When his wife Ren Guilan learned the news, she was heartbroken and cried bitterly. But no matter how sad she is, she must persevere because Ren Guilan wants to fulfill Liang Xingchu's last wish.
Not long after, Ren Guilan proposed her husband's only wish before his death to the central government, and the central government immediately ordered: "Agree!"
So who is Liang Xingchu? What is his wish? Did Ren Guilan fulfill her husband's wish in the end?
From "Blacksmith" to "Liang Tiger"
Liang Xingchu was a blacksmith before joining the army. Because of this special experience, some people later called him "General Blacksmith". Several years later, Liang Xingchu recalled his blacksmithing career in his youth and said: "Blacksmithing is a job that requires both brute force, skill, and perseverance. I have been a blacksmith for three years. It should be said that I have played an important role in the subsequent military development." It has had a relatively positive impact on life. "
In April 1930, Liang Xingchu joined the Red Army because he believed that fighting was more worldly and exciting than forging iron. Liang Xingchu caught up with the anti-"encirclement and suppression" campaign as soon as he joined the Red Army. In October of this year, Chiang Kai-shek mobilized 100,000 troops, with Lu Diping as the commander-in-chief and Zhang Huizhan as the front-line commander, to launch the first "encirclement and suppression" campaign against the central base area.
At this time, Liang Xingchu had just joined the Red Army for five months. It was very impressive that he could achieve such an achievement.
Immediately afterwards, Liang Xingchu entered the political training brigade of the Fourth Red Army Battalion School, and then served as the company commander of the 32nd Regiment of the 11th Division of the Fourth Red Army.
On August 11, 1931, as the third anti-"encirclement and suppression" campaign against Huangpi began, Liang Xingchu led his troops to station near Huangpi and assumed the main offensive mission.
After the battle, Liang Xingchu was awarded the title of "Model Company Commander" and a Red Star Medal. The company he commanded also won the title of "Model Combat Company".
In October 1934, Liang Xingchu participated in the 25,000-mile Long March with the Central Red Army. His troops served as vanguards and participated in battles such as the fourth crossing of Chishui, the forced crossing of the Dadu River, and the capture of Lazikou. Liang Xingchu and his comrades were brave and tenacious, overcoming difficulties one after another and completing various tasks brilliantly.
Liang Xingchu led the soldiers to shuttle among the enemy groups, sometimes encountering the enemy troops and destroying their outposts; sometimes touching the enemy's command post, destroying their command organs; sometimes touching the enemy's command post, you will learn about it First-hand information was provided to the head of the Red Army in a timely manner.
Liang Xingchu was often praised by his superiors, and he was quickly promoted to the commander of the 2nd Regiment of the 2nd Division of the 1st Red Army Corps. During the Anti-Japanese War , Liang Xingchu led the 1st Battalion of the 685th Regiment to participate in the famous Pingxingguan Battle.
After the end of the battle, our army annihilated more than 1,000 Japanese troops, seized a large amount of enemy weapons and equipment, and achieved the first victory in the annihilation war since the national war of resistance, breaking the myth of the Japanese army's "invincibility".
In December 1939, Liang Xingchu led his troops into the Shandong Province and opened up the Tancheng Anti-Japanese Base Area. Later, Liang Xingchu served as the commander of the 5th Teaching Brigade of the 115th Division. He led his troops south to support the New Fourth Army and won many battles. For this, he was praised by the commander of the New Fourth Army Chen Yi.
Especially in January 1943, the Japanese army invaded Jufeng many times, but they were defeated by the troops commanded by Liang Xingchu, leaving corpses everywhere and completely defeated.
During the eight years of the Anti-Japanese War, Liang Xingchu fought bloody battles in vast areas of Shanxi, Su, Hebei, Shandong and other provinces, and made outstanding contributions to the fight against the Japanese army.
At that time, Liang Xingchu was the commander of the 1st Division under Lin Biao. He was known for being good at fighting hard and vicious battles, and became one of Lin Biao's five tiger generals. Lin Biao particularly admired Liang Xingchu.
Liang Xingchu also lived up to Lin Biao's expectations for him. He tried his best in Xiushuihezi and wiped out a reinforced regiment of the Kuomintang with beautiful weapons and equipment, which also greatly boosted the morale of our army. Liang Xingchu's beautiful and neat combat impressed everyone, and Lin Biao also admired Liang Xingchu even more, sometimes even to the point of doting on him.
On this day, after Liang Xingchu gave a soldier a haircut, he did not forget to draw a mustache on his mouth. This move made everyone present laugh. Luo Ronghuan happened to be passing by at that time. After looking at it, he scolded him with laughter and tears: "Liang Xingchu, how old are you! Are you still making such a joke?"
Lin Biao, who has always been serious, secretly turned his head and couldn't help laughing.
In August 1947, the Central Military Commission established the 10th Column of the Northeast Democratic Alliance Army. Lin Biao initially planned to make Liang Xingchu the deputy commander, but when he learned the news, he said: "I would rather be a chicken head than an ox tail! If you want to be the commander, I will not do the deputy position. I might as well go back and continue to be a teacher!"
I thought Liang Xingchu would be criticized by Lin Biao, but instead of criticizing him, Lin Biao said when others were dissatisfied with Liang Xingchu: "Good steel should be used on the blade. "
Later, Liang Xingchu commanded the 10th Column to fight a series of beautiful battles, especially in the Black Occupation Blockade War, which created a miracle in the history of war.
On October 15, 1948, when conquering the important northeastern town of Jinzhou, the Kuomintang soldiers fled in a hurry, but were eventually cut off by our army. After learning about it, in order to stabilize the morale of the army, Chiang Kai-shek decided to form a "Westward March Corps" from the main force of the "Suppression General" in the Northeast, and march south from places such as Zhangwu and other places to seize Heishan and Dahu Mountain, and then attack Jinzhou.
Whether it can form a situation of closing the door and beating the dog, Montenegro's blocking war is crucial.
On October 21, Liang Xingchu received a telegram from the Northeast Field Army Headquarters, requesting the 10th Column to "return to Heishan and Dahu Mountain, select positions, build fortifications, and block the enemy."
On October 23, Lin Biao sent another telegram to Liang Xingchu:
"The enemy must be littered with corpses in front of our position and cannot be allowed to move forward. As long as you hold on for three days, Liao Yaoxiang's regiment will be completely wiped out!"
Liang Xingchu received it Immediately after the telegram, a column party committee meeting was held, and positions were deployed on the Black Mountain and Dahu Mountain positions to seize the commanding heights, maintain a strong reserve team, and prepare for repeated battles with the enemy. In addition, Liang Xingchu also issued a death order to each division: "Hold for three days, the enemy cannot advance a step!"
On October 23, the Black Mountain Blockade officially started. The "Western March Corps" was blocked in Montenegro. At this time, Liao Yaoxiang, known as the "Chinese Patton", was worried that the entire army would be annihilated, so he ordered to use heavy artillery to bomb the 10th column position in Montenegro for a long time, and then in Attack under the cover of tanks.
Under enemy artillery fire and strafing, the divisions of the 10th Column suffered heavy casualties, and Highland 101 was also lost.
Upon seeing this, Liang Xingchu immediately ordered: "No matter what the cost, the high ground must be recovered before dark!"
After three days of fierce fighting, the 10th Column finally held the positions of Heishan and Dahushan. Liao Yaoxiang's regiment lost the possibility of advancing westward and the time to retreat southward. At the same time, it also closed the door for the Kuomintang army to escape.
Unable to capture the enemy for a long time, Liao Yaoxiang had no choice but to order his troops to retreat to the southeast Yingkou direction.
After the battle, our army annihilated an enemy force several times our own at the cost of 4,144 casualties, and successfully completed the task of preventing the Liao Yaoxiang Corps from advancing westward.
Immediately afterwards, the main force of Dongye launched an encirclement and annihilation of the Liao Yaoxiang Corps. In fierce fighting until the morning of the 28th, more than 100,000 people in the Liao Yaoxiang Corps were completely annihilated by our army, and many senior generals such as Liao Yaoxiang were captured.
The Black Mountain Blockade made Liao Yaoxiang famous in the first battle. In the Black Mountain Battle, Liang Xingchu showed his majesty and gained his reputation.
Liang Xingchu gained love in the Northeast
In the land of Northeast, Liang Xingchu not only won the victory in the Black Mountain Blockade, but also gained a love.
After the Black Mountain Blockade broke out, many soldiers were injured by enemy artillery fire. They could not continue fighting on the front line and had to come to the rear wounded barracks for treatment.
One day, when Liang Xingchu passed by the wounded barracks, he suddenly heard a series of groans, "Okay, so cold, so cold..." Liang Xingchu hurriedly walked into the wounded barracks and saw a little soldier lying on the haystack and hugging him. Trembling at myself.
Liang Xingchu was a strong man, but he couldn't help but blush when he saw this scene. When he reached out to take off his clothes, a female nurse came in.
The nurse put a heated hot brick into cotton, wrapped it, and then placed it on the wounded person's wound.
Then the female nurse asked him: "Is it still cold now?" The wounded man shook his head and said, "Thank you, thank you so much, he is much better now."
At this time, Liang Xingchu recognized it. The female nurse was the female soldier whom she had given the military coat to before. Liang Xingchu said to the female nurse: "What you did is very good!" However, because the female soldier was busy all the time, she didn't notice that Liang Xingchu was talking to her.
The guard on the side saw this and said quickly: "You lesbian, why are you ignoring me? Commander Liang is talking to you, didn't you hear?"
After hearing the guard's words, the female nurse raised her head. At first, it didn't matter if he didn't look at it, but he was shocked when he saw that the other party was the famous Commander Liang Xingchu. The female nurse looked at Liang Xingchu blankly, not knowing how to say hello.
Perhaps sensing the discomfort of the female nurse, Liang Xingchu took the initiative to ask her: "What is your name?" The female nurse replied: "My name is Ren Guilan."
Liang Xingchu was a little dazed after hearing this, because this name had nothing to do with his own. His wife Li Guifen was very similar, but he recovered quickly and said, "You did a great job just now. I want to thank you on behalf of the wounded." Ren Guilan waved her hands repeatedly and said: "Commander Liang, you are so polite. This is all my fault." Made it."
From then on, Liang Xingchu could never forget this girl named Ren Guilan and ran to the 28th Division several times. Liang Xingchu's frequent running to the 28th Division also attracted the attention of Zhou Chiping, the political commissar of the 10th Column. He soon understood that Commander Liang was interested in the little girl, so Zhou Chiping decided to help him.
The weather in the Northeast is cold and the wind is very strong. Liang Xingchu often went to the front line, and he also suffered from eye diseases. When Zhou Chiping found out, she quickly came to the health team and said to the health captain: "Commander Liang often goes to the front line and his eyes have eye diseases. You ask Ren Guilan to go to the headquarters three times a day to wash Commander Liang's eyes."
In this way, the contact between Liang Xingchu and Ren Guilan More and more, the two of them became more and more fond of each other. Gradually, Liang Xingchu learned that Ren Guilan was from Shandong. When he was a child, he escaped from famine with his parents and traveled through Guandong to Harbin.
Ren Guilan and her parents came to Harbin and opened a small store. Although the business was not very good, they could barely make ends meet. Who would have thought that Ren Guilan's father unfortunately passed away due to illness, leaving her family in ruins, leaving her orphaned and widowed, making her life very difficult.
In order to survive, Ren Guilan joined the army when she was 16 years old. She was later assigned to the 10th Column and became a female nurse.
Liang Xingchu was gradually fascinated by this kind-hearted and attentive girl. Soon after, he told Ren Guilan his feelings for her, and the relationship between the two changed from an ordinary comrade-in-arms to love.
Just when Liang Xingchu and Ren Guilan were about to get married, political commissar Zhou Chiping objected. He said: "Lao Liang, he is about to enter the customs. Why not put the marriage on hold until liberation?"
Liang Xingchu She thought what Zhou Chiping said made sense, so she let go of their marriage.
It was not until September 1949, when New China was about to hold its founding ceremony, that Liang Xingchu and Zhou Chiping got married and officially became husband and wife.
Before liberation, Liang Xingchu returned to the First Column of the Northeast Field Army, but at this time the First Column had been renamed the 38th Army of the People's Liberation Army, and Liang Xingchu served as the commander.
After the outbreak of the Korean War, the 38th Army became one of the first troops to enter North Korea and participate in the war.
In order to be able to fight the first battle abroad, the Volunteer Army Command ordered Liang Xingchu to lead the 38th Army to gather in the Xichuan area to prepare for the first battle. However, due to incorrect intelligence, the 38th Army's actions were relatively conservative and slow, which also led to the failure of the Volunteer Army's intention to encircle and annihilate the enemy. Although the first battle was successful, Peng Dehuai was very dissatisfied with Liang Xingchu's defeat.
At the post-war summary meeting, Peng Dehuai angrily scolded Liang Xingchu: "Why are you, the 38th Army, dragging your feet? I asked you to go to Xichuan, why didn't you follow the order? How did you become the commander of the army? They all say you Liang Xingchu He is a tiger general, I don’t think he is a tiger general at all, but a rat general!"
Liang Xingchu had never suffered such a defeat. He was a little aggrieved and unconvinced, so before the second battle, he took the initiative to ask for help. .
Peng Dehuai did not object after knowing it, but said: "If we can't defeat Tokugawa, then I will kill Ma Su." Liang Xingchu swore: "Tokugawa is covered by our 38th army!"
In the second In this battle, the 38th Army not only blocked the enemy troops escaping south, but also launched a battle of annihilation against enemy troops three times their own size. At the beginning of the battle, the 38th Army took over the 7th Korean Division, and then they moved towards Junyu-ri, preparing to annihilate the US 9th Army.
In Gariling, the 38th Army defeated the Turkish Brigade. After the breakthrough, they seized Sansuoli and Longyuanli, blocking the US 9th Army's southward escape...
In a series of fierce battles , the 38th Army killed, wounded and captured more than 11,000 enemies and seized various firearms and ammunition. The total number of enemies annihilated by the 38th Army accounted for 33% of the total number of enemies annihilated by the entire army.
When the good news reached Peng Dehuai's ears, he personally drafted a commendation order for the 38th Army, and added a line at the end of the commendation order: "Long live the Chinese People's Volunteers! Long live the 38th Army!" "When
received the award telegram, tears filled the eyes of everyone present. Even the always strong Liang Xingchu also had tears in his eyes.
In 1955, Liang Xingchu returned from North Korea and was cordially received by Chairman Mao. When Zhou Enlai introduced Liang Xingchu to Chairman Mao, Chairman Mao nodded repeatedly and said: "Long live the army commander!"
In a blink of an eye, 1980 came, when Liang Xingchu decided to retire and give young people a chance. After careful consideration, the central government decided to agree to Liang Xingchu's request, and he began his recuperation life in Beijing.
After Liang Xingchu retired, he discussed with his wife Ren Guilan: "I have nothing to do at home anyway, so why not write a memoir of my life and show it to future generations." Ren Guilan was very supportive of her husband's decision.
However, it was a pity that a car accident occurred and the materials written by Liang Xingchu were reduced to ashes. This also hit Liang Xingchu very hard. Who would have thought that one wave would end and another wave would arise.
On October 5, 1985, Liang Xingchu suffered a heart attack and passed away.
Ren Guilan was very sad when she learned the news. She burst into tears and was overwhelmed by the news of her husband's death. But Ren Guilan knew that she could not continue to be sad because she had to fulfill Liang Xingchu's last wish.
Ren Guilan did not want her husband's life story to be forgotten by the world, so after careful consideration, she decided to propose to the central government that she continue to complete Liang Xingchu's unfinished memoirs. The central government learned that this was Liang Xingchu's last wish and quickly issued an instruction: "Agree!"
After that, Ren Guilan began her own journey of collecting historical materials and began to race against time. In order to fully reproduce the legendary military career of General Liang Xingchu, Ren Guilan has followed her husband's footsteps since 1987 and traveled to every corner of the motherland to find people who had crossed paths with Liang Xingchu.
Not long after, a book called "Long Live the Army" appeared in everyone's sight. Because this book has strong historical value and is an important part of our army's military history, it is regarded as an important document by the People's Liberation Army Exhibition Hall. of reference materials.
Ren Guilan completed this book with her love for her husband, which also reflects her sense of historical responsibility as an old revolutionary...
