China News Service, Beijing, February 20th: Title: Xu Xiangqian’s son: His father’s purpose in running to Huangpu was to make China rich, powerful and independent.
China News Service reporter Wang Shibo
"This photo is of my father and his 10 classmates from the first phase of Huangpu in Guangzhou when he went to Huangpu." Recently, Xu Xiaoyan, son of Xu Xiangqian, gave an exclusive interview to a China News Service reporter and showed how his father, Xu Xiangqian, went to Huangpu in 1924. A precious photo taken when he was a student at Huangpu Military Academy. He said that at that time, we were in an atmosphere where everyone was rushing towards revolution, and many revolutionary young people came to Huangpu for their ideals.
In 1924, Xu Xiangqian entered the Huangpu Military Academy. "My father is generally low-key and not particularly sociable. Although there are conflicts between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, for most people like my father, they just want China to be prosperous and strong and independent."
Xu Xiaoyan, Xu Xiangqian's son, is looking through Xu Xiangqian's information. Photo by Li Chen
At the end of 1926, Xu Xiangqian came to Wuhan and entered the Wuhan branch of Whampoa Military Academy to work. Xu Xiaoyan said that here, Xu Xiangqian came into contact with many ideas. "He was the captain of the first team. At that time, the salary was still very high. This group of fellow villagers often got together. Although my father was not particularly active, he had money to pay for it. There, I heard more exchanges of opinions and discussions about China's future. How to go."
In 1927, the political situation was different from that in 1924. Xu Xiangqian bought a large number of books about the Communist Party and studied them carefully. Xu Xiaoyan said, "He read some books, including Marx's books and the Manifesto of the Communist Party. At this time, he made up his mind to join the Communist Party. In 1927, the Kuomintang 'divided the Communist Party', and my father joined it at this time of the Communist Party.”
In 1929, Xu Xiangqian was sent to northeastern Hubei by the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China and served as deputy division commander of the 31st Division of the 11th Army of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army. In just over two years, Xu Xiangqian developed the peasant armed forces of more than 300 people into the Fourth Red Army of 40,000 people. With his flexible tactics, Xu Xiangqian repeatedly made military exploits and became the youngest front army commander in the Red Army period. In 1936, the Fourth Front Army of the Red Army was divided into two groups. Xu Xiangqian led the West Army and planned to establish a base in the Hexi Corridor. However, this time he suffered the biggest defeat in his life.
Xu Xiaoyan, son of Xu Xiangqian, showed photos of Xu Xiangqian to reporters. Photo by Li Chen
Xu Xiaoyan said with emotion: "In the end, the unit was defeated, and he was left alone. There were notices everywhere to arrest him, and he just walked back. Ordinary people may become disheartened after experiencing such a failure. "When Chairman Mao met my father after he returned to Yan'an from the West Route Army, of course he felt very guilty. He thought, anyway, the army was lost, and I had no explanation as to how to deal with it. After meeting Chairman Mao, Chairman Mao It was just a consolation, and it was said that 'you can keep the green hills without fear of running out of firewood', and my father was very moved at that time." Xu Xiaoyan said.
Opening the bookcase at home, Xu Xiaoyan took out a copy of "Strategic Issues in China's Revolutionary War", which Xu Xiangqian brought back from Yan'an. Opening the book, it is filled with Xu Xiangqian’s learning experience.
During the War of Liberation, Xu Xiangqian successively commanded the Battle of Linfen, the Battle of Jinzhong and the Battle of Taiyuan, making important contributions to the liberation of all China. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Xu Xiangqian successively served as the Chief of General Staff of the People's Liberation Army, Vice Premier of the State Council and Minister of National Defense. He was the Communist Party general with the highest military rank in the first phase of Huangpu. In 1984, the Whampoa Military Academy Alumni Association was established, and Xu Xiangqian served as the first president. This was the only position he held in his later years.
Xu Xiaoyan, son of Xu Xiangqian, is writing calligraphy. Photo by Li Chen
In June 1990, Xu Xiangxiang was seriously ill and was hospitalized. He told the family not to hold a memorial service or pay tribute to the body. He hopes to scatter his ashes in the Dabie Mountains, Daba Mountains, Hexi Corridor and Taihang Mountains. "Dabie Mountain is where my father first led the troops. Daba Mountain refers to the Sichuan-Shaanxi base area. The third place is the Hexi Corridor. It is the place where the troops he led sacrificed the most and were eventually dispersed. This place has been his whole life. He never forgets them. There are so many martyrs there, and he wants to scatter their ashes with them. He still misses these martyrs," Xu Xiaoyan said. (over)