, and living a poor but happy life. This revolutionary couple wrote a unique chapter of red love with a sincere heart.
3. Military career after the founding of the People's Republic of China
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, General Sun Yi did not leave his military career. On the contrary, in this era of peace, he continued to contribute his strength to the construction of the country.
In 1949, Sun Yi was transferred to Beiping (the name of the city of Beijing at that time) and served as the president of the second branch of the Central Military Commission. Previously, Sun Yi had studied Kang University in Yan'an, and had a deep understanding of the school-running philosophy and training model of Kang University. After his arrival, he strictly demanded the trainees and implemented discipline in place.
Sun Yi personally took the lead, from life to study, there was no relaxation for the students. He insisted on inspecting the campus at 6:30 a.m. every morning, and severely reprimanded anyone who was late or disheveled. Once, when a cadet unbuttoned a few buttons in his military uniform, Sun Yi was furious on the spot, reprimanding them for neglecting self-discipline. For this reason, many students privately called Sun Yi a "grumpy old man".
Despite this, Sun Yi's strict requirements for students are out of good intentions. He hopes to train these recruits to be loyal guards to the country and the people, rather than some noble sons and brothers who only know pleasure. He values his teaching by example to his words, and influences students with his excellent style. The hard work paid off, although it caused many students to complain at the beginning, but in the end it won the love and respect of the majority of students.
After graduating from Kang University, Sun Yi continued to serve in the army and participated in several key battles. In the spring of 1949, he led the Sixth Column of the Beiping Military Region to participate in the Battle of Crossing the River. This was a crucial battle that determined the outcome of the Liberation War, and Sun Yi's troops charged into battle and made great contributions to the final overall victory.
After the victory of the battle of crossing the river, the People's Liberation Army rapidly advanced westward, and Sun Yi continued to go all out. The troops he led advanced into Chongqing, Guiyang, and other important places in the southwest, paving the way for the establishment of New China. By 1950, the great cause of national liberation was basically completed, and Sun Yi was finally able to completely unload the burden of war.
On May 1, 1953, a grand ceremony was held in Beijing to celebrate the International Labor Day. As a famous general, Sun Yi was invited to watch the ceremony at the Tiananmen Tower. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and Sun Yi was fortunate to witness the demeanor of the great man Chairman Mao Zedong.
On the same day, Sun Yi stood on the viewing platform not far from the city tower, admiring the scene of the procession. Whenever he looked up at the city tower, he could see Luo Ruiqing, who was beside Chairman Mao at that time, staring at him. This wonderful scene left a deep impression on Sun Yi and was unforgettable for a long time. This may indicate that there is some kind of special relationship between him and Luo Ruiqing.
Fourth, the reason for Luo Ruiqing's "weird" behavior
Luo Ruiqing's behavior of watching Sun Yi from the tower of Tiananmen Square in 1953 is indeed confusing. But if you go back to the origin of the two, it is not difficult to solve this mystery.
In fact, Luo Ruiqing has shown extraordinary talent since he was a child and is regarded as a pillar of the Chinese revolution. He was born in 1918 in a poor peasant family in Wuqiang County, Hebei Province, and suffered from poverty since childhood. But the reality of his poor family can't wipe out his fiery curiosity.
Luo Ruiqing was able to recite the "Three Character Classic" at the age of 5, and began to study classics such as "Zizhi Tongjian" and "Twenty-four History" at the age of 8, and was very knowledgeable. He even studied Buddhist scriptures and had a deep understanding of ancient philosophy. Such an outstanding talent makes him the pride of the villagers.
In 1931, 13-year-old Luo Ruiqing was admitted to Baoding Normal School and was soon rated as a "good student". In the summer of that year, he happened to get acquainted with Geng Kebai, a scholar who had been all over the revolutionary base areas in Yan'an, and began to accept the baptism of revolutionary thought. Since then, Luo Ruiqing has embarked on a new path of life.
In 1935, Luo Ruiqing was admitted to Shaanxi Public School and became a student of the Yan'an Central Party School of the Communist Party of China. Due to his outstanding talent, he was soon highly valued by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and was ordered to go to Yan'an Kang University for further study. There, he met Sun Yi, who was seven years his senior, and the two developed a deep revolutionary friendship.
After the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War in 1937, Luo Ruiqing resolutely joined the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army and served in the northwest base of the Eighth Route Army. He made great achievements in war, made many great contributions, and at the same time made outstanding achievements in theory, and was appointed as the director of the Propaganda Department of the Northwest Bureau in 1943. During this period, Luo Ruiqing and Sun Yi cooperated seamlessly and established a deep comradeship.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Luo Ruiqing rose all the way to important positions such as deputy director of the Central Propaganda Department and executive vice president of the Party School. His outstanding contributions to the revolutionary cause have been highly affirmed and appreciated by the Central Committee. Although Sun Yi is only a general, the revolutionary friendship between the two has a long history and endures.
It is precisely because of this precious friendship that on May 1, 1953, Luo Ruiqing stood on the city tower and couldn't help but have mixed feelings when he saw his old friend Sun Yi. He expressed his respect and admiration for this heroic general with his eyes, but he did not expect that this spirit of sacrificing himself for the people would become a "strange behavior" that later generations called strange.
In fact, this kind of deep revolutionary friendship is normal for heroes like Luo Ruiqing and Sun Yi. They were true communist fighters, who put everything they had into the great revolutionary cause. Friendship, family affection, and love have all taken a back seat in their hearts, and only the fierce loyalty to the party and the people will remain immortal.
5. Enjoy the joy of family life in old age
The years flew by, and the revolutionary years faded away. General Sun Yi, who has entered his old age, can finally get rid of the smoke of war and enjoy the joy of family.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Sun Yi's family of three settled in an old-style bungalow on Xizhimennei Street in Beijing. It's a quiet place to live, not too far from work, and it's a great place to live.
Although the housing conditions are very simple, it is a great favor for Sun Yi and his wife, who have fought guerrillas in enemy camps and base areas for many years. They are willing to give, never care about personal gains and losses, and are equally happy and content wherever they live.
Sun Yi's greatest joy in his later years was to be with his wife and children. He and Tian Xiujuan's son Sun Wenhua have been smart and clever since childhood, excellent in character and learning, and are the pearls of Sun Yi and his wife. Sun Wenhua experienced the revolutionary spirit of his parents since he was a child, studied hard, was diligent and down-to-earth, and was later admitted to the Department of Computer Science of Tsinghua University, where his grades were among the best.
For the sake of the child's future, Sun Yi and Tian Xiujuan are willing to do everything. Due to the poverty of the family, the only thing the two of them can give their children is a good home education and learning environment. Tian Xiujuan carefully manages the housework every day and takes care of the house cleanly; Sun Yi personally tutored the children in their spare time and encouraged him to study hard.
In this way, under the best efforts of his parents, after Sun Wenhua made some achievements, serving the country became his only goal in life. In 1983, Sun Wenhua was admitted to the Institute of Computing of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and began to engage in the research and development of computer software and hardware.
In addition to his son's popularity, Sun Yi also gained a different kind of happiness in his later years. In 1985, his daughter Sun Chunyu added a lovely granddaughter to him, and the child's innocent and lively laughter came from time to time at home, which made Sun Yi, who had been in the rain of bullets, feel unprecedented happiness.
In his later years, Sun Yi was always surrounded by the laughter of his wife and children, which made him feel the warmth of family affection that he had not seen for a long time. Whenever his family was reunited, he would talk endlessly about the prosperous years of his youth on the battlefield, and his wife and children listened attentively, which was the greatest pleasure and comfort in his later years.
In 1986, Sun Yi, who was already in his prime, suddenly fell seriously ill. In his last days in the hospital, he was still surrounded by his wife and children. When he was seriously ill, Tian Xiujuan personally fed him water and medicine, and took care of him. Sun Wenhua and Sun Chunyu also often visited and greeted their father, and had long conversations with their father.
Until the last moment of his life, Sun Yi was still docile and kind, and never forgot his mission as a member of the Communist Party. Before dying, he instructed his children and grandchildren: "We must strive to contribute our own strength to the prosperity and strength of the motherland and the happiness of the people." ＂