Chapter 70 2. Chiang Kai-shek used 15,000 taels of gold to make peace with Bai Chongxi

April in Wuhan is already feeling hot. The city on the Yangtze River can already smell the smell of war. Since Li Bai teamed up to overthrow Chiang, the conflict between Jiang and Bai has worsened day by day. However, Bai Chongxi is a militant with serious personal heroism. He planned to support Li Zongren's peace talks with the Communist Party and maintain half of the south of the Yangtze River, which became a special world for their Guangxi clan to live in. However, when the peace talks broke down and the People's Liberation Army crossed the south of the Yangtze River, his dream was completely shattered.

Chiang Kai-shek came to pull him again.These two people have a very special relationship. As early as during the Northern Expedition, they joined hands together. Bai Chongxi also served as Chiang Kai-shek's chief of staff. He did win many battles at that time. His reputation improved at this time, and he was praised by Chiang Kai-shek. Gao, everyone knew about that clever "Little Zhuge" at the time, and even became the Minister of Defense of Chiang Kai-shek's government later, thanks to this glorious history. Later, he became increasingly dissatisfied with Chiang Kai-shek's arbitrariness, and the relationship between the two was in crisis. Li Zongren ran for vice president, and he contributed a lot.Although Chiang Kai-shek had different opinions, it was difficult to control him. The Kuomintang was like this. Whoever had military power in his hands would be tough.Bai Chongxi had the Guangxi army, and Chiang Kai-shek had nothing to do with him.

Seeing that the Kuomintang government was about to collapse, Chiang Kai-shek thought of Bai Chongxi again. His narration brought Bai Chongxi to the distant past, and Bai Chongxi's heart was finally moved by him, so Chiang Kai-shek sent someone to send 15,000 taels of gold to Wuhan, and the two reconciled. Since then, Bai Chongxi has changed, from opposing Chiang to supporting Chiang. However, this man is also very cunning, with millions of troops crossing the river, their Guangxi faction only has 50,000 to 60,000 horses, how could they fight a decisive battle?He was going to retreat, retreat to the coastal area.

Just when he was about to order a full retreat, he couldn't go anymore. The Chen Geng Corps of the Second Field Army had already turned around from behind him. The advance troops of the Xiao Jinguang Corps of the Fourth Field Army were approaching the north bank of the Yangtze River. At this time, many middle- and lower-level military officers within him had lost their fighting spirit and were spreading peace talks everywhere.Bai Chongxi was shocked. He summoned the officers above the regiment and gave a lecture: "Can the Communist Party talk about peace to us? They will not let us go. From today on, we can no longer talk about peace. If someone is found spreading such negative remarks , just grab it..."

This remark can only scare those timid people. Later, Zhang Zhen, the deputy chief of the Central China Military and Political Commissioner's Office and the commander of the 19th Corps, led his troops to defect to Guangming. Zhang Zhen can be regarded as a veteran soldier.He is from Luoshan, Henan Province. He was born in a peasant family. He was fond of fighting injustices since he was a child. Because his ancestors had studied, even though his family was poor, his parents did their best to support him in studying, so as to honor his ancestors in the future. Walked out of the small village and was admitted to the Army School of Henan Province.Because of his rebellious behavior, he was expelled from school, wanted by the government, unable to go home, and wandered outside for three years.

He entered Baoding Military Academy in 1918, and was sent to the Japanese Army Non-commissioned Officer Academy for further study in the second year. In 1923, after finishing his studies, he returned to China and served as the deputy of the major regiment in the Hua Department of Liuzhen, Shaanxi. In 1924, he left the Ministry and came to Feng Yuxiang's National Army as the Chief of Staff. In 1926, he led the Northern Expedition and fought against Sun Chuanfang's troops and came to Nanchang. In the second year, Chiang Kai-shek betrayed the revolution in Shanghai, and Cheng Qian rebuilt the Sixth Army. He served as the commander of the 18th Division. He was only 33 years old at the time.In August of the same year, Chiang Kai-shek was forced to step down, and he led his troops to Changsha to serve as the commander of the Changsha garrison.

Later, he left the army and returned to his hometown.After the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, he returned to the army and served as a division commander in Cheng Qian's Department, and participated in the Taierzhuang War.Because of his meritorious service in combat, he was promoted to army commander. After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, he became the deputy chief of the Central China Military and Political Chief Office and the commander of the fifth theater. He joined forces with Bai Chongxi to deal with the Communist Party, and later served as the chairman of Henan Province.

The Kuomintang army retreated steadily, so he had to lead his troops to retreat to Hunan to survive. At this time, the People's Liberation Army had already crossed the river, and Zhang Zhen had lost confidence in the Kuomintang and was determined to stand on the side of the people.At that time, he was in contact with the underground members of the Communist Party and was reported, but Bai Chongxi did not believe it. He publicly said: "The chairman has entrusted him with a heavy responsibility. Will he rebel? If that's the case, I will kill him first." Bai Chongxi was still a step late. After the vanguard of the four fields crossed the river, Zhang Zhen kept in secret contact with the representatives of the People's Liberation Army, but Bai Chongxi didn't find out.

In fact, his desire for rebellion existed early on. During the Northern Expedition, he had contact with the Communists and was inspired a lot. Later, he had contacts with Zhou Enlai and others, but he couldn't make up his mind.After the three major battles, the Communist Party sent people to do his work many times, and even several of his children persuaded him to lead an uprising, but he still followed Bai Chongxi. He was in a bad mood because he was Cheng Qian's subordinate, and Chiang Kai-shek and Bai Chongxi were just using him. He once sent someone to contact Cheng Qian, the old chief stationed in Changsha. Cheng Qian had plans to revolt, which strengthened his confidence. He stated to Cheng that he planned to revolt at the same time.

It's just that the Communist Party thinks that the time is not yet ripe, so he should not expose his actions for the time being.The head of the Central Plains Field Army once sent someone to tell him: "The best place for General Zhang's uprising is in Wuhan, and the uprising will have a greater effect." He also said to his subordinates many times: "We can't run away with Bai Chongxi. His troops are all southerners. After retreating south, he will not worry about survival. Most of us are northerners. What should we do if we go?" His old subordinate, Xin Shaoting, the commander of the 128th Army, was a firm opponent of the troops' withdrawal to the south. He said: "It is the best policy for us to withdraw to Hubei. Now we should make room for the defense line of the Yangtze River and let the People's Liberation Army cross the river and cooperate with them to liberate Wuhan."

Both his nephew and nephew served as division commanders in this army, and he was also one of the people who strongly advocated the uprising. Bai Chongxi's battle plan of sticking to Wuhan could no longer be implemented, and this old and cunning man had no choice but to issue a retreat order to all troops. Xiao Jinguang had already chased after him, and the large army was surrounded, making it not so easy to move. The time for the uprising came. Before retreating, Zhang Zhen called the two army commanders and several division commanders to his home and said: "We want to disrupt Bai Chongxi's retreat plan and revolt immediately. Get up, and Xiao Jinguang's vanguard will attack Lu Daoyuan's 58th Army from both sides, and cooperate with the People's Liberation Army to capture Wuhan." After that, Zhang Zhen sent his son-in-law Zhang Yinren to contact the People's Liberation Army of the Jianghan Military Region about the uprising.The two sides agreed that Zhang Zhen's uprising was code-named "55555" troops, wrapped a white towel on his left arm, and cooperated with the army to cross the river by the Wuhan River. In the early morning of May 14, the main force of Xiao Jinguang's corps began to cross the river in a large scale.At this time, Bai Chongxi called Zhang Zhen to hold a military meeting in Wuchang. It seems that the uprising has not been exposed yet. There are still Bai Chongxi's troops in Wuhan. Should we go?He couldn't make up his mind.Commander Xin Shaoting said to him: "Commander Bai told you to go to a meeting at this time. It is very dangerous and you can't go." Zhang Zhen thought about it for a while and said, "The time for our action is not yet ripe. All actions must be obeyed by the People's Liberation Army. I'd better go and see if he has any plans." "You still can't go!" "If you don't go, it will cause suspicion. He dare not do anything to me." Zhang Zhen came to Bai Chongxi's headquarters in fear. The situation here is very chaotic, many people started to pack up their things and prepare to flee, the office floor was full of discarded documents and torn papers. As soon as Bai Chongxi saw him, he asked with a straight face, "What's the matter? I heard that the communist army has already crossed the river on your Jiangfang. Why didn't you resist?" Zhang Zhen pretended to be calm, wiped the sweat from his forehead with a towel, and said, "Is there such a thing? I don't know why, the Communist Army can go so fast!" "According to someone, are you planning to collude with bandits?" "My wife was sent to Guangxi by you. How could I cooperate with the Communist Party? Don't you believe me?" "Look at this and talk about it." Bai Chongxi handed him a telegram.This is a secret report sent by Chief of Staff Gu Zhutong to Bai Chongxi. The message reads: "According to the secret report, Zhang Zhen colluded with the Communist bandits and plotted rebellion. Please detain him as an officer above division commander and send him to Guangzhou for legal action. The department will be disbanded on the spot." Zhang Zhen couldn't help breaking out in a cold sweat after reading it.Bai Chongxi asked: "How do you explain this?" Zhang Zhen said: "There is nothing to say. A while ago, during the KMT-CCP ​​peace talks, I had contact with the Communist Party, but this was all following your orders! Don't you believe me?" "Let you have private contact with the Communist Party because of the need for peace talks at that time, but I don't know what you did behind my back?" "I even sent the whole family away. Don't you think about them? Please rest assured, Commander-in-Chief, I will not do anything to you. This telegram is clearly someone who provoked our relationship. They think that we have made things too big and are not convinced. Well, why did you disband the troops after taking officers above the division level to justice? This is taking the opportunity to weaken your power." He spoke seriously, and Bai Chongxi suddenly laughed.He said: "How can I not believe you? If this is the case, I can still give you this secret report? We are going to restore Henan Province. You find officers above the division and see who is willing to go back and take up the post. I can also appoint him. He is also the commander of the Henan and Anhui regions." "I can't even come, I have to leave a gatekeeper." Bai Chongxi showed his true colors and was ready to wipe out Zhang Zhen's subordinates here. He already had a clear feeling about Zhang Zhen's uprising.His complexion changed, and he said, "No, you can call them here and tell them that they will come to the meeting tomorrow morning. You stay here and don't go back." "Yes, but everyone in our corps knows that I am here today. Many people are still waiting for me to go back to deal with things. Our corps office also has a phone. I can notify them when I get there. I will be back in an hour at most. To tell the truth I'd love to talk to you too." Bai Chongxi did not express his position, and he said after a while: "We are friends in need, I believe in you, go and come back soon!" Zhang Zhen finally escaped. When he fled back to Jinkou, he learned that the headquarters of the 19th Corps and its immediate battalion were surrounded by Bai Chongxi's 7th Army. After a fierce battle, he resolutely led his troops to revolt. Then Xiao Jinguang's corps quickly liberated Wuhan, and Bai Chongxi hurriedly led the remnants to flee south. On May 22, Nanchang was liberated. Of course, Bai Chongxi fled very quickly. When the Siye troops crossed the river at the end of May, Chen Geng ordered the 15th Army to advance to Fujian, Jiangxi and other places. The Kuomintang's defensive positions along the Yangtze River collapsed across the board, and Bai Chongxi had no way to escape, so he brought some remnants of the enemy to Hunan, where the war had not yet ignited, for the final struggle.