In the 20th century, China experienced war and turmoil, and social change was imminent. After the establishment of the Nationalist Government in Nanjing in 1927, China's political landscape seemed to be stable, but the flames of civil war and the shadow of foreign aggression had not yet dissipated. At this historical turning point, Ji Pengfei, a young man from an ordinary middle-peasant family, gradually embarked on an extraordinary road through his own efforts and opportunities. His life, from a rural boy to a key figure in China's diplomatic arena, reflects the complex process of China's transition from closure to openness.
In 1910, in Yuncheng, Shanxi, a middle-peasant family welcomed their third child, Ji Pengfei. The young Ji Pengfei faced the blow of his family's poverty and his mother's early death, but these difficulties did not defeat him, but stimulated his thirst for knowledge.
"Reading is the way out, father, I have to go further to study." He said to his father at the age of 16.
After several years of ups and downs, Ji Pengfei finally entered the military doctor training class of Xi'an Army Hospital. There, in addition to studying medicine, he was exposed to some advanced ideas.
"Have you read this book "New Youth"?" During recess, a classmate mysteriously handed him a magazine.
"Marxism?" A hint of curiosity flashed in his eyes.
Through unremitting efforts, Ji Pengfei gradually grew from an ordinary military doctor to a military health officer. In 1930, his fate was indissoluble with the Chinese Communist Party. After joining the Communist Party, he participated in the underground struggle until he embarked on the arduous journey of the Long March.
"Our mission is to make sure that every fighter can be healed and continue to fight." On the Long March, he said solemnly to the medical staff under his command.
After the end of the Long March, Ji Pengfei's role began to change, gradually transitioning from military health work to political work. In 1940, he was appointed director of the Political Department of the New Fourth Army.
"Political work is also about life and death, and it is as important as medical care." In northern Jiangsu, he elaborated on his new responsibilities in this way.
During the Liberation War, Ji Pengfei's political and military talents were further tempered. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, his stage shifted from the battlefield to the diplomatic field. He served as China's ambassador to East Germany and participated in negotiations on the normalization of relations between China and the United States and China and Japan.
"Diplomacy is about exchanging the least price for the greatest benefit." At the negotiating table, he always has the right moment.
Despite his repeated successes in the diplomatic field, Ji Pengfei always has an unspeakable regret in his heart. He once privately confided to a friend: "I always feel like I can do more." ”
In 2000, Ji Pengfei left this world peacefully in Beijing. His life witnessed the great historical changes in China from civil strife to reunification and then to the world. Before he died, his family and old friends sat around the bed, and he said softly: "My life is dedicated to the country, although I have regrets, but I have no regrets." This sentence, like a portrayal of his life, shows the sacrifices and contributions he made for the country.
Ji Pengfei's story is an epic that spans war and peace, and an ode to dedication and sacrifice. In his life, we have seen how an ordinary person can write an extraordinary life through unremitting efforts in a magnificent era. His story reminds us that history is woven by those who work behind the scenes. Although Ji Pengfei passed away with regret, his life and spirit are like a clear stream in the long river, inspiring future generations to continue to move forward. In this rapidly changing world, let us not forget our original intention, continue to move forward, just as Ji Pengfei did, and make unremitting efforts for a better tomorrow.