On a cold morning in October 1947, on a temporary execution ground in Huanggang, Hubei. A young soldier was escorted to the execution ground, his hands tied behind his back, and he knelt on the grass. At the moment when the soldier with the gun raised his gun, the young man suddenly turned his head, looked at the head of the audience, and said a word in a heavy tone. Then, when the shots rang out, he fell to the ground, blood staining the grass beneath him.
The soldier's name is Zhao Guiliang, who has just turned 24 years old, and is a deputy company commander of a guard regiment. His words before his execution were: "Chief, I have a request, don't tell my old mother about it, just say that I died in battle, she is over 70 years old, and she will not be able to withstand such a blow." ”
In fact, Zhao Guiliang should not have been executed at all. His fate had changed completely just three days earlier.
On October 13, 1947, Liu Deng's army came to Zongluzui Town, Tuanfeng County, Huanggang, Hubei. After days of marching and running, everyone was tired and hungry, and they were really thirsty. One street was deserted, and all the shops were closed. This was originally an old area, but due to the repression, the common people have long fled to the mountains.
Zhao Guiliang was a warm-hearted young man, and his comrades-in-arms were close to him. Seeing that everyone was thirsty, he decided to go to the town to help find some water to drink. Unbeknownst to him, there were closed doors everywhere, and Zhao Guiliang stopped in front of a small grocery store. No one looked inside the shop, but the door was open.
Perhaps because he was too thirsty, Zhao Guiliang pushed the door and walked in. Sure enough, it was empty. He looked around, his eyes fell on a roll of floral cloth, and he remembered the thin military uniforms worn by his comrades, who were going to freeze in winter. So he picked up the flower cloth, saw a bundle of white flour noodles again, and remembered that the chiefs couldn't even drink hot soup, so they moved a bundle of noodles. Finally, he grabbed a few blank pieces of paper and brushes, ready to take them back to the camp for office use.
In this way, Zhao Guiliang walked out of the store with a bunch of things. At this moment, he saw the two leaders of Liu Deng standing at the door, and he was shocked, so he quickly put down his things and stood straight. Political Commissar Deng looked at him and asked in a deep voice, "What's going on?" ”
It turned out that Chief Liu Deng found Zhao Guiliang's actions when he passed by, and immediately rushed to inquire. Zhao Guiliang told the truth of the matter and immediately said that he would put it back in its original place. But it was too late, and this incident caused quite a stir, and the soldiers took the people's money privately, which was no different from bandits.
Strict military discipline is precisely the major problem that Liu Deng's army is currently facing. In order to gain the trust of the local people, they issued a military order to "shoot those who plunder the people's wealth". Although Zhao Guiliang did not rob it, it was no different in the eyes of the people. If punishment is not severe, the consequences are unimaginable.
So, in the early morning of the next day, Chief Liu Deng announced in public that Zhao Guiliang would be shot in accordance with military law. There was an immediate uproar. The people and the warriors begged to educate him and make him a new man. After all, Zhao Guiliang usually treats everyone very well, but this time he made a mistake in judgment. However, Chief Liu Deng did not waver, and he must establish military prestige and let the people see the strict discipline of our army.
Zhao Guiliang did not defend himself, and only asked for one last thing - not to tell his old mother the truth. He knew that when his old mother heard the news, her body in her 70s couldn't stand it. So, when the gunshots rang out in the morning light, the young life was gone. The mother only knew that her son had died heroically on the battlefield.
The tragedy of Zhao Guiliang became a lesson for Liu Deng's army after entering Dabie Mountain. But it is precisely because of strict military discipline that the common people gradually return to the mountains, believing that we are not bandits. As a result, the old district has been revitalized. It can be said that Zhao Guiliang exchanged his life and blood for people's hearts and achieved the red base of Dabie Mountain. Many years later, every time I think of it, Chief Liu Deng will still be full of emotion.
Perhaps, the rules need blood to water. Justice also needs sacrifice to defend. Although the loss of Zhao Guiliang's young life is sad, his sacrifice ensured military discipline and achieved victory. Perhaps, this is the message he left for us.