In October 1949, when the People's Republic of China was just founded, a young man came to the door of the People's Liberation Army Northwest Military Region Beijing Office near Zhongnanhai. The guard had never seen him before and refused to let him in.
The young man became anxious and said directly: "He Long is my father."
The guard was stunned on the spot. He clearly remembered that Chief He Long only had one son and two daughters, and He Long's son He Pengfei was only three years old and was still immature. Child, where did he come from?
It was related to Chief He Long, and the security guards had to pay attention to it and had to report the matter to Secretary He Long quickly...
Picture | He Long and Premier Zhou
"Old Geng"
Speaking of the origin of this young man, We must first get to know a person, his name is Yang Yufen (fēn), who was He Long’s comrade-in-arms when he was young.
Yang Yufen was born into a poor peasant family in Xiangsichong, Tuqiao Township, Zhijiang County, Hunan Province in 1895. He was born into poverty and suffered from the hardships of life when he was young.
Yang Yufen's mother, Yao Huaying, is a kind and honest rural woman. Although she is illiterate, she endures hardships and spends her whole life managing the life of her family. Her father, Yang Defu, has read for several years and is considered an educated man in the village. He comes to everyone who has weddings or weddings. Ask Yang Defu for help.
In the eyes of outsiders, his father Yang Defu is quite prestigious, and almost no one in the village offends him. But at home, Yang Defu is a domineering and arrogant man who often beats and scolds his wife and children. His mother, Yao Huaying, has no choice but to silently endure Yang Defu's roughness. treat.
Picture | Yang Yufen
Yang Yufen was young and he felt sorry for his mother, but he dared not speak out about anything his father did. He followed his father and discovered that not only did his father treat his mother badly, he was also secretly in love with other women.
12-year-old Yang Yufen often ran to the yard of the woman's house and climbed a tree to observe. Unfortunately, he was caught on the spot by the woman and she filed a complaint against Yang Defu, demanding that Yang Defu abandon his wife and son.
's father Yang Defu had almost no affection for their mother and son. As soon as he returned home, he kicked Yao Huaying out of the house. Yao Huaying had no choice but to flee to Zhijiang County and work for others to make ends meet.
Yang Defu's cruelty did not stop there. He also ordered his son Yang Yufen's limbs to be tied up and prepared to throw him into the water. Several adults saw that Yang Yufen was going to suffer such pain at such a young age and felt very sorry for him. Let him go secretly.
Yang Yufen was so frightened that he didn't dare to go home again. He went straight to the county town to find his mother, Yao Huaying. He found a job in the county as a horse-sitter, and the mother and son depended on each other.
Picture | Cai E
At the beginning of the twentieth century, our country was in a precarious and turbulent time. Wars were raging in various places, and people were displaced. Countless patriots were eager to find a way to save the country and the people.
After Yuan Shikai proclaimed himself emperor in 1915, the patriotic general Cai E organized a crusade against Yuan's national defense army and launched a national defense war to defeat Yuan's army. Zhijiang County, where Yang Yufen was located, also set off a wave of revolution.
Zhang Nanting, Zhang Beiting and others gathered in Tuqiao Luoshan to revolt and formed a volunteer army to defend the village. Yang Yufen, who was full of enthusiasm, resolutely joined the volunteer army. The experience of working with horses became his advantage as a soldier.
In 1916, this team was incorporated into Zhang Rongchuan's department. In 1917, Yang Yufen's army was reorganized into the "Xiangxi National Defense Army" under Chen Quzhen . Chen Quzhen was the staff officer of the lieutenant colonel of the Xiangxi garrison embassy.
Yang Yufen performed well in the army, was extremely intelligent and brave, and was quickly promoted to battalion commander. It was in Chen Quzhen's team that Yang Yufen met a very important comrade in his life - He Long.
Picture | He Long
In 1896, He Long lived in a poor peasant family in Hongjiaguan, Sangzhi County, Hunan Province. Although his family was poor, He Long's growing environment was much better than that of Yang Yufen. He Long's mother, Wang Jingu, had seven children. He Long Pai The fourth child has many children in the family, but the He family's parents love every child.
When he was young, He Long had read books and was brave, affectionate and righteous. He hated the evil people who oppressed the village the most.When he was 14 years old, because he was dissatisfied with the domineering behavior of the bully in his hometown, He Long directly swung a knife at the bully's son, slashed the bully's son's feet, and then left his hometown.
The young He Long began to be self-reliant. He sold tung oil and medicinal materials. At that time, the Revolution of 1911 broke out. He Long was deeply influenced by progressive ideas and resolutely chose to join the revolutionary party led by Sun Yat-sen.
When Cai E organized the anti-Yuan National Defense Army , He Long, like Yang Yufen, joined the movement. He had originally raised a peasant team himself, but without weapons, He Long borrowed two kitchen knives to fight against those who exploited the people. He seized weapons from corrupt officials and joined the struggle with his own revolutionary armed forces.
Later, He Long joined Chen Quzhen's Xiangxi National Defense Army. With his daring leadership skills, he soon became the battalion commander and met Yang Yufen, who was also the battalion commander.
Picture | He Long
He Long is one year younger than Yang Yufen, and they are similar in age. They are also from poor backgrounds, independent and brave, and hate evil. Their similar personalities and growth experiences make them good friends, fighting side by side on the battlefield and caring for each other in life.
In 1918, He Long and Yang Yufen decided to become brothers. According to local customs, they burned incense and paper and drank a glass of wine, and they became each other's "Old Geng".
In Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Sichuan and other places, "Lao Geng" generally refers to friends who were born in the same year. It is equivalent to "worshiping" and is a title among familiar peers. Men are called "Lao Geng" , women are generally called "Laotong".
Although He Long and Yang Yufen were one year apart in age, they had a good relationship and agreed to become brothers. From then on, regarded each other's parents as parents and each other's children as children.
图|He Long
In 1923, Yang Yufen's mother Yao Huaying was 50 years old. Yang Yufen, who had grown up under the protection of his mother, was very filial. Taking advantage of the opportunity that the army was stationed in Zhijiang County this year, he planned to hold a decent birthday banquet for his mother.
Yang Yufen set up more than a hundred banquets at Yuanjun Middle School in Zhijiang County , and invited relatives, friends, and comrades to participate, including of course his best friend, He Long.
He Long finished his business and hurried to the scene. He walked up to Yang Yufen's mother Yao Huaying with a wine glass in his hand and said with respect:
"Lao Geng's mother is my mother. Geng's son is away on the march and cannot be here all the time." I am filial in front of Mother Geng. Today is Mother Geng’s fiftieth birthday. Son Geng, I wish you live as long as Nanshan and be as blessed as the East China Sea!”
These few words were sincere and powerful, and the old man Yao Huaying smiled. Before the old man could speak, He Long fell to his knees. , began to kneel down and worship, which shocked all the guests around him.
Picture | He Long
Yao Huaying knew that her son Yang Yufen's good brother He Long, but she did not expect that he was such a loving and righteous child. Yao Huaying was so moved that tears were about to fall from her eyes. She quickly put this "son" in front of her He helped her up, her eyes full of love.
She smiled and said to He Long: "It is Yufen's blessing that you and Yufen are brothers. I am a mother who is very happy." The old man took the hands of his two sons and told them sincerely:
"You brothers We must treat each other with sincerity and take care of each other..."
He Long and Yang Yufen kept nodding in front of their mother. In the eyes of the guests, they were like a happy and harmonious "family of three" and filial sons. They are loving mothers, the picture is harmonious, everyone present praised: "He Long is so affectionate and righteous, he is really the Guan Yunchang of that year!"
The birthday banquet was very successful, and the scene of a loving mother and a filial son at the birthday banquet is often talked about by people. Tao, and Yang Yufen and He Long also became more fearless because of the company of their good brothers on the revolutionary road.
Picture | He Long’s old photos
Moreover, Yang Yufen was already married and had a lovely son. For him, life had become better, and he only focused on the road of revolution.
But luck did not stay with Yang Yufen for long. In 1924, Yang Yufen unfortunately fell ill and died at the age of 29.
He Long was extremely sad when he heard the news. At that time, Yang Yufen's troops were stationed in Zhijiang to support Cai E's army. Yang Yufen was the commander of the 17th Brigade of the Hunan Provisional Army's First Division, and He Long was the brigade commander of the Sichuan Army. They were not in the same place. After learning the bad news, He Long immediately led his troops to Zhijiang.
There were many people who were sad for Yang Yufen, and there were also those who were secretly happy, and that was the warlord Cai Juyou.
Picture | Picture taken when He Long was the temporary commander of the 9th Mixed Brigade of the Sichuan Army
Cai Juyou was a warlord in Hongjiang, Hunan. He usually bullied the people and did all kinds of evil. Every time he fought against Yang Yufen's troops, Cai Juyou ended in failure. Over time, Cai Juyou became He was resentful of Yang Yufen and wanted to kill him.
Yang Yufen suddenly fell ill and died. Cai Juyou was secretly happy, but he was still angry and even thought of leading his troops to Zhijiang to "throw away Yang Yufen's body."
On the day of Yang Yufen's funeral, He Long personally led the troops to guard the funeral procession until Yang Yufen's coffin was properly buried in the lotus pond beside the Qili Bridge on the outskirts of Zhijiang County. Cai Juyou was ready to make a move, but he had already heard of He Long's reputation and did not dare to do anything. I had to give up the idea of "throwing the corpse for revenge".
Picture | Warlord
Before Yang Yufen died, what he cared about most was He Long who was not around. He told his subordinates to send some guns and weapons to He Long. Unexpectedly, as soon as he passed away, his nephew Yang Yongqing took these things away and left Zhijiang. These weapons were not delivered to He Long, and Yang Yufen's last wish was not fulfilled in the end.
As for Yang Yufen's wife and children, He Long also regarded them as his family. During the war, the people's life was difficult, He Long visited them, cared for them, and gave them three silver ingots and a silk mosquito net that he carried with him. All of them were given to Yang Yufen's wife and children.
He Long told them:
"No matter what difficulties you encounter in the future, never forget to come to me."
After comforting Yang Yufen's wife and children, he immediately rushed to the battlefield. This separation lasted more than 20 years. .
Picture | He Long
"Reunion"
On August 1, 1927, He Long participated in leading the Nanchang Uprising and joined the Communist Party in the same year. After the Nanchang Uprising, He Long returned to western Hunan and Hubei, and led the launch of the Jingjiang cross-strait New Year's Eve riots and the Xiangxi Uprising, and established the western Hubei revolutionary base with Zhou Yiqun, Duan Dechang and others.
In 1935, He Long and Ren Bishi commanded the Second and Sixth Red Army Corps to counter the "encirclement and suppression" campaign, smashed the "encirclement and suppression" campaign of 100,000 Kuomintang troops, and opened up revolutionary base areas in the Hunan, Hubei, Sichuan and Guizhou border areas.
After the beginning of the Anti-Japanese War, the Kuomintang and the Communist Party established a united front, the Red Army was reorganized into the Eighth Route Army of the National Revolutionary Army, and He Long served as the commander of the 120th Division of the Eighth Route Army.
During the Liberation War, He Long led the main force of the Shanxi-Suiyuan troops to the north and liberated the vast area of central Shanxi . Together with the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei troops commanded by Nie Rongzhen, he fought the Suiyuan Battle and Northern Shanxi Battle and repelled the The Kuomintang troops attacked the liberated areas.
He also assisted Peng Dehuai in organizing and commanding the troops in the northwest battlefield, presided over the construction of the base area, and made great contributions to the victory of the Northwest Liberation War.
After years of hard work, fighting in the north and south, and achieving great military exploits, He Long has already become a respected leader.
Picture | He Long and Xue Ming
Moreover, He Long had a happy family. During the Anti-Japanese War, he and his lover Xue Ming met in Yan'an . At that time, He Long was already the prestigious commander of the Northwest Bureau, and Xue Ming had great ambitions. A female student came to Yan'an, the holy land of revolution.
When Peng Zhen brought them together, he directly said to Xue Ming: "Lao He doesn't have time to sit in a cave with you in the Northwest Bureau and fall in love. He wants to go to the front to fight. I think you two can be husband and wife. What's your problem?" Just tell me."
As for Xue Ming, he had already been moved by He Long's legend of war. He Long was brave, heroic, and a strong-willed man. It was really hard not to be moved.
In 1942, He Long married Xue Ming. After the marriage, Xue Ming assisted her husband in his work. The two were harmonious and had a good relationship.After marriage, the two soon had the fruit of love. Xue Ming gave birth to a boy and two girls.
When New China was founded, their son He Pengfei was 3 years old, their daughter He Xiaoming was 2 years old, and their youngest daughter He Liming was less than one year old. In addition, He Long and his ex-wife Jian Xianren’s eldest daughter He Jiesheng is 14 years old.
In the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, there was a lot of waste to be done, and there were still many things to deal with, so He Long was also busy with everything he had to do every day.
Picture | He Long and his family
When He Long's case was in trouble, he did not expect that someone in the distance had been caring about him, and that was the family of "Old Geng" Yang Yufen.
Since He Long left, Yang Yufen's wife and children have lived a difficult life. His wife did not remarry, but put all her experiences into her son Yang Rongzhu, teaching him how to read and telling him stories about his two fathers.
They often worry about whether He Long is alive or dead on the battlefield. They try to find out about him and worry about his safety. However, in war-torn times, it is particularly difficult to keep in touch with someone.
As time went by, the mother and son no longer knew about He Long. It was not until August 1949, when Cheng Qian announced a peaceful uprising and Hunan was liberated that the Yang family, mother and son, in Hunan, learned more news.
As an important leader, He Long's photo was published in newspapers and happened to be seen by the Yang family, mother and son. They were very happy to know that He Long was still alive and well. Yang Yufen's son Yang Rongzhu planned to go north to meet his "Geng" in person. Father", thanking him for his help to the Yang family.
Picture | He Long and his family
In this way, Yang Rongzhu came to the Beijing Office of the Northwest Military Region of the People's Liberation Army and said that he wanted to find He Long, but the guard at the door looked unfamiliar to him and did not dare to let him in.
Yang Rongzhu was anxious and said directly: "He Long is my father."
Upon hearing Yang Rongzhu's words, the guard was stunned, because as we all know, He Long only has one son, He Pengfei, and he is only three years old. How could he suddenly appear so big? son.
The guard quickly reported the matter to He Long's secretary. He Long came out after knowing it, and then saw Yang Rongzhu. Yang Rongzhu looked very similar to his father Yang Yufen. The fighting years twenty years ago suddenly appeared in He Long's mind.
The excitement was beyond words. He Long happily introduced to everyone:
"He is Yang Yufen's son, and he and I are brothers."
He Long was very busy, but he still made time to entertain Yang Rongzhu well, and asked him to greet him and show his concern. How he has lived these years makes Yang Rongzhu feel warm in his heart.
From the first time he saw He Long, Yang Rongzhu could no longer control his inner emotions and shed tears. When he heard that He Long still remembered his father and cared about him and his mother, Yang Rongzhu could not control his emotions and couldn't stop crying. Fall down.
Picture | Marshal He Long
Before leaving, He Long once again told Yang Rongzhu as before: if there is a chance to meet again in the future, tell the previous story in detail.
However, this promise was not fulfilled. After parting with Yang Rongzhu, He Long immediately left Beijing. He Long led the 18th Corps of the North China Field Army and other units to continue fighting in cooperation with the Second Field Army commanded by Liu Bocheng and Deng Xiaoping. Later, He Long served as vice chairman of the Southwest Military and Political Commission and commander of the Southwest Military Region, participating in the leadership of construction projects.
He Long passed away in 1969. After Yang Rongzhu learned the bad news, he was extremely sad, but he could only bid farewell to this "Father Geng" in a distant place.
