In the autumn of 1955, the whole army ushered in an unprecedented event -- the first major award of titles in the history of our army. This award is a milestone in the construction of the new squadron, and it is also the best reward for those soldiers who fought bravely and made outstanding achievements in the war.
Before conferring the ranks, all the general departments and the major military regions have asked the generals participating in the appraisal to declare their military ranks in accordance with the regulations. These self-declared military ranks are not only an honor for a person, but also a testimony to their efforts in the past.
There was a general, and he declared himself a lieutenant general. This general was brave and fearless during the war years, and he made outstanding achievements. He led his troops in bloody battles and won precious peace for his country. His self-declared military rank is not only in line with his qualifications and position, but also in line with his military exploits and contributions.
However, after careful consideration, the Title Panel proposed to confer on him the rank of Major General. What is even more unexpected is that when the title was conferred in 1955, the general was finally awarded the rank of colonel. What's going on here?
Yang Zongsheng, an ordinary peasant born in 1906, lived as if he was tightly bound by the shackles of poverty. Because of his poor family, he only studied in a private school for half a year, and was forced by the burden of life to give up his studies. At that time, in order to survive, he could only choose to herd cattle for the landlord's family, in exchange for a meager income to maintain the basic life of the family.
As he grew older, Yang began to try to get out of his hometown and go out to find more job opportunities. Although his life was difficult, his eyes always flashed with hope for the future. In the summer of 1930, news of the Red Army's attack on Changsha reached his ears. For him, this news seemed to be a ray of light illuminating his way forward.
He heard that this was a different kind of team, a team dedicated to fighting the world for the poor people. Their goal is to liberate those who are oppressed so that everyone can live a better life. Yang Zongsheng was deeply moved by the ideas of the Red Army, and he decided to devote himself to this great revolution.
So, he volunteered to join the Red Army, serving as a guide for the Red Army despite the danger. He led the Red Army through mountains and forests, across rivers, and evaded the pursuit of the enemy. His ingenuity and unwavering conviction allowed him to play an important role in this revolution.
From then on, Yang Zongsheng embarked on the road of revolution.
During the Red Army period, Yang Zongsheng was an outstanding backbone of the logistics support team. He silently stuck to his post for a long time, making every effort to ensure the supply of the Red Army troops, and his highest position was the director of the regimental supply. He is careful and simple, and is deeply trusted and respected by everyone.
In October 1934, the ** Soviet zone faced serious difficulties, and the Red Army had to make a strategic shift. Yang Zongsheng, then chief of the Ministry of Finance, resolutely followed the army on a long journey. During the Long March, he always stuck to the middle of the team, fearless of difficulties and obstacles, and made every effort to ensure the quality of materials.
However, the sky is unpredictable. While passing through Guizhou, Yang Zongsheng unfortunately contracted malaria. At that time, the Red Army lacked medical care and medicine, and the battle was tense, so in desperation, he could only stay at the home of a local villager to recuperate. Under the careful care of his fellow villagers, Yang Zongsheng gradually **. After recovering from his illness, he did not care about resting and immediately pursued the large army.
After a long and arduous pursuit, Yang Zongsheng finally caught up with the large army in northern Shaanxi. Soon after arriving in northern Shaanxi, the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression broke out. Yang Zongsheng immediately entered the 359th Brigade of the 120th Division of the Eighth Route Army and served as the deputy director of the Supply Department.
Soon after, Yang Zongsheng followed ** into Jizhong, where he served as the head of the supply department of the 4th independent detachment in Jizhong. His job is mainly to provide logistical support for the troops and ensure the supplies of the troops**. For most of the Anti-Japanese War, he has been silently contributing to the field of logistics, providing solid support for the front-line soldiers.
However, Yang Zongsheng is not content to be in logistics all the time. In the spring of 1945, he reached a turning point in his military career. He was appointed commander and political commissar of the Xiangbei Military Division, which was his first military command during the Eighth Route Army. He demonstrated outstanding military talent and leadership in this position, leading the troops to several victories.
However, Yang Zongsheng's military career did not end there. Just a few months later, he returned to work in the 359 Brigade as political commissar of the Ministry of Supply. The focus of his work has once again shifted to logistical support, which has provided solid support for the normal operation of the brigade headquarters.
After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, Yang Zongsheng did not hesitate to devote himself to the torrent of the Liberation War. He served as the political commissar of the Logistics Department of the Jinsui Luliang Military Region and the head and political commissar of the Quartermaster Department of the Logistics Department of the Northwest Military Region. In that special period, the conditions in the northwest region were extremely difficult, but Yang Zongsheng did his best to ensure the military needs of the troops with incomparable perseverance and wisdom.
In the work of the Quartermaster Department, Yang Zongsheng was not afraid of difficulties and moved forward bravely. He has an in-depth understanding of the needs of the troops and works closely with commanders and fighters at all levels to ensure that every item of material can be delivered to the front line in a timely and accurate manner. In order to solve the problem of material shortage, he traveled everywhere, looking for various resources, and even personally supervised the production and transportation process of materials.
With his unremitting efforts, the troops' supplies have always maintained an adequate situation. Whether it is a cold winter or a scorching summer, whether it is the urgent needs of the front line or the long-term reserves in the rear, Yang Zongsheng has ensured the timely supply of materials and laid a solid foundation for the victory of the Liberation War.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Yang Zongsheng moved to the Southwest Military Region and served as the director of the Logistics Department, the Minister of Transportation, and the Minister of Finance. He continued to give full play to his talents and experience to contribute his strength to the construction and development of New China.
In 1955, the Chinese People's Liberation Army was preparing to enter a new historical stage, which was the first major award. This is not only a symbol of honor, but also an affirmation of the blood and sweat of the soldiers over the years. On March 8 of that year, the then Minister of National Defense presided over the CMC work meeting with his usual decisiveness and determination.
The atmosphere of the meeting was solemn and solemn, and all the participants felt that this would be an important moment in the history of the armed forces. ** swept his gaze over each participant, and he clearly expressed the significance of this award: "This is an affirmation of the brave soldiers and an encouragement to the officers and soldiers of the whole army." ”
Subsequently, he took out the list of 52 generals that had been drawn up long ago. Behind this list, there are countless trade-offs and choices, an in-depth understanding and rigorous evaluation of each candidate. Every name represents an honor, a responsibility, and a responsibility.
After the meeting, the work of evaluating the ranks of lieutenant generals of the whole army was officially launched. **Xu Liqing, Lai Chuanzhu and others were entrusted with the important task of carrying out this important task. They know that this is not only a job, but also a historical trust. They traveled to various units, gained an in-depth understanding of each candidate's situation, and conducted rigorous inspections and audits.
At that time, all major units of the army submitted their lists of candidates for lieutenant generals, and the length of the list was amazing, reaching more than 200 people. Behind every name, there is a history of heroic and bloody battles, and every honor is the best affirmation of those heroes who have made great contributions to the country and the people.
However, the criteria for awarding titles are not child's play, and the General Cadre Department is very clear about this. With an extremely cautious attitude, they carefully screened out 14 people from the list of more than 200 people, compared with various standards, and after in-depth study and careful consideration.
After the first round of screening, the list was narrowed down to 190 people. However, the work of conferring titles did not end there, and the General Cadre Department once again invited the heads of major units to hold a meeting to discuss and deliberate together. The atmosphere in the conference room was solemn, and every leader had a deep love for his subordinates, and after intense discussion and careful study, 15 more people were eliminated from the list of 190 people.
Among the 15 people who were removed from the list of generals included Yang Zongsheng. So, why did Yang Zongsheng be eliminated?
As we all know, the assessment of military rank is not child's play, it involves many considerations. The level of the position, the size of the military exploits, and the depth of seniority are all important factors that affect a person's military rank.
At the time of the award, Yang Zongsheng held the post of director of the General Rear Horse Administration Bureau. This position was graded at the time at the rank of deputy soldier. The rank of deputy military officer, theoretically, can be either a major general or a colonel. However, in the process of planning the award, Yang Zongsheng was originally considered for the rank of major general.
However, after careful study by the general cadres, they believed that although Yang Zongsheng's qualifications and contributions were worthy of the rank of major general, in the military system at that time, his position was graded to the rank of deputy general, and according to convention, it was more suitable to be awarded the rank of colonel. So, after weighing it up again and again, it was decided to change Yang Zongsheng's military rank to colonel.
Yang Zongsheng reported himself as a lieutenant general, but was awarded the rank of colonel, and he was inevitably a little disappointed in his heart. When he received the award notice, his face changed slightly, and his clenched fists trembled slightly. That feeling was like falling from the top of the mountain to the bottom in an instant, which he couldn't accept.
He did not attend the award ceremony and even locked the colonel's gown in a closet. After the old chief** learned of Yang Zongsheng's situation, he personally came to persuade him. He was invited to work in Xinjiang.
* Tell Yang Zongsheng that there is vast land and abundant resources, waiting for people with lofty ideals to develop and build. Yang Zongsheng was silent for a long time, and finally he agreed to go to Xinjiang to work.
In 1956, Yang Zongsheng set foot on the soil of Xinjiang. This vast land has brought him new hopes and challenges. He successively served as deputy chief of staff and deputy commander of the XPCC, and used his wisdom and talent to contribute to the construction of Xinjiang.
Time flies, and many years have passed in the blink of an eye. Yang Zongsheng silently dedicated himself to the land of Xinjiang, without complaint or regret. In 1981, he died of illness at the age of 75. His departure is deeply regrettable. But his spirit and deeds will forever remain in this land for which he has paid.
**10,000 Fans Incentive Plan