In 82, You Taizhong saw a soldier familiar with the inspection work, and called Wu Kehua: Chief, you are not right about this
On an ordinary working day in 1982, You Taizhong, commander of the Guangzhou Military Region, came to inspect a certain unit. While watching a soldier's training contest, a tall, well-trained soldier caught his eye. This soldier is not only athletic, but also has resolute eyes, which makes You Taizhong feel a little familiar inexplicably.
At the subsequent commendation meeting, You Taizhong saw the soldier again. He personally presented the medal to the outstanding soldier and encouraged: "You are very good, young man! However, the soldier only saluted silently and did not say anything more.
On the way back, You Taizhong kept thinking about the identity of the soldier. He always felt that he had seen it somewhere, but he couldn't remember it. Until the secretary's unintentional words made You Taizhong like a lightning strike. He immediately picked up the phone and dialed a familiar number. The voice of his old comrade-in-arms Wu Kehua came from the other end of the phone, and You Taizhong said, "Chief, this is your fault." ＂
What is it that makes You Taizhong so excited? And what is the identity of that soldier? What did Wu Kehua do "wrong"?
On a hot afternoon in August 1982, You Taizhong, commander of the Guangzhou Military Region, quietly arrived at a certain border guard unit in Guangdong Province in an ordinary military jeep. This was his first grassroots inspection since taking office, and there was no advance notice, no police cars to open the road, and no fanfare welcome ceremony.
You Taizhong was dressed in an ordinary military uniform and wore a large-brimmed hat, and when he got out of the car, he was greeted by a sultry and humid air. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and strode towards the training ground.
On the training ground, a fierce military skills competition is underway. I saw dozens of soldiers competing in obstacle runs, bomb throwing, shooting and other events. You Taizhong stood on the sidelines, silently observing the performance of each participating soldier.
Suddenly, a burly soldier caught You Taizhong's attention. The soldier is agile and agile, and he walks on the ground in the obstacle course, easily jumping over all kinds of obstacles. When it came to bomb dropping, his accuracy was even more impressive, with all three grenades landing accurately into the target area.
"Well done! You Taizhong couldn't help but praise in a low voice.
In the shooting session, the soldier performed even better. I saw him steadily pick up his rifle, aim, hold his breath, pull the trigger, and do it in one go. There was a crisp sound of hitting from the shooting range, and all three bullets hit the bull's-eye.
The more You Taizhong looked, the more he felt that this soldier was familiar, as if he had seen it somewhere. He turned his head and asked the staff officer beside him, "What's the name of this soldier?" ＂
The staff officer looked through the list and replied, "Report to the commander, this soldier's name is Daniel Zhang, and he is an excellent soldier representative of our unit. ＂
You Taizhong nodded, thoughtful.
After the competition, You Taizhong came to the commendation meeting. He personally presented medals and awards to outstanding soldiers. When the soldier named Daniel Zhang came up to the stage, You Taizhong looked at him carefully again.
"You're good, young man! You Taizhong said with a smile, while pinning the medal to Daniel Zhang's chest.
Daniel Zhang stood up and saluted, and said in a loud voice: "Thank you, chief!" Then he turned around and stepped down.
You Taizhong noticed that although Daniel Zhang performed well, his demeanor was extraordinarily humble, without the slightest look of pride and complacency. This calm temperament aroused You Taizhong's curiosity even more.
After the commendation meeting, You Taizhong wanted to talk to Daniel Zhang for a few words, but seeing that it was getting late and there were other work arrangements, he had to give up.
On the way back, You Taizhong has been thinking about Daniel Zhang's identity. He always felt that he had seen this young man somewhere, but he could not remember what occasion it was.
"Commander, you seem to have something on your mind? Xiao Li, the secretary in the passenger seat, noticed You Taizhong's abnormality and asked softly.
You Taizhong pondered for a moment and said, "Xiao Li, do you remember the soldier named Daniel Zhang just now?" ＂
"Remember, Commander. The soldier was very good-behaved, and he was very energetic. Xiao Li replied.
"I always felt like he was familiar, as if I had seen him somewhere. You Taizhong said thoughtfully.
Xiao Li thought for a while, and suddenly said: "Commander, I heard that the Daniel Zhang seems to be the old chief Wu Kehua...... ＂
Before the words fell, You Taizhong sat up straight suddenly, as if he remembered something important. He immediately picked up the car phone and dialed a familiar number.
The voice of his old comrade-in-arms Wu Kehua came from the other end of the phone: "Hey, Commander You? ＂
You Taizhong didn't say a word, and said, "Chief, this matter is your fault." ＂
Wu Kehua, a name that has left a strong mark in China's military history, what kind of legendary life experience does it have? Let's travel back in time and space to Fangdun Village, Zhongjia Township, Geyang County, Jiangxi Province in 1913.
In this cold winter, Wu Kehua fell to the ground and was born in a poor peasant family. The family was so poor that he didn't even have a decent bed, so Xiao Kehua slept on a simple "bed" made of straw. Despite the hardships of life, Wu's parents still managed to get him an education.
Wu Kehua, who attended private school for three years, although the study time was short, laid the foundation for his future growth. After leaving the school, in order to reduce the burden on his family, Wu Kehua, who was only a teenager, began his part-time career. He first worked as a handyman in a tofu shop, and every day before dawn he had to get up to help grind beans and light the fire, and he was busy until late at night before he could rest. Later, he worked as an apprentice cobbler and learned to sew leather shoes.
It was during these difficult years of working that Wu Kehua personally felt the injustice and darkness of Chinese society at that time. He witnessed the exploitation of tenant farmers by landlords and the exploitation of workers by factory owners. These experiences planted the seeds of rebellion in his heart.
In 1929, a spontaneous peasant uprising broke out in Geyang County. Sixteen-year-old Wu Kehua did not hesitate to join the uprising. In this struggle, he became acquainted with several communists and learned about the ideals of communism. Soon, Wu Kehua joined the Chinese Communist Party and began his revolutionary career.
After joining the Red Army, Wu Kehua's talents were quickly brought into play. He had a flexible mind and was brave in battle, and soon rose from an ordinary soldier to a company commander. In the arduous anti-"encirclement and suppression" war, Wu Kehua led his company to make meritorious contributions many times.
In 1934, the Long March began. Wu Kehua and his comrades-in-arms embarked on this long road full of hardships and dangers. During the Long March, Wu Kehua performed well, and many times stood up at critical moments and led his troops to break through the enemy's blockade. His bravery and wit won the appreciation of his superiors and the trust of his comrades.
After the end of the Long March, Wu Kehua continued to hold important positions in the army. From company commander to battalion commander to regiment commander, his rank continued to improve with his military exploits. During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the War of Liberation, Wu Kehua commanded many important battles and made great contributions to the liberation cause of the Chinese people.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Wu Kehua successively served as commander, deputy commander, and chief of staff of many military regions. No matter what position he is in, he has always maintained a hard and simple style, strict with himself, and lenient with others.
On one occasion, Wu Kehua went to a certain unit to inspect the work. In order to show respect, the local leaders specially arranged for him to stay in a high-end hotel. Who knew that Wu Kehua frowned as soon as he entered the room, and he said to his entourage: "We are here to work, not to enjoy." Such a nice room, I don't live in a down-to-earth place. You go and ask, is there a more ordinary guest house? ＂
In the end, at Wu Kehua's insistence, he was arranged in an ordinary guest house. This incident became a good talk in the local area, and people praised Commander Wu for not putting on a show, and eating and living with ordinary soldiers.
Wu Kehua is not only strict with himself, but also with his family and relatives. Once, a distant relative of his came to him from all the way to ask him to help him find a job for his son. After hearing this, Wu Kehua said solemnly: "I am just an ordinary soldier, not an immortal, and I have no ability to arrange jobs for others." If your son wants to find a job, he has to rely on his own skills. ＂
After saying that, he asked the secretary to send the relatives away. Although this relative was a little disappointed, he also had to admire Wu Kehua's integrity and fairness.
Even after retirement, Wu Kehua still maintained a hard and simple style of life. His home is simply furnished and there are no valuables. Someone advised him to buy some good things to enjoy, but he said: "I've been like this all my life, and now my life is already very good, what more do I want to enjoy?" ＂
Wu Kehua's life is a living history of revolution and struggle. From a poor peasant boy to a founding general, from an ordinary soldier to a commander of a military region, he used his practical actions to explain what a real communist is. His story is not only his personal legend, but also a microcosm of an era.
In Wu Kehua's dictionary of life, the word "strict" runs throughout. Not only is he strict with himself, he is strict with his subordinates, but even with his own children, he adheres to the same strict standards. And this strictness is especially evident in his son Wu Xiaowei.
In 1965, Wu Xiaowei graduated from the Military Academy of the People's Liberation Army. According to convention, the children of high-ranking generals like Wu Kehua are usually arranged to work in military region organs after graduation. However, Wu Kehua has a very different view on this.
One day, a familiar leader called Wu Kehua and said: "Old Wu, Xiaowei has graduated, and we are considering arranging for him to serve in a military region, do you have any ideas?" ＂
Wu Kehua on the other end of the phone was silent for a moment, and then replied in a stern tone: "Xiaowei has only been a soldier and has never fought a war, why did he go to the military region?" Let him follow the school army to the grassroots level to exercise! ＂
The leader was quite surprised when he heard this, and tried to persuade: "However, Xiaowei is your son, and it is natural for him to be arranged to work in the agency...... ＂
Without waiting for the other party to finish speaking, Wu Kehua interrupted: "Just because he is my son, he should start from the grassroots level." I, Wu Kehua, didn't fight for my son's personal gain! ＂
In this way, at Wu Kehua's insistence, Wu Xiaowei was assigned to an ordinary infantry company, starting from an ordinary soldier.
Before leaving, Wu Xiaowei wanted to bring a small dining table. This dining table was used by him to study at school, and although it was shabby, it carried many of his memories. However, when Wu Kehua saw this table, his face sank and he said, "What's the use of you bringing this?" When you get to the army, you have to eat a big pot of rice and eat it with the soldiers! Leave this table behind. ＂
Although Wu Xiaowei was a little reluctant, he still obeyed his father's arrangement.
On the day of farewell, Wu Kehua's wife Zhang Ming was a little worried and wanted to go to the army to visit her son. She said to Wu Kehua: "Kehua, Xiaowei has been pampered since he was a child, and the first time he went to the army, I was worried that he would not be able to adapt to it. Why don't I go see him? ＂
When Wu Kehua heard this, he turned to his wife and said, "This is the first step in his life, and there will be many winds and waves to experience in the future." Can you keep visiting him? Let him get used to it. ＂
After hearing this, Zhang Ming was still a little worried, but he also understood her husband's good intentions. She knew that Wu Kehua did this to exercise her son's will and let him grow into a real soldier.
In this way, Wu Xiaowei embarked on his military career. When he first arrived in the army, he did encounter a lot of difficulties. Growing up in the city, he was not used to living conditions in the countryside; He has never done heavy work, and he is often unable to cope with the hard training on the training ground.
Once, when the company was conducting field training, Wu Xiaowei fell behind the team because of physical exhaustion. Seeing that he was about to fall behind, he gritted his teeth and rushed forward desperately. At this time, a veteran walked up to him and whispered, "Don't worry, take your time, I'll accompany you." ＂
The veteran didn't know Wu Xiaowei's identity, but simply wanted to help a recruit. Wu Xiaowei was deeply moved, and since then, he has trained harder and finally slowly adapted to life in the army.
Half a year later, the company held a report performance, and Wu Kehua was invited to participate. When he saw Wu Xiaowei on the stage, a smile of relief appeared on his face. After the performance, Wu Kehua found his son, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Yes, it's a bit of a soldier." ＂
This simple sentence is Wu Kehua's greatest affirmation of his son.
Many years later, when a reporter asked Wu Xiaowei what he thought of his father's education method, he said: "My father's strictness made me understand what responsibility is and what responsibility is. He taught me to keep my feet on the ground and work diligently, no matter where I am. ＂
It was under his father's strict requirements that Wu Xiaowei started from an ordinary soldier step by step and gradually grew into an excellent officer. He did not rely on his father's reputation, but with his own efforts, he won the respect of his comrades-in-arms and the trust of his superiors.
Wu Kehua's strict education of his children is not only reflected in Wu Xiaowei, but also in other children. He often said to his children: "Our Wu family has relied on our own hands for generations to eat, and you are no exception." It is this kind of tutoring that has made Wu Kehua's children develop a good habit of hard work, simplicity and self-reliance.
In January 1980, the Guangzhou Military Region ushered in an important personnel change. Xu Shiyou, the commander at the time, stepped down, and the organization decided to let Wu Kehua take over this important post. However, Wu Kehua is nearly seventy years old, and the organization has decided to let him hold this position for less than two years, taking into account his age and physical condition.
Under these circumstances, the organization began to look for a candidate for the next commander of the Guangzhou Military Region. After careful consideration, You Taizhong was selected to take Wu Kehua's place. Although there is not much difference in age between You Taizhong and Wu Kehua, their qualifications in the army are far apart. Wu Kehua was the founding general, while You Taizhong was a general who grew up after the founding of New China.
In April 1982, You Taizhong officially took over the post of commander of the Guangzhou Military Region. At the handover ceremony, Wu Kehua warmly shook You Taizhong's hand and said, "Old You, the Guangzhou Military Region will be handed over to you." I'm sure you'll be able to manage this place better. ＂
You Taizhong nodded solemnly and replied, "Old chief, don't worry. I will certainly inherit and carry forward your fine work style and build the Guangzhou Military Region into a stronger one. ＂
After the handover ceremony, the two had an in-depth exchange for five hours. Wu Kehua unreservedly passed on his accumulated experience and understanding of the Guangzhou Military Region to You Taizhong. You Taizhong listened carefully and raised his own views and questions from time to time.
In this long talk, Wu Kehua particularly emphasized the work style that he has always adhered to. He said: "Lao You, as leaders, we must be hard and simple, and we must eat and live with the soldiers. Over the years, I have always insisted that no matter which unit I go to inspect, I am not allowed to engage in specialization. You will do the same in the future. ＂
You Taizhong thought so, and said, "Old chief, don't worry. I will definitely inherit these good traditions of yours. ＂
Sure enough, after taking over, You Taizhong strictly abided by the "rules" formulated by Wu Kehua. Every time he went on a business trip or inspected an inspection, he demanded that he not be allowed to notify the local units in advance, not to have police cars open the way, not to hold a welcoming ceremony, and still less to engage in any form of ushering and sending them off.
Once, You Taizhong went to Shenzhen to inspect the work. After the local leaders learned the news, they quietly arranged a welcome ceremony. When You Taizhong's car arrived at its destination, he saw a large group of people standing there waiting, he immediately straightened his face and severely criticized the entourage: "Didn't you say that you are not allowed to notify the local unit in advance?" What's the point of having such a big battle? ＂
This kind of vigorous and resolute style reminds many people of the scene when Wu Kehua was in office, and they all say that You Taizhong is worthy of being a good student of Wu Kehua.
However, the relationship between You Taizhong and Wu Kehua is far more than just a subordinate or a master and apprentice. They also developed a deep friendship with each other.
In 1986, Wu Kehua, who had already taken a back seat, fell seriously ill. When You Taizhong learned the news, he immediately put down his work and rushed to the hospital to visit.
Walking into the ward and seeing Wu Kehua lying on the hospital bed, You Taizhong felt sad for a while. He held Wu Kehua's hand and said softly: "Old chief, you are recuperating, we are all waiting for you to recover." ＂
Although Wu Kehua is weak, his spirit is not bad. He smiled and said, "Old You, don't worry. I can still hold this old bone. It's really hard for you, who are so busy with work, and still take the time to come and see me. ＂
You Taizhong shook his head and said, "Don't say that. You are my old chief, and you are my mentor and friend. You are sick, how can I not come and visit? ＂
After leaving the ward, You Taizhong specially found the attending doctor and said earnestly: "Doctor, please do your best to treat Commander Wu." His contribution to our country, to our army, is too great. ＂
The doctor looked at You Taizhong's anxious appearance and comforted: "Commander You, please rest assured, we will definitely do our best." ＂
You Taizhong nodded, a trace of tears flashing in his eyes.
Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of the doctors, Wu's condition deteriorated. In 1987, the bad news came that Wu Kehua died of illness in Guangzhou.
Hearing this news, You Taizhong was like being struck by lightning. He immediately dropped everything he was doing and rushed to the hospital. Looking at Wu Kehua lying there, You Taizhong hugged the old chief's body tightly, and tears flowed down uncontrollably.
The people around were deeply moved by this scene. Everyone knows that although You Taizhong is five years younger than Wu Kehua, he has always respected Wu Kehua as a brother. In the eyes of many people, they are not only superior-subordinate relationships, but also like a pair of close brothers.
Later, someone asked about the relationship between You Taizhong and Wu Kehua, and You Taizhong always said: "I want to learn from Comrade Wu Kehua the will of a resolute soldier." He was a role model for me throughout my life. ＂
This profound friendship has left a touching mark between the two generals, between two generations of soldiers, and in the long history of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.
On the way back, You Taizhong kept thinking about the soldier who caught his attention. The atmosphere inside the car was silent, except for the sound of tires running over the asphalt. Suddenly, You Taizhong opened his mouth and asked, "Xiao Li, do you remember the soldier who performed well today?" ＂
Secretary Xiao Li replied: "Remember, commander." The soldier named Daniel Zhang performed really well. ＂
You Taizhong nodded and said thoughtfully: "I always feel that he is a little familiar, as if he has seen it somewhere." ＂
Xiao Li thought for a while, and suddenly said: "Commander, I heard that the Daniel Zhang seems to be the old chief Wu Kehua...... ＂
Before the words fell, You Taizhong sat up straight suddenly, as if he remembered something important. He immediately picked up the car phone and dialed a familiar number.
The voice of his old comrade-in-arms Wu Kehua came from the other end of the phone: "Hey, Commander You? ＂
You Taizhong didn't say a word, and said, "Chief, this matter is your fault." ＂
Wu Kehua was obviously a little confused, and asked, "Old You, what's wrong with you?" What am I doing wrong? ＂
You Taizhong took a deep breath and said, "I went to inspect the troops today and saw a soldier named Daniel Zhang, who performed particularly well. I thought he was familiar, it turned out to be your son! Why didn't you tell me in advance? ＂
There was silence on the other end of the phone for a moment, and then Wu Kehua's hearty laughter came: "Haha, it turns out that this is the case!" I thought it was something big. ＂
You Taizhong asked, "Old chief, don't sell it. What the hell is going on? ＂
Wu Kehua explained with a smile: "Actually, Daniel Zhang is a pseudonym used by Xiaowei. Do you remember my son Wu Xiaowei? After he graduated from the military academy, I asked him to change his name to Daniel Zhang and go to the grassroots units for training. It's been years. ＂
You Taizhong suddenly realized, recalling what Wu Kehua insisted on letting his son start from the grassroots level. He couldn't help but sigh: "Old chief, what you are doing is really ...... ＂
Wu Kehua interrupted: "Old You, I know what you want to say. But what do you think, if everyone knows that he is my son, how can he still work in the army? I did this so that he could really get a workout. ＂
After listening to this, You Taizhong was silent for a while, and then said, "Old chief, I understand. Your hard work is really admirable. ＂
Wu Kehua said humbly: "Wherever I am, I just want my children to really grow up." By the way, Lao You, how did Xiaowei perform in the army? You give a rating. ＂
You Taizhong replied: "To be honest, if you hadn't told me his true identity, I really wouldn't have seen that he was the general's son." Both military skills and style discipline were excellent. Especially on the training pitch, I was impressed by his performance. ＂
After Wu Kehua heard this, his tone was gratifying: "That's good, that's good." I'm afraid he'll take advantage of my fame to be lazy and slippery. It seems that all these years of training at the grassroots level have not been in vain. ＂
You Taizhong smiled: "Old chief, you can rest assured. Xiaowei, no, it should be said that Comrade Daniel Zhang, he is indeed a good soldier. ＂
The two old comrades-in-arms chatted for a while, and after saying goodbye to each other, You Taizhong hung up the phone. He turned to his secretary Xiao Li and said, "Xiao Li, do you know that the soldier we met today is not an ordinary person. ＂
Xiao Li asked curiously, "Commander, who is he?" ＂
You Taizhong smiled and said, "Well, you'll know about it later." But one thing I can tell you is that no one's success is accidental. If you want to become an excellent soldier, you must start from the grassroots level and accumulate experience step by step. ＂
Xiao Li nodded thoughtfully.
This unexpected discovery not only gave You Taizhong a deeper understanding of Wu Kehua's way of teaching his children, but also gave him new thoughts on the cultivation of talents in the army. He secretly made up his mind to popularize this practice of training talented people from the grassroots level on a larger scale.
After returning to the office, You Taizhong immediately set about drafting a proposal for strengthening the training of grassroots officers. He believed that only by allowing more young officers to hone and grow up at the grassroots level like Daniel Zhang (Wu Xiaowei) can we train more outstanding talents for the troops.
At this time, Daniel Zhang (Wu Xiaowei) did not know that he had been recognized by the commander. He is still silently training and working in the army, proving his worth with his practical actions. In his opinion, no matter whose child it is, when he arrives in the army, he is an ordinary soldier and must use his own efforts to win respect and recognition.
The revelation of this truth is not only a small military episode, but also reflects the concept and fine tradition of educating people of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. It tells us that in the melting pot of the military, everyone should earn their position by virtue of their strength and contributions, rather than relying on background and connections.