Nor Wind Nor Rain -- The Legendary Life of Granduncle General Cong Zhou

Author: Zhang Yan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-03-31
Features: Kong Congzhou was an honest man, and everyone trusted him. — Mao Zedong
Kong Congzhou played a major role in the "Xi'an Incident"! He was detained and investigated, and was to be overthrown. I must know, and report to Chairman Mao for approval! — Zhou Enlai
Kong Congzhou, a general, was born in 1906 and passed away in 1991. Kong Congzhou still served as the City Defense Commander, responsible for the defense of Xi'an, commanding the Second Police Brigade and the Artillery Brigade! The time has come, fire the signal rocket and begin the action! Are there any members of the opposing party active in your army? He was one of the founding generals of the People's Republic of China. He was also a famous in the National Revolutionary Army. During the "Xi'an Incident," he served as the City Defense Commander of Xi'an and personally participated in the entire incident, becoming one of its key contributors. He was summoned alone by Jiang Jieshi and also hosted Zhou Enlai, Zhu De, Lin Boqu, and Deng Xiaoping in Jingyang. Mao Zedong had always paid attention to this anti-Japanese general, personally directing the Communist Party organizations in his units, and met with him multiple times for conversations after the founding of the PRC. He was a specific leader in our army's education sector and military scientific research, technology, and equipment work. He was also one of the initiators of electronic warfare research and the establishment of electronic countermeasures units in our army. He was Mao Zedong's father-in-law! He was a formidable general in the eyes of soldiers and a kind father and grandfather in the eyes of his family. In his later years, driven by the historical responsibility of a witness to history, he wrote letters to the Central Committee of the Communist Party and Deng Xiaoping, advocating for the fair evaluation of the contributions of his Kuomintang Revolutionary Army during the Anti-Japanese War, which improved the later lives of a large number of surviving commanders and soldiers. He had a legendary and brilliant life, yet at the age of 85, when he bid farewell to the world, all he desired was a peaceful departure, worthy of the expectations of the living and the promises to the departed.
This small book records the life of General Kong Congzhou as seen through the eyes of his grandson, Zhang Yan. Readers follow Zhang Yan's storytelling to step into that turbulent and grand era, gaining a clearer understanding of the fighting spirit and morale of that generation of revolutionary predecessors as they fought bravely against invaders. The book reveals the outstanding contributions of the general as a military commander, his brilliant achievements in national defense construction, and also showcases his broad-mindedness as Mao Zedong's father-in-law, who never sought personal gain for this relationship. It is not only a review of Kong Congzhou's military career but also carries a deep sense of family affection, reverence, and nostalgia.