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He Long

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He Long was a prominent Chinese Communist revolutionary and a high-ranking military leader.

He served as one of the Ten Marshals of the People's Republic of China. His life spanned many of the most important eras in modern Chinese history. He rose from a humble background to hold immense political and military power. His journey involved leading large armies through wars and helping to build a new nation.

He Long1
He Long1

However, his life also ended in a period of deep political struggle and hardship.

He Long was born on March 22, 1896, in Sangzhi, Hunan. He belonged to the Tujia ethnic group.

He Long in traditional Tujia attire
He Long in traditional Tujia attire

His family was poor, and they could not provide him with a formal education. As a young man, he worked as a cowherd. His life changed at age 20 after a violent encounter with a local tax assessor. This event led him to become an outlaw. Legend says he began his revolutionary career using only two kitchen knives. He gained a reputation as a "Robin Hood-like figure" because of his actions. He eventually raised a volunteer army that joined the National Revolutionary Army in 1920.

His military career involved shifting loyalties as China's political landscape changed. In 1925, he ran a school to train Kuomintang soldiers. During this time, he met students who were members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). He joined the CCP in late 1926. In 1927, after the Kuomintang began suppressing Communists, He Long broke away to join the Red Army. He and Zhu De planned the Nanchang Uprising in 1927 to seize control of Nanchang. This battle was very difficult and resulted in 50% casualties for the Communists. Only 2,000 survivors eventually returned to the fight in 1928.

After the failure of the Nanchang Uprising, He Long focused on building rural bases. He organized a "soviet" in the Hunan-Hubei border region. A soviet is a territory controlled by a specific political group. In 1932, Kuomintang forces attacked this base during the Fourth Encirclement Campaign. He Long was forced to move his forces to northeast Guizhou in 1933. He later joined the Long March in November 1935. This was a massive movement of Communist forces across China. During the march, he met with forces led by Zhang Guotao. He disagreed with Zhang's strategy and chose to join Mao Zedong instead.

He Long in NRA uniform
He Long in NRA uniform

By 1937, He Long had established a headquarters in northwestern Shaanxi. His troops were among the few to arrive in Yan'an mostly intact. This allowed his forces to protect the new Communist capital. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, he commanded the 120th Division of the Eighth Route Army. He was very successful at expanding Communist control in the northwest. He often worked with local guerrilla forces to fight the Japanese army. By the end of World War II in 1945, he commanded approximately 175,000 troops.

Deng Xiaoping, He Long and Zhu De
Deng Xiaoping, He Long and Zhu De

After the Japanese surrender, he became the second-in-command to Peng Dehuai.

Following the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, He Long held many roles. He was promoted to command the First Field Army in Southwest China. He spent much of the 1950s administering this region in both military and civilian capacities. In 1955, the government recognized his contributions by naming him one of the Ten Marshals. He also served as a Vice Premier. He led many international delegations to meet leaders in the Soviet Union and East Germany.

Nie Rongzhen, He Long, Luo Ronghuan on Tian'anmen
Nie Rongzhen, He Long, Luo Ronghuan on Tian'anmen

He was known as one of the most well-traveled members of the CCP elite.

The final years of He Long's life were marked by political conflict. In 1959, he refused to support Mao Zedong's efforts to remove Peng Dehuai from power. He attempted to defend Peng's reputation, which caused tension with the leadership. In 1966, during the Cultural Revolution, He Long was purged from his positions. He was accused of being a "rightist" and a "bandit." He was placed under indefinite house arrest for his final two and a half years. During this time, his access to food, heat, and medicine was restricted. He had chronic diabetes that went untreated. He died in 1969 due to complications from his illness and malnutrition. His reputation was later restored by the government in the 1970s and 1980s.

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🖼️ Images & Media (10)
File:Republic of China Army Flag.svg
Republic of China Army Flag.svg
File:Flag of the Chinese Communist Party (Pre-1996).svg
Flag of the Chinese Communist Party (Pre-1996).svg
File:Order of Bayi 1st Class.svg
Order of Bayi 1st Class.svg
File:Order of Independence and Freedom 1st Class.svg
Order of Independence and Freedom 1st Class.svg
File:Order of Liberation 1st Class.svg
Order of Liberation 1st Class.svg
File:He Long in traditional Tujia attire.jpg
He Long in traditional Tujia attire.jpg
File:He Long1.jpg
He Long1.jpg
File:He Long in NRA uniform.jpg
He Long in NRA uniform.jpg
File:Deng Xiaoping, He Long and Zhu De.jpg
Deng Xiaoping, He Long and Zhu De.jpg
File:Nie Rongzhen, He Long, Luo Ronghuan on Tian'anmen.jpg
Nie Rongzhen, He Long, Luo Ronghuan on...
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