As we all know, every decision in history has the potential to change the course of history. In the turbulent era of 1926, how did the CCP and the Kuomintang push the wheel of history step by step on the issue of the agrarian revolution? Should the agrarian revolution be promoted first, or should the Northern Expedition be carried out first? Behind this, there are more twists and turns than you think. How did Stalin and the Comintern influence the Chinese Revolution? How did Mao Zedong's "Report on the Investigation of the Hunan Peasant Movement" ignite the fighting spirit of the peasants? Let's explore this history together and see how they found their way out of the turbulent political situation in those years. Are you ready? Follow my steps and walk into that era of fire!
In 1926, China was in an extremely critical historical period. On the one hand, the cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party was to jointly fight against the warlords in the north and promote domestic unity; On the other hand, it is to solve deep-seated social problems, especially land issues. The agrarian revolution may seem like a simple word, but behind it lies great contradictions and complexities.
Under the influence of the Comintern, Stalin strongly advocated an agrarian revolution in China as a crucial step in advancing the Chinese revolution. Borodin, a Soviet adviser who had just arrived in Wuhan, held the same view, and he was an outspoken critic of the moderates in the Kuomintang, arguing that they were too conservative and even weak in their approach to the land question.
Borodin's radical stance allowed him to gradually increase his influence in the Wuhan Kuomintang. He stressed on many occasions in public that resolute measures must be taken against the landlord class that exploits the peasants, and there must be no compromise in the slightest. His remarks undoubtedly added fuel to the fire and made the question of the agrarian revolution even more intense.
In this way, Mao Zedong's investigation in Hunan brought him profound enlightenment. In his "Report on the Investigation of the Hunan Peasant Movement", he wrote that the peasants were already miserable, and they longed for change and to get rid of their shackles. Mao Zedong's report not only won the attention of Qu Qiubai and others, but also aroused extensive discussion within the party.
However, the problem was complicated by the indecision of the national government on land policy. During the long journey from Guangzhou to Wuhan, the Nationalist government failed to come up with a clear land program, which led directly to a series of subsequent problems. Chiang Kai-shek's attitude, on the other hand, is even more inscrutable, as he does not seem to be in a hurry to solve the land problem, but more to find his place in the game of power.
The discussion of the land issue finally reached a climax at the Wuhan Central Land Committee. This committee, composed of Deng Yanda, Xu Qian, Gu Mengyu, Wang Jiaxiang, and others, became the center of the agrarian revolution. The task before them was daunting and complex, requiring a balance between the conservative forces within the KMT and the radical advocacy of the Communist Party.
In the process, the attitude of the farmers became more and more intense. No longer satisfied with moderate reforms, they began to demand a complete agrarian revolution, demanding the seizure of the landlords' land. This sentiment soon spread across the country and became an unstoppable force.
The activities of the Mao era were particularly striking. He not only theoretically supported the agrarian revolution, but also personally went down to the grassroots level to mobilize and lead the peasants in struggle. His actions and words greatly aroused the fighting spirit of the peasants and made them dare to face the powerful landlord class.
The road to the agrarian revolution was not without its challenges. The internal contradictions of the Nationalist Government, the opposition of the warlords in various places, and the political pressure at home and abroad all brought great challenges to the agrarian revolution. Under these circumstances, Borodin and his colleagues had to push the policy more cautiously, trying to find a balance between different interest groups.
In 1927, with the gradual advancement of the Northern Expedition of the Nationalist Government, the domestic political landscape began to change. Chiang Kai-shek staged the April 12 coup d'état that year, an event that marked the beginning of the rise of right-wing forces within the Kuomintang and the end of cooperation between the Communist Party and the Kuomintang.
This change had a profound impact on the agrarian revolution. The Communist Party was forced to go underground and began to seek new ways of struggle. The agrarian revolution was transformed from a policy discussion within the party to a broader and deeper people's movement.
In this process, the role of farmers has become increasingly important. They are no longer passive policy recipients, but active subjects of struggle. From Hunan to Jiangxi, from Guangdong to Hebei, countless peasants began to organize themselves spontaneously to carry out land reform and protest activities. Although these activities were partial and scattered, they were a force to be reckoned with in the wave of China's agrarian revolution.
Looking back at the period from 1926 to 1927, we can see that the agrarian revolution was not only a policy reform, but also a release of social power. Despite the bumpy road and many challenges, it was this series of struggles and changes that ultimately shaped the profound foundation of the Chinese revolution. The awakening and struggle of countless ordinary peasants have become an indispensable force in this great historical change. In the long river of history, every small choice and decision may change the direction of the future. And this is the charm of history.