有功之臣yǒu gōng zhī chén

a person who has rendered outstanding service; a hero; meritorious workers; one who has meritorious service to his credit
❍ 好吧，你是～嘛，我们总得好好照应呵，… (黎汝清《海岛女民兵》183) We’ll do what we can. After all you have meritorious service to your credit.
❍ 侯殿坤见他的鼓动成功，又接着说，“到那时郑团长，就不是团长啦！ 而是旅长、师长。戴上了金牌子，到上海大世界一住，姨太太，小汽车，嘿！ ～。” (曲波《林海雪原》581)Seeing that his boasts were arousing them,Hou went on: “Then,Regimental Commander Zheng will no longer be a regimental commander. He’ll command a brigade,a division. He’ll wear a gold badge and live in Shanghai’s amusement centre. He’ll have concu bines,automobiles. Hey. His merit will get its award.”