In the long history of the Communist Party of China, there is such an embarrassing figure - Liu Qingshan. He was once an outstanding revolutionary fighter and made great contributions to the establishment of New China. However, in the era of peace, he became the first giant greed in New China. Liu Qingshan has a peculiar eating habit: he likes to eat leek dumplings the most, but requires that there are no leeks in the dumplings. This seemingly contradictory habit seems to hint at his complex inner world. From a heroic revolutionary in the war years to a corrupt element in peacetime, what kind of changes has Liu Qingshan's life trajectories undergone? Why did he embezzle such a huge amount of money in just two years? What will be the end of him? And what kind of deep meaning does that peculiar eating habit symbolize?
In 1934, Liu Qingshan, who was only 15 years old, joined the Communist Party of China under the introduction of Xu Yunpu, an old long-term worker and underground member of the Communist Party of China, and became a member of the 27th Army of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army. This young man from Dacheng County, Hebei Province, with his enthusiasm for the revolution, embarked on an arduous but glorious road.
In the second year of joining the party, Liu Qingshan participated in the Gaoli peasant uprising led by Song Luoshu. However, after the failure of the uprising, the enemy launched a large-scale massacre. Nineteen Red Army soldiers were arrested and executed one by one with guillotines in the playground. When it was Liu Qingshan's turn, because he was young and looked like a primary school student, the enemy thought that he had caught the wrong person and let him go. This experience of escaping death made the young Liu Qingshan deeply realize the cruelty of the revolution and also strengthened his determination to fight for the revolutionary cause all his life.
In 1937, the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression broke out. In order to cultivate a new type of military talent, our party selected a group of outstanding young people to study at the Anti-Japanese Military and Political University (Kang Da for short). With his excellent performance, Liu Qingshan has become one of the key training objects of the organization. After graduating from Kang Da, 23-year-old Liu Qingshan was appointed head of the organization department of the Dacheng County Party Committee and began his important work in the revolutionary ranks.
At that time, Hebei Province had been heavily infiltrated by the Japanese army, and Liu Qingshan had to secretly organize underground activities under the noses of the enemy. In order to propagate our party's anti-Japanese war policy and mobilize more people to participate in the anti-Japanese war, he often risked his life to lead several comrades to go deep into the masses to carry out propaganda work. With Liu Qingshan's efforts, he soon united a large number of people to participate in the Anti-Japanese War, some were responsible for transmitting information, some were responsible for logistics work, and some went directly to the front line to fight.
In 1941, an unexpected event ushered in a turning point in Liu Qingshan's revolutionary career. At the critical juncture of the Japanese invasion, the secretary of the county party committee of Dacheng County actually escaped from the battle and defected to Tianjin to join the enemy. This move sent the people of the county into a panic, and many were shot and killed by Japanese soldiers as they fled. At this critical moment, Liu Qingshan, who was only 25 years old, was appointed as the secretary of the Dacheng County Party Committee.
After taking office, Liu Qingshan acted quickly to stabilize the situation. He first calmed the mood of the masses and rebuilt the hearts of the people; Second, he formed the anti-Japanese brigade of the county party committee, which was one of the earlier anti-Japanese brigades formed by our party in Hebei Province. Under the leadership of Liu Qingshan, the anti-Japanese forces in Dacheng County continued to grow, and the encirclement and suppression of the Japanese army were smashed many times.
Seeing that the Japanese army could not resist the development of the anti-Japanese ranks, they turned their target to Liu Qingshan himself. They publicly offered a reward of 1,500 yuan to take Liu Qingshan's life. In the face of the threat to his life, Liu Qingshan did not flinch, but led everyone to resist Japan more firmly. Under his leadership, he not only dealt a blow to the arrogance of the Japanese army, but also successfully established the Wen'anwa anti-Japanese base area, making important contributions to the anti-Japanese struggle in North China.
During the War of Liberation, Liu Qingshan successively served as the political commissar of the military region and other important positions. In the Pingjin Campaign, he brilliantly completed the logistical support work of hundreds of thousands of soldiers, and was highly commended by Lin Biao, Luo Ronghuan, and Nie Rongzhen, members of the General Front Committee of the Pingjin Campaign.
Liu Qingshan's revolutionary career spanned 15 years from joining the party at the age of 15 to the eve of the founding of New China. In the past 15 years, he has grown from an ignorant teenager to a strong revolutionary fighter, experienced the test of life and death, and made important contributions to the cause of the party and the people. It was precisely because of Liu Qingshan's outstanding performance as a veteran party member during the war years that after the founding of New China, the organization appointed him secretary of the Tianjin Prefectural Party Committee, hoping that he could continue to contribute to the development of the country during the period of peaceful construction.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Liu Qingshan was appointed secretary of the Tianjin Prefectural Party Committee by virtue of his outstanding performance in the revolutionary war years. This important position transformed him from a revolutionary on the battlefield to a peacetime builder. However, this transformation process was not all smooth sailing, but became an important turning point in Liu Qingshan's life trajectory.
In October 1949, Liu Qingshan came to Tianjin to take up his new post. As an important industrial and commercial city in the north, Tianjin's restoration and development were of great importance to the economic construction of New China. Liu Qingshan shoulders a great responsibility, and he needs to restore and develop Tianjin's industry and commerce in a short period of time, stabilize social order, and improve people's lives.
In the early days of his work, Liu Qingshan showed the same drive and enthusiasm as during the revolutionary period. He actively promoted Tianjin's economic recovery, organized workers to resume work and production, and coordinated relations between various sectors, so that Tianjin's industry and commerce could gradually recover their vitality. He also pays attention to people's livelihood issues and strives to improve the living conditions of citizens. These works have achieved certain results and have been well received by the higher authorities and the masses.
However, the working environment in peacetime is very different from the war years. During the war years, revolutionaries faced life and death tests, while in peacetime, they faced all kinds of temptations and challenges. Liu Qingshan was no exception, and he gradually began to be exposed to material comforts and power that he had never experienced before.
In the process, Liu Qingshan got to know a person who had a profound influence on him - Zhang Zishan. Zhang Zishan is the director of the Financial and Economic Committee of the Tianjin Municipal People's Government, and like Liu Qingshan, he is also a veteran cadre who has come over from the revolutionary war years. The two gradually became acquainted with each other due to their working relationship and developed into close "partners".
Zhang Zishan is proficient in financial business and has extensive experience in managing and operating funds. He introduced Liu Qingshan to many ways to "do things" in peacetime, including some means that wandered on the edge of the law. At first, Liu Qingshan may have been apprehensive, but under the influence of Zhang Zishan, he gradually began to try these methods.
At the same time, Liu Qingshan also began to come into contact with many business people. Some of these people were capitalists from the old society, and some were emerging entrepreneurs. They know how to curry favor with officials, and often give gifts and entertain guests in various names. At first, Liu Qingshan may still be able to remain vigilant, but over time, he began to get used to and enjoy this treatment.
Chairman Mao Zedong once warned party members and cadres to be vigilant against "sugar-coated shells" attacks. However, Liu Qingshan was gradually eroded by these "sugar-coated shells". He began to enjoy a life of luxury, accepting expensive gifts and attending lavish banquets. More seriously, he began to use his position of power for personal gain.
In the process, Liu Qingshan's values have undergone fundamental changes. He is no longer the Liu Qingshan who struggled for the revolutionary cause, but has become a corrupt official who is greedy for enjoyment and uses his power for personal gain. This transformation did not happen overnight, but was done gradually under various temptations and circumstances.
It is worth noting that Liu Qingshan's transformation is not unique. In the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, many revolutionary cadres faced similar tests. Some have withstood the test and maintained the true colors of the revolutionary period; And some, such as Liu Qingshan, failed to resist the temptation and embarked on the road of corruption.
Liu Qingshan's case became an important case in the anti-corruption struggle in the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China. It warns people that after the victory of the revolution, the tests facing the party have not ended, but have entered a new stage. How to maintain the revolutionary spirit in peacetime and how to resist the attack of "sugar-coated shells" has become an important topic that every party member and cadre needs to face.
Liu Qingshan's process of becoming a corrupt element from an outstanding revolutionary reflects the complex situation and severe challenges faced by the founding of the People's Republic of China in the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China. It is not only a personal tragedy, but a microcosm of an entire era. This case also provided important lessons for the subsequent anti-corruption struggle, and promoted the progress of party building and national governance.
In December 1951, an anti-corruption storm swept across Tianjin. At the center of this storm are the former revolutionary hero Liu Qingshan and his partner Zhang Zishan. In two years, the "golden partner" embezzled a huge amount of public funds of up to 1.8 billion yuan (old currency), which was equivalent to half a year's financial revenue of Tianjin at that time. This figure not only shocked the whole of China, but also wrote a strong stroke for the anti-corruption history of New China.
The cause of the incident dates back to the beginning of 1950. At that time, Tianjin was vigorously promoting economic recovery and development. Liu Qingshan, secretary of the Tianjin Prefectural Party Committee, and Zhang Zishan, director of the Tianjin Municipal Financial and Economic Commission, were given the power to manage a large amount of money. They were supposed to use the funds to boost Tianjin's economic development and improve people's lives. However, the temptation of power gradually led them to lose their way.
Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan began to take advantage of their positions to embezzle public funds under various names. They use a variety of methods, some of them directly embezzle public funds, some defraud funds through false reporting projects, and some use their power to facilitate businessmen and collect benefits from them.
For example, in a bulk material purchase, Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan deliberately overestimated the purchase price to obtain huge kickbacks. They also use their authority to approve loans for some unqualified enterprises, and then extract "benefit fees" from them. What's more, they even withdraw cash directly from the state treasury for personal splurge.
As corruption escalated, Liu Qingshan's and Zhang's lifestyles also changed dramatically. They began to visit fine dining restaurants, buy expensive goods, and even build luxury homes for themselves in the city center. This extravagant way of life was in stark contrast to the hard and simple life of the majority of the people at that time.
However, paper can't hold the fire. The actions of Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan soon aroused dissatisfaction and suspicion among the masses. Some grassroots cadres and the masses began to report the situation to their superiors. At the end of 1951, the central government sent an investigation team to Tianjin to conduct a comprehensive investigation of Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan.
In the course of the investigation, the investigation team found a large amount of evidence. From account records to witness testimony, from physical evidence to crime scenes, all the evidence points to a shocking fact: Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan embezzled such a huge amount of public funds in just two years.
In February 1952, after mastering conclusive evidence, the investigation team took decisive action and arrested Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan. When the news came out, the whole Tianjin was shaken. Many people can't believe that Liu Qingshan, who once killed the enemy bravely on the battlefield, would fall to such a point.
The case was quickly referred to the judicial authorities. During the interrogation, in the face of ironclad evidence, Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan finally confessed their crimes. They confessed that in just two years, they jointly embezzled 1.8 billion yuan (old currency) of public funds. This is a staggering number even today.
In April 1952, the Tianjin Municipal People's Court held an open trial of the cases of Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan. The trial was full, and many people spontaneously came to observe. In court, the prosecutor stated in detail the facts of Liu Qingshan's and Zhang Zishan's crimes and presented a large amount of evidence. In the face of ironclad accusations, the two bowed their heads and pleaded guilty, expressing their willingness to accept the punishment of the law.
After the trial, the court quickly handed down its verdict. In view of the seriousness of the crimes committed by Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan, the huge amount of money, and the vile social impact, the court sentenced them to death and confiscated all their personal property in accordance with the law.
This verdict has caused great repercussions in society. On the one hand, people feel sorry and angry for the fall of Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan; On the other hand, this verdict also demonstrates the determination and intensity of New China's anti-corruption efforts, and deals a heavy blow to those corrupt elements who are lucky.
The trial and verdict of Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan marked the climax of the first large-scale anti-corruption campaign in New China. This case is not only a trial of two individuals, but also a profound education for the whole society. It warns people that even those who have made meritorious contributions will be severely punished by the law once they embark on the road of corruption.
The trials and executions of Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan caused a huge shock in Chinese society in 1952. This case is not only a punishment for two high-ranking officials, but also an important milestone in the anti-corruption struggle in the early days of the founding of New China. Its influence and significance are multifaceted, and have had a profound impact on the building of the Communist Party of China and the development process of New China.
First of all, this case demonstrates the determination and strength of New China's anti-corruption efforts. In the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, faced with a situation in which everything was in ruins, the party and the government needed to concentrate on developing the economy and improving the people's livelihood. However, the occurrence of Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan cases has made the leadership aware of the seriousness and urgency of the corruption problem. Chairman Mao Zedong personally intervened into the case and put forward the anti-corruption policy of "fighting tigers and flies together." The handling of this case has sent a clear signal to the whole party and the whole society: Whoever violates the law will be severely punished.
Second, this case has become a profound education for the whole party and the whole society. Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan are both veteran cadres with a glorious revolutionary history, and their degeneration has caused people to think deeply. The central authorities immediately launched a nationwide campaign against corruption, waste, and bureaucracy, known as the "Three Antis Movement." This campaign not only eliminated a number of corrupt elements, but more importantly, established an atmosphere of honesty and self-discipline in the whole party and society.
Third, this case has given impetus to the construction of an intra-party supervision system. Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan were able to embezzle such a huge amount of public funds in a short period of time, which exposed the lack of supervision mechanism within the party at that time. After the case occurred, the Party Central Committee began to attach importance to strengthening supervision over cadres. In 1955, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection was formally established, marking the institutionalization and standardization of the party's discipline inspection work.
In addition, this case has also had a far-reaching impact on the construction of the rule of law in New China. The Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan cases were the first major corruption cases to be tried openly after the founding of the People's Republic of China. The trial process of the case strictly followed legal procedures and fully embodied the spirit of the rule of law. This has set a benchmark for the subsequent handling of anti-corruption cases and promoted the process of building the rule of law in New China.
In terms of economic construction, this case has also had a positive impact. The embezzlement of Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan has seriously harmed national interests and disrupted economic order. The investigation and handling of the case has not only recovered a large amount of losses, but also created a good environment for the healthy development of the economy. Since then, the state has strengthened its supervision of economic activities to prevent the recurrence of similar cases.
However, the impact of Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan's cases is not only positive. The case also exposed the many challenges facing the nascent regime. For example, how to maintain the party's advanced nature and purity during the period of peacebuilding, how to establish an effective power supervision mechanism, and how to prevent the breeding of corruption while developing the economy have all become problems that need to be solved urgently.
It is worth noting that the handling of the cases of Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan has also caused some controversy. It has been argued that the death sentences imposed on Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan were too harsh and did not take into account their contributions during the revolutionary period. This controversy reflects the complexity of balancing the punishment of corruption with respect for historical merit when dealing with similar cases.
After the case, many people related to Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan were also implicated. Some cadres who had had work or personal dealings with them were investigated, some were punished, and some even lost their jobs. To a certain extent, this cascading effect has affected the stability of the cadre contingent and has also triggered people's thinking about how to correctly handle similar cases.
In the long run, the cases of Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan have had a profound impact on the self-building of the Communist Party of China. It has become an important warning case in the history of the party, and is often mentioned to warn party members and cadres. In the decades that followed, whenever the Party faced a new situation or challenge, this case would be revisited and reinterpreted, and became an important reference for the Party to carry out self-revolution and maintain its advanced nature.
The Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan cases were a landmark anti-corruption case in the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China. It has not only deterred corrupt elements and educated the whole party and society, but also promoted the progress of party building and state governance. Although the case itself is full of tragedy, it has made a special contribution to the development of New China.
More than 70 years have passed since the Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan cases occurred, but their position in China's anti-corruption history remains unshakable. With the passage of time, the understanding and evaluation of this case by future generations have also deepened and evolved.
In the era of the case, the disposition of Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan was widely supported. Public opinion at that time generally believed that this verdict demonstrated New China's determination to punish corruption and was of great significance for safeguarding the purity of the party and consolidating the nascent political power. However, as time went on, some different voices began to emerge.
In the 80s of the 20th century, with the deepening of reform and opening up, social thought gradually diversified, and some scholars and historical researchers began to put forward new views on the cases of Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan. Some people believe that although the actions of Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan do constitute serious crimes of embezzlement, is the death penalty too harsh? They pointed out that both Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan had a glorious revolutionary history and made great contributions in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the War of Liberation. If these factors are taken into account, can they be given a chance to turn over a new leaf?
This view has sparked a discussion about how to view historical merits and demerits. Proponents argue that a person should not be evaluated by looking at one thing at a time, but should also take into account his or her actions throughout his life. Opponents stress that everyone is equal before the law and that past credit cannot be used as a justification for escaping justice. The discussion, while not unanimous, has contributed to the understanding of the complexity of anti-corruption efforts.
In the 90s, with the development of the market economy, the phenomenon of corruption showed new characteristics and trends. In this context, the cases of Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan have once again become the focus of people's attention. Some commentators have pointed out that the amount of money embezzled in the cases of Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan is less staggering than in some contemporary corruption cases. This has led to reflection on how corruption should be defined and punished.
Some scholars have suggested that more scientific and reasonable anti-corruption sentencing standards should be established. They believe that it is not enough to determine the severity of punishment based on the amount of embezzlement, but also to consider various factors such as the motive of the crime and the social impact. To a certain extent, this view influenced the formulation of anti-corruption laws and regulations.
After 2000, with the continuous increase of China's anti-corruption efforts, the cases of Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan were once again raised. Some state media have used it as a negative teaching material to warn contemporary officials to be honest and self-disciplined. At the same time, there are also people who reflect on this case from the institutional level. They pointed out that the reason why Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan were able to embezzle such a huge amount of public funds in a short period of time exposed the lack of power supervision mechanism at that time. This kind of reflection has promoted the improvement of the supervision system within the party.
In recent years, with the gradual disclosure of historical archives, some new historical materials have been excavated, providing a new perspective for people to understand the cases of Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan. For example, some researchers found that Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan did show repentance after the incident. These new materials make people's understanding of the case more comprehensive and three-dimensional.
At the same time, some historians began to examine the cases of Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan in a larger historical context. They pointed out that the occurrence of this case was closely related to the socio-economic conditions and political environment at that time. In the early days of the founding of New China, due to the lack of a perfect market mechanism and legal system, some cadres were prone to fall into the trap of abusing power for personal gain. This analysis provides a broader perspective for understanding the case.
It is worth noting that over time, some details related to the case are gradually forgotten, while their symbolism is constantly strengthened. In contemporary China's anti-corruption discourse, "Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan" have become a symbol, representing the starting point of New China's anti-corruption struggle. Whenever the history of anti-corruption is discussed, this case is always mentioned.
However, there are also voices that remind people not to oversimplify their understanding of the cases of Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan. They believe that the occurrence of cases has its own specific historical background and social conditions, and cannot be judged simply by today's standards. This view emphasizes the complexity of historical research and calls for a more dialectical view of historical events.
In general, the evaluation of Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan cases in later generations shows a trend of diversification. From simple condemnation to in-depth reflection, from the legal perspective to the analysis at the institutional level, people's understanding of this case has been deepened. This case, which occurred more than 70 years ago, is still influencing China's anti-corruption practice and theoretical exploration.