In the summer of 1952, Zhongnanhai, Beijing. A burly general sat in his office, his brow furrowed. He was Peng Dehuai, the commander of the Volunteer Army who had just returned triumphantly from the Korean battlefield. At this moment, a letter of appointment was placed in front of him, which said that he should be appointed vice chairman of the Central Military Commission and chief of the general staff. This was an enviable high position, but Peng Dehuai hesitated again and again, and finally politely declined. He had something else in his heart, but he didn't know how to speak.
From a peasant boy to a founding marshal
[Born in poverty, determined to save the country]
Peng Dehuai was born in a poor farming family in Xiangtan, Hunan. As a teenager, he witnessed the tragic scene of his neighbors being forced to sell their sons and daughters during the disaster year, and he also experienced the bitterness of barely making ends meet by picking up soil and building embankments. This experience made him deeply feel the hardships of the toiling masses, and also planted the seeds of saving the people in his heart.
At the age of 20, Peng Dehuai resolutely joined the Hunan Army. He secretly vowed to use the gun in his hand for the benefit of the people. Since then, he has embarked on a long road of serving the country in the army.
With his outstanding military talents, Peng Dehuai quickly rose to prominence in the army. However, he did not forget his original intention because of this. Everywhere he went, he would learn more about the suffering of the local people and help them in any way he could.
[Outstanding achievements, won the hearts of the people]
After the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, Peng Dehuai led his troops to fight in the north and south of the river. The great victory at Pingxingguan commanded by him fired the first shot of the all-out war of resistance against Japanese aggression and greatly encouraged the confidence of the military and people throughout the country in the war of resistance.
During the Yan'an period, Peng Dehuai was in charge of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningbo border region and implemented the policy of rent reduction and interest reduction, which won the support of the people. In the War of Liberation, he commanded the Northwest Field Army, commanded many major battles such as the Lanzhou Campaign, and made great contributions to the liberation of the Northwest.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Peng Dehuai was awarded the rank of marshal and became one of the top ten marshals of the founding of the People's Republic of China. When the Korean War broke out, he was appointed as the commander and political commissar of the Volunteer Army.
Under his wise command, the Volunteers defeated the strong with the weak, defeated the "United Nations Army" headed by United States, and created a miracle of defeating the modern army with backward equipment.
"I want to go to the Ministry of Agriculture"
[Outstanding achievements, but concerned about agriculture]
In July 1952, Peng Dehuai, who had experienced a hundred battles, triumphed from the Korean battlefield. The Party Central Committee intended for him to preside over the day-to-day work of the Central Military Commission and concurrently serve as Chief of the General Staff. This decision was originally a full affirmation of and trust in Peng Dehuai's military talent. However, surprisingly, Peng Dehuai politely declined.
Peng Dehuai expressed his thoughts to Chairman Mao Zedong: "Chairman, I want to work in the Ministry of Agriculture." This request came as a surprise to Chairman Mao. You must know that in the political landscape at that time, the vice chairman of the Military Commission and the chief of the General Staff were high-ranking officials, while the minister of agriculture was an "inconspicuous" position in the eyes of many people.
Why do you love agriculture? 】
Peng Dehuai was born a poor peasant, experienced famine in his youth, and saw the harshness of the landlords and the helplessness of the peasants. This experience gave him a deep affection for farmers and a deep understanding of the importance of agriculture to the development of the country.
In Peng Dehuai's view, in order for New China to become truly strong, it must solve the agricultural problem. He once said, "Without agriculture, there is no industry; Without peasants, there are no workers. These words show the importance he attaches to agriculture.
Peng Dehuai believes that he has fulfilled his historical mission militarily and should now contribute to the country's long-term development. And the development of agriculture is the way he believes that the best way to serve the country.
[Repeated invitations, the original intention will not change]
Although Peng Dehuai repeatedly expressed his desire to work at the Ministry of Agriculture, he was politely rejected each time. From 1952 to 1959, he made seven requests to resign from the military or be transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture, but he was never successful.
Chairman Mao and other leading comrades believed that with Peng Dehuai's military talent and prestige, it was more important to continue to lead the army building.
Although he failed to get his wish, Peng Dehuai did not slack off his work. On the contrary, he remained conscientious and made outstanding contributions to army building and national defense.
He presided over the formulation of the "Regulations on Military Training of the Chinese People's Liberation Army," which laid the foundation for the modernization of the armed forces. At the same time, he also actively promoted the development of the national defense industry and made important contributions to the launch of the mainland's "two bombs and one satellite" project.
A servant of the people who does not forget his original intention
[Be willing to be poor and lead by example]
Although he is in a high position, Peng Dehuai has always maintained a hard and simple style. The house he lived in Zhongnanhai was in disrepair, but he refused to move and only asked to repair the leaks.
His car was also a dilapidated Gas-69, and he refused to change to a new one several times. In Peng Dehuai's view, the state allocates a car to him for work needs, not for enjoyment.
On one occasion, while inspecting the work, Peng Dehuai said to the grassroots cadres: "Among the masses of the people, we revolutionary cadres should serve the people like brooms, instead of making the people respectful like mud bodhisattvas." These remarks vividly expressed his requirements for the work style of cadres and also embodied his original intention of never forgetting to serve the people.
[Strict self-discipline, honest and honest]
Peng Dehuai is not only strict with himself, but also with the staff around him. On one occasion, friends and relatives in his hometown brought a jar of honey and two ducks. After Peng Dehuai received it, he immediately remitted the gift to the local production team at a discount, and wrote a letter explaining that he had not contributed much to the people and should not accept the gift.
In 1966, Peng Dehuai had a meal at a livestock farm. When he went back, he learned that the boss had only charged two yuan, so he was so anxious that he sweated, immediately made up the difference, and wrote a letter to the local cadres to emphasize that any enterprise must strictly implement the accounting system. These seem to be small things, but they fully reflect Peng Dehuai's strict self-discipline and honest style.
[Caring for the people, doing your best]
Although he failed to work in the Ministry of Agriculture, Peng Dehuai never forgot to care about agriculture and farmers. Every time he went to the countryside to inspect the peasants, he would carefully understand the production and living conditions of the peasants and put forward suggestions for improvement. He also called for attaching importance to agricultural development at many central meetings, stressing the need to increase peasant incomes and improve rural infrastructure.
In his later years, although Peng Dehuai was in adversity, he was still concerned about the development of the country. In his letter to the Central Committee, he wrote: "Although I am old and frail, as long as I still have a breath left, I will contribute everything to the cause of the party and the people." These words fully embodied Peng Dehuai's spirit of dedication and death.
General Peng Dehuai's life was a life of serving the country and the people. From the son of a poor peasant family to the founding marshal, he never forgot his original intention and cared for the people.
Even in a high position, he still maintains a hard and simple style, strict self-discipline, and honest dedication. His repeated requests to work for the Ministry of Agriculture show his deep affection for agriculture and farmers.
Today, we cherish the memory of General Peng Dehuai, and we should not only learn from his military talents, but also learn from his spirit of caring for the people and serving the people. In the new era, each of us should be like Peng Dehuai, based on our own duties, conscientious, and contribute to the development of the country. This is the best commemoration of General Peng Dehuai.