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Text | History
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Preface
In the long history of the Chinese revolution, how many incognito heroes have been forgotten?
How many thrilling spy stories have yet to be told?
Let's step into the life of a legendary agent - Li Maotang.
How does he juggle between friend and foe? How do you dance on the edge of life and death?
How does an ordinary person grow into a great underground worker?
Poor Youth: The Sprout of the Flame of Revolution
In 1906, in an ordinary farmhouse in Weinan, Shaanxi, a boy named Li Zijing fell to the ground.
Who would have thought that this child, who later changed his name to Li Maotang, would have become a bright star in the Chinese revolutionary cause in the future?
Li Maotang's childhood was not wealthy. From a poor family, he only attended private school for a few years before he had to start running for a living.
However, fate seems to have already arranged another path for him.
Under the introduction of relatives, the young Li Maotang came to the telegraph office in Xi'an to learn telegraph technology.
This job not only allowed Li Maotang to master a skill to make a living,
More importantly, it opened a window into the wider world for him.
During his work in the telegraph office, Li Maotang came into contact with many progressive books.
He was filled with reverence for the pioneers who fought for the revolution.
These reading experiences planted the seeds of revolution in his young heart.
Joining a party: an important decision at the age of 20
In 1926, at the age of 20, Li Maotang made a life-changing decision to join the Chinese Communist Party.
This decision turned him from an ordinary telegraph operator into a revolutionary who struggled for his ideals.
However, being a member of the Communist Party does not mean that it is all smooth sailing.
On the contrary, this identity brought great danger to Li Maotang.
In that turbulent era, he was repeatedly wanted by the Kuomintang and had to hide in Tibet.
However, these difficult experiences did not shake Li Maotang's belief,
On the contrary, it strengthened his determination to fight for the revolutionary cause.
Danger: A life-and-death decision in 1935
1935 was a year full of turning points for Li Maotang.
This year, he was about to go to Zhengzhou to attend the enlarged meeting of the Standing Committee of the Shaanxi Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China.
However, as fate would have it, just as he was about to arrive, a catastrophe struck.
As a result of the traitor's whistleblowing, all the participants were arrested by the Kuomintang.
Although Li Maotang was spared because he had not yet arrived, he was soon faced with a difficult choice.
The Kuomintang said that if Li Maotang surrendered, the other arrested comrades could be acquitted.
Faced with this temptation, Li Maotang fell into a deep contradiction.
He knew how important he was, and he knew the pitfalls of the enemy's words.
However, in order to rescue his comrades, he ultimately chose to believe in the promises of the enemy.
This decision cost Li Maotang dearly.
Not only was he arrested and imprisoned, but his other comrades were not released as promised by the enemy.
In prison, Li Maotang was subjected to harsh interrogations and torture.
However, it was at this seemingly desperate moment that his revolutionary wisdom began to shine.
Turning the Tide of Danger: The Beginning of a Secret Service Career
In prison, Li Maotang met an unexpected person - the traitor Du Heng.
Du Heng was ordered to persuade Li Maotang to surrender and promised high-ranking officials Houlu. Faced with this opportunity, Li Maotang's brain was running rapidly.
He realized that this might be an opportunity to continue to contribute to the revolutionary cause.
So, Li Maotang made an amazing decision:
He pretended to agree to Du Heng's conditions and expressed his willingness to join the Kuomintang spy organization.
This decision marked the beginning of Li Maotang's career as an agent.
However, Li Maotang's "mutiny" did not come without a price. His actions aroused suspicion among his comrades in the party.
Especially when he was forced to lead the Kuomintang spies to arrest Wang Chaobei, it caused an uproar.
However, Li Maotang did not really betray the revolution.
In the process of capturing Wang Chaobei, he skillfully got in touch with Wang Chaobei,
He was told of the enemy's plans and helped him successfully escape from Shanghai.
This action not only protected his comrades, but also won him the trust of the Kuomintang.
Thrilling: Dangerous rescue in the Xi'an incident
In December 1936, the Xi'an Incident broke out.
Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng seized Chiang Kai-shek, and the entire Kuomintang fell into chaos.
At this critical moment, Li Maotang once again showed his courage and wisdom.
He proposed a bold plan to the Kuomintang - to parachute Chiang Kai-shek.
Although this plan was dangerous, it won the appreciation of Xu Enzeng, the head of the Central Unification Division.
In this way, Li Maotang embarked on this dangerous journey.
However, things didn't go as planned.
Li Maotang had just landed in Xi'an and was captured by the Northeast Army.
In the face of severe torture, Li Maotang remained silent and did not disclose any information about Nanjing.
This tenacious attitude infuriated Zhang Xueliang, who ordered Li Maotang's execution.
Just when Li Maotang's life was in danger, fate favored him again.
Zhou Enlai and other CCP representatives came to Xi'an and contributed to the peaceful settlement of the Xi'an Incident.
Li Maotang thus escaped and returned to Nanjing safely.
This experience not only put Li Maotang on the brink of life and death, but also greatly enhanced his status within the Kuomintang.
Chiang Kai-shek was impressed by his "loyalty", which made him a rising star in the Central Union.
Rising to the top: The road to promotion within the Kuomintang
After returning to Nanjing, Li Maotang's status rose rapidly.
In 1937, he inadvertently captured a Japanese agent who attempted to assassinate Chiang Kai-shek,
This credit gave him a higher position in Chiang Kai-shek's heart.
Chiang Kai-shek not only gave him a two-level promotion, but also made him an important figure in Shaanxi.
However, Li Maotang did not forget his true identity because of these honors.
On the contrary, he used this position to provide the Communist Party with a great deal of valuable intelligence.
Winning in the face of danger: a crucial battle in 1943
In 1943, Li Maotang's situation became dangerous again. He was imprisoned for leading people to beat up high-ranking officials of the Central Command.
This incident could have ended his career as an agent,
But Li Maotang skillfully exploited the factional struggle within the Kuomintang.
In the end, under Chiang Kai-shek's favoritism, Li Maotang not only escaped safely,
He also took this opportunity to get promoted and grasped the supreme power of the Central Unification of Shaanxi.
This crisis, not only did not destroy Li Maotang, but made his position more stable
Return to the Organizing: A Secret Journey in 1945
In 1945, the situation of the Anti-Japanese War gradually improved, and Li Maotang decided that it was time to solve the problem of his party membership.
However, how to get in touch with an organization without revealing your identity becomes a tricky problem.
After careful consideration, Li Maotang came up with a bold plan.
He lied to Hu Zongnan, the commander of the Kuomintang army, that he was going to Yan'an to collect intelligence, and successfully obtained the opportunity to go to Yan'an.
In Yan'an, Li Maotang met with Mao Zedong and other party leaders.
Under the personal witness of Mao Zedong, Li Maotang re-fulfilled the procedures for joining the party.
This secret trip not only consolidated Li Maotang's identity as a member of the Communist Party, but also provided important guidance for his follow-up work.
Final contribution: the peaceful liberation of Xi'an
With the decline of the Kuomintang regime, Li Maotang realized that the dawn of revolutionary victory was coming.
At this critical moment, he once again exerted his talents and made important contributions to the peaceful liberation of Xi'an.
In 1949, when Hu Zongnan was preparing to evacuate Xi'an, Li Maotang took the initiative to ask Ying to stay.
Hu Zongnan didn't know what to do, and left a large amount of materials and weapons to Li Maotang, hoping that he could carry out the plan of "burning jade and stones".
However, Li Maotang took advantage of this opportunity and quickly made contact with the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to assist in the peaceful liberation of Xi'an.
He not only dug up a large amount of explosives planted by Hu Zongnan, but also avoided the danger of the destruction of the ancient city.
A list of more than 6,000 Kuomintang sleepers was also provided to the relevant departments.
It has made great contributions to the security of New China.
The peach and plum do not speak, and the next is its own: Li Maotang after the founding of the People's Republic of China
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Li Maotang's talent was fully recognized.
He was appointed as the first vice minister of the Ministry of Internal Trade and contributed to the economic construction of New China.
However, the long-term underground work and high-intensity work pressure seriously damaged Li Maotang's health.
In May 1953, Li Maotang, who was only 47 years old, died of illness.
Although his life ended too early, his contribution to the cause of the Chinese revolution will forever be engraved on the monument of history.
epilogue
Li Maotang's life is a wonderful microcosm of the history of the Chinese revolution.
He used his wisdom and courage to maneuver between friend and foe and made an indelible contribution to the victory of the revolution.
His story teaches us that every ordinary person can be the creator of history.
Readers, what do you think of underground workers like Li Maotang? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section.