In 1955, General Chen Geng went to the 41st Army to inspect the work.
When he came to Zhang Wannian's office, he suddenly said to Zhang: "You are a careerist.
Why is that?How did Chen Geng and Zhang Wannian meet?What is the relationship between these two famous players?Chen Geng and Zhang Wannian's acquaintance is not accidental.
Chen Geng is a native of Xiangxiang, Hunan, while Zhang Wannian was born in Longkou, Shandong Province in 1928.
Although Chen Geng was more than two rounds older than him, the two were not contemporaries.
When Chen Geng participated in the Nanchang Uprising, Zhang Wannian was not yet born;And when Chen Geng served as the commander of the 386 Brigade and made the Japanese army frightened, Zhang Wannian was still a young child.
However, in 1947, Chen Geng led Chen Xie's army to advance into western Henan, which opened the prelude to the strategic **.
At this time, Zhang Wannian, who was a teenager, had become a grassroots cadre of the Northeast Field Army.
Subsequently, Chen Geng participated in the Huaihai Campaign and had a smart duel with Huang Wei's corps.
Zhang Wannian participated in the Liaoshen Campaign and made great achievements in the Tashan Resistance Battle.
In the Tashan Blockade Battle, Wu Kehua commanded the Fourth Column of the Northeast Field Army, while Chen Geng was the commander of the Fourth Column of Liu Deng's Army.
As the Siye Army moved south, Zhang Wannian's Fourth Column was reorganized into the 41st Army, and he served as an operational staff officer and head of the training unit.
In 1955, the Minister of National Defense took Chen Geng, Huang Kecheng and others to the 41st Army for inspection.
At that time, the commander of the 41st Army was the founding major general Wang Dongbao, who had participated in the battle to liberate Hainan Island with the 43rd Army.
Wang Dongbao is a 14-year-old red imp who participated in the revolution, and has been fighting horses all his life and has made great achievements.
He was fearless on the battlefield, but he seemed a little cringe in the face of Mr. Peng.
Because as we all know, Mr. Peng is quite strict and likes to criticize others.
So, Wang Dongbao specially called Zhang Wannian to accompany him to receive *** and other leaders.
Why is it called Zhang Wannian?Because Zhang Wannian is young and capable, as a first-class staff officer, he knows the situation of the 41st Army well.
Sure enough, under Mr. Peng's questioning, Wang Dongbao asked Zhang Wannian to answer, and Zhang Wannian answered fluently, which made Mr. Peng praise him and even show a satisfied smile.
After dinner, Mr. Peng took Chen Geng and others to various military departments to inspect and express his condolences to everyone present.
They looked very carefully, not sparing even one office at a time, and went through the field one by one.
When he came to Zhang Wannian's office, Chen Geng recognized the young man at a glance.
A majestic appearance, burly and upright, as if he was born a soldier, made people deeply impressed by Zhang Wannian.
What is even more memorable is that he is calm, calm, confident, and easy to deal with when Mr. Peng asks questions, which can be described as a rare talent.
Chen Geng praised him and asked for his name.
After Zhang Wannian told the truth, Chen Geng humorously joked: "Oh, it turns out that you are a careerist and actually want to live for 10,000 years."
Although life is short, but often with long-term sorrows, Zhang Wannian's name is really ingenious, so dare to be the name of "ten thousand years" is rare.
Chen Geng's move is undoubtedly ridiculous, but it also witnesses his keen insight and attention to the cultivation of talents.
Chen Geng continued to ask Zhang Wannian whether he served as a battalion-level staff officer or a regiment-level staff officer.
Zhang Wannian replied that he was a battalion-level staff officer.
Chen Geng then solemnly pointed out that during the years of the revolutionary war, they had not had the opportunity to study systematically, but now that they had entered a period Xi of peace, they should go to the military academy for further study.
As an outstanding graduate of Whampoa Phase I, Chen Geng is well aware of the importance of military theory Xi.
At that time, he served as the president of the PLA Military Engineering Academy, and he has always been tireless and patient in teaching, and is willing to serve as a guide.
Chen Geng's suggestion is not only out of whim, but also in the form of recommendation.
As the commander said, how could the leaders of the 41st Army not pay attention to it?In 1958, after layers of selection, Zhang Wannian finally entered the Nanjing Military Academy for further study, and the study period lasted for 3 years.
For Zhang Wannian's military career, these three years are undoubtedly crucial.
Born in poverty, he joined the war after joining the revolution and never had the opportunity to study systematically.
Now 30-year-old Zhang Wannian is in the prime of life, which is the best period to enrich his knowledge.
At the Military Academy, he systematically learned Xi military thought, and this experience had a profound impact on his future military career.
In the war of self-defense and counterattack against Vietnam, he skillfully used the military thinking of concentrating superior forces to fight a war of annihilation, and performed excellently.
And being able to get such a valuable opportunity to learn Xi is thanks to Chen Geng's recommendation.
Perhaps Chen Geng did not expect at that time that Zhang Wannian, the "careerist" he jokingly called, would have outstanding military achievements, showed extraordinary military talents, and even showed his skills in Vietnam, and later became the chief of the general staff of the Republic and vice chairman of the Military Commission, but Chen Geng never held this position.
Zhang Wannian is indeed an outstanding talent worthy of the admiration of future generations.