On a cold night in 1948, the lights of Shenyang City Hall were exceptionally bright, piercing through the thick night fog and reflecting on people's nervous and expectant faces. On this day, the People's Liberation Army will hold a special banquet to invite all the newly surrendered Kuomintang generals.
As soon as the news broke, the atmosphere of the whole city became elusive, and people whispered and talked about what kind of changes this banquet would bring.
As the guests arrived, the atmosphere in the town hall became tense. The banquet hall is decorated with round tables and elaborate name tags in front of each seat, with the chairman's seat in the center standing out. The officers and men of the People's Liberation Army greeted every guest solemnly and politely, but there was a subtle hint of anticipation hidden in their eyes.
The eve of the liberation of Shenyang
On November 2, 1948, Shenyang, the largest city in Northeast China, was liberated, and on this day, the news of liberation spread rapidly in every corner of the city like a spring thunder. Since the morning, the streets and alleys of Shenyang have been filled with people. Citizens waved hats and handkerchiefs in their hands, and with joyful smiles on their faces, they hugged each other to celebrate the arrival of this moment.
Children are running in groups, laughter filling the air. In this atmosphere, Zhou Fucheng, the former commander of the Kuomintang in Shenyang, stood in front of the window of his office, through which he could clearly see the celebratory crowd on the street. His face was serious, his eyes staring out the window, and the assistants around him were silent, not daring to disturb his thoughts.
The sounds of celebration in the streets grew louder and louder, firecrackers rang out one after another, and red flags fluttered in the wind. The enthusiasm of the citizens seemed to melt any cold heart, but in Zhou Fucheng's office, the air seemed to freeze. He turned around, faced the Kuomintang officers behind him, and gave a faint order to keep them on their toes and ready to receive new orders at any time.
Lin Biao and Han Xianchu's discussion
In a quiet meeting room at Shenyang City Hall, Lin Biao and Han Xianchu sat across from a long table with a map of the city and some documents. The two are seriously discussing the issue of Zhou Fucheng and its possible impact on the current situation.
Lin Biao first raised concerns about Zhou Fucheng, who he believed that although Zhou had not been in command for a long time, he still had a lot of influence in the local area because of his past experience and status. Lin Biao's voice was firm and powerful, and his gaze scanned the conference room, as if looking for the best solution.
Han Xianchu, on the other hand, paid more attention to practical operations, pointing to several key areas in Shenyang on the map and analyzing in detail the current military deployment and political situation. Han Xianchu suggested that Zhou's attitude could be a key factor that could greatly influence the choice of other KMT generals.
He suggested that Lin Biao adopt an inclusive strategy, using Zhou's influence to stabilize the political situation in Shenyang and gradually lead other Kuomintang generals into submission. The atmosphere in the meeting room was tense, but both showed a high degree of professionalism and clarity of purpose. After Lin Biao listened to Han Xianchu's analysis, his expression became more serious.
He nodded, agreeing with Han Xianchu's opinion, and began to discuss the specific implementation details. They discussed a variety of possible scenarios, including how to appease and enlist the support of the Kuomintang generals through political and economic means.
Lin Biao suggested that Zhou Fucheng and other generals could be persuaded by providing security and political status to ensure that they would not be treated unfairly because of their past history. After nearly an hour of discussion, Lin Biao and Han Xianchu agreed to arrange a banquet for the next few days, to which Zhou Fucheng and other Kuomintang generals were invited.
This will be a good opportunity to demonstrate the PLA's tolerant policy and confidence-building. The two then got busy and prepared to put this plan into practice. Lin Biao ordered his lieutenant to sort out the specifics of the banquet, including the time, place, and invitation list, while Han Xianchu was responsible for communicating with the local government and military units to ensure that all arrangements went smoothly.
The strategy of feasting on the Kuomintang generals
With the confirmation of the banquet plan, the news quickly spread in the military and political circles of Shenyang. The banquet is scheduled for November 3 and takes place in the main ballroom of the Town Hall, a lavishly decorated, historic venue that has been used for important government and social events on several occasions.
The People's Liberation Army (PLA) began to busily prepare various details of the banquet, including the seating arrangements of the guests, the selection of menus and the layout of the venue. News of the banquet soon reached the ears of the Kuomintang generals. Among them, especially the generals who had just surrendered when the PLA entered the city, were extremely uneasy.
They exchanged complicated glances with each other, discussing in a low voice the possible purpose of the banquet. Although the PLA has publicly stated that the move is an expression of respect and welcome for the former KMT generals, these generals remain suspicious of the PLA's true intentions. In the preparation of the banquet, the officers of the PLA showed an efficient and professional side.
They checked every aspect of the banquet in detail to make sure nothing went wrong. Inside the ballroom, the decoration has been completed, and the long tables are filled with exquisite cutlery and vases, which are filled with flowers, reflecting the solemn atmosphere of the venue. At the table, silver cutlery and crystal wine glasses are delicately arranged, and elaborate name tags are placed in front of each seat.
On the day of the banquet, the reception staff of the People's Liberation Army stood at the entrance of the city hall to greet the guests who arrived one after another. Their attitude was friendly and polite, and every Kuomintang general who arrived was warmly invited into the venue. Despite the cold wind outside, the venue was brightly lit and warm like spring.
As the guests arrived, the ballroom gradually filled to capacity. The Kuomintang generals took their seats according to the arrangements arranged earlier, and although some of them still had some nervousness and uneasiness on their faces, the atmosphere in the banquet hall began to ease as they were warmly received by senior PLA officials.
Accidents and psychological transformations at banquets
Suddenly, the door of the banquet hall was pushed open, and Marshal Lin Biao walked into the hall, followed by a person. Lin Biao's arrival immediately made everyone stand up and greet him warmly.
But as the figure of the person behind Lin Biao gradually became clearer, the original noise stopped abruptly, and the banquet hall was silent for a moment. followed by Zhou Fucheng, who was once known for his stubbornness. This sudden scene made all the generals look at each other, and they couldn't understand the deep meaning of Lin Biao's move.
But Lin Biao seemed to have insight into everyone's thoughts, he held Zhou Fucheng and said cordially: "Brother Zhou, you used to be the leader of Shenyang City, today we are all guests from afar, and I, the host, naturally have to take care of every guest." After finishing speaking, he didn't wait for Zhou Fucheng to respond, and had already led him to the middle seat of the main table.
This act not only eased the tension at the scene, but also made the Kuomintang generals who were on the sidelines secretly breathe a sigh of relief, believing that this may be a signal of reconciliation. After Zhou Fucheng sat down at the main table at the bottom of the form, the banquet officially began.
Waiters begin to serve a variety of aromatic dishes, including a variety of regional specialties such as stews and barbecues from the Northeast, as well as other classics from all over China. Drinks were also delivered one by one, including traditional Chinese baijiu and rice wine, as well as some imported wines.
During the banquet, some high-ranking generals of the People's Liberation Army and the generals of the Kuomintang gradually began to talk. They discussed topics ranging from military cooperation to regional development. While the conversation began with some caution, as time went on, the communication became more natural and open.
At some tables, generals can be seen toasting and toasting each other, and the atmosphere gradually warms up. From time to time, Lin Biao stood up and visited the various tables to have a brief exchange with each guest, making sure that each guest felt respected and welcomed. His actions greatly relieved the tension of the guests present and made the atmosphere of the banquet more relaxed and friendly.
As the dinner progressed, some theatrical performances began to be staged at one end of the venue. Dressed in traditional Chinese costumes, the performers on stage performed Peking Opera and dance, and their performances attracted the attention of the guests present, and many people were attracted by these performances full of traditional Chinese culture.
The far-reaching impact of the peaceful liberation of Shenyang
As the banquet came to an end, Zhou Fucheng stood up, faced all the generals and officials present, and began to speak. His voice was loud and clear, piercing through the hustle and bustle of the ballroom. Zhou Fucheng first expressed his admiration for the tolerance and strength displayed by the PLA.
He spoke about the high level of discipline and organizational skills shown by the PLA on the battlefield and in political settings, as well as their lenient policy towards former enemy generals. Subsequently, Zhou Fucheng mentioned his past decisions and expressed remorse.
He openly praised the PLA's political philosophy and governance ability, claiming that if he had known the truth about the PLA earlier, he would have chosen to join the army earlier. His words caused a whispered discussion in the banquet hall, and the expressions on the faces of the other Kuomintang generals were also complicated after hearing this.
Although Zhou Fucheng's remarks were made on a relatively private occasion, the news soon spread throughout Shenyang and even to a wider area. This incident effectively demonstrated the PLA's policy towards surrendered generals and greatly stabilized the peace situation in Shenyang.
A smooth transition of power in an important city like Shenyang has had an important impact on the surrounding region and the entire Northeast. In addition, Zhou Fucheng's transformation and public praise for the People's Liberation Army also played a positive role in promoting the liberation process of the whole country.
Especially in North China, this incident provided a positive reference example for Fu Zuoyi's peaceful uprising in Beiping. Fu Zuoyi and his subordinates, after observing how the PLA dealt with the former Kuomintang generals in Shenyang, became more inclined to resolve military confrontation through peaceful means, further promoting the process of peaceful liberation.
After that, the atmosphere in Shenyang gradually stabilized. The PLA continues to work with local government agencies to promote social and economic reconstruction. Citizens' lives are gradually getting back on track, shops are reopening, and order on the streets is being effectively maintained. Public facilities such as schools and hospitals have resumed their functions, and citizens are filled with new expectations and hopes for the future.
At the same time, the PLA's successful management and governance experience in Shenyang has also been summarized and refined, forming a set of policies and measures that can be used as a reference for other liberated areas. This series of measures not only involves military management, but also includes the restoration of people's livelihood, economic development, and social stability.
Resources:
- Zhang Chengcheng.Capturing Zhou Fucheng alive——Memories of the liberation of Shenyang[J].Communist Party Member(Second Half Month),2014(3):48-49