In 1993 Xu Honggang became a household name after confronting four knife-wielding assailants while visiting family, sustaining 14 stab wounds and continuing to pursue the attackers even after suffering catastrophic injuries. His actions—widely reported and lionized across China—cemented him as a symbol of self-sacrifice and civic courage, a narrative that has endured in public memory. That episode established the family’s place in a popular canon of modern Chinese heroes whose stories are mobilized for social cohesion and patriotic education.
Xu’s son, Xu Zelin, followed a clear path from that legacy into the military: he entered the National University of Defense Technology in 2016 and later joined the People’s Liberation Army, where he has been repeatedly commended for his performance. Recent reports note that Xu Zelin has been awarded a third-class meritorious service citation, a formal recognition within PLA honors systems, and he has pledged to convert the accolade into continued dedication on the “strong-army” journey. The public framing links the son’s professional accomplishments to his father’s sacrifice, presenting an image of inherited duty and continuity across generations.
This family narrative matters beyond its human drama because it intersects with official efforts to professionalize and politicize China’s military while sustaining popular legitimacy for the armed forces. The National University of Defense Technology is a prominent institution that supplies technical and command talent to the PLA; graduates who embody both technical competence and patriotic pedigree help the leadership advance dual goals of modernization and ideological loyalty. Awards like the three-class merit signal not only individual achievement but also reinforce a culture that prizes bravery, discipline, and fealty to state objectives.
Seen strategically, the story functions as a compact piece of political theatre: it reassures domestic audiences that sacrifice is rewarded and that military service remains an honorable, intergenerational calling. It also provides the PLA with relatable exemplars at a time when Beijing is investing heavily in high-tech capabilities and in strengthening civilian support for military reforms. For outside observers, the vignette illustrates how personal narratives are woven into broader state efforts to shape social values, bolster recruitment, and legitimize an increasingly assertive defence posture.