Chapter 9 1. Young political commissars

The uprising troops stayed in Guhou Village of the Soviet Government of Pagoda County that night.Early the next morning, the troops gathered in an empty threshing ground at the head of the village. There was no podium, but a large square table was placed in the middle.Standing on the table, Liu Bojian solemnly declared: "On behalf of the Chinese Soviet government and the Central Revolutionary Military Commission, I warmly welcome the officers and soldiers of the former 26th Route Army to join the Red Army for their glorious uprising! Your uprising is the third round of encirclement and suppression by the Kuomintang against the Communist Red Army." 'At this time, it is commendable to stand resolutely on the side of the Communist Party and the people at a difficult time! Your actions also declare to the people of the whole country that our Red Army is an active anti-Japanese team. This is the wish of the people, and it is also the Kuomintang army At the same time, you have pointed out a bright and correct path to them. Therefore, the feat of your uprising will be remembered forever! I believe that in the history of Chinese revolution, it will be recorded forever Your glorious page!"

There was thunderous applause at the venue, and the officers and soldiers had tears of excitement in their eyes, and the cheers and applause continued for a long time.Liu Bojian deeply felt that this applause represented the heartfelt feelings of all officers and soldiers of the 26th Route Army.So he waited, scanning the room excitedly. After a long time, the applause gradually subsided.Then he said: "The Chinese Soviet government and the Central Revolutionary Military Commission decided to grant the uprising army the designation of the Fifth Army of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, under the jurisdiction of the Thirteenth Army, the Fourteenth Army, and the Fifteenth Army. Commander-in-chief, Dong Zhentang is the deputy commander-in-chief of the Fifth Red Army Corps and the commander of the Thirteenth Army, under the jurisdiction of the 37th and 38th Divisions. The 40th Division and the 41st Division. Huang Zhongyue is the commander of the 15th Army, under the jurisdiction of the 43rd Division and the 44th Division. I hope that comrades will unite closely, hold high the red flag of revolution, and fight for the liberation of the whole country. China, for the tens of millions of oppressed workers and peasants, for the true independence and unity of China, fight bravely!"

As soon as the words fell, the uprising officers and soldiers cheered excitedly again, and the applause and slogans resounded through the earth. After several days of marching, the Fifth Red Army Corps arrived near Ruijin one after another.The 13th Red Army stationed in Qiuxi, the 14th Red Army stationed in Yanba, and the 15th Red Army and Legion headquarters stationed in Jiubao area.After the troops were stationed, they began to conduct training in accordance with the instructions of the Central Revolutionary Military Commission. Before the arrival of the uprising troops, the Central Revolutionary Military Commission held a meeting specifically for this purpose, and made several instructions for this training work:

(1) Establish political work and a political committee system to establish the leadership of the Communist Party.The Central Revolutionary Military Commission selected a large number of cadres from the 1st Red Army, the 3rd Red Army and other units to work in the 5th Red Army.They are: Xiao Jinguang, Liu Bojian, Chen Bojun, Zhang Nansheng, Zhang Jichun, He Changgong, Cheng Zihua, Tang Tianji, Lai Chuanzhu, Song Renqiong, Kuang Zhuquan, Liu Xing, Li Xiangwu, Gao Baili, Yu Huamin, Wang Zifeng, Li Shanguan, Xie Liang, Yuan Ziqin, Wang Caishui, Liu Shaowen, Qian Yimin, Huang Ziyun, Cao Jiaqing, Jiang Qihua, etc.

(2) Establish a democratic system.Equality between officers and soldiers is implemented politically, and soldiers are not allowed to be beaten and scolded. The company establishes a soldier committee to assist the administrative leadership in managing the troops. (3) Organize political studies and carry out class education. Xiao Jinguang, the political commissar of the Fifth Red Army Corps appointed by the organization, was a legendary early military leading cadre of our party.As early as 1921, he went to the Soviet Union with Ren Bishi, Liu Shaoqi and others to study at the Oriental University in Moscow. After returning to China in 1925, he devoted himself to the torrent of the Great Revolution.In practice and exploration, he clearly realized that the Chinese revolution must focus on military affairs and armed struggle.So he resolutely went to the Soviet Union for the second time and entered the Leningrad Tolmachev Military and Political Academy to study military theory. After returning to China in 1930, Xiao Jinguang was sent to the Central Soviet Area as the principal of the Central Military School.

Xiao Jinguang was really surprised when he received the transfer order.He found Wang Jiaxiang, director of the General Political Department. Wang Jiaxiang saw that he had concerns, so he asked with a smile, "What's the matter? Comrade Xiao Jinguang, are you not satisfied with this transfer?" Xiao Jinguang said, "I think the burden is heavy. I'm not familiar with the situation of the army, so I really don't know how to lead the 17,000-strong rebel army, besides, I'm in the military..." Wang Jiaxiang didn't wait for Xiao Jinguang to finish, he waved his hand and interrupted him: "You are the principal of the Central Military Academy. Shuangquan, your qualifications are not shallow!" After speaking, he patted Xiao Jinguang on the shoulder: "I have considered it in the organization, don't have any worries, go and take up the post!" Xiao Jinguang smiled and said: "Comrade Liu Bojian used to work in the Northwest Army, He has high prestige and influence there, so he should be more suitable to be a political commissar than me!"

"Hehe, Comrade Liu Bojian has already taken office, the director of the Political Department of the Fifth Army Corps, your partner." Wang Jiaxiang said with a smile. Now that the organizational decision has been made, Xiao Jinguang has nothing to say.The next day, Xiao Jinguang brought political cadres at all levels carefully selected from the Red Army to the Fifth Red Army.The Fifth Army Corps held a warm welcome meeting at the Corps Headquarters. At the meeting, Liu Bojian first introduced political commissar Xiao Jinguang.Xiao Jinguang walked to the front of the stage, first gave a standard military salute to everyone, and then spoke on behalf of all political workers: "Comrades!" Immediately there was a discussion mixed with laughter from the audience:

"Hey! Don't look at him with a big beard, he's actually very young." "He is as tall as our Commander Ji, so majestic..." "I heard that he studied abroad in the Soviet Union. He has great knowledge. Director Liu will give him three points!" "I heard that this man is very fierce. He never smiles. He always looks at people with his eyes. His eyes are like knives. It's incredible." ... Xiao Jinguang laughed listening to the discussion in the audience, and continued to preach; "Comrades, I call you this because we are veritable revolutionary comrades from now on."

There was a wave of applause from the audience. "The Party Central Committee sent us to work in the Fifth Red Army Corps. I hope to work together with you to build this team into an iron Red Army. Some comrades are new here and may not be used to some places. I believe everyone will get used to it soon. The Red Army China emphasizes democracy, if you have any doubts, feel free to ask, if we can't solve it, we can report it to the central government..." Xiao Jinguang's words relieved most of the nervousness of the soldiers of the Fifth Army Corps, but this was only the beginning.

A few days later, all kinds of pressure and contradictions came.First of all, some cadres doing political work at the grassroots level came to Xiao Jinguang to complain.Some of these reported that lower-level officers beat and scolded soldiers at will; some reported that some officers had a serious habit of warlords; Not good... Anyway, there are all kinds of things. According to Huang Huoqing, then political commissar and director of the Political Department of the 14th Army, recalled: ...On the eve of the army's uprising, Wang Jiaxiang, director of the Political Department of the Red Army, held a meeting of cadres to mobilize everyone to do reception work. He said that there were nearly 20,000 people in the 26th Route Army, and that all northerners and those who could speak Mandarin had to go to work. I was also transferred.The uprising went smoothly, and all the troops were brought out, and they drove south to station between Ruijin and Ningdu.The unit was reorganized into the Red Fifth Army.The chief and deputy commanders of the 26th Route Army were Ji Zhentong and Dong Zhentang, the former leaders of the 26th Route Army, Xiao Jinguang, the political commissar, and Liu Bojian, the director of the Political Department. Chief Zhao Bosheng.

The people we sent in helped establish political organs and party organizations, vigorously carried out political education, and carried out extensive condolence activities.The principle at that time was that those left behind by Zuo Yuan, the former officers of the 26th Route Army, were generally transferred to the Red Army School to study, redistribute work, and mobilize local armed forces to enrich the various armies, so as to change the original composition of the old army.The Fourteenth Army was stationed in Hengjiang, Jiangxi.When we first went to meet the soldiers, as soon as they saw us on the rostrum, they whispered: "The barbarians are here!" But when they heard the speech, they turned out to be northerners.The first step is to make a comparison between the old and the new, recalling the bitterness and thinking about the sweetness of education, and some soldiers cried.The soldiers said that the Red Army had no airs and did not beat or swear at others. The officers and soldiers had the same food and clothing.At that time, the people of the entire Soviet area were mobilized to comfort the uprising troops, slaughtering pigs and sheep, and performing plays with drums and gongs.In order to expand publicity and education work, the Red Army School also established the Bayi Theater Troupe, with Zhao Pinsan in charge of daily work. Wu Xiuquan, Li Bozhao, Wei Gongzhi, He Buqing and I were all members of the troupe committee. When I was in the 14th Army, I fought a few times.One time, they attacked the reactionary landlord's earth enclosure in Lai Village. They used the method of digging a tunnel. After the tunnel was dug through, the explosives were packed in coffins and transported into the tunnel. There was a bang, and the city wall several feet wide collapsed.When the Red Army attacked Tuweizi in Meitou Village, the landlord started to react stubbornly and refused to hand in his gun. When he heard that the Red Army had captured Lai Village, he collapsed.Several well-known Tuweizi in the Central Soviet Area were the strongholds of the reactionary armed forces. There was Cuiwei Peak near Ningdu, which was also a stronghold. The terrain was dangerous, and there was only one road leading to the mountain. General Luo Yuanfa also had a deep memory of this: ... I was transferred to the Thirteenth Army as the instructor of the machine gun company. When I first arrived in the company, I really felt that there were many things I was not used to.Most of the soldiers in the company are from the north. They can't understand my Fujian accent, so it's difficult for them to communicate.Moreover, some officers and veterans who were accustomed to the Kuomintang army could not bear the hard life of the Red Army. These people did not eat rice or wear straw sandals, and they were not used to the discipline of the Red Army. As a result, some soldiers deserted.In order to unite, educate and transform this unit as soon as possible, I followed the instructions of my superiors, gave full play to the advantages of the Red Army in political work, and carried out vigorous patriotic education in the company... Xiao Jinguang patiently taught ideological and emotional political cadres to pay attention to their working methods and respect the officers and soldiers of the uprising, and emphasized that political cadres at all levels should not expose their shortcomings in their work, do not mention the wrong things they did before the uprising, and do not talk about the wrong things they did before the uprising. provocative words and so on.For their current mistakes, according to the degree, establish educational methods, gradually let them realize and consciously correct them.In short, everything must have a process.Don't be impatient, be patient, and don't see the wind as the rain, and beat them to death with a stick. After finally getting through the work of the political cadres, Xiao Jinguang clearly noticed that the commander-in-chief Ji Zhentong also had a serious ideological burden.Xiao Jinguang already knew about Ji Zhentong.He is the eldest son of a landlord family, with a bold and generous personality, warm and sincere to others, young and full of vitality.But even such a rebel general with an extremely extroverted personality has now become cautious and cautious in every way, obedient to everything, as if he is afraid of being stepped on by his tail.This is a bad signal, and at the same time, it has clearly opened the distance between the two. How to do it?Xiao Jinguang first took Ji Zhentong to pay a quick visit to Commander-in-Chief Zhu De. Boss Zhu was very enthusiastic and invited them to his home for dinner.During the banquet, Zhu De said: "I used to be a warlord, and I used to smoke opium! After joining the Communist Party, I really found the way to serve the country..." A dignified commander-in-chief of the Red Army did not shy away from talking about his past scandals , Ji Zhentong was deeply moved, and finally said the truth: "Commander-in-Chief, you are generous and kind, and you are not at all like the Commander-in-Chief of the Red Army." Zhu De asked with a smile: "General Ji, tell me, I What does it look like?" Ji scratched his head in embarrassment and couldn't answer, but he had already thought about it in his heart—the boss was indeed like a "cooker", but he didn't dare to say it out.Xiao Jinguang explained from the side: "Equality between officers and soldiers is a fine tradition of our Red Army, and the commander-in-chief is our role model. A few days ago, the boss came to our army to express his condolences. When speaking to our officers, everyone sat or lay down in the room. Chat together very casually, without restraint..." "How can that be? These guys are too shameless!" Ji Zhentong interrupted Xiao Jinguang's words with a straight face. Boss Zhu smiled, waved his hands and said, "Everyone just came back from training, why don't you take a break? I take up the rest time to talk and don't have to be so restrained. Of course, this does not mean that there is no system and discipline in our Red Army. Compared with the White Army , The discipline of our Red Army is very strict. There are clear requirements in the "Three Disciplines and Eight Points of Attention". You have just joined the Red Army, and there is still a process of adaptation. I suggest that you take a team to the First and Third Army Corps to visit and see. I believe the situation of the fraternal troops will be helpful to you." The boss's words made Ji Zhentong nod repeatedly. After dinner, Xiao took Ji Zhentong to meet Chairman Mao again. Ji Zhentong was very shy when he first met Chairman Mao, who had been famous for a long time.Mao held Ji's hand affectionately and praised: "General Ji is young and promising, and we are glad to have a general in our team!" Ji Zhentong said with a blushing face: "The chairman has praised you. We have gone through a detour before, and now Finally came to my senses, the Red Army led by the Communist Party is the one who can truly save the country and serve the people!" Chairman Mao greeted everyone to sit down with a smile, and then he said: "In the past, the Kuomintang and the Communist Party were brothers, and we came together for the revolution. After the victory of the Northern Expedition, Chiang Kai-shek did not want to see the brotherhood of the Communist Party. Originally, Taoism It’s fine to break up if we don’t agree with each other, but Chiang Kai-shek was so rampant at that time, he would rather kill a hundred by mistake than let one go. Our party came through the bloody storm, and the truth will always be the truth. The former KMT’s twentieth Army Commander He Long led an uprising in Nanchang under the leadership of the Communist Party, fired the first shot against the Kuomintang reactionaries, and now established a red base in Hunan. There are many former Kuomintang generals like Commander He in the Red Army, such as Commander-in-Chief Zhu, Ye Jianying, Liu Bocheng, Li Mingrui, Luo Binghui and other comrades, they gave up high officials and generous salaries for this truth. Of course, there is also you, General Ji, who led an uprising of more than 17,000 officers and soldiers of the 26th Route Army. You are a great hero of the revolution!" Ji Zhentong kept nodding his head after the chairman spoke vividly and vividly.Later, the chairman slowly said: "Your partner Xiao Jinguang is also a very talented comrade. He stayed in the Soviet Union to study military affairs for the second time. He was a party representative of the Lieutenant General's Division during the Northern Expedition. The rebel army has been reformed and turned into a real people's army..." Before leaving, Ji Zhentong held the chairman's hand and asked embarrassingly: "Chairman, Commissar Xiao wrote a script to let the comrades of the Fifth Army Corps understand warlords and imperialism more deeply. I would like to invite your wife to participate in the play." This play." Chairman Mao said very straightforwardly: "Good! I will try my best to mobilize her to go!".Soon this vivid drama was officially staged in the Five Army Corps. In the play, Comrade He Zizhen played a heroic and unyielding Communist Party member, Ji Zhentong played a warlord, and Xiao Jinguang played a bearded imperialist.After that, Ji Zhentong became really active, and he often joked that Xiao Jinguang was an "imperialist", and Xiao Jinguang "retaliated" him as a "warlord".The distance between the two has been shortened unconsciously, and the renovation work has been carried out extremely smoothly. Liu Bojian, Director of the Political Department of the Fifth Red Army Corps, played a huge role in the uprising and reorganization of the troops.He served as the director of the General Political Department of the former Northwest Army. Many officers and veterans knew him, and he had high prestige in the uprising troops.He has a high level of theory and culture, has extraordinary organizational skills, and is versatile. He is proficient in articles, poems, and calligraphy.From the first day he came to the Fifth Red Army, Liu Bojian never had a good night's sleep.During the day, he traveled all over Jiubao, Yanba, and Shicheng, talking to every officer above the regiment, and doing their ideological work very meticulously; Work, so only three or four hours of sleep a night.In addition, Chiang Kai-shek ordered planes to fly leaflets over the garrison of the Fifth Red Army. A struggle for and counter-scrambling this uprising army had begun, and it was in a state of competition. The burden on Liu Bojian was even heavier.Few of the political cadres sent to work in this uprising force had ever served in the Kuomintang army, and they had always been the target of combat against the Kuomintang army.Today, the uprising officers and soldiers have joined the Red Army and are no longer enemies but friendly forces. Liu Bojian often educates the Red Army cadres to change their understanding and to carry out education and transformation work for the troops based on the desire for unity. Most of the officers and soldiers of the Fifth Red Army came from Shaanxi, Gansu, and Qinghai provinces in the northwest. When they first arrived in the Soviet area, they had a lot of problems with language (difference with the local area) and living habits.In particular, some officers and soldiers from ethnic minorities have a very different diet from the Han nationality. Director Liu Bojian quickly made arrangements after learning about the situation.The Red Army in the Soviet area had grown stronger, but with the sudden increase of more than 17,000 people, it took a lot of brains to manage their food and housing well.First of all, Liu Bojian asked the Military Commission to arrange at least one chief of staff in each company, who was required to be a local, who would act as an interpreter for communication in peacetime and a guide in wartime. Some uprising officers were unstable in their thinking, so Liu Bojian found them in time and talked to them earnestly.Wherever something goes wrong, there is Liu Bojian. Liu Bojian is the fire extinguisher of the Fifth Army, and the receiver and tranquilizer of the Fifth Army.Under the leadership of Liu Bojian, the Political Department of the Fifth Army Corps actively carried out work to boost the morale of the troops, and organized officers and soldiers to engage in propaganda, education, and learning.Soon, the Fifth Red Army took on a completely new look, showing vitality everywhere.