General's Ode

Author: Mo Yingfeng
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-01-01
Features: Since its establishment, the Mao Dun Literature Prize has held five sessions, with a total of twenty-two long novels (two additional works received honorary awards). Most of these winning works have achieved breakthroughs in the narrative art of long novels, possessing certain ideological depth and strong artistic appeal. They represent the overall pinnacle of long-form creation, showcasing the outstanding achievements of China's long novel writing over the past two decades in the new era, and have become a benchmark in the minds of contemporary Chinese writers. Among them, there are works that reflect on our winding journey and hold enlightenment and guiding significance for new era literature, such as Xu Mao and His Daughters, Furong Town, and General's Ode. There are works that depict the profound hardships and constraints of our nation, delving into deep reflections on the fate of the country and the nation, such as Yellow River Flows East, Heavy Wings, and Choice. There are works that portray the destinies of characters and observe them in the context of social changes, writing about life's struggles and striving, such as The Funeral of a Muslim, The Dust Settles, and The Ballad of Everlasting Regret. There are long historical novels that draw lessons from history and explore the deep cultural connotations of our nation, such as Li Zicheng, The Young Emperor, and White Gate Willow. And there are monumental works like Ordinary World and White Deer Plain, which are weighty and somber, reaching the depths of the soul. It can be said that some winning works of the Mao Dun Literature Prize have become classics of contemporary Chinese long novels and hold a pivotal position in the history of contemporary Chinese literature. They not only represent the highest level of contemporary Chinese long novel writing but also resonate deeply with the public, exerting immense influence. Several of them have circulation figures exceeding one million copies. Without a doubt, their awards symbolize the authority of this prize.
Now, with the strong support of the authors, their families, and relevant publishing organizations, the Complete Collection of Mao Dun Literature Prize Winning Works is exclusively launched by the People's Literature Publishing House. For this compilation, we have meticulously proofread all the works. For some, to facilitate reading, we have added editorial notes. For multi-volume works that won awards in partial volumes, the entire works are included this time. We have adopted an internationally popular format, large-character typesetting, and elegant, dignified, and imposing binding, striving to make the Complete Collection of Mao Dun Literature Prize Winning Works a premium, refined, and perfect masterpiece, suitable for reading, appreciation, gifting, and collection.
This is a novel that positively depicts the entire process of the Cultural Revolution. It follows the persecution of Peng Qi, the commander of a certain air force army corps, as its main thread, using the different fates of three generals to praise the principle and struggle of the older generation of revolutionaries while condemning the crimes of Lin Biao and the "Gang of Four." Peng Qi was an old general who had climbed snow-covered mountains and traversed grasslands with Chairman Mao, fought against Japan and the Kuomintang. Due to his remarks at a party committee meeting—"the air force is famous for cleaning up, it's empty show and formalism"—and his criticism of Wu Faching—"he doesn't understand military matters and cannot be a commander"—he was labeled a "party enemy" in the early days of the Cultural Revolution, imprisoned, separated from his wife and children, and nearly lost his life. Yet, even in his, he went to great lengths to protect his comrades, earnestly persuaded those who were "rebeling," and used the method of apparent detention to shield them from immediate harm. He endured immense suffering until Premier Zhou Enlai personally called him to Beijing. Another general, Chen Jingquan, was an old compatriot and comrade-in-arms of Peng Qi. The "rebel faction" forced him to lead the persecution of Peng Qi, so he had no choice but to comply, feeling "like his heart was torn apart" in the face of the complex situation. He lost an arm, was widowed, and suffered from illness, yet remained loyal throughout his life. There was also an old revolutionary, Hu Liansheng, who was resolute and fiery. He opposed the deification of leaders, saying that Chairman Mao was a human, not a Bodhisattva. At the so-called "public trial," he cursed the "rebel faction" for having "rebelled to the point where right and wrong no longer existed," and he himself received inhuman treatment. The daughters of the three generals in the novel also grew up during the struggle: the composed Peng Xiangxiang, the fiery Chen Xiaopao, and the "Lixiaoya whose colors and fragrances were still mysterious." The "rebel faction" leader Fan Ziyou and his wife, as well as the villains Wu Zhong and his wife, Jiang Zui Zhang, and others, ultimately escaped their shameful fate.