In April 1950, the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea broke out. In the early days, among the first batch of people's volunteer troops to fight in Korea, there was a special army that was not favored by people, that is, the 50th Army. This army was once the army of the Kuomintang, and after the surrender, it was reorganized by our party, and Zeng Zesheng was its commander and once a well-known Kuomintang general.
However, such an unpromising 50th Army fought a bloody battle in a war to resist US aggression and aid Korea, and its prestige was greatly enhanced. Peng Dehuai, the commander-in-chief of the Volunteer Army, also praised Zeng Zesheng.
In 1955, after the banshi returned to korea, Zeng Zesheng was received by Chairman Mao, who analyzed the Korean campaign of the 50th Army, praised and affirmed it, and the two also chatted freely about China's future development direction, and the atmosphere was very harmonious.
At this time, Zeng Zesheng plucked up his courage and made a nervous request: to apply to join the Chinese Communist Party.
But who would have thought? Such a military commander with outstanding military achievements was rejected by the chairman of his request, and only afterwards did he realize that the great man was really brilliant!
Who is Zeng Zesheng? Why did the chairman refuse him to join the Communist Party? How did he become famous in one battle?
This also needs to start with Zeng Zesheng's life.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="191" > was born into a landlord family but was bullied</h1>
Zeng Zesheng, born in 1902, his ancestral home is Yongshan County, Yunnan Province, originally the family was a small and famous local landlord, should live a rich, well-fed, but when he was one year old, his father died young, helpless to rely on the family's relief to survive, from a young age by the family's children bullying, was treated coldly. It is precisely because of these experiences that he has not had a good feeling for capitalism that exploits and exploits the people at the bottom from an early age, and at the same time cultivates his arrogant character.
Zeng Zesheng was not valued since he was a child, so he entered the hall later than others, and other children entered the first grade at the age of 6, but he only stepped into the classroom at the age of 13, opened the books, and learned knowledge.
Knowledge broadened his horizons and made him understand that if he wants to get ahead, he must learn.
Knowledge is like standing on the shoulders of giants, broadening horizons, thus establishing their own ideas, wanting to change their destiny, learning is the only way. However, the good times did not last long, and when he was 18 years old, the family no longer offered him to study, and no matter how much he asked, others ignored him. The dream of reading was shattered, and Zeng Zesheng had to abandon Wen to join the army.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="194" > abandoned to join the army</h1>
In December 1922, Zeng Zesheng was admitted to the Jianguo Machine Gun Sergeant Corps, and then entered the Yunnan Army Lecture Hall to study, and by chance, he entered the Huangfu Military Academy in 1925 as the captain of the 3rd period and joined the Kuomintang. Zeng Zesheng, who had just joined the Kuomintang, was full of joy; he saw in Guangzhou the customs and customs of yunnan, felt the breath brought about by the revolution, was bent on being a decent person, and had fantasized about bringing out a unit of lofty spirits.
After graduating from the Huangfu Military Academy, Zeng Ze was transferred to a local post, and he saw that the Kuomintang officers were corrupt, the internal struggle was serious, and they were in high positions but did not seek political power, which made him doubt for the first time: Is it the right choice to join the Kuomintang? This question was answered in 1927.
In that year, Chiang Kai-shek launched the April 12 coup d'état, zeng Zesheng saw a large number of Communists and the masses of the people being slaughtered, in just three days, more than three hundred innocent people died at the hands of the Kuomintang, more than 500 people were arrested, as many as 5,000 people disappeared, his conscience was uneasy, and he suddenly realized that the Kuomintang was not a national salvation force, and the Kuomintang's behavior was contrary to his original intentions, so he angrily submitted his resignation and left Guangzhou.
Gold shines everywhere, talent will always be reused, in January 1929 Yunnan Provincial Chairman Long Yun issued an invitation to Zeng Zesheng, so he joined the Dian Army, and soon after, promoted to battalion commander.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="197" > participated in the War of Resistance Against Japan and led the 60th Army to victory over the Battle of Taierzhuang</h1>
When the July 7 Incident broke out in 1937 and the Chinese nation resisted Japan in an all-round way, Zeng Zesheng led his troops to the anti-Japanese front and actively resisted Japan. On the battlefield, weapons were an important factor in war, when the Japanese army was well equipped and well-armed, and Our country could not fully realize imitation and self-production, but could only capture enemy weapons or other countries to assist.
In the case of unbalanced weapons and insufficient ammunition, they were often bullied and oppressed by the enemy in the battlefield, and there were even rumors that "the Imperial Japanese Army was invincible" and that the morale of our soldiers was low.
In 1938, Zeng Zesheng led the 60th Army to participate in the Battle of Taierzhuang, Zeng Zesheng believed that blind defense had no effect, but would increase the arrogance of the enemy, even if the defense had to be an offensive defensive arrangement. On the battlefield, the black fireworks of the shell explosion swept across the earth, full of devastation, full of the sound of soldiers fighting, and the blood flowed like a river. Zeng Zesheng Taishan collapsed in front of him without changing his face, was not afraid of danger, commanded well on the battlefield, and changed tactics in an orderly manner. Under the correct guidance of Zeng Zesheng, Taierzhuang won a great victory, which was the first victory since the War of Resistance Against Japan, eliminated the arrogance of the Japanese army, and broke the myth of the "invincibility" of the Japanese army. It can be seen that Zeng Zesheng was a man who was good at employing people and a military prodigy with great talent and strategy.
After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War in 1945, Zeng Zesheng led his troops to Vietnam to accept the surrender ceremony of the Japanese army, most of the main forces of the Dian Army accompanied him to Vietnam, and there were very few Dian army officers guarding Kunming.
Zeng Zesheng was very dissatisfied with Chiang Kai-shek's traitorous dictatorship, the civil war, and the massacre of the people, and the gun should be aimed at the aggressor, not at his own compatriots.
Zeng Zesheng's warriors were all brothers who followed him from birth to death, and in order to save these troops who had fought with him for many years, he decided to be patient for the time being and fight with Chiang Kai-shek in the civil war.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="200" > abandoned the dark and joined the People's Liberation Army</h1>
The Liaoshen Campaign of 1948 led him to make a life-changing decision, and in September of that year, Lin Biao and Luo Rongheng led the Northeast People's Liberation Army to launch an attack on the Kuomintang, and carried out a military operation against Changchun "mainly based on military encirclement, combined with political offensive and economic blockade".
Zeng Zesheng, who was stationed in Changchun, pondered: Do you continue to fight for Chiang Kai-shek's life, or do you want to join the revolution and get close to the people? Having always been unaccustomed to what the Kuomintang was doing, he did not hesitate to choose to abandon the dark and turn to the light, leading his troops in the Changchun Uprising and joining the Liberation War. The Battle of Changchun created favorable conditions for the annihilation of the Kuomintang in the northeast and set a precedent in the history of the Chinese People's Liberation Army for a long siege, the disintegration of the defenders, and the liberation of large cities.
After Zeng Zesheng joined the People's Liberation Army, he organized the organization to give trust to this former enemy, truly implemented the principle of "suspecting that people are not used, employing people is not doubtful," reorganized Zeng Zesheng's troops into the 50th Army of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, and served as a commander, and was later sent to the battlefield of liberating southwest China and western Hubei.
Only after Zeng Zesheng's reorganization did he know that everyone in the RANKs of the People's Liberation Army is equal, and noncommissioned officers cannot beat and curse soldiers, kill prisoners, and still less bully and oppress ordinary people. These regulations coincide with Zeng Zesheng's righteous heart. In the past, in the Kuomintang political corruption, he did not follow suit but was an outlier in the official field, and would be isolated by others, so in those years of life in the Kuomintang, his heart was tormented. At this time, Zeng Zesheng could not help but be glad that he had chosen the right team.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="203" > a great contribution to the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea</h1>
In 1950, the Korean War broke out, in order to defend the country, Zeng Zesheng led the 50th Army to join the Korean War for the first time with the 38th Army and the 39th Army.
Zeng Zesheng's troops were good at defense, so in the fourth campaign of Korea, General Peng carefully analyzed and arranged Zeng Zesheng's troops in a defensive position: defending frontally on the south bank of the Han River, blocking and depleting the Anglo-American invaders on the western front.
At that time, the aggressor troops had abundant ammunition and advanced weapons, and because our country had just ended the civil war, there was no time to prepare new weapons, so the weapons used by our army were left over from the anti-Japanese period, most of them were backward weapons, and the number of weapons at advanced points was sparse.
On land, the enemy has artillery and tanks, and in the sky, enemy bombers hover and constantly drop bombs.
This situation was very unfavorable to the 50th Army, and Zeng Zesheng decided to outwit him, leading the soldiers to dig many individual bunkers and anti-artillery holes, and adopted the tactic of "focusing on defense and dispersing defense" to make strict arrangements at various entrances of the invading army.
Iron warriors, hellish battlefields, warriors with the determination to sacrifice and also to defend the position, one after another bravely marched forward, and even some warriors were not afraid of the enemy's artillery fire, sacrificed themselves to blow up the enemy army, and used their flesh and blood to block the enemy army.
After more than fifty days of bloody battle on the Han River, the 50th Army defended the Han River Bridge, defeated the invading army, and achieved brilliant results, capturing nearly 2,000 guns, tanks, cars and other military supplies.
In contrast to the victory, more than 20,000 soldiers of the 50th Army were sacrificed, and only more than 10,000 people were left. These warriors who sacrificed for their country are a group that cannot be forgotten, and their spirit is admirable throughout the ages.
This Korean campaign made the 50th Army bloody and famous. After the battle, General Peng saw Zeng Zesheng again, and where was the shadow of the past in front of this person with sunken eyes and skinny bones?
General Peng bowed to Zeng Zesheng and asked him to convey his respect to the soldiers.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="206" > the chairman met twice</h1>
During Zeng Zesheng's southern expedition and northern war, what made him unforgettable was the party's concern for him, as well as the scene of Chairman Mao's two cordial receptions of him.
On the day of 1941, when he returned to China for recuperation, the chairman received him in Zhongnanhai, inquired about the battle on the Han River, received praise and encouragement from the chairman, and talked about the ancient and modern Chinese and foreign wars at home and abroad. Compared with the corruption of the Kuomintang army in the past, he could not help but feel a thousand emotions.
In 1955, after the 50th Army was ordered to withdraw to the motherland, the chairman once again received Zeng Zesheng in Zhongnanhai, and the chairman tightly held Zeng Zesheng's hand and said: "The battle was fought well." Zeng Zesheng said: "Compared with the brother troops, we still need to study." ”
The chairman admired him, and the two then analyzed the Korean campaign and started a new round of discussions on China's first five-year plan, which benefited Zeng Zesheng a lot.
While he was talking, Zeng Zesheng said nervously: "Chairman, I have a request, I hope you will approve it." ”
The chairman smiled and said kindly: "Oh? What request? Mention it though! ”
Zeng Zesheng carefully proposed: "I request to join the Communist Party of China, and I hope you will approve it." ”
The chairman said happily: "It seems that in recent years, you have studied very quickly and your consciousness is not low." In fact, you don't need my approval to join the Communist Party, you can do it at any time."
The chairman thought for a moment: "It is better if you do not join." ”
Zeng Zesheng was puzzled: "Chairman, why is this?" "Only after the fact did I know that the great man was clever.
It turned out that the chairman proceeded from the overall situation and had a more comprehensive consideration.
At that time, New China had just been founded. Domestically, Chiang Kai-shek was attacking New China. Abroad, many imperialist countries are questioning New China. At this time, if Zeng Zesheng propagated the face of socialist New China in a non-party capacity, it would be more convincing, allowing more people to understand New China and prompting the united front of the motherland. After the chairman expressed his thoughts, he said to Zeng Zesheng: "For the sake of the interests of the motherland, the role of not joining the party is even greater, how about waiting for a while?" "
Zeng Zesheng fully understood the Chairman's remarks and supported the Chairman's decision. He knew that the chairman did not allow him to join the Party, nor did he think that he was not yet qualified to be a qualified Communist Party member, but that the needs of the motherland and the needs of policy were present.
Although Zeng Zesheng did not join the Communist Party, he still actively participated in the army building of New China and made indelible contributions to national construction.
He was awarded the Order of the National Flag of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, First Class in 1953.
In 1955, he was awarded the rank of lieutenant general and was awarded the Order of Liberation, First Class.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="208" > hero dies</h1>
In 1973, Zeng Zesheng died in Beijing, and many leaders of the country attended the memorial service and spoke highly of the life of General Zeng Zesheng.
Zeng Zesheng was single-minded in saving the country, half of his life galloping on the battlefield, half of his life for the new China to be loyal to the festival, no matter how many hardships and hardships he experienced, his heart always longed for the light and did not forget his original intention. Who would have thought that a child who was once oppressed by his family and had difficulty studying could become a general with outstanding military achievements and meritorious contributions to the motherland.
With this article, I would like to commemorate General Zeng Zesheng and to remember the great martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the country. Without the sacrifice and sacrifice of revolutionaries, we would not have had the happy life we have today. Hats off to you guys!