In December 1972, the commanders of the eight major military regions of the country were transferred as usual. At the meeting before the transfer, Chairman Mao said to Xu Shiyou: "There was a Zhou Bo in the Han Dynasty, a native of Pei County, Northern Jiangsu Province. The Book of Han has the Biography of Zhou Bo, you see! ”
Then he continued to Xu Shiyou: "You are also Shaowen, right? Do you do Zhou Bo?
Chairman Mao's view of people is extremely accurate, and his study of history is also extremely thorough, and he uses Zhou Bo as a metaphor for General Xu Shiyou.
General Xu Shiyou lived a frank life and did not attack calculations, so Chairman Mao was able to trust and rely on Xu Shiyou.
But to say that Xu Shiyou is not shrewd may be a misunderstanding.
Although the old general was "thick and thin", his wisdom was as his daughter said: "His shrewdness is not easy for others to see through."
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="2" > have a straight temperament and are not confused about big things</h1>
In his later years, Chairman Mao was very dependent on Xu Shiyou, and although Xu Shiyou confronted Chairman Mao many times, Chairman Mao still had great trust in this "Zhou Bo" who dared to speak out.
The reason for this is that Xu Shiyou has never been confused on major matters.
This point has always been valued by Chairman Mao since the period of the Red Army. As a general who has been following the Communist Party in the revolutionary period during the Red Army period, Xu Shiyou's personal experience can be described as very legendary.
When he was a teenager, he went to the Shaolin Temple to learn martial arts, and served as the captain of the death squad many times during the Red Army period, saving the Red Army from danger, Xu Shiyou's character can be said to be very strong, which has been known in the Yan'an period.
When the Red Army first arrived in Yan'an, it liquidated the mistakes of some senior generals during the Long March.
At that time, Xu Shiyou expressed some different views, which were severely criticized by Lin Biao, Xiao Hua and others.
Because he listened to Lin Biao's words, Xie Fuzhi also pulled out his gun. Xu Shiyou, who was very angry at that time, said indignantly: "Lao Tzu is no longer dry, Lao Tzu will learn from Liangshan good man, and the grass will fall for Kou!" ”
This sentence was later misinformed as "Xu led the soldiers to flee or fled in person."
This matter was later learned by Chairman Mao, who personally called Xu Shiyou to his side and had a long conversation with him for more than 3 hours.
After talking freely with Chairman Mao, Xu Shiyou's loyalty and courage were affirmed by Chairman Mao, who personally ordered that no one should be in danger after Xu Shiyou.
It was from this time that Xu Shiyou decided to follow Chairman Mao wholeheartedly.
Chairman Mao knew that Xu Shiyou was actually not confused, but he had a fiery temper and was easy to rush, but his stance was particularly firm, and such a person could not be compared with those so-called "wall-headed grasses."
Coupled with the fact that the Red Fourth Front had differences with the central authorities on the route during the Long March, it almost made Zhu Laozong and Liu Bocheng suffer.
Fortunately, there was Xu Shiyou's secret maneuvering at that time, so the revolutionary strength of the Red Fourth Front was finally preserved.
Although Chairman Mao did not say these things, they were indeed remembered in his heart.
However, Chairman Mao also knew that it would not be easy to buy Xu Shiyou, a tiger general.
In order to allow Xu Shiyou to suppress his fiery temper, Chairman Mao did not spend less effort.
In addition to constantly mentioning Xu Shiyou, he often suggested that Xu Shiyou read more useful books, and Xu Shiyou has always studied Chairman Mao's suggestions.
According to Xu Shiyou's daughter Xu Huashan, Xu Shiyou usually likes to read "The Complete Works of Lu Xun".
Later, when the commanders of the Eight Military Regions were on a counterpoint, Chairman Mao said to Xu Shiyou again: You only talk about fighting wars, you are a person who will engage in some literature in the future, you often hate Sui, Lu Wuwu, Dai, And Shu Wuwen, Dai refers to Zhou Bo, Zhou Bo is thick and thin, you are also a Shaowen, you should be Zhou Bo! You go and read Dream of the Red Chamber.
After listening to Chairman Mao's words, Xu Shiyou turned around and carefully read the "Biography of Zhou Bo" several times from beginning to end, and realized the mystery in the words.
Chairman Mao clearly understood that Xu Shiyou's shortcomings lie in the fact that he is "shaowen"; a revolutionary general cannot command a war in the period of peaceful construction, and only by improving his cultural attainment through continuous study can he have the ability to control the overall situation.
After Liu Bang's death, the Han chancellor Zhou Bo conspired with Chen Pingren to take back military power from Lü Lu and support Emperor Wen of Han's ascension to the throne and return the government to the Liu family. He was an important figure in quelling the rebellion of Lü Hou.
Chairman Mao specifically said this to Xu Shiyou, in fact, he was teaching the opportunity in person, hoping that Xu Shiyou would be able to make a difference at the crucial time.
After listening to Chairman Mao's words, Xu Shiyou went home and asked his guards to find him "Dream of the Red Chamber", "Book of Han", and "Selected Stories of Han Before and After the New Compilation".
Xu Shiyou, who was very resistant on the surface, was stunned to read all the books recommended by Chairman Mao.
It was precisely because of this that the later Xu Shiyou gradually understood the meaning of some of the references that Chairman Mao usually quoted in his conversations with him.
Later, Xu Shiyou knew the origin of Zhou Bo's thick and heavy Shaowen, and also knew Zhou Bo's achievements in the early Han Dynasty, so he strengthened his faith, studied hard, and broadened his horizons.
Therefore, it is not an exaggeration to say that Xu Shiyou was a good student taught by Chairman Mao himself. At this point, Chairman Mao and Xu Shiyou are especially like Confucius and Zilu.
Zilu was in a straight mood, brave and martial, and had once abused Confucius. However, he was able to make a meritorious achievement under the teachings of Confucius, and he also vigorously defended Confucius.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="4" > is shrewd in a rough and rough way</h1>
Chairman Mao's late 1960s coincided with a special period. Chairman Mao tried every means to help Xu Shiyou get out of difficulty, in fact, to preserve the stability of the troops.
Because Xu Shiyou understood the overall situation, Chairman Mao appreciated the way he handled some problems before this, and Chairman Mao decided that he could not cause trouble.
It can be said that after several decades of revolutionary career, although Xu Shiyou's personality is still straight, he has grown quite shrewd in terms of political literacy and so on.
Since then, in the ever-changing and intricate political environment of the special period, Xu Shiyou has shown loyalty and courage similar to "Zhou Bo" and is one of the key figures in stabilizing the overall situation.
At that time, Xu Shiyou was also affected.
Chairman Mao had asked Xu Shiyou to send the review to the Central Committee, but Xu Shiyou said: "Please ask the chairman to respect me, I am no more than an official reinstated." ”
At that time, Chairman Mao did not speak, just looked at him, and Xu Shiyou said: "I used to herd cattle, and then I went back to herding cattle." After hearing this, Mao Zedong directly turned around and left.
Later, when her daughter Xu Huashan recalled the incident, she mentioned: "My father relied on rough and rough, and indeed successfully protected himself politically. ”
In fact, Chairman Mao was not willing to expand the matter at that time.
Xu Shiyou's words seem reckless, but in fact they play a role in protecting themselves. It may be a little inappropriate, but it is also in line with Chairman Mao's intentions.
Therefore, in the eyes of outsiders, Xu Shiyou has confronted Chairman Mao, but with Chairman Mao's measurements, how can Xu Shiyou be in danger because of this matter?
Xu Huashan, the daughter of Xu Shiyou, was once asked a question: "Why did Chairman Mao always trust and even tolerate your father, who did not come from the Central Red Army, but from the Red Fourth Front?" What exactly is the reason for this? ”
Xu Huashan replied, "As for the reason, I don't understand. Providence has been difficult to ask since ancient times, and Chairman Mao's realm is not something that my generation can spy on. ”
For this, perhaps it is most appropriate to use Jia Ruoyu's evaluation of Xu Shiyou to explain.
Jia Ruoyu once said, "Don't think that Commander Xu is a rough man, he is relying on rough and selling coarse, thick and thin, especially shrewd." His shrewdness is not easy for others to see through. Many cadres are very shrewd and shrewd in dealing with specific people and specific matters. Compared with him, it is not comparable, not on the same level. ”
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="7" > rapids retreat and serve the big picture</h1>
Another shrewd point of Xu Shiyou is that although Xu Shiyou was an important figure in stabilizing the situation at that time, Xu Shiyou did not "take credit" and did not make any demands.
During the return war against Vietnam, Xu Shiyou bravely picked up the big beam to pacify the danger of southern Xinjiang, but after the battle, he hid his merits and name, and proposed to the central authorities to return to Nanjing to be his "YuGong" and "Old Man".
After returning to Nanjing, Xu Shiyou wrote memoirs, raised pigeons, and raised some cats. When I have time, I will go to the suburbs to catch some sparrows, which in the words of Xu Shiyou is "eliminating the four harms".
It can be said that in his later years of life, Xu Shiyou was extremely relaxed.
The ancients said: "Be wise and philosophical, in order to protect their bodies, dream and night bandits, and do one thing", staying away is not alienation, on the contrary, being on the outside can better serve the overall situation.
This is Xu Shiyou's shrewdness, and it is also a point that Chairman Mao attaches great importance to. Until the end, Xu Shiyou maintained this wisdom, which is a height that many people cannot reach.
At the beginning of 1985, Deng Gong made a tour of the south, and when he went to Nanjing, he specially visited Xu Shiyou, who was idle at home.
Deng Gong spoke highly of Xu Shiyou's performance in the Red Fourth Front and in the special period after the founding of New China, which can be seen in the weight of Xu Shiyou in Deng Gong's heart.