Luo Ruiqing: A Biography

Author: Huang Yao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1996-11-01
Features: Luo Ruiqing was a famous revolutionary and military figure in China, born on May 31, 1906, in a declining landlord family in Nanchong County, Sichuan Province. With the support of his maternal grandfather, Luo Ruiqing received an education. During his middle school years, he began to come into contact with progressive ideas, but faced strong opposition from his family. His maternal grandfather wanted to shape Luo Ruiqing according to his own wishes and imposed "three rules" on him: he must study diligently, not read books promoting "heretical and evil doctrines," and not participate in partisan activities, otherwise, he would stop supporting his education. However, Luo Ruiqing had always been ambitious and had a sense of chivalry from a young age. He defied his maternal grandfather's prohibitions and actively participated in the struggle against the "landlord's rent tax" organized by teachers and students at Nanchong Middle School. Later, he joined the student movement and the workers' movement alongside progressive classmates and became a teacher at the workers' evening school. From then on, his maternal grandfather cut off his financial support. Yet, at the age of only 20, Luo Ruiqing did not yield to family pressure and resolutely joined the Communist Youth League and enrolled in the Wuhan Branch of the Whampoa Military Academy, marking the beginning of his military career.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Luo Ruiqing served in various high-ranking positions, including Minister of Public Security, Vice Premier of the State Council, and Chief of the General Staff of the People's Liberation Army. Despite his high status, he never exploited his privileges. While serving as Minister of Public Security, he once went to the train station with two companions to pick up a guest. Due to being late, one of the companions did not have time to buy platform tickets and led Luo Ruiqing directly to the ticketing counter. He simply told the ticket inspector, "We are from the Ministry of Public Security, and we are here to pick up a guest," and they entered the station. On the way back, Luo Ruiqing recalled the scene of entering the station and suddenly asked, "Did you buy platform tickets?" One of the companions shook his head. After delivering the guest to their accommodation, Luo Ruiqing immediately told the companion, "You must go to the station right now and pay for three platform tickets! As the saying goes in China, 'Do not do evil because it is small, and do not do good because it is small.' One must not have a sense of privilege." This was how Luo Ruiqing approached his work—diligent and meticulous.
After the overthrow of the "Gang of Four," Luo Ruiqing was appointed as a Standing Committee member of the Central Military Commission and Secretary-General of the Central Military Commission. Although he was already in his seventies and had a leg disability at the time, he still insisted on visiting the troops and inspecting national defense fortifications. When some tunnels were too narrow for his wheelchair, he used a cane to walk through them. His relatives and friends worried about his health and urged him to take it easy, but he replied, "In Water Margin, there is a character called 'Dedication Three Brothers.' Today, we must be like them."
Luo Ruiqing passed away on August 3, 1978, at the age of 72.