Author: Shi Qian
During Chen Mingren's preparations for a peaceful uprising, Xie Fangru was always ill, which was one of the reasons why he was in a bad mood at the time. One day, Bai Chongxi invited the senior generals to a banquet in xiaoxiang restaurant building, and after a few glasses of wine, Bai Chongxi said the purpose of the feast: "Gentlemen, the battle of Changsha is imminent, in order to concentrate on directing the battle and ensuring the safety of their families, I order all officers and their families at all levels to retreat to the rear. Can you do it? ”
"Yes!" The generals answered in unison.
"What about the good brother?" Bai Chongxi looked at Chen Mingren slyly.
"Soldiers take obedience as their duty." Chen Mingren replied casually, but in his heart he thought, "Even if your heart is like a snake and scorpion, you want to control me by taking hostages." ”
The next day, during a military conference at the Office of the Governor of Fanzheng Street, Bai Chongxi suddenly asked, "Zi Liang, has the matter of evacuating the family members been arranged?" ”
Chen Mingren replied with a stiff scalp: "Arranged." "Then please ask Madame Zun to go first with her children!" Bai Chongxi seemed to speak in a commanding tone.
"You have also heard that the insider is seriously ill, his life is in danger, and he cannot make the trip now." Chen Mingren took out the shield and pushed back without being soft or hard.
"Then it is even more necessary to hurry up, there is a famous herbalist langzhong in Guilin, where you can get better treatment, this matter is wrapped up in me." Bai Chongxi said skillfully.
"No!" Chen Mingren couldn't hold his breath a little and hurriedly said, "She can't withstand the fatigue of the journey at all." ”
"Brother Zi Liang can rest assured, I will send a special plane 'Chasing Clouds' to send Mrs."
"The village girl in her hometown will vomit as soon as she gets on the plane, and I'm afraid I won't be able to get to Guilin, so I'll return to the west with my life!" In fact, Chen Mingren really thought so in his heart.
Bai Chongxi was helpless, but did not give up, saying: "Madame Zun is seriously ill, I deeply understand, but other family members can withdraw first!" As the chief and deputy commanders, if you and I cannot believe in words and deeds, how can we serve the people? ”
Bai Chongxi gave way, and Chen Mingren had no choice but to give way, turning his heart sideways and saying, "Then let your children and grandchildren go first." ”
Bai Chongxi pretended to be admiring and said: "Brother Zi liang leads by example and is worthy of being the backbone of the party-state!" Therefore, he solemnly announced again: "Commander Chen took the lead in retreating his family and prepared to duel with the communist army, and he can be a model for our generals!" ”
The next day, according to Bai Chongxi's arrangement, Chen Yangzhao led his daughter-in-law and children, tearfully bid farewell to their parents, and got in a car and set off for Zhijiang...
After the peaceful uprising, when Chen Mingren went to Beiping for a meeting, Xie Fangru lived alone in his home in Mayuanling, Changsha, missing his children and grandchildren whose life and death were uncertain, and his illness became worse and worse. Chen Mingren also tried to inquire about the news of his children and grandchildren almost every day. One day, they suddenly received a telegram from the liberation zhijiang troops through the Central China Military Region, saying that their family had been rescued from the clutches of the enemy by the People's Liberation Army. After reading the telegram, the husband and wife were overjoyed, tears flowing down their faces, and their hearts were infinitely grateful for the party's kindness. Later, Chen Mingren learned that in order to save Chen Yangzhao's family, Zhou Enlai had called Siye and the Guangxi Provincial Working Committee of the CPC respectively, and when he heard this, he shed tears again.
After the family reunion, everyone was worried about Xie Fangru's illness and looked around for medical treatment. When Chairman Mao, Zhou Enlai, and the leading comrades of the Central and Southern Bureau learned of this situation, they specially arranged for Xie Fangru to visit a hospital in Tianjin with the best conditions. As a result, he was quickly diagnosed with advanced cancer, and Chen Mingren received the telegram and immediately rushed to Tianjin with his children and grandchildren. By the time they arrived at the hospital, Xie Fangru was already a patient and was dying. Chen Mingren looked at his wife's thin and haggard face, and couldn't help but have a sour nose, tears falling, and the children couldn't stop crying. Chen Mingren suddenly threw himself on his knees in front of the hospital bed, his liver and gallbladder, and held his wife's hand tightly until her hand changed from warm to cold, from soft to stiff...
After Xie Fangru's death, shortly after settling in, the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea began, the Party Central Committee issued a donation campaign to the people of the whole country, and Chen Mingren also donated some of his wife's expensive jewelry to the state, leaving only a pair of wedding silver rings given to them by his mother as a permanent memorial.
Maybe it's the fate of red dust, maybe it's a coincidence in the world or a fateful marriage. During Xie Fangru's serious illness, dr. Xiao Yi, who practiced medicine at Xiangya Hospital, was always asked to diagnose and treat her. Xiao Yi is skilled, well-educated, gentle and elegant, and knowledgeable. His father, Xiao Wuding, was the president of Xiangya Hospital and a famous surgical authority. At that time, Xiao Yi was over thirty years old, with good talent, mature and steady, clear eyebrows, a beautiful posture, and a very moving figure, leaving an excellent impression on Xie Fangru.
During Xie Fangru's hospitalization in Xiangya Hospital, Chen Mingren often visited, and he was both touched and secretly appreciative of Xiao Yi's kindness, stability, enthusiasm and thoughtfulness, and meticulous diagnosis and treatment of his wife's illness. Xie Fangru knew that he would soon die, and all he had in mind was Zi Liang's future life. One day, she saw that Zi Liang's mood had improved slightly, so she boldly said: "Zi Liang, I may not have a rule of law for this disease." After I went, if you can find a good person like Dr. Xiao as a wife, I will be at ease under the Nine Springs. ”
Chen Mingren said angrily, "What nonsense you talk about, it is often said that people eat grains and grains, who has not yet had a disease, don't think about it if you are a little sick." Now that the whole country is about to be liberated, we will have a long and good life in the future! ”
After that, Xie Fangru never mentioned this matter again, until Chen Mingren rushed to Tianjin and knelt in front of her bed and held her hand tightly, in the darkness, she intermittently chanted: "Zi liang... Zi Liang, Doctor Xiao... Dr. Shaw..."
Chen Mingren was in tears, at this time, she said anything, she would not stop it, after all, this is what she left for herself, left to her children and grandchildren, left to the last sustenance of the world, these words may have nothing to do with the future...
When Chen Mingren left Guangxi, Xiao Yi went to the famous Union Hospital for further study, and the two people were on opposite sides of the day, and there was no contact between them. Chen Mingren was in the spare time of the conquest, as long as he closed his eyes, the figure of his beloved wife and her dying thoughts came to mind, and then he often thought of Xiao Yi, how could he not let go of his inner feelings and her dignified and beautiful figure.
At the same time, in addition to treating patients, Xiao Yi often thinks of Chen Mingren's kindness to his beloved wife, his heart is as delicate as his hair, full of emotional qualities, he can't help but be awe-inspiring, and occasionally he has a sudden thought that if he can find a husband like Chen Mingren who cares for his wife, it will be the happiness of his life. Between these two martial generals and women, the feelings of pity and mutual admiration, the kind of eyes that want to penetrate and burn hot, but there is no time for a sudden and violent impact.
In the autumn of 1951, Chen Mingren was ordered to beijing to attend a military conference. After the meeting, he could no longer restrain himself, and hurriedly drove to the Union Hospital to visit Xiao Yi, who was thinking about it: When Xiao Yi saw Chen Mingren, he was not surprised, but was extremely happy, and immediately stepped forward and generously held out his hand: "Welcome, welcome." Which gust of wind blew Commander Chen here? ”
"It's a spring breeze, of course it's a spring breeze!" The big hands, which still smelled of gun smoke, tightly held the skillful hand that was scattered with medicinal incense.
This handshake was decisive, and since then the two have come together and lived together, and this combination has brought them happiness and sweetness that they have never had before.
"Spring Breeze?" Xiao Yi's face was slightly red, and he said, "No, it's autumn now..."
In the days that followed, they walked onto the dance floor together, toured the Forbidden City together, and searched the streets for Hunan restaurants together... The hearts of the two men were getting closer and closer. In August 1952, Chen Mingren and Xiao Yi were happily married. After marriage, the couple respected each other as guests, sincerely, and both immersed themselves in the warmth and sweetness of the newlywed Yan'er.
Shortly after the honeymoon, the Central Military Commission decided on October 8 to abolish the people's liberation army corps structure, and the 21st Corps was reorganized into the 55th Army, with Chen Mingren as the commander of the Zheng Corps. In February of the following year, Chen Mingren was ordered to move from the Guilin area of Guangxi to Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province, and garrison Haiphong. He bid farewell to his newlywed wife and embarked on a new journey.
Before the reorganization, the 21st Corps also carried out an important task in the construction of the Jingjiang Water Conservancy Project. In the spring of that year, Chairman Mao paid great attention to the management of the Yangtze River in order to alleviate the threat of flooding on the Yangtze River at a critical moment. In April 1952, the 21st Corps was ordered by the Central Military Commission and the Central and Southern Military Region to dispatch more than 18,000 people from 6 regiments of 2 divisions to form a water conservancy engineering unit and participate in the construction of the "Jingjiang Flood Diversion" project. In just two months, they endured great hardships, endured great hardships, withstood wind and rain, worked day and night, worked hard at the water conservancy construction site, overcame many difficulties, and together with their brother troops, successfully completed this arduous task on time and before the flood season, and established new meritorious deeds for the people. According to incomplete statistics, more than 2,500 of the more than 9,500 people in the three regiments alone have been rated as model workers or become meritorious heroes, including 38 special-level labor models, 239 First-class labor models, and 412 Second-class labor models. They have not betrayed the trust of the party and the people and have made great strides forward in the ranks of the People's Liberation Army.
According to the deployment of the Central Military Commission, the 55th Army was stationed in the area of Heliu and Xiashan, guarding the throat fortress of the Leizhou Peninsula. After the troops entered the garrison, Chen Mingren, together with other leaders, crossed the mountains and mountains, took shortcuts to the coast, and rushed all day to survey the terrain and deploy and set up positions.
One day, he drove to Xiashan Mountain, standing on the coast, looking at the rolling sea in the distance, the bright sun shining, a million acres, floating light shining gold, seagulls gliding, fish jumping, thousands of sails, making him feel relaxed, reverie, and sigh... He was extremely proud and proud to be able to undertake the glorious task of defending the southern gate of the motherland, and secretly resolved to build the Leizhou Peninsula into an indestructible steel Great Wall in southern Xinjiang.
Since then, Chen Mingren's footprints have been left everywhere on the Thousand Mile Sea Defense Line. In order to make the deployment of coastal defense meet the needs of future wars, he often went deep into the front line of coastal defense to conduct field surveys, personally surveying and mapping more detailed maps or making written records. In order to more accurately grasp the first-hand information, he wore straw shoes to trek on the inaccessible cape peaks to collect various important data. With this high degree of responsibility, tireless spirit and excellent military quality, he soon became familiar with the topography of coastal defense on the Leizhou Peninsula. On this basis, he made scientific and rational arrangements for the distribution of troops in various divisions and regiments, the allocation of firearms, and the construction of fortifications, which were affirmed and praised by the leaders of the Central South Military Region and the Guangzhou Military Region.
In the process of surveying the terrain, he saw that there were barren mountains and bald ridges everywhere, so he proposed to the Zhanjiang Prefectural Committee and the Municipal Party Committee to green the city and barren mountains. At the joint meeting of the party, government and army, everyone unanimously elected Chen Mingren as the commander-in-chief of the Afforestation Committee.
Wang Zhen, minister of agricultural reclamation of the State Council, who made a special trip to Zhanjiang to attend the meeting, said: "Commander Chen Jun, everyone is a fire-eyed golden-eyed person, and they immediately look at you, the 'immortal'. In the future, it will be up to you, the green commander-in-chief, to have magical powers. ”
Chen Mingren said affectionately: "Since everyone has recommended me, then I will not give in!" Afforestation can maintain water and soil, regulate the climate, reduce disasters, benefit agricultural production, improve the natural environment, and have huge potential economic benefits. ”
The following spring, on the day when everything was revived, the wind and the sun were shining. Chen Mingren led a huge army of tree planting and drove into the barren mountains. With a hoe in his hand, he dug the first tree pit with a wave of his arm, and to the applause and cheers of the crowd, the battle began. The vast number of officers and men flew up and down with shovels, and the tree pits that were in a vertical and horizontal row appeared neatly on the barren mountains and bald ridges, and seedlings were planted into the tree pits. Like the warriors, Chen Mingren carried water barefoot, walked on rocky hills and barren mountains, and nourished young lives with clear springs.
Many small soldiers exclaimed, "The military commander is more than half a hundred years old, how can he still have a pair of iron shoulders and a pair of hard feet?" ”
"I was born in the countryside, I have climbed mountains and mountains since I was a child, and then I marched and fought, the cocoons on my feet were thicker than yours, and the guns on my shoulders were all knotted meat, if it was a game, I would never fall behind you!" 」
During a break, the soldiers sat around the commander again to listen to his story of his childhood. He said: "When I was a child, I especially liked trees, and I remember that when I was studying in private school in my hometown, I wrote a small article about 'trees', which won Mr. Wang's praise and is still remembered. ”
Everyone said, "Can the commander turn his back on us?" ”
"Good! Then I'll look at it with my back, and if I forget, don't laugh. Chen Mingren moistened his throat and chanted in a lyrical voice:
The rafters of the world are all plucked from the young forest.
Although the green seedlings are faint, they gradually take root in the wind and rain; the small trees are weak, and the leaves can be seen in the plums.
How dare you say: tender green cannot become a towering tree? The pillar of the great shore?
Although my generation is small and weak, although tender, if the straight waist bar is always upward, why not get bigger and stronger? Why worry about not being the rafters of a tall house?
After listening, the officers and men present even claimed good and praised them.
At Chen Mingren's suggestion, he also led cadres at and above the regimental level and cadres at and above the prefectural and municipal organ bureau levels to cut through thorns and thorns in the deep mountains, wield silver hoes, and planted a lush demonstration forest, which was named "Unity Forest" -- which means that the military and the people are united in one heart, and vows to turn the barren mountains into green forests.
In the following years, the intensity of greening continued to increase, while greening the barren mountains, he also commanded the military and civilian greening army to plant 4.5 million trees in Zhanjiang City and suburbs, and planted a large number of various flowers. A few years later, Zhanjiang City is green, lush with grass, flowers, purple and red, and the cityscape is quite beautiful. When people stroll through the forest vagina, enjoy the cityscape with red flowers and green leaves, and look at the green mountains in the distance, they can't help but think of Chen Mingren, the commander-in-chief of greening, and the green army he led. His hard work, his sweat, and his feelings have all been invested in this beautiful city and the entire Leizhou Peninsula, melting into an oasis full of life.
About author:Shi Kui, history teacher at colleges and universities, history researcher. He has been cultivating the history of the Party, the Military and the History of War for a long time. History lovers are welcome to exchange criticisms.