Portrait of the "teacher of legendary spies"

Senior Lieutenant General Tran Quoc Huong (alias Muoi Huong; Secretary of the Party Central Committee; Head of the Central Internal Affairs Committee ) has long been known as one of the famous intelligence network commanders in Vietnam in the 60s and 70s of the last century. Along with his glorious achievements and feats, the life and career of comrade Tran Quoc Huong is truly a vivid portrait of a senior cadre who was twice imprisoned by the colonialists and imperialists; a talented and resourceful commander against the enemy's insidious and cunning plots, and above all, a portrait of a loyal communist soldier who devoted his whole life to the noble revolutionary cause.

“The teacher of legendary intelligence officers”(*) - Tran Quoc Huong (1924 - 2020) real name is Tran Ngoc Ban, born in the lowland area of ​​Binh Luc (Doai village, Vu Ban commune). His biological mother was illiterate but knew many songs and sang well, famous in the area. Vu Ban, Binh Luc, his hometown, was a poor village but rich in learning and patriotism. Patriotic scholars with progressive ideas under the French colonial period in this countryside not only showed an uncooperative attitude, did not become mandarins to help the colonial and feudal government, but were also strong supporters of the Dong Du movement initiated by Phan Boi Chau. When the revolutionary movement broke out, his family became a contact base, hiding many key cadres of the movement in the area at that time, such as comrades: Tran Tu Binh - Bac Ky Regional Party Committee; Do Muoi, Secretary of Ha Nam Provincial Party Committee. He also belonged to the first generation of people in his homeland who were enlightened and volunteered to join the revolution.

Two outstanding intelligence officers, also teachers and students, Tran Quoc Huong (right) and Pham Xuan An, photographed at Tran Quoc Huong's private home on November 5, 2000. Photo: CAND

Like many other communist predecessors, the revolutionary life full of challenges, hardships, sacrifices and also full of pride and glory of the legendary intelligence commander Tran Quoc Huong began with the time of participating in responding to the patriotic movements of students, university students and workers. After finishing the first grade at Phu Ly Primary School, Ha Nam, student Tran Ngoc Ban moved to Hanoi to attend the Nha Chung Street Convent School, changed his name to Tran Quoc Huong, participated in the Scouting movement and the National Language Propagation Association. During the period of 1937 - 1939, when the Democratic movement faced many difficulties, the Party withdrew into secret activities... it was also the period when the young Tran Quoc Huong truly devoted himself to the revolutionary path. The event of being captured by the French occurred when the 17-year-old patriotic youth Tran Quoc Huong and the National Language Propagation Association participated in hanging flags and distributing propaganda leaflets to celebrate the October Revolution in Russia (November 1941). Because he was not old enough to be sentenced, after being imprisoned with many loyal cadres, Tran Quoc Huong was released by the colonial government.

Leaving the colonial prison, carrying a letter of introduction from the "loyal group" in Hoa Lo prison, the young man Tran Quoc Huong contacted the Central Committee to continue his activities. In 1943, becoming a member of the Indochinese Communist Party, comrade Tran Quoc Huong was assigned to work at the Phuc Yen Party Committee, then transferred to the Central Committee's Special Working Committee under the Central Standing Committee (now the Central Party Office), working as Secretary to General Secretary Truong Chinh until the General Uprising to seize power in 1945. After the success of the August Revolution, comrade Tran Quoc Huong was one of the people who prepared for the national introduction of Uncle Ho and the Provisional Government at Ba Dinh Square on September 2, 1945. Then, during the years of resistance against the French, comrade Tran Quoc Huong participated in the Party newspaper, participated in logistics and security work for the Central Committee's Special Working Committee in the Viet Bac War Zone.

The event of “going to the South” marked the time when communist soldier Tran Quoc Huong began to take on a very special responsibility when he was seconded to “go to B”. The Southern battlefield at that time was in great need of cadres with experience operating behind enemy lines in urban areas, with a firm grasp of the work of protecting the Party in secret operations. Before leaving, comrade Tran Quoc Huong was honored to be met by Uncle Ho and directly instructed: “The work has been assigned and carefully instructed. If you can do it, accept it, and if you accept it, don’t let the Central Committee down. Remember to come back as you go…”. Also starting from here, the stories and miracles about the intelligence life of comrade Tran Quoc Huong (with the name Muoi Huong in the style of the southern region) were depicted through events when he directly “competed” with the enemy at Toa Kham Hue Prison, competed with Ngo Dinh Nhu, intelligence activities and the second trip “to the North - to the South”. During this special period, whether playing the role of "teacher Hai" teaching children, playing the role of "a lodger" staying in a puppet officer's family, or having to fight mentally with the physical torture and vicious psychological warfare of the Diem and Nhu regimes in prison... intelligence officer Muoi Huong always demonstrated the courage and intelligence of a staunch communist, a brave and creative security soldier.

In May 1964, intelligence officer Muoi Huong was released from the Central secret service prison and ordered to return to the North, and then 4 years later returned to the South to prepare for the Tet Offensive and Uprising. And this time, before leaving, intelligence officer Muoi Huong was honored to meet Uncle Ho and gave him very detailed instructions: “Remember, we are communists. Whatever is the smallest thing that is beneficial to the country and the people, no matter how small, we will do it. Whatever is not beneficial to the country and the people, we will not say, not know, not do. Because we are communists.”

Remembering Uncle Ho's teachings, with his new mission, comrade Tran Quoc Huong always completed his tasks excellently and made great contributions to the victories and exploits of the intelligence network within the enemy's heartland. After the Mau Than Spring General Offensive in 1968, comrade Tran Quoc Huong was the Head of the Saigon-Gia Dinh Security Department until the liberation of the South. Very few people know that: the intelligence teacher, Senior Lieutenant General Muoi Huong was the commander of famous intelligence figures, whose names later became known to everyone for their resounding exploits such as: Vu Ngoc Nha (the prototype of the character Hai Long in the novel and film of the same name: "The Advisor"); Le Huu Thuy - Colonel, Hero of the People's Armed Forces (the prototype of the character Le Nguyen Vu in the intelligence novel "Spy in the Desert of Fire"); Pham Ngoc Thao - Colonel, Hero of the People's Armed Forces (the prototype of the character Nguyen Thanh Luan in the novel and film of the same name: "The Flipped Card"); Pham Xuan An - Major General, Hero of the People's Armed Forces (main character in the book "Pham Xuan An - His name is like his life")... Comrade Tran Quoc Huong's life is typical of the life of a veteran revolutionary assigned by the Party to do many different tasks associated with many important historical stages and turning points, and in every position and job, he always tried his best and completed them excellently.

After 1975, comrade Tran Quoc Huong participated as a member of the Party Central Committee of the 4th, 5th, and 6th terms; Secretary of the Party Central Committee of the 6th term; held the positions of Deputy Head of the Central Organization Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, General Director of the General Department of Tourism, and Head of the Central Internal Affairs Committee. In any position, in any position, he always completed all tasks excellently; and was awarded many noble titles and prizes by the Party and the State.

If on the front line, Senior Lieutenant General Tran Quoc Huong was a famous intelligence commander who made the enemy fear him, and friends, comrades, and teammates trust and respect him, then in everyday life, Comrade Muoi Huong was an extremely simple, benevolent, friendly, and approachable person. During the years of retirement, and then in the last years of his life, old age and weak health, Comrade Tran Quoc Huong still actively participated in social work, together with his family, friends, and teammates... donated money to build kindergartens, and participated in many relief and charity groups. In a series of meaningful trips back to war zones, revolutionary bases, and remote and difficult residential areas, Comrade Tran Quoc Huong always proactively invited doctors to accompany him to examine and treat patients, provide health consultations, and provide free medicine to poor patients, connecting and bringing many seriously ill poor people to the city for treatment.

Even in the years full of hardships, challenges, and sacrifices in the war of yesterday as well as the years in peaceful life later, the portrait of the "teacher of legendary intelligence officers" - Tran Quoc Huong always shines with the beautiful qualities of a steadfast revolutionary soldier, always loyal and devoted to the noble revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation.

The Vinh

Source: https://baohanam.com.vn/chinh-tri/chan-dung-nguoi-thay-cua-nhung-nha-tinh-bao-huyen-thoai-142387.html