In the revolutionary war years before liberation, in the whole of China, Zhu De was the most deified figure among the people, and also the most legendary hero.
American Edgar Snow wrote in " Journey to the West ": "Soldiers regard him (Zhu De) as a god, and Chinese folks say that he has various magical abilities: he can see in all directions. Hundreds of miles away, he can fly in the sky, master Taoist magic , such as calling wind and rain in front of the enemy. Superstitious people believe that he is invulnerable. Some people say that he has the ability to resurrect from death."
German Wang Anna also wrote in "China-My Second Hometown": "The farmers say that he (Zhu De) is a clairvoyant who can see things far away; he is also a Taoist magic master, not only He can set up a smoke screen in front of the enemy to escape, and even ride the clouds and fog in the air."
An author signed "Shao Yuan" wrote in the preface of his compilation of "Zhu De's Autobiography" published in April 1946: "Zhu De In China, he has become a legendary figure like the ancient heroes in the Three Kingdoms. The rapid advance and retreat, and elusive military actions, in the eyes of the enemy, they are as incredible as phantoms, and the superstitious people say that he, as Zhu De, the commander-in-chief of the Communist Army, is a magician. The image of Zhu De is wrapped in various colorful and fantasy coats.”
During the Anti-Japanese War, people in many places spread the saying: Zhu De is the heavenly Wuqu star In the lower realm, there is a mole of ever-victorious on his palm. Whenever the Eighth Route Army fought the Japanese devils, as long as Zhu De waved his hand, the Eighth Route Army would be invincible.
In 1944, Zhu De also had this sentence in his speech at the symposium on compiling the history of the First Army of the Red Army: "For example, I personally, both Chinese and foreign people know, it seems that I have three heads and six arms."
is on the opposite side of the ruler. Against the background of a large amount of ugliness and propaganda, Zhu De's legend or even deification is entirely due to the military miracles he created!
Even the soldiers in the troops he led had "a bit of mystical belief" in him (Xiao Ke recalled), so it's no wonder that ordinary people who didn't know him imagined him as a demon!
But in reality, the image of Zhu De himself is a character who does not show any heroism, and is too ordinary.
Wang Anna, a German, described how Zhu De felt when she first met Zhu De: "It's like an overworked old farmer. This "bandit leader" doesn't look like a hero, he doesn't look like a powerful person. His appearance is unremarkable, and if he is in the crowd, he might not be noticeable at all."
When Epstein talked about his impression of Zhu De, he said: "From his appearance, it is impossible to tell that he is a brave and good fighter. Helen Foster also said: "Zhu De has no military spirit."
Undoubtedly, a person's external image largely depends on his personality and thoughts.
Some people like to stand out, so they always focus on showing themselves to be extraordinary and superior in every way; Expressions and movements are rich and colorful, some people are simple and honest, which makes people feel dull; Some people like to show their masculinity, so they always look majestic and high-spirited in front of everyone; Show yourself gentle and courteous.
In short, character and thoughts, from the inside to the outside, appear in speech, behavior, and clothing. Even people with the same intelligence, ability, or courage will form a completely different image over time: some people will give people the impression of Outstanding impression, some people will give people the feeling of ordinary. But the true nature of a person, in the eyes of a discerning person, always sees through the superficial image, and finally reveals slowly or suddenly.
During the Anti-Japanese War, a Central News Agency reporter wrote in an article reporting on Zhu De: "Although the interview was only one day, the ordinary image he gave me at the beginning has completely broken through the extraordinary conversation.
Indeed, there are many extraordinary people in the world, often hidden under an ordinary appearance."
Smedley described his first impression after seeing Zhu De, "It looks completely ordinary Appearance. If it wasn’t because he was wearing a uniform, it would be easy to ignore him as an old farmer in some village in China.” He quickly wrote: “At this moment, I have such a feeling : No matter what part of him you look at—from voice, movement, to every step of his footsteps, it is full of masculinity."
Commander-in-Chief of the Eighth Route Army Zhu De and foreign friends
Youth, especially Yunnan Army Zhu De in military uniform has an extremely resolute and mighty appearance. It is an image of Zhu De that can make people feel outstanding at a glance, but the middle-aged and old Zhu De makes people feel ordinary, which cannot be ignored. It is reminiscent of some very bitter or sad experiences that Zhu De experienced, as well as the changes in thinking and behavior after being influenced by Buddhism and accepting communism (both Buddhism and communism advocate equality for everyone).
Therefore, Zhu De's "unremarkable" appearance and "no military spirit" are to a considerable extent the result of a long-term and conscious self-restraint, not highlighting himself, and pursuing the idea of blending with ordinary people.
Zhu De's thinking contains quite obvious elements of hermit thinking. Corresponding to his appearance, Zhu De's ordinary appearance is just like an invisibility cloak. On the one hand, this "invisibility cloak" can often protect him from military and political struggles. On the other hand, he will often be ignored or even slighted at that time or later.
36-year-old Zhu De when he was in Shanghai
In the course of Chinese history, Zhu De and Mao Zedong, they are both peerless heroes who overlook the history and the world, they are all arranged by God to be the masters in this dusty world, on this vast land The characters who dominate the ups and downs, they are the mainstay of the destiny of this great country with a history of 5,000 years of civilization!
The fundamental reason why Zhu and Mao were able to praise each other lies in this! In the same country and in the same camp, two people can enjoy the title of "long live" at the same time, which is almost unique in the entire history of mankind. In the process of victory, they were able to get along harmoniously in this basically parallel position for about twenty years! The reason why this miracle can happen is the joint achievement of the selfless qualities of the two great men, but it is also closely related to Zhu De's generosity, indifference to power, and conscious self-concealment of fame.
In 1926, Zhu De described his thoughts in a poem presented to his friend Ai Chengxiu: "I was born in the south of the Yangtze River, and I have been engaged in the Yafu camp for ten years. I have been ashamed and escaped from the world. Is it a name to turn the tide. ...... Splendid mountains and rivers Bad tigers and wolves, people desperately hope for help; I want to regain my strength and be self-reliant, and I don’t think about safety and danger."
From these few lines of poems, we can see that Zhu De's indifference to fame, fortune and power is first rooted in his inherent hermit character and thoughts, so when expressing his feelings in the poems, there is a saying of "escaping from the world"; But he finally "escaped from the world in shame" and wanted to "turn the tide" and "return to heaven" because of the suffering of the country and the people, so that he, who had "been in the Yafu camp for ten years" and "experienced in the sea", could not sit idly by. No matter. Therefore, the purpose of his dedication to the revolution is completely selfless, which is to save the people from fire and water. As Helen Foster said, "War, in his view, is not a kind of meritorious deeds, but a means of ending suffering." If it was for his own fame and fortune, with his status at the time, why should he join the revolution and "do not think about safety"? It is no wonder that Helen Foster said that Zhu De "does not have any political ambitions". When the revolution has gained a certain scale and momentum, or has achieved some major victories, and praises from all sides come one after another, Zhu De will continue to push forward.
In 1944, at the symposium on compiling the history of the First Army of the Red Army In his speech, Zhu De said: "We must not take credit. The masses are in turmoil, and the martyrs sacrifice their lives. If there is merit, the merit is theirs. Without the masses, we can do nothing. For example, I personally, Chinese and foreign people know, it seems that I have three heads and six arms, but in fact, I am just one of the representatives of the cause and achievements of the masses. We must remember that if there is merit, the merit belongs to the party and the masses. "
In May 1948, at a meeting of cadres above the First Corps of the East China Field Army, Zhu De said: "The People's Liberation Army has won a lot of victories. Speaking on behalf of. I personally should realize that the victory of the PLA is the credit of all comrades, and I should not exaggerate my own great abilities. My ability is limited, and the things I can do are also limited. How can I bear such a great honor? When people give me the credit, I will push the credit down, and I think you should do the same. "
Smedley said: "Someone told me long ago that he (Zhu De) is a simple, kind, approachable person who works hard and has no interest in making himself a personal hero. "
Wang Anna said: "It is very difficult to get Zhu De to talk about his own affairs, but when asked to talk about the Red Army , he seemed to be a different person, talking endlessly. "
Zhao Rong (Lieutenant General) who followed Zhu De to participate in the Nanchang Uprising said: "Some people think that the ' sixteen-character formula ' was created by Chairman Mao, but it was actually created by Zhu De. Zhu always never talked about his contribution, his strengths, and strengths, not at all. I once asked him: 'Didn't you come up with the sixteen-character formula? How did Chairman Mao propose it? ’ He said: ‘As long as it is beneficial to the revolution, whoever mentions it is the same. ’” (Note: In fact, both Mao Zedong and Zhu De contributed to the “Sixteen-Character Jue”)
Zhu De’s daughter Zhu Min said: “He (Zhu De) never talked about his revolutionary deeds over the past few decades in front of our children. Sometimes, when my children asked him to talk about his experiences, he would either shake his head or wave his hands, and say to the children: 'I have nothing to do but follow Chairman Mao. ’ ‘You should learn from the glorious history of Chairman Mao. ’ ‘Our generation is represented by Chairman Mao. '"
Before liberation, Zhu De gave credit to the workers, peasants and ordinary soldiers, because everyone put the credit on him; To the chairman, there is no doubt that apart from being modest and selfless, it is also a kind of political wisdom and adaptation to the times.
At the Military Commission enlarged meeting after the Lushan meeting, Lin Biao said that Zhu De "has never served as commander-in-chief for a day." Zhu De replied with a smile: "Then please criticize!" I have seen too much, and Lin Biao stopped talking about this sentence. Later, Zhu De talked to Kang Keqing about his thoughts at the time, and said: "It doesn't matter if I haven't even served as commander-in-chief for a day. It's good for others. There is no harm at all, just negating myself."
During the Cultural Revolution, "Zhu De's pole" was adapted into "Lin Biao's pole". You have to pay it back."
Look at Zhu De's attitude towards personal credit and reputation, there is no selfless spirit, no extraordinary kindness, no measure of "the world is wide in the belly, and there are often boats for people to ferry", and there is no such thing as ordinary people. How can we achieve such open-mindedness with our inner strength and wisdom? Among animals, the most powerful elephants, lions, tigers, etc., usually appear dull and gentle, while weak animals such as rabbits and mice are very clever, and will immediately react violently to the slightest disturbance. Or a dog, howling or barking at every turn. Therefore, external gentleness and seemingly dullness are often the inevitable result of inner self-confidence and strength to a certain extent.
Kang Keqing told Helen in Yan'an .Snow When talking about Zhu De, he said, "He likes to live with ordinary soldiers, and he often talks with them. He lives the simple life of ordinary soldiers and does the same with soldiers when necessary His nickname is 'cooker head', and he looks like an ordinary soldier. Sometimes he helps farmers plant the land when he is free. He often carries grain from the valley to the mountains."
Lao Balu Liu Yuzhu recalled , When he was in Yan'an, what he remembered most was that he could often meet Zhu De who picked up excrement on the sidewalk in Yan'an. He was very surprised when he saw Zhu De, the commander-in-chief of the Eighth Route Army, whom he had admired for a long time and was well-known. He never imagined that Zhu De, the commander-in-chief, would wear the same coarse clothes as ordinary soldiers, hoe the fields, grow vegetables, carry urine and manure like ordinary farmers, and behave like an old farmer! Continuing Fan Ting was greatly moved, and wrote a poem with a brush: "The enemy's rear supports the invincible achievements, and the King Kong has refined a hero; people at that time did not know the general's face, and he was as simple as a farmer."
Zhu De and his teacher Zhang Lan "Mystery" said: "In his hometown, Ma'an Commune, he (Zhu De) pulled a child into his arms when he saw a child, and let him sit beside him when he saw an old man. In the yard of his home, he crawled on his legs and back. They are all children, and often when other people arrive, the yard is full of voices and laughter. Chess was played in the wide corridor on the first floor of the villa. As soon as the chessboard was placed, it was surrounded by people watching the game, and even the children from the neighboring courtyard ran over. None of the spectators obeyed the rules. This one called " Gongzu " , the one who shouted " vaulting horse ", and the others who shouted "get out of the car", all of them yelled to make moves, and what's more, they even stretched out their hands on the chessboard, so they almost moved the pieces for the chess player. But Grandpa and his opponent ignored the noisy shouts and moved the pieces quietly according to their own chess moves. In Beidaihe, only in the small building of my house can there be such lively laughter. , Liu Shaoqi, Chen Yun, etc. (Zhou Enlai lived in the area of the State Council department) and the tranquility in the courtyard formed a sharp contrast."
This is Zhu De! This is the Zhu De who has the obvious features of a hermit and an ordinary person! It is precisely because of Zhu De who doesn't like to show off, doesn't compete with others for fame and fortune, has no official airs, and always regards himself as an ordinary person, there is that Zhu De who looks ordinary in appearance.
The famous military writer Liu Baiyu who had a deep contact with Zhu De once described Zhu De emotionally and said: "When you face him, you can't imagine that he is such an all-powerful and invincible commander. Yes, he has done everything. The responsibility of the commander, he slashed a new world out of the blood, thorns and hazels, everywhere, but he didn't get the commander's awe-inspiring and domineering habit at all. It seems that he has no part and no fate."
Commander-in-Chief Zhu De of the Eighth Route Army
On September 6, 1940, Chongqing " Xinhua Daily " had an article titled "Old and Young People Like Fire and Flowers", which wrote: "We are in the whole world. In history, I read and saw many generals who were powerful and powerful for a time, but they really became the leaders of the masses, such a great man who "sees a hero in a simple way", but only General Zhu De!" Yes, looking at the history of the world, you can still Can you find a second commander-in-chief like Zhu De who is so ordinary from clothes to words and deeds, so ordinary, and so close to soldiers and the masses?
Hegel said: "There is no hero in the eyes of a concubine". This is because the concubine is too close to the hero, and all the ordinary and even shortcomings of the hero are exposed in front of the concubine.
Therefore, some people want to show themselves outstanding in front of everyone, and want others to think that they are a hero, so they will always express themselves or dress up as extraordinary in speech, manner, behavior, and clothing. Opportunity will put on airs, play prestige, and make others feel inaccessible.
Zhu De is different, he presents all the ordinary aspects of himself in front of others, he is simple and ordinary, he never puts on airs to scare people, pretends to fool people, and never makes people feel inaccessible.
"There is no hero in the eyes of concubines", there is another explanation for this sentence, that is: concubines are concubines after all, and their intelligence cannot distinguish the difference between heroes and mortals.
Many people are often deceived by superficial illusions, thinking that those who show their yang energy and "draw their swords and stand up to fight" are brave; The appearance of being aloof is outstanding.
Therefore, based on Zhu De's image and behavior, they believed that Zhu De was neither mighty nor smart, nor even capable at all.
Little do they know that the sun will set when it rises to the highest place, when the wheat matures, the ears of wheat will droop. , but showing weakness, no longer shrewd in everything, but being confused in many things, no longer pursuing excellence, but tending to be ordinary, that is, the so-called "extremely brilliant, and the way of the mean": a person's inner wisdom is to the extreme When you are young, you will only seek to be appropriate and ordinary in your behavior and dealing with things.
So Lao Tzu also said: "Fruit one's sharpness, solve one's confusion, harmonize one's light, and one's dust".
Zhu De
At the beginning of July 1958, Zhu De came to Lanzhou and enthusiastically climbed the Wuquan Mountain in Lanzhou. On the way to Qianfo Pavilion, a memorial archway across the mountain road appeared in the sight of Zhu De and his party. Looking up, I saw seven large characters written horizontally on the front of the archway: "How is a high place better than a low place?" Introduce aside.
"Let's go and see what's written?" Zhu De was full of interest. Passing through the archway, the seven big characters on the back came into view: "Going down is harder than going up."
Zhu De smiled.
