On a cold night in November 1974, 76-year-old Peng Dehuai lay on a bed in Beijing's 301 Hospital, dying. His eyes were full of reluctance and regret, and he seemed to have some unfulfilled wishes. In the last moments of his life, Peng Dehuai whispered a few words to his family, which later became his last wish.
A few days later, when the bad news reached the ears of the 88-year-old Zhu De, the strong old man instantly collapsed. He burst into tears and asked in a trembling voice, "Why didn't you tell me?" Why don't you let me go and see Mr. Peng? Zhu De did not eat for a whole day and was devastated.
What kind of last wish made Zhu De so sad? Why didn't Peng Dehuai's family notify Zhu De in time? What kind of deep revolutionary friendship does Peng Dehuai and Zhu De have? Let's step into history and uncover this little-known past.
In Jinggangshan in 1928, red flags fluttered and gunshots rang out. In this revolutionary land, two military strategists who would later shock China and foreign countries met for the first time. When the Red Fifth Army led by Peng Dehuai arrived at Jinggangshan, the Red Fourth Army led by Zhu De and Mao Zedong also followed. This meeting was not only a gathering of military forces, but also the beginning of revolutionary friendship.
When they met for the first time, Zhu De was deeply impressed by the young and promising Peng Dehuai. Although Peng Dehuai was 12 years younger than Zhu De, he had already demonstrated outstanding military talent and firm revolutionary convictions. Zhu De admired Peng Dehuai's bravery and decisiveness, while Peng Dehuai admired Zhu De's calm and sophisticated. Although the two have very different personalities, they have found a common rhythm on the road of revolution.
In the years that followed, the revolutionary friendship between Zhu De and Peng Dehuai continued to sublimate in the flames of war. In 1934, when the Long March began, Zhu De and Peng Dehuai led the Red Army to break through the blockade and embark on this arduous journey. During the Long March, the two fought side by side, facing the enemy's encirclement and interception and the harsh test of the natural environment.
Once, after crossing the Jinsha River, the Red Army encountered a fierce attack by enemy troops. Zhu De and Peng Dehuai were in danger and quickly organized troops to counterattack. Peng Dehuai personally led an assault team to capture a commanding height, braving the rain of bullets and bullets, and bought precious time for the safe passage of the large army. Zhu De commanded in the rear, paid close attention to the battle situation on the front line, and deployed troops to support Peng Dehuai in a timely manner. The victory in this battle not only ensured the smooth progress of the Long March, but also strengthened the trust between the two generals.
After the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, Zhu De and Peng Dehuai joined hands again and jointly commanded the Eighth Route Army to carry out anti-Japanese guerrilla warfare. In September 1937, the two led the main force of the Eighth Route Army to advance to the northwest of Shanxi Province and opened up an anti-Japanese base behind enemy lines. During this period, Zhu De and Peng Dehuai's cooperation became more tacit. Zhu De is responsible for the overall command and formulating strategic guidelines; Peng Dehuai was responsible for the specific tactical arrangements and personally led the troops to fight.
In 1940, the Battle of the Hundred Regiments took place behind enemy lines in North China. This unprecedented scale of the war against Japan was jointly planned by Zhu De and Peng Dehuai. Zhu De put forward the overall strategic concept, and Peng Dehuai was in charge of the specific campaign command. Under the careful organization of the two men, all units of the Eighth Route Army worked closely together to carry out large-scale sabotage raids on the Japanese army's communication lines, strongholds, and coal mines, and achieved major victories, which greatly boosted the morale of the whole country in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.
During the War of Liberation, Zhu De and Peng Dehuai joined hands again and contributed their strength to the liberation of the whole of China. In 1948, in the famous Liaoshen Campaign, Zhu De served as the commander-in-chief of the Northeast Field Army, and Peng Dehuai, as the vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, participated in the overall planning of the campaign. The two worked together to command the troops to annihilate the elite Kuomintang troops in one fell swoop, laying the foundation for the subsequent Pingjin Campaign and Huaihai Campaign.
From Jinggangshan to Yan'an, from the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression to the War of Liberation, the revolutionary friendship between Zhu De and Peng Dehuai continued to sublimate in the flames of war. They experienced the most difficult years of the Chinese revolution together and witnessed the birth of New China together. This experience of fighting side by side not only forged a deep revolutionary friendship between the two, but also made an indelible contribution to the victory of the Chinese revolution.
Zhu De and Peng Dehuai, two giants of the Chinese revolution, although they cooperated tacitly on the battlefield, their personalities were completely different. Instead of being an obstacle to their cooperation, this difference allows them to complement each other at work and take care of each other in life.
Peng Dehuai is known for his straightforwardness. He speaks crisply and neatly, never beating around the bush. During the war years, this personality trait allowed him to make quick decisions and effectively command troops. However, this bluntness can sometimes get him into trouble as well. At the Lushan Conference in 1959, Peng Dehuai was criticized for his outspoken criticism of the Great Leap Forward policy.
In contrast, Jude's personality is much more gentle. He is calm, always slow and methodical, and is good at listening and thinking. This personality allows him to navigate complex political environments and makes him an excellent mediator.
At work, the differences in Zhu De's and Peng Dehuai's personalities often play a complementary role. Once, at an important military meeting, Peng Dehuai stood up and criticized loudly because he was dissatisfied with the opinion of a certain general. Seeing that the atmosphere in the room was tense, Zhu De intervened at the right time, eased the tension with his gentle tone, and skillfully led the discussion back to the topic.
Another example occurred in 1940. At that time, the Eighth Route Army was planning the Battle of the Hundred Regiments. Peng Dehuai proposed a bold battle plan, but was questioned by some generals. In the face of opposition, Peng Dehuai was a little impatient. At this time, Zhu De stood up. He did not directly express his support or opposition, but patiently listened to the opinions of all parties, and then re-elaborated Peng Dehuai's plan in his own way, so that the original opponents gradually accepted the plan.
Zhu De's moderation and Peng Dehuai's straightforwardness were also vividly demonstrated in dealing with the problems of his subordinates. Once, a young officer made a mistake in battle, which led to some unnecessary losses for the troops. When Peng Dehuai learned about it, he immediately summoned the officer and reprimanded him. Although the officer recognized his mistake, he was also frightened by Peng Dehuai's stern attitude.
When Zhu De heard about this, he found the officer. He did not mention any further reproaches, but kindly asked about the details of the battle, and then patiently analyzed the reasons for the mistakes and gave suggestions for improvement. Zhu De's practice not only helped the officer better recognize and correct his mistakes, but also won his respect and gratitude.
In life, Zhu De and Peng Dehuai often take care of each other. Peng Dehuai knew that Zhu De was old and always cared about his health. Whenever he was on the march, Peng Dehuai would arrange the best rest conditions for Zhu De. On one occasion, the troops marched in the mountains, and the conditions were very difficult. Peng Dehuai found a relatively dry cave, cleaned it himself, spread hay, and let Zhu De rest here.
Zhu De also cares about Peng Dehuai. He knew that Peng Dehuai had stomach problems and often forgot to eat on time. Therefore, Zhu De would always remind the guards to prepare some easily digestible food, and personally urged Peng Dehuai to eat on time. Sometimes, when Peng Dehuai worked late at night, Zhu De would personally bring hot tea and persuade him to rest early.
This camaraderie of taking care of each other is not limited to work and life. In the years of political change, Zhu De and Peng Dehuai also supported each other. After the Lushan Conference in 1959, Peng Dehuai was criticized, and although Zhu De could not defend him publicly, he still expressed his concern for his old comrades-in-arms in private. He learned about Peng Dehuai's situation through various channels and helped him to the extent possible.
The complementary personalities of Zhu De and Peng Dehuai are not only reflected in their working methods, but also in their attitudes towards the revolutionary cause. Peng Dehuai's straightforwardness and decisiveness allow him to make the right decisions at critical moments; Zhu De's moderation and calmness were able to stabilize the morale of the military in a complicated situation. This complementarity not only made them tacit comrades-in-arms, but also contributed an indispensable force to the victory of the Chinese revolution.
Although the revolutionary friendship between Zhu De and Peng Dehuai is deep, fate has made them gather less and leave more. From the first meeting in Jinggangshan in 1928 to Peng Dehuai's death in 1974, in the past 46 years, although the two have fought side by side, they are more often separated from each other, and even in the last stage of their lives, they have experienced 15 years of separation.
In 1935, during the Long March, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China decided to divide the troops. Zhu De and Peng Dehuai were assigned to different units. Zhu De went north with the Central Red Army, while Peng Dehuai led the Northwest Field Army to the west. The separation lasted almost two years. During this period, the two men faced severe trials in their respective fields. The troops led by Zhu De crossed the vast grassland and experienced unimaginable hardships; Peng Dehuai led his troops to carry out guerrilla warfare in northern Shaanxi and established a deep relationship with the local masses.
In 1937, the two reunited in Yan'an. At that time, Peng Dehuai had just completed the famous "Gansu Campaign" and made a major contribution to the consolidation of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningbo border region. When Zhu De heard that Peng Dehuai was back, he immediately went to greet him. When the two old comrades-in-arms saw each other, their excitement was beyond words. They held each other's hands tightly and asked each other about their experiences over the past two years. At that moment, it was as if I had gone back in time and returned to the years when I fought side by side in Jinggangshan.
However, the joy of reunion was short-lived. Soon after, the all-out war of resistance broke out, and Zhu De and Peng Dehuai parted ways again. Zhu De stayed in Yan'an and served as the commander-in-chief of the Eighth Route Army, coordinating the overall situation; Peng Dehuai went to the front line and served as the deputy commander-in-chief of the Eighth Route Army and the commander of the 115th Division, directly commanding the operation. This separation lasted for the entire period of the Anti-Japanese War.
In the past eight years, although Zhu De and Peng Dehuai have been thousands of miles apart, they have always maintained close contact. Through telegrams, letters, etc., they exchanged military information and discussed strategies. Sometimes, Peng Dehuai would report the actual situation on the front line to Zhu De, and Zhu De would give guidance according to the overall situation. This long-range cooperation made an important contribution to the victory of the Eighth Route Army behind enemy lines in North China.
After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War in 1945, Zhu De and Peng Dehuai finally had the opportunity to meet again in Yan'an. When the two met, they were both happy and emotional. They looked back on the difficult years of the past eight years and talked about their prospects for the future. However, fate always seems unwilling to let them stay together for long. Just two years later, the War of Liberation broke out, and the two were sent to different battlefields.
Zhu De served as the commander-in-chief of the Chinese People's Liberation Army and sat in charge of the overall situation; Peng Dehuai led the Northwest Field Army and moved to the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningbo region. During this period, although the two were in different battlefields, their cooperation was more tacit. In 1948, in the famous Northwest Campaign, Zhu De formulated a strategic policy from the perspective of the overall situation, and Peng Dehuai flexibly commanded according to the actual situation. This cooperation ultimately contributed to a complete victory in the Northwest Battlefield.
In 1949, the People's Republic of China was founded. Zhu De and Peng Dehuai finally have the opportunity to work together for a long time. Political life in peacetime, however, is much more complicated than in the war years. In 1959, at the Lushan Conference, Peng Dehuai was criticized for criticizing the policies of the Great Leap Forward. Although Zhu De was unbearable, he was powerless to help in the political environment at that time. Since then, the two old comrades-in-arms have been forced to separate.
This separation lasted until Peng Dehuai's death. During these 15 years, Peng Dehuai was first sent to Jiangxi, and then detained for interrogation. Although Zhu De has always been thinking about his old comrades-in-arms, he has never been able to meet due to various reasons. It wasn't until November 1974, when Peng Dehuai was seriously ill and hospitalized, that Zhu De learned the news. However, by the time he arrived at the hospital, Peng Dehuai had already died.
Facing the remains of his old comrades-in-arms, Zhu De was grief-stricken. He couldn't help but recall the 46 years when the two knew each other, those years when they fought side by side, those nights when they talked at a long time, and those moments when they supported each other. Fate brought them together less and separated more, but it could not sever the deep revolutionary friendship between them.
The story of Zhu De and Peng Dehuai bears witness to the arduous course of the Chinese revolution. Their friendship spanned half a century and went through countless ups and downs. Although the fate is full of misfortunes, there are few gatherings and many separations, but the revolutionary friendship between them has always been as solid as a rock and has lasted for a long time.
Zhu De and Peng Dehuai, as two military giants in the history of the Chinese revolution, each possessed outstanding military talents. They not only cooperate with each other in practice, but also appreciate and learn from each other on a theoretical and strategic level. This attitude of mutual appreciation and learning made a great contribution to the victory of the Chinese revolution.
Zhu De is known for his profound military theoretical foundation and rich experience in actual combat. He studied at the Yunnan Army Lecture Hall, and later went to Germany to study and systematically studied modern military theory. These experiences laid a solid foundation for his later military career. In the course of the protracted revolutionary struggle, Zhu De gradually formed his own unique military thinking, especially in guerrilla warfare.
Peng Dehuai, on the other hand, was a military genius who grew up in practice. Although he did not receive a formal military education, he continued to learn and grow during the war with his extraordinary wisdom and courage. Peng Dehuai is particularly good at sports warfare and positional warfare, and has performed well in commanding large-scale operations.
In 1928, Zhu De and Peng Dehuai met for the first time in Jinggangshan. At that time, Zhu De had just led the Nanchang uprising troops to Jinggangshan, and Peng Dehuai had already established a base there. The two hit it off at first sight and soon developed a deep friendship. Zhu De was full of praise for Peng Dehuai's military deployment in Jinggangshan, and especially admired his tactics of flexibly using the advantages of the terrain. Peng Dehuai expressed his admiration for Zhu De's rich knowledge of military theory and often consulted him.
In the ensuing battle, the military talents of the two were fully displayed and complementary. In 1934, in the Fifth Anti-"Encirclement and Suppression" War, Zhu De and Peng Dehuai jointly commanded the famous "Four Guarantees Linjiang" Campaign. In this campaign, Zhu De was responsible for the overall strategic deployment, while Peng Dehuai was responsible for the specific tactical execution. Zhu De's macro control and Peng Dehuai's battlefield maneuver complemented each other, and finally achieved a major victory.
During the Long March, although the two men were divided into different units, their military talents still influenced each other. The Central Red Army led by Zhu De created many miracles during the Long March, such as crossing the Jinsha River and forcibly crossing the Dadu River. These feats also inspired Peng Dehuai, who was far away in northern Shaanxi. In later battles, he often used similar tactics and won many victories.
After the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, Zhu De and Peng Dehuai once again showed their military talents. As the commander-in-chief of the Eighth Route Army, Zhu De formulated the famous "protracted war" strategy, which pointed out the direction for the national war of resistance. Peng Dehuai commanded at the front line and creatively carried out "guerrilla warfare behind enemy lines," inflicting huge losses on the Japanese army. The military talents of the two men were fully exploited in this war for the survival of the nation.
In 1940, Peng Dehuai commanded the famous "Battle of the Hundred Regiments". This large-scale military operation not only dealt a blow to the arrogance of the Japanese army, but also greatly encouraged the confidence of the people of the whole country in the War of Resistance. After Zhu De learned the news in Yan'an, he immediately sent a congratulatory telegram, highly praising Peng Dehuai's military talent. He wrote in the telegram: "The victory in the Battle of the Hundred Regiments is an important symbol of the development and growth of our army, and Comrade Peng Dehuai has made great contributions. "
During the War of Liberation, Zhu De and Peng Dehuai once again showed their military talents. In 1947, in the famous "Northern Shaanxi Counteroffensive", Zhu De formulated the overall strategy, and Peng Dehuai was responsible for the specific command. The military talents of the two men were once again perfectly combined, and the battle was finally won.
In 1948, in the Liaoshen Campaign, Zhu De and Peng Dehuai worked together again. Proceeding from the perspective of the overall situation, Zhu De put forward the strategic principle of "concentrating superior forces and annihilating the enemy individually." According to this policy, Peng Dehuai flexibly commanded the troops and successfully surrounded and annihilated the Kuomintang army. This victory marked the beginning of a new stage of complete victory in the War of Liberation.
Zhu De and Peng Dehuai's military talents are not only reflected on the battlefield, but also in their contributions to military theory. In his later years, Zhu De wrote a large number of military theoretical works, systematically summarizing the experience of China's revolutionary war. Peng Dehuai, on the other hand, continued to innovate in practice and made important contributions to the military strategy with Chinese characteristics.
The two have always maintained a high level of appreciation and respect for each other's military talents. Zhu De has repeatedly praised Peng Dehuai in public as "the master tactician of our army." Peng Dehuai often said: "Without the strategic guidance of Commander-in-Chief Zhu, we would not have been able to achieve so many victories." This attitude of mutual appreciation and learning not only promoted the improvement of their personal military talents, but also made great contributions to the victory of the Chinese revolutionary cause.
As important figures in the history of the Chinese revolution, Zhu Dehuai and Peng Dehuai have been widely recognized and highly praised for their exploits and contributions. Their outstanding performance in China's revolution and construction has earned them a lofty historical position.
As one of the main founders of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, Zhu De's military skills and leadership ability have been widely recognized. In 1955, Zhu De was awarded the title of "Marshal of the People's Republic of China", the highest tribute to his military achievements in his life. In the history of the Communist Party of China, Zhu De was praised as "a great proletarian revolutionary, military strategist, and statesman." His name, along with Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai, was included in the first generation of the leadership of the Communist Party of China.
Zhu De's military thinking played a key role in the victory of the Chinese Revolutionary War. The 16-character formula he put forward, "the enemy advances and we retreat, the enemy is stationed and disturbs us, the enemy is tired and we fight, and the enemy retreats and we pursue" became a classic tactic of guerrilla warfare during the Chinese Revolutionary War. This tactic not only played an important role in the War of Resistance Against Japan, but was also widely used in the later War of Liberation.
In 1976, Zhu De passed away. The solemn commemorative activities held throughout the country fully reflected the people's admiration for this great revolutionary. China Central Television (CCTV) aired a hours-long special program looking back on Zhu De's life. Newspapers across the country devoted full pages to Zhu De's life and deeds. In Zhu De's hometown of Yilong County, Sichuan, the local government also set up a memorial hall for Zhu De to permanently commemorate this great revolutionary.
Peng Dehuai also left a strong mark in the history of the Chinese revolution. As an outstanding military commander, Peng Dehuai has performed well in many major battles. Especially during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Battle of 100 Regiments under his command dealt a heavy blow to the Japanese army and greatly encouraged the confidence of the people of the whole country in the War of Resistance against Japan. This battle is considered to be the largest and longest battle in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and occupies an important place in China's military history.
In 1955, Peng Dehuai was also awarded the title of "Marshal of the People's Republic of China". This was not only an affirmation of his military talents, but also a recognition of his great contribution to the Chinese revolution. In the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Peng Dehuai also served as Minister of National Defense and made important contributions to the national defense construction of the People's Republic of China.
However, Peng Dehuai's historical evaluation has experienced a period of twists and turns. After the Lushan Conference in 1959, Peng Dehuai was criticized for criticizing the "Great Leap Forward" policy. During the Cultural Revolution that followed, he was severely persecuted. This experience once affected people's evaluation of Peng Dehuai.
In 1978, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China rehabilitated Peng Dehuai. Deng Xiaoping personally presided over the Central Work Conference and fully affirmed Peng Dehuai's revolutionary achievements. The meeting pointed out that Peng Dehuai is one of the outstanding leaders of the party and the state, a time-tested and loyal communist fighter, and one of the founders and outstanding leaders of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. This rehabilitation has given Peng Dehuai's historical status a due affirmation.
After 1978, a number of Peng Dehuai Memorial Halls were established across the country. Among them, the Peng Dehuai Memorial Hall in Xiangtan City, Hunan Province is the largest, which comprehensively displays Peng Dehuai's life deeds and historical achievements. Every year, a large number of people come to visit to pay tribute to this great revolutionary.
In the field of military theory research, the contributions of Zhu De and Peng Dehuai have also been widely recognized. The military thinking of the two men has been compiled into the military teaching materials of the Chinese People's Liberation Army and has become an important content for the new generation of military personnel. In particular, Zhu De's theory of guerrilla warfare and Peng Dehuai's idea of movement warfare are still regarded as having important practical guiding significance.
Internationally, Zhu De and Peng Dehuai's military talents have also been widely praised. The famous United States journalist Edgar · Snow spoke highly of both Zhu De and Peng Dehuai in his book "A Journey to the West". He called Zhu De "one of China's greatest generals" and Peng Dehuai "one of the most talented military leaders of the Chinese Communist Party."
In 2004, to commemorate the 118th anniversary of Zhu De's birth, China Post issued a commemorative stamp entitled "The 118th Anniversary of the Birth of Comrade Zhu De". In 2006, to commemorate the 108th anniversary of Peng Dehuai's birth, China Post also issued a commemorative stamp of "The 108th Anniversary of the Birth of Comrade Peng Dehuai". The issuance of these stamps reflects the country's high respect for the two great men.
In Chinese textbooks, both Zhu De and Peng Dehuai are listed as important historical figures. Their deeds have been incorporated into middle school history textbooks and have become an important part of educating young people about patriotism. In the college entrance examination every year, questions about Zhu De and Peng Dehuai also appear from time to time, reflecting their important position in modern Chinese history.