The Marshal Who Missed the Long March but Shaped Modern China's Global Standing

History · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Chen Yi was a singular figure among China's ten marshals. While his peers forged their reputations on the Long March, a leg injury kept him behind. He pivoted from guerrilla warfare to become the architect of Shanghai's post-war recovery and the voice of Chinese diplomacy during a volatile era.

Born in 1901 to a magistrate's family in Sichuan, Chen Yi rose through the ranks of the Communist military. His path diverged from his comrades during the Jiangxi Soviet era; while others endured the grueling Long March, Chen remained behind due to injury. This detour led him to command the New Fourth Army following the Wannan Incident. During the Chinese Civil War, he formed a highly effective partnership with Su Yu. While Su Yu directed the tactical complexities of large-scale battles, Chen focused on political mobilization and securing the necessary support to ensure their military success, culminating in the decisive Huaihai Campaign.

Following the establishment of the People's Republic, Chen transitioned from the battlefield to urban administration as Mayor of Shanghai. His leadership was marked by efforts to stabilize the city's economy. By 1958, he had ascended to the role of Foreign Minister, a position he held until 1972. In this capacity, he navigated the fracturing of the Sino-Soviet alliance, attempting to preserve diplomatic ties even as tensions escalated. He also oversaw the Foreign Affairs Group, a body created by Mao to bypass traditional state structures, and famously articulated a policy of moral and political support for global revolutions, while explicitly ruling out the deployment of Chinese troops across borders.

Chen's later years were defined by the turbulence of the Cultural Revolution. He became a prominent voice in the February Countercurrent, openly criticizing the social instability caused by the movement. Although this stance forced him into a period of self-criticism and temporary removal from active duties, he retained his standing. His eventual passing in 1972 was marked by a rare gesture from Mao Zedong, who attended the funeral—the only time the leader participated in a memorial service for a state official after the founding of the People's Republic. Beyond politics, Chen was a dedicated promoter of weiqi and a figure who occasionally championed artistic autonomy, reflecting a complex legacy that spanned military command, urban governance, and international diplomacy.

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