He Long

He Long, born on March 22, 1896, emerged from humble beginnings in rural Hunan, China. Despite lacking formal education, he became a prominent figure in the Chinese Communist revolutionary movement. His journey began with a personal vendetta after the death of his uncle, which led him to become an outlaw and gather a small army around him. Initially, he allied with the Kuomintang and took part in the Northern Expedition, but the violent suppression of Communists by Chiang Kai-shek prompted him to rebel.

He Long's revolutionary spirit was evident when he planned and led the Nanchang Uprising, although it ultimately failed. Following this, he established a soviet in rural Hunan and later Guizhou, but was forced to retreat due to Chiang's Encirclement Campaigns. In 1935, he joined the Long March, aligning his forces with those of Mao Zedong after a strategic disagreement with Zhang Guotao.

After settling in Shaanxi, He Long commanded guerrilla forces in Northwest China during both the Chinese Civil War and the Second Sino-Japanese War, successfully expanding Communist control. By the end of nineteen forty-five, he led a force of one hundred seventy thousand troops and became the second-in-command to Peng Dehuai. In the late 1940s, he took charge of Southwest China, balancing both military and civilian responsibilities.

Following the establishment of the People's Republic of China in nineteen forty-nine, He Long held various significant positions, including vice premier. His contributions were recognized in nineteen fifty-five when he was named one of the Ten Marshals. However, he opposed Mao Zedong's attempts to purge Peng Dehuai in nineteen fifty-nine and sought to rehabilitate him. The onset of the Cultural Revolution in nineteen sixty-six marked a turning point, as He Long was among the first PLA leaders to be purged. He passed away in nineteen sixty-nine due to complications from untreated diabetes exacerbated by a glucose injection from his jailers.