In April 1952, the Korean battlefield was full of wars, and the Chinese and American armies were engaged in a fierce life-and-death game on the three-thousand-mile splendid river and mountain in Korea, but Peng Dehuai, commander-in-chief of the Chinese Volunteer Army, was ordered to fly back to Beijing to participate in the Politburo Standing Committee meeting.
At the Politburo meeting, Premier Zhou Enlai, who presided over the daily affairs of the Central Military Commission, proposed that Comrade Peng Dehuai stay in Beijing and concurrently serve as the chief of the general staff as vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, and at the same time preside over the daily work of the Central Military Commission.
As an old revolutionary, Marshal Peng Dehuai has participated in the revolution for decades, and it is most appropriate to hold this work, and he is also the first chief of the general staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, and he is also handy in the work of the army.
However, what was surprising was that Peng Dehuai expressed his reluctance to accept this work, which surprised everyone present, because everyone knew that Peng Dehuai had always been a person who had the courage to take responsibility and dared to shoulder heavy burdens, and he never paid attention to the conditions and resolutely completed the work arranged for him by the organization. So, why didn't Peng Dehuai agree to Premier Zhou Enlai's proposal at the first time?
Although Peng Dehuai is a well-known candidate, Peng Dehuai does not want to enter the work of the Central Military Commission, which is inseparable from many of his own reasons:
1. Peng Dehuai worries that his temper is not suitable for this work. Peng Dehuai was notoriously violent, and those close to him knew that his belt was generally not tied around his waist, but was held in his hand and whipped the table. Years of conquest made the iron-blooded general's temper not change at all, but became more and more violent. Most of the work of the Central Military Commission is theoretical and civilian work, and Peng Dehuai believes that he is likely to have conflicts with his comrades-in-arms and delay his work.
2. Peng Dehuai is not confident in his physical condition. Peng Dehuai once cited Xu Xiangqian, former chief of the general staff who was working at the Central Military Commission at the time, as "unable to work because of a long illness," Su Yu, deputy chief of general staff, who was "also ill," and Nie Rongzhen," who "was also dragged down" and "fainted on the ground." Peng Dehuai held that only by presiding over the work of the Central Military Commission can we have a strong physique in order to do a good job in the work of the Central Military Commission. When he first recovered from his serious illness, his health was not healthy enough, and if he took up the work of the Central Military Commission again, he would be afraid that he would delay his work due to physical reasons. Moreover, he believes that we should leave a stage for young people and let young people enter the Central Military Commission for training, not only let the older generation guard the country, it is easy to bury talents.
3. Peng Dehuai has some inferiority for his academic qualifications, which is the point he cares most about. Peng Dehuai held that most of the work of the Central Military Commission is theoretical and civilian work, and it requires excellent, experienced, and knowledgeable people to take on heavy responsibilities. His comrades-in-arms at the same time all had the experience of studying abroad or studying at the Whampoa Military Academy, such as Liu Bocheng, Chen Geng and so on. However, he basically did not go to school himself, and the military theory was all found by himself, and he was basically a mud-legged man in terms of theoretical knowledge, which made him a little worried that he would not be able to perform some of the work of the Central Military Commission.
4. Peng Dehuai has a deep affection for the Great Northwest, and he hopes to work in the Ministry of Agriculture to benefit the people of the Great Northwest. This is the most important point, and the true desire of his heart. Peng Dehuai's resume from Rong for decades shows that he has been working in the Great Northwest Region, he has been rooted in the Northwest Region since the Long March, and the Liberation War also commanded the Northwest Field Army. He has repeatedly mentioned that the people of the Northwest Territories have a hard life and hope to improve their lives in the future, so he prefers to work in the Ministry of Agriculture.
Peng Dehuai knew very well that if he wanted to go to the localities without taking up military work, he would have to report to Mao Zedong and obtain the chairman's consent. Therefore, Peng Dehuai went to Mao Zedong to report, and after solemnly proposing his own idea that he was not competent and wanted to work in the countryside, he recommended Gao Gang and Deng Xiaoping to Mao Zedong as candidates for the chief of the general staff, but the chairman denied it.
Why would Peng Dehuai recommend Gao Gang, Deng Xiaoping? Gao Gang, why was Deng Xiaoping's candidate for the chief of the General Staff repudiated by Mao Zedong?
Gao Gang, formerly known as Gao Chongde, was one of the founders of the Red Army base area in Shaanxi and Gansu. He has successively served as the secretary of the Northwest Bureau, the Northeast Bureau, and the vice president of the People's Republic of China, and such an old comrade with outstanding merits is also a good candidate for the chief of the general staff, but the chairman believes that he has many advantages and at the same time has many shortcomings, and he is not competent for the work of the chief of the general staff.
Deng Xiaoping, a native of Sichuan, went to Europe for work-study in his early years; after returning to China, he successively led the Baise Uprising, established the Revolutionary Base Area of the Left and Right Rivers, opened up the Jinji-Hebei-Yu Revolutionary Base Area with Liu Bocheng and others during the War of Resistance Against Japan, persisted in fighting against the Japanese puppet army and the Kuomintang reactionaries, and led the Central Plains Field Army thousands of miles into the Dabie Mountains during the War of Liberation, and fiercely inserted a knife in the Kuomintang-ruled areas. Mao Zedong affirmed Deng Xiaoping's talents, but said that Deng Xiaoping was then vice premier of the Central People's Government Council and deputy director of the Financial and Economic Committee, and later concurrently served as director of the Transportation Office and minister of finance of the Government Council. His task was also very difficult, so Deng Xiaoping was not suitable to serve as chief of the general staff.
At this time, the chairman could not hold back, and said with a grim face: "I have taken a fancy to you, do you think that you are a great hero of great fame at home and abroad, and that you have been given a low post as chief of the general staff?" When Premier Zhou saw this scene, he immediately played a round field next to him and said: "Old Peng is telling the truth." The chairman's words completely sobered Peng Dehuai, believing that he really lacked consideration and decided to take on this burden.
So how did Mao Decide on the Chief of the General Staff? Why does the Chief of the General Staff have to be Peng Dehuai?
Mao Zedong's choice to make Peng Dehuai concurrently chief of the general staff and preside over the work of the Central Military Commission was well thought out, and only Peng Dehuai was qualified:
Peng Dehuai suffered from a vicious disease and was not suitable to return to the Korean battlefield to command the battle, and needed to stay in Beijing for better treatment and cultivation. During the Korean War, due to the long period of high-intensity and high-load work, coupled with the harsh conditions of the command post, the attack of the US military's germ warfare, biochemical warfare, resulting in Peng Dehuai's left brow bone having a tumor, and constantly showing a worsening trend, Peng Dehuai's comrades and doctors around peng Dehuai suggested that Peng Dehuai return to China for treatment, but Peng Dehuai did not care and insisted on staying in Korea to continue to command the battle.
Later, the staff and medical personnel around Peng Dehuai jointly reported to the central government behind his back and reported his condition, and later the central government asked Peng Dehuai to return to China in the form of an order, and Peng Dehuai had to return to Beijing for treatment.
2. Peng Dehuai can better adapt to the high-pressure state and be familiar with the new environment and new work in a short period of time. Before him, the chief of staff, Xu Xiangqian, was unable to work because of the high-intensity work of the Central Military Commission, and the acting chief of the general staff, Nie Rongzhen, was also dragged down by hidden diseases and long hours of work, and there was no suitable candidate for the chief of the general staff in a short period of time. Peng Dehuai, on the other hand, fought for many years and actively devoted himself to farming work after the war, so he was in good health and able to adapt to high-intensity work.
3. Peng Dehuai has outstanding military ability and good learning ability. Peng Dehuai joined the Xiang Army in his early years, because he was brave and good at fighting, had a variety of strange plans, and was a rare military talent, and was promoted by his superiors to be the commander of the Xiang Army, and later deeply felt the lack of military theoretical knowledge, took the initiative to leave his post and returned to his hometown to prepare for the military school, and was successfully admitted to the Lecture Martial Arts Hall. After that, from Gannan to western Sichuan, and then to Shaanxi, Gansu, and Ningxia, he won every battle and attacked invincible, and commanded the launch of the Hundred Regiments War in the War of Resistance Against Japan, which encouraged the morale of the anti-Japanese soldiers and civilians throughout the country.
In the Liberation War, northern Shaanxi relied on 20,000 troops to negotiate with More than 200,000 troops of Hu Zongnan, repeatedly crushing Hu Zongnan's attacks and alleviating the military pressure on the Huaihai battlefield and the Central Plains battlefield. After that, he commanded the Northwest Field Army in Nankexi'an, causing Hu Zongnan to sneak south to Sichuan like a lost dog.
Then it struck hard at the northwestern erma, successively recaptured Lanzhou, Xining, Ningxia, and the Western Route Army of the First Snow Red Army was humiliated and comforted the heroic souls of the martyrs. Having Peng Dehuai serve as chief of the general staff can better lead the work of the whole army, improve the learning ability of the vast number of officers and men, and be more conducive to the building of the PLA army. Moreover, Peng Dehuai loves soldiers like a son, treats the vast number of PLA soldiers with kindness and patience, is willing to listen to the soldiers express their ideas and needs, and is familiar with the actual situation of the army.
4. Premier Zhou Enlai is the premier of the State Council, and he must constantly visit foreign countries to carry out diplomatic activities, and at the same time assist Mao Zedong in handling the affairs of the Central Military Commission and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference; it is really impossible to coordinate many important tasks at the same time, so it is imperative for Peng Dehuai to preside over the affairs of the Central Military Commission and concurrently serve as chief of the general staff, so that he can share Zhou Enlai's heavy responsibilities and better handle the work.
Moreover, Peng Dehuai was a firm believer and was an old Communist Party member who had undergone the test of severe struggle; he had a simple style, adhered to principles, and set strict demands on himself, which won the trust of the Party Central Committee and Mao Zedong.
Was Mao's decision correct? How do you view Peng Dehuai's choice?
Mao Zedong's decision was based on the overall situation and was decided by the specific actual situation at that time. It reflects a leader's knowledge of people and a keen grasp of changes in the situation. At the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China, there was a shortage of talents, and there were many problems that needed to be solved, so it was necessary to use talents appropriately and make the best use of them.
Mao Zedong's failure to choose Gao Gang also stems from his understanding and grasp of everyone, and Mao Zedong's political acumen can be seen from the Subsequent Gao Rao split incident. Peng Dehuai's refusal to serve as chief of the general staff reflects his indifference to power and fame. His single-minded desire to dedicate himself to the revolution and serve the people embodies the spirit and feelings of a revolutionary and a communist who regards the world as his duty and penetrates deeply into the spirit and feelings of the masses.
Who dares to cross the knife? I am General Peng.
Just because Peng Dehuai was born into poverty and worked as a miner and embankment worker in his youth, he especially understood and sympathized with the vast number of workers and peasants, and after joining the Xiang Army, he especially hated the reactionary warlords for oppressing soldiers and loved soldiers like sons. Often lead by example in battle. He attached great importance to the discipline and work style of the army, never tolerated and connived at the phenomenon of encroaching on people's property in violation of military discipline, refused to give priority to hiding in air raid shelters during the Korean War, and insisted on sharing hardships with the vast number of officers and men.
Later, after presiding over the work of the Central Military Commission, he led with great boldness the reform of the army's organizational structure and major systems, improved weapons and equipment, formed technical branches of the armed forces, held various military schools and research institutions, carried out regular military and political training, established a first-line national defense and city-building system, and promoted the people's liberation army's historic transformation from a single branch of the armed forces to a composite army of various branches of the armed forces on the basis of maintaining fine traditions.
Chasing the wind and catching the moon Mo stayed, and the end of Pingwu was the Spring Mountain. Read the history of Youth, carry the hero. Knowing the past can better move towards the future. The heavens are not born and moist, and the ages are like a long night. Without the older generation of revolutionaries and countless revolutionary ancestors with Chairman Mao Zedong at the core, the Chinese nation does not know how long it will linger in the dark night, "ignoring the news that the world once ambushed the tiger, and the tears flew down as a downpour" Today's China's Guotai Min'an can go up to the moon in nine days and catch turtles in the five oceans. This is a prosperous world, as you wish.