Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Against Chiang?Force Jiang?The Communist Party Established the "Trinity" in the Northwest
★Strong Neighbors and Tigers Watching, Great Enemy Present, the Communist Party of China established a new anti-Japanese national united front policy, Mao Zedong saw the strategic advantages of the Northwest, and he advocated extending the tentacles of the United Anti-Japanese War to the high-ranking military and political figures of the Kuomintang in the Northwest
★Looking at the strategic situation of the Kuomintang and Communist armies in the Northwest, and analyzing the political attitudes of the KMT’s senior military generals, the Chinese Communist Party decided to focus the united front on Zhang Xueliang, a patriotic general who controlled the military affairs of Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia and Qinghai provinces and supported the Anti-Japanese War
★Military cooperation with heavy punches.Destroy Zhang's fantasy of "suppressing the Communist Party" for quick victory; politically, he realized the national righteousness...Zhang Xueliang gradually accepted the CCP's idea of uniting and resisting insults, and finally began to actively contact the CCP from helping Chiang "suppressing the Communist Party" to promote the realization of the national anti-Japanese situation transformation
★Yang Hucheng, the No. 2 military and political figure in Northwest China, is a patriotic general with progressive thinking, surrounded by a group of insightful people who support the Communist Party's ideas.The line, policy and policy of the Anti-Japanese National United Front of the Communist Party of China "attracted" Yang Hucheng to start from the righteousness of the nation and agree to unite the Communist Party to resist Japan
★Accept Zhang Xueliang's idea of "uniting with Chiang Kai-shek to resist Japan" and bridge the differences between Zhang and Yang caused by Chiang Kai-shek's instigation and instigation. The CCP's policy adjustment and effective operation made the anti-Japanese alliance in the northwest finally a success
Among the provinces of China, Shaanxi Province is not a rich area.
Although three major dynasties rose here in history, especially during the period from 618 to 906 AD, Chang'an was once the capital of the Tang Dynasty and the political and cultural center of China and even the entire East Asia. A part of the ancient capital of the millennium continues to this day.Perhaps after the prosperous Tang Dynasty, due to the gradual shift of the economic and political center of gravity to the prosperous and populous southern and central China, Shaanxi, the end of the cultural corridor between northern China and Central Asia, is also the birthplace of early Chinese civilization, namely An apparent mourning process began.This process continued until the 20th century, and its direct result was economic backwardness and slow social development in Shaanxi Province, especially in northern Shaanxi.
Many Chinese and foreign people have left embarrassing records of the situation here in the 1930s.
O.J. Todd, who was the chief planner of the China International Famine Relief Committee, said: "Of all the provinces in China, Shaanxi may have the most disadvantages. Indeed, she is not a great asset to any country. 50 After the Muslim uprising (1862-1873) years ago, she lay powerless like a dying beggar just like her map shape."
American journalist Edgar Snow described the scene he saw in northern Shaanxi in this way: Northern Shaanxi is one of the poorest areas I have seen in China... The farmland in Shaanxi can be said to be inclined, and there are many places that can be described as It's slippery because of frequent landslides, and the farmland is mostly strips between cracks and creeks.In many places the land appears to be fertile enough, but the crops are severely restricted, both in quantity and quality, by very steep slopes.There are almost no mountains worthy of the name, only endless broken mountains and lonely hills, continuous, like James Joyce's long sentence, even more boring.
The China International Famine Relief Committee estimates that during the 1928-1933 catastrophe, a total of 2.5 million people in Shaanxi Province starved to death, accounting for almost 1/3 of the entire population of Shaanxi, and another 500,000 people moved to other provinces, and there are countless others. of people were forced to sell their houses and land.
However, since the Red Army led by the Communist Party arrived in Bao'an in the Long March in late 1935, this barren land in Northwest China and northern Shaanxi Province has immediately become the focus of world attention.
★Strong Neighbors and Tigers Watching, Great Enemy Present, the Communist Party of China established a new anti-Japanese national united front policy, Mao Zedong saw the strategic advantages of the Northwest, and he advocated extending the tentacles of the United Anti-Japanese War to the high-ranking military and political figures of the Kuomintang in the Northwest
On December 8, 1935, Zhou Enlai led some personnel of the Central Military Commission before Mao Zedong, braved the biting cold wind, left Ganquan Shijiawan, and arrived at Wayaobao, the seat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, on the evening of the 13th.Two days later, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China held a celebration meeting for the victory of Zhiluo Town in Qijiawan.Mao Zedong stood on the extremely crude rostrum built temporarily, faced the cheers of the Red Army commanders and fighters, and delivered a speech to celebrate the great victory achieved after the rendezvous of the Central Red Army and the Northern Shaanxi Red Army.
Mao Zedong waved his powerful arms, calling on the Red Army to be extremely strong and united, not to be intimidated by the difficulties in front of them.He said humorously: The revolutionary situation in the previous period was not good, which made us travel 25,000 miles on two feet.Sun Wukong can soar through the clouds and ride the fog, and he can turn a hundred and eight thousand miles with one somersault.We don't know how to ride the clouds, but we can walk twenty-five thousand.If you can ride the clouds and the fog, you don't know where you will go.Our Red Army used to have hundreds of thousands of people, but now there are only more than 20,000 left.If Liu Zhidan hadn't helped us arrange this wonderful place, we still don't know where we are going.
Mao Zedong's witty speech caused bursts of laughter from the audience.Then, Mao Zedong analyzed the reasons for the victory in the Zhiluo Town Battle.He said: First, the rendezvous of the two legions is fundamental; second, we have seized the hub of strategy and campaign, Hulu River and Zhiluo Town; third, we have sufficient preparations for combat;As long as we unite and rely on the broad masses of the people, we will be invincible.
After the victory ceremony, a grand military parade was held. This was the first military parade held since the Central Red Army was forced to leave the Jiangxi Soviet Area for the Long March and joined the Northern Shaanxi Red Army.Although the weapons and equipment are very simple, the Red Army commanders and fighters are full of spirits and high spirits. Under the guidance of the sickle, ax and red star flag, they are taking majestic steps to accept the review of the party and the people. reverberates.
The "difficulties" mentioned in Mao Zedong's speech certainly included economic and living difficulties.Baoan County, Liu Zhidan's hometown, is one of the poorest counties in Shaanxi.Tens of thousands of people live in a small county town at once, and food and clothing have become a major headache. In some places, people and animals can't even satisfy their drinking water.
Faced with such a difficult living environment and the deepening national crisis after the North China Incident, how to use the existing strength of the Red Army to develop and expand the Northern Shaanxi Soviet Area, accumulate anti-Japanese armed forces to take on the important task of saving the country and the people, and truly make the Northern Shaanxi Soviet Area a Chinese Communist Party. The base camp of the revolution and the forward positions where the Red Army of Workers and Peasants joined the national war of resistance are issues that the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Red Army need to solve urgently.And how to correctly solve the strategic development direction of the Red Army is also a major issue related to the survival of the nation and the success or failure of the Chinese revolution.
Around this issue, several different opinions and propositions have arisen within the CCP, and major debates have taken place on the development direction of the Red Army.These debates arose when the Party faced extreme difficulties at the moment of national peril. It was a normal phenomenon in the process of how the Party made the Party's subjective understanding conform to China's specific reality in this special period.
At that time, there were the following five different opinions and propositions within the CCP:
The first opinion is: leave northern Shaanxi and find another way to make a living in southern Shaanxi.This is the proposition of Lin Biao and others. Lin Biao's idea of going to southern Shaanxi was rooted in the poor living conditions in northern Shaanxi, and then he was shaken by the central government's strategic concept of placing the base camp of the Chinese revolution and the starting point of the national resistance war in northern Shaanxi.Lin Biao revealed more than once that he wanted to take part of the troops to fight guerrillas in southern Shaanxi.During the more than one month since the Central Red Army arrived in northern Shaanxi, he wrote eight consecutive letters and sent telegrams to the central government to formally propose to lead some people to leave northern Shaanxi and go to the relatively affluent southern Shaanxi to carry out guerrilla warfare relying on the Qinling Mountains. More important than consolidating and expanding the base area in northern Shaanxi, the problem of food can be solved first.He even said: I would rather be punished than leave northern Shaanxi.This letter was immediately criticized by Mao Zedong. Mao Zedong said: Lin Biao committed an old problem again. This is because he is afraid of hardship and individualism. The northern Shaanxi base area is currently difficult and the place is small, but it is our foothold after all.Without the base area established by Liu Zhidan and other comrades, our Long March would not know where to settle.
The second opinion is: secure northern Shaanxi and expand westward.This is the opinion of Bo Gu and others and a considerable number of people in the party.The basis of their argument is that they suffered enough suffering from having no base during the Long March, and finally got the base area of northern Shaanxi, which must not be lost easily.At present, the northern Shaanxi Soviet area is surrounded by enemies, and the Red Army has not regained its vitality. It is not appropriate to fight recklessly with the superior Kuomintang government army. Instead, it should develop in Ningxia, Gansu and other places where the enemy is weak, so as to establish a revolutionary base area with richer resources and a wider area. , and further expanded to Xinjiang to create a new Soviet area.
The third opinion is: Based on northern Shaanxi, develop northward.This is the opinion and proposition of Zhang Wentian and others.When the Central Red Army first settled in northern Shaanxi, Zhang Wentian proposed to develop northward based on northern Shaanxi and send troops to Suiyuan, Inner Mongolia, Chahar and other places to move closer to Mongolia in order to open up ties with the Soviet Union and obtain international support.This proposition has been unanimously agreed by the central leadership.However, after getting familiar with the situation in northern Shaanxi, what everyone can see is that northern Shaanxi is too poor, the economy is backward, and the population is limited. Supplementing soldiers and providing supplies are problems. The central government's understanding of this problem has repeatedly appeared.This repetition can be clearly reflected in Zhang Wentian's letter to Mao Zedong. On November 20 and 25, Zhang Wentian wrote to Mao Zedong, proposing a plan to go north to Ningxia and then east to the Suiyuan Anti-Japanese Front Line. Mao Zedong proposed revisions to this plan in his reply.
The fourth opinion is: stick to northern Shaanxi.This is the opinion of Li De, the military adviser sent by the Communist International to the CCP.
In addition to Li De's fourth opinion, the above-mentioned opinions and propositions, the other three opinions and propositions reflect to varying degrees the urgency of the Red Army commanders and fighters to get out of the predicament, expand the Soviet area, expand the Red Army ranks, and accumulate anti-Japanese forces. .However, it ignored the most fundamental feature of the current situation, the deepening national crisis at that time and the profound changes in domestic class relations caused by it.
Therefore, Mao Zedong put forward a fifth plan based on the collective wisdom: based in northern Shaanxi, crossing the Yellow River east, and resisting Japan.Mao Zedong carefully explained and explained his opinions to the party.At this time, although Mao Zedong's leading position in the party and the Red Army was actually established after the Zunyi Conference, Zhang Wentian was "in charge" of the party in name, and it was crucial to obtain Zhang's support. The book "Zhou Enlai before and after the Xi'an Incident" once recorded such a set of historical scenes:
Mao Zedong approached Zhang Wentian many times for discussion and communication.Zhang Wentian said: I oppose Lin Biao's idea of "leaving northern Shaanxi to find another way of life", and fully agree with the decision and proposition of the central government to establish a foothold in the northern Shaanxi base. Links to the Soviet Union.
Mao Zedong said: Based on northern Shaanxi, it is the most important thing to consolidate the base areas in northern Shaanxi. It is of course better to obtain assistance from the Soviet government. Now that North China is in crisis, the Japanese are stepping up planning for North China's autonomy and wooing Yan Xishan. The February 9th student movement was an indication of the arrival of the anti-Japanese climax.In my opinion, the development of the base area and the strategic direction of the Red Army should go east, cross the Yellow River, open up the Luliangshan base area, and borrow the road from Yan Xishan to fight against Japan.
Zhang Wentian obviously had reservations about Mao Zedong's opinion.He said: It is of course good to be able to cross the Yellow River and develop into Suiyuan, Shanxi, but contact with the Soviet Union and seek international assistance, geographically speaking, it is getting farther and farther away.My opinion is to establish a base area adjacent to the Soviet Union in the two north.
Zhou Enlai's attitude at this time played an important role, and his balance was tilted to Mao Zedong's side.He said: I completely agree with the chairman's opinion that the strategic development direction of the Red Army must develop eastward.We should face up to the immediate difficulties and the limitations of the Northern Shaanxi Soviet Area.Developing eastward is not contradictory to opening up anti-Japanese channels and seeking international assistance, especially from the Soviet Union. The world's anti-fascist front will soon be formed, and China's opposition to Japanese imperialist aggression will also attract world attention.
Zhou Enlai also took out the materials he had just collected, and said: You see, this is a large number of foreign media reports on the 12.9 student movement in Pingjin, and the Japanese Diet also discussed the situation in China.Foreign reports said that the 12.9 student movement was the result of the influence of the Communist Party's united front, which indicated the arrival of the anti-Japanese climax.This argument strongly proves that our policy of crossing the Yellow River eastward and borrowing from Yan Xishan to resist Japan is correct.
At this time Mao Zedong added: The Red Army won three major victories in succession, and such a large student national salvation movement broke out in Beiping and Tianjin. The two themselves cooperated and helped each other!If we want to get rid of the predicament in the Soviet area, we can only develop eastward, go to the relatively affluent Shanxi, go to Yan Xishan to raise money for food, and use the road to fight against Japan.In this way, we not only avoided conflict with the Northeast Army and Northwest Army, but also forced Chiang Kai-shek's plan to "encircle and suppress" the Red Army to shift to Shanxi, reducing the military pressure on the Soviet area in northern Shaanxi.
He went on to say: Now some people say that Zhang Xueliang is against Japan but not against Chiang, and Yan Xishan is against Chiang and not against Japan. What is so difficult to understand?It doesn't matter if we don't fight against Chiang Kai-shek, or if we don't fight Japan, we will force him to fight Japan.Anti-Chiang can also be used.Such forces should not be eliminated, nor should Chiang Kai-shek be allowed to eliminate them.
Mao Zedong also analyzed the favorable factors for the development of Shanxi from the economic aspect.He said: Yan Xishan came to power for the second time, advocated "ten years of construction", and developed industries. The social order in Shanxi has been relatively stable, and the economy has developed to a certain extent. The conditions are also better than those of the Northwest provinces.Crossing the east of the river will solve the Red Army's imminent fundraising, expansion of the Red Army, and material replenishment.More importantly, Shanxi is located in the hinterland of North China, a strategic location that Japan has long coveted.Once there is a loss, the Japanese army will drive straight in, "grab Qin Boqi, and those in charge will lose their ground."Conversely, if the Red Army entered Shanxi, "going out of the Taihang in the east, the momentum is like a strategic plan, and the Yan and Ji invaders suddenly lose their momentum."
Zhang Wentian finally expressed his abandonment of his plan and agreed to the Dongjin plan proposed by Mao Zedong and strongly supported by Zhou Enlai.
On December 17, 1935, the enlarged meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in Wayaobao with historic significance was held in the cave dwelling of Zhang Wentian and his wife Liu Ying.More than 10 people attended the meeting: Mao Zedong, Zhang Wentian, Zhou Enlai, Bogu, Liu Shaoqi, Wang Jiaxiang, Deng Fa, Zhang Hao, etc.Zhang Wentian presided over the meeting and made a report on the first agenda item - political situation and strategy.Mao Zedong made a long speech on the current political situation and the party's strategy, as well as the strategic development direction of the Red Army.
Mao Zedong elaborated on the necessity of changing the Party's strategic policy under the new historical conditions, and in the resolution drafted by Zhang Wentian and passed at the meeting, Mao Zedong's new strategic line was summarized as: "The party's strategic line, It is to mobilize, unite and organize all the revolutionary forces of the whole of China and the whole nation to oppose the current main enemy-Japanese imperialism and traitor leader Chiang Kai-shek."
This meeting made correct decisions on several important issues related to the fate and future of the Chinese revolution.
First, a new strategy of the national united front was established.The meeting pointed out: "No matter what people, what factions, what armed forces, and what classes, as long as they oppose Japanese imperialism and traitor leader Chiang Kai-shek, they should unite to carry out the sacred national revolutionary war." , extended to all classes and parties of all anti-Japanese and anti-Chiang people, thus making it possible to expand the revolutionary ranks objectively, and actually changed the closed-door policy of only carrying out the united front at the grassroots level in the past.
Second, it determines the correct strategy for the development direction of the Red Army.With the support of Zhou Enlai and Zhang Wentian, the meeting accepted Mao Zedong's idea of crossing the Yellow River eastward and developing into Shanxi, and passed the "Resolution on Military Strategy Issues", deciding to combine the civil war with the national war and prepare to fight against Japan directly The strategic policy of strengthening and expanding the Red Army stipulates the basic principles of the Red Army's operations under the current situation:
1.Under the general task of opposing the Japanese imperialist attack on China with a resolute national revolutionary war, we must first determine the policy of combining domestic and national wars in all political and military slogans. 2.Correctly estimate the strength of the enemy and ourselves; the party's general policy in terms of military deployment in 1936 should be "a force ready to fight directly against Japan."Therefore, the main target of the main Red Army in 1936 should still be the army of traitors and traitors. 3.Vigorously expand the Red Army. 4.In order to resolutely and vigorously carry out the policies mentioned in 1, 2, and 3 (combining civil war with national war; preparing combat forces against Japan; expanding the Red Army), the basis for the operational deployment of the First Front Army should be firmly placed on the The two tasks of "opening up the anti-Japanese line" and "consolidating and expanding the existing Soviet areas".And it took "opening up the anti-Japanese line" as the central task, and closely linked "consolidating and expanding the existing Soviet areas" with it.The specific steps are to place the main direction of the Red Army's actions and the development of the Soviet area in Shanxi in the east and Suiyuan in the north.
Third, the leadership of military work and dialogue areas has been strengthened.In order to strengthen the centralized and unified leadership of military operations, the meeting officially elected Mao Zedong as the chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, and gave "the Military Commission complete power within the military scope."Under Zhou Enlai's proposal, in order to strengthen the united front work for the Northeast Army and the Northwest Army, the meeting also decided to set up the Party's White Army Working Committee, with Zhou Enlai as secretary and Ye Jianying as deputy secretary.
This meeting laid a solid theoretical and policy foundation and made considerable practical arrangements for the Chinese Communist Party to establish an anti-Japanese united front, for the establishment of a revolutionary base camp in the Northwest, and for the first large-scale alliance of anti-Japanese forces in the Northwest.After the meeting, a White Area Working Committee was set up with Zhang Hao as the secretary to do united front work in the surrounding areas of the Soviet Area, and Liu Shaoqi was sent to work in the areas of (Bei) Ping and (Tianjin) where the 12.9 Movement originated and served as the Northern Bureau Secretary, to open up a new situation in the work of the white areas.The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China also decided to send the main force of the Red Army to conquer Jin, and strive for a front-line position to fight directly with the Japanese army.
★Looking at the strategic situation of the Kuomintang and Communist armies in the Northwest, and analyzing the political attitudes of the KMT’s senior military generals, the Chinese Communist Party decided to focus the united front on Zhang Xueliang, a patriotic general who controlled the military affairs of Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia and Qinghai provinces and supported the Anti-Japanese War
The Wayaobao Conference of the Communist Party of China made a special decision to establish the Party’s White Army Work Committee for the United Front Work of the Northeast Army and the Northwest Army. Zhang Xueliang, the deputy commander-in-chief of the "Suppression General", acting as the commander-in-chief, and controlling the military and political affairs of Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, and Qinghai provinces is especially valued.
Why did the CCP choose to focus on breaking through Zhang Xueliang?
In the strategic vision of Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai, the first thing they saw was that the Kuomintang "encirclement and suppression" armies in the northwest posed a huge threat to the relatively small number of workers' and peasants' Red Army. based on the actual situation.Obviously, the best way to eliminate the threat is to enlist the Kuomintang encirclement and suppression forces, especially the non-central forces, to turn enemies into friends and unite to fight against Japan.At this time, Chiang Kai-shek's "communist suppression" army deployed in the northwest had more than 300,000 people.Among them, the Northeast Army led by Zhang Xueliang has 200,000 people, namely: Yu Xuezhong's 51st Army, stationed in Lanzhou, Lintao, and Longxi; Wang Yizhe's 67th Army, stationed in Luochuan, Fuxian, and Yan'an; Dong Yingbin's 57th Army Army, stationed in Qingyang and Heshui, Gansu; He Zhuguo's cavalry army, stationed in Bin County, Changwu, Shaanxi, Pingliang, and Xifeng Town, Gansu; 3 independent divisions directly under the headquarters of the Northeast Army, stationed in Xi'an and Liquan ; Wan Fulin's 53rd Army was stationed in Hebei Province.
In addition, Yang Hucheng's 17th Route Army had 30,000 troops stationed in Xi'an; Ma Hongkui's 15th Route Army had 20,000 troops stationed in Ningxia; Ma Bufang's 10,000 troops were stationed in Qinghai; 30,000 people, stationed in Gansu.Although Shanxi was not among these four provinces, it also sent troops from Sun and Chu to Shaanxi to "assist and suppress".
Among the above-mentioned armies, Zhang Xueliang's Northeast Army is the most powerful and poses the greatest threat to the Red Army, and most of them are stationed in Shaanxi and Gansu.Zhang Xueliang also controlled the military affairs of the four provinces, and winning Zhang Xueliang's support for the establishment of the anti-Japanese national united front can be said to bear the brunt of the most important.At the same time, Yang Hucheng's attitude is also decisive. Although the 17th Route Army under his command has only 30,000 people, it is concentrated in Shaanxi and poses a real and direct threat to the Red Army.As for the southern part of Hu Zong stationed in Gansu, it is not only Chiang Kai-shek's direct line of troops, but also not under the control of Zhang Xueliang, so it is unlikely to win.
This is just a consideration from the perspective of military strategy.How about from the perspective of actual possibility?Let's get closer to Zhang Xueliang and see how he fulfilled his duties in the military, stepped into an official career, and what kind of political views he holds.
When Zhang Xueliang was a teenager, he was influenced by both parents physically and mentally.Zhang Zuolin's influence on him is a kind of education of being a hero on horseback.The image of a chivalrous and righteous man had a great impact on Zhang Xueliang's young mind.After taking charge of the Northeast Army, he told a story about Naifu's early years many times:
Once, the gangster "Haishazi" wanted to seize Zhang Zuolin's protected area, Zhang Zuolin said to Haishazi, don't fight between our two teams, the village will be smashed if we fight, and the two of us "confront".Therefore, the two stood face to face according to the agreed distance (one hundred steps), and the tribes of the two sides stood on both sides to watch the battle.Then, the two fired at the same time.After the gunfire, Haisha was shot and died, and Zhang Zuolin suffered only minor gunshot wounds.Haishazi's subordinate Tang Yulin and more than 20 bandits surrendered to Zhang Zuolin.
Why didn't Haisha shoot first?If he had shot first, wouldn't he have killed Zhang Zuolin!No one can shoot first, this was the rule of the rivers and lakes at that time.If Haishazi shot first, even if Zhang Zuolin was killed, everyone in the two teams standing on both sides would look down on Haishazi, and he would no longer be able to hang out in the green forest.
Zhang Zuolin's influence on Zhang Xueliang is not only in the aspect of being a hero.Zhang Zuolin also influenced him in his attitude towards life.Zhang Zuolin's mantra is: "When you are a soldier, you have to pin your head to your trouser belt!" He also carved a motto on his saber: "Be bold when things come to an end"!Zhang Xueliang admired Naifu's arrogance very much.
Zhang Xueliang's mother, on the other hand, does not want her children to live in danger and turmoil throughout their lives. She regards the next generation's life stability and happiness as her lifelong expectations. This value also has a great influence on Zhang Xueliang.Even when Zhang Xueliang and his younger brother Zhang Xueming became adults, they were unwilling to inherit their father's career and become professional soldiers, but hoped to receive ordinary education and learn an ordinary profession. They even had the idea of studying sociology or studying medicine. .This should be said to be the result of the influence of his mother.
According to historical data, Zhang Xueliang's patriotism was manifested at the age of 15.It was 1915. Yuan Shikai sought support from Japan in order to promote the imperial system, and signed a traitorous treaty "Twenty-One" with the Japanese government.When the news came out, the whole country was outraged, and anti-Japanese patriotic groups were formed one after another, expressing their opposition to the telegram.In the movement against the "Twenty-One" movement, Zhang Xueliang bravely appeared at the forefront of the "Patriotic Savings" movement, which was the beginning of his step into society as a patriot.
In 1916, patriotic educator Zhang Boling gave a speech titled "China's Hope" in Fengtian, proposing that in the face of internal and external troubles, China's hope "is in every Chinese person's efforts to become stronger and vow to save the country."The romantic and suave young Zhang Xueliang is in the process of searching for his life path and the future of his country.After listening to the speech, he was very excited and determined to serve the country from then on.After taking power, Zhang Xueliang often used this speech to educate his subordinates and truly shoulder the responsibility to the nation.Later, when he inspected Nankai University and talked about his ideological pursuit with the students, he repeatedly mentioned Zhang Boling's enlightenment to him, saying: "I have today, and Mr. Zhang can do it with a single word."
Dr. Wang Zhuoran, who was dismissed by Zhang Xueliang as the secretary-general and acting president of Northeastern University, published at his own expense "What kind of person is Zhang Xueliang?" "The booklet also analyzed Zhang Xueliang's life, many of which affirmed Zhang Xueliang's patriotism.Dr Wang wrote:
His insights are unique and unique.He treats people with heart and is very loyal, but when others make mistakes, he says he will never forget them.He is good at showing off his cleverness, making people unpredictable; he is also kind and tolerant, with a very big belly, and after drastic changes, he seems to be doing nothing.He has a wide range of interests, can drive a car, can fly an airplane, and is good at various sports, such as baseball, tennis, golf and the like.In the past, I liked reading newspapers and interesting magazine novels most; recently I like reading Hanshu, Shiji and books on political philosophy, economic thought and international issues.His ideals are very high, and his embrace of helping the world and saving people is like a Buddhist disciple; his desire to sacrifice himself and obey others is actually a true follower of Jesus; manner.It is also very similar to Lao Zhuang and his ilk: his confidence is firm, and his patriotism is so high that it seems crazy, it can be compared to the revival of the French heroine Saint Jean-Dac (that is, Saint Joan of Arc).It is a pity that he has never been cultivated by "poverty" and tempered by "bitterness" since he was a child, so his lofty thoughts can make him have the ambition to soar into the sky, and his genius can also make him a blockbuster. Like a camel, he felt that it was too slow, too boring, and too unaccustomed to march slowly step by step in the desert of life.He does things like walking, and feels that trains with tracks are not as fast and convenient as planes without tracks.
In 1921, Zhang Xueliang served as the commander of the third mixed brigade of the patrol envoy of the three northeastern provinces. Together with Zhang Zuoxiang, he visited Japan at the invitation of the Japanese military and watched autumn exercises.During the visit, the Japanese showed off their military strength everywhere, which made Zhang Xueliang very disgusted.Talking about this visit decades later, he still has fresh memories. He said: "Although the Japanese are kind and polite, I am very dissatisfied with the Japanese. Because they often use power to subdue the Chinese and like to show off." Japan has such a powerful force... When I saw a large row of cannon barrels in the warehouse, I thought: Why do you want me to see these things? I know that Japan’s military power is very strong, so why show it off like this?"
But Japan's strong power really shocked Zhang Xueliang.This made Zhang Xueliang think, why does China have no international status, and is always inferior in front of advanced countries, unable to hold its head up?One reason is the aggression of foreign powers, wantonly plundering China's wealth; another reason is China lacks the concept of self-improvement.He once again thought of Mr. Zhang Boling's passionate speech: "As long as everyone takes responsibility, China will be strong."Zhang Xueliang is going to use the Northeast as a front to practice his patriotic complex.
Before Zhang Xueliang's plan was put into action, on April 26, 1922, the first direct-bong war came unannounced, and the war ended with the disastrous defeat of the Feng army.Fortunately, the 3rd Brigade under the command of Zhang Xueliang and the 8th Brigade under the command of Guo Songling successfully prevented the attack of Wu Peifu's troops near Beijing, which ensured Zhang Zuolin's safe retreat.
In February 1930, that is, Zhang Xueliang was in power in the Northeast for less than two years.Within the Kuomintang, the Central Plains War broke out with Chiang Kai-shek as one faction and Yan Xishan and Feng Yuxiang as the other faction.In this melee, almost all the major military groups in the pass were involved in the struggle for the title in the Central Plains.The two sides have victories and losses, and the evenly matched battlefield situation makes Zhang Xueliang, who lives outside the pass and holds hundreds of thousands of heavy troops, seem to be very important.Some prophets said that whoever can win the support of the young marshal will win the war.Therefore, both parties focused on Zhang Xueliang.In order to achieve this goal, Yan Xishan and Feng Yuxiang promised Zhang Xueliang the position of deputy commander-in-chief of the Army, Navy and Air Force, and hoped that the young marshal would lead a strong force from the Northeast to enter the border to support him. neutral.Chiang Kai-shek vowed to bring Zhang Xueliang into his camp. He not only used the position of deputy commander-in-chief of the army, navy and air force as a bait, but also sent Zhang Qun to Fengtian with a letter of appointment to express his sincerity to the young marshal.
At the beginning of the war, Zhang Xueliang pursued a neutral and wait-and-see stance.Because he didn't believe in the Kuomintang, and he was afraid that the Nanjing National Government would deprive him of his supreme power in Northeast China one day; at the same time, he was unwilling to form an alliance with his father's old opponent Feng Yuxiang and others.In terms of relations with the Soviet Union, the "Middle Eastern Railway Incident" that just passed left him with lingering fears. If he joined the Central Plains War, he worried that Soviet Russia would take the opportunity to invade the Northeast;The young marshal cherishes the inheritance his father left for him, and he doesn't want to take the risk of losing the big by rashly participating in the Central Plains War.
Zhang Xueliang believes that his position of sitting on the sidelines is beneficial and harmless, and it is more conducive to strengthening his position. Therefore, on March 1, Zhang Xueliang's first reaction to the Central Plains War was to issue a telegram to both sides, each with 50 big boards .Zhang Xueliang pointed out: Although Jiang and Feng have different political views on the future and destiny of the country and the people, both sides should realize that armed conflict and national division are absolutely not in the interests of the country and the people; I urge both sides to cherish the situation of national unity , each backed down, strike soldiers and reconcile the dispute.In another telegram, Zhang Xueliang also said: At present, the western and western powers are surrounding China. Rekindling the fire of the civil war at this critical juncture may lead to foreign invasion.
However, Zhang Xueliang's balance began to tilt towards Chiang Kai-shek from August onwards.Of course, there are advantages of Chiang Kai-shek’s central resources. For example, the Nanjing National Government awarded medals for the first time to 25 generals under Zhang Xueliang of the Northeast Army, and sent a representative Wu Tiecheng to Shenyang to award medals; They arranged for people from the Northeast Army to serve as officials in the Nanjing Nationalist Government, made Hu Ruoyu the mayor of Qingdao, made Zhang Xueliang's foreign secretary Wang Jiazhen the executive vice minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, made Yu Xuezhong the commander-in-chief of Pingjin, and made Wang Shuchang the The Chairman of Hebei Province; as another example, 25 million yuan was allocated to Northeast soldiers to open the gate.He also asked the British and French envoys in China to influence Zhang Xueliang through diplomatic channels.In particular, the advice of Zhang Xueliang's Australian adviser, Duan Na, that "Yan and Feng belonged to the old warlords, reactionary and conservative, and after Chiang Kai-shek defeated them, he could implement an enlightened and free policy in China" finally worked.These resources and measures are not available to Yan and Feng and cannot be implemented.
However, despite the opposition of other generals, Zhang Xueliang insisted on making the decision to enter the customs for armed mediation, and he also had his own political considerations.he thinks:
First, the Northeast needs the support of the central government. The "Anti-Russia" war suffered a fiasco, and the Japanese imperialists were always plotting to plunder the sovereignty of the Northeast.The strength of the Northeast Army is not equal to that of Russia and Japan.Only when China is unified can there be room for maneuver in opposing foreign aggression.The second is that both sides of the Central Plains War have been fighting for half a year, and their strength has been greatly consumed, and they can no longer support it.Therefore, both sides are urgently requesting the Northeast Army to join their own side to save the crisis.If we insist on neutrality, it will cause greater losses to the country and the nation, the people will suffer greater disasters, and the Northeast Army will also be isolated.The third is that after the change of flag in 1928, the Northeast region has recuperated, and initial results have been achieved. The fiscal revenue and expenditure have been balanced, and the national economy has developed rapidly. new look.Zhang Xueliang asked himself that he had the ability to clean up the mess.
On September 20, after Zhang Xueliang ordered the Northeast Army Yu Xuezhong to enter the pass, the forces of Yan and Feng quickly disintegrated, and the Central Plains War ended with Zhang Xueliang helping Jiang Shengsheng.
At this time, Zhang Xueliang became Chiang Kai-shek's "popular man". On November 8, at the invitation of Chiang Kai-shek, Zhang Xueliang, accompanied by his wife Yu Fengzhi and younger brother Zhang Xueming, was escorted by 100 guards to Nanjing to discuss state affairs.When passing through Tianjin, Chiang Kai-shek sent He Yaozu, the commander of the national government to join the army, and Zhang Qun, the mayor of Shanghai, to Tianjin to express his welcome.At the station along the Jinpu line that Zhang Xueliang passed by, slogans welcoming Zhang Xueliang were posted everywhere, praising Zhang Xueliang for "promoting unity, supporting the central government, and contributing to the party and the state." On the 12th, after Zhang Xueliang and his wife arrived in Nanjing, Chiang Kai-shek ordered all civil servants with junior appointments and military officers above major general to wear uniforms and go across the river to Pukou Station to welcome Zhang Xueliang.When Zhang Xueliang got off the train and took a boat to cross the river, the Lion Mountain Fort fired 19 guns, and the military music "Welcome to the Admiral" was played on the warships, and foreign warships flew the Chinese flag to welcome them.After Zhang Xueliang and his party went ashore, the national guard guarded them in sections, and the armored vehicles opened the way.Song Ziwen vacated Tietangchi Finance Minister's Mansion as Zhang Xueliang's residence, and all his entourage stayed at the luxurious Central Hotel in Nanjing.This kind of welcoming occasion was the first time for Zhang Xueliang.在随后召开的国民党三届四中全会上，张学良虽非委员，也被“特邀”参加，受到隆重欢迎，并当上了国民党中央政治会议委员。此后，张学良坐镇北平，成为蒋介石在北方的得力支柱，而蒋介石则驻扎南昌，集中力量“围剿”工农红军。 1931年7月，石友三在河北邢台起兵反蒋，张学良遵蒋之命，派东北军于学忠部和蒋之中央系刘峙部南北夹击，不到半月就使石友三全军覆没。这时，张学良的统治范围包括辽宁、吉林、黑龙江、河北、热河、察哈尔等六省以及平、津两大城市，地位和势力仅次于蒋介石。
1931年9月18日，在日本侵华驻军板垣征四郎、石原莞尔等一手“导演”之下，中国近代史上最重大的事件之一，也是张学良一生中最重大的事件之一——九一八事变发生了。
当夜，日本工兵中尉河本末守以巡查南满铁路为名，带领七八名士兵来到位于奉天（今沈阳市）北郊的柳条湖附近。这位日军中尉亲手把军用小型炸药装置在铁路轨接口处，然后拉动了引火……22时20分，一声爆炸轰然响起，路轨被掀开。河本末守爆破成功，而后他一面命令部下向距离炸点8公里左右的中国驻军驻地北大营开火，一面派人通知埋伏在3公里以外的川岛大尉。而川岛大尉则通过无线电将爆破成功的消息很快传到日军驻沈阳的代理司令官板垣征四郎那里，这就使板垣征四郎找到借口下令早已整装待令的日军，向北大营和沈阳城发动突然袭击。
令人意外的是，事件发生时，东北军首脑人物竟然无一人坐镇奉天总部。张学良已去了北平治病，驻吉林的副司令长官张作相因奔父丧回到了原籍锦州，驻黑龙江的另一位副司令长官随张学良进了北平，于是，东三省群龙无首。
当日军进攻北大营时，中国守军第7旅旅长王以哲及其部下3名团长也都不在营地住宿，旅司令部只留下被称之为“窝囊废”的参谋长赵镇藩“守摊儿”。而赵镇藩作为旧军队的参谋长，又是一个没有实权的“副差使”，一切事务均须请示主官决断。好不容易联络上了王以哲，却得到了这样的命令：“对日军不准开枪还击，谁惹事谁负责。”东北边防公署参谋长荣臻的命令更令人难以接受，荣臻只是在电话中重复说：“不准抵抗，不准动，把枪放在库房里，挺着死，大家成仁，为国牺牲。”
一个小小的旅长，一个没有实权的参谋长，何以敢下达如此荒唐的命令！原来，早在几个月前，蒋介石即已严令张学良及东北军：“协力抑制排日运动，宜隐忍自重，勿使日本乘其间隙；无论日本军队此后如何在东北挑衅，我方均予不抵抗，力避冲突，吾兄万勿逞一时之愤，置国家民族于不顾。”蒋介石还担心张学良对他的不抵抗政策贯彻不力，于9月12日在石家庄单独召见张学良时又嘱咐说：“最近获得可靠情报，日军在东北马上要动手，我们的力量不足，不能打。我这次和你会面，最主要的是要你严令东北全军，凡遇到日军进攻，一律不准抵抗。”
张学良忠实地执行了蒋介石的不抵抗政策，但却因此而获“不抵抗将军”的恶名，受到各方面舆论的奚落和谴责。作为守土有责的东北实力人物，张学良深知，东北是他赖以生存和发展的根基，丧失了东北，便丧失了政治前途和政治生命，从他内心讲，他是希望政府痛下决心，实行全面抵抗的。但是，作为受到蒋介石赏识和重用的军人，他不能也不愿意违背蒋介石的意志。
张学良执行不抵抗政策的结果，使他本人也蒙受了极大损失。他丢了10多万部队，在国内首屈一指的东北空军被日军消灭了，在国内也是居于首位的有5万工人的兵工厂丢掉了，大量的枪炮被日军缴去。他的私人财产损失更大，仅边业银行在东北的资产就有1000多万元以上，大帅府的6个金库全部被日军打开，张家寄存的4万多两黄金和许多古董均被日军掠走。更重要的还是政治上的损失，他失去了东北地盘，政治、财政都相对独立、雄踞一方的局面消失了，人关的26万东北军的军饷今后只得依靠蒋介石和南京国民政府了。
张学良所痛苦的是，执行不抵抗政策绝非他的本意，而他却不能把真相告之国人。于是，在各界不断高涨的讨伐声中，张学良先是辞去中华民国陆海空军副司令之职，改任北平绥靖公署主任，后又替蒋介石承担东北沦陷的责任，被迫下野，出国留洋。
张学良在经历了被迫下野的屈辱之后，并没有完全汲取这一沉痛教训。他在1934年从欧洲回国后首次向报界发表的讲话中，竞发表了这样的三点感受：
（一）各国民众皆能热烈拥护领袖，俾得放手做事。意、德于大战残破之后，皆能转否为泰，而为领袖者亦忠诚无私，努力奋斗。返顾国内争做领袖者太多，猜忌争斗，阻人成功，而成既不能令、又不受命之亡国病症，宁受外侮，而不许自己兄弟来统治，全国人若不愿为亡国奴，必大彻大悟，容许一个领袖，有试验机会，发展效能。
（二）西方学者治学专挚，有磨穿铁砚精神。而我国则名不符实，大学甚多，教师为金钱，学生为文凭，对于国家所贡献者，亦仅摇旗呐喊。
（三）西方备战空气浓厚，厌恶战争到万分，各国猜忌及备战之急亦到万分。国人应速准备，泯除恩怨，否则惟有亡国。
张学良此一旅欧感受，可谓对旅欧8个月思想收获的总结。这反映了在西方思想影响下张学良的思想也开始发生变化。在抗日态度上他的想法是对的，但在对待蒋介石的问题上，他不仅没有认识到意、德法西斯统治是对人类自由民主文明的亵渎，而且拥护蒋介石推行独裁统治。在对待共产党的态度上，他和蒋介石持一个立场。这年2月，在他出任鄂豫皖三省“剿匪”副总司令（蒋介石兼总司令）不久，就说：“现在外有强敌入侵，内有共产党捣乱，要求国家真正统一，必须先消灭共产党，委员长的先安内而后攘外的政策是绝对正确的，我们为挽救国家危难，收复失地，只有拥护委员长，贯彻委员长的国策。”他还在部队训话时，把共产党和红军描述成十恶不赦的罪人。他说：“现在的赤匪，不但到处放火，奸淫掳掠（甚至在江西用枯骨做成一个白塔），而且主张不爱民族，不要国家，不顾礼义廉耻，不讲忠孝仁爱，这种残忍卑污的行为，完全是一种禽兽的行为，而赤匪却非迫使大家完全兽化不可。像他们这种违反正义违反人道的动作，就是一个普通人，也应该出来打抱不平，何况我们军人？假设大家还有血气，仅站在人道的立场上，也不能不仗义奋起，决心消灭这人面兽心的赤匪！”
从这些讲话可以看出，此时张学良是真心帮助蒋介石“剿共”的，但是，他参与的“剿共”军事却连连失利，这多少也给了年轻气盛的少帅以些许警醒。
1935年9月，国民党政府军在西安设立“西北剿匪总司令部”，蒋介石意属张学良为副总司令，并代行总司令职权，主持西北“剿共”。对这次调动，张学良是不情愿的。但他的几个智囊却主张接受去西北的命令。他们认为，在西北可以与各反蒋势力联合，必要时可以与蒋翻脸，分治割据，而且西北可以成为抗日的后方基地。将来把东北军移驻洛阳以西地区，对准备抗日复土较为有利。问题是如何度过内战这一关。“剿共”是蒋介石的国策，张学良难以动摇蒋介石的这一政策。但是，要“剿共”就只能打胜仗，只有这样东北军才可以保存实力，以利将来抗日。据此，张学良判断：陕北红军不过几千人，装备又差，是弱兵，而他以十倍之众入陕“剿共”，取胜是完全可能的。
于是，张学良接受了要他主持西北军事的任命。
中共中央认真分析了张学良走过的道路，从而得出结论：
他是一个爱国者，家仇国恨使他与日本人有着不共戴天之仇，有抗日的阶级基础。他与蒋介石是不同的，蒋介石为了权力不惜与日本人媾和，而张学良没有这种政治野心，他为了国家甘愿牺牲父子两代苦心经营起来的东北地盘。他和广大东北军的官兵们一样，都期望有朝一日打回老家，收复失地。还有一点，张学良手里有20多万装备先进的部队，还掌管着四省军政，这对陕北的共产党和红军来讲，是一个重大威胁。如果把张学良争取过来，不仅消除了红军的威胁，有利于红军在陕北的发展，而且为我们抗日积蓄了一支重要力量。
正是基于这一考虑，毛泽东及中共中央决定把西北统战工作的重点放在张学良的东北军以及杨虎城的西北军上，而对于其他国民党高级将领的争取工作也在同步展开。
★军事配合重拳出击。打掉张的“剿共”速胜幻想；政治上晓以民族大义……张学良逐渐接受中共的团结御侮主张，终于开始了由助蒋“剿共”到积极与中共联系，力促实现举国抗日局面的转变
在张学良思考如何战胜红军的时候，毛泽东等中共领导人却在从更高层次上考虑和设计争取东北军的计划。在毛泽东和中共中央看来，张学良之所以对红军和共产党持敌视态度，很大程度上是他不了解共产党的结果，他之所以迷信蒋介石，也是他不了解共产党所致。改变张学良对共产党的误解和敌视，有必要从击碎他快速灭共、保存实力的幻想开始。
于是，中共中央开始酝酿实施一系列灭张威风的战斗方案。
其一，重创张学良精锐110师。1935年9月，张学良亲自坐镇指挥国民党“围剿”军分三路向中央红军发起进攻。他以王以哲第67军为中路，由关中北上，进占洛川、都县、甘泉，直逼肤施（延安）；以杨虎城第17路军为右路，由韩城、澄城向北进击；另以董英斌、何柱国骑兵军大部在庆阳、西峰镇一带为左路，企图一举围歼中央红军于陕北。
首先在西安与张学良交手的是红25军徐海东部与刘志丹的红26军、27军合编而成的第15军团，约有7000人。而张学良南线的进攻部队接近13万人，如此悬殊的人数对比，令张学良有一种胜利在望的感觉。杨虎城比他要冷静一些。战役部署时，杨虎城提醒张学良：“红军不好打呀！”但这句话没有引起张学良的注意，作为下属，杨虎城不好与张学良深说，而心里却明白：张学良此举是要碰钉子的。
果然，负责中路进攻的王以哲，立功。心切，向陕北苏区攻击疾进，15日即进入肤施（延安），但随军所带的粮食即将告罄，而天气渐冷，部队的衣食均成为问题。王以哲只好派110师一部到甘泉接运后方运来的军需和粮食。哪知红军已在甘泉设下埋伏，110师的人马一到甘泉，便被围困起来。王以哲得知甘泉被围，即令110师剩余部队南下，以解甘泉之围，但这支部队行之崂山附近，再次中红军的埋伏。红军引蛇出洞的战术，使张学良的110师大部被歼于甘泉。在这次战役中，全歼张学良部两个团及师部，俘虏3700人，110师师长何立中、参谋长范驭州均遭毙命，两个团团长一死一俘。
其二，全歼东北军主力之一107师。110师被歼以后，王以哲飞回洛川，继而，一纸密令又将129师撤回洛川，而甘泉仍被红军围困着。此时，红15军团的实力大大增强，为扩大战果，红军始决定对东北军驻守在榆林桥的107师的4个营和第619团的团部发动强攻。经过5个小时的战斗，红军攻克榆林桥，毙敌300余人，俘虏敌人1800余人。曾任张学良卫队营营长的619团团长高福源也在被俘之列。至此，王以哲的67军被分割在洛川、甘泉和肤施三地。
崂山和榆林桥战役的两次惨败，教育了张学良，也粉碎了他企图侥幸立“剿共”之功的幻想。他开始考虑采取比较谨慎的作战步骤。于是，他在飞南京参加国民党第五次全国代表大会之前，亲自驾飞机到甘肃庆阳，告诫董英斌：“你这个梯队须暂缓前进。部队何时开动，须听我的命令。”
张学良在南京期间，经历了两万五千里长征的中央红军胜利抵达陕北根据地吴起镇。这时，董英斌部在庆阳、合水一带待命的3个步兵师的给养发生了困难。一些军官建议，沿葫芦河东进，一举歼灭立足未稳的红军，同时解除王以哲部被分割、围困的窘境，并打通洛川、鄜县、肤施间的交通线。董英斌为解燃眉之急，便把部队东进的要求报告给总部。东北军总部代参谋长谢珂不知道张学良临行前的告诫，就同意了董部的东进计划。
董英斌在得到上方宝剑后，即令所属109、106、111师前后一字摆开，浩浩荡荡向鄜县进发。
毛泽东和周恩来看到了又一次打击东北军的机会。他们与徐海东、程子华研究后定下如下方针：首先在直罗镇一带歼灭沿葫芦河东进的东北军一两个师，而后视情况再转移兵力，粉碎国民党对陕北根据地的第三次反共“围剿”，并向洛川、黄陵、宜川、韩城以及关中、陇东发展。
为迷惑敌人，红15军团派出1个团加紧围攻甘泉。西北“剿总”见甘泉危急，急令董英斌的57军3个师加速东进。11月20日下午，其先头部队109师进入直罗镇。直罗镇是由甘肃合水地区通向陕北鄜县、甘泉的一个不大的村庄，居民不过百户，南北有连绵的土山对峙，中间是一条窄长的河谷，最宽处不超过200米，窄处只有二三十米，军队进入该地，犹如“蛇入细管”进入绝地。
在东北军按照红军设定的路线一步步进入包围圈时，红1军团已迅速而秘密地通过保安、安塞，到达鄜县西南方的直罗镇附近，与先行集结在这里的红15军团会合，做好迎击东北军的准备。
在109师进占直罗镇的当晚，红军由北向南和由南向北分两路同时赶到直罗镇，并占领了直罗镇两旁的山岭。21日拂晓，红军的两个军团从四面八方向守敌发起进攻，上午将外围据点攻克，中午残敌500多人退入镇内固守待援。见109师陷入重围，西北“剿总”急忙又派3个师救援，均被红军击退，其中敌西路救援部队撤退时，被红军消灭一个团。在待援无望的情况下，109师残部拼死突围，至24日上午，被红军全歼。109师师长牛元峰看到再无回天之力，随即让副官将他毙命。
在不到两个月的时间里，东北军接连打了3次败仗，近3个师的兵力被消灭，死了2个师长、2个师参谋长，6个团长也非死即俘。如此惨重的损失，在东北军的历史上是罕见的。尤其是两个师被歼之后，南京军事当局随即下令撤销了这两个师的番号，这促使张学良清醒地思考蒋介石让他“剿共”的真正用意，亦即通过与共军作战，即使不被消灭，也要让其逐渐消耗掉。这时，张学良才开始认识到，再继续“剿共”，东北军就有全军覆没的危险，要抗日复土，必须另谋出路。后来，张学良在《反省录》中阐述了他在“剿共”问题上“急刹车”的思想变化过程：
先是110师被歼灭及师长何立中被打死，继之109师又大败，师长牛元峰拒降而死，此二师长均是东北军最优秀者，这两次可怕的失败深创我心，这更增强了我的信念，即杰出将领为内战而丧身是令人遗憾的，同时我不愿再轻视共军的战斗力。因此，用和平方法解决共产党问题的思想遂在我心中燃起。
张学良在参加国民党五全大会期间，思想上已经发生转变。会议还没结束，他就借口上海有事，驱车找到了因“新生事件”获罪坐牢的东北籍爱国民主人士杜重远。
杜重远在九一八事变前曾当过沈阳市商会副会长，与张学良的关系很好。后来到上海从事抗日救亡运动，主编《新生》周刊，宣传抗日，和沈钧儒、邹韬奋等爱国民主人士是志同道合的朋友。1935年7月，因《新生》周刊发表《闲话皇帝》一文，被日方诬指为“侮辱天皇”，南京国民政府便以妨碍“中日邦交”的罪名，将其逮捕判刑，关在上海漕河泾的“模范”监狱。但国府当局也知道这样处置杜重远有些理亏，就让监狱专门盖了3间平房，让杜重远住了进去，会客不受限制，周末可以回家。
在杜重远的房间里，张学良如实地倾诉了自己的苦闷。他说：“我过去到过意大利，学法西斯，以为法西斯主义可以救中国，所以一心不二地拥护蒋介石的政策，跟着蒋去'剿共'，实指望国家统一后再抗日。但现实生活使我感到一切全不对头，觉得过去的想法、做法错了。今后真不知该怎么办？”
杜重远知道张学良是一个慷慨、爽直、有爱国心的人，因此就一针见血地揭露蒋介石借内战之机消灭异己的错误，直截了当地批评了张学良过去的一套做法是“为虎作伥”，而后给他指出了一条建立抗日联合战线的道路。杜重远说：“你和东北军的主力驻在陕甘两省，有许多联合抗日的条件，就看你做不做。首先，你们和红军离得不远，可以和红军搞好关系；其次，杨虎城有抗日进步思想，又在你旁边，可以与他合作；另外，盛世才在新疆，同苏联关系不错，又是东北同乡，也可以联合起来。这样，联共、联杨、联盛，再加上全国人民，一致起来抗日，你和东北军一定会有前途，东北失土一定能够收回。”
张学良觉得杜重远分析得很有道理，受到了很大启发。但是他仍有顾虑，这就是他的反共立场。张学良告诉杜重远：“我们现在同杨虎城尽管还有些隔膜，但搞联合问题不大。盛世才是同乡又是熟人，联合抗日好办。只是共产党我还摸不到底。过去我们一致打人家，恐怕仇恨深着哩。我们想和人家联合抗日，谁知道人家会不会要咱这个朋友呢？”
“这个你尽管放心。”杜重远笑一笑说道，“日本帝国主义妄图灭亡全中国，抗日救国已成了全国人民一致的要求。共产党是人民利益和意愿的代表者，首先倡导停止内战，一致抗日，因此绝不会拒绝同你们合作。（八一宣言）上写得清清楚楚，不管是任何党派、任何军队和个人，也不管过去有什么旧仇宿怨，只要能走抗日的道路，共产党都会与之亲密携手，联合抗日的。”
在上海，张学良还拜会了宋庆龄、沈钧儒、李杜等人。
李杜原是张学良的老部下，曾任东北军第9旅旅长，九一八事变后率部抗日，失败后退往苏联，与共产国际有接触。后来，又从苏联回到上海，参加抗日救亡运动，与上海共产党地下组织也有联系。张学良会晤李杜，就是想通过李杜沟通他与苏联和中共的关系，以便取得苏联的援助，在西北与红军联合抗日，并请李杜替他秘密介绍中共的关系，相机进行沟通。
张学良还担心单靠李杜一条线联系共产党不保险，又想到了东北大学中参与北平一二·九运动的