On September 27, 1955, at 2:30 p.m., the Zhongnanhai *** auditorium will be star-studded, and the first award ceremony of the Chinese People's Liberation Army will be held here.
Among the many male generals waiting to be conferred, there is one female general who stands out, and she isLi ZhenThe only female general among the founding generals
** The Prime Minister personally conferred on her the rank of Major General and congratulated: ".Comrade Li Zhen, you are the first female general in New China!
At the same time, her husband Gan Siqi was also awarded the rank of general, and they were the only "husband and wife generals" among the founding generals of the Republic.
At the subsequent award ceremony, Li Zhen was personally awardedThe Order of Eighty-One of the Second Degree, the Order of Independence and Freedom of the Second Degree, and the Order of Liberation of the First Degree
However, who would have thought that such a female general who did not let her eyebrows be a child daughter-in-law when she was a child, and it took two marriages to meet true love, although she had more than 20 children, they were all orphans of martyrs.
But Li Zhen has no regrets, although her life is bumpy, it is glorious.
In the first month of 1908, Li Zhen was born in a poor family in Yonghe Town, Liuyang County, Hunan Province, and everyone around her called her "Dan Meizi".
In addition to her, there are five children in the family, all of whom are girls, and in order to feed so many children, Li Guangtian, a farmer, has to work harder, but it is still a little difficult, and sometimes he can't even pay the rent.
What's more unfortunate is that when the sixth sister was born less than 2 months ago, her father fell seriously ill and passed away forever not long after.
The only pillar of the family has fallen, and the family has lost their finances, which makes the already difficult life even worse.
In order to allow her daughters to continue to live, her mother could only send them to other people's homes as child daughters-in-law, and Li Zhen, who was only 6 years old at the time, could not escape her fate.
On the day she saw off Li Zhen, her mother cried very sadly, but there was really no way, she just told Li Zhen, ".If you get there, you can eat well, and you will be able to live a good life in the futureAnd he didn't say anything more.
The young Li Zhen** understands this, and in the face of such a fate, she can only choose to accept it.
It is not so much to be a daughter-in-law for others, but to be sold as a "slave", and what awaits Li Zhen will be a more cruel reality.
The other party's surname is Gu, and although his family background cannot be said to be rich and noble, it is better than ordinary people, but this cannot change Li Zhen's already tragic fate.
The man Li Zhen married was named Gu Tianshun, and because he was the third, people often called him Gu San.
Gu San is upright and loyal, and his age is 4 years older than Li Zhen, such an age gap is acceptable to Li Zhen, but Gu San's personality is very weird and irritable, and he often fights Li Zhen because of some trivial things in life.
In the eyes of the ancient three, Li Zhen, the "bought" daughter-in-law, is more like his maid, and in Li Zhen's eyes, she has always complained about this short-tempered "husband", and there is no relationship between the two at all, and the life after marriage is naturally not very harmonious.
In this kind of life, which is more like "sending people under the fence", Li Zhen lives very cautiously every day, for fear that one of her will accidentally offend the Gu family, but even so, the Gu family will not give Li Zhen a good face.
Once, Li Zhen went to the back mountain to chop firewood as usual, but it suddenly rained heavily, and she had to return home in the rain, but when she just arrived home, she was scolded by her mother-in-law.
It turned out that Li Zhen did not wash the dirty clothes in time, so that the Gu family who also came back from the rain did not have dry clothes to wear.
This sudden scolding made Li Zhen feel inexplicably aggrieved, coupled with her already strong character, she replied directly to her mother-in-law: ".I also went up to the mountains to chop wood, how can I have time to wash clothes?
Li Zhen's confrontation surprised the people around her, in that era, few daughters-in-law dared to talk back to their mother-in-law like this, not to mention that Li Zhen was just a child daughter-in-law.
However, before her mother-in-law could get angry, her husband Gu San on the side directly picked up the stick next to her and hit Li Zhen.
Li Zhen knelt on the ground and begged for mercy in pain, but no one around him stepped forward to stop her, in their eyes, it seemed to be a natural thing for a husband to beat his wife.
Since then, Li Zhen has completely lost confidence in Gu San, looking at what happened to her, and then thinking about her future life, Li Zhen doesn't seem to see any hope, all she can see is a "darkness".
For this reason, Li Zhen had the idea of committing suicide, but fortunately she was saved by the neighbors around her.
Dan Wazi, we women are born to be miserable people, we have to accept our fate!
The words of the aunt next door woke up Li Zhen, but she didn't want to accept her fate, but to fight this unfair fate to the end.
And at this time, the tide of the Great Revolution sprung up like mushrooms after a rain, and swept through the south under many resistances.
This Dan girl, who had just become an adult, did not hesitate at all, relied on her own intuition, cut off her long hair, broke through the shackles, and resolutely threw herself into this "revolutionary wave".
In 1926, Li Zhen joined the local women's association behind her mother-in-law's back, hoping to save more women like her through her own efforts.
When filling out the registration form, the staff asked for her name.
I ......I don't have a name, everyone calls me Dan GirlShe felt a little embarrassed and lowered her head.
Later, with the help of well-wishers, she had her own name - Li Zhen, which means that she will always be loyal to the revolutionary cause in the future.
In the days when she had just participated in the revolution, the comrades around Li Zhen took good care of her and taught her some cultural knowledge from time to time.
In daily actions, Li Zhen is also unambiguous, often rushing to the forefront, and with her identity as a woman, she has passed many confidential documents for the organization and made a lot of contributions.
For this reason, Li Zhen has been praised many times by her superiors, and has also been appointed as the chairman of the local women's association and a member of the district women's association.
In March 1927, Li Zhen officially became a Communist Party, and Li Zhen cherished his identity, and was more meticulous in his future work, not daring to be slack, but at this time, a "White Terror" was coming.
The revolutionary movement was in full swing at that time, with successive victories in the Northern Expedition carried out by the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, and the workers' and peasants' movement was progressing smoothly, but this made Chiang Kai-shek feel dissatisfied.
On April 12, 1927, Chiang Kai-shek openly betrayed the revolution and brazenly launched the "April 12 Counter-Revolutionary Coup" that shocked the world.
During this period, countless communists and innocent people fell under the guns of the Kuomintang reactionaries.
One night, Li Zhen was resting at home, and his uncle and grandfather, who worked as a gangster in the regimental defense bureau, suddenly arrived hereLi Zhen, run away, I saw your name on the wanted notice, they want to arrest you!
The situation was urgent, Li Zhen could only run to the back mountain to hide for a few days, but it was not a way to hide like this, so she found an errand in the county town incognito.
At the same time, Li Zhen's mother-in-law also heard about this, and in order to avoid being regarded as Li Zhen's "accomplice", they immediately chose to dissociate themselves from Li Zhen and sent a letter of resignation to Li Zhen's mother's house.
Isn't this a kind of "relief" for Li Zhen?In this way, she was able to devote herself to the revolutionary struggle in the future.
At this time, the "White Terror" was enveloping the whole country, but no matter how brutal the enemy was, the Communists were not intimidated, they held high the banner of revolution, were neither humble nor arrogant, heroic and unyielding, and were bound to fight the enemy to the end!
In September 1927, ** led the troops of the Autumn Harvest Uprising to Liuyang City, where they wanted the Kuomintang to drive away.
Li Zhen, who had already received the news, took the opportunity to sneak out of the city, and told the soldiers in detail about the situation in the city.
After the victory in the battle, Li Zhen did not choose to follow the large army to Jinggangshan, but chose to stay and continue to defend his hometown.
In October 1927, in order to strengthen the construction of party organizations in the area of Liuyang City, the Hunan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China successively sent Wang Shoudao, Zhang Qilong and other comrades to return to Liuyang.
They later got in touch with Li Zhen, and in order to be able to fight the enemy more effectively, they formed the Liudong guerrilla force together.
In the early days of the guerrillas, due to the limited conditions, there were only three short guns in the team, so Li Zhen could only lead the guerrillas to conduct guerrilla warfare with the enemy, but even so, the enemy still suffered a lot.
When the guerrillas attacked the Guanyin Hall regimental defense bureau, Li Zhen had a whim, lit a few strings of firecrackers and threw them into the oil drums, and in an instant, the huge cannon sound was deafening, and the enemy ** heard this movement, and was immediately frightened and fled.
The guerrillas also won the battle without much effort, which was also the first time that the Liudong guerrillas won a battle, and Li Zhen was praised by his comrades.
In 1928, during the attack on the Zhangjiafang Regiment Defense Bureau, in order to confuse the enemy, Li Zhen disguised herself as a bride, and the guerrillas dressed up as a family send-off team, and unexpectedly wiped out all the enemies.
Under the leadership of Li Zhen, the Liudong guerrillas grew stronger and stronger, causing a lot of trouble to the local reactionary forces, and at the same time, with the approval of the party organization, Li Zhen married Zhang Qilong, her applicant for joining the party and the secretary of the Liuyang District Committee of the Communist Party of China at the time.
The tragic experience of the previous child daughter-in-law made Li Zhen remember it vividly, and the relationship with Zhang Qilong made her cherish it very much.
The relationship between Li Zhen and Zhang Qilong has always been very good, respectful and enviable, but sometimes, it always backfires.
On one occasion, Li Zhen led the guerrillas to be attacked by the reactionary forces of the Kuomintang, and the enemy's offensive exceeded all expectations, and many members of the guerrillas were scattered as a result, and the situation was very critical.
Li Zhen led the remaining five guerrillas to fight and retreat until they were forced by the enemy to retreat to a cliff, still stubbornly resisting the enemy.
The battle lasted from early morning to night, and the gunfights in the dark put the few partisans at a complete disadvantage, and the bullets in the hands of the team members were about to run out, and the enemy was approaching step by step, and the situation was very critical.
Looking at the enemy who was gradually approaching in front of him, and then at the abyss behind him, Li Zhen frowned, and shouted at the last critical moment: ".Comrades!We can't be captured alive by the enemy!Jump off the cliff!
After finishing speaking, Li Zhen jumped towards the cliff behind him without thinking, and the guerrillas beside him also jumped towards the cliff one after another.
This move really surprised the Kuomintang officers and soldiers who came to chase and kill," he saidIt's crazy, I don't even want my life!After a cursory look around for a week, he retreated.
However, fortunately, Li Zhen fell on a huge ancient tree when she jumped off the cliff, although she also suffered many injuries, but it was not life-threatening, she and another surviving comrade buried the rest of the sacrificed soldiers on the spot, and only escaped after the enemy retreated.
However, many people don't know that Li Zhen was more than 4 months pregnant at that time, although she escaped death by jumping off the cliff, but unfortunately, the child in her belly was not saved.
Li Zhen suffered all night, but when the sun rose the next day, she wiped away her tears, regained her spirits, and moved on!
Due to her outstanding performance, Li Zhen was appointed political commissar of the Red Army Women's Regiment in the Hunan and Jiangxi border areas.
However, what Li Zhen didn't expect was that her husband Zhang Qilong was wrongly labeled as a "reorganization faction" and "AB group member" during the "Suppression of Rebellion" period, and a series of "**" followed
In order not to affect his wife Li Zhen, Zhang Qilong signed the "divorce application" prepared in advance, and Li Zhen's originally beautiful marriage broke down again.
After Li Zhen learned from the pain, she chose to move on!
In 1933, Li Zhen served as the political commissar of the Medical School of the Xiangjiang Military Region and the deputy secretary of the Anfu County Party Committee, and was later sent to the Ruijin Party School to continue his Xi, and then served as the head of the Organization Department of the Political Department of the Red Sixth Army.
In October 1934, the Red Third Army (formerly the Red Second Army, which was later restored with the approval of ***) and the Red Sixth Army successfully joined forces in Muhuang Town, Yinjiang County.
A powerful revolutionary force was formed, and it was at this time that Li Zhen met the most important person in his life, Gan Siqi, and a beautiful love of "husband and wife general" began.
After the Second Red Army Corps joined forces with the Red Sixth Army Corps, Li Zhen, who had rich guerrilla experience, was sent to the Organization Department of the Provincial Military District to fight against the local Kuomintang reactionary forces under the leadership of Comrade Ren Bishi.
Here, Li Zhen gave full play to the power of the masses, mobilized the people, formed an armed force, and used the method of guerrilla warfare to make the enemy pay a great price.
One day, Chen Congying (Ren Bishi's wife) found Li Zhen,"Li Zhen, you can't be alone like this, wait for yourself to find a companion, and you can rely on it in the future.
The sudden kindness made Li Zhen feel "flattered".Not ......No, I just want to be a revolutionary, and I don't want to get married.
Seeing that Li Zhen was a little embarrassed, Chen Congying directly singled out, ".You know this person, it is Director Gan of the Political Department, you have seen it, he is good, I think you are very suitable.
Chen Congying said that Director Gan Siqi is Gan Siqi, because of work reasons, Li Zhen and Gan Siqi did have contact a few times, but for this high-achieving student who graduated from Sun Yat-sen University in Moscow, Li Zhen has always admired him very much, and never thought of marrying him, she thinks that she is not worthy of Gan Siqi.
No, no, how can this work, but people have studied in the Soviet Union, I was born as a child daughter-in-law, do I have any culture, how can I become a husband and wife. Li Zhen waved her hand again and again.
What's there to worry about, what age is it now, don't be so conservative in thinking, he has a high culture, and he can teach you in the future.
Besides, Gan Siqi has a very good impression of you, he said that you have a pungent personality and a solid style, and you are a very great lesbian!Chen Congying said.
Hearing Gan Siqi's high evaluation of herself, Li Zhen couldn't help but be moved.
In the subsequent work, Li Zhen and Gan Siqi had more and more opportunities to get in touch, and the two became more and more familiar with each other, they talked a lot together, with work, ideals, visions, and love.
In her usual work, Gan Siqi will often take care of Li Zhen, after all, it is indeed not easy to be a lesbian who lives alone.
At the same time, Li Zhen would always make some clothes for Gan Siqi, and the relationship between the two gradually warmed up, and finally they became husband and wife together.
In order to bless the couple, the comrades planned a very simple wedding for them.
At the wedding, ** humorously said: ".Comrade Gan Siqi and Comrade Li Zhen are husband and wife, one does not worship heaven and earth, and the other does not worship ancestors, that is, they are wholeheartedly engaged in revolution, and they are a very good revolutionary couple!
Although it is a joke, Li Zhen and Gan Siqi have indeed done it, and they are dedicated to the revolution!
Not long after, the Red Army's anti-"encirclement and suppression" operation failed, and in order to get rid of the encirclement and pursuit of the Kuomintang reactionaries and completely change the unfavorable situation, the main force of the Red Army was forced to carry out a strategic transfer, and the 25,000-mile Long March began.
Li Zhen and Gan Siqi followed the main force of the Red Army and participated in the Long March.
During the Long March, whenever the enemy pursued and blocked, Li Zhen always took the lead and rushed to the forefront, under her leadership, the Red Army soldiers fought bravely to kill the enemy, even if the conditions were difficult, they would never complain.
In addition to the march, Li Zhen did not forget to do ideological work for the soldiers from time to time, helping to treat the wounded soldiers, and many soldiers also relied on Li Zhen's encouragement to strengthen their beliefs and finally achieve victory.
Once, due to Li Zhen's overwork and the harsh natural environment, Li Zhen fell ill on the Long March with a high fever.
At that time, resources were tight, and many wounded people offered to give up the horses that transported them after learning the news of Li Zhen's illness, but Li Zhen refused, and he did not want to see the wounded lose the opportunity to ride horses in order to take care of themselves.
She was still struggling to walk, and even though she was still sick, and during that time, Li Zhen fell to the ground more than once, but she was still gritting her teeth and holding on.
Later, the soldiers couldn't stand it, so they could only forcibly "tie" Li Zhen to the horse, but even so, Li Zhen was still reluctant to take medicine, because the supplies were really short at that time, and many wounded soldiers could not get medicine.
When Gan Siqi learned the news of Li Zhen's illness, he immediately sold his only finance, the gold pen obtained from Sun Yat-sen University in Moscow, and bought a few injections, which made Li Zhen's condition improve and save Li Zhen's life.
In fact, in the most difficult stage of the Long March, Li Zhen was already pregnant, in order to let Li Zhen drink hot water, Gan Siqi kept the kettle in his arms and used his body temperature to maintain the temperature in the kettle.
In order to avoid Li Zhen being bumped while riding, Gan Siqi walked on her back, and the soldiers around her wanted to come forward to help, but Gan Siqi refused,"Don't worry, I can do it, I can take care of her.
In this way, this revolutionary couple, who have endured all kinds of hardships, are unswervingly moving forward on the long road.
However, while crossing the meadow, Li Zhen was still born prematurely, and the baby who could not get any supplies due to a long-term lack of nutrition cried incessantly, in order to save the suffering child, the enthusiastic warriors gave Li Zhen the only food they had left to save his life, but still did not save the child.
Before the army could get out of the meadow, the child died, and since then, Li Zhen has lost her fertility, and she is very sad about it, and Gan Siqi has been comforting her."I want a lover, not a child, and you don't blame yourself too much.
But along the way, Li Zhen and Gan Siqi have adopted more than 20 orphans of martyrs, and although they are unable to have children, they are satisfied and happy.
When the Red Second Army and the Red First Army successfully joined forces, the Long March ended successfully, and the distressed couple Li Zhen and Gan Siqi also arrived in northern Shaanxi.
After that, he continued to devote himself to the War of Resistance Against Japan, the War of Liberation and the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, until 1955, when Li Zhen and Gan Siqi were both awarded, and the story of the "husband and wife general" came to a successful end.
On February 5, 1964, 60-year-old Gan Siqi suddenly fell ill at the office and left his wife, who had been dependent on him for more than 30 years.
During that time, Li Zhen was extremely lost and grief-stricken, and in the later "special period", she was labeled a "counter-revolutionary" and lost her freedom, and it was not until 1975 that her reputation was restored.
In 1980, Li Zhen was designated as the deputy of the Grand Military Region, and then he lived in the old bungalow in Xiangshan for 8 years.
On holidays, some veteran comrades often came to visit the female general at home, and the small bungalow was often overcrowded, so she was persuaded to move to a large house arranged for her by the organization, but she refused.
In the spring of 1984, under the persuasion of many comrades, she moved into the housing of military cadresI can't move anymore, it's already good here.
Here, the female general spent the last 6 springs and autumns of her life.
On March 11, 1990, Li Zhen died of illness in Beijing, ending her legendary life.
While sorting out Li Zhen's relics, people found them,"4 medals, 4 wicker chairs, 2 suitcases, and 110,000 yuan, 2,500 yuan treasury bills, and two small gold bars.
In her will, Li Zhen wrote: ".These two gold bars were donated to her and her husband's hometown, and part of the remaining savings were donated to the state as party dues, and the other part was donated to the Soong Ching Ling Children's Welfare Association.
Picture丨The only "husband and wife general" among the founding generals
General Li Zhen's behavior of "leaving nothing behind" has been admired by future generations, and this is a confession she made with her life based on the interests of the country and the nation.
Even if you will wither to the ground and turn your body into dust, you must dedicate your modest efforts to leave Qingfang in the world forever.
From a child daughter-in-law to the first female general of the Republic, Li Zhen's legendary life is impressive, and at the same time even more admirable.
The love story between her and General Gan Siqi has become a good story, which has been praised by future generations.
For decades, he fought against the enemy, fought in the south and in the north, and made immortal contributions to the cause of the liberation of the Chinese nation with his own practical actions, which is more like the world interpreting the true meaning of "who says that women are inferior to men".