In 1952, in the passionate years of the founding of the People's Republic of China, a major corruption case that shocked the whole country was quietly revealed. Liu Qingshan, secretary of the Tianjin Prefectural Party Committee, was sentenced to death for embezzling huge amounts of public funds, becoming the first high-ranking cadre in New China to be executed for corruption. How did this hero, who once fought for the revolution, become a corrupt element? When his three children grew up, why did they have to overturn the case for their father? What is the end result of their efforts?
From revolutionary heroes to corrupt elements
In 1916, a poor peasant family in Hebei Province welcomed a baby boy, which was the future Liu Qingshan. Born in troubled times, Liu Qingshan has tasted poverty since he was a child.
He could only make ends meet by doing farm work and working long hours, and was bullied in the landlord's house. This experience made the young Liu Qingshan develop a strong hatred for the landlord class, and also planted the seeds for him to devote himself to the revolutionary cause in the future.
The turning point of fate came when Liu Qingshan was 15 years old. By chance, he joined the Communist Party of China and was determined to devote himself to the revolutionary cause. This decision completely changed the course of his life.
From then on, Liu Qingshan began his revolutionary career. In the process, he demonstrated a firm revolutionary will and excellent organizational skills. Once, Liu Qingshan was captured by the enemy, and in the face of severe torture, he never confided half a word of confidential information.
This experience strengthened his revolutionary convictions. After the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, Liu Qingshan took on the anti-Japanese propaganda work. He not only took an active part in his own activities, but also trained a large number of outstanding cadres for the party.
The organization valued Liu Qingshan's performance and sent him back to his hometown to participate in the work. During his tenure in Hebei, Liu Qingshan did not relax his study of Marxism and communist theory. He often went deep among the masses, organized militia ranks, and led them in anti-encirclement and suppression movements.
His work style and results have won the broad support of the masses. During the War of Liberation, Liu Qingshan cooperated with his colleagues and gave full play to his organizational ability and mass base. He mobilized the people to escort food to the front line, ensured the logistical supply of the soldiers, and made an important contribution to the victory of the war.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Liu Qingshan was appointed secretary of the Tianjin Prefectural Party Committee with his outstanding performance. However, it was at this time that the trajectory of his life took a dramatic turn. As an important port city in the north, Tianjin has a developed economy and prosperous commerce, and is known as the "Little Shanghai of the North".
When Liu Qingshan first arrived in Tianjin, it was like a "peasant entering the city", and he was fascinated by the prosperous scene in front of him. At the instigation of his colleague Zhang Zishan, Liu Qingshan came to Nanshi at the junction of the concessions. Nanshi is full of lights and luxury, and this kind of enjoyment is something Liu Qingshan has never experienced.
From then on, this once well-established revolutionary cadre began to indulge in a luxurious life and gradually lost himself. After returning to Tianjin, Liu Qingshan actually bought a luxurious small western-style building with a lot of money, and the luxury decoration even surpassed the buildings in Nanshi.
The source of this huge sum is clearly questionable. It turned out that Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan had extended their claws to the government's public funds. The 17.1 billion yuan (old currency) of public funds that were originally used to build airports, build water boats, and provide relief to the people were wantonly embezzled and squandered by them.
Their actions have brought great calamity to the people. When the flood occurred in Tianjin in 1950, due to the misappropriation of relief funds, the people were given moldy grain. This has led to the aggravation of illness among many victims, exacerbating the severity of the disaster.
In the face of the kind reminder of his colleagues, Liu Qingshan disagreed. He even arrogantly said: "Now that New China has been founded, isn't it worth enjoying my saddle for the country all these years!" These words fully exposed his greedy nature and distorted values.
In this way, a hero who once fought for the revolutionary cause became a corrupt element in peacetime. Liu Qingshan's degeneration process is not only a personal tragedy, but also an important case of the anti-corruption struggle in the early days of the founding of New China.
Corruption cases were reported and exposed
Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan's corrupt behavior is not undetected. In Tianjin, there was a comrade named Li Kecai, who was keenly aware of the abnormal behavior of these two leaders.
Li Kecai noticed that Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan's lifestyle had suddenly become extravagant, and it was extremely disproportionate to their salaries. He began to investigate covertly, gathering evidence.
As the investigation deepened, Li Ke discovered an astonishing fact: Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan had embezzled as much as 17.1 billion yuan (old currency) of public funds. The money, which was supposed to be used to build airports, build water boats, and provide relief to the people, was misappropriated by them for personal pleasure.
Li Kecai realized the seriousness of the situation and decided to report it to his superiors. He repeatedly reported the situation to his superiors, but at first he did not pay enough attention to it.
Faced with this situation, Li Kecai did not give up. He continued to collect evidence and meticulously record the illegal acts of Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan. His persistence finally caught the attention of his superiors.
In 1951, the central government sent an investigation team to Tianjin to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the problems of Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan. The investigation team went down to the grassroots level, visited the masses, and consulted a large number of documents and materials.
The results of the investigation are shocking: Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan not only embezzled huge amounts of public funds, but also had serious lifestyle problems. They often go to high-end places and have close relationships with illicit women.
What is even more infuriating is that their corrupt behavior directly endangers the interests of the people. When the flood occurred in Tianjin in 1950, they embezzled the disaster relief funds, resulting in the distribution of moldy food to the victims, causing many victims to become sicker.
The investigation team reported these information truthfully. When Chairman Mao Zedong heard the report, he was furious and said: "Killing, not killing is not enough to make the people angry!" "
Chairman Mao's attitude shows the importance that the Party Central Committee attaches to this case. Soon, the central government decided to take legal measures against Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan.
In April 1952, Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan were formally arrested. The case enters the judicial process and is heard by the special court of the Supreme People's Court.
During the trial, the prosecutor presented a large amount of evidence to prove the facts of the two crimes. Faced with ironclad evidence, Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan could not quibble, so they could only bow their heads and admit their guilt.
The court found that Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan were guilty of embezzlement, embezzlement of public funds and other crimes. Considering that the circumstances of their crimes were extremely heinous and the social impact was extremely bad, a harsh sentence was finally handed down.
In October 1952, the special court of the Supreme People's Court pronounced a verdict that Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan were guilty of embezzlement and sentenced to death and immediately executed. The verdict caused a huge stir across the country.
Liu Qingshan became the first high-ranking cadre to be sentenced to death for corruption since the founding of the People's Republic of China. This verdict is not only a personal punishment for Liu Qingshan, but also a solemn promise made by the new regime to the whole party and the people of the whole country: There is no privilege in fighting corruption, and whoever violates the law will be severely punished.
After the verdict was executed, the central authorities also issued a special circular urging party organizations at all levels to conscientiously study the cases of Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan and profoundly learn a lesson. This case has become an important milestone in New China's anti-corruption struggle.
However, the repercussions of the case did not end with Liu Qingshan's execution. Taking into account Liu Qingshan's revolutionary contributions, the organization adopted a policy of caring for his family.
Although Liu Qingshan's wife and three children were not implicated, they inevitably endured tremendous psychological pressure and social public opinion pressure. Their lives and upbringing are full of hardships and challenges.
Still, the organization hasn't given up on caring for them. The children of the Liu family have received certain care and subsidies when they grow up, so that they can continue to study and work.
This method of handling the situation embodies the party's policy: It is necessary not only to severely punish corrupt elements, but also to show concern for and cherish the families of cadres, and embodies the principle of punishing those who have done wrong, treating the sick and saving the people. This also laid the groundwork for Liu Qingshan's children to try to overturn the case for their father in the future.
The trial and execution of Liu Qingshan's case has evoked strong repercussions throughout the country. It not only deterred other potentially corrupt elements, but also showed ordinary people the determination of the new regime to punish corruption.
This case also promoted the establishment of an anti-corruption system in New China. During the trial of the case, the first law and regulation on the punishment of corruption in New China was formally promulgated, providing a legal basis for future anti-corruption work.
The children rose up and overturned the case for their father
After the dust settled on Liu Qingshan's case, his three children began a long road to overturn the case. The eldest son Liu Jianzhong, the second son Liu Jianguo and the youngest daughter Liu Jianhua have been burdened with the heavy label of "children of embezzlers" since they were children.
Their upbringing was full of hardships, but it also inspired them to be determined to rehabilitate their father. As they grew older, the three siblings became aware of possible problems in their father's case.
They began to collect information in an attempt to restore the truth of the past. Liu Jianzhong, as the eldest son, undertook the main investigative work. He rummaged through a large number of historical archives and interviewed people who knew about the time, trying to piece together a complete picture of the case.
In the process, Liu Jian discovered some confusing details. For example, the amount of $17.1 billion (old currency) mentioned in the judgment of that year was only $171,000 when converted into Singapore dollars. This figure does not seem to be commensurate with the severity of the death penalty.
Liu Jianguo is responsible for communicating with relevant departments. He repeatedly submitted appeals to the relevant authorities, requesting that his father's case be re-examined. However, their efforts often hit a wall, often with the response that "the case has been closed and will not be reopened".
Although the youngest sister Liu Jianhua is the youngest, her contribution is equally important. She was in charge of sorting through the documents and correspondence kept in the house, hoping to find evidence in her father's favor. During a collation, she found some diaries and letters from her father's lifetime, which provided new clues to their investigation.
The efforts of the three siblings were not without results. As time went on, some of the people who were involved in the trial began to relent. Some retired cadres privately revealed that there were indeed some procedural problems in the case that year.
This information gave the Liu family's children the motivation to continue to struggle. They decided to take more active action and reflect the situation through various channels. Liu Jianzhong even tried to contact some influential media outlets, hoping to attract the attention of society.
However, their actions have also met with considerable resistance. Some people believe that the reopening of old cases may affect social stability, while others worry that the reversal of the case will shake some major decisions made in the early days of New China. The children of the Liu family are facing tremendous pressure and doubts.
Still, they didn't give up. Liu Jianguo went to Beijing several times to try to report the situation to the relevant central departments. By chance, he met a retired senior cadre who had known some inside information about Liu Qingshan's case.
The old man's testimony added new doubts to the case. He revealed that there may have been some "political factors" in the handling of Liu Qingshan back then, not just based on the facts of the case itself. This information gave hope to the children of the Liu family.
Liu Jianhua conducted an investigation in his hometown. She visited the place where her father worked and collected many people's comments on Liu Qingshan. What made her feel relieved was that many old people still remembered Liu Qingshan's contributions during the revolutionary period and spoke highly of him.
The efforts of the three siblings have finally paid off. In response to their persistent appeals, some scholars and legal experts began to pay attention to the case. Some experts pointed out that according to modern legal standards, there are indeed some problems in the trial procedure of Liu Qingshan's case.
The opinions of these experts have added professionalism and persuasiveness to the appeal of the Liu family's children. On the basis of these new evidence and opinions, they again filed a complaint with the Supreme People's Court. This time, their grievances were given more weight.
The Supreme People's Court decided to re-examine Liu Qingshan's case. This decision gave the children of the Liu family a glimpse of the light of day. The review team carefully studied all the materials in the case, including the new evidence collected by the Liu family's children over the years.
During the review, some new facts surfaced. For example, some of the key evidence that convicted Liu Qingshan back then may be problematic, and there are contradictions in the testimony of some witnesses. These findings further complicate the nature of the case.
However, the retrial of the case was not without its challenges. Due to the passage of time, many key witnesses have passed away and some important documents have been lost. This has made it very difficult for the case to be re-evaluated.
Despite this, the children of the Liu family did not give up. They continue to look for new evidence, hoping to restore the truth of the past. In the process, they were supported by a number of retired cadres and legal experts.
These supporters believe that re-examining the Liu Qingshan case is not only about the fate of a family, but also about the attitude of being responsible for history. They believe that only by facing history squarely can we better promote the building of the rule of law.
The persistence and efforts of the children of the Liu family have brought this case that has been sealed for many years back into the public eye. Whatever the final outcome, their actions themselves are a call for the rule of law and a quest for historical truth.
Retrial of old cases and re-exploration of history
The retrial of Liu Qingshan's case has aroused widespread public concern. This is not only a private matter for the family, but also a public issue related to the process of historical justice and the rule of law.
As the investigation deepened, some new evidence and opinions gradually surfaced. Some historians have pointed out that the political environment at the time may have had an impact on the trial of the case. In that special era, the handling of some cases may have the meaning of "killing chickens and setting an example for monkeys".
This point of view sparked a lively discussion. Proponents argue that revisiting historical cases can help advance the rule of law. Opponents fear that this could undermine the legitimacy of some of the major decisions made in the early days of the People's Republic of China.
In this controversy, the children of the Liu family appeared extremely determined. They continue to collect evidence and look for those who knew about the year. By chance, Liu Jianzhong found a retired cadre who had participated in the investigation of the case.
The old man's testimony turned the case around. He revealed that some of the accusations against Liu Qingshan that year were based on insufficient evidence. This information has given new impetus to the reconsideration process.
At the same time, some legal experts began to revisit the case from the perspective of modern law. They pointed out that there were some problems with the trial process in those days according to modern legal standards. For example, the right to a defence is not fully guaranteed, and the admissibility of some key evidence is debatable.
These professional opinions bring new perspectives to the retrial of the case. The Supreme People's Court decided to set up a special working group to thoroughly investigate the ins and outs of the case. The Working Group not only carefully studied the original case file, but also collected extensive new evidence and testimony.
In the course of its investigation, the working group uncovered some surprising details. For example, some of the money accused of embezzlement by Liu Qingshan was actually used to support local construction. These findings further complicate the nature of the case.
With the deepening of the investigation, a more three-dimensional image of Liu Qingshan gradually emerged. He is neither a legendary "big corrupt official" nor a completely innocent "revolutionary martyr". His actions reflect the complexities of that particular era.
This realization provokes deeper thinking. Some scholars have pointed out that Liu Qingshan's case is not only a simple criminal case, but also a concentrated embodiment of the political, economic, legal and other contradictions of that era.
Against this backdrop, the reconsideration exercise has become unusually cautious. The Working Group has held several internal meetings to discuss how to balance historical justice with real-world impact. They realize that whatever conclusions they make, they will have far-reaching consequences.
After years of investigation and discussion, the Supreme People's Court finally made a decision. They believe that although Liu Qingshan did have some problems in his work, the original death sentence was indeed excessive.
The court decided to change the original verdict. The new verdict found Liu Qingshan guilty of dereliction of duty, but it did not constitute the death penalty. This result can be said to be a compromise solution, which neither completely overturns the original verdict but also admits that there are problems with the original verdict.
This result made the Liu family feel a little gratified, but also a little regretful. They hope to be fully vindicated by their father, but they also understand the complex considerations behind this outcome.
The results of the retrial of the case quickly spread across the country, triggering a new round of discussion. Proponents believe that this shows the courage of the country to face up to history and correct its mistakes. Critics worry that this could undermine the authority of some historical conclusions.
In the midst of this debate, some experts have offered deeper reflections. They believe that the retrial of Liu Qingshan's case is not only a rehabilitation of a person, but also a comprehensive reflection on that era.
This case has triggered new thinking about the construction of the rule of law. Some legal experts pointed out that the retrial of the case embodies the principle of equality before the law and also demonstrates the supremacy of the law.
At the same time, this case has also promoted the deepening of historical research. Some historians have begun to re-examine some major events in the early years of New China, trying to restore the true appearance of that era.
In this process, Liu Qingshan's image gradually became plump. People began to realize that he was neither a heinous sinner nor a perfect hero. He is an ordinary person who lives in a specific historical period, with merit and fault.
This understanding reflects a more rational and objective attitude towards history. People are beginning to realize that history is complex and cannot be judged by simple black and white criteria.
The retrial of Liu Qingshan's case has ultimately become an important milestone in the construction of China's rule of law and historical research. It reminds people that the justice of the law is as important as the truth of history, and that both require us to constantly pursue and improve.