Among the top ten founding marshals of the New China, only Marshal Xu Xiangqian is the only northerner. He comes from the first issue of Huangpu . He is a very tolerant person and can knit sweaters. This skill is unique among the founding marshals.
In life, Marshal Xu Xiangqian has a wide range of hobbies, such as photography, opera, musical instruments, handicrafts, calligraphy, etc. He doesn't talk much, lives a simple life, doesn't care much about food and clothing, and does not have the "official spirit" on his body, which gives people a very "rustic" impression, so he is also called "Marrior of Commons".
On September 21, 1990, Xu Xiangqian passed away. He had three last words of death. One was to not say goodbye to the body, the other was to not hold a memorial service, and the third was to scatter the ashes in the Dabie Mountains, Daba Mountains, Taihang Mountains, , and Hexi Corridors . After discussing these three things, the Party Central Committee only agreed to the third one after discussing them. What was going on?
Xu Xiangqian was born on November 8, 1901 in Yong'an Village, Wutai County, Shanxi Province. His father was a scholar in the late Qing Dynasty, and his mother was a typical housewife. He worked with his mother since childhood. His mother was also the first teacher in his life. Her virtuous and helpful behavior deeply influenced Xu Xiangqian.
Xu Xiangqian studied in a private school for more than three years. In 1914, he entered the Tuoyang High School in Dongye Town to study. Everything here made him feel novel. Without the Four Books and Five Classics, there were many new things. However, after only two years of study, he had to return to the village to study in a private school due to family problems. A year later, he had to drop out of school and go home, which was a big blow to him.
15 years old and was at home. This year, Xu Xiangqian began to think about his future. When he was poor, he thought of change. This was what Xu Xiangqian thought at that time. Later, he said to people: "I often wanted to change my life at that time. Our generation might have something to do with poverty and have gone to revolution one after another. Of course, poverty does not necessarily mean revolution. There is a saying in China that 'heroes come from troubled times', which may make some sense."
Xu's father looked at his son going home, afraid that he could not think about it, so he thought about finding a job for him and asked someone to find him an apprentice. Xu Xiangqian knew the situation at home, but did not refuse. After cleaning up, he went to the store.
When I first went there, all the tedious things in the store fell on his shoulders. Although I was tired, I still had something happy, that is, I could read books that were not expensive. However, a few days later, the boss's wife suddenly told the shop's shop that no one could read during the day. Xu Xiangqian thought that if he couldn't read during the day, he would read at night, but he had to light the lamp at night. He had no wages and couldn't afford to light the lamp oil, which made him very frustrated.
But he has a stubborn temper. He still has to do what he wants to do no matter what others say. He reads books when he has time during the day, and tries to avoid the boss and the boss’s wife. The male boss is a scholar. He saw Xu Xiangqian reading books several times, but he didn’t say anything. He just told him: “Don’t dirty the books, if they are dirty, they can’t be sold.”
Therefore, Xu Xiangqian is very grateful to this boss, which also makes his life no longer so boring. After working there for two years, Xu Xiangqian still decided to fight for it and he wants to go to Taiyuan to take the school entrance exam.
He didn't dare to tell the store, because he was afraid that they would not let him go, but went home to ask his father for his opinion first. Xu's father was ill and recuperated at home. After hearing his son say his thoughts, he was very supportive: "Okay, I can study for a few more years, which is more promising than an apprentice."
Just like that, Xu Xiangqian was admitted to Shanxi National Normal School with a spirit of unyielding defeat. Since entering the school, the students have been wearing military uniforms and gaiting leggings, and live a semi-military life. Many students are not used to it and say that this has become a soldier. Xu Xiangqian doesn't feel like this because he feels that he has found the right path.
Yan Xishan At that time, he attached great importance to the National Normal School and often visited the school. Xu Xiangqian also met this "pride of -Taipei people" in the school many times. In 1937, Xu Xiangqian went to Taiyuan with Zhou Enlai to meet Yan Xishan again after 18 years. At this time, he was already an outstanding general of the Eighth Route Army.
Yan Xishan felt very regretful when he saw Xu Xiangqian and said to his subordinates: "How did a talent like Xu Xiangqian go to the Communist Party? It was not Chu Cai Jinyi, but it was reversed. Those who win others will prosper, and those who lose others will perish."
During this period of time at Shanxi National Normal University, Xu Xiangqian not only learned cultural knowledge, but more importantly, it made him develop a strong interest in politics and military from then on.
1924, Xu Xiangqian, who had been searching in the dark, finally found the bright road of his hope. He resolutely went south to join the Whampoa Military Academy founded by Mr. Sun Yat-sen, becoming a student of the first phase and taking an important step in the revolutionary journey.
During his time at school, he absorbed knowledge eagerly and laid a solid foundation for his later performance in the war. He also realized that there were too many bureaucrats in the Kuomintang, and the responsibility of saving the nation was still on the Communist Party. In March 1927, facing major changes, he firmly chose his own direction of struggle and joined the Communist Party of China.
In June 1929, Xu Xiangqian went to northeast Hubei to serve as the deputy commander of the 31st Division of the Red Army. He commanded the troops to smash the enemy's multiple encirclements and suppression. In early 1931, the Red Army was combined into Red Fourth Army , and Xu Xiangqian served as the chief of staff.
At the end of the same year, Red Fourth Front Army was established. Xu Xiang was the former commander-in-chief and had more than 30,000 people under the 12th Regiment of the Fourth Division. He was strong and powerful. He commanded the troops to smash the enemy's encirclement and suppression, making himself closely linked to the Red Fourth Front Army. In October 1932, due to the failure of anti-encirclement and suppression, the Red Fourth Front Army was forced to evacuate from the Hubei-Henan-Anhui Soviet Area and open up a revolutionary base in Sichuan and Shaanxi.
1933 to August 1934, Xu Xiangqian commanded the troops to break the enemy's "six-way siege". After the First and Fourth Front Armies met, he was appointed as the commander-in-chief of the Red Army's Front Command by .
After the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, he followed Liu Bocheng to lead the 129th Division to the front line of the anti-Japanese war, severely attacking the Japanese army's arrogance.
During the Liberation War, he commanded the Linfen Battle , Jinzhong Battle , Taiyuan Battle , etc., making great contributions to the liberation of Shanxi.
On April 24, 1949, Taiyuan was liberated, Taiyuan Municipal Military Control Commission was officially established, Xu Xiangqian was the director, Taiyuan was Yan Xishan's old nest, he had been operating here for 38 years. There is a local rumor: "If you can speak Wutai, just hold a foreign knife!"
After Xu Xiangqian entered Taiyuan, the local area had another new rumor: "Yan Xishan ran away, Xu Xiangqian came, Wutai people still benefited!"
Xu family is also a big family in Wutai County . Some relatives and friends heard that Xu Xiangqian had called back, and they all went to Taiyuan happily. Run, everyone's idea was the same, just ask him to "want an official", and the relatives said to Xu Xiangqian: "Yincun (Xu Xiangqian's nickname), you are a high-ranking official now. We are so big that we can be a big shot without standing guard. It would be more comfortable than the common people."
Xu Xiangqian always patiently explained to everyone when facing the various requirements of these relatives. Some people understood his words and said, "It is still better for the Communist Party's officials. We are not greedy, not possessive, and we have great hope for personal feelings." But some people still don't understand, and they say that Xu Xiangqian has become the commander of the great people, and now they are starting to "recognize relatives."
However, when these people heard Xu Xiangqian's attitude towards his two sisters, everyone became speechless.
Xu Xiangqian has two sisters named Xu Xianyue and Xu Chunyue. When he returned home in September 1937, the sons of the two sisters were going to join the army. When Xu Xiangqian walked, he brought them back to the army and did not give much care. In the subsequent battles, the two nephews died one after another, which became an unspeakable grief in Xu Xiangqian's heart.
After the liberation of Taiyuan, the two sisters also found him. When Xu Xiangqian saw the two sisters, he felt very guilty about them. At that time, a lot of supplies were seized in Taiyuan City, and piled up like mountains. After seeing them, the two sisters thought of their poor home and couldn't help but ask to take some things back. They thought Xu Xiangqian would take care of family affection, but Xu Xiangqian agreed to them for the sake of the two sacrificed nephews, but Xu Xiangqian didn't agree with anything.
He patiently explained to his two sisters: "My commander is the same as the common people. He is a poor commander. Those things are not mine, and I don't even think about it."
The two sisters naturally cannot do it. Xu Chunyue said, "No way? We all saw that there are so many tables and chairs piled up there. You have the final say in Taiyuan City..."
Xu Xianyue also said, "Yan Xishan is an official, and his family has enjoyed all the blessings. We don't want you or any official, just a little furniture piled on the street can't do it?"
Xu Xiangqian smiled and said, "Sister, our Communist Party is different from them. Yan Xishan is that One person is enlightened, and the chickens and dogs are ascending to heaven. No matter how big the cadres of our Communist Party are, they are also servants of the people. They are for the people. They cannot do it for themselves. Those things are all public. I cannot let you take them back."
The two sisters were unhappy when they heard this. They also thought that their younger brother had become older and their relatives refused to admit it. They were very angry. Xu Xiangqian advised them: "You are here, stay for a few more days. You can eat whatever I eat in the past few days, and you will know what the Communist Party officials are doing."
were staying for a few days and found that their younger brother was the same as before, and that food and accommodation were not special than others. Then I understood what my younger brother said, and he didn't want anything and went home empty-handed.
After the founding of New China, Xu Xiangqian was awarded the rank of marshal. Although he was of high power, he did not abuse his privileges. Instead, he strictly demanded his children and relatives.
Xu Xiangqian has never provided care for his children. He often warned his children: "The road is made by himself." He taught his children to be clean and innocent, and to seize the time to master and study new things, especially science and technology. In order to urge their children, he specially wrote the warning saying "What is important is what is important is how to act, what is important is how to act, and what is big and big is what is the same."
Xu Xiangqian has three daughters and one son and four children. The eldest daughter Xu Zhiming was still an ordinary medical worker until her retirement. Her second daughter Xu Luxi graduated from University of Science and Technology of China and later was admitted to University of Chinese Academy of Sciences and studied University of Theoretical Physics . She is the first generation of master's degree student in my country. The project she hosted also won the National Science and Technology Progress Award.
Even though his resume was so brilliant, for a long time, Xu Luxi and her husband and children were squeezed into a small house of only eight square meters. It was not until many years later that the unit divided the house and improved the accommodation conditions. After Xu Xiangqian learned about it, he specifically called her to ask her if she had special care. Xu Luxi felt very wronged and explained for a long time before making Xu Xiangqian feel relieved.
The youngest daughter Xu Xiaotao has been in poor health since childhood. After graduation, she went to Inner Mongolia to go to the countryside. Logically, Xu Xiangqian could just get his daughter back to her side with just one sentence, but he still said, "You have to walk the road by yourself" and never give special care.
Xu Xiaoyan is the only son. He was born in 1947 and spent the longest time with his father. When he was a child, he studied at Bayi Primary School, where most of them were children of cadres. Every Sunday, many parents would send cars to the school gate to pick up the children. However, as the son of the marshal, he never enjoyed this kind of treatment once, even if it was windy and rainy.
It takes more than an hour to walk from his home to school. He had to rewind the bus once. The bus fare was 25 cents. The family gave Xu Xiaoyan 30 cents. However, because he was greedy, he would sometimes buy food and walk home. Once he got home late, Xu Xiangqian anxiously asked him why. After learning that his son had bought food for food, Xu Xiangqian did not blame his son, but he did not change the regulations and still gave him 30 cents for the bus fare.
Xu Xiangqian was taciturn and didn't tell his family about the past. It was not until his father passed away that Xu Xiaoyan regretted it: "My father never told me, and later my mother also said, "You should know more about your father's affairs. I regretted it at that time. This is a real regret."People like their generation really have a lot of things to say. If you want to tell me, I can still sort it out when riding a horse. Now I regret it when I think about it! "
Xu Xiangqian is not good at expressing feelings, but he is an action-oriented person. Once, a friend gave him two bamboo and wood crutches. Seeing that the crutches were smoother, it was inconvenient to hold and land. He found some rubber strips to wrap them bit by bit, and then put one under each of them with a rubber head to make it difficult to slip.
He kept one of these two crutches himself, and the other gave it to him. I gave my wife Huang Jie. For many years, he has been using this crutch. After Xu Xiangqian passed away, Huang Jie never abandoned it. He also took it out and took it out to see it from time to time.
As the founding marshal, Xu Xiangqian usually wears casual clothes except for formal occasions. Among the existing photos, there are very few photos of Xu Xiangqian wearing marshal's uniform.
One year, Huang Jie celebrated his birthday, and the careful Xu Xiangqian asked her: "You have your birthday, what gift do you want? "Huang Jie thought for a while and said, "I don't want anything else. I have never seen you wear a marshal's uniform after you became a marshal's uniform. Just put it on and let me take a look. "
Xu Xiangqian was very surprised by his wife's request. After reacting, he immediately went back to the house and changed into a marshal's uniform. He stood in front of his wife to show it. From then on, the marshal's uniform symbolizing glory has never been worn again. He has been quietly pressing into the camphor wood box of the Xu family.
someone asked him why he didn't wear military uniforms, and Xu Xiangqian replied: "I'm old, wearing military uniforms can damage the image of a soldier! ”
In the early 1960s, Xu Xiangqian's family moved to Liuyin Street near Shichahai, Beijing. The residents nearby saw that Marshal Xu Xiangqian, who had made great achievements in military affairs, was actually a simple-dressed and approachable old man.
Every time a neighborhood committee cadre went to his house to do business and visit, Xu Xiangqian would warmly receive him and care about the situation of the residents and construction of the street.
Once, the guard soldier Yuan Mantun unfortunately sacrificed his life to rescue the people who fell into Shichahai. Xu Xiangqian and the residents of the street were very sad. The residents of Liuyin Street set up statues for him, and Xu Xiangqian wrote a letter to him. Under his attention, the mental civilization activities of the military and civilians on Liuyin Street have changed significantly. In 1982, Xu Xiangqian enthusiastically wrote seven big words for the street: "Liuyin Military and Civilian Civilians".
On June 27, 1990, due to the recurrence of tuberculosis, Xu Xiangqian left Liuyin Street, which had been living in 28 years, and was admitted to the hospital. Before leaving home, he said sadly: "Oh, I can't come back if I leave this time..."
Every time Xu Xiaoyan recalls this scene, he can't help but say: "It seems to be the intuition of the old man, he has a premonition. "
As expected, Xu Xiangqian did not survive this illness. On August 5, Xu Xiangqian told his three last words to his wife Huang Jie and his children: "I can't say too much. What I want to say is that after I die, I will not say goodbye to the body, nor will I hold a memorial service, and scatter three ashes in the Dabie Mountains, Daba Mountains, Taihang Mountains, and Hexi Corridor. This is the last words I left for you. "
For Li Xiannian who came to visit him, Xu Xiangqian also told him three last words. He repeatedly told him not to make a big fuss after his death and just scatter the ashes to the places where he had fought.
After Xu Xiangqian passed away, Jiang Zemin came to pay his condolences. Xu Xiaoyan passed on his father's last words to Jiang Zemin. Jiang Zemin did not speak after hearing this. Later, Li Ji, director of the General Office of the Military Commission, told Xu Xiaoyan his instructions: "Marson Xu Xiangqian is your father, but he is also the marshal of the People's Republic of China, so we still have to send him a message. ”
So, Xu Xiangqian's last words, the Party Central Committee only agreed to the third article, and the memorial service was changed to a "farewell party".
On October 18, in the small auditorium of 301 Hospital, the leaders of the party and state said the final farewell to Xu Xiangqian, and then eight soldiers carried the coffin slowly walked onto the hearse.
November 1 to 10, leaders of relevant central departments accompanied Xu Xiangqian's relatives on a special plane to Dabie Mountains, Daba Mountains, Taihang Mountains, and Hexi Corridors. They scattered ashes according to his will during his lifetime. The plane followed Xu Xiangqian's battle footprints and scattered his ashes to the great rivers and mountains he fought during his lifetime. One of the special helicopters also scattered part of Marshal Xu Xiangqian's ashes over the Niutuzhai Martyrs Cemetery. Niutuzhai also sleeps with the martyrs who fought with him during his lifetime, like Dabie Mountains and Daba Mountains. This is the last "gift" that Marshal Xu Xiangqian has given to the motherland.
In this way, Xu Xiangqian quietly rested in places where he had fought in Dabie Mountains, Daba Mountains, Hexi Corridor and Taihang Mountains, and his urns and portraits were finally placed in his hometown, , Wutai County Martyrs Cemetery, , fulfilling his long-cherished wish to return to his roots.
