From "Commander" to "Old Xu": General Xu Shiyou Joins a Company as a Common Soldier to Shed His "Official Airs"
The Chinese People's Revolution Military Museum holds a set of military uniforms worn and used by General Xu Shiyou — the clothing, equipment, and kit indistinguishable in every respect from those of an ordinary soldier of the time. Why would a senior cadre put on the uniform of a private first class? The story behind this must be traced back to 1958.
The military uniform, straw sandals, and shoulder bag Xu Shiyou used when he went down to the company.
In August 1958, Comrade Mao Zedong advocated that "all military cadres go down and serve as soldiers for one month each year" — training and living alongside the enlisted men. Xu Shiyou responded actively, becoming one of the first generals to voluntarily sign up for the program.
Xu Shiyou.
On October 17 of that same year, Xu Shiyou — wearing a forage cap and soldier's uniform — arrived at the 7th Squad of the 6th Infantry Company at a coastal defense frontline position, where he served as a "private first class."
On the first day at mealtime, the squad leader and soldiers competed to ladle water and dish out food for Xu Shiyou. Xu Shiyou declined, saying: "Comrade Squad Leader, I am serving as a soldier in your squad — you are my superior. You must manage and correct me boldly. Don't stand on ceremony. You must let me shed my official airs."
A photograph taken of Xu Shiyou during his time with the company.
The company conducted cliff-climbing training. Seizing a moment when no one was paying attention, Xu Shiyou grabbed a rope and began to climb as well. He ultimately reached the top successfully. At the squad affairs meeting that evening, Squad Leader Zhang Jisheng criticized Xu Shiyou, saying: "You are getting on in years — you should rest." Xu Shiyou laughed and replied: "If I wanted to rest, why would I come to serve as a soldier? I came to serve as a soldier precisely to eat, live, and drill together with everyone. I will not be a special-case soldier."
On another occasion, Xu Shiyou was hoeing weeds and sweeping up rubbish together with the soldiers in his squad. A cadre holding a camera stood to one side and asked Xu Shiyou to stop for a moment to have his photograph taken. Xu Shiyou did not stop. He kept sweeping as he said: "The old commune members in the people's communes, fifty or sixty years old, work from morning to night, and no one takes their photograph. We do a little bit of work, and someone wants to take a photograph — I think we'd better not."
A photograph taken of Xu Shiyou during his time with the company.
During breaks in training, the soldiers learned that Xu Shiyou had practiced martial arts in his youth and had a deep foundation in the martial arts. They unanimously asked him to give a demonstration. Xu Shiyou stood up, clasped his fists together, and launched into a performance with fierce, vigorous energy. Many soldiers watched and then pestered him to teach them kung fu. In the end, every soldier in the entire company became his "disciple." The "bench calisthenics" (板凳操) he refined became a fitness activity that swept through the company for a time.
He also used spare moments to have heart-to-heart talks with the soldiers. The men in the squad had initially been somewhat reserved, but seeing how sincere and approachable he was, they quickly set aside their misgivings. At first the soldiers addressed him as "Commander" (首长); later they called him "Old Comrade Xu" (老许同志); and finally they simply called him "Old Xu" (老许). From this shift in forms of address, Xu Shiyou knew he had become one of the soldiers.
At night, Xu Shiyou stood guard together with the soldiers.
In the blink of an eye, thirty days had passed. Xu Shiyou had come to understand the soldiers' living conditions, training, and state of mind, and had forged a deep bond with them. When the time came to leave the company, neither side could bear to part. Squad Leader Zhang Jisheng, on behalf of the squad, prepared a detailed assessment of Xu Shiyou's performance. Xu Shiyou was named an honorary soldier of the company.
General Xu Shiyou, at the age of destiny (天命之年), once again became a soldier. Strict with himself and yet able to become one with the enlisted men, he demonstrated through his actions that true political achievement (政绩) lies not in how high the rank on one's shoulders, but in how much mud is on one's boots — and in whether one has truly won the wholehearted support of soldiers and the people.
(Sources: Chinese People's Revolution Military Museum, Xinhua News Agency, People's Daily Online)