The story of the founding general You Taizhong, the old general, is not simple, especially the little thing about him and Moutai, which is full of unknown details. Imagine why a general who shed his blood for the country and the people decided to never touch Moutai again after a certain dinner?
You Taizhong, a name may not be very loud in contemporary media reports, but in the long history of China's revolution, he is definitely a hero worthy of respect and memory. Born in 1918 in an ordinary farming family in Henan, You Taizhong's life can be said to be synchronized with China's modernization process. At the age of 13, he joined the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army and began his long and difficult revolutionary career.
The Long March, the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the War of Liberation, and countless tests of life and death, You Taizhong showed extraordinary courage and firm faith. He has a surprisingly good memory, which is especially important on the battlefield. I remember one time, after he accepted the mission, he never used to take notes, and when he returned to the battalion, he could convey the complex battle plan to his comrades word for word. This ability was exercised under the pressure of his lack of culture, and the importance of every task was related to life and death, and he could not be sloppy in the slightest.
His military talents were fully demonstrated in the Sino-Japanese War. In 1937, You Taizhong led his troops to ambush the Japanese army in Qiqian Village, he carefully studied the terrain, chose the best ambush position for the troops, annihilated more than 500 Japanese soldiers in one fell swoop, captured a large number of supplies, and this battle also made him famous.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, You Taizhong was appointed commander of the Inner Mongolia Military Region. He has a very simple attitude towards life. Even when he was in a high position, he never put on a show, always ate with the fighters in the unit canteen, and never wasted a grain of food. He also often admonished his subordinates not to engage in specialization, but to be diligent and thrifty.
Although You Taizhong lived a frugal life, his attitude towards wine was very special. He likes to drink, especially Moutai, but he never buys it himself. An experience in 1973 made him resist Moutai. It was a dinner in Beijing, and You Taizhong's friend ordered a bottle of Moutai to entertain him. After the meal, it was You Taizhong who was found by the waiter to settle the bill. is obviously the one who was invited, but he has to pay for it himself, which makes You Taizhong feel very uncomfortable. You Taizhong is an iron-clad man, this situation makes him feel a loss of dignity, perhaps in his heart, this is not only a matter of money, but also a misunderstanding and disrespect for his identity. Since then, You Taizhong has decided never to drink Moutai again, perhaps in his opinion, this wine is no longer just wine, but a symbol of some kind of status, and perhaps mixed with memories that make him feel unhappy.
Such a decision undoubtedly requires a lot of courage for a person who once liked Moutai. But You Taizhong's insistence also reflects his kind of nobility and self-demand that is independent of the world. For You Taizhong, many things in life are principled, even if it is a simple glass of wine.
The story of You Taizhong is not only a story about a general and a bottle of wine, but also a story of dignity, principles and choices. His life and choices reflect the spirit of the Chinese military of that era – simplicity, perseverance, and extremely high demands for personal dignity.
You Taizhong's life is so rich and tortuous, and every choice he makes is burdened with the weight of the times and personal emotions. From joining the army to the Anti-Japanese War, from the Long March to various roles after the founding of the People's Republic of China, You Taizhong has always maintained his strict requirements and loyalty to his ideals. The trajectory of his life is a microcosm of that turbulent era, and it is also a portrayal of the spirit of countless Chinese soldiers.
We look back on the story of You Taizhong today, not only to remember a hero of the past, but also to find the strength to uphold principles and maintain dignity in the current era full of changes. In You Taizhong's story, we see not only the dust of history, but also the values and personality charm that have passed through the times. With his life and choices, he left us with deep thoughts: how should we uphold our principles and dignity in the complex environment of modern society? How to stay awake and self-conscious in a materialistic world?
You Taizhong's life is a magnificent historical epic, and it is also a personal legend full of lessons. The episode between him and Moutai may be only a trivial stroke in his magnificent life, but it profoundly reveals his multiple identities and emotions as a soldier, a leader, and an ordinary person. Through this story, we can not only get a glimpse of the style of an era, but also experience the persistence and choice of a real person in the face of dignity and principles. You Taizhong's choice makes us understand that no matter how the times change, maintaining personal dignity and principles is always an important topic in life.