In 1955, the Military Commission asked Chen Qihan to fill in the military rank by himself, and he wrote down the lieutenant general, and what was he awarded in the end?
In 1955, New China was about to usher in the historic moment of the first large-scale awarding of military ranks. The staff of the Military Commission found Chen Qihan, a general from Jiangxi, and asked him to fill in the desired military rank by himself. This veteran, who has experienced the Nanchang Uprising, the Long March, the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the War of Liberation, fell into deep thought in the face of this special "examination paper". His revolutionary career spanned nearly 30 years and he had made great achievements, and it stands to reason that it would not be an exaggeration to fill in a higher military rank. However, Chen Qihan wrote down the word "lieutenant general" very carefully.
Is there a hidden story behind this decision? Why is Chen Qihan so humble? Did he finally get his wish and get the rank of lieutenant general? Or did the Military Commission consider something else? Let's walk into this dusty history together and uncover the mystery of General Chen Qihan's military rank.
In 1919, the Beiyang government's weak performance at the Paris Peace Conference sparked a nationwide May Fourth Movement. Chen Qihan, who was only 20 years old at the time, was witnessing all this in his hometown in Jiangxi. This patriotic movement was like a fire, igniting the patriotic enthusiasm in the heart of young Chen Qihan. He resolutely decided to join the Jiang army at that time.
However, the reality of the warlord melee soon disappointed Chen Qihan. In 1924, he resolutely broke away from the Jiangxi army and followed the revolutionary cause of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. This year, he came to Guangzhou and entered the Whampoa Military Academy to study. Here, Chen Qihan not only received military training, but more importantly, he was exposed to progressive ideas.
During the Whampoa Military Academy, Zhou Enlai, Nie Rongzhen and other communists worked in the school. Their revolutionary ideals and communist beliefs deeply attracted Chen Qihan. After careful consideration, under the introduction of his friend Chen Geng, Chen Qihan decided to join the Communist Party of China. He once said that if he could not pass the organization's assessment for joining the party, he would go home to farm, which shows his great determination.
In 1925, Chen Qihan secretly joined the Chinese Communist Party. Subsequently, the Kuomintang issued a policy requiring party members to join only one party. Faced with a choice, Chen Qihan did not hesitate to resign from the position of squadron leader of the Whampoa Military Academy. He firmly believed that he would rather be an ordinary soldier of the Communist Party than a high-ranking official of the Kuomintang.
In 1927, Chiang Kai-shek personally wrote a letter to Chen Qihan, inviting him to be the director of the chamberlain. This position was very powerful and was the direct office of Chiang Kai-shek. However, Chen Qihan politely rejected this "beauty difference" on the grounds of illness. Soon after, he came to Zhu De's command and participated in the preparation of the Nanchang Uprising.
After the "April 12 counter-revolutionary coup", the Communist Party was faced with an extremely grim situation. But Chen Qihan did not waver, he returned to his hometown of Xingguo in Jiangxi Province and continued to lead the revolutionary activities there. He actively propagated revolutionary ideas and mobilized the masses to participate in the revolution. These actions aroused the vigilance of the Kuomintang, and Chiang Kai-shek sent Zhang Youren, commander of the 35th Brigade of the newly formed 7th Division, to "encircle and suppress."
Zhang Youren and Chen Qihan were classmates in Yunnan Jiangwutang. Out of old feelings, Zhang Youren first asked someone to send a letter to Chen Qihan, persuading him to surrender and promising him a high-ranking official. But Chen Qihan has long put his personal interests aside, and he firmly rejects this temptation.
In the face of Zhang Youren's attack, Chen Qihan remained in danger and commanded the soldiers of the Red 25th Column to bravely counterattack and repel the enemy several times. Zhang Youren became angry and began to use despicable methods. He posted a notice offering a reward of 500 oceans for Chen Qihan's head, burned down Chen Qihan's home, and brutally killed his relatives and friends.
In the face of such a cruel reality, Chen Qihan did not flinch, but strengthened his determination to revolutionize. He led his troops to fight in southern Gannan and made important contributions to the preservation of revolutionary forces.
At the beginning of 1929, Mao Zedong and Zhu De led the Red Fourth Army to Dayu, planning to establish a base in southern Jiangnan. They are in dire need of material support. Chen Qihan, then military minister of the Gannan Special Commission, received the task of raising several thousand sets of clothes, tens of thousands of yuan, and tens of thousands of catties of grain in a short period of time. This was a difficult task, but Chen Qihan, with his local mass base, quickly completed the task and provided important support for the Red Fourth Army to tide over the difficulties.
Since then, Chen Qihan has begun his 21-year revolutionary journey. He fought in the south and the north, participated in many important battles, and made outstanding contributions to the founding of New China. In this process, Chen Qihan always maintained firm revolutionary beliefs and loyalty to the party, and his revolutionary career became a microcosm in the history of the Chinese revolution.
In October 1934, the Central Red Army was forced to begin the Long March. As a member of the Red Army, Chen Qihan embarked on this arduous journey together with other comrades. In the early days of the Long March, Chen Qihan served as the commander of the Second Division of the Red First Army, responsible for the command and management of the troops.
During the Long March, Chen Qihan experienced countless tests of life and death. In the Battle of the Xiangjiang River, in the face of the fierce attack of the Kuomintang army, Chen Qihan led the troops to fight bravely and cover the crossing of the river by the main force. In this tragic battle, the Red Army suffered heavy losses, but Chen Qihan and his troops held out until the last moment and successfully completed the covering mission.
Crossing the meadows was the most difficult part of the Long March. In the vast swamp, Chen Qihan and his soldiers had to fight hunger, cold, and disease every day. At one point, Chen Qihan's troops fell into a swamp, and several fighters were trapped. Chen Qihan didn't say a word, and personally took the lead in going into the water to save people, and finally succeeded in rescuing the soldiers. This spirit of sharing weal and woe with the soldiers won him the respect of the troops.
In October 1935, the Red Army finally reached northern Shaanxi. During the Yan'an period, Chen Qihan got a rare opportunity to learn. He systematically studied the theory of Marxism-Leninism, participated in a cadre training course presided over by Mao Zedong, and further improved his political quality and military level.
However, the days of peace did not last long. In July 1937, the all-out war of resistance broke out. Chen Qihan was ordered to lead his troops to be reorganized into the 359th Brigade of the 120th Division of the Eighth Route Army and set off for the anti-Japanese front line in Shanxi. In the Battle of Pingxingguan, Chen Qihan commanded the troops to cooperate with the brother troops, successfully ambushed the Japanese transport team, captured a large number of weapons and ammunition, and won the first major victory for the Eighth Route Army since the Anti-Japanese War.
In 1938, Chen Qihan was appointed chief of staff of the 120th Division of the Eighth Route Army. In this post, he assisted division commander Liu Bocheng in commanding the troops and carried out a series of important anti-Japanese actions. The most famous of these was the Battle of the Hundred Regiments in 1940. In this battle, Chen Qihan was responsible for formulating the battle plan and personally participated in the command. He flexibly adjusted his tactics according to the changes in the enemy's situation, and successfully destroyed many Japanese strongholds and lines of communication, making an important contribution to the victory of the entire campaign.
During the Anti-Japanese War, Chen Qihan also actively carried out guerrilla warfare behind enemy lines. He led his troops deep behind enemy lines, mobilized the masses, and established anti-Japanese base areas. In the Taihang Mountains, Chen Qihan led his troops to adopt the tactics of "guerrilla attacks in the mountains and forests", taking advantage of the complex terrain to constantly harass and attack the Japanese army. He also paid attention to mobilizing the masses and organizing militia ranks, thus forming an anti-Japanese situation in which the army and the people cooperated.
In 1942, Chen Qihan was transferred to the acting commander of the 120th Division of the Eighth Route Army. In this position, the biggest challenge he faced was the Japanese army's "law and order strengthening campaign". In the face of the enemy's frantic "sweep", Chen Qihan adopted the strategy of "dispersing and concealing and accumulating strength". He led his troops into pieces, lurking among the masses, waiting for the opportunity to fight back. This strategy not only preserved the revolutionary forces, but also laid the groundwork for subsequent counteroffensives.
In the later period of the Anti-Japanese War, Chen Qihan communicated and reported with Mao Zedong, Zhu De and other central leaders many times. In 1944, Mao Zedong personally met with Chen Qihan and listened to his report on the situation on the battlefield behind enemy lines. Mao Zedong spoke highly of Chen Qihan's spirit of persisting in struggle behind enemy lines and gave guidance on the next step of military action.
After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, Chen Qihan did not stop. He led his troops to the northeast quickly in preparation for the upcoming war of liberation. In this process, Chen Qihan always maintained a high degree of vigilance, paid close attention to the movements of the Kuomintang army, and accumulated valuable intelligence for the subsequent battles.
From the Long March to the War of Resistance Against Japan, Chen Qihan experienced the most difficult years of the Chinese revolution. With his firm revolutionary conviction and outstanding military talent, he left a strong mark on this period of history. This experience not only tempered his will, but also laid the foundation for him to play a greater role in the Liberation War.
In August 1945, Japan announced its unconditional surrender, and the 14-year War of Resistance against Japan finally came to an end. However, peace in China has not really arrived. The contradictions between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party have intensified day by day, and the dark clouds of civil war have once again loomed over the land of China. At this critical moment, Chen Qihan was appointed commander of the fourth column of the Northeast Democratic Alliance Army, shouldering the heavy task of liberating the northeast.
In June 1946, the Kuomintang army tore up the armistice agreement and launched a full-scale attack on the liberated areas. In the face of this sudden situation, Chen Qihan quickly organized his troops and began the arduous Northeast Campaign. In the Liaoshen Campaign, Chen Qihan commanded the fourth column to cooperate with other troops and successfully encircled Jinzhou, an important stronghold of the Kuomintang army.
The Battle of Jinzhou was a key part of the Liaoshen Campaign. Chen Qihan was well aware of the strategic importance of the city, and he formulated a thorough battle plan. First, he ordered his troops to build a strong defensive line outside the city of Jinzhou to cut off the enemy's supply lines. At the same time, he also sent small units to constantly harass the enemy army and deplete its vital forces.
During the siege of Jinzhou, Chen Qihan encountered a thorny problem. The Kuomintang army hoarded a large amount of food and ammunition in the city, which was enough to support a long-term defense. In order to capture Jinzhou as soon as possible, Chen Qihan came up with a clever plan. He ordered his troops to quietly approach the walls at night and broadcast a radio to persuade them to surrender. These broadcasts not only conveyed the party's policies, but also exposed the corruption of the top echelons of the Kuomintang, which greatly shook the morale of the defenders.
After several days of fierce fighting, Jinzhou finally fell. This victory not only opened the door to the liberation of the Northeast, but also laid the foundation for the subsequent Pingjin Campaign. Chen Qihan's outstanding performance in this battle was highly recognized by his superiors.
In the subsequent Battle of Pingjin, Chen Qihan once again showed his military talent. He commanded his troops to participate in the encirclement of Beiping, and set up multiple blockade lines in the north of the city, effectively cutting off the enemy's retreat. During the negotiation process, Chen Qihan also personally participated in the negotiation process, using flexible tactics to successfully persuade some Kuomintang troops to revolt.
In January 1949, Peking was peacefully liberated. Chen Qihan led the troops into Beiping and was responsible for taking over the city. In this process, he strictly implemented the party's policies, maintained urban order, and protected cultural relics and historic sites, which won wide praise from the citizens of Beiping.
In the later stages of the Liberation War, Chen Qihan was appointed deputy commander of the North China Military Region. In this post, he was mainly responsible for reorganizing the troops and consolidating the political power in the newly liberated areas. He went down to the grassroots level, investigated and studied, discovered and solved problems in a timely manner, and made important contributions to the establishment of New China.
On October 1, 1949, the People's Republic of China was founded. On the tower of Tiananmen Square, Chen Qihan, as a meritorious general, witnessed this historic moment. However, instead of basking in the joy of victory, he immediately threw himself into a new job.
In the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, there was a lot of waste waiting to be re Chen Qihan was sent to the Northeast to take charge of industrial construction. In this post, he gave full play to the organizational discipline of the military and promoted various tasks in an orderly manner. He went deep into the factory floor many times to understand the production situation and solve practical problems. Thanks to his efforts, industrial production in the Northeast soon recovered and exceeded pre-liberation levels.
In June 1950, the Korean War broke out. Although Chen Qihan has been transferred to local work, he still pays close attention to the situation on the front line. He made suggestions to the central authorities on many occasions and contributed his strength to the victory of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea.
In the War of Liberation and the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Chen Qihan always stood at the forefront of the times and fought ceaselessly for the country's liberation and construction. His experience not only reflects the firm belief of a revolutionary soldier, but also shows the mission of the Chinese Communists in different historical periods. From the battlefield to the factory, from military command to economic construction, Chen Qihan's life trajectory is the epitome of China's transition from war to peace, from poverty to prosperity and strength.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Chen Qihan was appointed deputy chief of the general staff of the Central Military Commission by virtue of his rich military and political experience. In this important post, he took an active part in the modernization of the People's Liberation Army.
In 1954, Chen Qihan was elected as a deputy to the first National People's Congress and participated in the formulation of the first constitution of New China. At the NPC sessions, he made many speeches and put forward his own views on national defense building and army reform. He particularly stressed the need to strengthen the political building of the armed forces, enhance the cultural quality of officers and men, and prepare for the modern wars that may be faced in the future.
In 1955, the Chinese People's Liberation Army implemented a military rank system. As a veteran general with outstanding merits, Chen Qihan was awarded the rank of general. This is not only an affirmation of his past contributions, but also an encouragement for him to continue to fight for the cause of national defense in the future.
In the late 50s of the 20th century, Chen Qihan was transferred to the post of vice minister of defense. In this role, he was involved in a number of major military decisions. In 1960, Sino-Soviet relations deteriorated, and the Soviet Union withdrew its experts in China. In the face of this difficult situation, Chen Qihan put forward the slogan of "self-reliance and hard struggle" to encourage military enterprises to speed up technological research and reduce their dependence on foreign technology.
In 1962, the Sino-Indian border conflict broke out. As an important member of the General Staff Headquarters of the Central Military Commission, Chen Qihan participated in the command of this war. He put forward the tactical idea of "plateau operations, flexible mobility" and made important contributions to the victory of the Chinese army in the plateau environment.
However, the good times were short-lived. In 1966, the "Cultural Revolution" broke out, and Chen Qihan's life trajectory took a huge turn. As a revolutionary of the older generation, Chen Qihan became one of the targets of criticism in the "Cultural Revolution".
In early 1967, a group of "rebels" stormed Chen Qihan's office and criticized him for hours. They accused Chen Qihan of being a "capitalist roader" and a "revisionist," and even slandered him for being a "capitulationist" in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the War of Liberation. In the face of these baseless accusations, Chen Qihan remained silent, did not defend himself, and did not give in.
Subsequently, Chen Qihan was sent to the "57 Cadre School" for labor reform. There, along with other cadres, he participated in manual labor, planting land, digging ditches, and chopping firewood. Despite his deteriorating physical condition, Chen Qihan has always maintained an optimistic attitude, and he often encourages the comrades around him to uphold their beliefs and believe that the party and the people will eventually distinguish between right and wrong.
In 1969, Lin Biao Group attempted to plan the "913 Incident". This incident has triggered reflection at the top level of the central government. In 1971, Chen Qihan was released from "censorship" and returned to Beijing. Although he was not reinstated, he was assigned to work in the General Office of the Central Military Commission, responsible for some paperwork and data collation.
In this special historical period, Chen Qihan has always maintained his loyalty to the party and the country. In his spare time, he sorted out a large number of revolutionary historical materials, which provided valuable first-hand information for future generations to study the history of the Chinese revolution. At the same time, he also actively followed the development of the international situation and provided many valuable suggestions to the central authorities.
In 1976, the Cultural Revolution ended. Chen Qihan finally waited for the day of rehabilitation. In 1977, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China completely rehabilitated Chen Qihan, restored his party and military membership, and reappointed him as a member of the Central Military Commission.
After being rehabilitated, Chen Qihan did not complain, but devoted himself to work with a more positive attitude. On various occasions, he called for "emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts" and supported the policy of reform and opening up put forward by Comrade Deng Xiaoping. In the area of army building, he stressed the need to step up modernization and raise the military's scientific and technological level and the degree of informationization.
In 1978, Chen Qihan was elected as a member of the Standing Committee of the Fifth National People's Congress. In this position, he was actively involved in legislative work, with a special focus on the development of national defense laws and military regulations. He proposed that it is necessary to establish a complete set of military legal systems so that army building and national defense work can be put on the track of legalization.
The "Cultural Revolution" was the most difficult period in Chen Qihan's life, but it was also the moment when his will and character shone the most. With firm conviction and indomitable spirit, he survived these dark years and continued to contribute his strength to the construction of the country and the army in the new historical period. Chen Qihan's experience is not only a personal bumpy fate, but also a historical epitome of that special era.
With the deepening of reform and opening up, Chen Qihan, who is over seventy years old, has ushered in a new stage of life. Although he has taken a back seat, he still actively participates in national construction and army reform as a veteran party member and veteran.
In 1982, Chen Qihan was elected as a representative of the 12th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. At the meeting, he delivered an important speech entitled "Adhering to the Four Cardinal Principles and Promoting the Modernization of the Army." In his speech, Chen Qihan stressed the need to vigorously promote the military's scientific, technological, and information-based construction on the premise of upholding the party's absolute leadership over the army. He pointed out that future wars will be high-tech wars, and our military must speed up the pace of modernization while maintaining its traditional superiority. This viewpoint was widely endorsed by the delegates attending the meeting, and also pointed out the direction for the subsequent reform of the armed forces.
In 1984, Chen Qihan presided over the compilation of the book "Military History of the Chinese People's Liberation Army". This work systematically summarizes the development process of the people's army and fills a gap in the study of China's military history. In the process of compiling, Chen Qihan personally reviewed a large number of historical materials and organized experts and scholars to discuss them many times. He particularly stressed the need to seek truth from facts, affirm achievements and objectively analyze deficiencies, and leave a true and credible military history for future generations.
In 1986, Comrade Deng Xiaoping put forward the strategic decision to disarm 1 million people. As an adviser to the Central Military Commission, Chen Qihan actively supported this decision and put forward specific suggestions for implementation. He advocated that while disarmament, it is necessary to pay attention to improving the quality of the troops, and use the funds saved for equipment upgrading and investment in scientific research. He also suggested the establishment of a training fund for demobilized servicemen to help veterans better adapt to local work. These proposals have been adopted by the Central Committee and have made an important contribution to the smooth progress of disarmament work.
In 1989, Chen Qihan was re-elected as a deputy to the Seventh National People's Congress at the age of 87. At the NPC session, he submitted a motion on strengthening national defense education. He pointed out that with the advent of the era of peace, some people have forgotten the importance of national defense, and it is necessary to enhance the national defense awareness of the whole nation through strengthening national defense education. This bill has received a wide response and has promoted the promulgation of the National Defense Education Law.
In 1991, the Gulf War broke out. This high-tech war has had a tremendous impact on the world's military development. Chen Qihan closely followed the course of the war and wrote a number of analytical articles. He pointed out that informationization, precision, and intelligence will be the main characteristics of future wars, and our army must speed up the pace of informationization. This judgment provided an important reference for our army to formulate a plan for informationization construction in the future.
In 1993, Chen Qihan presided over the compilation of the book "History of Modern Chinese Military Thought". This work systematically sums up the development of our army's military thinking since the founding of the People's Republic of China, and gives an in-depth explanation of Mao Zedong's military thought and Deng Xiaoping's thinking on army building in the new period. The publication of this book has filled a gap in the study of military theory on the mainland and has become an important textbook for military academies.
In 1995, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, Chen Qihan was invited to participate in a number of commemorative activities. At a forum, he reviewed the years of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and stressed the need to always remember history, cherish peace, and at the same time be prepared for danger in times of peace and strengthen national defense construction. His speech aroused wide resonance from all walks of life and played a positive role in enhancing national cohesion.
In 1997, Hong Kong returned to the motherland. As a witness, Chen Qihan is extremely pleased with this historic moment. He wrote an article entitled "Hong Kong's Return to the Motherland and National Defense Construction," pointing out that Hong Kong's return to the motherland is not only an important milestone in national rejuvenation, but also brings new opportunities and challenges to national defense construction. He suggested that we should make full use of Hong Kong's geographical advantages and degree of internationalization to serve the modernization of our army.
In the 21st century, Chen Qihan, who is over 90 years old, still maintains his attention to national affairs. In 2001, the mainland successfully bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games. Chen Qihan said in an interview that the Olympic Games are not only a sports event, but also an important platform to show the country's strength. He suggested that in the preparatory process, the charm of Chinese culture should be fully displayed, and at the same time, it should be taken this opportunity to enhance the mainland's international influence.
In 2003, at the age of 101, Chen Qihan published his memoir "War and Peace: My Life". This work not only records his personal legendary experience, but also is an important document to witness the modern and modern history of China. In the book, he reviewed his life course, summarized his thoughts on revolution, construction and reform, and expressed his expectations for the future development of the country.
On October 15, 2005, Chen Qihan passed away in Beijing at the age of 103. His life spanned the old China and the new China, experienced the war years and the peace period, and witnessed China's great journey from poverty and weakness to prosperity and strength. He explained with his practical actions what it means that "the revolutionary ideal is higher than the sky" and made important contributions to China's revolution, construction, and reform.