Chapter 4 4. Simple General

Dong Zhentang, courtesy name Shaozhong. Born on December 21, 1895 in Lijiazhuang Village, Xinhe County, Hebei Province.He is the second among three brothers. Due to his poor family, Dong Zhentang has been very sensible since he was a child.At that time, it was the time when the Eight-Power Allied Forces invaded China and the Boxer Rebellion rebelled. He witnessed the rampant behavior of the imperialists on Chinese territory, and determined to serve the country by reading. In 1916, Dong Zhentang was admitted to Qinghe Preparatory School, Baoding Military Academy, Hebei Province, with honors. In 1921, he entered the artillery department of Baoding Military Academy.After graduation, he rejected the invitation of Zhili warlord Wu Peifu, and with his classmate Zhang Kexia (joined the Communist Party of China in Shanghai in 1929, served as deputy chief of staff of the 29th Route Army, deputy commander of the 3rd Appeasement District of the Kuomintang, led 20,000 troops in November 1948 Yu officers and soldiers revolted in the Huaihai battlefield), He Jifeng (approved as a special member of the Communist Party of China in 1939, served as the commander of the 77th Army of the Kuomintang in 1943, and led an uprising with Zhang Kexia in the Huaihai battlefield in 1948), Bian Zhangwu (with Zhang Kexia in 1931) Dong Zhentang participated in the Ningdu Uprising and served successively as commander of the 40th Division of the 14th Army of the Fifth Corps of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, commander of the 39th Division, chief of the Operations Section of the General Staff, and chief of the Education Section. Lieutenant general military attache of the Soviet embassy, ​​chief representative of the Korean armistice negotiating delegation.) and others entered the second division of Feng Yuxiang's army as trainees.In the army, he never put on airs, fought with the soldiers, shared joys and sorrows, and was deeply loved and supported by the soldiers.

In October 1924, in the battle against the Fengtian warlords, Dong led the artillery battalion to destroy the enemy's armored train in one fell swoop. .During the Northern Expedition, Dong Zhentang led his troops into Hubei, penetrated directly into the heart of Zhili warlord Wu Peifu, and annihilated Wu Peifu's headquarters and guard battalion in Fancheng.Since then, he has been highly valued and supported by Feng Yuxiang because of his outstanding military ability. In 1929, after years of warlord melee, the country was temporarily united. The Kuomintang government held an army reorganization meeting in Nanjing. Feng Yuxiang's Northwest Army was organized into twelve divisions. Dong served as the commander of the 13th division and was awarded the rank of lieutenant general.Immediately afterwards, Feng Yuxiang wiped out the Communists in his own army. Facing the Northwest Army under the white terror, many Communists were forced to leave, some disappeared, and some were arrested.Dong Zhentang's division was no exception, and he deeply regretted what happened to the Communists.

Dong Zhentang is well-known for his simplicity among the generals of the Northwest Army. When he was the commander of the 13th Division and the commander of the garrison in Luoyang, it happened that his brother Dong Shengtang (styled as Xizhong, a major general of the National Army, was once the 114th Division of the 38th Division of the Zhang Zizhong Division of the Northwest Army. The brigade commander participated in the Anti-Japanese War at Xifengkou and Lugouqiao. He later served as the commander of the 180th Division of the 59th Army of the Kuomintang and the chief of staff of the 40th Army. After liberation, he was introduced by the United Front Department and entered North China Revolutionary University. After graduation, he was assigned to He served as a tactical instructor at the Cavalry School of the PLA, and was later transferred to serve as a researcher in the Advanced Research Office of the Military Training Department of the General Staff.) He also served as the head of the Luoyang Training Director Department.The two brothers discussed together and took their parents, wife and children to Luoyang to enjoy the family happiness.Dong Zhentang bought a cotton robe, a small cotton jacket and cotton trousers for his wife Jia Mingyu, all made of cloth.The magistrate's wives in silk and satin felt that the commander's wife was too poorly dressed. Jia Mingyu was afraid of losing face to her husband, so she told her husband when she came back.Dong Zhentang didn't think so. He said to his wife: "Seventh sister (nickname), this is not bad. It's much better than the countryside. We all come from poor backgrounds. Don't learn the bad habits of those officials and wives."

Jia Mingyu is kind and virtuous, and naturally understands what her husband says.After coming to the army, she seldom troubled the guards, as long as she could do everything, she did it by herself.Dong Zhentang often went to the army to personally guide the training. It was very tiring and hard work. Jia Mingyu packed all the dirty clothes he changed every day, and sometimes he also washed the clothes of the guards along with it.In the Kuomintang army, in addition to protecting the safety of the officers, the guards also did laundry, massaged, washed feet, served the officers' wives, etc. It was common for them to be beaten and scolded.But Dong Zhentang was different, he did everything by himself and never let the guards do these things.Now the wife of the officer wanted to wash their clothes, but the guards refused to say anything. Dong Zhentang came out of the room after hearing the news, and said, "Don't argue, your work is also very hard, let her do it!"

When the chiefs had a meeting, most of the guards would gather together, chatting about their jobs and their chiefs, sighing and complaining.At this time, Dong Zhentang's guards are always silent, but their faces are filled with happy smiles, because they love their officers deeply and are proud of having such an officer. As the conflict between Feng Yuxiang and Chiang Kai-shek continued to worsen, war was imminent.Facing the turbulent current situation, Dong persuaded his wife to take the children back to their hometown in Hebei.Before leaving, Dong Zhentang bought her a sweater and a pillow, and handed her ten yuan.In order to dispel his wife's worries, the honest Dong Zhentang held her hand and said, "You can go back at ease! In my life, you don't think about my smoking, drinking, or whoring. When I get rich, I don't care about it either. I will go to find my little wife, and I will spend my whole life with you!"

Dong Zhentang said goodbye to his wife in a hurry.After that, he kept his promise all his life, devoted all his energy to love soldiers, lead troops, study strategies and tactics, read books, think, and pursue the bright road of exploration. At that time, most of the senior officers in the warlord's army lived a corrupt life, eating, drinking, whoring and gambling, and doing everything.As a lieutenant general, Dong Zhentang had a monthly salary of more than 200 yuan, which was a high salary at the time, but he still lived a very simple life. Every meal was steamed buns and simple two dishes and one soup. Officers and soldiers, he is very generous, no matter who is in trouble, he is always generous.

His monthly salary is entrusted to the guard Gao Zhizhong. Today the company commander is in trouble, so he asks Xiao Gao to send 20 yuan, and tomorrow the battalion commander’s family has an accident, and he asks Xiao Gao to give 30 yuan, but it is very little. Send money to your home.Once Guo Ruyue, the staff officer of the division headquarters, was ill. After hearing the news, Dong Zhentang asked Xiao Gao to take out his own money to buy meals for the sick staff officer Guo.Afterwards, Xiao Gao was asked to send 20 Yuan to him to nourish his body. Dong Zhentang’s emphasis on righteousness over wealth and his concern for subordinates was deeply loved by his subordinates. In the Northwest Army at that time, many soldiers called him “a general who didn’t love money”, while some soldiers and officers who didn’t understand him called him He is "Silly Commander".

In the autumn of 1929, under the recommendation of Dong Zhentang's old subordinate and friend Su Jin, a young man named Liu Zhenya came to his army, and Dong Zhentang arranged him as a staff officer by his side.At that time, neither Dong nor Su knew that Liu Zhenya was an underground member of the Communist Party of China who had been lurking and had not been exposed, and was the only underground member of the 26th Route Army who kept in touch with the party.After the troops were stationed in Ningdu, it was with the help of Liu Zhenya that the military transport team dispatched by the Central Revolutionary Military Commission: Wang Chao, Yuan Xuezu, and Li Su were able to successfully penetrate into the various departments of the 26th Route Army, and developed to more than 30 troops. A special branch of a party member.It can be said that Dong Zhentang had already made contributions to the revolution inadvertently.

After the Kuomintang army's third "encirclement and suppression" campaign against the Central Revolutionary Base Area failed, the 26th Route Army was pushed to the forefront—ordered to garrison Ningdu. Forcing the 26th Route Army to fight the Red Army.Facing this dead end, the officers and soldiers were terrified. Coupled with the prevalence of malaria, the dead soldiers were carried out of the city every day, and soon the suburbs of Ningdu were densely covered with new graves.Many officers and soldiers even joked desolately: "We've got to report there sooner or later!"

"I buried you today, who will bury me tomorrow!" "Brother, someday I will die, you can't throw me on the barren slope to feed the dogs!" ... The "September 18th" incident broke out, which aroused strong indignation among the war-weary officers and soldiers.They scolded one after another: "If the country is not guaranteed, what the hell is going to suppress the Communist Party!" Those officers and soldiers with a sense of patriotism and justice, under the call of Zhao Bosheng, Dong Zhentang, Ji Zhentong and others, jointly called Chiang Kai-shek, demanding to go north to fight against Japan.Sun Lianzhong, who was the commander-in-chief at the time, also wanted to take this opportunity to get out of the predicament, so while telegraphing Chiang Kai-shek, he ordered the whole army to go north, and Dong Zhentang's 73rd Brigade would clear the way in front.However, Chiang Kai-shek would not allow the 26th Route Army to leave easily. When the troops moved to Hulingzui, 60 miles away, they were blocked by Jiang's heavy troops.The troops had no choice but to drive back to Ningdu. Sun Lianzhong angrily left the troops and went to Shanghai to treat the teeth. Dong Zhentang also left the troops angrily and took Liu Zhenya to Nanchang.After arriving in Nanchang, he ordered Liu Zhenya to go to Shanghai to find the CCP organization, eager to find a way out.For reasons of caution, Liu Zhenya did not confess his love to him at the time.

Turning around, Zhao Bosheng sent Liu Zhenya and Yuan Xuezu away, and immediately called Luo Yaping, asking him to draft a telegram for a camp in Nanchang. Rapidly advancing and suppressing, don't miss the opportunity. Not only the party and the country are in trouble, but Zhongzheng is also very pleased!".With this telegram, Zhao Bosheng hurried to the residence of Dong Zhentang of the 73rd Brigade. At this moment, Su Jin, deputy head of the 1st Regiment of the 74th Brigade, was sitting in Dong's room. He was Dong's old subordinate, and the two had a very close relationship.Dong Zhentang was asking Su Jin about the situation of the 74th Brigade. Dong asked: "Is your brigade organized?" The word "organization" is rarely used in the Kuomintang troops because it is synonymous with the Communist Party.Su Jin was very surprised when he heard this, and after thinking for a while, he said: "As far as I know, there is no such thing now." After listening, Dong Zhentang continued to ask: "One of the formation squads of your second regiment dragged a gun and threw it at the Red Army. What does Ji Zhentong think about this matter?" Su Jin replied: "It was not dealt with at the beginning, but due to military discipline and the pursuit of the superior, Ji Zhentong had to withdraw the battalion commander. Later, I heard that he was sent to Fuzhou to train recruits..." As soon as the words came to this point, Chief of Staff Zhao Bosheng stepped into the room without saying hello, and Su Jin was so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat.Knowing their relationship, Zhao Bosheng smiled and said, "Excuse me, Deputy Su Tuan, I have something important to discuss with Brigadier Dong." Su Jin hurriedly got up and gave up his seat, and left. When Su Jin walked away, Zhao Bosheng closed the door and handed the telegram to Dong Zhentang.As soon as Dong Yuehou was about to speak, Zhao Bosheng said seriously: "Shaozhong, the situation is very urgent. Chiang Kai-shek is ruthless and ruthless in destroying the miscellaneous troops. Now we have reached the time to make a decisive decision!" Dong Zhentang was slightly shocked when he heard this, and said calmly: "Enfu, you understand me, my heart is the same as yours, I have the same blessings and difficulties, and I will never break my promise!" Dong Zhentang has been reticent these days, but when he saw this telegram from Nanchang, he reacted very strongly.Fu said again: "You and I have known each other for many years, so you can open up and talk about it, what should we do?" Hearing Dong's words, Zhao Bosheng knew what he was saying, so he stopped going around in circles: "My opinion is that we should unite with the Red Army and go north to fight against Japan. It's not too late. Please make a quick decision!" "There's nothing to say, just do it like this! It's just that people can trust us? It's best to contact there in advance." "I found out that our former Director Liu is now in Ruijin!" Zhao Bosheng said: "The current situation is very dangerous. There is no territory in the south, and all the territory in the north is lost. We are now in Pingyang, and we will die if we fail. There is no place for burial!" Dong Zhentang nodded, and said, "It seems that we have only one way to go, and that is to pull the team out to join the Red Army!" Zhao Bosheng held Dong's hand tightly, and said happily, "Okay! As long as you If you agree to join the Red Army, we have a solution. Then we will make a deal and plan our actions based on the 73rd Brigade. Can you think about it and go to Ji Zhentong with me to test his attitude. I think He will also go with us, because he has long been dissatisfied with Chiang Kai-shek's treatment of us, and he once told me that he wanted to use the Red Army to go back to Commander-in-Chief Feng, how about it?" Dong Zhentang replied straightforwardly: "Okay! Let's go together!"