Liu Jian, former vice-dean of the PLA Academy of Equipments and grandson of Marshal Zhu De, recalls the life of his grandfather. [Photo by Liu Mengyang/chinadaily.com.cn]

Liu Jian, grandson of Zhu De and former vice-dean of the PLA Academy of Equipment, shares memories of his grandfather to mark the 70th anniversary of victory in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. Unveiling the real life of the founding father, Liu says we will inherit the spiritual treasure left by Marshal Zhu.

Fulfilling filial duty in war

Influenced by the Red October and May Fourth Movement, Zhu quit his original job as a warlord and gradually accepted Marxist philosophy. He joined the Communist Party and fought for the revolution through the introduction of Premier Zhou Enlai.

In 1937, Zhu was directing a battle against the Japanese army in Shanxi province as commander of Eighth Route Army (18th Army Group of the National Revolutionary Army). His hometown Sichuan suffered from famine that year. Worried about his mother, Zhu sent a letter to his friend Dai Yuling for help. He asked for his friend to raise funds which he would be unable to pay back.

"My grandpa had a decent salary when he was serving in the Kuomintang Army. But he earned very little after joining the Communist Party, just like everyone else in the army," said Liu. "So his words were true that he saved nothing in 10 years and would not save anything in the future. He was unable to pay anything back."