In the era when the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression was in full swing, the living conditions of the officers and men of the Eighth Route Army were extremely difficult. However, even in such an environment, there are still some strange phenomena. General Chen Geng was able to treat himself to a meal of meat occasionally, but Peng Dehuai, who was also a senior general, was reluctant to eat even a piece of meat. What kind of story is hidden behind this? What kind of belief made Peng Dehuai willing to live a life that was even more miserable than that of ordinary soldiers?
Peng Dehuai was born in a poor peasant family in Xiangtan, Hunan. From an early age, he deeply experienced the taste of poverty.
The family is so poor that they can't even eat, let alone any delicacies from the mountains and seas. This harsh living environment planted the seeds of thrift and thrift in Peng Dehuai's heart.
When he grew up, Peng Dehuai joined the National Revolutionary Army. He became a soldier and had a stable income, but he did not forget his origins.
He has always maintained a simple living habits, and eating and dressing are very simple. If you can save, you can save all the money you save.
Even though he later became a company commander, battalion commander, and regiment commander, and his military salary became higher and higher, Peng Dehuai still did not change his lifestyle. He saved up all the money he had left to finance the revolution in the future.
This habit of thrift and thrift played an important role in the Pingjiang Uprising in 1928. At that time, Teng Daiyuan, secretary of the Hunan-Hubei-Jiangxi Special Committee of the Communist Party of China, came to Pingjiang, Hunan, to prepare for an armed uprising.
Peng Dehuai, as the commander of the 1st Regiment of the 5th Independent Division of the Kuomintang Army, secretly joined the Communist Party. He resolutely obeyed the organization's decisions and began to prepare for the uprising.
However, the night before the uprising was organized, Teng Daiyuan was frowning. It turned out that although Peng Dehuai's regiment was fully loaded, the funds were very small.
If the outlying organizations join the uprising, this amount of money will not last a few days. Peng Dehuai saw Teng Daiyuan's anxiety, and said to him with a smile: "Don't worry about the funds, I'll solve it for you tonight!" "
Sure enough, before the uprising the next day, the required funds were in place on time, and there were more than 40,000 oceans! Where does this money come from? It turned out that there were Peng Dehuai's personal savings over the years.
Since joining the National Revolutionary Army, Peng Dehuai has saved up his military salary. Except for necessary expenses, it is never spent indiscriminately. In this Pingjiang uprising, the troops lacked funds, and the money came in handy.
This move surprised Teng Daiyuan, who never imagined that Peng Dehuai would be able to come up with so much money to support the revolutionary cause. This money provided an important material guarantee for the success of the uprising.
After the Pingjiang Uprising, Peng Dehuai joined the Red Army. Compared to the previous life in the National Revolutionary Army, the conditions in the Red Army were much more difficult.
The income is not as high as before, and the living conditions are not comparable to before. But Peng Dehuai had no complaints, eating the same food and wearing the same clothes as ordinary soldiers every day.
In his view, the revolutionary cause was much more important than personal enjoyment. Even when the living conditions deteriorated, he was willing to eat it.
Peng Dehuai's spirit of diligence and thrift, and willingness to be poor was maintained throughout his later revolutionary career. Whether it was on the arduous Long March or in the flames of the War of Resistance Against Japan, he always maintained a simple style of life.
This spirit not only influenced the comrades-in-arms around him, but also became the spiritual source of the entire Red Army to work hard and not be afraid of difficulties. Peng Dehuai used practical actions to interpret the qualities that a true revolutionary should have.
Chen Geng treats Mr. Peng has no money
During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, although the living conditions of the Eighth Route Army were difficult, they were not without nothing. At that time, the Eighth Route Army implemented a salary system, and the salaries of senior generals were naturally higher than those of ordinary soldiers.
Chen Geng and Peng Dehuai are both senior generals of the Eighth Route Army, and it stands to reason that their living conditions should be similar. But the reality is very different.
One day, Chen Geng invited Peng Dehuai to dinner. This meal is not simple, there is actually meat! During the war years, when supplies were scarce, it was a rare pleasure to be able to eat a meal with meat.
Peng Dehuai ate happily, but he also had some doubts in his heart. He knew that Chen Geng's salary was about the same as his own, how could people treat them to meat?
After the meal, Chen Geng jokingly said to Peng Dehuai: "Old Peng, next time it's time for you to have a treat, right?" When Peng Dehuai heard this, he immediately smiled bitterly. He spread out his hands and said helplessly, "How can I have money?" Not a penny. "
Chen Geng didn't believe it and felt that Peng Dehuai was shirking. He walked over with a smile and began to rummage through Peng Dehuai's clothes pockets. Peng Dehuai didn't stop him, and let Chen Geng rummage through it.
Just as Chen Geng was turning over, Peng Dehuai's staff officer walked in. Seeing this scene, the staff officer smiled and said, "Don't turn it over, we passed by the nursery school when we came, and Mr. Peng gave all the money to the nursery." "
At this moment, Chen Geng suddenly realized. It turned out that Peng Dehuai didn't have no money, but donated all the money. He was both amazed and admired.
Peng Dehuai's approach is indeed admirable. He donated all his wages to those in need, but he lived a poor life.
This kind of behavior was not uncommon in the Eighth Route Army at that time. Many high-ranking generals donate their salaries to support the front line or help people in need.
But Peng Dehuai's approach was more thorough. Not only did he donate his salary, but he was reluctant to keep the money for his own meat. This kind of utter selflessness is awe-inspiring.
The story of Chen Geng's invitation to eat meat was widely spread in the Eighth Route Army. It not only shows Peng Dehuai's noble character, but also reflects the arduous and simple style of the Eighth Route Army.
In that era of scarcity of materials, being able to eat a meal of meat was a luxury for many people. But Peng Dehuai gave up this little enjoyment and used the money where it was more needed.
This spirit deeply affected the entire Eighth Route Army. Many fighters followed Peng Dehuai's example and tried to live a hard and simple life, using their limited resources to the best of their ability.
Peng Dehuai's approach has also won praise from the masses. The local people saw that the senior generals of the Eighth Route Army lived so simply, and their support for the Eighth Route Army became even more enthusiastic.
Some people may ask, why did Peng Dehuai donate all the money? Can't you eat meat yourself? In fact, this is the embodiment of Peng Dehuai's revolutionary spirit.
In his view, the revolutionary cause was much more important than personal enjoyment. As long as you can help people in need, let alone a meal of meat, you will not hesitate to donate all your salary.
This spirit was not uncommon in the revolutionary ranks at that time. Many Communist Party members put their personal interests aside and serve the people wholeheartedly.
Peng Dehuai's approach can be said to be the ultimate embodiment of this spirit. He used practical actions to explain what it means to "serve the people wholeheartedly".
The story of Chen Geng's invitation to eat meat seems to be a trivial matter, but it reflects the spiritual outlook of the revolutionaries of that era. It tells us that a true revolutionary is not in pursuit of personal enjoyment, but always thinks about how to serve the people.
Hard and simple, lead by example
Peng Dehuai's frugal life is not only reflected in donating his salary to the nursery, but also in every bit of his daily life. Once, in order to welcome Peng Dehuai's inspection, a local government specially prepared a sumptuous banquet.
After Peng Dehuai arrived, his face immediately changed when he saw the table full of delicacies from the mountains and seas. Without saying a word, he turned and left, leaving a room of stunned local officials.
This attitude of refusing to be extravagant and wasteful is not the first time that Peng Dehuai has appeared. Whenever someone wanted to show respect for him with a high-profile reception, he always refused mercilessly.
In Peng Dehuai's view, the revolutionary contingent should be arduous and simple, and should not be specialized. He often said: "We are serving the people, how can we engage in specialization?" This sentence is not empty words, he practices this belief with practical actions.
Peng Dehuai not only lived a hard and simple life himself, but also asked the people around him to do the same. Once, his guard bought an apple and prepared it for Peng Dehuai to eat.
When Peng Dehuai saw this, he severely criticized the guards. "It's a time of war, and we're going to share the weal and woe with the soldiers," he said. If you buy an apple for me to eat, can you buy one for every warrior? "
This style of life of sharing weal and woe with ordinary soldiers has won the respect of the soldiers. Under the leadership of Peng Dehuai, the entire unit has formed a hard and simple work style.
Once, Peng Dehuai inspected a company. When it was time to eat, he insisted on lining up with the fighters to eat. The meal was simple, just some pickles and tortillas.
Peng Dehuai ate with relish and chatted with the soldiers around him. The soldiers were very moved to see their commander eating the same meal as them. This kind of scene can often be seen in Peng Dehuai's troops.
Peng Dehuai's frugal spirit sometimes even makes people laugh and cry. Once, he ate only half of the cucumber at the meal, leaving the other half on the table.
When the guards saw it, they thought that Peng Dehuai couldn't eat it, so they threw away the remaining half of the cucumber. Who knew that after Peng Dehuai found out, he immediately held a meeting to criticize.
He sternly stated: "We are the people's army, and every penny is given by the people." Waste is crime! After speaking, he also did a deep self-examination, thinking that it was his failure to finish eating the cucumber in time that led to waste.
After this incident spread in the army, everyone was deeply shocked by Peng Dehuai's frugal spirit. Since then, there has been no waste in the troops.
Peng Dehuai's thrift is not only reflected in the degree of food and clothing, but also in the way he works. He never engaged in formalism, and every time he inspected, he was light and simple.
On one occasion, he went to inspect a mountain unit. The local roads are steep and cars can't get in. Peng Dehuai didn't say a word, and walked forward with his entourage.
Along the way, he, like an ordinary soldier, carried a marching bag on his back and a stick in his hand, and crossed mountains and mountains. The local people were stunned when they saw this scene. They never imagined that a dignified commander would inspect in this way.
Peng Dehuai's style of work has deeply affected the entire army. Under his leadership, the Eighth Route Army formed a special military culture: officers and soldiers are equal, hard and simple.
This culture not only improved the combat effectiveness of the army, but also won the support of the masses. The common people saw that the generals of the Eighth Route Army were as hard-working as ordinary soldiers, and they all sent food and supplies to them.
Peng Dehuai's spirit of frugality was not uncommon in the revolutionary ranks at that time. But what sets him apart is that he takes that spirit to the extreme.
Whether on the battlefield or in the rear, whether facing the enemy or facing comrades, Peng Dehuai has always maintained this style of hard work and simplicity. This style has become his personal label and the spiritual symbol of the Eighth Route Army.
Maintain your true colors and be worthy of the people
Peng Dehuai's arduous and simple style was not a flash in the pan, but ran through his entire revolutionary career. Even after the founding of the People's Republic of China, Peng Dehuai, who was in a high position, still maintained this style, and was even stricter than before.
In 1954, Peng Dehuai became Minister of National Defense. According to the regulations, he can enjoy very high treatment, but he took the initiative to lower the standard. He lives in an ordinary courtyard house with the simplest furniture.
Once, a foreign journalist came to interview Peng Dehuai. The reporter saw that the house where Peng Dehuai lived was so ordinary, and thought that he had gone to the wrong place. When he confirmed that this was really the residence of the Minister of Defense, he was speechless with astonishment.
Peng Dehuai not only lives a simple life, but also asks his family to do the same. His nephew came to Beijing to see him, and Peng Dehuai gave him only five yuan in pocket money. The nephew is too little, but Peng Dehuai said: "You came to see me, and you didn't come to enjoy the blessings." Five dollars is enough for you to eat in the car. "
In his work, Peng Dehuai also maintains a hard and simple style. He often goes deep into the grassroots to investigate and understand the real situation. On one occasion, he went to inspect troops in a remote mountainous area.
In order to welcome Peng Dehuai, local officials specially built a new road. Who knew that after Peng Dehuai came, he had to take the old road. He said: "I will not take the new road you have built, but I will see how the soldiers usually walk." "
In this way, Peng Dehuai and his entourage walked on the rugged mountain road all day. At night, they lived in the most ordinary barracks and ate a big pot of rice with the fighters.
Peng Dehuai's style of work has profoundly affected the entire national defense system. Under his leadership, the troops have maintained the fine tradition of arduous struggle and won the praise of the people.
However, not everyone can understand Peng Dehuai's style. Some people think that he is engaging in "fake Qinggao". At the Lushan Conference in 1959, Peng Dehuai was criticized for criticizing the "Great Leap Forward".
Some people talked about Peng Dehuai's life style, saying that he was "pretending". In the face of such accusations, Peng Dehuai did not defend himself. He said: "This is how I have come through my life, and I can't change it." "
Even when he was treated unfairly, Peng Dehuai still maintained a hard and simple style. After he was demoted to Sichuan as vice governor, he still lived a simple life.
Once, Peng Dehuai's guards saw that his clothes were torn and wanted to buy him a new one. When Peng Dehuai found out, he severely criticized the guards. He said: "Now that people's lives are still so difficult, how can I wear new clothes? "
In this way, Peng Dehuai has been wearing patches and patches of clothes. "I wear patches to remind myself to never forget the suffering of the people," he said. "
After the Cultural Revolution began, Peng Dehuai was criticized even more harshly. He was imprisoned in Qincheng Prison and lived in extremely poor conditions. But even in this case, Peng Dehuai still maintains a hard and simple style.
In prison, Peng Dehuai's daily diet was only a few steamed buns and some pickles. But he never complained, but often shared his food with fellow prisoners.
Once, the prison guard saw that Peng Dehuai's physical condition was not good and wanted to add some food to him. Peng Dehuai resolutely refused. "I, like everyone else, don't need special care," he said. "
Until the last moment of his life, Peng Dehuai maintained this hard and simple style. In 1974, Peng Dehuai died in the hospital. The relics he left behind were extremely simple: an old military uniform, an old pair of leather shoes, and a few books.
Peng Dehuai's life can be summed up in the words "hard work and simplicity". From war years to peacetime, from being a soldier to being an officer, he always maintained this style. This was not only his personal choice, but also his persistence in the revolutionary cause.
Peng Dehuai once said: "We have come through hardship, and we must never forget the tradition of hard struggle." He not only said this, but also did it. He used his life to explain what a real Communist Party member is.