Tan Zheng Tan Zheng ( ) ( June 14 , 1906 – November 6 , 1988 ) born in Hunan Province , China , was a general , proletarian revolutionary leader and strategist . His original name was Tan Shimin . He was a major leader of the Red Army and the People ' s Liberation Army . Childhood . Tan Zheng was born in a little village called Nan Zhu 汉字 in Xiangxiang , Hunan province . His grandfather was a well - known local member of the gentry . His father Tan Yun was a teacher at the primary school . Xiangxiang lies beside the Lian River , the earliest academy of classical learning was also built there . In 1912 , when Tan Zheng was 6 years old , his family sent him to the private school located in the Seven Star Bridge with the hope of a new start from there . Tan ' s parents hoped him to build a career . At school , Tan Zheng became friends with his future fellow revolutionary and brother - in - law Chen Geng . In the year of 1914 , the Seven Star Bridge School was turned into a primary school . In this year , a classmate of Mao Zedong at Dong Shan School called Huang Duzhi became a teacher of the Seven Star Bridge Primary School . Tan Zheng was greatly influenced by this teacher . Mr . Huang told them about the Boxer Movement , the reform movement of 1898 , the revolution of 1911 , the October Revolution , so that Tan Zheng came to believe that only revolution could save the nation in peril . Tan determined to study in the Dong Shan School , when he was able to enroll though the recommendation of his friend Chen Geng . Tan studied in the Dong Shan School . In 1923 , Tan began to read " New Youth " and other advanced books , and actively participate in the patriotic movement . Personal life . His father arranged for Tan Zheng to study at Chen Geng ' s place ? at the age of ten . There , Tan became deeply attached Chen Qiukui . At that time , Hunan custom was that when children were over ten years old , the adults would engage them to be married . Observing that Tan Zheng and Chen Qiukui were in love , their parents were naturally very happy . Soon , the two families chose an auspicious day for the younger pair to marry . In 1924 , Tan Zheng graduated from the Dong Shan School , and the marriage was held . At that time , Tan Zheng was 18 and Chen Qiukui was 15 . After their marriage , Tan Zheng often talked about his ideas and aspirations with his wife . With his wife ' s understanding and support , Tan Zheng decided to join the National Revolutionary Army Second Front Army . Half a year later , Chen Qiukui unexpectedly fell sick and died . Tan was inconsolable and had not been able to overcome the loss of his wife for 13 years . Tan Zheng and Wang Changde , a fellow party member , were married . Tan Zheng and his second wife Wang Changde , who was also a widow , had a happy lifelong marriage . Early military career . Under the influence of his wife ' s brother , General Chen Geng , Tan gave up civilian pursuits to join the army . After the August 7th Meeting , the party initiated many armed uprisings . In September 1927 , Mao Zedong and the Hunan Provincial Party Committee led the Autumn Harvest Uprising on the border of Hunan and Jiangxi . At that time , Tan Zheng was a lieutenant in the first group of workers and peasants revolutionary army . Fight in the Jinggang Mountains . After the Autumn Harvest Uprising ， Tan went to the Jinggang Mountains with the other soldiers . He started standard military training . He worked as the secretary of Mao Zedong and helped Mao make copies of his book . During Anti - Japanese War and second Kuomintang - chinese communist civil war . During the Anti - Japanese War , Tan served as director of the Political Department in the Eighth Route Army , and deputy director of the General Political Department . During the Chinese Civil War , Tan was the director of the Political Department in the Northeast Democratic Coalition . After the founding of the People ' s Republic of China , Tan Zheng served as the first deputy director of the PLA General Political Department . He was promoted to general in 1955 and was granted the People ' s Liberation Army Red Star of Merit Medal in 1988 . Tan Zheng wrote “ On the political work of the revolutionary army ” and “ On the enemy purpose and policy ” during the Anti - Japanese War . He drafted the " Report on the army ' s political work " in 1944 by the CPC Central Committee . After modifications of Mao Zedong , Zhou Enlai , and the approval of the Central Committee , the work was promulgated in the Northwest Board meeting of senior cadres . The report is a comprehensive summary of the political work experience of the Red Army , the Eighth Route and New Fourth Army . It summaries the change of the situation and tasks of the Anti - Japanese War , also discusses the status , basic principles and the basic principles of the people ' s army ' s political work . After the founding of the PRC . After the founding of the PRC , Tan Zheng became the deputy director of the People ' s Liberation Army General Political Department , the director , deputy secretary of defense , and the member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Military commission . He used to go into the army and guided the political work . Tan also emphasized the development of the people ' s army ' s fine traditions . Tan was one of the leaders of the Chinese Army in the Korean War . He also took part in the organization of Land Reform . In November . 1956 , Tan attended The Eighth National People ' s Congress and he was elected as the Secretary of the 8th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China . During the Great Cultural Revolution , he was held in prison for nine years . After his release , he couldn ' t work anymore because of the illness . Tan Zheng was politically rehabilitated in 1979 ， and died in Beijing in 1988 . Ranks . General of People ' s Liberation Army ( 大将 ) ( Da Jiang , 1955 ） .