Cooperation between the Red Army and the Kuomintang and the Communist Party: Negotiations and the Conspiracy Behind the Scenes
In March 1936, the Shanghai "Declaration" published a "missing person notice" asking Wu Hao (Zhou Gong) to go to the Xinya Hotel on North Sichuan Road for consultation, which marked the beginning of a key negotiation between the Chinese Kuomintang and the Communist Party. This covert operation, initiated by Zhang Chong, an agent of the Central Union, later became one of the most influential events in Chinese history, laying the foundation for cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party.
Background: The complex history of KMT-CCP cooperation
There is a complex and tortuous historical background behind the cooperation between the KMT and the CCP. In the early thirties of the last century, China was facing a great challenge of external aggression and internal division. The Kuomintang and the Communist Party began to seek cooperation to jointly resist the aggressor. However, the realization of this cooperation will not be easy.
In October 1935, when the Red Army triumphantly arrived in northern Shaanxi, the differences between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party began to emerge. The Nationalist government led by Chiang Kai-shek failed to encircle and suppress the Red Army several times, and at the same time, the Japanese invaders continued to expand. Chiang Kai-shek sought foreign aid, which included a cooperative relationship with the Soviet Union. At the same time, he hoped to disarm the Red Army by establishing a channel of dialogue with the Red Army on behalf of Deng Wenyi. Cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, especially the issue of the arming of the Red Army, became an important focus of negotiations.
Principles and intrigues of the Red Army
The leadership of the Red Army repeatedly considered whether to open negotiations with the Nationalist Government, and they doubted Chiang Kai-shek's sincerity. However, in the end, it was decided to negotiate with the National Government. During the negotiations, the Red Army agreed in principle to the conditions put forward by the Nationalist Government, but also added some demands, such as the cessation of the civil war and the acceptance of the reorganization of the Red Army, the main force of the country. It is noteworthy that the Red Army did not mention the word "aid" in the negotiations, which later became one of the points of contention in the negotiations.
With the passage of time, the cooperation between the KMT and the CCP gradually deepened. In April 1936, the Red Army established a cooperative relationship with the Northeast Army and received some material support. Subsequently, in July 1936, the Red Army formally abandoned the "anti-Chiang anti-Japanese" policy, paving the way for the formation of Kuomintang-Communist cooperation. In August of the same year, the Red Army decided to form an anti-Japanese coalition.
Secret negotiations and final agreement
In November 1936, formal negotiations began, and the two sides began to discuss issues such as military spending and the size of the army. By February 1937, Chiang Kai-shek agreed to provide the Red Army with 500,000 yuan a month. In exchange, the Red Army relinquished control of the southern Shaanxi region, but received 500,000 yuan in "aftermath money".
The final negotiations took place in late March 1937, and the two sides held secret negotiations in Hangzhou, and finally reached an agreement. Chiang Kai-shek agreed with the Red Army to keep 3 divisions, and 40,000 troops despite the fact that 4 divisions were originally proposed. This agreement provided a solid foundation for cooperation between the KMT and the CCP.
The impact and value of KMT-CCP cooperation
The realization of the cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party enabled the Red Army to obtain military support, improve its living standards, and formally achieve reunification. This has had a far-reaching impact on the unity of the Chinese nation and the victory over the aggressor.
Overall, the KMT-CCP cooperation was an important moment in China's history, which demonstrated the compromise and cooperation of different political factions at a critical moment, and provided a solid foundation for China's resistance and development. The spirit of cooperation between the KMT and the CPC has laid the foundation for future national construction and the formation of a united front.