China News Service, Beijing, February 9th: Title: Chen Geng’s daughter: Her father once personally went to the front line to “speak” to Huangpu classmates
China News Service reporter Cheng Yu
"This is the photo of him joining the army in 1925 and being promoted to company commander. It is also his earliest photo." Recently, Chen Zhijin, the daughter of New China's founding general Chen Geng, showed a photo of her father when he was at the Whampoa Military Academy in an exclusive interview with a reporter from China News Service. Rare photos. She said that her father told her stories twice in her life, both times related to Huangpu.
Chen Geng’s daughter Chen Zhijin was interviewed by reporters. Photo by Li Chen
Whampoa Military Academy is known as the cradle of modern Chinese generals. A hundred years ago, this military academy standing in the eastern suburbs of Guangzhou gathered aspiring young people from all over the world. Chen Geng, who was 21 years old at the time, was an influential figure among the more than 600 students in the first phase of Huangpu.
"My father has a very good character and can unite people around him. He participated in the 'Blood Flower Drama Club' and the Chinese Young Soldiers Federation. He introduced many people to join the Communist Party of China during his time in Huangpu." Chen Zhijin said that at that time Although the students have different political stances, they all have the pursuit of saving the country and the people and want to contribute to the country.
In 1925, the National Revolutionary Army went east to conquer the warlord Chen Jiongming. After graduation, Chen Geng, who stayed at the school to teach, led the troops to make repeated military exploits. During this period, he also used a pair of "fast legs" to save Chiang Kai-shek's life. "At that time, Chiang Kai-shek's headquarters was exposed in front of the enemy's position. My father ran with him for two miles to the river and put Chiang Kai-shek on the boat. My father also led people to cover, so that Chiang Kai-shek escaped from danger." Chen Zhijin laughed. He said, "During the Huangpu period, there was a saying that Jiang Xianyun's pen and He Zhonghan's mouth were not as good as Chen Geng's legs."
The "life-saving grace" greatly increased Chen Geng's weight in Chiang Kai-shek's heart. Later, he was promoted to attendant staff officer and could enter and exit Chiang Kai-shek's residence at will.
Chen Zhijin looks through the profile photos of his father Chen Geng. Photographed by Liu Chao
In 1926, Chen Geng and Chiang Kai-shek parted ways. After the "April 12" counter-revolutionary coup, Chen Geng participated in the Nanchang Uprising. During the Anti-Japanese War, the Kuomintang and the Communist Party cooperated to save the country. Chen Geng led his troops to participate in the Hundred Regiments War and won many battles. During the Liberation War, Chen Geng Annihilating Hu Zongnan's "No. 1 Brigade in the World" and defeating Huang Wei's Corps in the Battle of Huaihai... whether allies or opponents, Chen Geng could always see many "familiar faces" from Huangpu on the battlefield.
"When Huang Wei was surrounded, my father often went to the front line to personally shout for Huang Wei. Xiong Shouchun was a student in a later period of Huangpu. My father persuaded Xiong Shouchun to revolt, but the war progressed too quickly and he was beaten. He is dead. My dad said that we must find Xiong Shouchun’s body and set up a monument for him so that his family can find him.”
Song Xilian and Chen Geng were both first-year students in Huangpu and were good friends in the military academy. Song Xilian was captured during the War of Liberation and imprisoned in Bai Mansion at the foot of Gele Mountain in Chongqing. Chen Zhijin said that Chen Geng went to visit him after learning about the incident. "I invited them to a meal and explained the policies to them. These people were very moved. What touched me the most was that my father did not stand above others and did not regard himself as a winner. I think this is the mentality of a Communist."
Chen Zhijin told reporters at the former residence of Chen Geng about interesting stories about getting along with his father when he was a child. Photo by Li Chen
Walking into Chen Geng's former residence in Lingjing Hutong, Beijing, Chen Zhijin felt quite emotional. She recalled that there were always a dozen children at home on weekends. "Some of them had their parents sacrificed, including the children of democrats, and he tried every means to place them at home. Many old comrades, including classmates from Huangpu, had sacrificed their lives. He also found their children and tried every means to take care of their families. "
At the end of 1959, the first group of senior Kuomintang war criminals were pardoned by the Central People's Government, including Du Yuming, Song Xilian and other Huangpu first-generation students. After learning the news, Chen Geng hosted a banquet for these former classmates at the Minzu Hotel. "My father's first words were that we were together again. It turned out that we were together because of the Three People's Principles. During the Anti-Japanese War, it was for national liberation, and later it was also for the reunification of the country, so they had a goal to be together."
Chen Zhijin said that the descendants of Huangpu on both sides of the Taiwan Strait now also look forward to the reunification of the country and the prosperity of the nation. "We also want to inherit this Chinese heart of loving the people and loving the motherland. Huangpu people have been working hard." (End)