Lu Zhengcao The Last General Aiding in Founding New China Passed away

On October 13, Lu Zhengcao, former vice chairman of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference and Minister of Railway passed away in Beijing at the age of 104. He was also one of the 57 generals of the PLA in founding the Peoples Republic of China and the last one to leave the world.

Lu was born in Liaoning in 1905. In 1937 he secretly joined in the Communist Party of China. After the breakout of Anti-Japanese War, he and his army broke away from the army of Kuoming Party and went to the center of Hebei to start the guerrilla against the Japanese invaders. He was famous for the tunnel warfare and became a legendary hero in fighting against the Japanese invaders. The senior leaders of the CPC all thought highly of his achievements.

In 1955, Lu Zhengcao was bestowed with the title of General. Next year, he was elected as the central committee member of the 8th National Congress of the CPC. From then on he began to take various posts in the Ministry of Railway, from the vice minister to the acting minister. In January 1965, he was promoted to be the minister of Railway.

During the “Cultural Revolution” period, Lu Zhengcao was persecuted by the Gang of Four and was once sent to the prison. In 1974 he was freed and then restarted his work in 1975. In 1982, he was elected as a member of the Central Consultative Committee. In the following year he chaired the 6th Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference.

Lu Zhengcao was fond of tennis. After retirement he took charge of the China Tennis Association for a long time till the age of 90. In 1990, the International Tennis Association awarded him the “Top Honorary Medal”.