Rao Shushi - Return To China

Return To China

In 1939 Rao returned to China and worked in the New 4th Army, acting as Deputy General Secretary of Southeast Bureau of CPC. In 1941 when New 4th Army was attacked by Kuomintang army and lost most of its senior leaders, Rao had to work for Liu again, who was appointed as Commissar, and Rao as Acting Director of Political Department. Furthermore, the Central Committee of CPC decided to merge Southeast Bureau with Central Plain Burean into Central China Bureau, Liu as General Secretary, Rao as his deputy.

In 1942, Rao replaced Liu who was called back to Yan'an as Acting General Secretary and Commissar of New 4th Army. In the Seventh National Congress of CPC in 1945, Rao was voted as Central Commissioner, which meant he had entered the central stage of political life of CPC, and in August of the same year, both of his acting position turned into regularity.

In 1946, Rao was one of the CPC delegates to work with delegates of Kuomintang and U.S. on peace talks, with rank of Lieutenant General, many of his counterparts who got rank of Colonel General and General after they defeated Kuomintang in 1949 only got rank of Major General at that time, which could indicated Rao's appeal and importance to Mao Zedong. After the outbreak of Chinese civil war, Rao held the position of Commissar of Shandong Field Army, East China Field Army and East China Military Area, which controlled troops more than 360,000. In 1948 Rao was appointed as General Secretary of East China Bureau of CPC. Although Chen Yi as Commander was No1 in East China but he only took in charge of the military, in contrast to Rao's having more influence on cadres appointment and promotion, which built his power base in East China.