Admiral Li Jukui
It was a rally after many elders and veteran generals had retired from the military and political arena, and General Yang Dezhi, who had served as chief of the general staff, immediately informed the staff to arrive at the meeting 5 minutes in advance after learning about the list of members before the meeting. At that time, he was nearly eighty years old, and as soon as the car stopped in front of the gate of the venue, he urged the staff to immediately help him get out of the car, and when he reached the door, he stopped. He was going to stand at the door and wait for someone.
An old general stood at the door waiting for someone, and many staff members were anxious, and they all advised him to sit down and wait, but he didn't seem to hear. It was not until General Li Jukui came that he happily greeted him and helped Li Jukui find a seat, until he sat down, general Yang Dezhi sat down.
At that time, many people were very touched to see the staff supporting General Yang, and General Yang supporting General Li. It is said that General Yang Dezhi has "looked up" at General Li on various occasions more than once. Throughout his life, General Yang respected leaders, leaders, and veteran marshals and veteran generals, but he often overflowed with words and especially respected General Li Jukui. Before his death, Yang Dezhi had many evaluations of General Li Jukui's early revolution, great merit, real fighting, daring to fight hard, and not speaking out of merit, and his wife also reflected General Yang's nostalgia for General Li in her reminiscences. In fact, among the many veteran generals who respect General Li Jukui, General Yang Dezhi is only one of them. Other veteran generals mostly commented on the same.
The generals' respect for a general seems to be a matter of "general circle". But it is no accident that the generals who are admired by the generals are by no means accidental. The generals respected Li Jukui's war art and exploits, but more respected his character. When the "AB Regiment" was captured, it was almost a knife in the neck, and he was unwilling to give a perjury; after the Western Route Army was scattered, he was one of the Generals of the Red Army begging for the Party Central Committee; during the War of Resistance, the enemy was besieged on all sides, and the enemy was tempted to the extreme, but he did not move...
As we all know, the vast majority of the first generation of generals of the Republic were awarded titles in 1955. Among the generals who were awarded the title around 1955, there was no name of Li Jukui. When Li Jukui returned to the army from the Ministry of Petroleum in 1958, the first thing he encountered was the issue of military rank. As for what title Li Jukui was awarded, this was indeed a difficult problem for the General Cadre Department at that time.
Chen Geng (first from right), Su Yu (second from right) and others on National Day in 1955
Among the 10 generals, Tan Zheng was the director of the political department and political commissar when Li Jukui was the commander of the First Division. This is followed by Chen Geng . There is also an episode related to Li Jukui when Chen Geng was awarded the title. At that time, the lowest rank of general was the division commander of the Red Army period. During the Red Army period, Chen Geng mostly worked in the White Zone, served in the army for a short time, and did not find the order of the commander of the main division for a while in the archives. But Chen Geng had a very good relationship with Li Jukui. Chen Geng loved to joke, and when he met Li Jukui before he was awarded the title, he said, "Old Li! Others said that you were an honest person, and in a few days I told Xu Liqing that I had been your division commander, and I said that I had succeeded you. That's what you said. Li Jukui laughed and did not answer. A few days later, Xu Liqing found Li Jukui and asked about this matter, and Li Jukui had no words: "Chen Geng is the commander of the division who picked me up." Later, Chen Geng was awarded the rank of grand general. When Mao Zedong was conferred the title, Mao Zedong met Chen Geng and this old friend who often loved to amuse himself, and Mao Zedong said: "How, work with me than with Chiang Kai-shek, I don't see that Chiang Kai-shek can give you a great general!" Chen Geng did not "buy" Mao's account, he laughed and said, "My great general was not given by you, but by Li Jukui." Although this is a joke, it reflects Li Jukui's kindness. Li Jukui once said: "Chen Geng is an old Huangpu, who saved Chiang Kai-shek's life, who is Chairman Mao's beloved general, and chen Xie's corps made great contributions in those years." He doesn't confer the title of Grand Admiral Who does?! ”
Now that his subordinates and successors have been awarded the rank of general, what title can he confer? The people of the General Cadre Department compared it, And Li Jukui's appointment of general was a little lower, but the general owed a little, let alone the general's appointment of 10 people. When he was ready to do Li Jukui's work, Li Jukui came to the door: "If it is low, it is not high." Admiral on the line! ”
The problem is solved. In 1958, Mao Zedong read the report awarded to Admiral Li Jukui and nodded his head in praise. Since then, another general has been added to the ranks of the Generals of the Republic. A respected admiral. A general who will be the most holy of the worlds.
——Excerpted from "The Insider Says: The Truth Left by Key Figures in History to Future Generations", published by China Youth Publishing House
Author: Xiao Sike
Editor: Zhou Yiqian