From 1955 to 1985, before the merger with the Kunming Military Region, the Chengdu Military Region changed generals most frequently. The commanders are: He Bingyan, Huang Xinting, Liang Xingchu, Qin Jiwei, Liu Xingyuan, Wu Kehua, You Taizhong, Wang Chenghan and other 8, that is to say, an average of more than three years to change.
Speaking of the first commander, He Bingyan, he was the first commander of the Grand Military Region to die.
In 1960, who would succeed He Bingyan? The General Political Department believes that Li Tianyou, the first deputy commander of the Guangzhou Military Region, is the most suitable.
Li Tianyou was a commander with a military background, known as the "little tiger" during the Red Army period, very brave and decisive, repeatedly serving on surprise missions, and repeatedly being seriously wounded.
During the Battle of Pingxingguan during the War of Resistance Against Japan, he led the main force to strike hard at the Japanese army, and his reputation in the army soared.
Due to injuries and illness, he missed the next 7 years of the War of Resistance.
During the Liberation War, he was sent to the northeast and did a very good job of suppressing bandits. Lin Biao was well aware of his abilities, transferred any column as commander, and began to fight in large armies. Starting from him, three battles and four draws, four battles and four draws, the Tianjin campaign, etc., let Li Tianyou fight with ease in the city offensive.
In 1957, Li Tianyou was transferred to the Guangzhou Military Region as the first deputy commander, and later acted as commander because of the study of commander Huang Yongsheng.
During Li Tianyou's tenure, Southeast Asia and the southeast coast were full of war clouds, and he attached great importance to emergency calls, no matter how late, he had to answer them. If a war breaks out, he will miss a major event and will not dare to delay it in the slightest; the cadres of the military region will be greatly encouraged by his actions and will have a completely new look in their work.
In 1958, after the United States intervened in the Vietnam War, the East China Defense Zone has always been his greatest concern. At this time, Lin Biao put forward the policy of "putting the north top and putting it south", which made him a little incomprehensible. If the enemy invades from Southern China, it can drive straight in, but should it be put in to fight?
He deeply felt that he had a heavy responsibility for the defense of South China, and he did not blindly implement it and adopted a reserved attitude.
As acting commander, he grasped the overall situation and had great experience. Whether it is ability or qualifications, it is fully qualified for the position of commander of the Grand Military Region.
In more than a dozen major military regions, most of the first commanders were lieutenant generals, and Li Tianyou was the most suitable candidate in terms of seniority, position, and ability.
The General Political Department recommended Li Tianyou, but Defense Minister Lin Biao wanted Huang Xinting to take over.
For Li Tianyou's ability, Lin Biao knew better than anyone that he could take on this heavy responsibility. However, some jobs are not competent and qualified. Just like the founding of the country, some generals have slightly lower positions, but represent "mountain heads", and the titles are higher than others.
Many of the troops and generals under the jurisdiction of the Chengdu Military Region are from the Red Second Front, and from the perspective of balancing the "mountain heads," the Chengdu Military Region should need the generals of the Red Second Front to succeed them, which is conducive to unity work. From this point of view, deputy commander Huang Xinting is the most suitable candidate.
Later, Li Tianyou was assigned to serve as deputy chief of the general staff, and judging from his position, he had never held the main post of the Grand Military Region.