Chapter 317 16. Peaceful reorganization of the Peking Kuomintang Army

On January 31, 1949, the People's Liberation Army began to take over the defense of Beiping City.Peiping was liberated peacefully and the Battle of Pingjin came to an end. In the Battle of Pingjin, the People's Liberation Army wiped out 1 Corps Headquarters, 1 Garrison Command, 5 Military Headquarters, and 25 Divisions of the Kuomintang Army, totaling more than 250,000 people.At the cost of more than 39,000 casualties, the People's Liberation Army won a major victory in annihilating and reorganizing more than 520,000 Kuomintang troops. On February 8, 1949, the People's Liberation Army held a solemn entry ceremony into Beiping.

At 10:00 a.m., four flares flew into the sky, and the entry into the city officially began. On this day, the mighty ranks of the People's Liberation Army walked for 6 hours from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.Along the way, they were warmly welcomed by people from all walks of life in Peiping.On the tower of Zhengyangmen, the welcome center of the city, Ye Jianying, director of the Beiping Military Control Committee, Lin Biao, commander of the People's Liberation Army on the Pingjin front, Luo Ronghuan, political commissar, and Nie Rongzhen, commander of the North China Military Region, inspected the troops of the People's Liberation Army marching bravely.

When the troops marched to Zhushikou and met the welcoming procession, there was a loud drumming and thunderous cheers.The ranks of troops are on the right, the ranks of welcome are on the left, people beckon!Shout!How many people shed tears with excitement.On this day, the people of the ancient capital were completely immersed in joy unprecedented in history. On the same day, newspapers in Beiping and the national liberated areas published congratulatory messages from the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China congratulating the liberation of Pingjin.The congratulatory message said: "Congratulations to you for liberating Beiping and Tianjin, which basically liberated the great victory of the whole of North China. During your two-month battle in North China, you eliminated 1 corps headquarters, 1 garrison headquarters, and 4 corps of the regular army of the Kuomintang. Department, 24 divisions, together with more than 260,000 other Kuomintang troops, forced General Fu Zuoyi, the commander-in-chief of the North China "Suppression General" of the Beiping Kuomintang Army, and his 1 "Suppression General" headquarters, 2 corps headquarters, and 8 military departments , 25 divisions, and more than 200,000 people, together with other Kuomintang troops, accepted the peace conditions and went out of the city to reorganize into the People's Liberation Army. All these great victories are due to the heroic fighting of our People's Liberation Army. The result of the unanimous sponsorship of people's groups."

On February 21, the Pingjin Front Command and the Political Department held a reorganization meeting. Lin Biao, Luo Ronghuan, Liu Yalou, Tan Zheng, Tao Zhu, and Guo Zongfen presided over the meeting, and officers above the division of the Kuomintang Army attended. Tao Zhu first announced the adaptation plan: First, the former Kuomintang Army’s North China “Suppression General”, the 4th and 9th Corps Headquarters and the 8 military headquarters’ 3rd-level command organizations have all ended. The Corps Department and various military departments, its 25 divisions were reorganized into independent divisions of the People's Liberation Army, and the special forces units were merged with the special forces units of the People's Liberation Army.

Second, political trainers in the Kuomintang army who wish to stay and work in the PLA should undergo training before being recruited. Third, military officers at all levels who accept work assigned by the PLA, they and their families enjoy the same treatment as PLA cadres and their families. Fourth, those who are willing to study for further studies will be divided into classes according to their work and level of study, and the treatment during the study period is the same as that of in-service cadres. Fifth, the Kuomintang officers who are willing to go home will be paid 3 months' salary and fare tickets according to the original salary, and board and lodging (including family members) will be provided along the way in the liberated area.Except for weapons and public assets, all personal belongings can be brought back.After returning home, they can get their due share of land.If I am a landlord family, whether the land property is divided or not, it shall be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of Article 3 of the Land Law Outline.I will abide by all the laws and regulations of the democratic government in the future, and will not be held accountable for the behavior of farmers in the past.All Kuomintang soldiers who returned home were issued a "Certificate of Participation in the Peaceful Liberation of Peiping", and they were still welcome if they would like to work in the PLA in the future.

Tao Zhu said: The above policies and measures were adopted because the officers and soldiers of the Kuomintang army who participated in the peaceful liberation of Beiping contributed to the country and the people, and set an example of peaceful liberation for the whole country, so the PLA and the people are willing to reward and give preferential treatment. Then, Lin Biao and Luo Ronghuan emphasized in their speeches: This reorganization is not just about changing the flag and changing the name, but to make the Kuomintang army become the People's Liberation Army in essence, an army that serves the people, liberates the people, and belongs to the people. There must be a complete change in politics and ideological style.As for personal resignation, as long as they are willing to participate in the revolution and support the policies of the CCP, they are all allowed to participate in work.

Finally, Liu Yalou announced the command relationship and supply relationship of the reorganized troops, and read the "Order on the Reorganization of the Kuomintang Army Around Beiping". On February 22, Fu Zuoyi and Deng Baoshan arrived in Shijiazhuang by plane, and then changed to a car to go to the headquarters of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in Xibaipo, Pingshan County.Fu Zuoyi was warmly welcomed by Zhou Enlai, vice chairman of the CCP Military Commission, and Zhu De, commander-in-chief of the People's Liberation Army, and cordially received by Chairman Mao.

After Fu Zuoyi returned to Peiping, he was refreshed and in a good mood. On April 1, he issued a telegram to the whole country: Chairman Mao of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, all democratic parties, people's organizations, democrats and patriotic friends of the Kuomintang: The peace work in Peking, which began on January 22, has been successfully completed.The place has never been damaged, the lives and property of the people have not been lost, and cultural relics, historic sites, businesses, and buildings have all been preserved.The peaceful settlement of Peking has been praised by all parties in the country, and it is regarded as the beginning of the realization of national peace.At the time when the whole country is discussing peace, at this time, I would like to explain my understanding and opinions to all parties in the country.

... Peace in Peiping means following the will and wishes of the people, having the courage to understand and act responsibly, conforming to correct policies, and conforming to the eight peace conditions proposed by Mr. Mao Zedong. This kind of peace is real peace.All patriotic military and political personnel of the Kuomintang should conduct a deep self-criticism, admit their mistakes, start with peace in Beiping, and strive to promote the rapid realization of national peace before the country can begin to build. Today, the cause of Chinese people's democracy is based on the leadership of the Communist Party of China and the alliance of workers and peasants. It unites all democratic parties, progressive people of the Kuomintang and all democratic strata in the country to work together.This is already the trend of the times and the aspiration of the people.Zuo Yi knew this, and would like to support the leadership of Chairman Mao of the Communist Party of China in the future, implement new democracy, and peacefully build a new China.

Fu Zuoyi April 1