<h1 class="pgc-h-center-line" data-track="2" > preface</h1>
Picture | Xu Shiyou
In the spring of 1985, on his southern tour, Deng Xiaoping suddenly had the idea of visiting Xu Shiyou.
Xu Shiyou, who was in Nanjing, was very happy when he heard the news that Deng Xiaoping was coming, and immediately said: "Comrade Xiaoping is passing through Nanjing to see me, and I want to go to the station to pick me up. ”
When Deng Xiaoping heard about this, he immediately wrote back:
"Please tell Comrade Xu Shiyou, he is younger than me, and his health is not as good as mine, the weather is so cold, don't pick me up at the station, just wait at my residence in Nanjing!"
Xu Shiyou obeyed the old leader's arrangement, so he waited at the residence.
As soon as the two met, Deng Xiaoping presented a special gift he had brought—80 years of Moutai aged wine.
"Today I wish you an eightieth birthday, the Moutai I bring is eighty years old, please ask the waiter to open a bar."
Xu Shiyou smiled slightly: "Great, I like to drink Moutai wine, the wine is more and more fragrant." ”
The two of them began to push cups and change cups...
<h1 class="pgc-h-center-line" data-track="140" > Deng Xiaoping personally ordered</h1>
The fate of Deng Xiaoping and Xu Shiyou began as early as the period of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.
After the Red Army was reorganized into the Eighth Route Army, the former Red 4th Army and the Red 31st Army of the Red Fourth Front were reorganized into the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army.
In 1938, Zhang Hao, the former political commissar of the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army, was transferred back to Yan'an for recuperation due to injury and illness, and Deng Xiaoping, deputy director of the Political Department, succeeded Zhang Hao as the political commissar of the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army.
At the same time, Xu Shiyou could not sit still in Yan'an, and applied to Chairman Mao to go to the front to fight, and was transferred to the 386th Brigade of the 129th Division as deputy brigade commander.
During the long-term conquest and cooperation, Deng Xiaoping and Xu Shiyou formed a deep friendship.
Pictured| General Xu Shiyou
In the years of the revolutionary war, Xu Shiyou was brave and fierce, had great achievements in battle, and had rich combat experience, and even in his old age, he still maintained the exuberant experience of his youth.
In January 1974, The South Vietnamese authorities sent warships to invade the Paracels, despite Chinese warnings.
Premier Zhou telephoned the General Staff headquarters and asked the General Staff to form a six-member leading group to direct the war on the Xisha front.
After Deng Xiaoping arrived at the duty room of the General Staff Department, he immediately clarified the command relationship and emphasized the key point:
"The front-line troops participating in the battle, navy, and air force, xu Shiyou, commander of the Guangzhou Military Region, are under the unified command."
Xu Shiyou did not live up to the trust and successfully completed this task.
After 4 years, when the enemy attacked again, Deng Xiaoping first thought of Xu Shiyou.
In this way, Xu Shiyou went out again at the age of 74, setting a new record for the oldest commander of our army to be on the front line.
When Xu Shiyou inspected the frontier of Jinji Mountain, when he saw the site of Feng Zicai's Anti-French War, he also sighed self-deprecatingly:
"I'm 8 years older than veteran Feng Zicai!"
Considering the urgency of the war at the front, the superior ordered Xu Shiyou to choose an assistant, Xu Shiyou to choose to go, and finally chose Liu Changyi, an old comrade-in-arms who was then an adviser to the Nanjing Military Region.
But even so, Xu Shiyou was still worried about the state of his old comrades-in-arms, so he thought of a way to "test".
Pictured| General Liu Changyi
After Liu Changyi arrived in Guangzhou, Xu Shiyou did not ask him how he was doing, nor did he ask him about the war, but ordered his secretary to put Moutai on it.
The two men at the wine table pushed the cups and changed cups, and quickly dried up three bottles of Maotai.
"I've drunk three bottles of wine, are you still open?" Xu Shiyou stared at Liu Changyi slightly drunk.
"There is no thing in the world that can drink or not drink, only those who dare to drink and dare not drink, those who have died nine times in their lives, are not afraid of drinking when they die?" I will drink wherever Commander Xu drinks! ”
Liu Changyi was unambiguous.
After the two finished drinking a meal and each drunk for a few days, Xu Shiyou said afterwards:
"Liu Changyi is still a good man, can drink, dare to drink, is not afraid of death, the body is ok, the deputy commander deserves it!"
Xu Shiyou has a rough temperament, but he always has a chivalrous demeanor, which is also an important reason why Xu Shiyou is respected.
Facts have also proved that Deng Xiaoping did not look at the wrong person, Xu Shiyou commanded the counterattack against Vietnam, adopted the "bull knife tactic", and suddenly crushed the enemy's defenses, conquered Lang Shan, and created a posture of threatening Hanoi.
Pictured| family portrait of General Xu Shiyou
<h1 class="pgc-h-center-line" data-track="141" > "Life is seventy years old, how many scenery is not different"</h1>
In 1980, Xu Shiyou was transferred to the Standing Committee of the Central Military Commission.
On September 12, 1982, the Central Advisory Committee was formally established at the 12th National People's Congress of the Communist Party of China.
The establishment of an advisory board was a pioneering undertaking at the time.
Considering the problem of aging and lack of access to the cadre contingent, Deng Xiaoping specifically pointed out: "The advisory committee should be said to be a transition from a lifelong system to a retirement system for our cadres' leadership positions. ”
According to the communiqué of the first plenary session of the Twelfth Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Deng Xiaoping was appointed director of the Central Advisory Committee, and Xu Shiyou was elected deputy director of the Central Advisory Committee.
In fact, for the issue of his own retirement, Xu Shiyou did not shy away from it.
Previously, Xu Shiyou talked about this "retirement" issue with an old comrade-in-arms:
"There is an old comrade who has always been a year older than me, and in recent years he has paid attention to age, this old man is getting younger and younger every year, and now the age published in the newspaper is three years younger than me."
Xu Shiyou spoke quickly, and he made up his mind to do what he said.
Picture | Xu Shiyou and Chairman Mao in Shandong in the 1950s
At the first plenary meeting of the Central Advisory Committee, Xu Shiyou quickly and quickly said three points:
First, you have chosen the deputy director of the Advisory Committee among me, and my deputy director is the deputy director who does not "care" and the second does not "ask";
Second, I asked the Party Central Committee for leave, and found a few people to help me write my memoirs;
Third, I do not live in Beijing, I live in Nanjing.
"Seventy years of life are rare, how many scenery do not live in different places, are people who have been in their eighties, why bother to take care of so many things." I stopped doing it and asked the central authorities to retire. ”
Xu Shiyou chose to live in Nanjing because he had lived in the city for many years and had deep feelings for it.
Before leaving Nanjing, Xu Shiyou had always lived at No. 11 Renhe Street, but when he went back, Xu Shiyou didn't want to live there, so he moved to No. 8 Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum.
At No. 8 Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Xu Shiyou lived the life he really wanted to live as he studied and farmed.
After Xu Shiyou returned to Nanjing, he immediately began to write his memoirs, and with the help of Nie Fengzhi, commander of the Nanjing Military Region, organized two sets of writing teams.
Two sets of writing teams, respectively completed two books, the name is simple, it is called "Ten Years in the Red Army" and "Ten Years in Shandong", typical xu Shiyou style.
Even if Xu Shiyou's body is strong, he can't stop the erosion of time, which is also a real thing to face.
Picture | Xu Shiyou inspected the East China Sea Fleet and raised the 60-kilogram iron lock above his head with one hand
At first, Xu Shiyou always disobeyed the old man, and often said to the guards:
"Don't look at you as young guys, plus three or two, and you're not my opponent."
In the past, after Xu Shiyou hunted, there must be a wild game on the noon menu, and as he grew older, Xu Shiyou also felt that his body was heavy, and he thought about it because he felt that his diet was irregular, so he quit eating wild meat.
But the hobby of drinking alone is always difficult to quit.
Although Xu Shiyou also knew that drinking too much alcohol hurt his body, he could not restrain the impulse to become addicted to alcohol.
"It's okay to quit eating, it's okay to quit drinking."
In February 1985, Deng Xiaoping brought a bottle of Maotai to Xu Shiyou on his southern tour.
During the banquet, the two men pushed cups and changed cups, which was very lively, Xu Shiyou talked about the impulse in Yan'an in 1936, and Deng Xiaoping told him categorically: "You are not wrong in this matter, but you still have great merit." ”
Xu Shiyou was very excited and said to Deng Xiaoping:
"Your words made me finally relieve the long-term depressed mental illness, suddenly enlightened, and I could close my eyes after death."
After eating, the two walked together in the courtyard, Xu Shiyou took the initiative to propose: "Today the sun is particularly good, the sky is cloudless, let's take a photo, okay?" ”
Deng Xiaoping smiled and said, "Well, we both drank Maotai, our faces are flushed, we may all look younger, and the photos must look good. ”
Pictured| Deng Xiaoping and Xu Shiyou in February 1985
Xu Shiyou and Deng Xiaoping later washed out a total of five photos, Xu Shiyou looked left and right after getting the photos, and said with envy: "Comrade Xiaoping has more hair than me, wears a straight Zhongshan suit, looks much younger than me, and is actually two years older than me!" ”
Xu Shiyou left two of the five photographs for himself, one to Beijing for Deng Xiaoping, and two to his secretary.
<h1 class="pgc-h-center-line" data-track="142" > Nie Fengzhi's wife He Ming was surprised: This old man Xu is not right</h1>
Xu Shiyou's physical condition is not very good, not only can he feel it himself, but the people around him actually know better than himself.
Gao Fuyun, who has long been responsible for Xu Shiyou's health care work, feels that Xu Shiyou's reaction and energy are much worse than before.
In the spring of 1985, Xu Shiyou noticed that his body was not very comfortable, although people around him advised Xu Shiyou to hurry to the hospital to check it out, but Xu Shiyou did not like to go to the hospital, and he dragged it hard.
"I have a clear mind, my hands and feet are handy, and there is no big deal."
Xu Shiyou also often said to the staff around him:
"Don't look at how many years I've fought and how many times I've been injured, but when you reach my age, your body may not be as good as mine."
Picture | Xu Shiyou changed guards with soldiers when he was in the company
In early March 1985, Xu Shiyou went to Shanghai to participate in the third assembly of the East China Group of the Central Consultative Commission, and after being persuaded, he did an examination at Shanghai Huadong Hospital, and the doctor found that the measurement results of alpha-fetal globulin in Xu Shiyou's body were abnormally high, and the alpha-fetal globulin in each milliliter of blood exceeded 40 times the normal value.
On August 1, 1985, the East China Group of the Central Advisory Committee held its fourth meeting in Qingdao, Shandong Province.
Gao Fuyun suggested to the military region that it was better to participate in this rally because of Xu Shiyou's physical condition, but he did not dare to persuade Xu Shiyou, and Xiang Shouzhi, commander of the Nanjing Military Region, attached great importance to it after he found out, and specially asked the old commander Nie Fengzhi to do Xu Shiyou's work.
Nie Fengzhi rushed to No. 8 Zhongshan Mausoleum.
The first sentence of the meeting said: "Shandong has just been there, you don't want to go to this meeting, and I won't go." ”
As a former subordinate and old friend, Nie Fengzhi certainly understood Xu Shiyou's temper, and he did not dare to persuade Xu Shiyou with physical problems, which would only get worse and worse.
Considering that in order to write a memoir before, he had accompanied Xu Shiyou all over the land of Jiaodong, and on this reason, Nie Fengzhi was still quite sure.
Xu Shiyou was well aware of his physical condition, although the people around him did not tell him, in the face of Nie Fengzhi's persuasion, Xu Shiyou also had to listen to reasons, but he still politely refused:
"Even if you don't go to other places, Shandong, you still have to go to see, I'll go back and see..."
Picture | Nie Fengzhi, Xu Shiyou and He Ming
After arriving in Qingdao, some careful people soon noticed some changes in Xu Shiyou.
Xu Shiyou used to be silent and taciturn, but this time he laughed when he saw people, and chatted happily with people.
In the past, when participating in the gatherings of the Central Advisory Committee, Xu Shiyou did not like to mess around, and basically did not participate in activities other than meetings. However, this time, the Central Advisory Committee organized an activity, and Xu Shiyou participated in it for the first time.
On August 3rd, the meeting organized a tour of the Qing Palace under Laoshan Mountain, Xu Shiyou went, and the tour of the sea also had to participate, and also visited the Xiangyang scientific research ship with great interest.
After receiving the officers and men on the deck, Xu Shiyou also had to go to the command cabin to have a look.
Picture | Nie Fengzhi
The gangway to the command module was too narrow, Xu Shiyou's body was wide, and the action was not good, it was difficult to climb up alone, the secretaries around him wanted to persuade him not to go up, but when they thought about Commander Xu's temper, everyone looked at each other for a while, and finally gave up.
Xu Shiyou arrived at the command module, sat quietly in the observation chair without speaking, and did not know who mentioned it, and wanted to take a photo with Xu Shiyou.
Nie Fengzhi's wife He Ming was also in the crowd, and although her face was still smiling and groaning, she was very surprised in her heart: "This old man Xu is not quite right!" ”
He Ming said to a secretary next to him:
"Not long ago, there was an old chief who was not keen on photography on weekdays, and before he died of illness, he was unusual and especially liked to take pictures."
Could it be said...
The crowd did not dare to speculate any more.
Picture | Nie Fengzhi, Xu Shiyou and Xiang Shouzhi
<h1 class="pgc-h-center-line" data-track="143" > "Do as it is, not as an example"</h1>
At the end of September 1985, a report was placed at the table of Deng Xiaoping.
The report was forwarded by the Central Advisory Committee and was the only request xu Shiyou made when he was seriously ill. The content is concise and concise, that is, it is hoped that the Party Central Committee can approve the execution of the coffin after his death.
Deng Xiaoping hesitated, thinking of the situation more than thirty years ago, when Chairman Mao advocated cremation.
In 1956, the central leadership took the lead in signing a cremation proposal, on which Chairman Mao was the first to sign.
Many members of the Central Committee signed their names, but Xu Shiyou did not, and he went to Chairman Mao and said:
"Report Chairman, I live to be loyal to you, after death to do filial piety for my mother, I left home since I was a child, I have not been able to fulfill filial piety around my mother, I only have one wish in my life, please ask the chairman to approve: I will be buried next to my mother after I die."
Chairman Mao did not rebuke him, but only smiled slightly and said, "He is a monk." “
After many years, the repetition of the old matter seems to have become a difficult problem today.
Photo| January 1980, Su Yu, Ye Jianying, Yang Shangkun and Xu Shiyou at Guangzhou Baiyun Airport
Deng Xiaoping was also very surprised to see that this general who had made great achievements in battle and was an old subordinate, how could he not be enlightened or civilized on the issue of cremation, but was even more stubborn?
After much thought, Deng Xiaoping finally made up his mind.
He took the report and signed it with 8 big words:
"Do as you will, not as an example"
On October 22, Xu Shiyou died of illness in Nanjing at the age of 80.
The next day, in accordance with the spirit of the instructions of the party Central Committee and the Central Military Commission, the Nanjing Military Region set up a funeral office, which was located in Building 50 of the Huashan Hotel of the Nanjing Military Region.
The establishment of the "Unrwath Agency" also seems to indicate that Xu Shiyou's wish before his death is about to be fulfilled.
Xu Shiyou is about to become the first general to be allowed to be buried in a coffin since China advocated cremation.
Pictured| Deng Xiaoping and Xu Shiyou
On the morning of October 26, Wang Zhen, deputy director of the Central Advisory Committee, was sent by the Party Central Committee to Nanjing to bid farewell to the remains of his comrade-in-arms Xu Shiyou.
After getting off the plane, Wang Zhen told Guo Linxiang, deputy director of the General Political Department, Wang Ping, chen Zaidao, member of the Central Advisory Committee, and Xiang Shouzhi, commander of the Nanjing Military Region, who were present:
"Last night, I went to visit Comrade Xiaoping, and today, I was entrusted by Comrade Xiaoping to bid farewell to Xu Shiyou's body."
"In the 60-year career of comrade Xu Shiyou, he has made great achievements in battle and died a hundred deaths, and is an outstanding commander of our army who has grown from a soldier to a general."
Although Wang Zhen and Xu Shiyou did not have many intersections, they were famous and admired each other.
In 1979, Xu Shiyou commanded the counterattack against Vietnam, and Wang Zhen went to the front line as the head of the central delegation to offer condolences.
When Xu Shiyou summed up the lessons learned after the war, he once said with emotion:
"As soldiers, we can't be afraid of war, nor can we be afraid of casualties, but I hope this is the last battle of my life."
I couldn't imagine that six years later it would become his last words.
Picture | In 1979, Wang Zhen went to Guangzhou on behalf of the Central Committee to comfort Xu Shiyou and the officers and men at the front
Similarly, Wang Zhen also expressed Deng Xiaoping's opinion on the handling of Xu Shiyou's subsequent affairs:
"Xu Shiyou is a special person with a special personality, special experience, and special contributions. Xu Shiyou's burial this time is a special pass left by Comrade Mao Zedong and issued by Comrade Deng Xiaoping. ”
After speaking, Wang Zhen stood up on crutches and said humorously to the generals present:
"You, my old bones, don't want to get this kind of pass anymore."
Coincidentally, on the day of the farewell ceremony of the body, the clear sky was covered with dark clouds and heavy rain, as if the "Lord God" was also weeping for the death of the general.
Immediately after the farewell ceremony, the burial ceremony was held.
Accompanying Xu Shiyou were watches and semiconductor radios that he had treasured for many years.
Xu Shiyou was an alcoholic before his death, and when he died, there were still more than 40 bottles of Maotai in his home, at the beginning some people advocated all burial, and some people advocated putting half of them, and finally decided to put only one bottle, which was also in line with the general's consistent frugality for many years.
In addition, there is a shotgun that he has used for many years, and a neat 100 yuan bill.
The statue of Xu Shiyou | pictured
Someone once said: "Three burial items are well chosen, wine - boldness, gun - to fight ghosts, money - to buy roads." Xu Shiyou can go unimpeded wherever he goes. ”
That night, the convoy escorting Xu Shiyou back to his hometown set off, and the convoy slowly surrounded the 800-mile Dabie Mountain.
After two days and one night of driving, Xu Shiyou finally returned to his hometown, the place where he was born and raised.
General Xu Shiyou finally achieved the return of the fallen leaves to the roots.