Wang Zhen
Encyclopedia
Wang Zhen was a Chinese political figure and one of the Eight Immortals of the Communist Party of China.
forces under the command of Hu Zongnan
, Wang Zhen gained fame as the brigade commander of the 359th Brigade for successfully converting waste land in Nanniwan
into productive farm land, and the agricultural output not only supported the brigade itself, but also with a substantial surplus to support other parts of the communist base. The success was later lauded by the communists as an example of self sufficiency.
. The other one was Xu Shiyou
(许世友), but Xu never carried a gun when visiting Mao. Wang Zhen, on the other hand, wore his gun for his first visit. When stopped by Mao's bodyguards, Wang Zhen began to argue with them. Mao investigated the noise, and told his bodyguards that he trusted Wang fully, and unless Wang was carrying atomic bombs, Wang could carry anything he wanted when he visited Mao. After that incident, Wang never wore a weapon while visiting Mao.
In October 1952, Wang Zhen's younger brother, Wang Yumei (王馀美) asked him to provide money to build a mansion for their mother in their hometown, but Wang Zhen refused. When Wang Zhen visited his hometown several years later, it was discovered his younger brother Wang Yumei (王馀美) had kept ducks for their family but allowed them to feed on grain produced on public land, but because Wang Yumei (王馀美) was his younger brother, nobody dared to say or do anything. Wang Zhen personally held a public gathering denouncing his younger brother, and ordered lieutenant Hu Shizhong (胡世中), the commander of the local garrison, to confiscate all ducks owned by Wang Yumei's family. For good measure, he threatened to beat his younger brother in public if he dared to do any similar again. Wang Zhen's treatment of his younger brother earned him a good reputation and many top brass of the communist regime were impressed, feeling that it was good propaganda for the communists.
, Wang Zhen was not popular among Chinese people after 1979 due to his political hard line conservatism. His political support of Deng Xiaoping
and being a member of his regime was largely due to his close personal friendship with Deng, which was further strengthened by their common opposition to radical political reforms. As one of the architects of the suppression by force of the pro-democracy protesters in Tiananmen Square in 1989
, he was quoted in the Tiananmen Papers
as stating in a June 2, 1989 meeting with other Communist Party of China elders: "We should announce in advance to those people occupying the Square that we're coming in. They can listen or not as they choose, but then we move in. If it causes deaths, that's their own fault. We can't be soft or merciful toward anti-Party, anti-socialist elements." He served as the Vice-President of the People's Republic of China from 1988 to 1993 under President Yang Shangkun
.
, and (then) report to Chairman Mao
, Commander-in-Chief Zhu
, and Premier Zhou
", the three people he was most loyal to, in addition to Deng Xiaoping
, who was still alive. The last written words Wang Zhen left were: "Salute to the (Chinese Communist) Party
! Salute to the (Chinese) People! Salute to the PLA
!"
Early years
Like most Chinese communist leaders, Wang was a commander in his early years. During World War II when the communist base in northwestern China was blockaded by KuomintangKuomintang
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...
forces under the command of Hu Zongnan
Hu Zongnan
Hu Zongnan , courtesy name Shoushan , native of Zhenhai, Ningbo, born May 16, 1896. A general in the National Revolutionary Army and then the Republic of China Army. Together with Chen Cheng and Tang Enbo, he formed the triumvirate of Chiang Kai-shek's most trusted generals during the Second...
, Wang Zhen gained fame as the brigade commander of the 359th Brigade for successfully converting waste land in Nanniwan
Nanniwan
Nanniwan is a revolutionary song written in 1943 with lyrics by communist playwright and poet He Jingzhi and music by Ma Ke. It was made popular by the Communist Party of China and continues to be one of the most recognisable songs in the People's Republic of China.Nanniwan is a gorge about 90km...
into productive farm land, and the agricultural output not only supported the brigade itself, but also with a substantial surplus to support other parts of the communist base. The success was later lauded by the communists as an example of self sufficiency.
In the People's Republic of China
After the communist revolution, Wang Zhen was one of only two Chinese commanders who were authorized to carry guns when visiting Mao ZedongMao 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...
. The other one was Xu Shiyou
Xu Shiyou
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...
(许世友), but Xu never carried a gun when visiting Mao. Wang Zhen, on the other hand, wore his gun for his first visit. When stopped by Mao's bodyguards, Wang Zhen began to argue with them. Mao investigated the noise, and told his bodyguards that he trusted Wang fully, and unless Wang was carrying atomic bombs, Wang could carry anything he wanted when he visited Mao. After that incident, Wang never wore a weapon while visiting Mao.
In October 1952, Wang Zhen's younger brother, Wang Yumei (王馀美) asked him to provide money to build a mansion for their mother in their hometown, but Wang Zhen refused. When Wang Zhen visited his hometown several years later, it was discovered his younger brother Wang Yumei (王馀美) had kept ducks for their family but allowed them to feed on grain produced on public land, but because Wang Yumei (王馀美) was his younger brother, nobody dared to say or do anything. Wang Zhen personally held a public gathering denouncing his younger brother, and ordered lieutenant Hu Shizhong (胡世中), the commander of the local garrison, to confiscate all ducks owned by Wang Yumei's family. For good measure, he threatened to beat his younger brother in public if he dared to do any similar again. Wang Zhen's treatment of his younger brother earned him a good reputation and many top brass of the communist regime were impressed, feeling that it was good propaganda for the communists.
Later years
Despite his uncorrupt behavior in the 1950s, and his strong support for Chinese economic reformChinese economic reform
The Chinese economic reform refers to the program of economic reforms called "Socialism with Chinese characteristics" in the People's Republic of China that were started in December 1978 by reformists within the Communist Party of China led by Deng Xiaoping.China had one of the world's largest...
, Wang Zhen was not popular among Chinese people after 1979 due to his political hard line conservatism. His political support of 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...
and being a member of his regime was largely due to his close personal friendship with Deng, which was further strengthened by their common opposition to radical political reforms. As one of the architects of the suppression by force of the pro-democracy protesters in Tiananmen Square in 1989
Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
The Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, also known as the June Fourth Incident in Chinese , were a series of demonstrations in and near Tiananmen Square in Beijing in the People's Republic of China beginning on 15 April 1989...
, he was quoted in the Tiananmen Papers
Tiananmen Papers
The Tiananmen Papers was first published in English in January 2001 by PublicAffairs. The extended Chinese version of this book was published in April that same year under the title 中國六四真相 by Mirror Books in Hong Kong...
as stating in a June 2, 1989 meeting with other Communist Party of China elders: "We should announce in advance to those people occupying the Square that we're coming in. They can listen or not as they choose, but then we move in. If it causes deaths, that's their own fault. We can't be soft or merciful toward anti-Party, anti-socialist elements." He served as the Vice-President of the People's Republic of China from 1988 to 1993 under President Yang Shangkun
Yang Shangkun
Yang Shangkun was President of the People's Republic of China from 1988 to 1993, and was permanent Vice-chair of the Central Military Commission...
.
Death
Another quotation from Wáng Zhèn is said to be: "The Communist Party of China established our government in China at the cost of 40 million people's lives. Any attempt to steal the control of the government from the Party without exchanging with 40 million lives for it is daydreaming!" Wang Zhen died on March 12, 1993, and his last spoken words was that:"I would visit MarxKarl Marx
Karl Heinrich Marx was a German philosopher, economist, sociologist, historian, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. His ideas played a significant role in the development of social science and the socialist political movement...
, and (then) report to Chairman Mao
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...
, Commander-in-Chief Zhu
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 Premier Zhou
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...
", the three people he was most loyal to, in addition to 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...
, who was still alive. The last written words Wang Zhen left were: "Salute to the (Chinese Communist) Party
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
! Salute to the (Chinese) People! Salute to the PLA
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...
!"