In the summer of 1949, when the Kuomintang regime was crumbling, Changsha, the capital of Hunan Province, was shrouded in a treacherous atmosphere. Mao Renfeng, director of the Kuomintang Military Command Bureau, sent his right-hand man Mao Zhongxin to secretly infiltrate Changsha in an attempt to assassinate the Hunan military and political leaders who were about to revolt. What they don't know, however, is that in this undercurrent game, an undercover agent who has been hidden for many years is quietly playing a key role.
This undercover agent's name is Chen Da, and he is ostensibly the deputy station chief of the Jiangxi Station of the Kuomintang Army, with the rank of major general. But in fact, he had already secretly defected to the Communist Party. At this life-and-death moment, Chen Da received a difficult task: to infiltrate Bai Chongxi's headquarters and stop the assassination operation that could change the fate of Hunan.
However, things are not as simple as they seem. In Bai Chongxi's headquarters, there was also a sharp knife hidden that could stab Chen Da's back at any time. Who exactly is this sharp knife? Will Chen Da be able to successfully complete his mission to save the peaceful uprising in Hunan? In this thrilling spy war, who will be the final winner?
The Kuomintang's assassination plan
In early June 1949, Mao Renfeng, director of the Kuomintang Military Command Bureau, secretly met with Chiang Kai-shek in Nanjing. After the meeting, Mao Renfeng immediately summoned the core members of the Military Command Bureau and deployed a secret plan codenamed "Xiangjiang Operation".
The main content of this plan was to send an elite spy team to infiltrate Changsha, Hunan, and assassinate important Hunan military and political officials who were preparing for an uprising. Mao Renfeng believed that only through such extreme measures could the peaceful uprising in Hunan be prevented and the rule of the Kuomintang in Hunan could be maintained.
Mao Renfeng selected his right-hand man, Mao Zhongxin, a special agent of the military command, as the person in charge of this operation. Mao Zhongxin had received strict training in the military commander's Linli special training class, was proficient in various spy skills, and was an experienced veteran spy.
On June 5, Mao Zhongxin took off from Nanjing in a small plane and flew to Changsha with a top-secret document. In order to avoid people's eyes, the plane landed at a secret airport outside Changsha. Mao Zhongxin, under the pseudonym "Zhang Ming", stayed at the Le Tao Hotel in the center of Changsha as a businessman.
In the room of the hostel, Mao Zhongxin opened the top-secret document. The document details the names of those who were targeted in the assassination. The list prominently lists the names of many Hunan military and political dignitaries, including Hunan Provincial Chairman Cheng Qian, Chairman of the Hunan Provincial Party Department of the Kuomintang Tang Boqiu, and Secretary General of the Hunan Provincial Government Cheng Xingling.
Mao Zhongxin carefully studied the details of each target person, including their daily activities, where they lived, and the strength of the guards. He began to develop a well-thought-out assassination plan, ready to complete this difficult task in the shortest possible time.
However, Mao Zhongxin soon discovered that carrying out the assassination in Changsha was not as easy as he imagined. First of all, he was unfamiliar with the place and lacked reliable sources of intelligence. Second, the Hunan military command system was firmly controlled by Zhang Yanfo, and he was unable to mobilize the local military command forces.
Just when Mao Zhongxin was at a loss, an unexpected chance encounter gave him hope. At the door of the Le Tao Hotel, he met Chen Da, an old classmate he hadn't seen for many years. Chen Da, a native of Liling, Hunan, studied with Mao Zhongxin in the Linli special training class of the military commander, and is now the deputy head of the Jiangxi station of the military command.
Mao Zhongxin was overjoyed and immediately pulled Chen Da to his room. After some temptation, Mao Zhongxin believed that Chen Da could be trusted, so he revealed the true purpose of the trip to him and asked Chen Da to assist in completing the assassination mission.
Chen Da readily agreed on the surface, but in fact he was secretly frightened. As an undercover Communist Party agent who had been lurking for many years, he knew the importance of this assassination list. Chen Da secretly decided that he must find a way to stop this assassination and protect the important people of the peaceful uprising in Hunan.
While Mao Zhongxin and Chen Da were conspiring, the Hunan military and political circles were not unaware. As a veteran of the military command, Zhang Yanfo was extremely sensitive to spy activities. He had already sensed the undercurrent surging in Changsha City, and was secretly arranging his forces to closely monitor the every move of suspicious people.
As time passed, the atmosphere in Changsha became more and more tense. Mao Zhongxin's assassination team, Chen Da's secret operation, and Zhang Yanfo's surveillance force, the three forces launched a thrilling contest in this ancient city. Everyone is careful to hide their true identities while secretly looking for a breakthrough.
Chen Da's two-sided life
Chen Da, whose name was inconspicuous in Hunan politics in 1949, was a key figure hidden in the Kuomintang military system. On the surface, he was the deputy station chief of the Jiangxi Station of the Kuomintang Military Command, enjoying the rank of major general. However, behind this identity, there is a surprising secret: Chen Da is actually an underground member of the Communist Party who has been lurking for many years.
Chen Da was born in an ordinary peasant family in Liling, Hunan. When he was young, he was unable to continue his education because of his poor family, so he had to go out to earn a living. In 1931, at the age of 18, Chen Da joined the Kuomintang and began his political career. With his ingenuity and excellent work ability, he quickly rose to prominence within the KMT.
In 1936, Chen Da was selected to study in the special training class of the military commander Linli. Here, he received rigorous spy training, mastering various spy skills such as intelligence gathering, code breaking, and assassination techniques. It was during the special training class that Chen Da got acquainted with Mao Zhongxin, the right-hand man of Mao Renfeng, who later became the director of the Military Command Bureau.
However, it was during this period that Chen Da's thinking underwent a dramatic shift. He witnessed the social reality of the poor livelihood of the people under the rule of the Kuomintang, and also saw the achievements of the Communist Party in the construction of base areas. During a secret encounter, Chen Da came into contact with the underground organization of the Communist Party and finally made the decision to join the Chinese Communist Party.
Since then, Chen Da has started his two-sided life. During the day, he was a loyal spy of the Kuomintang, working diligently and making many meritorious deeds; At night, he became a secret agent of the Communist Party, passing on important information to the Party organization.
In 1940, Chen Da was transferred to work at the Jiangxi Station of the Military Command. With his outstanding work performance, he was soon promoted to deputy station chief and became an important figure in the military control system in Jiangxi. In this high-ranking position, Chen Da obtained a large amount of confidential information about the Kuomintang's military deployments and political movements, and made a significant contribution to the revolutionary cause of the Communist Party.
However, this two-sided life also brought great pressure and risks to Chen Da. He must always be vigilant and careful to hide his true identity. The slightest mistake can expose your identity and face the threat of imprisonment or even death.
In June 1949, when Mao Zhongxin secretly infiltrated Changsha with an assassination plan, Chen Da happened to be also on a secret mission in Changsha. The unexpected reunion of the two put Chen Da in a difficult choice.
On the one hand, as a special agent of the military command, he has the responsibility to assist Mao Zhongxin in completing the assassination mission; On the other hand, as an underground member of the Communist Party, he must try to prevent this assassination that could affect the peaceful uprising in Hunan.
Faced with this dilemma, Chen Da decided to adopt a risky strategy: he ostensibly promised to assist Mao Zhongxin, but in fact secretly tried to sabotage the assassination plan. He provided Mao Zhongxin with some information that appeared to be useful but was actually inaccurate, and secretly informed the Communist underground organization of the details of the assassination plan.
In the days that followed, Chen Da began a thrilling double-sided game. During the day, he worked out an assassination plan with Mao Zhongxin and discussed how to approach the target; In the evening, he took great risks and reported the latest situation to the Communist underground through secret channels.
However, Chen Da didn't know that his every move was actually under the secret surveillance of Zhang Yanfo, the head of the Hunan Station of the Military Command. As a veteran of the military command, Zhang Yanfo was extremely sensitive to spy activities. He had already noticed the anomaly of Chen Da's behavior and began to suspect Chen Da's true identity.
Just when Chen Da was racking his brains about how to stop the assassination, an unexpected news came: Bai Chongxi's headquarters suddenly ordered Chen Da to report to the headquarters immediately. The order came so suddenly that Chen Da did not even have time to contact the Communist underground organization.
With doubts in his belly, Chen Da embarked on the journey to Bai Chongxi's headquarters. He didn't know what awaited him, but he knew full well that it could be a life-or-death ordeal.
In this era of change, Chen Da's double-sided life is about to usher in the most dangerous moment. Can he get out of the Longtan tiger's den in Bai Chongxi's headquarters? How should he continue to maneuver between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party and contribute his strength to the upcoming peaceful uprising in Hunan?
The undercurrent of Bai Chongxi's headquarters
In mid-June 1949, the city of Changsha was enveloped in a tense atmosphere. Bai Chongxi's headquarters was located in an ancient manor house in the south of the city, and outside the solemn gate, guards patrolled back and forth, vigilantly watching everyone who entered and exited.
Chen Da was wearing a straight military uniform, holding the emergency summoning order from Bai Chongxi's headquarters, and walked calmly towards the door. His expression was calm, but inside he was fiercely weighing the possibilities. Bai Chongxi suddenly summoned him, what was it for? Has he been aware of his true identity?
After entering the headquarters, Chen Da was taken to a spacious conference room. Unexpectedly, there were not only Bai Chongxi in the room, but also Zhang Yanfo, the head of the Hunan Station of the Military Command, and several senior officers who Chen Da did not know. There was an indescribable tension in the air.
Bai Chongxi said straight to the point: "Chen Da, we have received information that someone wants to assassinate several important military and political dignitaries in Hunan. As the deputy head of the Jiangxi Station of the Military Command, how much do you know about this matter? "
Chen Da was shocked in his heart, but his face was silent. He gave a brief account of his encounter with Mao Zhongxin in Changsha and the assassination plan he knew. However, he carefully concealed the fact that he was connected to the Communist underground.
After listening to this, Bai Chongxi was thoughtful, and then turned to Zhang Yanfo: "Stationmaster Zhang, what do you think?" "
Zhang Yanfo's eyes were like torches, and he looked directly at Chen Da: "Commander Bai, according to my investigation, Chen Da's behavior has many suspicious points. After he came into contact with Mao Zhongxin, he went out secretly at night many times, and his whereabouts were unknown. I suspect he may have colluded with the Communist Party. "
These words were like a hammer that hit Chen Da's heart. He realized that his situation was more dangerous than he had imagined. However, there is often a turning point in a crisis. Chen Da had an idea and decided to attack as defense.
"Commander Bai, Stationmaster Zhang," Chen Da said in a deep voice, "I must admit that I do have something to hide. In fact, I was ordered by Mao Renfeng, director of the Military Command, to come to Changsha to assist Mao Zhongxin in carrying out his mission. However, after understanding the situation, I believe that this assassination is very likely to cause turmoil in the situation in Hunan, which is very unfavorable to our side. Therefore, I have been trying to stop this operation. "
These words surprised everyone present. Bai Chongxi's gaze swept back and forth between Chen Da and Zhang Yanfo, as if he was weighing the rhetoric of the two.
At this moment, a young staff officer walked quickly into the conference room and whispered a few words in Bai Chongxi's ear. Bai Chongxi's expression suddenly became serious.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Bai Chongxi stood up, "I have just received urgent information that the communist army has broken through the Yueyang defense line and is advancing towards Changsha. Now, we are facing not only internal assassination threats, but also external military pressure. "
The news exploded like a bombshell in the conference room. Everyone's attention immediately shifted from Chen Da to this more pressing issue.
Bai Chongxi quickly made a decision: "Stationmaster Zhang, you immediately organize manpower to strengthen the protection of Hunan military and political dignitaries. At the same time, the movements of Mao Zhongxin and other suspicious persons were closely monitored. Chen Da, considering your knowledge of this assassination plan, I order you to assist Stationmaster Zhang in his work. "
Chen Da secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but he knew that the crisis had not really been resolved. Bai Chongxi's arrangement is not only a use of him, but also a disguised surveillance.
After the meeting, Chen Da followed Zhang Yanfo and left. In the corridor, Zhang Yanfo suddenly stopped and whispered to Chen Da: "I will keep an eye on you, don't try to play any tricks." "
Chen Da nodded expressionlessly. He understands that in the coming days, he will face even more severe tests.
At the same time, in another corner of the command, an obscure mid-level officer was closely watching all this. This person is the "sharp knife" hidden in Bai Chongxi's headquarters, an underground member of the Communist Party who has been lurking for many years.
He was keenly aware that Chen Da was likely to be the key person sent by the organization to assist in the peaceful uprising in Hunan. However, in this changing moment, how can he help Chen Da without exposing himself? More importantly, how to create favorable conditions for the impending uprising at the critical moment when the communist army was approaching Changsha?
As time went on, the situation in Changsha became more and more complicated. Mao Zhongxin's assassination plan, Chen Da's secret operation, Zhang Yanfo's close surveillance, and the "sharp knife" hidden in Bai Chongxi's headquarters are all intricate forces wrestling in the dark, and every move may affect the success or failure of the peaceful uprising in Hunan.
Secret battle in Changsha City
In late June 1949, tensions in Changsha intensified. The communist army had broken through the Yueyang defense line and was advancing towards Changsha. There is an undercurrent of forces in the city, and a battle that has not seen the smoke of gunpowder is being staged.
Chen Da was facing multiple pressures at this time. On the one hand, he must assist Zhang Yanfo in protecting the Hunan military and political dignitaries and preventing Mao Zhongxin's assassination plan from succeeding; On the other hand, he also needed to find a way to get in touch with the Communist underground organization under Zhang Yanfo's close watch, so as to create conditions for the upcoming peaceful uprising in Hunan.
In order to get rid of Zhang Yanfo's surveillance, Chen Da came up with an ingenious plan. He suggested to Zhang Yanfo that in order to better monitor Mao Zhongxin's movements, they should act separately. Although Zhang Yanfo had doubts, considering the urgency of the situation, he finally agreed to this proposal.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Chen Da secretly contacted the underground organization of the Communist Party. They agreed to meet in a nondescript teahouse in the south of the city. In the evening of the same day, Chen Da cautiously came to the teahouse, and in a remote corner, he met a middle-aged man. This person is the "sharp knife" hidden in Bai Chongxi's headquarters - Li Ming, an underground member of the Communist Party.
The two briefly exchanged information. Li Ming told Chen Da that the communist army was expected to attack the city of Changsha within three days. Their task was to break as much as possible the will of the Kuomintang army to resist and create conditions for a peaceful uprising during this period.
At this moment, there was a sudden commotion at the door of the teahouse. Chen Da and Li Ming looked up vigilantly, only to see Zhang Yanfo breaking in with a few of his subordinates. It turned out that Zhang Yanfo had always been suspicious of Chen Da and secretly sent someone to follow him.
At the critical moment, Li Ming stood up calmly and said loudly: "Deputy Stationmaster Chen, I have arranged for Mao Zhongxin's surveillance according to your instructions. Please rest assured. With that, he walked out of the teahouse as if nothing had happened.
Zhang Yanfo led people to rush to Chen Da and asked, "What are you doing here?" Why do you want to do it privately? "
Chen Da responded calmly: "Stationmaster Zhang, I am implementing the plan we agreed upon. This is the informant I arranged, who is responsible for monitoring Mao Zhongxin's movements. "
Zhang Yanfo looked at Chen Da suspiciously, not seeming to fully believe his explanation. But in the absence of conclusive evidence, he didn't have much to say.
At this moment, one of his subordinates hurriedly ran over and whispered a few words in Zhang Yanfo's ear. Zhang Yanfo's face suddenly became solemn.
"Chen Da," Zhang Yanfo said in a deep voice, "I just received the news that Mao Zhongxin has already started to act. We must rush back immediately. "
The two hurried back to the headquarters, only to see that the entire headquarters was in chaos. It turned out that Mao Zhongxin took advantage of the weak defense force and infiltrated the residence of an important military and political dignitary. Although the assassination attempt failed in the end, this important person was slightly injured, and the entire high-level people in Changsha City panicked for a while.
Bai Chongxi was furious and ordered a thorough investigation of the matter. Chen Da and Zhang Yanfo were summoned to Bai Chongxi's office and subjected to severe questioning.
At this critical juncture, Li Ming once again played a key role. In his capacity as a staff officer, he reported to Bai Chongxi that according to the latest information, the communist army was already in the city and could launch a general offensive at any time.
This news was like a basin of cold water, which extinguished Bai Chongxi's enthusiasm for investigating internal problems. He realized that the most important thing at this point was to decide how to respond to the upcoming battle.
Bai Chongxi convened a meeting of senior generals to discuss whether to hold on to Changsha or take the initiative to retreat. During the meeting, opinions were very different. The main battle faction believed that Changsha should be held to the death, gaining time and waiting for reinforcements; The Lords and Peacers believed that the situation was irretrievable and that a peaceful uprising should be considered in order to preserve their strength.
Just as the argument was endless, Chen Da stood up. He calmly analyzed: "According to the information we have, the communist army is strong, and it is difficult for us to resist. If it is forcibly defended, it will not only cause a large number of casualties, but may also intensify the conflict and cause greater turmoil. In contrast, a peaceful uprising may be the wiser choice. "
Chen Da's words aroused deep thought among all of you. Bai Chongxi fell silent, he looked at Changsha City outside the window, as if weighing something.
Just then, a communications soldier hurried over and handed over a telegram. After reading the telegram, Bai Chongxi's face became even more solemn. He raised his head, looked around, and said in a deep voice, "I just received an order from my superiors asking us..."
The realization of a peaceful uprising
On July 4, 1949, the atmosphere in Changsha was more tense than usual. Bai Chongxi had just received an order from his superiors, asking them to hold on to Changsha and wait for reinforcements. However, the situation is moving much faster than expected.
The communist army had already surrounded Changsha, and the supply of supplies in the city was becoming increasingly tight. Bai Chongxi was faced with a difficult choice: should he follow the orders of his superiors and defend himself, or should he consider a peaceful uprising to preserve his strength?
At this critical moment, Chen Da once again played an important role. He made a bold suggestion to Bai Chongxi: "Commander, it is better for us to send a negotiator to contact the communist troops and understand their attitude. This both buys time and informs our decision-making. "
Bai Chongxi thought for a moment and agreed to this proposal. He assigned Chen Da as a negotiator to engage with the communist forces. This decision made Chen Da both surprised and apprehensive. He knew that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that could directly lead to a peaceful uprising. But at the same time, he also realized that if not handled properly, his true identity could be exposed.
In the early morning of July 5, Chen Da secretly met with representatives of the Communist army under the arrangement of an intermediary. The two sides negotiated for several hours. Representatives of the Communist Party said that if the Kuomintang troops were able to revolt peacefully, they would give preferential treatment, guarantee the safety of the rebel generals, and properly place the rebel troops.
Chen Da returned to Changsha with the news and made a detailed report to Bai Chongxi. Bai Chongxi fell into deep thought after listening to it. He summoned the senior generals to another meeting to discuss.
At the meeting, opinions were again divided. Some generals insisted on obeying the orders of their superiors and defending Changsha; Others believe that a peaceful uprising is the best option at the moment. The argument went on for a whole day and a night.
In the early morning of July 6, Bai Chongxi made a final decision: to accept the conditions for a peaceful uprising. He said to the generals present: "Ladies and gentlemen, we have done our best. Now, in order to avoid more bloodshed and sacrifice, I have decided to accept the conditions of a peaceful uprising. "
As soon as this decision was announced, it immediately caused an uproar in Changsha City. Some breathe a sigh of relief, others are disappointed and angry. However, at Bai Chongxi's insistence, the preparations for the uprising were carried out in an orderly manner.
Chen Da was again sent to discuss the details of the uprising with representatives of the Communist army. In the process, he skillfully used his negotiation skills to win more favorable conditions for the Kuomintang army.
On July 7, Bai Chongxi officially announced the decision of the peaceful uprising to all officers and soldiers. In his speech, he said: "We chose to revolt peacefully, not because of cowardice, but to avoid more sacrifices. I believe that this decision will open up a new path for Hunan's peaceful development. "
Subsequently, the Kuomintang troops in Changsha began to lay down their arms in an orderly manner. The communist troops, as agreed, entered the city peacefully and took over the affairs. The whole process was in good order, and there was no bloodshed.
On July 8, Bai Chongxi led a group of high-ranking generals to formally submit a letter of uprising to the communist army. Representatives of the communist army accepted the uprising and, as promised, gave preferential treatment to the generals of the uprising.
At the same time, Chen Da also fulfilled his mission. On a secret occasion, he reported the whole process to the head of the Communist underground organization. The person in charge spoke highly of Chen Da's work, calling him "the hero behind the peaceful uprising."
The peaceful uprising in Changsha had a major impact on the situation in Hunan and even the whole country. Not only did it avoid a battle that could have resulted in a large number of casualties, but it also provided a successful example for the peaceful liberation of other regions.
In the days that followed, communist forces quickly took over the entire province of Hunan. As promised, they properly settled the rebellious Kuomintang troops and began to work on restoring social order and rebuilding the economy.
Bai Chongxi and the other rebel generals were arranged to be in a safe place. Although they lost their former power, they also avoided a potentially worse fate.
As for Chen Da, his true identity has never been revealed. After completing the task, he quietly left Changsha and went to a new post according to the organization's arrangement. His story has become a little-known but extremely important chapter in this history.
end
The success of the peaceful uprising in Changsha marked the end of Kuomintang rule in Hunan and also heralded the imminent liberation of the whole country. This battle, without the smoke of gunpowder, won the greatest victory at the lowest cost, and became an important event worth remembering in China's modern history.