Among the founding generals of New China, two were not awarded titles in 1955: Li Jukui and Wang Jian'an. Li Jukui was shelved for transferring to the oil system. Why Wang Jian'an's promotion to deputy commander of the Shenyang Military Region was also shelved is unclear to many people.
Wang Jian'an served as a commander in the Red Army, as a commander of the Luzhong Military Region during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, as a corps commander during liberation, and as a corps commander of the Volunteer Army after the founding of New China. After returning to China, he was rated as a deputy corps according to his rank and was reported for approval as a general.
He encountered an "accident" before he was awarded the title, and Wang Jian'an's son said that Mao felt that Wang Jian'an was somewhat proud and complacent, and felt that it was appropriate to award the lieutenant general. His instructions embarrassed the people in charge of judging the ranks. According to Wang Jian'an's seniority, the award of lieutenant generals will certainly receive a lot of discussion. If they do not follow the instructions and are not appropriate, their only way is to delay.
When the title was awarded in 1955, most people were awarded corresponding ranks, but Wang Jian'an, the deputy commander of the military region, fell into the cold. Wang Jian'an did not confer a title, and the chief cadre did not forget him, but raised the matter with Mao again a year later. After much deliberation, Wang Jian'an's appointment as a general was approved, and he was given a supplementary rank in 1956.
Although he was awarded the rank of general, it seems that he has never been reused. After serving as deputy commander of the Shenyang Military Region, he was transferred to the deputy commander of the Jinan Military Region and the deputy commander of the Fuzhou Military Region. Many lieutenant generals have become the main posts of the Grand Military District, but he has always been a deputy. Such a situation is a special case in Wang Jian'an.
In his situation, many superiors also knew about him, like Ye Shuai, Xu Shuai, and so on. In 1975, his superiors wanted to transfer him to Beijing as an adviser to the Central Military Commission. I hope that he will go to the army to investigate and study, and he can go anywhere. Therefore, after receiving the order, he inspected the army for a long time and proposed many valuable things.
Because his health had not been high, he fell ill not long after, and died of illness in 1980 at the age of 72.