Xu Xiangqian
Encyclopedia
Xu Xiangqian was a Chinese
communist
military leader.
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. Xu joined the Communist Party of China
in 1927 and later became a commander in the 4th Front Army of the Red Army
, led by Zhang Guotao
. He served as Zhang's principle commander with Ye Jianying
as Chief of Staff. During this time, he helped Zhang to establish new communist bases and expanded the 4th Front Army of the Chinese Red Army despite the fact that his wife was executed by Zhang Guotao
in his political purges. While under suspicion and the surveillance of Zhang's political commissar
s, Xu Xianqian lead the 80,000 strong 4th Front Army of the Chinese Red Army in Sichuan
to glorious victories against the nationalist warlords' troops that numbered more than 300,000, killing more than 100,000 of them, and defeated and scattered the rest 200,000. Xu remained loyal to Zhang Guotao
despite Zhang's distrust and unlike Ye Jianying
who defected to Mao Zedong
after Mao and Zhang disagreed, Xu faithfully carried out Zhang's unrealistic orders which obviously ended up in the inevitable disaster, which eventually contributed to Zhang Guotao
's fail downfall from power.
During the Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945), Xu fought against the Japan
ese invaders, and established communist bases in the northern China. The communist bases proved to be a communist stronghold and when the communist headquarter in its base in Shaanxi
was forced to be evacuated under the Kuomintang
's military pressure, it was evacuated to the base established by Xu. After World War II
, Xu participated in the struggles against the nationalists and he had demonstrated his brilliant military skills, often contradictory to Mao's military doctrine. For example, when the enemy is much stronger, Mao's military doctrine emphasized on achieving local victories by concentrating the force to form absolute numerical superiority over the enemy in a particular local battle, often at least 3 or 4 times of enemy strength (better 5 or 6 times), and accumulate small victories into large ones. This way, the technical disadvantage and the numerical disadvantage in overall strength can be effectively resolved. Xu, in contrast, during his fight against his fellow Shanxi
warlord Yan Xishan
who is on Chiang Kai-shek
's side, defied Mao's military doctrines by his daring attack on the numerically and technically superior Kuomintang
force in battles and achieving astonishing success: Xu's force only numbered a mere 60,000 at the beginning of the campaigns and within a mere 18 months, his force completely defeated Yan Xishan
's 350,000 numerically and technically superior force, killed 300,000 of them, with only 50,000 out of the original 350,000 being able to escape back to the fortress city of Taiyuan
. During the final assault on Taiyuan
, Xu's numerically and technically inferior force of 100,000 once again defeated the Yan Xishan
's numerically and technically superior force of 130,000, taking the city. Mao and other communist leaders were so impressed by the result that long after the battles were over, they often joked on how did Xu achieved that whenever they met Xu.
After the communist revolution in China in 1949, Xu Xianqian served as the General Chief of Staff of the People's Liberation Army
, as vice chairman of the CMC in 1954, and was awarded the rank of marshal
in 1955. He served as vice premier in 1965. Xu protected Deng Xiaoping
when Deng was purged from the government in 1976. He was one of the military supporters of Hua Guofeng
's coup against the Gang of Four. He later served as Defense Minister from 1978 to 1981. In 1978, Xu was almost killed in an accident of Chinese HJ-73 ATGM demonstration when the missile suddenly malfunctioned and turned 180 degrees after traveling several hundred meters, flying in opposite direction toward the observatory platform where Xu and other top ranking Chinese officers were sitting, and landed right in front of the platform. It was fortunate that the missile failed to explode and Xu and others on the platform survived and remained there until the completion of the demonstration. Xu did not originally planned to attend the demonstration, but because both Ye Jianying
and Nie Rongzhen
originally planned to attend were hospitalized at the time, Xu was invited instead.
Xu led the preparations for PLA operations in the Sino-Vietnam War in 1979.
Chinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
communist
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...
military leader.
Biography
Xu was born in WutaiWutai County
Wutai County is a county under the administration of Xinzhou prefecture-level city of Shanxi Province in northern China.-See also:* Foguang Temple* Zunsheng Temple...
county, Shanxi
Shanxi
' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
province, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. He was admitted to the Whampoa Academy in 1924 and held various officer ranks in the National Revolutionary Army
National Revolutionary Army
The National Revolutionary Army , pre-1928 sometimes shortened to 革命軍 or Revolutionary Army and between 1928-1947 as 國軍 or National Army was the Military Arm of the Kuomintang from 1925 until 1947, as well as the national army of the Republic of China during the KMT's period of party rule...
between 1925 and 1927. Xu joined the Communist Party of China
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...
in 1927 and later became a commander in the 4th Front Army of the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
, led by 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...
. He served as Zhang's principle commander with Ye Jianying
Ye Jianying
Ye Jianying was a Chinese communist general and the chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress from 1978 to 1983.-Biography:...
as Chief of Staff. During this time, he helped Zhang to establish new communist bases and expanded the 4th Front Army of the Chinese Red Army despite the fact that his wife was executed by 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...
in his political purges. While under suspicion and the surveillance of Zhang's political commissar
Commissar
Commissar is the English transliteration of an official title used in Russia from the time of Peter the Great.The title was used during the Provisional Government for regional heads of administration, but it is mostly associated with a number of Cheka and military functions in Bolshevik and Soviet...
s, Xu Xianqian lead the 80,000 strong 4th Front Army of the Chinese Red Army in Sichuan
Sichuan
' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...
to glorious victories against the nationalist warlords' troops that numbered more than 300,000, killing more than 100,000 of them, and defeated and scattered the rest 200,000. Xu remained loyal to 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...
despite Zhang's distrust and unlike Ye Jianying
Ye Jianying
Ye Jianying was a Chinese communist general and the chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress from 1978 to 1983.-Biography:...
who defected to 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...
after Mao and Zhang disagreed, Xu faithfully carried out Zhang's unrealistic orders which obviously ended up in the inevitable disaster, which eventually contributed to 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 fail downfall from power.
During the Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945), Xu fought against the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese invaders, and established communist bases in the northern China. The communist bases proved to be a communist stronghold and when the communist headquarter in its base in Shaanxi
Shaanxi
' is a province in the central part of Mainland China, and it includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River in addition to the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of this province...
was forced to be evacuated under 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...
's military pressure, it was evacuated to the base established by Xu. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Xu participated in the struggles against the nationalists and he had demonstrated his brilliant military skills, often contradictory to Mao's military doctrine. For example, when the enemy is much stronger, Mao's military doctrine emphasized on achieving local victories by concentrating the force to form absolute numerical superiority over the enemy in a particular local battle, often at least 3 or 4 times of enemy strength (better 5 or 6 times), and accumulate small victories into large ones. This way, the technical disadvantage and the numerical disadvantage in overall strength can be effectively resolved. Xu, in contrast, during his fight against his fellow Shanxi
Shanxi
' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
warlord Yan Xishan
Yan Xishan
Yan Xishan, was a Chinese warlord who served in the government of the Republic of China. Yan effectively controlled the province of Shanxi from the 1911 Xinhai Revolution to the 1949 Communist victory in the Chinese Civil War...
who is on Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek was a political and military leader of 20th century China. He is known as Jiǎng Jièshí or Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng in Mandarin....
's side, defied Mao's military doctrines by his daring attack on the numerically and technically superior 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...
force in battles and achieving astonishing success: Xu's force only numbered a mere 60,000 at the beginning of the campaigns and within a mere 18 months, his force completely defeated Yan Xishan
Yan Xishan
Yan Xishan, was a Chinese warlord who served in the government of the Republic of China. Yan effectively controlled the province of Shanxi from the 1911 Xinhai Revolution to the 1949 Communist victory in the Chinese Civil War...
's 350,000 numerically and technically superior force, killed 300,000 of them, with only 50,000 out of the original 350,000 being able to escape back to the fortress city of Taiyuan
Taiyuan
Taiyuan is the capital and largest city of Shanxi province in North China. At the 2010 census, it had a total population of 4,201,591 inhabitants on 6959 km² whom 3,212,500 are urban on 1,460 km². The name of the city literally means "Great Plains", referring to the location where the Fen River...
. During the final assault on Taiyuan
Taiyuan
Taiyuan is the capital and largest city of Shanxi province in North China. At the 2010 census, it had a total population of 4,201,591 inhabitants on 6959 km² whom 3,212,500 are urban on 1,460 km². The name of the city literally means "Great Plains", referring to the location where the Fen River...
, Xu's numerically and technically inferior force of 100,000 once again defeated the Yan Xishan
Yan Xishan
Yan Xishan, was a Chinese warlord who served in the government of the Republic of China. Yan effectively controlled the province of Shanxi from the 1911 Xinhai Revolution to the 1949 Communist victory in the Chinese Civil War...
's numerically and technically superior force of 130,000, taking the city. Mao and other communist leaders were so impressed by the result that long after the battles were over, they often joked on how did Xu achieved that whenever they met Xu.
After the communist revolution in China in 1949, Xu Xianqian served as the General Chief of Staff of the People's Liberation Army
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...
, as vice chairman of the CMC in 1954, and was awarded the rank of marshal
Marshal
Marshal , is a word used in several official titles of various branches of society. The word is an ancient loan word from Old French, cf...
in 1955. He served as vice premier in 1965. Xu protected 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...
when Deng was purged from the government in 1976. He was one of the military supporters of Hua Guofeng
Hua Guofeng
Su Zhu, better known by the nom de guerre Hua Guofeng , was Mao Zedong's designated successor as the Paramount Leader of the Communist Party of China and the People's Republic of China. Upon Zhou Enlai's death in 1976, he succeeded Zhou as the second Premier of the People's Republic of China...
's coup against the Gang of Four. He later served as Defense Minister from 1978 to 1981. In 1978, Xu was almost killed in an accident of Chinese HJ-73 ATGM demonstration when the missile suddenly malfunctioned and turned 180 degrees after traveling several hundred meters, flying in opposite direction toward the observatory platform where Xu and other top ranking Chinese officers were sitting, and landed right in front of the platform. It was fortunate that the missile failed to explode and Xu and others on the platform survived and remained there until the completion of the demonstration. Xu did not originally planned to attend the demonstration, but because both Ye Jianying
Ye Jianying
Ye Jianying was a Chinese communist general and the chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress from 1978 to 1983.-Biography:...
and Nie Rongzhen
Nie Rongzhen
Nie Rongzhen was a prominent Chinese Communist military leader, and one of ten Marshals in the People's Liberation Army of China. He was the last surviving PLA officer with the rank of Marshal.-Biography:...
originally planned to attend were hospitalized at the time, Xu was invited instead.
Xu led the preparations for PLA operations in the Sino-Vietnam War in 1979.