During the War of Liberation, Xu Shiyou and Wang Jian'an, who were known as the "Two Heroes of Shandong", were two powerful generals under Mao Zedong, but they had a "historical grudge". Mao Zedong cleverly directed a "reconciliation between generals and ministers", allowing Xu Shiyou and Wang Jian'an to join hands to conquer Jinan City, leaving behind a good story.
Xu Shiyou and Wang Jianan are both fellow villagers in Hubei, and they both participated in the Huangma Uprising. In the Red Army team, their progress was very fast. In the autumn of 1934, Wang Jian'an was appointed as the political commissar of the 4th Army of the Red Fourth Front Army. Not long after, Xu Shiyou was transferred to the commander of the 4th Army. Since then, the two became military and political partners. One of them was a brave hero and the other was a Confucian general in the army. Under their leadership, the 4th Army quickly became the ace force of the Red Fourth Front Army .
Xu Shiyou
936, Xu Shiyou and Wang Jian'an entered the Anti-Japanese Military and Political University together to study. In March 1937, the Party Central Committee held an enlarged meeting of the Politburo in Yan'an and criticized Zhang Guotao's past mistakes, which gave the commanders and fighters of the Fourth Red Army a vivid and profound education.
When criticizing Zhang Guotao, Mao Zedong specifically emphasized a principle: "To criticize Comrade Zhang Guotao, he must distinguish his mistakes from the heroic struggle of the commanders and fighters of the Red Fourth Front Army. The merits and contributions of the vast number of cadres and soldiers of the Red Fourth Front Army cannot be erased." However, some excessive phenomena occurred during the criticism of Anti-God , which tied Zhang Guotao with the cadres and soldiers of the Red Fourth Front Army he once led, and criticized them, which made the students of the Red Fourth Front Army unable to raise their heads.
At a criticism meeting, some people said some things that were not conducive to unity. Xu Shiyou stood up to defend himself: "You must be realistic in everything you do. Zhang Guotao made a serious mistake and wanted to criticize, but I cannot tolerate those unreasonable accusations against the vast number of commanders and fighters of the Red Fourth Front Army. The retreat of the Red Fourth Front Army is not called escapism, but because the enemy is strong and we are weak, we can fight again if we change places! Withdrawing into Sichuan and Shaanxi, the troops have developed. What's wrong with such escape!"
But a student immediately stood up and refuted: "You Xu Shiyou dare to defend Zhang Guotao. It's really a typical Trotsky !"
Zhang Guotao
Xu Shiyou was furious after hearing this: "I said a few words and became Trotsky. What ball is Trotsky, I don't understand, I'll be bullshit!"
This scolding caused chaos, and the slogan "Down with Xu Shiyou" sounded in the venue. Xu Shiyou was so angry that he felt dizzy. He covered his depressed chest with both hands, and a stream of blood spurted out of his mouth, and he had to be admitted to the hospital.
The more Xu Shiyou thought about it in the hospital, the more angry he became. He thought to himself: Where can’t we revolution, we have to stay in Yan'an? His old subordinate Liu Zicai was leading more than 1,000 people to fight guerrillas in Sichuan, so it would be better to go there to join him.
So Xu Shiyou contacted more than a dozen generals of the former Red Fourth Front Army and said to them: "We go to Sichuan to fight guerrillas and ask them to see if we are revolutionary. If we are willing to leave, leave. If we don't want to leave, don't tell the central government."
Wang Jian'an first responded. Under his leadership, many people also expressed their approval. By the third day, Xu Shiyou had contacted 5 military-level cadres, 5 division-level cadres and more than 20 regiment-level cadres.
Wang Jian'an
Xu Shiyou also carefully formulated an action plan and the time and route to leave:
At 10 pm on April 4th, everyone brought their guns to the side of the toilet of the Fifth Team of the Anti-Japanese University. Xu Shiyou personally led two people to cover them and escaped from the north city gate. If they were found to be chasing them, they would resist. After leaving the city, they gathered at the Ershilibao and went along the way to cheat the government's meals in the name of the Red Army; once they arrived at the white area of , they would send grain to the local government in the name of anti-Japanese war and donate money as funds.
But on April 3, Wang Jianan suddenly woke up. He realized that conflicts within the party can be resolved within the party. Why should we take such extreme actions? Isn’t this betrayal of the revolution? So he said to Xu Shiyou, "Captain Xu, you go, I suddenly feel uncomfortable, I am afraid I can't leave anymore."
Xu Shiyou suddenly became anxious: "Damn, escape at the last battle? You have to leave, and you have to leave if you don’t. Otherwise I will take compulsory measures, don’t say that I, Xu Shiyou, are sorry to my friend! "
Wang Jianan had no choice but to secretly find Xie Fuzhi, the party branch secretary in the team, and reported to him that Xu Shiyou was about to leave. Xie Fuzhi was shocked after hearing this, and reported the matter step by step to the principal Lin Biao. Lin Biao felt that the matter was of great importance and reported it to Mao Zedong.
Mao Zedong gave three instructions after hearing this: First, pay attention to confidentiality; second, arrest the person first and then talk about it; third, prevent others from having similar problems.
Mao Zedong
That night, Lin Biao led his troops to the Anti-Japanese University and ordered all the teachers and students of the school to gather urgently. Fu Zhong , deputy director of the Political Department of the Anti-Japanese University, walked onto the podium, and named one according to the list assigned by Wang Jian'an, clicked one, took out one, tied up one, and arrested more than 30 people including Xu Shiyou.
After Xu Shiyou was arrested, two different opinions were formed on how to deal with him: one believed that he dared to take the lead in escaping, and his crime was serious and he should be shot; the other believed that the matter was not that simple. If a Xu Shiyou was shot, would there be a second chance? The third Xu Shiyou may cause further dissatisfaction among the commanders and fighters of the Fourth Front Army of the Red Army.
Mao Zedong also has his own opinion on how to deal with Xu Shiyou: Xu Shiyou wants to escape from Yan'an, and he has his personal responsibility. Some of our comrades are simple and act voluntarily when dealing with problems, and they do not play much good roles. They have to do things and force their own comrades to Liangshan. If there is no way out, can they not rebel? He believes that they should also be lenient.
In the end, the Supreme Court adopted Mao Zedong's Opinion: Xu Shiyou was sentenced to one and a half years in prison, and his party was expelled from his party, and the other escaped people were also sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment.
Xu Shiyou
After Xu Shiyou was imprisoned, Mao Zedong specifically asked Chen Geng to bring him a "Hadmen" cigarette, and he himself decided to visit Xu Shiyou in person.
After Mao Zedong came to the prison cell, he said to Xu Shiyou: "Captain Xu, you have made you suffer. On behalf of the Party Central Committee, I apologize to you and all the cadres and comrades who were arrested in the Red Fourth Front Army! "After saying that, he bowed to Xu Shiyou, which made Xu Shiyou feel warm.
Mao Zedong continued: "The cadres of the Red Fourth Front Army are all party cadres and party treasures, not his cadres of Zhang Guotao. Zhang Guotao was sent to the Fourth Front Army by the Party Central Committee. His mistakes should be held by him, and it has nothing to do with you comrades. Zhang Guotao is Zhang Guotao, and you, Xu Shiyou, are Xu Shiyou, how could you be alone? "
After hearing this, Xu Shiyou couldn't help it anymore. He knelt in front of Mao Zedong with a "thump" and choked and said, "Chairman, I was wrong. I will follow you all my life in the future. The revolution will never look back! "Mao Zedong quickly helped Xu Shiyou up.
Not long after, under Mao Zedong's personal arrangement, Xu Shiyou was released. He still returned to the Anti-Japanese University and served as the deputy minister of the school affairs department. In January of the following year, the Party Central Committee revoked the party punishment of Xu Shiyou and restored his party membership.
Although the matter came to an end, Xu Shiyou believed that Wang Jianan had "betrayed" him, and since then he ignored Wang Jianan again, and the two's long-term friendship came to an abrupt end.
In May 1938, Wang Jianan graduated from the Anti-Japanese University and served as the Eighth Route Army in Tianjin The detachment commander, and soon served as the deputy commander of the Shandong Column of the Eighth Route Army in , led the troops to open up the Shandong battlefield. Coincidentally, in 1940, Xu Shiyou also came to Shandong. One of them was in Jiaodong and the other was in Shandong. They soon became famous. The people called them "Shandong Twin Heroes".
But even so, when Xu Shiyou met Wang Jianan, he always deliberately ignored him. Wang Jianan had tried to eliminate conflicts with Xu Shiyou many times, but Xu Shiyou always ignored him. He sometimes even broke with Wang Jianan: "Be a traitor at a critical moment, and if you catch it on the battlefield, you will be rebellious."
By 1948, Wang Jianan had served as deputy commander and deputy political commissar of the First Corps of the North China Military Region. In July of that year, the Central Military Commission decided to attack Jinan as soon as possible. Mao Zedong specially called Wang Jianan to Xibaipo and said to him: "Comrade Jianan, this time I asked you to come, I want you to kill you back to your hometown and complete a major move! ”
Wang Jianan knew that there was a big task and immediately said, “Chairman, just tell me if you have any tasks! "
Mao Zedong said: "According to the current strategic task, the Military Commission decided to liberate Jinan first. In order to fight this battle well, you will not go to the First Corps of North China, go back to Shandong, and go to Shandong Corps . Xu Shiyou is the commander there. Do you have any opinions if you go to the deputy commander? ”
Wang Jianan understood that Mao Zedong was worried about the conflict between him and Xu Shiyou, and was afraid that he would not accept Xu Shiyou. He immediately expressed his opinion: "I have no objection, and I will follow the command of all actions. I am an old partner with Comrade Shiyou, please rest assured by the Chairman! "
Mao Zedong was overjoyed, and he said his considerations again: "Most of the Shandong Corps are from Shandong. Xu Shiyou has great prestige in the Jiaodong army. You are also quite famous in Shandong Central and Shandong Shandong Nan ! You are the "two heroes" in Shandong. People say, "It is difficult for two heroes to stand together", but I say, "It is difficult for a single palm to sing". You two must be able to strike loudly and work together, and then our soldiers will follow you through fire and water! ”
Wang Jianan expressed his opinion again: “We must defeat Jinan! ”
Mao Zedong said happily: “Okay! We are like playing " Lost the Sky Kill ". You are the deputy general Wang Ping. If you lose Jieting, you can't beat Jinan. If you kill Xu Shiyou first, you will also beat you 40 military sticks, and then you will be demoted to the third level! "
After Wang Jian'an received the order, he immediately rushed to Shandong. At this time, Xu Shiyou was recuperating in Aishantang. The Central Military Commission crossed the East China Field Army Headquarters and sent a direct report to him: Go to the front line of Jinan immediately. Xu Shiyou was overjoyed when he learned that it was Mao Zedong who personally ordered his general to attack Jinan. At this time, he didn't care about his previous grudges with Wang Jian'an. He said, "Monkey Xu cannot defeat Jinan Prefecture , which is equivalent to smashing Chairman Mao's place! Lao Wang is here, we must work together! ”
Wang Jianan first arrived at the Shandong Corps in August and began to prepare for the siege. On September 10, Xu Shiyou also rushed to the command center. Wang Jianan said to him: "Commander Xu is here, I am going to 'hand over the office'. "
Xu Shiyou held Wang Jianan's hand and said, "I just came here, the situation is not familiar, you still want to play the leading role! ”
Jinan Battle Map
In order to completely resolve the conflict between him and Wang Jianan, Xu Shiyou took the initiative to invite Wang Jianan to drink. He said sincerely: "Old Wang, this is the first time we have drunk since we broke up in Yan'an. I remember the wine, everything that has passed, no one will mention it anymore. I'll do it first! "After saying that, he drank the wine in the bowl in one go.
Wang Jianan was deeply moved by Xu Shiyou's sincerity. He also drank the wine in the bowl, and then said, "After taking Jinan, let's drink it again! ”
With the sincere cooperation of Xu Shiyou and Wang Jianan, our army captured Jinan City in just 8 days. Shandong Corps Political Commissar Tan Zhenlin said: “Two tigers, one is Lianpo and the other is Lin Xiangru . Chairman Mao asked them to perform "The Reunion of Generals and Prime Ministers" under Jinan City. "
In his later years, Xu Shiyou commented on Wang Jian'an: "Jian'an and I have a strong personality. In the war years, we often argued, even slapped the table and scolded each other, but we never slapped the table afterwards. We will lead the troops to lively, which means winning battles. "
Wang Jian'an
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