In 1949 in Beiping, a special meeting was about to begin. Zhu De, the founder of the Chinese Communist Party, was standing in front of the door of an ordinary room. He straightened his clothes, took a deep breath, and then saluted and shouted, "Report!" I'm Zhu De! "Who is the man inside the door? Why is Zhu De so respectful?
To understand this scene, we need to go back to the turbulent Republican period. Chen Mingren, whose name may not be as loud as other Kuomintang generals, but his life trajectory reflects the complexity and changes of that era. After graduating from the Whampoa Military Academy, how did he choose between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party? What are some of the lesser-known twists and turns in his military career? And what does Zhu De's visit mean?
On a cold winter day in Liling, Hunan Province, Chen Mingren was born into a poor peasant family. Although his parents had a difficult life, they knew the importance of reading. In those turbulent times, it was a rare opportunity to be able to go to school. Chen Mingren cherishes this hard-won opportunity, works diligently, and achieves excellent results.
After graduating from secondary school, Chen Mingren found a job as a primary school teacher in his hometown. Every day, he feels extremely relieved to face the immature faces who are eager to learn. However, the unrest in the country made it impossible for the young teacher to feel at ease on campus. In 1924, a news came that changed the fate of Chen Mingren: Mr. Sun Yat-sen founded the Whampoa Military Academy in Guangzhou, which recruited students from all over the country.
This news was like a lightning bolt that hit Chen Mingren's heart. He decided to apply for the Whampoa Military Academy and contribute to the future of the country. However, this decision was met with strong opposition from the family. In those days, "good iron does not nail nails, and good men do not serve soldiers" was the concept of many people. Chen Mingren's mother even hung him up and beat him with a bamboo tube, and hid the family's money to prevent him from stealing money and running away.
Just when Chen Mingren was at a loss, his wife Xie Fangru stepped forward. Although the 14-year-old girl was illiterate, she had an extraordinary vision. She secretly ran back to her parents' house, sold the fat pig in the family, and scraped together 20 yuan to give her husband as travel expenses. In those days of skyrocketing prices, 20 oceans was a lot of money.
With his wife's support and expectations, Chen Mingren embarked on the long journey to Guangzhou. When he stood in front of the gate of the Whampoa Military Academy, he was both excited and apprehensive. This will be a turning point in his life and the starting point for him to serve his country.
After entering the Whampoa Military Academy, Chen Mingren eagerly absorbed all kinds of new knowledge. Military theory, strategy and tactics, political economy, each course opened his eyes. He is often the first to arrive in the classroom and the last to leave. In the evenings, when the rest of his classmates were resting, Chen Mingren was still studying hard under the lamp or practicing his military skills on the playground.
Life at the Whampoa Military Academy is hard, but Chen Mingren enjoys it. He excelled not only in the classroom, but also in military training. His diligence and intelligence soon caught the attention of the instructors.
In 1925, the Whampoa Military Academy organized two "Eastern Crusades" to crusade against the warlord Chen Yongming. Chen Mingren participated in both actions as a student representative. In the battle of Dongguan, despite the wind and cold, he led a platoon of soldiers to charge bravely, and even ate the strength of a battalion of the enemy. This battle brought Chen Mingren to the fore and was promoted to company commander.
In the ensuing Battle of Huizhou, Chen Mingren once again showed extraordinary military talent. He was good at taking advantage of the terrain and led his troops to attack the city first and climb the tower. This "first" merit allowed him to be promoted again and become the battalion commander.
The experience of the Whampoa Military Academy not only enabled Chen Mingren to master solid military talents, but also gave him a new understanding of the future of the country. He gradually realized that the duty of a soldier is not only to fight wars, but also to contribute to the development of the country. This experience laid a solid foundation for his future military career, and also laid the groundwork for him to choose between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party in the future.
After graduating from the Whampoa Military Academy, Chen Mingren officially embarked on a military career. In 1926, the Northern Expedition of the National Revolutionary Army began, and Chen Mingren, as a young officer, participated in this war that changed the fate of China.
At the beginning of the Northern Expedition, Chen Mingren's unit was sent to the Hunan front. In the Battle of Hengyang, Chen Mingren led a battalion of troops, skillfully taking advantage of the terrain, and set up an ambush to repel a regiment of Wu Peifu's department. This battle not only dealt a blow to the enemy's arrogance, but also laid the foundation for the victory of the Northern Expeditionary Army in Hunan. Chen Mingren's commanding skills were appreciated by his superiors, and he was soon promoted to regiment commander.
In 1927, the Northern Expeditionary Army conquered Nanjing. In this crucial battle, Chen Mingren once again demonstrated extraordinary military talent. He led his troops to break through the enemy's defense line and take the lead in attacking the Purple Mountain, making great contributions to the Northern Expeditionary Army's occupation of Nanjing. This exploit made Chen Mingren favored by Chiang Kai-shek and transferred to the Central Army to hold important positions.
However, at the critical moment when the Northern Expedition was about to complete the unification of the country, the cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party broke down. Although Chen Mingren was puzzled by this turn of events, as a professional soldier, he chose to obey orders. In the ensuing "purging the party" operation, Chen Mingren led his troops to participate in the encirclement and suppression of communists. This experience caused some doubts in his heart, but he did not delve into it at the time.
In the early 1930s, Chiang Kai-shek launched a war of "banditry". As one of the commanders of the main force, Chen Mingren participated in many encirclement and suppression of the central Soviet region. In the fourth "encirclement and suppression", Chen Mingren's troops and the Red Army engaged in fierce competition in the southern Gan region. Although he ultimately failed to annihilate the main force of the Red Army, Chen Mingren's command ability was further affirmed and he was promoted to division commander.
In 1937, Japan invaded China in an all-out way, and Chen Mingren's unit was transferred to the North China Front. In the Battle of Pingxingguan, Chen Mingren commanded troops to cooperate with the Eighth Route Army and inflicted heavy losses on an elite division of the Japanese army. This victory not only boosted the confidence of the whole country in the war of resistance, but also made Chen Mingren begin to re-examine the anti-Japanese forces led by the Communist Party.
In the years that followed, Chen Mingren participated in many battles against Japan. In the Battle of Wuhan, he commanded his troops to engage in fierce street battles with the Japanese army outside the city of Hankou, and although he failed to hold Wuhan in the end, it greatly slowed down the pace of the Japanese offensive and bought valuable time for the transfer of the Nationalist government.
In 1941, Chen Mingren was transferred to the Yunnan-Burma front and participated in the counteroffensive against the Japanese army. Here, he worked closely with the American and British forces. Through exchanges with the Allied forces, Chen Mingren not only learned advanced military technology and tactics, but also began to think about China's future development path.
After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, Chen Mingren was appointed as a corps commander in the Kuomintang army, responsible for taking over the northeast region. However, when he witnessed the corruption and incompetence of the Kuomintang army in the northeast, his disappointment and doubts became stronger.
In 1946, the Civil War broke out. Chen Mingren was again sent to the front to fight the communist forces. However, this time the combat experience left him deeply confused. He found that the communist army, although poorly equipped, had high morale, strict discipline and good relations with the people. In contrast, the Kuomintang army, although well-equipped, lacked discipline and had strained relations with the population.
In 1948, the Liaoshen Campaign broke out. Chen's unit was surrounded by communist forces in Jinzhou. During the months-long siege, Chen witnessed the rout of the Kuomintang forces and the humane policies of the Communist forces towards their captives. This experience became an important opportunity for him to change his mind.
During his years in the Kuomintang army, Chen Mingren gradually grew from an ordinary officer to a senior general. He participated in major historical events such as the Northern Expedition, the Anti-Japanese War, and the Civil War, and personally experienced the most turbulent period in China's modern history. These experiences not only honed his military talents, but also allowed him to think more deeply about the future of his country. As the situation changed, Chen began to re-examine his position, laying the groundwork for major choices in the future.
At the end of 1948, after the Liaoshen Campaign, Chen Mingren was transferred back to Nanjing. At this time, the Kuomintang regime was already in turmoil, the military spirit was weakened, and the people's resentment was boiling. As a high-ranking general, Chen Mingren had the opportunity to observe the internal contradictions and decision-making mistakes of the KMT's top brass up close.
At a military conference, Chen Mingren boldly put forward a proposal to stabilize the northeastern defense line, believing that it was necessary to concentrate forces to defend important cities such as Shenyang and Changchun, rather than disperse them. However, his suggestion was refuted to Chiang Kai-shek's face. Chiang Kai-shek's insistence on a decisive battle with the communist forces in the plains was a far cry from Chen's military judgment.
After the meeting, Chen Mingren was invited to a private party by an old classmate. At the party, he met several intellectuals from Shanghai. Among them were university professors, newspaper editors, and an economist who had just returned from studying in the United States. They talked freely about state affairs and expressed strong dissatisfaction with the corruption and incompetence of the Kuomintang government.
Among them, the economist made a deep impression on Chen Mingren. He analyzed in detail the economic policy failures of the Kuomintang government, pointing out that problems such as inflation and collusion between officials and businessmen are destroying China's economic foundation. He also mentioned that in the liberated areas he inspected, although the material conditions were difficult, the economic policies were more in line with China's reality, and the lives of the peasants and workers had improved markedly.
The gathering allowed Chen to rethink China's future. He realized that it was impossible to solve China's problems by relying on military force alone, and that it was more important to have the right policies and a clean government.
At the beginning of 1949, the defeat of the Kuomintang was a foregone conclusion. Chen Mingren was appointed commander-in-chief of a province to suppress bandits, responsible for suppressing local communist forces. However, when he arrived at the designated location, he found that the local people's support for the Communist Party was far greater than he had imagined.
During an anti-bandit operation, Chen Mingren's troops surrounded a mountain village. As is customary, they are supposed to search the village and arrest suspicious elements. But this time, Mr. Chen changed tactics. He ordered the troops to withdraw from the village, set up posts only on the periphery, and then entered the village with a few cronies himself to talk to the villagers.
In conversations with villagers, Chen learned that the Communist Party's land reform policies here had given many poor peasants access to land. Cooperatives have also been set up in the village to help farmers increase production and income. What surprised Chen even more was that there was a night school in the village, and many elderly people and women were learning to read and write.
Chen Mingren was deeply touched by this experience. He began to secretly contact the local underground party organizations and learn about the policies and ideas of the Communist Party. In the process, he met an underground party member who went by the pseudonym "Lao Li". Lao Li is a veteran who has made great achievements in the War of Resistance Against Japan. His patriotic fervor and revolutionary conviction deeply admired Chen Mingren.
Through many conversations with Lao Li, Chen Mingren gradually learned about the organizational structure and working methods of the Communist Party. He was surprised to find that even in the areas ruled by the Kuomintang, the Communist Party had built a tight network of underground organizations. These organizations not only carry out political propaganda, but also actively participate in social services, such as organizing farmers' mutual aid and carrying out literacy campaigns.
Under Lao Li's guidance, Chen Mingren secretly read some progressive books and Communist Party documents. These materials gave him a deeper understanding of Marxism and the Chinese revolution. He began to think that perhaps the Communist Party was the force that could save China.
However, as a high-ranking general, Chen Mingren's every move was under the watchful eye of the Kuomintang. He had to be careful not to expose his changes in thinking. In order to cover himself, he still actively carried out the orders of his superiors on the surface, but secretly he was trying to find ways to reduce the blow to the Communist Party.
During this period, Chen Mingren began to secretly develop officers and soldiers in the army who were sympathetic to the Communist Party. He skillfully used his authority to place a number of progressive officers in key positions. At the same time, he also secretly protected some of his subordinates who were suspected of having communist tendencies from purging.
This dual life has put Chen Mingren under pressure, but he knows that he is at an important turning point in history. He must be prepared for the great changes that are coming.
As the situation changed dramatically, Chen realized that he had to make a choice as soon as possible. Will it continue to chase after the soon-to-be-collapsed Kuomintang regime, or will it devote itself to the construction of New China? This choice is not only about his personal fate, but also about what kind of contribution he can make to the country and its people. At this critical juncture of ideological shift, Chen Mingren is determined to forge a new path for China's future.
In the early autumn of 1949, with the successive victories of the People's Liberation Army, the Kuomintang regime was on the verge of collapse. Chen Mingren's unit was ordered to retreat south of the Yangtze River and prepare for a last-ditch effort. However, Chen Mingren had already made up his mind at this time to contribute his strength to the construction of New China.
On a stormy night, Chen Mingren secretly met with Lao Li, an underground party liaison. The two had a long conversation in a dilapidated farmhouse. Lao Li conveyed to Chen Mingren the policy of the Party Central Committee towards the rebel generals, assuring that as long as they sincerely repented, everything in the past could be forgiven. Chen Mingren immediately expressed his willingness to lead the troops in an uprising, but he put forward one condition: the safety of the soldiers must be ensured.
In the days that followed, Chen began to secretly plot plans for an uprising. He first contacted several trusted subordinates, including Chief of Staff Zhang Zhiyuan and Director of the Political Department Li Fengming. Both men were old subordinates of Chen Mingren for many years, and they had long been dissatisfied with the corruption of the Kuomintang government. When Chen Mingren revealed to them the plans for the uprising, the two did not hesitate to express their support.
However, planning an uprising was not an easy task. Chen Mingren had to be careful not to arouse suspicion among Kuomintang agents. During the day, he inspected the troops and attended meetings as usual, and at night he secretly discussed the details with Zhang Zhiyuan and Li Fengming. They decided to launch an uprising during a routine military exercise, which would avoid alerting the enemy.
On the eve of the uprising, the unexpected happened. A Kuomintang agent infiltrated Chen Mingren's headquarters and found some suspicious documents. Although these documents do not directly prove the plans of the uprising, they are enough to raise suspicions. After Chen Mingren learned of this news, he immediately summoned Zhang Zhiyuan and Li Fengming to discuss countermeasures.
After a heated discussion, the three decided to act early. That night, Chen Mingren called a meeting of officers at all levels on the grounds of an urgent military situation. At the meeting, he suddenly announced the uprising and quickly took control of the situation on the spot. Some officers loyal to the Kuomintang tried to resist, but were quickly subdued.
After the news spread, the entire army fell into a brief chaos. Some of the soldiers were overwhelmed, and others tried to escape. Chen Mingren personally came to the soldiers and explained to them the cause and significance of the uprising. He promised that all soldiers who were willing to stay would be treated fairly, and those who did not were free to leave.
This sincere statement touched many soldiers. Most chose to stay, and only a few left. The rebel forces quickly restored order and, in accordance with the pre-agreed plan, moved towards the areas controlled by the PLA.
However, the Kuomintang side soon learned of Chen's uprising. They immediately sent planes to bomb the rebel forces and mobilized nearby troops to encircle and suppress them. Chen Mingren led his troops to fight continuously, broke through the encirclement, and finally joined forces with the vanguard of the People's Liberation Army three days later.
When Chen Mingren led the rebel troops to the PLA position, he was warmly welcomed. The political commissar of the People's Liberation Army personally met with Chen Mingren and highly praised his uprising. Chen Mingren gave a detailed report to the political commissar on the uprising and expressed his willingness to accept the party's education and reform.
However, Chen's ordeal is not over. Although most of the rebels behaved well, a few were suspicious and even secretly plotted to escape. Chen Mingren took the initiative to report the situation to the PLA leaders and offered to personally do ideological work with these people.
In the days that followed, Chen Mingren would talk to these wavering elements every day. He patiently explained the policies of New China, described the process of his own ideological transformation, and encouraged them to contribute to the construction of New China. After a period of hard work, most people were relieved of their doubts and decided to stay.
A month after the uprising, the People's Republic of China was officially established. Chen Mingren and his subordinates listened excitedly to the live broadcast of the founding ceremony. In the evening of the same day, the troops held a grand celebration. Chen Mingren delivered an enthusiastic speech at the meeting, expressing his best wishes for New China.
However, Chen Mingren knew that the uprising was only the beginning of a new life. As a former Kuomintang general, he still needs to go through a long period of study and transformation before he can truly integrate into the new society. In the days that followed, Chen Mingren actively participated in political study and conscientiously studied Marxist-Leninist works and Mao Zedong Thought. He was determined to prove his loyalty to New China through his practical actions.
The rebellion was the most difficult choice in Chen Mingren's life, and it was also his first step towards a new life. This decision not only changed his personal fate, but also pointed the way for thousands of soldiers. In the big family of New China, Chen Mingren and his subordinates are about to start a new journey.
At the beginning of 1950, after several months of political study and ideological transformation, Chen Mingren was officially appointed deputy commander of a military region. This appointment was both an affirmation of his surrender to the uprising and a recognition of his military talents. Chen Mingren is well aware that this is a great responsibility and a challenge.
From the very beginning of his tenure, Chen Mingren was faced with a thorny problem. Due to the participation of a large number of officers and soldiers of the uprising, there were contradictions between the old and new cadres in the troops. Some old revolutionaries were still wary of the insurgents, while some of the insurrectionary officers and soldiers felt that their talents had not been fully utilized. In order to solve this problem, Chen Mingren proposed a plan of "mutual learning and mutual assistance". He organized pairs of old and new cadres and encouraged them to learn from each other and complement each other's strengths. This practice quickly paid off, and the cohesion of the troops was markedly enhanced.
In June 1950, the Korean War broke out. Chen Mingren's military region received the task of supporting the front line. As deputy commander, Chen Mingren is responsible for organizing logistics support. He made full use of the experience he had accumulated in the Kuomintang army and established an efficient supply system. Thanks to his efforts, the supply of food, grass and ammunition to the front-line troops was always sufficient, and he made an important contribution to the victory of the war.
During the war, Chen Mingren visited the front line many times. During one of his inspections, he discovered a tactical loophole in the enemy's forces. On his suggestion, our troops adjusted their positions and successfully thwarted one of the enemy's attacks. This success not only won praise from his superiors, but also strengthened Chen Mingren's prestige in the army.
In 1953, after the end of the Korean War, the country's focus shifted to economic construction. Chen Mingren was transferred to the post of vice governor of a province in charge of industrial development. Although he lacked experience in economic management, Chen Mingren quickly adapted to his new job with the rigorous style and execution of a soldier.
During his tenure, Tran presided over the development of the province's first five-year plan. He put forward the development idea of "adapting measures to local conditions and highlighting characteristics", and focused on the development of machinery manufacturing and light industry according to the advantages of local resources. At the same time, he also attached great importance to agricultural development and promoted agricultural mechanization and water conservancy construction.
In 1956, a nationwide rectification campaign was launched. As a former Kuomintang general, Chen Mingren took the initiative to accept criticism from the masses. He listened to opinions with an open mind and seriously examined the bureaucratic and commandist tendencies that existed in his work. This sincere attitude has won the respect of the cadres and the masses.
In 1958, the Great Leap Forward movement was set off across the country. In the face of some unrealistically high indicators, Chen Mingren remained calm. He has repeatedly proposed at provincial party committee meetings that we should seek truth from facts and not blindly pursue high targets. Although his views were not fully adopted, his cautious approach somewhat restrained some of the extreme practices of the Great Leap Forward in his own province.
In the early 1960s, the national economy encountered serious difficulties. Chen Mingren actively responded to the central government's policy of "readjusting, consolidating, enriching, and improving" and presided over the formulation of the province's economic adjustment plan. He put forward the principle of "ensuring key points and ensuring the people's livelihood," and while ensuring the construction of key projects, he also ensured the basic livelihood of the masses as much as possible.
In 1966, the "Cultural Revolution" broke out. As a veteran cadre and former Kuomintang general, Chen Mingren became the target of criticism. He was accused of being a "capitalist roader" and a "counter-revolutionary" and was imprisoned and criticized for a long time. But even in the most difficult moments, Chen Mingren did not waver in his loyalty to the party and the country. He insisted on learning, thinking, and helping those around him as much as he could.
In 1972, as the situation changed, Chen Mingren was rehabilitated. Although he is past his prime, he still hopes to contribute to the construction of the country. He volunteered to participate in a study on the placement of veterans. With his own personal experience and in-depth research, Chen Mingren put forward many practical suggestions and contributed to the improvement of the veterans' resettlement system.
In 1978, the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China was held, and the country ushered in a new era of reform and opening up. Although he is retired, Chen Mingren still keeps a close eye on the country's development. He has been invited to give lectures at universities and cadre schools on many occasions, telling the younger generation about his life experience and views on the country's development.
In his later years, Chen began to organize his memoirs. He recorded in detail the process of his transformation from a Kuomintang general to a builder of New China, as well as his thoughts and understandings in the process. This memoir is not only a summary of his personal experience, but also provides valuable first-hand information for the study of this period of history.
In 1985, Chen Mingren died in Beijing at the age of 83. His life spanned the two eras of old China and new China, and experienced the transformation from a Kuomintang general to a member of the Communist Party. In the construction of New China, he proved his loyalty and value with practical actions and made his own contribution to the development of the country.