In 1949, the joy of the founding of the People's Republic of China was still echoing in people's hearts, but an unexpected turmoil was quietly brewing in a conference room. Marshal Peng Dehuai, the founding father of the People's Republic of China, had just stepped on the threshold of the conference room, but the scene in front of him made the iron-clad general furious. Among the portraits hanging high on the wall, there is a portrait of himself, standing side by side with the portraits of Chairman Mao and Commander-in-Chief Zhu De.
Marshal Peng Dehuai, who had always hated the cult of personality, saw his portrait at this moment and shouted angrily: "Get that pig's head away for me!" The audience was suddenly silent, and everyone looked at each other and didn't know what to do. What is it that makes this imposing marshal so disgusted with his portrait? What is the little-known story behind this?
Everyone knows that Peng Dehuai is a marshal with great achievements, but few people know that his military career began in a village fight. In 1916, at the age of 18, Peng Dehuai was forced to leave his hometown and join the Hunan New Army because of a dispute with the landlord for water irrigation. This is a long revolutionary journey.
Peng Dehuai's revolutionary journey can be described as ups and downs. He participated in the Northern Expedition, the Agrarian Revolutionary War, the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the War of Liberation. In these long years, Peng Dehuai has grown from an ordinary soldier to a powerful founding father step by step. However, what is less known is that Peng Dehuai once had a brief experience of "returning to his hometown".
After the defeat of the Great Revolution in 1927, Peng Dehuai once returned to his hometown of Xiangtan County and farmed in the paddy fields of his hometown. Someone persuaded him: "Mr. Peng, you are a person who has fought a war, how can you come back to farm?" Peng Dehuai smiled and said, "What's wrong with farming?" I came from a peasant background. This experience allowed Peng Dehuai to always maintain his unpretentious nature, and also made him have a deep affection for farmers.
Peng Dehuai's personality traits can be described as "upright". He is upright, straightforward in his speech, and never beats around the bush. Once, at a meeting of senior generals, someone proposed to equip Peng Dehuai with a special car. Peng Dehuai immediately took the case: "I, Peng Dehuai, am the son of a farmer, and I fight for the common people, not for the sake of being an official!" These words shocked everyone present, and also fully reflected Peng Dehuai's character characteristics.
It is this kind of character that creates Peng Dehuai's deep hatred for the cult of personality. In his view, the revolution is for the people, not for someone. Once, when Peng Dehuai was inspecting the troops, he found that the walls of a company were covered with portraits of leaders. Without saying a word, he took down these portraits one by one and said to the company commander, "Why are there so many portraits on the wall?" Hang up the "Three Disciplines and Eight Points of Attention", that is what we should always keep in mind. "
Peng Dehuai's attitude towards the cult of personality was evident in the early days of the founding of New China. On October 1, 1949, the day of the founding ceremony of the People's Republic of China, Peng Dehuai stood on the tower of Tiananmen Square, watching the thousands of people in the square holding up portraits of leaders, but his heart was full of worry. He said to the comrades around him: "We must be vigilant, we must not engage in a cult of personality, which will keep the people in the dark." "
However, Peng Dehuai's attitude is not understood by everyone. Some people believe that hanging portraits of leaders is a way to pay respect. But in Peng Dehuai's view, true respect should be embodied in practical actions, rather than simply hanging portraits. He often said: "To learn the spirit of leaders, not to hang their portraits." "
Peng Dehuai's attitude was out of place in the political environment at the time. He repeatedly asked not to hang his portrait, and even took it down himself. This kind of behavior seems to some people to be impersonal, but in Peng Dehuai's heart, it is precisely the respect for the revolutionary cause and the people.
Peng Dehuai's opposition to the cult of personality is not limited to words, but his actions are a stark reflection of this. In the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, there were three incidents in which Peng Dehuai tore up his portrait because he was not accustomed to engaging in a personality cult, and these incidents caused quite a stir at the time.
The first incident occurred after the liberation of Xinjiang in 1949. At that time, the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang rejoiced, and the upsurge of celebration of liberation swept across Xinjiang. On October 1, the day of the founding ceremony, tens of thousands of people appeared on the streets of Urumqi, and they spontaneously organized a grand parade. In the procession, some people held portraits of Chairman Mao, some held portraits of Commander-in-Chief Zhu De, and some held up portraits of Premier Zhou Enlai.
In this jubilant atmosphere, Peng Dehuai suddenly discovered an unexpected situation in the crowd - someone actually held his portrait high. This scene made Peng Dehuai feel very uneasy. He immediately ran down from the rostrum, rushed into the crowd, and tore off his portrait despite the surprise of those around him.
Facing everyone's puzzled eyes, Peng Dehuai explained: "Comrades, I am Peng Dehuai on this portrait, please don't carry my portrait." Only then did people suddenly realize that the person in front of them was Marshal Peng Dehuai himself. This move not only did not cause dissatisfaction, but made the masses admire Peng Dehuai's simple style even more.
However, such things do not end there. The second incident occurred at the end of the same year in Lanzhou. At that time, the First Field and Second Corps were holding an enlarged meeting in Lanzhou. As soon as Peng Dehuai entered the conference room, he heard someone shouting: "Mr. Peng has arrived!" The audience gave a standing ovation.
Just as Peng Dehuai smiled and motioned for everyone to sit down, his eyes were suddenly attracted by a portrait on the wall. It was a portrait of himself, and it was actually side by side with the portraits of Chairman Mao and Commander-in-Chief Zhu De. This scene immediately angered Peng Dehuai.
He pointed to his portrait and shouted, "Quickly take off the pig's head on the side and move it away!" The sudden shouting of anger plunged the audience into a deathly silence. Peng Dehuai continued: "Let's look at it, how much dry rice I, Peng Dehuai, eat, and what qualifications do I have to stand side by side with the portraits of Chairman Mao and Commander-in-Chief Zhu?" I said you weren't allowed to hang my image, so why did you say it in vain? "
Seeing that Mr. Peng was angry, General Xu Guangda, who was the commander of the Second Corps at the time, hurriedly ordered someone to take down Mr. Peng's portrait. Since then, no one has dared to hang Peng Dehuai's portrait at meetings.
Although Peng Dehuai made it clear many times that he would not hang his portrait, many soldiers still had deep respect for him because of his high prestige in the army, especially his outstanding performance during the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea. This led to the third event.
During the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Lang, some soldiers began to quietly hang pictures of Mr. Peng in caves. When Peng Dehuai found out, this time he did not be as angry as before, but silently asked people to take down the portrait, and once again told the little soldier not to hang it up in the future.
Peng Dehuai's attitude was particularly special in the historical context of that time. In the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, there was a lot of waste waiting to be rebuilt, and it was necessary to unite the strength of the people of the whole country. Some believe that by hanging portraits of leaders, enthusiasm and confidence can be inspired. Peng Dehuai, however, insisted that the true revolutionary spirit should not rely on the cult of personality, but should be based on a firm belief in the revolutionary cause.
These three incidents of tearing up the portrait vividly show Peng Dehuai's clear attitude of resolutely opposing the cult of personality. His behavior caused a lot of shock at the time and left a deep impression on future generations. This not only reflects Peng Dehuai's personal character, but also reflects his deep understanding and firm belief in the revolutionary cause.
Peng Dehuai's opposition to the cult of personality is not only reflected in the incident of tearing up his own portrait, but also in the bits and pieces of his daily life. This perseverance not only influenced those around him, but also set an example for future generations.
In the early 1950s, when New China was in ruins, the issue of the treatment of many high-ranking cadres became a sensitive topic. Once, when the Central Military Commission was discussing the treatment of high-ranking generals, someone proposed that Peng Dehuai be equipped with a special car. After hearing this, Peng Dehuai immediately stood up and objected: "I don't need a special car, just take the bus." "
These words caused the surprise of others present. Someone persuaded him: "Mr. Peng, you are a marshal, you have a special status, and you can't be the same as ordinary people." Peng Dehuai insisted on his own opinion: "We are not fighting for enjoyment, but for the people." If we start to specialize now, then what is the difference between us and the Kuomintang? "
In the end, at Peng Dehuai's insistence, he did not have a special car, but continued to commute by public transportation. Once, when he was riding the bus, an old man who didn't know him offered to give him his seat. Peng Dehuai declined: "Old man, sit down, I'm still young, it's okay to stand for a while." This scene was watched by the other passengers, and everyone was moved by the simple style of this unknown old cadre.
Peng Dehuai's simple style is also reflected in his dress. Even during his tenure as Minister of Defense, he still wore an ordinary military uniform, rather than an elaborate military uniform custom-made for high-ranking generals. Once, when a foreign envoy came to visit, the staff suggested that Peng Dehuai change into a new military uniform to show his solemnity. Peng Dehuai said: "My clothes are very good, just clean and tidy, why bother to change them?" "
In terms of food, Peng Dehuai also maintains a hard and simple style. In 1958, when he inspected a certain unit, it happened to be lunchtime. As is customary, the troops prepared a sumptuous lunch for the chief. But when Peng Dehuai saw the food, he immediately said: "I want to eat a big pot of rice with the soldiers." The leader of the unit was a little embarrassed, explaining that now the food has improved, and it is no longer a big pot of rice. Peng Dehuai nodded after hearing this, and said, "Then bring me a standard meal for a warrior." "
This simplicity is not only reflected in Peng's personal life, but also influences the way he works. In 1956, Peng Dehuai visited the Soviet Union. In accordance with diplomatic practice, the Soviet side prepared a grand welcoming ceremony and a rich itinerary for the visit. However, Peng Dehuai proposed to reduce the scale of the welcome ceremony and devote more time to inspecting the Soviet Union's military industry and agricultural development.
In the course of the inspection, Peng Dehuai ignored the opposition of the Soviet side and insisted on going deep into the factory workshops and rural areas to talk with ordinary workers and peasants. "Only by understanding the lives of ordinary people can we truly understand the development of a country," he said. This pragmatic attitude left a deep impression on the Soviet side.
After returning to China, when Peng Dehuai reported to the Central Committee on his inspection, he particularly emphasized the Soviet Union's achievements in scientific and technological development and industrialization, and also pointed out some problems worthy of vigilance, such as bureaucracy and formalism. He said: "We must learn from the advanced experience of the Soviet Union, but we must not blindly copy it, still less engage in a personality cult. "
Peng Dehuai's simple style and pragmatic attitude were particularly precious in the political environment at that time. He always insisted that revolutionary cadres should breathe and share the same fate with the masses of the people. At a meeting of cadres, he said earnestly: "We are from the people, and we must never forget our roots. If it is detached from the masses, it is the greatest danger. "
This simple style not only influenced the people around Peng Dehuai, but also set an example for future generations. Many cadres who have worked under Peng Dehuai said that Mr. Peng's words and deeds have had a profound impact on them. A former security guard recalled: "Mr. Peng taught us to be hard and simple, not to be specialized. This style has always influenced me and made me always humble and cautious in my future work. "
Peng Dehuai not only opposed the cult of personality in action, but he also criticized the phenomenon outright in public on several occasions. This attitude of daring to face problems head-on and express one's own views was particularly valuable in the political environment of the time.
In 1956, at the Eighth National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Peng Dehuai, as a member of the Central Committee, delivered an important speech. In this speech, he clearly pointed out the dangers of the cult of personality and called on comrades in the party to be vigilant against the spread of this phenomenon. He said: "The cult of personality is a remnant of feudalism, which will not only damage the party's collective leadership system, but also hinder the democratic construction of our party. We must resolutely oppose this tendency. "
This remark caused quite a stir at the time. Some people think that Peng's words are too blunt and may cause unnecessary controversy. But many people expressed admiration for Peng Dehuai's courage, believing that he spoke the thoughts of many people.
At an enlarged meeting of the Central Military Commission in 1957, Peng Dehuai again raised the argument against the cult of personality. He pointed out: "Our party is a party of collective leadership, and we should not overemphasize the role of a certain person. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses, and we should objectively evaluate everyone's contributions, rather than deifying someone. "
This statement provoked a lively discussion among the participants. Some people expressed their agreement with Peng Dehuai's viewpoint, believing that this conforms to the basic principles of Marxism. But others expressed concern about Peng's remarks, arguing that they could undermine the party's leadership authority.
In the face of doubts, Peng Dehuai did not flinch. He further explained: "When we oppose the cult of personality, we are not denying the role of leaders. On the contrary, we need to give better play to the collective wisdom so that everyone can contribute their own strength to the cause of the party and the country. "
In 1958, during a local inspection, Peng Dehuai saw the phenomenon of over-publicizing personal merits in some places, and he criticized it on the spot. He told the local cadres: "Don't always emphasize the merits of one person, our achievements are the result of the joint efforts of the whole party, the whole army, and the whole people." Excessive propaganda of the individual only fuels bureaucracy and a tendency to detach from the masses. "
This outspoken attitude has made some cadres who are accustomed to flattery feel uncomfortable. However, Peng Dehuai believes that only by frankly pointing out problems can we promote the progress of work. He often said: "As members of the Communist Party, we should seek truth from facts and say whatever we want." "
At the Lushan Conference in 1959, Peng Dehuai directly criticized the pompous style and personality cult that emerged during the "Great Leap Forward". He said at the meeting: "At present, some places are very unseemly, and they say 'super-Britain catches up with the United States' at every turn, which is not a realistic attitude. We should work with our feet on the ground, not engage in things that are vain. "
This remark aroused Mao Zedong's dissatisfaction. But Peng Dehuai still insists on his own point of view, and he believes that only by facing the problem head-on can we truly solve the problem. "I say this not to deny our achievements, but to hope that we can move forward better," he said. If we don't even dare to point out the problem, then what kind of Communist Party are we? "
Peng Dehuai's outspoken attitude, although it caused some controversy at the time, also won the respect of many people. A veteran cadre who once participated in the Lushan Conference recalled: "Although Mr. Peng's words are not good, they are reasonable. He truly thinks about the party and the country. "
Even in the days that followed, Peng Dehuai still insisted on his views. In a self-examination in 1962, he wrote: "I am against the cult of personality because I do not think it is in accordance with the principles of Marxism. If this is wrong, then I am willing to be criticized and educated. But my original intention was for the benefit of the party and the country. "
Peng Dehuai's outspoken critique of the cult of personality reflects his political wisdom and moral courage as an old revolutionary. He has always maintained that only a democratic system based on collective leadership can ensure the long-term peace and stability of the party and the state. Although his views were not fully understood and supported at the time, these ideas had a profound impact on the later development of the Chinese Communist Party.
Peng Dehuai's actions and rhetoric against the cult of personality have left a deep mark on the history of the Chinese Communist Party. This not only reflected his political wisdom as a revolutionary, but also had a profound impact on the development of the Communist Party of China.
First of all, Peng Dehuai's words and deeds set an example for the party to dare to speak out and seek truth from facts. In the late 1950s, with the development of the "Great Leap Forward" movement, a pompous atmosphere emerged throughout the country. Under such circumstances, Peng Dehuai still adhered to the attitude of seeking truth from facts, and this spirit was of great significance for correcting the erroneous tendencies at that time.
In July 1959, at the Lushan Conference, Peng Dehuai handed over a letter criticizing the problems that arose during the "Great Leap Forward". In the letter, he wrote: "At present, some places are very unseemly, and they say 'super-Britain catches up with the United States' at every turn, which is not a realistic attitude. Although the letter sparked a political storm later, it reflected Peng's spirit of daring to face problems and criticize mistakes. This spirit was particularly valuable in the political environment of the time.
Second, Peng Dehuai's opposition to the cult of personality laid the ideological foundation for the later democratic construction of the Communist Party of China. At the Eighth National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 1956, Peng Dehuai clearly pointed out the dangers of the cult of personality. He said: "The cult of personality is a remnant of feudalism, which will not only damage the party's collective leadership system, but also hinder the democratic construction of our party. This view was very advanced at the time, and it provided an important ideological resource for the later development of intra-party democracy.
In 1962, after Peng Dehuai was criticized, he still insisted on his views. In a self-examination, he wrote: "I am against the cult of personality because I think it is incompatible with the principles of Marxism. If this is wrong, then I am willing to be criticized and educated. But my original intention was for the benefit of the party and the country. This attitude of adhering to the truth provided important spiritual support for the later ideological emancipation movement within the party.
Third, Peng Dehuai's words and deeds against the cult of personality played an important role in correcting some erroneous tendencies within the party. In the late 1950s, there was an over-publicity of individual exploits in some places. Peng Dehuai criticized this situation on the spot after seeing this situation during a local inspection. He told the local cadres: "Don't always emphasize the merits of one person, our achievements are the result of the joint efforts of the whole party, the whole army, and the whole people." This view played a positive role in correcting the erroneous tendencies of the time.
In 1957, at an enlarged meeting of the Central Military Commission, Peng Dehuai again stressed the importance of opposing the cult of personality. He said: "Our party is a party of collective leadership, and we should not overemphasize the role of one person. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses, and we should objectively evaluate everyone's contributions, rather than deifying someone. This viewpoint is of great significance for maintaining the party's collective leadership system.
In addition, Peng Dehuai's opposition to the cult of personality also had a profound impact on the later theoretical innovation of the Communist Party of China. His attitude of emphasizing seeking truth from facts and opposing dogmatism provided an important reference for the later establishment of the party's ideological line. In a speech in 1958, Peng Dehuai said: "We must study Marxism, but we must not be dogmatic. We should creatively apply Marxism in light of China's actual conditions. This view laid the foundation for the later development of the theory of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
Finally, Peng Dehuai's words and deeds against the cult of personality also had a profound impact on the construction of the style of the Communist Party of China. He always adhered to the style of hard work and simplicity and opposed the idea of privilege. During his tenure as Minister of Defense, he still maintained the habits of an ordinary soldier, and this style infected everyone around him. A former security guard recalled: "Mr. Peng taught us to be hard and simple, not to be specialized. This style has always influenced me and made me always humble and cautious in my future work. "
The historical significance of Peng Dehuai's opposition to the cult of personality is not only reflected in his time, but also in the subsequent development of the Communist Party of China. His ideology and spirit have become an important resource for the building of democracy within the party, the ideological emancipation movement, theoretical innovation, and the building of work style. Although Peng Dehuai was treated unfairly during his lifetime because of political turmoil, his ideas and spirit have left an indelible mark on the history of the Communist Party of China.