The Last Family Letter of General Zuo Quan Before His Sacrifice

Left Quan: The General Who Left An Unfinished Letter

The Night of May 22, 1942

In the depths of night on May 22, 1942, at the forward headquarters of the Eighth Route Army in Maitian, Liaoxian County (now Zuoquan County), Shanxi Province, 37-year-old Deputy Chief of Staff Left Quan sat under the dim light of an oil lamp, writing a letter to his wife Liu Zhilan in distant Yan'an. Spread before his cot were front-line combat maps, several telegrams, and a photograph of his two-year-old daughter Left Taibi. He wrote to his wife: "Zhilan! The mountains and rivers are so magnificent, attracting countless heroes to bow in homage..." He paused mid-sentence, looking at his daughter's photograph in a daze—this child had barely seen her father since birth. Three days later, on the afternoon of May 25, the Japanese army launched a sudden attack on the Eighth Route Army headquarters. Left Quan actively undertook the rearguard action to cover the headquarters and allow leaders like Peng Dehuai and Luo Ruiqing to break through. He was struck by Japanese artillery fire while directing the troops' retreat and died a heroic death. In his pocket lay that unfinished letter, which would later be called the most moving family correspondence of the anti-Japanese war period. Who exactly was General Left Quan? Why did he become the highest-ranking officer of the Eighth Route Army to fall during the entire anti-Japanese war? And what story does that family letter tell?

The Whampoa Pride: From a Hunan Village to Military Command

Left Quan was born on March 15, 1905, in a peasant family in Liling, Hunan Province. His original name was Left Jiquan, but he changed it to Left Quan after joining the revolution, taking it to mean "leftist and having the power to resist."

Left Quan was a precocious child from an early age. Village people said of him that he was "intellectually gifted and could remember everything after reading it once." He entered private school at age seven and in 1922, at seventeen, was admitted to Changsha Middle School in Hunan. During his secondary education, he came into contact with progressive ideas and participated in student movements.

In the spring of 1924, Sun Yat-sen founded the Whampoa Military Academy in Guangzhou, which was then the most famous military institution in the country. Left Quan passed the entrance examination with excellent grades and was admitted to the first class of Whampoa Academy. His classmates in that class included Xu Xiangqian, Chen Geng, Song Xiliang, and Du Yuming, who would later all become military commanders for both the Nationalists and Communists.

At Whampoa, Left Quan demonstrated outstanding military talent. He excelled in courses on military theory, tactics, weaponry, and other subjects, ranking among the top of over 500 students in his class. His most admired teacher was Zhou Enlai (then director of Whampoa's Political Department), and under Zhou Enlai's influence, Left Quan joined the Chinese Communist Party in February 1925.

In the autumn of 1925, Left Quan graduated from Whampoa's first class and participated in suppressing the Merchants' Guild rebellion and the Eastern Expedition campaign. He performed excellently in combat and was promoted to company political representative.

Eight Years in the Soviet Union: Becoming a Communist Military Theorist

In November 1925, the Party Central Committee selected a group of outstanding young people to study in the Soviet Union. Twenty-year-old Left Quan was chosen and traveled to Sun Yat-sen University in Moscow. The following year, he entered the Frunze Military Academy, one of the finest military institutions in the world at that time. He studied at this academy for three years, systematically mastering modern military theory, strategy, tactics, and general staff operations.

In June 1930, Left Quan graduated from the Frunze Military Academy. He had studied in the Soviet Union for nearly five years, developing deep military theoretical knowledge. His Soviet instructors' evaluation was: "Comrade Left Quan is an outstanding military officer with profound military thinking and exceptionally strong analytical ability." This evaluation was preserved in the Frunze Military Academy archives and became important historical documentation of Left Quan's early years.

In the autumn of 1930, Left Quan traveled back to China. He first went to the Party Central Committee headquarters in Shanghai, then was dispatched to the Central Soviet Area in Jiangxi. In the Central Soviet Area, he served as an instructor at the Red Army's Central Military-Political School, as chief of the operations department of the First Front Army headquarters, and as chief of staff of the First Front Army. He was one of the few cadres in the Central Red Army with systematic modern military theory training and was relied upon by Mao Zedong and Zhu De as an important staff assistant.

Key Staff Officer During the Long March

In October 1934, the Central Red Army began the Long March. Left Quan, as chief of staff of the First Army Group, departed from the Jiangxi Soviet Area with the troops, embarking on that road filled with blood and fire.

During the Long March, Left Quan participated in the operational planning of nearly every major battle. At the Xiang River crossing, Left Quan served as rear guard under Lin Biao's command with the Red Second Division, covering the central column's crossing. After the Zunyi Conference, he served as chief of staff of the First Army Group and participated in the detailed deployment of the Four Crossings of the Chishui River, which was a stroke of genius in Mao Zedong's military career, with Left Quan doing substantial tactical work for it. At the forced crossing of the Dadu River and the seizing of the Luding Bridge, Left Quan personally commanded at the front line. When crossing the Jiajin Mountains and traversing the Great Grassland, Left Quan trudged alongside the soldiers of the First Army Group.

Mao Zedong later evaluated Left Quan: "Comrade Left Quan is an outstanding chief of staff of our Red Army. His military knowledge and combat experience provided important assistance to our decision-making."

The Anti-Japanese War: Left Quan Becomes the Military Hub of the Eighth Route Army

In August 1937, the Red Army was reorganized into the Eighth Route Army. Left Quan was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff of the Eighth Route Army, assisting Chief of Staff Ye Jianying in handling front-line combat operations. Since Ye Jianying spent most of his time in Yan'an and dealing with the Nationalist Party, the actual staff work at the front was primarily handled by Left Quan.

Left Quan's work included:

• Handling telegrams and combat reports from front-line armies and divisions
• Analyzing Japanese military movements and strategic intentions
• Formulating the Eighth Route Army's operational plans
• Assisting Zhu De and Peng Dehuai in commanding anti-Japanese operations in North China
• Training Eighth Route Army staff officers

Left Quan lived at the Eighth Route Army headquarters located in Maitian Village, Liaoxian County (now Zuoquan County), Shanxi Province. His office had a large map of North China hanging on the wall, marked with the positions of Japanese divisions and regiments, the deployment of Eighth Route Army units, and the scope of various anti-Japanese base areas. Every day he had to process dozens of telegrams, review dozens of reports, and issue instructions to various units.

During the Hundred Regiments Campaign of 1940, Left Quan assisted Peng Dehuai in planning and executing this unprecedented large-scale sabotage campaign. He was responsible for formulating specific operational plans, allocating forces, and ensuring logistics. Left Quan made important contributions to the success of the Hundred Regiments Campaign.

From 1941 to 1942, the Japanese army launched an unprecedented cruel "sweeping offensive" against the anti-Japanese base areas in North China. Under extremely difficult conditions, Left Quan assisted Peng Dehuai in directing the Eighth Route Army in counter-sweep operations. He worked several times while ill, once running a fever of 104 degrees Fahrenheit while still processing telegrams. When comrades urged him to rest, he said: "The front is engaged in combat; I cannot rest."

The Tragedy at Shihezi Ridge: May 25, 1942

In May 1942, General Okamura Neiji, commander-in-chief of the Japanese China Expeditionary Army, personally commanded a force of over 30,000 troops in an "iron wall encirclement" of the Eighth Route Army headquarters location at Maitian Town in Liaoxian County, Shanxi. The Japanese used large numbers of aircraft, artillery, and tanks, attempting to destroy the Eighth Route Army headquarters in a single blow and eliminate Communist high-level leaders including Peng Dehuai and Left Quan.

On the night of May 24, the Japanese broke through the outer defense lines and approached Maitian. The Eighth Route Army headquarters organization of over 2,000 people—including North China Bureau Secretary Yang Shangkun, Peng Dehuai, Luo Ruiqing, Left Quan, numerous staff officials, family members, and the wounded—urgently evacuated.

On the morning of May 25, as the headquarters organization retreated northward, it encountered a Japanese encirclement at Shihezi Ridge. Peng Dehuai, Left Quan, and Luo Ruiqing held an emergency meeting and decided to split up and break through—Peng Dehuai would lead one group northeast, Luo Ruiqing would lead another north, and Left Quan actively undertook the most dangerous rearguard action, organizing a defensive position at Shihezi Ridge to buy time for the main force to break through.

Left Quan said to Peng Dehuai: "Commander Peng, you break through quickly with the headquarters. I'll hold the line ahead." Peng Dehuai was silent for a moment, then gripped Left Quan's hand tightly: "Be careful, Comrade Left Quan!"

On the morning of May 25, Left Quan led a squad of guards at Shihezi Ridge to block the Japanese. Japanese artillery and machine guns poured down dense fire. Left Quan directed the soldiers to hold their positions while dodging shells. He clearly understood that he might not return from this battle. His only thought was to hold the line one more minute so the headquarters main force would have one more minute to break through.

Around three in the afternoon, a Japanese artillery shell exploded near Left Quan. His head, chest, and abdomen were struck by shell fragments, and he was killed instantly.

The Last Family Letter

After Left Quan's death, a guard found an unfinished letter in his pocket—the letter he had written to his wife Liu Zhilan on the evening of May 22. The contents of this letter still move readers to tears:

"Zhilan!

The mountains and rivers are so magnificent, attracting countless heroes to bow in homage...

The emotion of separation grows stronger and stronger. I imagine that Taibi must have grown taller and understands speech better now. Do you have the determination to return to Yan'an to see you both? My determination is extremely strong, but as you know, it is impossible at present. I can only suppress this strong longing for now...

I think that both you and I are still young, and we still have a long life together ahead of us. Our motherland needs the effort and dedication of every one of us Chinese people...

At this very moment, suddenly (the telephone rang; a comrade came to inform me that they have safely passed through the danger zone), my heart finally settled...

At this moment, I suddenly..."

The letter breaks off here, as Left Quan was too busy with military operations in the following days to continue writing. The letter remained in his military coat pocket until it was discovered after his death.

Liu Zhilan received this letter more than a month after Left Quan's death. When she saw the unfinished characters on the page and learned that her husband had already been laid to rest, she wept bitterly. But she bravely raised their daughter Left Taibi to adulthood. Left Taibi later became a renowned scientist and devoted herself to commemorating her father's legacy.

The Historical Significance of Left Quan's Sacrifice

Left Quan was the highest-ranking officer of the Eighth Route Army to fall during the entire anti-Japanese war. His death shocked the entire Party and army.

From Yan'an: Mao Zedong, Zhu De, and Zhou Enlai each sent condolence telegrams. Mao Zedong's evaluation read: "Comrade Left Quan was a model for revolutionary soldiers in China and an outstanding representative of Communist Party members. His sacrifice is a major loss for our Party and army."

From the front: After breaking through at Shihezi Ridge, Peng Dehuai held a memorial service at headquarters. With tears in his eyes, he said: "Comrade Left Quan was my closest comrade-in-arms. In order for us to break through, he actively undertook the rearguard action and sacrificed himself. This spirit is forever our model."

From the Nationalist side: Zhu De sent a death notice to the Nationalist government on behalf of the Eighth Route Army. To commend Left Quan's contributions to the anti-Japanese war, the Nationalist government decided in September 1942 to rename Liaoxian County, Shanxi Province, where he died, as "Zuoquan County" (Left Quan County). This was a historic decision, with Zhu De personally informing the Nationalist Military Committee and obtaining Chiang Kai-shek's approval.

The name "Zuoquan County" is preserved to this day—a rare occurrence in China. Only a handful of counties are named after fallen generals: Zuoquan County, Jingyu County, Shangzhi County, and Zhidan County, among a few others.

Left Quan's Character: The Fusion of Soldier and Poet

Although Left Quan was a military commander, his spiritual world was far richer than that of a mere soldier. From the writings, letters, and photographs he left behind, we can see many facets of Left Quan:

Left Quan the soldier: rigorous, calm, rational. His military documents were logically sound and meticulously organized. Every operational plan considered even the smallest details.

Left Quan the scholar: He studied in the Soviet Union for five years, was fluent in Russian and French, and translated numerous Soviet military works. His military articles, such as "Eighth Route Army Tactics in the Anti-Japanese War," remain important historical documents for studying the military history of the anti-Japanese war.

Left Quan the poet: He loved classical Chinese poetry and frequently quoted Mao Zedong's verses and ancient poets in his family letters. The line "The mountains and rivers are so magnificent, attracting countless heroes to bow in homage," quoted from Chairman Mao's verse in his family letter, fully demonstrates his romantic and heroic nature.

Left Quan the husband and father: He was deeply affectionate toward his wife Liu Zhilan and infinitely devoted to his daughter Left Taibi. His family letters repeatedly say: "How much I wish to return to Yan'an to see you and Taibi." But he suppressed the emotions of his small family and devoted his entire life to the anti-Japanese war.

The Echo of History

Walking through Zuoquan County in Shanxi today, every patch of land bears the footprints of Left Quan. At Shihezi Ridge, where General Left Quan was killed, stands a tall memorial monument. The stone for the monument was taken from nearby mountains, and engraved on it are these words:

"People's heroes are immortal. General Left Quan, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Eighth Route Army, was loyal and devoted, giving his all to the Party and the people until his dying breath. He died heroically here on the twenty-fifth day of the fifth month of 1942, at the age of thirty-seven."

In the Revolutionary Memorial Hall of Zuoquan County, there is a special exhibition room displaying a facsimile of the famous "unfinished family letter." Every year, hundreds of thousands of people come specifically to this place to see the letter and hear the story. The final line of the general's handwriting stops in the moment when the telephone rang, and the unfinished sentence became a commander's eternal concern for his family and country—a concern he could never fulfill.

Eighty-two years have passed since Left Quan's death. His daughter Left Taibi, now in her eighties, has devoted herself to organizing her father's personal effects and researching his military thought. In her memoir, she wrote: "I cannot remember what my father looked like, but I remember his letters. I remember his concern for me. I remember everything he gave for his country. I have been proud my whole life to be the daughter of such a father."

This is Left Quan—a general who used his life to shield his comrades in the harshest moments of the anti-Japanese war; a husband and father who maintained tenderness and sensitivity beneath a will of steel; a hero whose unfinished family letter moved an entire nation.

His line "The mountains and rivers are so magnificent, attracting countless heroes to bow in homage," was forever frozen from his thirty-seven-year-old life on the evening of May 22, 1942, under the oil lamp. That lamp has gone out, but the spirit it illuminated still flickers in the memory of the Chinese nation.