In 1975, a founding major general died of illness, and at his memorial service, a gray-haired old man personally stood guard at the gate to greet the guests. The guests thought he was just an ordinary old man, but when they looked at him, they were startled and hurriedly saluted him.
Major General Xiong Botao in the Generals' Choir)
Who is this old man? He was the commander of the Navy at that time, Senior General Xiao Jinguang, Vice Minister of National Defense. Why did the dignified commander of the Navy stand guard at the gate and greet a guest for a founding rear admiral?
This founding major general is called Xiong Botao, who is very tall, handsome, dignified, and has a voice like a bell, and is a "giant" among the founding generals.
Because of this, in 1959, in the performance of the Generals' Choir for the 10th anniversary of the National Day, he took the lead in coming out, as a representative of the Generals' Choir, to conduct a personal recitation, eulogizing the great leader *** and the Communist Party of China. That was also a highlight moment in Xiong Botao's life.
The surname Xiong is more than Hubei. The king of Chu during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period was surnamed Xiong. Xiong Botao is also a native of Hubei, born in Huangpi County, Wuhan, and is now called Huangpi District. Xiong Botao first served as a soldier in the Kuomintang army, joined the Red Army through the Ningdu Uprising, and fought for the people from then on.
In 1955, Xiong Botao was awarded the rank of founding major general for his outstanding military exploits. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the tall *** served as the Minister of Public Security, and the taller Xiong Botao served as the deputy commander of the Beijing Garrison and the deputy commander of the public security forces.
In October 1975, Xiong Botao unfortunately died of lung cancer at the age of 71. Because of the environment at that time and Xiong Botao's situation in his later years, when the memorial service for the general was held, his widow did not inform many people.
But on the day of the memorial service, many leaders came. Even the police who maintain traffic order are curious, who died today, and why did so many Hongqi cars come at once?
The marshals didn't come, but Mr. Zhu's wife, Sister Kang Keqing, came, and the marshal's widow and the marshal's wife came. The highest level is the two generals, namely Xiao Jinguang and Tan Zheng, and there are many founding generals, lieutenant generals, major generals and so on.
Suddenly, so many people came at once, Xiong Botao's widow Li Wen was unexpected, and she was also confused at once, completely unprepared, and the manpower at the scene was tight, and there was no one to even greet the guests.
Seeing that Xiong Botao's family was in trouble, General Xiao Jinguang walked to the gate and personally greeted the guests to maintain order. After Li Wen found out, he hurriedly went to persuade Xiao Jinguang and said, "Commander Xiao, you better go into the house to rest, how can I let you come to welcome you?" Bo Tao knows underground, and he will also feel uneasy. ”
Xiao Jinguang** Li Da bowed to Xiong Botao's body and said goodbye).
Xiao Jinguang didn't persuade him to leave, insisted on standing at the gate, he said: "Bo Tao is my old subordinate, a good comrade, now that he is gone, I should do something for him." ”
Li Wen was very helpless and couldn't persuade Xiao Jinguang. Xiao Jinguang has been standing at the gate, from beginning to end, busy for most of the day. He is also over seventy years old, suffering from myocardial infarction and other diseases, and his health is not very good.
When the visitors saw Commander Xiao standing at the gate in person, they hurriedly saluted first, and then bowed to Xiong Botao's body. The memorial service was conducted in an orderly manner. At the end of this day, Li Wen was full of gratitude to Commander Xiao Jinguang, and he will never forget this situation for the rest of his life.
After the Ningdu Uprising, Xiong Botao served as the chief of the operations section of a division headquarters in the Red Fifth Army Corps, while Xiao Jinguang was sent to the Red Fifth Army Corps as the political commissar of the corps. Xiong Botao is his subordinate. During the Liberation War, Xiao Jinguang commanded the army to besiege Changchun, and Xiong Botao was the deputy commander of the 12th Column of the Northeast Field Army, which was once again under the command of Xiao Jinguang.
So Xiao Jinguang said that Xiong Botao is his old subordinate. Xiao Gong's great virtue in his life made everyone very admired. He once taught children to look down, not up, and to lend a helping hand when others are in trouble.
For his old comrades-in-arms and the families of his old comrades-in-arms, Xiao Jinguang is very concerned and caring. He personally guarded the door of Xiong Botao's memorial service, not for a show, but a manifestation of his character, and it was the inevitability of his life.