Xu Shiyou
Encyclopedia
Xu Shiyou was a general in the Chinese People's Liberation Army
. Born in Hubei
, Xu grew up studying martial arts at the Shaolin Temple for eight years and he later became a soldier in Wu Peifu
's warlord army. After having served as a lieutenant in the Kuomintang
army, he joined the Chinese Communist Party in 1927.
and Chen Zaidao
. In 1932, he commanded the 34th Regiment, 12th Division of the Fourth Front Army led by future Marshall Xu Xiangqian
. His deputy in the 25th Division, 9th Corps (which Xu later led) in 1933-36, Chen Xilian
, later rose to serve on the Politburo Standing Committee during the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution. By the age of 29, Xu Shiyou commanded the Red 9th Corps of the Fourth Front Army.
Eight months after the First Front Army abandon the Jiangxi Soviet
and embarked on the Long March
, it met up with Zhang Guotao
’s Fourth Front Army, in June 1935 at Maogong, Sichuan. Zhang favored consolidating power in Sichuan whereas Mao Zedong
wanted to continue on to Gansu and Ningxia, to receive aid from the Soviet Union. The compromise decision was to convene a conference, in July at Mao’ergai. Despite support from Liu Bocheng
, Zhu De
and other commanders, Mao would not be convinced. As a result, the Fourth Front Army was divided into a Left Column under Liu, Zhu and Zhang; and a Right Column under Xu Xiangqian. Xu Shiyou at the time commanded a cavalry regiment.
The Second Front Army, under He Long
and Ren Bishi
, and Xiao Ke
's Sixth Front Army linked up with the Fourth Front Army in June 1936. Again dividing their forces, He Long took the Second on a northward line toward Gansu while Zhang led his forces somewhat west of that line. The result was that Zhang’s Fourth Front Army was battered by Nationalist and warlord troops, and arrived in Yenan in poor shape in October 1936. Zhang was forced to submit to Mao’s leadership.
In the first half of 1937, just prior to the formal beginning of the Sino-Japanese War, the purge of Zhang Guotao
and his closest officers sparked turmoil within the party. Cadets of the Fourth Front Army studying at the Anti-Japanese University (Kang Da), including Xu, confronted the party leadership over accusations that Zhang was disloyal.
In 1939, Xu Xiangqian
led elements of the 129th Division – including Xu Shiyou and Han Xianchu
– into western Shandong to recruit new soldiers. Xu Shiyou went on to serve as deputy commander of the 385th Brigade, 129th Division in eastern Shandong and expanded his forces into the 11th Army of Marshall Chen Yi
’s Third Field Army. One of his key deputies during the war was Nie Fengzhi, who would later command the Chinese People's Volunteers Air Force during the Korean War. Xu remainded in Shandong until 1954. In the fall of 1947, Xu commanded the East Front Army Corps of Chen Yi’s East China Field Army (later the 3rd Field Army); his political commissar, Tan Zhenlin
, was one of the most powerful figures in East China. They took Jinan in September 1948.
. As the Korean War unfolded, he moved into Shandong (assuming a seat on the local governing committee and the post of Military District Commander), to confront what was thought to be the risk of an American landing on Chinese soil. In Shandong, he worked closely with Gu Mu and Kang Sheng
. Although Xu did not serve in Korea, his units did. In 1959, his 12th and 60th Corps returned from Korea to the Nanjing Military Region where they provided the power base he would enjoy well into the 1970s.
Xu served as Commander of the Nanjing Military Region (1954–74), first under East China Military and Administrative Committee chairman Rao Shushi
, and then for ten years with
Gang of Four
member Zhang Chunqiao
as his political commissar (1967–76). This assignment was the single longest tenure of any MR commander on record. Among his deputies during the 1960s were future regional leaders Sung Shilun, Wang Bicheng and Tan Qilong, As the armed forces were called in to restore administrative control, he became Chairman of the Jiangsu Province Revolutionary Committee (1968–74) and CCP First Secretary (1970–74). In the long-delayed military region reshuffle initiated under Deng Xiaoping
, Xu was rotated to command the Guangzhou MR (1974–80). Xu and political commissar Wei Guoqing provided protection for Deng Xiaoping
in 1976, when the future paramount leader was purged by the Gang of Four following the death of Zhou Enlai
.. Xu was also commander in chief for the Chinese forces in the Sino-Vietnamese War
in 1979.
of the 9th, 10th and 11th CCP Central Committees (1969–82). He was a Vice Minister of National Defense (1959–70) and a member of the National Defense Council (1965–75).
From 1980, he was also a member of the Military Affairs Commission. In September 1982, Xu became the only military officer named a founding Vice Chairmen of the Central Advisory Commission.
(1937–1945). Both Li Mingzhen and Tian Pu are members of the People's Liberation Army.
In September 1926, Xu joined the Chinese Communist Youth League and go to Wuhan to participate in the National Revolutionary Army. Division 1 Group.
In August 1927, He joined in the Red Army, served for Red Mountain Area 31 Division 2 team squad.
In November 1927, he was th platoon leader of Red Army 31 Division 4 Team 5 platoon.
In 1929,he was appointed a battalion regiment commander of 31 Division 1.
In April, 1930, he served for Red Army regiment 12, division 34.
In July 1933 ,He was appointed Deputy Army and Chairman of Red 9 Jun 25 Division. Red Army commander, he Participated in the Long March.
In November 1936, he studied in Red Army college when they reached northern Shaanxi.
In 1938,he was Deputy Minister of Administrative Affairs.Anti-Japanese Military and Political University
In June 1939, He was the Deputy Brigade Commander of 129 Brigade Division 386 of The Eighth Route Army
In October 1939, he was in the Northern Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.
In September 1940, column of the Eighth Route Army 3rd Brigade of Shandong.
In February 1942. he was the Chief of Staff of Shandong column.
In 1942, He was appointed member of Shandong, Shandong Military Region Commander of the Regional party committee.
During the Liberation War, he served as regional party committee members Shandong, Shandong Military Region Commander.
1947,he was the Commander of the 9th column, East Field Army Corps, Shandong Corps Commander and was on Party Committee.
In March 1949, member of Shandong Military Region Deputy Commander.
After the founding of the PRC, He was the Military Region Deputy Commander of Shandong branch of the CPC Central Committee.
From December 1949 -1953, He was on the Huadong Military Committee.
From January 1950 -1951 He was on CPC Central Committee, Shandong Branch Commission for Discipline Inspection.
From April 1950 -1953,he was Shandong Military Region Commander.
From December 1952 -1954, he was the deputy secretary of Shandong branch,CPC Central Committee.
From April 1953 -1954,he served as commander of No. 3 in the Chinese People's Volunteers Corps .
From July 1953 -1954,he was on the East CPC Central Committee Board.
From February 1954 -1955 , He was deputy commander of Military Region 2, No. 3 Military Party Committee secretary,Huadong region.
From October 1954 -1959, He was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff of the PLA.
From March 1955 -1973,he was appointed commander of Military Region 3 party secretary, party secretary of Nanjing Military Region.
From October 1958 -1960,he was on Shanghai Bureau of the CPC Central Committee .
From September 1959 -1978 He was appointed deputy defense minister.
From February 1961 -1966 secretary of the CPC Central Committee East China Bureau.
From March 1968 -1973,he was appointed director of Jiangsu Provincial Revolutionary Committee.
From March 1970 -12, he was appointed Provincial Revolutionary Committee of the party's core team leader.
From December 1970 -1973 he was on CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee.
From April 1969 -1982, he was the member of the CPC Central Military Commission the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau.
From January 1980 -1982 He served as a member of the Standing Committee of CPC Central Military Commission.
From December 1973 -1980 He was Guangzhou Military Region Commander, Military District No. 1 party secretary (April 1974 onwards).
From September 1982 -1985 CPC Central Committee,he was the deputy director of Advisory Committee Standing Committee. Session 1-3 Defense Committee. No. 1,4,5 th National People's Congress. The 8th CPC Central Committee alternate members, (12) members, 9-11 th Central Committee Political Bureau, member of the Central Advisory Board of 12 Elected member of the Standing Committee and deputy director.
In September 1955,he was awarded the rank of general, an honor Medal, an Medal of Independence, a Liberation Medal.
On October 22, 1985, he died in Nanjing.
People's Liberation Army
The People's Liberation Army is the unified military organization of all land, sea, strategic missile and air forces of the People's Republic of China. The PLA was established on August 1, 1927 — celebrated annually as "PLA Day" — as the military arm of the Communist Party of China...
. Born in Hubei
Hubei
' Hupeh) is a province in Central China. The name of the province means "north of the lake", referring to its position north of Lake Dongting...
, Xu grew up studying martial arts at the Shaolin Temple for eight years and he later became a soldier in Wu Peifu
Wu Peifu
Wu Peifu or Wu P'ei-fu , was a major figure in the struggles between the warlords who dominated Republican China from 1916 to 1927.- Early career :...
's warlord army. After having served as a lieutenant in the Kuomintang
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
army, he joined the Chinese Communist Party in 1927.
Early career
Xu first emerged in the annals of Chinese military history in Hubei in 1927, as part of a nascent military unit that included future generals Qin JiweiQin Jiwei
Qin Jiwei was a general of the People's Republic of China, Minister of National Defense and a member of the Chinese Communist Party Politburo.Qin Jiwei was born to a poor peasant family in Huang'an , Hubei Province of China in November 1914....
and Chen Zaidao
Chen Zaidao
Chen Zaidao was a Chinese general in the People's Liberation Army, who commanded the Wuhan Military Region 1954-67. He is most noted for having arrested pro-Mao Xie Fuzhi and Wang Li during the Wuhan Incident in July 1967...
. In 1932, he commanded the 34th Regiment, 12th Division of the Fourth Front Army led by future Marshall Xu Xiangqian
Xu Xiangqian
Xu Xiangqian was a Chinese communist military leader.-Biography:Xu was born in Wutai county, Shanxi province, China. He was admitted to the Whampoa Academy in 1924 and held various officer ranks in the National Revolutionary Army between 1925 and 1927...
. His deputy in the 25th Division, 9th Corps (which Xu later led) in 1933-36, Chen Xilian
Chen Xilian
Chen Kaichu, better known by the nom de guerre Chen Xilian was a general of People's Liberation Army of China and a member of the Central Committee Politburo....
, later rose to serve on the Politburo Standing Committee during the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution. By the age of 29, Xu Shiyou commanded the Red 9th Corps of the Fourth Front Army.
Eight months after the First Front Army abandon the Jiangxi Soviet
Jiangxi Soviet
The Chinese Soviet Republic , also translated as the Soviet Republic of China or the China Soviet Republic, and often referred to in historical literature as the Jiangxi Soviet , was a state established in November 1931 by the future Communist Party of China leader Mao...
and embarked on the Long March
Long March
The Long March was a massive military retreat undertaken by the Red Army of the Communist Party of China, the forerunner of the People's Liberation Army, to evade the pursuit of the Kuomintang army. There was not one Long March, but a series of marches, as various Communist armies in the south...
, it met up with Zhang Guotao
Zhang Guotao
Zhang Guotao was a founding member and important leader of the Chinese Communist Party and bitter rival to Mao Zedong. During the 1920s he studied in the Soviet Union and became a key contact with the Comintern and organized the CCP labor movement in the United Front with the Guomindang...
’s Fourth Front Army, in June 1935 at Maogong, Sichuan. Zhang favored consolidating power in Sichuan whereas Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong, also transliterated as Mao Tse-tung , and commonly referred to as Chairman Mao , was a Chinese Communist revolutionary, guerrilla warfare strategist, Marxist political philosopher, and leader of the Chinese Revolution...
wanted to continue on to Gansu and Ningxia, to receive aid from the Soviet Union. The compromise decision was to convene a conference, in July at Mao’ergai. Despite support from Liu Bocheng
Liu Bocheng
Liu Bocheng was a Chinese Communist military commander and Marshal of the People's Liberation Army.Liu is known as one of the "Three and A Half" Strategists of China in modern history...
, Zhu De
Zhu De
Zhu De was a Chinese militarist, politician, revolutionary, and one of the pioneers of the Chinese Communist Party. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, in 1955 Zhu became one of the Ten Marshals of the People's Liberation Army, of which he is regarded as the founder.-Early...
and other commanders, Mao would not be convinced. As a result, the Fourth Front Army was divided into a Left Column under Liu, Zhu and Zhang; and a Right Column under Xu Xiangqian. Xu Shiyou at the time commanded a cavalry regiment.
The Second Front Army, under He Long
He Long
He Long was a Chinese military leader. He rose to the rank of Marshal and Vice Premier after the founding of the People's Republic of China.-Early life:He Long was a member of the Tujia ethnic group...
and Ren Bishi
Ren Bishi
Ren Bishi was a rising figure in the Chinese Communist Party until his death at the age of 46. He was born in Hunan and was ranked 5th in the 7th Politburo of the Communist Party of China.-References:...
, and Xiao Ke
Xiao Ke
Xiao Ke was a general in the People's Liberation Army of China, former vice chairman of the CPPCC, as well as principal of the University of Military and Politics.-Early life:Xiao was born in Jiahe County, Hunan Province of China....
's Sixth Front Army linked up with the Fourth Front Army in June 1936. Again dividing their forces, He Long took the Second on a northward line toward Gansu while Zhang led his forces somewhat west of that line. The result was that Zhang’s Fourth Front Army was battered by Nationalist and warlord troops, and arrived in Yenan in poor shape in October 1936. Zhang was forced to submit to Mao’s leadership.
In the first half of 1937, just prior to the formal beginning of the Sino-Japanese War, the purge of Zhang Guotao
Zhang Guotao
Zhang Guotao was a founding member and important leader of the Chinese Communist Party and bitter rival to Mao Zedong. During the 1920s he studied in the Soviet Union and became a key contact with the Comintern and organized the CCP labor movement in the United Front with the Guomindang...
and his closest officers sparked turmoil within the party. Cadets of the Fourth Front Army studying at the Anti-Japanese University (Kang Da), including Xu, confronted the party leadership over accusations that Zhang was disloyal.
In 1939, Xu Xiangqian
Xu Xiangqian
Xu Xiangqian was a Chinese communist military leader.-Biography:Xu was born in Wutai county, Shanxi province, China. He was admitted to the Whampoa Academy in 1924 and held various officer ranks in the National Revolutionary Army between 1925 and 1927...
led elements of the 129th Division – including Xu Shiyou and Han Xianchu
Han Xianchu
Han Xianchu was a general of the Chinese Communist Party. Han participated in many military campaigns and battles such as Battle of Pingxingguan, Liaoshen Campaign, Pingjin Campaign, Hainan Campaign, and the Korean War...
– into western Shandong to recruit new soldiers. Xu Shiyou went on to serve as deputy commander of the 385th Brigade, 129th Division in eastern Shandong and expanded his forces into the 11th Army of Marshall Chen Yi
Chen Yi (communist)
Chen Yi was a Chinese communist military commander and politician. He served as the 2nd Mayor of Shanghai and the 2nd Foreign Minister of China.-Biography:Chen was born in Lezhi, near Chengdu, Sichuan, into a moderately wealthy magistrate's family....
’s Third Field Army. One of his key deputies during the war was Nie Fengzhi, who would later command the Chinese People's Volunteers Air Force during the Korean War. Xu remainded in Shandong until 1954. In the fall of 1947, Xu commanded the East Front Army Corps of Chen Yi’s East China Field Army (later the 3rd Field Army); his political commissar, Tan Zhenlin
Tan Zhenlin
Tan Zhenlin was a political commissar in the People's Liberation Army during the Chinese Civil War, and a Communist politician after the establishment of the People's Republic of China.Tan Zhenlin was born in You County , Hunan Province...
, was one of the most powerful figures in East China. They took Jinan in September 1948.
Regional Power
At the end of the war, Xu’s forces found themselves in Shanghai, and he became a member of the East China Military and Administrative Committee under Chen Yi and Su YuSu Yu
Su Yu was a Chinese Communist military leader. He was considered by many to be among the best commanders of the PLA only next to Lin Biao and Liu Bocheng. Su Yu fought in the Sino-Japanese War and in the Chinese Civil War...
. As the Korean War unfolded, he moved into Shandong (assuming a seat on the local governing committee and the post of Military District Commander), to confront what was thought to be the risk of an American landing on Chinese soil. In Shandong, he worked closely with Gu Mu and Kang Sheng
Kang Sheng
Kang Sheng , Communist Party of China official, oversaw the work of the People's Republic of China's security and intelligence apparatus at the height of the Cultural Revolution in the late 1960s. He was a close associate of Mao Zedong and remained at or near the pinnacle of power for decades...
. Although Xu did not serve in Korea, his units did. In 1959, his 12th and 60th Corps returned from Korea to the Nanjing Military Region where they provided the power base he would enjoy well into the 1970s.
Xu served as Commander of the Nanjing Military Region (1954–74), first under East China Military and Administrative Committee chairman Rao Shushi
Rao Shushi
Rao Shushi like his confederate Gao Gang, was a senior leader of the Communist Party of China , who once enjoyed great power and fame that then quickly evaporated, leaving behind many mysteries about his rise and fall.-Early years:...
, and then for ten years with
Gang of Four
Gang of Four
The Gang of Four was the name given to a political faction composed of four Chinese Communist Party officials. They came to prominence during the Cultural Revolution and were subsequently charged with a series of treasonous crimes...
member Zhang Chunqiao
Zhang Chunqiao
Zhang Chunqiao was a prominent Chinese political theorist, writer, and politician...
as his political commissar (1967–76). This assignment was the single longest tenure of any MR commander on record. Among his deputies during the 1960s were future regional leaders Sung Shilun, Wang Bicheng and Tan Qilong, As the armed forces were called in to restore administrative control, he became Chairman of the Jiangsu Province Revolutionary Committee (1968–74) and CCP First Secretary (1970–74). In the long-delayed military region reshuffle initiated under Deng Xiaoping
Deng Xiaoping
Deng Xiaoping was a Chinese politician, statesman, and diplomat. As leader of the Communist Party of China, Deng was a reformer who led China towards a market economy...
, Xu was rotated to command the Guangzhou MR (1974–80). Xu and political commissar Wei Guoqing provided protection for Deng Xiaoping
Deng Xiaoping
Deng Xiaoping was a Chinese politician, statesman, and diplomat. As leader of the Communist Party of China, Deng was a reformer who led China towards a market economy...
in 1976, when the future paramount leader was purged by the Gang of Four following the death of Zhou Enlai
Zhou Enlai
Zhou Enlai was the first Premier of the People's Republic of China, serving from October 1949 until his death in January 1976...
.. Xu was also commander in chief for the Chinese forces in the Sino-Vietnamese War
Sino-Vietnamese War
The Sino–Vietnamese War , also known as the Third Indochina War, known in the PRC as and in Vietnam as Chiến tranh chống bành trướng Trung Hoa , was a brief but bloody border war fought in 1979 between the People's Republic of China and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam...
in 1979.
Central Power
After being elected an Alternate Member of the 8th Central Committee in 1956, Xu Shiyou served in the PolitburoPolitburo
Politburo , literally "Political Bureau [of the Central Committee]," is the executive committee for a number of communist political parties.-Marxist-Leninist states:...
of the 9th, 10th and 11th CCP Central Committees (1969–82). He was a Vice Minister of National Defense (1959–70) and a member of the National Defense Council (1965–75).
From 1980, he was also a member of the Military Affairs Commission. In September 1982, Xu became the only military officer named a founding Vice Chairmen of the Central Advisory Commission.
Personal life & Important Events
Xu Shiyou has married three times. His first wife was a traditional rural woman. The second wife, Li Mingzhen, was married to him in the E-Yu-Wan border region. Hist third and the last wife, Tian Pu, was married to him in Shandong during the Second Sino-Japanese WarSecond Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
(1937–1945). Both Li Mingzhen and Tian Pu are members of the People's Liberation Army.
In September 1926, Xu joined the Chinese Communist Youth League and go to Wuhan to participate in the National Revolutionary Army. Division 1 Group.
In August 1927, He joined in the Red Army, served for Red Mountain Area 31 Division 2 team squad.
In November 1927, he was th platoon leader of Red Army 31 Division 4 Team 5 platoon.
In 1929,he was appointed a battalion regiment commander of 31 Division 1.
In April, 1930, he served for Red Army regiment 12, division 34.
In July 1933 ,He was appointed Deputy Army and Chairman of Red 9 Jun 25 Division. Red Army commander, he Participated in the Long March.
In November 1936, he studied in Red Army college when they reached northern Shaanxi.
In 1938,he was Deputy Minister of Administrative Affairs.Anti-Japanese Military and Political University
In June 1939, He was the Deputy Brigade Commander of 129 Brigade Division 386 of The Eighth Route Army
In October 1939, he was in the Northern Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.
In September 1940, column of the Eighth Route Army 3rd Brigade of Shandong.
In February 1942. he was the Chief of Staff of Shandong column.
In 1942, He was appointed member of Shandong, Shandong Military Region Commander of the Regional party committee.
During the Liberation War, he served as regional party committee members Shandong, Shandong Military Region Commander.
1947,he was the Commander of the 9th column, East Field Army Corps, Shandong Corps Commander and was on Party Committee.
In March 1949, member of Shandong Military Region Deputy Commander.
After the founding of the PRC, He was the Military Region Deputy Commander of Shandong branch of the CPC Central Committee.
From December 1949 -1953, He was on the Huadong Military Committee.
From January 1950 -1951 He was on CPC Central Committee, Shandong Branch Commission for Discipline Inspection.
From April 1950 -1953,he was Shandong Military Region Commander.
From December 1952 -1954, he was the deputy secretary of Shandong branch,CPC Central Committee.
From April 1953 -1954,he served as commander of No. 3 in the Chinese People's Volunteers Corps .
From July 1953 -1954,he was on the East CPC Central Committee Board.
From February 1954 -1955 , He was deputy commander of Military Region 2, No. 3 Military Party Committee secretary,Huadong region.
From October 1954 -1959, He was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff of the PLA.
From March 1955 -1973,he was appointed commander of Military Region 3 party secretary, party secretary of Nanjing Military Region.
From October 1958 -1960,he was on Shanghai Bureau of the CPC Central Committee .
From September 1959 -1978 He was appointed deputy defense minister.
From February 1961 -1966 secretary of the CPC Central Committee East China Bureau.
From March 1968 -1973,he was appointed director of Jiangsu Provincial Revolutionary Committee.
From March 1970 -12, he was appointed Provincial Revolutionary Committee of the party's core team leader.
From December 1970 -1973 he was on CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee.
From April 1969 -1982, he was the member of the CPC Central Military Commission the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau.
From January 1980 -1982 He served as a member of the Standing Committee of CPC Central Military Commission.
From December 1973 -1980 He was Guangzhou Military Region Commander, Military District No. 1 party secretary (April 1974 onwards).
From September 1982 -1985 CPC Central Committee,he was the deputy director of Advisory Committee Standing Committee. Session 1-3 Defense Committee. No. 1,4,5 th National People's Congress. The 8th CPC Central Committee alternate members, (12) members, 9-11 th Central Committee Political Bureau, member of the Central Advisory Board of 12 Elected member of the Standing Committee and deputy director.
In September 1955,he was awarded the rank of general, an honor Medal, an Medal of Independence, a Liberation Medal.
On October 22, 1985, he died in Nanjing.