In that turbulent era in 1937, the Japanese army trampled on the land of China, and Shanxi became an important place on the anti-Japanese front. At such a historical juncture, the cooperation between the KMT and the CPC is particularly important. At that time, the two generals, Mr. He and Zhao Chengshou, faced a strong enemy, and they had to deal with the ownership of the command internally. Why did Mr. He give up the command to Zhao Chengshou, and why did Zhao Chengshou refuse?
China in 1937 was a year of change. In that year, the Japanese were dissatisfied with the occupation of only the three eastern provinces, and their ambitions began to spread to the wider Chinese mainland. The Lugou Bridge Incident on 7 July, like a sudden rainstorm, completely shattered the temporary calm in North China, and a full-scale war of aggression against China was about to break out.
At that time, Shanxi, due to its rich coal resources, became a battleground for the Japanese army. Although Yan Xishan of the Kuomintang was known as the warlord of Jinsui, under the strong pressure of the Japanese army, the defense line was defeated one after another. Against such a dangerous background, the two main divisions of the Eighth Route Army, the 115th Division and the 120th Division, held out in Shanxi and became an important force to block the Japanese army.
In this difficult period of fighting against the Japanese army, the story of Mr. He and Zhao Chengshou is particularly moving. Mr. He, the original name is unknown, let's call him Mr. He, this division commander is quite prestigious on the battlefield, but what is more commendable is his mind and wisdom. In the face of the increasingly severe war situation, Mr. He understood that it was difficult for one of his divisions to resist the Japanese army. So, he thought of uniting more forces, especially those who were influential within the Kuomintang.
Zhao Chengshou, the elite of the Jin army, had risen to the position of army commander at that time. He showed extraordinary military talent in the Northern Expedition and was Yan Xishan's right-hand man. After the outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japan, Commander Zhao not only fought several fierce battles with the Japanese army on the front line, but also maintained a clear mind and a firm position in the domestic political struggle.
In Mr. He's view, Zhao Chengshou not only has great achievements, but more importantly, he has a wide range of contacts and prestige in the army. This made Mr. He put forward a bold suggestion at a strategic meeting: "I am the division commander, you are the army commander, and you will command this battle." He hopes to use Zhao Chengshou's influence to unify command and give full play to the greatest combat effectiveness.
But unexpectedly, Zhao Chengshou resigned again and again. He said to Mr. He: "Mr. He, you are a veteran general and have insight into the overall situation, so you should bear such a heavy responsibility." In Zhao Chengshou's view, although his official rank is high, Mr. He has more experience and interpersonal relationships on the battlefield, and he is more suitable for this important responsibility. In this, there is not only trust in Mr. He's ability, but also careful consideration of the current situation.
This excuse is not based on personal modesty, but on a deep understanding of the complexities and challenges of joint operations. Zhao Chengshou knew very well that once he accepted the command, he would not only have to face the pressure of the enemy, but also have to properly handle all kinds of contradictions and frictions within the Kuomintang and the Communist Party. Such a heavy pressure is not trivial. The reason why Mr. He put forward this suggestion is precisely because he hopes that through the leadership of Zhao Chengshou, the forces of the two sides will be better integrated and a strong joint force will be formed in the war against Japan.
After some heated discussions, the two generals finally came to an agreement. Although Zhao Chengshou still maintains the identity of the army commander, the actual strategic deployment and military operations are completed by Mr. He. In this case, Zhao Chengshou's role was more of a bridge between the KMT's top brass and the Eighth Route Army, while Mr. He was the actual operational commander.
In the ensuing battle, despite the strong pressure of the Japanese army, the cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party began to bear fruit. Mr. He's tactical layout and Zhao Chengshou's political coordination jointly helped the troops to persevere in battle after battle. Through guerrilla tactics such as night ambushes and mine warfare, they effectively delayed the Japanese offensive and accumulated valuable time and strength for subsequent large-scale counteroffensives.
This war is not only a contest of force, but also a test of wisdom and courage. The story of Mr. He and Zhao Chengshou allows people to see how individual heroism can be transformed into collective strength in times of national crisis. Through their cooperation, they not only preserved the pure land of Shanxi, but also added a strong touch to the spirit of the Chinese people's resistance to the war.
Although in the end, Shanxi did not completely stop the footsteps of the Japanese army, the story of the Anti-Japanese War between Mr. He and Zhao Chengshou has become an indelible memory of that era. Their wisdom, courage and sacrifice continue to inspire every peace and freedom lover today.
Through the story of Mr. He and Zhao Chengshou, it is not difficult for us to find out how many unsung heroes used their flesh and blood to build the Great Wall of Steel against foreign enemies in those turbulent eras. The mutual trust and cooperation between them is not only the key to the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, but also a precious spiritual wealth that we should remember today. In the days to come, no matter what kind of difficulties and challenges we face, we must have this spirit of unity and cooperation to overcome difficulties together.