During the Red Army period, Chen Xilian was a fierce general in the Red Fourth Front, and Deng Xiaoping served in the Red Front. There is not much intersection between them. During the War of Resistance Against Japan, Deng Xiaoping served as political commissar of the 129th Division, and Chen Xilian was soon promoted from regimental commander to brigade commander and became the main force of the 129th Division.
Since then, Chen Xilian has naturally become Deng Xiaoping's beloved general. The 129th Division advanced into the Taihang Mountains and established the Taihang Military Region, where Chen Xilian fought with Deng Xiaoping, who later served as commander of the 3rd Military Subdistrict.
After the establishment of the Jinji-Hebei Luyu Field Army, Deng Xiaoping served as the political commissar, and Chen Xilian was the commander of the third column. During the Liberation War, Chen Xilian crossed the Yellow River and followed Liu Dengqian to leap into the Dabie Mountains to attract the enemy.
Once, Chen Xilian reported to Deng Xiaoping on his work. Deng Xiaoping asked with great concern, "Xi Lian, is your back moving?" What does this mean? Of course, Chen Xilian was carrying not grain or weapons, but the enemy, and he and a large number of Kuomintang troops behind him were circling around the Dabie Mountains.
Before Chen Xilian could reply, Deng Xiaoping continued, saying that it is necessary to carry more, we must carry more, and work harder, so that the comrades-in-arms in northern Shaanxi and Shandong will be able to free up their hands and destroy more enemies, which is very beneficial to the overall situation.
Commissar Deng's spirit of sacrificing the ego and taking into account the overall situation has benefited Chen Xilian a lot. Finally, when it was time for the Huaihai Decisive Battle, Liu Deng's army was going to eat the well-equipped ace troop, the Huang Wei Corps. Huang Wei's army was 120,000 troops, and Liu Deng's army was only 120,000 at that time.
It's a hard bone to gnaw on. Chen Xilian was determined to persist in fighting even if only the last company remained. Deng Xiaoping fully affirmed his determination, saying that he told his comrades that even if they lost their homes, they would also eat Huang Wei's corps.
In 1949, the Second Field Army was formed, with only three corps under its command. Wang Jinshan, who was famous at that time, also wanted to be the commander of the corps, but in the end he did not become one. So, who were the commanders of the three corps of the Second Field Army? Chen Geng, Yang Yong and Chen Xilian.
After the founding of New China, the Second Field Army marched into the great southwest. Liu Bocheng and Deng Xiaoping made a big fuss in Zhengzhou and made the illusion of entering Sichuan from Shaanxi, while Chen Xi's joint corps quietly marched from eastern Sichuan to Chongqing. Chen Xilian sang a good play with Deng Xiaoping, confusing Chiang Kai-shek.
After the liberation of Chongqing, Chen Xilian served as the secretary of the municipal party committee and mayor, and he felt that he had not done local work and was afraid that he would not do a good job. Liu Bocheng and Deng Xiaoping encouraged him, saying that you can't learn, you are the commander of the corps, and there are still people below.
It can be said that it was precisely under the education and encouragement of Deng Xiaoping that Chen Xilian grew step by step. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Chen Xilian served as the commander of the Grand Military Region and, like Deng Xiaoping, became vice premier.
According to The Memoirs of Chen Xilian, before the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee, Deng Xiaoping and Chen Xilian spoke. Chen Xilian took the initiative to review that in my life, I felt the most sorry for you was that when you were knocked down for the second time, I did not stand up and speak for you.
Deng Xiaoping comforted him, saying that in that case, no one could do anything about it, and there was nothing you could do.