Liu Peishan

In 1927, Liu Peishan became involved in the peasant movement and the Peasants' Association, initially serving as a squad commander and subsequently as a captain of the Young Pioneers. In January 1929, he enlisted in the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, and in June of that year, he became a member of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). He participated in military conflict in the Xiang–Gan frontier region during the Revolutionary War. Beginning in December 1931, he held the position of political instructor for an independent regiment in Chaling County; in 1932, he ascended to the role of political commissar for the guard battalion in Anfu County, Jiangxi.^[2] Beginning in 1934, he held successive roles as Director of the Organization Section within the Political Department of the Second Military Subregion of the Xiang–Gan Military Region and as Commander-Politician of the Fourth Battalion of the Xiang–Gan Guerilla Command. Beginning in 1936, he served as the political commissar of the First Battalion of the Xiang–Gan Guerrilla Command and the Xiang–Gan Red Independent Regiment, actively engaging in and consistently participating in the three-year guerrilla conflict in South China.^[3]

Following the commencement of the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1938, Liu Peishan held the position of Deputy Commander of the 2nd Regiment of the First Division of the New Fourth Army. In 1940, he assumed the role of political commissar for the 2nd Column of the Northern Jiangsu Command Headquarters. From 1941 until 1942, he held the position of political commissar for the 2nd Brigade of the First Division of the New Fourth Army. In April 1943, he journeyed to Yan’an to participate in the 7th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, and from October 1943 to August 1945, he studied at the Central Party School, actively engaging in the Rectification Movement.^[4]

At the conclusion of 1945, during the Liberation War, he was designated as Deputy Political Commissar of the Fifth Military District in Central China. In the subsequent years, he held the positions of political commissar of the 10th Column of the Central China Field Army, followed by deputy political commissar and subsequently political commissar of the same column under the East China Field Army. From March to September 1949, he served as political commissar and secretary of the party committee of the 28th Army of the Third Field Army. In June 1949, he was further designated as a member of the CCP Fujian Provincial Committee and Director of the Military Management Committee of Fuzhou City.^[5][6]

Following the establishment of the PRC, Liu Peishan maintained significant military and party roles. From October 1949 until March 1950, he held the position of Director of the Political Department of the 10th Corps while also overseeing the Fujian Military Region.^[7] He subsequently assumed the role of Deputy Political Commissar of the 10th Corps and maintained his position as Director of the Political Department until May 1952. Beginning in December 1951, he held the position of Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee for the Fuzhou Military Region. In December 1954, he assumed the position of second secretary of that committee. From 1956, he served as the Deputy Political Commissar of the Fuzhou Military Region and, beginning in November 1959, held the position of second Political Commissar until his demise. He additionally held the positions of second secretary (1956–1958) and third secretary (1958–1968) of the regional Party Committee. From 1952, he served as a member of the Standing Committee of the Fujian Provincial Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, and from 1961 to 1966, he was a member of the CCP East China Bureau.^[8]

In 1955, Liu Peishan attained the rank of lieutenant general in the PLA and was honored with the First Class “August 1” Medal, the First Class Medal of Independence and Freedom, and the First Class Liberation Medal.^[9] He served as a delegate to the 7th and 8th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, a representative to the 2nd and 3rd National People's Congresses, and a member of the 3rd National Defense Commission of the PRC.^[10]

Liu Peishan was persecuted by Lin Biao's counter-revolutionary faction during the Cultural Revolution and died under unjust circumstances on May 8, 1968.^[11] In May 1978, the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party officially rehabilitated him, posthumously acknowledged him as a revolutionary martyr, and the Fuzhou Military Region conducted an elaborate commemorative event in his honor.^[12]

Liu Peishan's wife was Zuo Ying, former Vice Chairwoman of the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress.^[13] They had two sons: their elder son, Liu Xiaorong, held the rank of lieutenant general and served as Deputy Political Commissar of the PLA General Logistics Department; their younger son, Liu Sheng, also a lieutenant general, served as deputy director of the General Armaments Department and later the Equipment Development Department of the Central Military Commission.^[14]