Zhu De - Stories of the Republic Leaders

Author: None
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: In the northern part of the Sichuan Basin, the continuous Dabashan Mountains stretch across the region. Nestled among the towering peaks and ridges lies a small county town, known later as Yilong. On December 1, 1886 (the sixth day of the eleventh lunar month), Song De was born into a poor tenant farmer family in Lijiawan, Ma'an Town, Yilong County. The Song family originated from Shaoguan, Guangdong. They migrated to Sichuan during the late Ming Dynasty and early Qing Dynasty. From the time of his ancestor, Shifu Xian, to Song De's generation, it was the sixth generation. For generations, the family had toiled under the sun and faced hardships, surviving by renting land from the landlord Ding Qiuquan. When Song De was born, there were 11 people in three generations of the family crammed into an abandoned, dilapidated granary owned by Ding Qiuquan. His grandfather, Zhu Bangjun, was a simple, hardworking farmer who devoted his entire life to the land. Even into his 80s and 90s, he had to keep farming, as not doing so would make him sick. Just before his death, he was still working in the fields. Zhu Bangjun had four sons, and Song De's father, Zhu Shilin, was the second eldest and spent his entire life farming. He was a honest and kind-hearted man. Song De's mother, Zhong Shi, was the daughter of a poor artist. She was gentle, virtuous, and wise, with a deep understanding of matters. Her patience, kindness, and benevolence had a significant impact on Song De's entire life. When Song De was two years old, he was adopted by his uncle, Song Shilian. In Song De's memory, his uncle was a strict and diligent man who knew how to save and was extraordinary.