1932: Playing with the Japanese Communist Party with a doll

Zhang Zhenhan was touched.

Although he himself did not kill Red Army soldiers indiscriminately, let alone prisoners and civilians (probably due to his poor rural background), he had seen how other National Army generals dealt with Red Army prisoners; therefore, he believed that there was already a deep hatred between the National Army and the Communist bandits, and that a fight to the death would be inevitable if they met, and there was no way either side would want to survive.

did not expect...

In this way, Zhang Zhenhan spent the second half of his captivity in a state of half-fear and half-relief. The next morning, he was awakened by a noisy sound. He Long happened to walk in and saw Zhang Zhenhan. He asked the orderly to bring him hot water and a towel to wipe his hands and face. Seeing that he was almost ready, he urged him, "Captain Zhang, pack up and leave with us immediately!"

"Where are you going?"

"Of course, we return to our base."

"…."

Zhang Zhenhan sighed in his heart.

It seems that even if I am not killed, I can't go back.

He was not an experienced man like Yue Weijun, who had received great support from many people after being captured, including Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek and President Wang Jingwei. On the contrary, if he was captured this time, Xu Yuanquan might accuse him of "adventurous and losing the army" and then convict him.

救?

It is impossible to save him.

Feeling lost, disappointed and self-destructive, Zhang Zhenhan followed He Long and other Red Army generals and headed towards his previous target of attack.

Then, his thoughts changed slightly.

Zhang Zhenhan did not object to the fact that he had no vehicles or horses and had to walk like the soldiers. This was because He Long and other senior Red Army generals also walked, and the only mules and horses were used to transport spoils and the dead and wounded.

In addition to his approval of He Long and his colleagues' practice of "bonding favors to the lower ranks," Zhang Zhenhan was even more curious about the state of the Red Army soldiers, who had previously been despised as "bandits." They were completely different from his own soldiers, full of fighting spirit, with light in their eyes and smiles on their faces. They even sang a song together on the way:

"Forward, forward, forward! Our troops are heading towards the sun, standing on the land of our motherland, carrying the nation's hopes on their shoulders... Wipe them out completely, the Communist Party flag is flying high!" "Listen! The wind is whistling, the bugle is sounding..."

The sonorous voice, the extremely exciting rhythm, and the shocking power in the voice made Zhang Zhenhan unable to help but ask He Long: "He..."

"Just call me He Long!"

"He... Commander He, what song is this?"

"Oh, this song is called 'The March of the Red Army.' It was composed by one of our comrades and brought over from Jiangxi." "Are there any people in your Communist Party who know how to compose songs?"

"Haha, that's nothing! We can sing, dance, and fight. We even have people who can fly and repair airplanes!"

"Aren't they all our national army..."

Zhang Zhenhan quickly swallowed his words halfway through his speech, but He Long waved his hand nonchalantly and said, "They were members of the National Army before, but now they are members of the Red Army after they voluntarily joined us!"

What do you mean by joining voluntarily? It’s because you forced me to do so.

Zhang Zhenhan grumbled in his heart, but didn't dare to say it out loud, for fear of angering the Communist bandits and losing his life in vain.

He Long glanced at him, his lips curled up slightly, and he stroked his mustache. After the "Red Army March" was finished, he suddenly shouted, "Comrades! Let's change to "Three Major Disciplines and Eight Points for Attention!" Revolutionary soldiers... sing!"

Soon, a higher pitched singing voice sounded again:

"Every revolutionary soldier must remember the Three Major Disciplines and Eight Points of Attention!" "First, follow orders in all actions. Only by moving in unison can we achieve victory!" "Second, do not take..."

".."

It was still the same captivating rhythm, still the same full spirit, but Zhang Zhenhan pricked up his ears to listen, only to feel "creepy";

This wasn't a derogatory term, but rather meant that something had touched him deeply, and goosebumps had appeared on his skin. "This...was also created by...that person?"

"Oh, this, the lyrics have been around for a long time, but it's only been adapted into a song recently, so everyone isn't very proficient in singing it yet." "...These...are your...military disciplines? Can you abide by them?"

To be honest, Zhang Zhenhan found it unbelievable just by listening to it.

"Follow orders" is fine, as that's what the Nationalist Army also requires (although it's obviously impossible to do); but the last few are completely unrealistic!

Seized and returned to the public?

Sorry, in the Nationalist army system, unless the superiors give the order, it is generally assumed that soldiers can take a portion of the captured items, including women (not the best ones); but not take a single needle or thread from the masses?

Haha, if they don't take away every last stitch and thread from the masses, they are considered to be "well-disciplined" national army troops. A good attitude?

Fair trade? Protecting crops?

Don't tease women?

Compensation for damaged items according to price?

Again, not hitting or cursing people, not stealing or raping women, or deliberately destroying farmland is good enough. The lyrics suggest that these things are simply impossible to do. As for "not abusing captured soldiers," that's even more impossible.

Since we've already captured you, wouldn't it be normal to give you a couple of beatings to make you behave yourself? Zhang Zhenhan thought so, but He Long obviously didn't see it that way. He raised his chin proudly:

"We are the Red Army of Workers and Peasants, the army that liberates the people, the army of the poor. Of course we must abide by these rules!"

I do not believe.

I've heard about Wuhan (referring to the Hubei-Henan-Anhui base area) before. The actions of you Communist bandits are no better than those of our national army.

lie.

However, what he saw on the road later made Commander Zhang begin to doubt his own thoughts again.

First, the Red Army strictly controlled its own soldiers and captured soldiers, and would never allow anyone to trample on the rice seedlings. If anyone accidentally stepped on them, someone would immediately go to the nearby farmers to compensate them.

Secondly, it is the attitude of the people.

Not only were they not afraid of the Red Army, but they actively approached them, asking questions, and waving their hands when asked for compensation. They even offered to bring food to the Red Army soldiers. The Red Army soldiers were all very kind, and at least as far as Division Commander Zhang could see, he didn't see a single soldier with a bad attitude.

This surprised Commander Zhang quite a bit.

What is the attitude of the common people when they see their national army?

Not to mention coming up to ask questions and give gifts, if they don't run away, they will be considered brave! Before, Commander Zhang thought that the performance of the national army was normal.

Soldiers!

If the common people don't fear the soldiers, what kind of soldiers are they?

The military is a violent institution, born to intimidate and intimidate others!

But now, he suddenly witnessed a completely new kind of military-civilian relationship, something he had never seen in his nearly ten years of military service. One can imagine his shock. Wait!

Could it be that the Red Army did this on purpose to show me? Yes!

When we were chatting before, He Long said that I graduated from the artillery major and that I was a talent they were in short supply of, so that must be the case!

To persuade me to surrender!!

Zhang Zhenhan suddenly "got it" and became disdainful of these "little tricks" of the Red Army.

Pack!

I'll see how long you can keep pretending!

Even if I, Zhang Zhenhan, die outside, I will never be tricked into surrendering by you!

However, what Zhang Zhenhan did not realize was that when he had this idea in his mind, he had already tacitly agreed to one thing:

The team he saw before him, which he considered to be "putting on," was actually the team he truly hoped for. Facing the sun, shining brightly.

191 I, Zhang Zhenhan, would rather die than surrender to the Communist Party!

After nearly a whole day's march, Commander Zhang and thousands of other prisoners, hundreds of wounded soldiers and corpses followed the Red Army troops to the "capital" of the Hunan-Hubei-West Hubei base area - Zhoulaozui. To be honest, the simplicity of this place did not surprise Commander Zhang at all.

After all, they are "communist bandits"!

However, what Commander Zhang himself did not realize was that compared to his previous contempt and fear, so many negative and confrontational thoughts in his heart disappeared; on the contrary, he really wanted to see what the Communist bandits were planning to do by bringing so many people "from afar" to this "hell place".

Adopt them as your own troops?

Kill them all?

Captured and forced into hard labor?

There are all kinds of ideas.

In fact, Division Commander Zhang had overheard some news from other troops that had fought against the "Communist bandits," but he didn't quite believe it.

For example, the "Communist bandits" would treat KMT prisoners well, recruiting those who were willing to surrender and releasing those who were unwilling to surrender, and sometimes even giving them travel expenses.

In Commander Zhang's opinion, this is most likely fake. Even if it is true, it is just a means for the "Communist bandits" to win over people's hearts, and this method is extremely "stupid"; if they fight with you and lose, not only will they be fine, but even if they refuse to surrender to you, they will not be killed, and they can even take money from you?

Since I won't be killed if I'm defeated and captured and refuse to surrender, I'll still be a soldier and fight you next time!

There are rewards for winning and there are rewards for losing!

Where is such a good business?

I want to do it too!

But, if that's the case, why bring all the people here? Wouldn't it be enough to just release the prisoners right then and there?

The officers and soldiers under Zhang Zhenhan also looked confused. Someone whispered, "Commander, what are the Communist bandits trying to do?"

"Don't say the word communist."

"what?"

"Uh... I mean, you're already their captive, and you're still calling them that? Do you want to die?"

"Oh...Oh...Master, they are..." "I don't know either, just look!"

In fact, some of Commander Zhang’s ideas are correct.

"Treat prisoners well" did undermine the enemy's morale to a certain extent, but it also gave some speculators an opportunity: I wouldn't lose whether I win or lose, so I can do whatever I want.

Therefore, in the combat history of the Red Army, there are many cases where some people were captured several times and killed many Red Army soldiers but still continued to fight against the Red Army; but they are only a very small number.

In most cases, when they found out that they would not die if they lost the battle and would even be treated preferentially, the fighting spirit of most Kuomintang soldiers dropped to the lowest point and they would surrender immediately if they got the chance the next time a war broke out. However, the Red Army was not stupid and adjusted some policies - those who were repeatedly caught fighting against the Red Army or even crazily killing Red Army soldiers would not necessarily enjoy "preferential treatment".

Soon after, under the setting sun, thousands of prisoners were asked to sit on the playground and listen to He Long's speech on the stage:

....I know everyone is worried, but don't worry, the Red Army doesn't kill prisoners! You should have heard, right? We didn't kill Commander Yue, so there's no way we'll kill poor people like you!" "So, after tomorrow, those who are willing to join our Red Army can stay. If you don't want to, we'll let you all go!"

"..."

There was a small commotion in the audience, and then it quickly quieted down.

It has to be said that the "collect ransom and release" policy does indeed have a positive impact on the simple Chinese values. Since their lives are safe, being held captive for two days is no big deal.

"But before we leave, there are a few things we need to do first!"

Some "smart people" felt a tightness in their scalps.

Are we supposed to do something like swear an oath of opposition to Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek?

Fortunately, the first thing the Red Army asked them to do was to bury the bodies of all the dead, both those from the Red Army and the Nationalist Army. This was a foregone conclusion.

Fortunately, because the Red Army caught the 41st Division off guard with a night attack and quickly captured the division commander and other high-ranking officials, the casualties on both sides were not heavy and the burial work was completed quickly. Moreover, when burying the bodies of the dead on both sides with the Red Army soldiers, everyone felt some inexplicable emotions in their hearts, as if their relationship had become closer.

After this was done, Guan Xiangying exchanged a glance with He Long, who waved his hand. He then jumped onto the stage and shouted in clear northern dialect:

"Now, let's organize a meeting! A meeting specifically for us poor people! It's called a grievance meeting!"

Grievance meeting?

what?

Zhang Zhenhan frowned, becoming increasingly confused about what the Communist Party members were doing.

I always feel that after arriving here, I see strange things everywhere, things I've seen before. The Communist Party is indeed extremely poor, but the spirits of their soldiers and officers are so high. Why is that? Poverty makes them happy... poverty makes them happy?

Are you all fucking crazy?

An hour later, Commander Zhang, who also came from a poor family, felt that he might have really gone crazy.

Because, like his fellow soldiers, he cried his eyes out during his repeated angry accusations. He had been an officer for eight years, and if it weren't for the flashbacks these accusations brought, he would have almost forgotten.

Back then, when he was in his hometown, how the landlords bullied him, how he went hungry in years of famine and good harvest, how the village chiefs and the headmen sucked his blood from him; yes!

My experience is the same as these soldiers'!

At that moment, Commander Zhang felt as if these soldiers, whom he had previously looked down upon and considered unworthy of sitting with him, had suddenly become his fellow citizens. Commander Zhang gradually came to understand and accept their position, but some of his officers, who came from "aristocratic" backgrounds, were completely unable to empathize. One of them immediately stood up and angrily accused them:

"You're all talking nonsense! What do you mean by landlord exploitation? Where did the landlords get their land? Wasn't it all earned through the hard work of their ancestors? Only you peasants..."

As soon as he said this, the officer realized that he had lost his composure and was blinded by anger, which led him to speak in defense of the landlord in a place where he should not have spoken, in front of a group of people who hated the landlord. As expected, pairs of angry and hateful eyes were already looking at him, and some people clenched their fists, and judging by their posture, they might rush up and abuse him in the next second.

Guan Xiangying patted the microphone, stopping the soldiers. Recalling something from the "Grievance Meeting Implementation Manual," he silently recited the words "settling accounts" and calmly asked, "Your family must be landlords, right? Then let me ask you, how many acres of land do you have? What's the harvest?"

"Uh...my family is not a landlord."

"Ah? Not a landlord? If you're not a landlord, then why are you speaking for the landlord? If you are also a poor person, then you must have been oppressed by landlords and others. Why do you still speak for those who oppress you? Have you been kicked in the head by a donkey?" "....I....."

There was a burst of laughter from the audience, and the officer was speechless. He was already rich, so naturally he was no longer the same kind of person as the peasants.