Foreword: In 1980, the comrades had not heard from Wang Jianan for several months, so they asked his family about Wang Jianan's current situation. Unexpectedly, they received the news that Wang Jianan had passed away.

Preface:

In 1980, the comrades had not received news from Wang Jianan for several months, so they asked his family about Wang Jianan's current situation, but unexpectedly the news they received was that Wang Jianan had passed away.

What is even more puzzling is that Wang Jian'an's family did not hold a memorial service, nor did they place his ashes in the Babaoshan Martyrs Cemetery. His children did not get to see their father for the last time.

As the founding general, why is Wang Jianan’s funeral not known to the public?

This starts with him and Xu Shiyou.

1. The "love and hate" with Xu Shiyou

After the Red Army's Long March, in order to cultivate a group of generals with strong military theories and ideas, our party organized a group of experienced soldiers to study in Anti-Japanese University . Wang Jian'an, Xu Shiyou is also among them.

Due to various historical reasons, Xu Shiyou came up with the idea of ​​​​going to Sichuan from Yan'an to fight guerrillas, and won the support of many generals.

As a good friend of Xu Shiyou, Wang Jian'an heartily disagreed with his decision. Seeing that his comrades around him were in high spirits, Wang Jianan could only suppress his true thoughts in his heart.

On the eve of departure, Wang Jianan still felt that this behavior was inappropriate, so he secretly reported Xu Shiyou's plan to the then principal.

Under the timely stop by the principal and others, Xu Shiyou's plan did not succeed, and he realized his mistake soon after.

It was precisely because of Wang Jianan's temporary regret that the relationship between Xu Shiyou and Wang Jianan was no longer close, and even became tit-for-tat. Because in Xu Shiyou's heart, Wang Jianan's behavior was no different from betraying a friend.

Before the Jinan Campaign began, Chairman Mao specially summoned Wang Jianan in Yan'an and handed over this important task to Wang Jianan.

At that time, Xu Shiyou had great influence in the Jiaodong area. Chairman Mao was worried that the personal relationship between the two would affect the battle, so he specifically told Wang Jianan to pay attention to unity.

In fact, both Wang Jianan and Xu Shiyou understand the principle of unity and revolution as the most important thing, and they will not affect the final result because of personal grudges.

What's more important is that many years have passed, and the two people's thoughts have undergone earth-shaking changes, and the two have long since reconciled.

In this battle, Wang Jianan personally went to the front line to command the battle, put forward opinions on continuing to fight at the critical moment, and finally won the battle.

2. One-year postponement of the award

Before the award in 1955, the evaluation team wrote Wang Jian'an's name on the list of generals and submitted it to Chairman Mao for review. Unexpectedly, Chairman Mao actually circled his name and said:

"Wang Jian'an is a little proud and should be awarded the rank of lieutenant general."

It turned out that Wang Jian'an once had a dispute with Chen Yi, and finally left because they could not reach a unified opinion. Of. From then on, Wang Jianan left a proud impression on the chairman.

But when the evaluation team learned about the chairman’s opinion, they were very confused. The chairman's opinion needs to be adopted, but it is really unreasonable to only award Wang Jianan a lieutenant general.

Since 1924, Wang Jian'an has joined the revolutionary ranks and participated in many important revolutionary activities.

In 1927, Chiang Kai-shek and Wang Jingwei massacred Communist members. Wang Jianan organized the Eastern Hubei Army to fire the first shot of the Kuomintang reactionaries. This team soon developed into the Fourth Red Front Army and made great contributions to the revolution.

After the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, Wang Jian'an came to Shandong to fight guerrillas with the Japanese and shattered many Japanese plans to raid the Eighth Route Army base areas.

In 1941, the Japanese army added 50,000 troops to sweep away the Eighth Route Army's positions. Wang Jianan dealt with them for more than 20 days, annihilating more than 1,000 Japanese troops and preserving our army's anti-Japanese achievements. After

, in important liberation wars such as the Battle of Huaihai and the Battle of Crossing the Yangtze River, Wang Jian'an has been commanding the battles on the front line, insisting on staying at the command post even if he was injured.

Generals like Wang Jianan who experienced the Long March and the Anti-Japanese and Liberation Wars were awarded the rank of general. It would be inappropriate to grant Wang Jianan the rank of Lieutenant General.

Therefore, the evaluation team did not classify Wang Jian'an's name on the list of lieutenant generals. Instead, they explained the reasons to Chairman Mao after the award, and then awarded him the rank of general in the second year.

3. The thrifty old general

Although he has become the founding general of the country, Wang Jianan still remembers the days when he was oppressed, and even remembers the hard work of the people at the bottom. No matter where he goes, Wang Jianan strongly dislikes extravagance and waste.

Every time when he inspected the army, Wang Jianan arrived half an hour before the hotel, and never notified anyone. When he arrived, he went to the canteen where the soldiers ate, ate with them, and listened to the opinions of the grassroots soldiers.

Faced with the exquisite meals prepared by the officers, Wang Jianan severely criticized them every time, and then asked him to sell the meals at the payment window next to him, while he just ate a simple meal.

In 1978, when Wang Jianan went to inspect the army, he happened to catch up with the division showing a movie to the soldiers. Wang Jianan happily joined the movie watching team.

When Wang Jianan was about to hold a small stool to watch with the soldiers, a young soldier next to him said respectfully:

"Commander, your position is in the front."

Looked in the direction of the little soldier's finger, the front row Comfortable tables and chairs have been set up in the middle, with snacks and tea available, which are incompatible with the small stools around them.

"Why did you prepare these for me? Take them away!"

"Chief, you are prone to thirst and fatigue as you get older. It is easier to sit down."

"I don't know how to sit anyway."

said After saying this, Wang Jianan sat down with the soldiers, and the stools in the front row had to be removed.

By 1979, Wang Jian'an had serious health problems. He also felt that his time was running out, and he often told his wife:

"If I leave, there is no need to hold a memorial service for me or send wreaths." Don't inform others, just scatter my ashes in the fields."

By 1980, Wang Jian'an's health was getting worse, and his wife wanted the children to come back to see their father. In the end, Wang Jian'an rejected the proposal: "My children are all out of town and have to work. I will notify them when I really can't survive."

"Don't forget what I said and don't hold a memorial service for me." .”

Not long after, Wang Jianan passed away forever. Because it was too sudden, his children were out of town and could not see their father for the last time. Only local relatives and friends came to see him off for the last time.

According to Wang Jianan's request, his funeral was kept simple and no one was notified. It wasn't until someone came to inquire that he learned he had passed away.

Although the hero has passed away, his spirit will live on forever.