Wang Shusheng

Wang Shusheng ( May 26, 1905 – January 7, 1974) whose original name was Wang Hongxin, was a Chinese general, strategist, revolutionary and one of the pioneers of Chinese Ordnance and Military Sciences construction. In 1955 Wang became one of the ten Da Jiang (Generals of the Army) of the People's Liberation Army. Wang was from Macheng, Hubei Province, China. He was born into a landlord family but became a major leader of the peasant movement. He experienced many significant battles during the China's turbulent years such as the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Chinese Civil War.

Wang joined the Communist Party of China in 1926 and led peasant movements in districts and counties.^[1] Before that, he was a primary school headmaster. Then Wang started his military career during the Huangma Uprising, establishing the E Northeast Base. Next, Wang took part in the Long March. After the foundation of new China he took charge of the Vice Commander of Hubei Military District. In 1955 Wang was promoted to Four-star General. Wang started his career as a primary school headmaster. During the fire of the revolution and many battles, he followed the footsteps of General Xu Xiangqian. He broadened the small and weak Red Army into a one hundred thousand soldier force. And then, he served as a chief commander.

He had several brushes with death, and he became the only survivor of his 13 brothers and sisters who joined the revolution. He had affiliation with Xu Xiangqian, Li Xiannian, Xu Shiyou, Wang Hongkun, etc.

He was the father of three sons and one daughter.

Early life

The childhood of Wang Shusheng was hard and tough due to the complex and changeable social background. Meanwhile, his thoughts developed with the time going ahead, young as he was, the revolutionary ideas borned from him in an early form. When he was in Macheng Higher Primary School, he was very hardworking,diligent,upright and brave, he studied modern knowledge and exposed to progress thoughts. During the time, his cousin, Wang You'an, gave Wang Shusheng great help and influence. The year he graduated from Macheng Higher Primary School, he was forced to drop school to support family and look after his grandmother. Later, he came back hometown to be a teacher and then the headmaster of Chengmagang Middle School.^[2] However, he was ambitious and longed for success.

Family

On the 26th May 1905, Wang was born in a little village in Macheng County Hubei Province. He had two older brothers. His genealogical name was Wang Hongxin. He totally had three brothers and one sister. Wang was born to a small landlord family, whose fortunes gradually declined after his father's death when he was 6, and his mother's three years later.

In the long march

In 1935, the Long March started. Wang launched the Tumen Battle. He protected the main forces across the Ming River and met with the Central Red Army in Maogong. Later, due to command confusion and supply shortage, the west road army lost continuously, suffering heavy damage. After he came back to Yan’an on his own, Mao Zedong comforted him that he has should not be to blame on the failure and lost.

In the anti-Japanese war

After the anti-Japanese war broke out, Wang Shusheng was chosen to be the deputy commander. He said:"No matter how high your position is, it's for the service of the people. I only have the obligation that serves the people, not for high status or honorary right".^[3] Under the leading of Wang Shusheng, the Chinese Communist Party gained the victory in the Anti-Japanese War. During the time in Yan'an, Wang Shusheng fell in love with a young military doctor named Yang Ju, who later became his wife. They had a simple but happy life with three sons and a daughter.^[4]

In the Chinese civil war

During the Chinese Civil War, he was the Central Military Region deputy commander, the northwest military region commander and political commissar, E Yu Military Region commander. During the second civil war, he was ordered to lead the force to Tongbai Mountain. There, they met with the fifth division of the New Fourth Army, and formed the Central Plains Military District. In the June 1946, he assisted Li Xiannian to command the military district and led the left army across from Guangshui to Pinghan Railway, then went forwards to Wudang Mountain. In Wudang Mountain, he established the Northwest Base. In July 1947, under his leadership, the second field army went into the Dabie Mountains successfully. In 1955, he was awarded the rank of general. He died on January 7, 1974 in Beijing.

After the PRC

Wang Shusheng didn't stop his contributions to the PLA in peacetime. In 1954 the Central Military Commission appointed Wang as the minister of The General Ordnance, which aimed at research and development of modern weapons corresponding to the modernization drive of the PLA. Wang also served as the vice-minister of Defence in 1959.^[5] In 1955, Wang was made a General.^[6] Wang Shusheng died of advanced esophageal cancer in Beijing On 7 January 1974.

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