In the long river of history, there are always some thrilling stories that people will never forget. In 1931, a Kuomintang lieutenant general, Zhang Huizan, was captured by the Red Army on the battlefield, what will be his fate? In the face of the impending death threat, he shouted "Runzhi, save me!" "In this story, we can see not only the cruelty of war, but also the humanity of the leaders of that era. Let's walk into this magnificent history together and see how the leader decided a person's fate with a broad mind.
Speaking of Zhang Huizan, the name may be just a few cold strokes in many history books, but his story is extremely dramatic. This lieutenant general of the Kuomintang, who had demonstrated his military prowess in several battles, also left a disgraceful record in the Soviet zone for his brutal methods. His name has long been labeled as "Butcher Zhang", which shows the cruelty of his methods and makes people frightened.
In 1927, after Chiang Kai-shek launched a counter-revolutionary coup, Zhang Huizan quickly stood at the forefront of the Kuomintang and became Chiang's right-hand man. Under his command, he not only smashed many of our party's contact points, but also arrested many party members, including many backbone forces. These revolutionaries showed amazing perseverance and indomitable fighting spirit in the face of torture, but they could not escape the clutches of Zhang Huizan.
In the winter of 1930, Chiang Kai-shek couldn't sit still as he watched the growing Red Army, and he ordered Zhang Huizan to lead the elite 18th Division to attack the Central Soviet Zone. Zhang Huizan was full of confidence, after all, he had more than 100,000 troops under his command and was well-equipped, while the Red Army seemed to be nothing to mention in comparison. How the wheel of history turns, often unexpectedly, Zhang Huizan confidently entered the Soviet zone and implemented the cruel "three lights" policy, but it eventually led to his tragedy.
In 1931, it was this confident general who was defeated by the Red Army in a battle at Longgang and captured alive. This news exploded like thunder in the camps of both sides. The Red Army escorted him to the Soviet zone, and the cheers of the crowd contrasted sharply with the panic in General Zhang's heart.
After being arrested, Zhang Huizan, facing the angry crowd and the calm Red Army commander Zhu De, he couldn't help but weaken his knees and begged Zhu De to redeem his life at a high price. Zhu De's response was right, but it made him completely desperate: "Our Red Army does not do business, you should know the depth of your sin." These words are undoubtedly a harsh criticism of Zhang Huizan's past behavior.
An even more dramatic scene occurred when Mao Zedong himself came to the cell. When Zhang Huizan saw Mao Zedong, he seemed to see a glimmer of life, and he tried to impress Mao Zedong with the friendship of the past, but Mao Zedong's reaction was unexpected, and he mentioned in an almost ironic tone that Zhang Huizan had threatened to "shave his head", and asked him who was going to shave his head now. This is not only a mockery of Zhang Huizan, but also a test of his change of mentality.
The way Mao Zedong and Zhu De handled the situation showed that they still maintained a kind of humanistic concern for the enemy in the severe war environment, and this seemingly weak tolerance was actually a deeper psychological warfare and political strategy against the enemy. They understand that killing alone will not bring lasting peace, and that only a change of heart is the ultimate antidote to war.
Every day in his cell, Zhang Huizan reflects on what he has done in the past. From his disdain and contempt at the beginning, to his fear and begging for mercy later, and finally to deep introspection, all this gradually happened under the surveillance of the Red Army. Zhang Huizan's inner struggle is a microcosm of the psychological changes of many people in that era.
In that turbulent era, everyone was fighting for survival, whether it was a general on the battlefield or an ordinary person who was unknown. Zhang Huizan's story is not only the ups and downs of a soldier, but also the fierce collision of human nature and ideals in that era. Although his ultimate fate is only an understatement in the long river of history, his experience has left a deep reflection on future generations: how should we choose between the balance of power and life?
Zhang Huizan's life is full of contradictions and struggles. From a proud general of the Kuomintang to a prisoner captured by the Red Army, his life trajectory makes people feel the impermanence of fate. Through this story, we can not only see the cruelty of history, but also feel how the light and dark side of human nature are intertwined in every choice during that special period. The way Mao Zedong and Zhu De handled it showed us a profound thinking and strategic application that went beyond the ordinary concept of war. Looking back today, we may be able to learn more about tolerance, wisdom and humanity.