Adaptation of Fighting Wits and Courage - Founding Colonel Li Xin recalls the reorganization of the Fifth Division of the Kuomintang Army

In January 1949, Peiping was peacefully liberated. According to the agreement on the peaceful liberation of Peiping, more than 200,000 former Kuomintang troops stationed in Beiping City all withdrew from the city and accepted the peaceful reorganization of our army.

The former Fifth Division of the Kuomintang Army was assigned to the 38th Army of the Chinese People's Liberation Army to be responsible for the reorganization, and the division was renamed the Independent Twenty-first Division of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. This unit was established as early as the Northern Expedition, and Xiong Shihui, a senior general of the Kuomintang Army, served as the division commander of the division and was an anti-communist and anti-people unit. In the Third Civil Revolutionary War, he was transferred by Chiang Kai-shek to fight a civil war in North China. Because it was well-equipped (all Us armaments) and had strong combat effectiveness, it was the right-hand man of the Kuomintang to fight the anti-communist civil war in the north China battlefield.

Nearly 10,000 men of the Fifth Division marched to the garrison of our Thirty-eighth Army according to the designated route. But its reactionary arrogance did not relent in the defeat of the Kuomintang army in north China. They marched all the way, firing guns and cannons along the way, and the masses of the people along the way looked at this veteran anti-communist army with disdain. People wondered: Did they really have the sincerity to accept peaceful integration?......

At that time, I was appointed by the commander of the Pingjin front and the political commissar as the political commissar of this division, and Comrade Yang Dayi was appointed as the deputy commander of the division. We were accompanied by political workers assigned to regiments, battalions, companies and units directly under the division, as well as a guard squad. At that time there were three divisions and one independent division of the Thirty-eighth Army deployed in this area. The Fifth Division was stationed in the middle of these four divisions.

When this unit was stationed, we and all the political work cadres immediately went to our posts separately. However, the political workers led by Comrade Xue Shizhe (who was then the political commissar of the regiment) walked to a place not far from the village where the regiment headquarters was stationed, but they were greeted by machine guns, and because they were hindered, they could not perform their duties. Comrade Yang Dayi and I came to the division headquarters and were arranged to live in a separate courtyard surrounded by courtyard walls. The guard squad stayed with us. When we entered the courtyard, there were guards at the door and a guard on the roof. Entering the room and looking up, I saw a line of large characters written in lime water on the wall: I will never listen to the deceptive propaganda of the communist party and government workers!

Obviously, it's all carefully planned. When the former 207th Division of the Kuomintang Youth Army was undergoing reorganization, a certain unit of mine held a condolence party for them. While the performance was in progress, a grenade suddenly flew onto the stage and injured many people. We have long been wary of this set of tricks they play.

After staying down, Deputy Division Commander Yang and I went to visit the Acting Division Commander. It was understood that he was originally a deputy division commander, because the division commander escaped, and he temporarily acted as the division commander. At the time of the meeting, the chief of staff of the division was also present. As soon as he touches it, it makes people feel that he is a suspicious guy. During the greeting, the chief of staff of the division asked me, "Why didn't Madame Zun come?" In the rear has not yet come. "As the saying goes, those who really surrender with their wives, and those who surrender falsely do not bring wives." The chief of staff smiled and said this. "What are you talking about?" I glared at him and gave him a hard hit back. Then I preached to them the policy of peaceful adaptation.

It was nearly noon, and the acting division commander left us for lunch, and suddenly there was a noise outside the fence. It was learned that there was originally a group of officers and men who wanted to rush in. I solemnly said to the acting master, "Is this the 'Hongmen Feast' that you have set up? At this time, the division commander panicked and hurriedly ordered the people to quickly close the gate of the fence.

The people outside the fence made a fuss for a while and then left. Deputy Division Commander Yang and I patiently worked with the acting division commander and the division chief of staff, publicized the current situation to them, and pointed out that only by standing on the side of the people and relying on the people could there be a way out. The reason why Chiang Kai-shek lost the battle was because he moved against the tide of history and launched an anti-communist and anti-people civil war. The Communist Party of China has conformed to the demands of the broad masses of the people and won the broad support of the people of the whole country, so it is invincible. It is hoped that they will see the overall situation clearly, resolutely implement the agreement on the peaceful liberation of Peiping, and do more good deeds for the people, and the people will not be treated badly.

The acting division commander introduced himself as a student at Fudan University in Shanghai and enlisted in the army during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. I told him: "Before the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, I was also a college student, and I studied at Tongji University in Shanghai, not far from Fudan. I hope that they will be able to realize that they will not do bad things with the Kuomintang again. "As night falls, the oil lamp begins. The commander of the secret service company, armed with a shell gun, stormed into my room. I smelled a strong smell of shochu. When I saw him come in, I beckoned him to sit down and said, "Are you going to talk to me?"

"I'm going home, I'm determined not to do it!" The company commander answered eagerly. "There are words to speak slowly, why rush?" When you go home, you can discuss it well!" After some persuasion, the company commander finally calmed down and withdrew from the room.

At nine o'clock the next morning, the acting division commander called a welcome meeting for all officers at and above the divisional school level to welcome me and Deputy Division Commander Yang to my post. When I walked into the venue, the venue was already full. I saw that outside the window and in the courtyard, some soldiers carrying submachine guns were wandering around in a full spirit, and the atmosphere seemed quite tense. I announced the appointment of the chief of the Pingjin front of the Chinese People's Liberation Army to me and Yang Dayi as deputy division commander.

As soon as the words stopped, a major with a Sichuan accent in the crowd suddenly stood up and said loudly: "I speak, I refuse to accept this peaceful adaptation!" Then, one after another, people scrambled to speak. I said, "Well, one by one." One by one, they said, "According to me, your means can be summed up in nothing more than three words: one is called deception, the second is called deception, and the third is called confusion!" We're not going to mess with you!"" Let alone organize it as your People's Liberation Army, to play the vanguard for you, that is, to serve as your rearguard, but also to strengthen your prestige, and we will not do it!" In my opinion, there is nothing more than another battle, and I would rather be a second prisoner than accept your peaceful reorganization!" The speeches were more intense than one, and the tone was higher than the other, so nervous that even the air exploded. I restrained myself vigorously, not saying a word, but I wanted to hear what they had to say.

They looked at me strangely and wanted to hear my opinion. After a few "waves" passed, the venue calmed down for a while. I asked, "Are you all done?" There was silence again. "If no one says it, it's time for me to say it." I said, "Deputy Division Commander Yang and I came at the behest of the commander and political commissar of the Pingjin front to implement the Peiping Peace and Integration Agreement. If you refuse to accept peaceful integration, you are undermining the agreement, and you know the consequences. You probably think that a few of us are clutching in the palm of your hand, but you must know that you are in the palm of a larger Buddha!" At this point, I clenched my fists. "I hope you will go back and think about it, it will be here, and the meeting will be adjourned now!"

One by one, the people who attended the meeting left the venue that had once become the center of the storm with a confused expression. At this time, the chief of staff of the division followed, tapped me on the shoulder from behind, and said with a rather unpleasant smile: "So powerful!" This time you have to face again!"

In the night, I had just stripped down and lay down, only to hear "Boom!" Boom!" ...... Behind the front house of our independent courtyard, left, right, front, back, blindly firing six O cannons. This is "psychological warfare"!

Early the next morning, I heard the report that all the political workers of all regiments, battalions, and companies, including the division's direct subordinate units, were put under house arrest one by one. Their hat badges and badges were forcibly torn off. Obviously, they are going to hold our people hostage. Some of the guards could not hold their breath, and there they were total, in case the enemy poisoned us, what should we do. I said, "Hold your breath, we have a way to deal with them!"

I returned to the military headquarters and found Liang Biye, the political commissar. I reported to Commissar Liang: "It seems that this force is under the tight control of the secret agents, who are instigating it under the banner of asking to go home, and it is impossible to reform without breaking this situation." At present, the most important thing is to withdraw all the political workers we have sent in, and we may as well take the plan into account, saying that the military chief has listened to the report and wants to hear everyone's opinions directly, and immediately convenes an officers' representative meeting and a soldiers' representative meeting at the military headquarters, and each company will send an officer and a soldier, and the instructor of the company will take him to the military headquarters for a meeting. That would be tantamount to having them escort all of our men back. ”

Commissar Liang immediately agreed with my proposal. Then we went to Commander Li Tianyou together, and Commander Li agreed to my suggestion, saying, "Without further ado, we will meet tomorrow." ”

After returning to the division headquarters, I told the acting division commander to immediately notify the troops to send representatives to attend the two meetings convened by the head of the army tomorrow. I said to Comrade Yang Dayi, "Tomorrow I will go to the military headquarters for a meeting, leave the seat next to the driver for you, and then you and the acting division commander will send me to the car." As soon as the car starts, you temporarily say hello to the acting division commander, say that I will listen to it, and take advantage of the situation to get in the car and walk with me. "The comrades of the guard squad were also explained.

After breakfast the next day, everything went smoothly as scheduled. After the representatives of various units came to the military headquarters, after careful investigation, there were not many of us. Soon, the telephone in the acting division commander's room rang. "I'm Commander Li Tianyou, are you the commander of the Yu Dynasty Division?" yes. ”

"You dare to resist the peace integration, imprison our political workers, and sabotage the peace integration agreement!" I don't think you're unaware of the seriousness of the problem. Now there are only two ways for you to choose, one is to lay down your arms and the other is to solve by force. ”

On the phone, I could hear The irritation of Commander Li. "Please stop the anger of the military seat." Of course we can only go one way ahead! Allow me to think of a way. Master Yu dai replied, trembling with excitement on the other. Well, I'll be ordered to give you a specific answer by five o'clock in the afternoon!"" Definitely, definitely!"

After putting down the earpiece, The Commander of the YuDai Division immediately summoned the three regimental commanders to the division headquarters for an emergency meeting. The result of the study was that, in the name of "battalion-based assemblies and roll call salaries", battalions were brought to the battalion headquarters to assemble, all with their bare hands and without weapons. The acting division commander reported the results of the study to Commander Li.

The command then deployed troops nervously overnight to distinguish the tasks of the divisions. The next morning, as scheduled, all the division's weapons were collected cleanly and neatly. The chief of staff of the division was detained on suspicion of inciting trouble, and the rest of the officers were all concentrated and awaited resettlement. The battalions and companies of soldiers disrupted the formation and reorganized.

At this time, our political workers went down again to the regiments, battalions, and companies. In order to enlighten the soldiers' class consciousness, a series of class educations were carried out, such as recalling class hardships, digging at the roots of hardship, and expressing determination. The broad masses of soldiers were originally poor peasants who had been captured by the Kuomintang reactionaries as cannon fodder, and as long as they got rid of the control of the reactionary officers, once they were educated, their class consciousness would rise rapidly. Not long after, they picked up the guns and cannons they had carried again, went on an expedition to the northwest, replenished them in the First Field Army of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, participated in the ranks of the great struggle to defeat Chiang Kai-shek and liberate all of China, and made their own contributions to the liberation of all China!

The acting division commander was a native of Meixian County, Guangdong Province, who had experienced this terrifying wave and was almost frightened. He earnestly requested permission to return to his home country. Before leaving, he gave me his cherished Six-Fold Telescope made in Canada with gratitude, clutched my hands, and with tears in his eyes, said: "Thanks to the correct decision of the Communist Party, a senseless bloody tragedy was avoided." I will always remember this lesson, and in the future I will be at peace with the people and will never again be an enemy of the people. ”

I said, "We are all descendants of Yan Huang, patriotism is not in any order, I hope that soon after our troops liberate Guangdong, we will have the honor to see you again, I hope there will be a period later!"

Li Xin (1917-2017), formerly known as Li Hongmo. A native of Chengguan, Changting County, Fujian Province. In 1933, he participated in the "Reading Club" led by the Left League in Guangzhou. He joined the Communist Youth League of China in 1933 and transferred to the Communist Party of China at Tongji University in Shanghai in 1935. During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, he was appointed secretary of the Qingdao Special Branch of the Communist Party of China in 1937, and later served as deputy director of the political department of the coastal detachment of the Eighth Route Army, political commissar of the detachment, and director of the political department of the brigade and division. During the Liberation War, he was appointed political commissar of the 113th Division of the 38th Army of the People's Liberation Army in November 1949. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, in 1950, he was ordered to return to Beijing for training from the Guangxi battlefield and became the first batch of diplomats sent abroad by China. Counsellor of the Chargé d'Affaires in the GDR, Counsellor of the Chargé d'Affaires in the United Kingdom and Director of the Consular Department. In 1960, he graduated from the Senior Department of the Military Academy and served as the deputy director of the Military Research Department of the Military Academy. In 1978, he was appointed political commissar and deputy director of the Academic Committee of the First Department of the Political College of the People's Liberation Army. Deputy Corps position treatment. He was awarded the rank of colonel in 1957. In July 1988, he was awarded the Order of Merit of the Red Star of the Second Class by the Central Military Commission. He retired in 1984.