In April 1931, Gu Shunzhang was arrested in Wuhan. Before Gu Shunzhang was arrested, he was the head of the Central Special Branch, and his arrest was absolutely devastating for the Party Central Committee that was struggling to support the Shanghai Concession at that time. Fortunately, Qian Zhuangfei, the confidential secretary of Xu Enzeng, the head of the Central Union's secret service, learned the news in advance and reported it to the Central Committee in time. All party organs were evacuated.
However, the CCP's organizational system in Shanghai was completely destroyed, and Chen Geng had to leave Shanghai for Tianjin. However, the party organization in Tianjin under the White Terror was also destroyed one after another, so he went to the Hubei-Henan-Anhui Soviet Region in September of that year, and served as the commander of the 38th Regiment of the 13th Division in the Red Fourth Army led by Xu Xiangqian and Zhang Guotao, and was transferred to the commander of the 12th Division of the Red Fourth Front Army in November of the same year.
In 1933, the Kuomintang successively encircled and suppressed the revolutionary base areas. Chen Geng led his troops to participate in the third and fourth anti-"encirclement and suppression" operations in the Hubei-Henan-Anhui Soviet Region. In September 1932, he was seriously wounded in the right knee in the battle, and had to go to Shanghai in secret.
01.
Chen Geng, formerly known as Chen Shukang, was born in Xiangxiang, Hunan Province in 1903. His grandfather was a general of the Hunan Army. At the age of 13, he left home to join the army because he was dissatisfied with the arranged marriage, and was assigned to the 2nd Battalion of the 6th Regiment of the Lu Diping Department of the Hunan Army to participate in the Northern Expedition.
In the autumn of 1922, he was introduced by He Shuheng to the self-study university founded by Mao Zedong and joined the Communist Party of China.
At the end of 1923, he was secretly admitted to the Army Martial Arts School in Guangzhou in Changsha. In this year, 21-year-old Chen Geng learned of the enrollment information of the Whampoa Military Academy, and resolutely applied for the examination and was admitted to the first phase of the Whampoa Military Academy in May 1924.
During his time at school, he served as Sun Yat-sen's bodyguard, and was deeply appreciated by Sun Yat-sen and Soong Ching Ling. Later, he became the guard adjutant of Zhou Enlai, director of the Political Department of the Whampoa Military Academy.
At that time, Deng Yingchao went to Guangzhou to marry Zhou Enlai. Due to the many affairs, Zhou Enlai couldn't go to the dock to greet him, so he called Chen Geng and handed him a photo of Deng Yingchao.
But Chen Geng didn't find anyone on the dock until he arrived, and he didn't find the person in the photo. When he panted and pushed open the door of Zhou Enlai's room, he saw a woman resting on a chair.
After graduating in 1925, he stayed in school and served as the commander of the second enlisted cadet company of the Whampoa Military Academy, participated in the Eastern Crusade, crusaded against Chen Jiongming, and served as Chiang Kai-shek's personal bodyguard.
In 1926, when the Kuomintang rightists created the "Zhongshan Ship Incident", Chiang Kai-shek put forward the "Party Affairs Sorting Bill", demanding that the Kuomintang Communist Party members withdraw from the Communist Party.
Then he went to the Soviet Union with Gu Shunzhang and others to study political security. Chen Geng is good at intelligence gathering, and Gu Shunzhang is good at marksmanship and disguise; After completing his studies in 1927, he returned to China and first served as the commander of the special service battalion in the Tang Shengzhi Department of the Eighth Army of the National Revolutionary Army.
After Wang Jingwei in Wuhan betrayed the revolution, he was forced to hand over the spy battalion and went to Nanchang with Zhou Enlai to participate in the uprising, serving as the battalion commander of the 1st Battalion of the 6th Regiment of the 3rd Division of the 2nd Army of He Long.
Then he moved south with the rebel army, and in October, the rebel army withdrew from Chaoshan and was wounded in the left leg in the battle of Huichang. He traveled to Shanghai via Hong Kong for further treatment.
In May 1927, after the conclusion of the Fifth National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Central Committee decided to set up a special service section under the Military Commission, which was specifically responsible for Zhou Enlai. Zhou Enlai's first thought was Chen Geng.
In April 1928, Chen Geng, who had not yet recovered, entered the Intelligence Department. Qian Zhuangfei, Li Kenong, and Hu Di, who are known as the "Three Heroes of Longtan" on the CCP's hidden front, were planned by Chen Geng to infiltrate the Kuomintang.
02.
After more than four months of dormancy in Shanghai, Chen Geng's injuries were no longer in serious condition, and the central authorities decided to let him continue to go to the Soviet area, and the departure time was set for March 25.
But just the day before departure, he watched Qian Zhuangfei's eldest daughter Qian Lili (stage name Li Lili) anti-Japanese propaganda performance at the Lido Grand Theater on Guizhou Road in Shanghai.
As a result, he was recognized by Chen Liansheng, a traitor sitting in the same row, and the Kuomintang agents arrested him by surprise.
After the news of Chen Geng's arrest broke, Song Qingling, head of the China Democratic League, rushed to the patrol room with a group of reporters. As soon as Song Qingling came in, he said loudly to the guards, "Where is Chen Geng?" I'm here to visit Chen Geng, he's an old friend of mine, and the prime minister liked him when he was alive. During the Eastern Crusade, he saved the life of Commander-in-Chief Chiang, people, you can't have no conscience. ”
On March 31, Chen Geng was extradited to the Kuomintang authorities by the British Concession after a "trial". When Chiang Kai-shek learned of this, he specially ordered that the Shanghai Garrison Command should not be abused. On April 1, he ordered Chen Geng to be escorted from Shanghai to Nanjing.
Gu Zhenglun, commander of the Kuomintang military police, personally went to the railway station to pick up the people, and held Chiang Kai-shek's telegram, and also intended to let Chen Geng see that because of Chen Geng's history in Guangdong and during the Northern Expedition, he should be comforted and encouraged as much as possible, so that he could repent of his repentance. If Chen Geng is willing to "swear to submit", he will have a senior military position and a bright future.
Gu Zhenglun first found the traitor Gu Shunzhang, and then found Chen Geng's Huangpu classmate Song Xilian and others.
What Gu Zhenglun, the "Admiral of the Nine Gates", did not expect was that after several days and nights of political offensives, Chen Geng was unmoved. made Gu Zhenglun very angry, and he couldn't be tortured and interrogated, so he had nothing to do for a while.
Seeing that there was no progress in the persuasion of the people in Nanjing, Chiang Kai-shek soon ordered Chen Geng to be escorted to Nanchang. At this time, Chiang Kai-shek was sitting in Nanchang and commanding the fourth "encirclement and suppression" of the central Soviet area.
Chen Geng was placed under house arrest at Jiangxi Grand Travel Agency. Seven years ago, this was the general headquarters of the Nanchang Uprising, and Chen Geng couldn't help but blurt out: "I didn't expect that I would revisit the old place like this today." ”
Before Chen Geng could take a break, the first person to persuade came, this person was the first phase of Huangpu, and he was also Chen Geng's fellow villager, Deng Wenyi, Chiang Kai-shek's attendant secretary.
In 1925, Deng Wenyi and Chen Geng went to study at Sun Yat-sen University in Moscow, but after returning to China, they claimed to be "the first person to be educated by Russia and oppose Russia".
Deng Wenyi brought a "letter of repentance" written in advance, claiming that as long as Chen Geng signed it, he could get the command of any division. Chen Geng sternly refused and refuted bitterly. In the end, the old "Jiang" could only come out.
03.
That night, Chen Geng was escorted to the Nanchang Baihuazhou Scientific Instrument Museum, and Chiang Kai-shek commanded the fourth "encirclement and suppression" camp. Before Chiang Kai-shek arrived at the reception room, he deliberately said loudly while going upstairs: "Where is Chen Geng?" Where is Chen Geng?"
He thought that when Chen Geng heard this, he would stand up and greet him, the old principal. Unexpectedly, Chen Geng deliberately held the newspaper high above his head and pretended to read the newspaper.
Seeing this, Chiang Kai-shek had no choice but to walk up to Chen Geng and say, "Chen Geng, you are a good student of the principal, although you have made mistakes in politics, I can forgive you." ”
Chen Geng put down the newspaper, smiled coldly, and said, "I don't need your forgiveness at all." ”
Chiang Kai-shek turned to him and asked Chen Geng how he had been there over the years, how did he get here? Chen Geng directly refuted, "I wasn't arrested by you!" ”
Chiang Kai-shek walked around the house in embarrassment for a long time before he said, "Don't keep thinking like this." As long as you come here, everything will be done. If you are willing to lead troops, it is easy to say, you can pick a random division. ”
Chen Geng sneered: "Didn't you say a long time ago that you couldn't ask me to lead the troops?" I will not be your ruler. In your hands today, I have no illusions. It's still the same sentence, if you want to fight, you can fight, and if you want to kill, you can kill!"
"Hey, Chen Geng, why can't you figure it out like this?"
Chiang Kai-shek looked sad: "You see, the country is now so bad, and more than 300,000 people have been killed and injured by bandits. China should unite and not sacrifice like this......"
Before Chiang Kai-shek could finish speaking, Chen Geng interrupted him loudly: "The country has made such a mess, and you should not be responsible." It was you who betrayed the revolution and started a civil war!"
Chiang Kai-shek's face turned blue with anger, pointed at Chen Geng and stammered: "You, you, you have this attitude...... Repentance! It should be repented. ”
At this time, Yu Xuezhong, the general of the Northeast Army, wanted to see him, and Chiang Kai-shek had to say to Deng Wenyi next to him, you should persuade him well, and then "get off the donkey down the slope" and hurriedly left. The conversation broke up unhappily.
04.
During Chen Geng's detention, Song Qingling and others have been campaigning for Chen Geng.
Song Qingling found Chiang Kai-shek and said: "Chen Geng is a student of the Whampoa Military Academy, the Battle of the Dongjiang River has always followed you to fight, you lost the battle or Chen Geng saved your life, otherwise you would not have survived today." Now you're going to kill him, it's ungrateful. Where is the courtesy, righteousness, and shame you talk about every day? ”
Chiang Kai-shek was so ashamed that he didn't say a word, and it took a long time for him to reply: "It's not that I don't let him go, it's that he is too stubborn and refuses to even give me a step." ”
Song Qingling and others also found Wang Jingwei and Luo Wengan, demanded their immediate release of Chen Geng, and also visited Chen Geng and others in prison so that reporters could report to the outside world. At the same time, the CCP organization is also doing everything possible to rescue Chen Geng.
Chiang Kai-shek had to escort Chen Geng back to Nanjing first. As a result, Song Xilian and ten others from the first phase of Whampoa jointly signed a letter, asking Chiang Kai-shek to release Chen Geng for the purpose of reforming other Whampoa students in the Red Army.
Chiang Kai-shek unexpectedly refused. However, he agreed to give Chen Geng preferential treatment in life, and transferred Chen Geng from the military police headquarters to a small building guarded by guards.
After being locked up for more than a month, Chen Geng suddenly found that his care was much more relaxed, and although there were still four or five guards watching him, he was allowed to move freely.
It was not until the end of May that an underground party member named "Ma Laoguang" rescued him, and Chen Geng was able to successfully "escape".
In this way, Chiang Kai-shek saved face, Huangpu gained a good reputation, and Chen Geng gained freedom, which can be described as the best of all three.
05.
After escaping from Nanjing, Chen Geng was sent to the Central Soviet District, but met Qian Dajun on the train to Ruijin, Jiangxi.
Qian Dajun used to be an instructor at the Whampoa Military Academy and was also Chen Geng's teacher. Qian Dajun finally let Chen Geng go.
Qian Dajun explained: "Chen Geng has saved Chiang Kai-shek before, and they are still a teacher-student relationship, if you don't catch him, he can still leave a good reputation among the Whampoa students, and he can't offend Chiang Kai-shek, why not do it." ”
It was October 1925, and the National Revolutionary Army held its Second Eastern Crusade against the warlord Chen Jiongming.
Chiang Kai-shek, then the principal of the Whampoa Military Academy, served as the commander-in-chief and commander of the First Army, and Chen Geng, who was only 22 years old, served as a company commander in the Fourth Regiment of the Second Division of the First Army.
Chen Geng served as the captain of the death team in the Battle of Huizhou, personally carrying the ladder to lead the death squad to climb the city with death, in the battle, Chen Geng's left foot was hit by a bullet, he pulled out the bullet and continued to fight, as the first warrior captured Huizhou City.
Because Chen Geng was brave and good at fighting, Chiang Kai-shek transferred Chen Geng and his company to the general headquarters as an escort.
After conquering Huizhou, the Eastern Expeditionary Army continued to march eastward in three ways, and Tan Shuqing, the commander of the 3rd Division, did not know the enemy's situation and rashly penetrated in, and encountered the main force of the rebel Lin Hu in Huayang and fell into a heavy siege.
Chiang Kai-shek immediately sent Chen Geng to convey the order to Tan Shuqing, requiring the Third Division to hold its position no matter what. Chiang Kai-shek also galloped to Huayang to supervise the battle. However, under the strong onslaught of the superior enemy, the 3rd Division could no longer hold its position, and the officers and men began to retreat.
Seeing this, Chiang Kai-shek hurriedly temporarily changed the commander and asked Chen Geng to temporarily appoint the commander of the Third Division to launch a counteroffensive. Decree: All those who retreat, regardless of officers and soldiers, shall be subject to military law.
However, the defeat was like a mountain, but the third division collapsed like a tide, Chen Geng ran back to the general headquarters, and said to Chiang Kai-shek, "Principal, you are the commander-in-chief, it is better to rush out first!" ”
Chiang Kai-shek insisted that "the revolutionary soldiers will never retreat". Seeing that the enemy is getting closer and closer, the danger is at stake. At the critical moment, Chiang Kai-shek drew his sword and followed Zeng Guofan's example to kill himself.
Chen Geng snatched it and persuaded: "You are the commander-in-chief, your life and death will affect the entire battle situation, there is no regular army in Huangpu here, hurry up and leave here, if you don't leave, it's too late!"
Chiang Kai-shek sat down on a big rock and said, "If I don't leave, what face do I have to go back?" I finally laid down Huizhou, but I didn't expect to be buried here! ”
But Chiang Kai-shek couldn't walk for a while, Chen Geng didn't say a word and carried it on his back, ran until he reached a river, found a small boat, and crossed the river to turn the corner.
After settling down, Chiang Kai-shek immediately wrote a letter to Chen Geng to quickly hand over the First Division commanded by He Yingqin and Zhou Enlai, asking them to come to support.
Chen Geng walked more than 160 miles in a day and night, and was caught by bandits during the period. He Yingqin was found at noon the next day. He Yingqin immediately sent the first regiment to meet Chiang Kai-shek. In the end, the situation was reversed and Chen Jiongming was defeated.
Chen Geng was only 1.67 meters tall, but he carried Chiang Kai-shek and ran for more than ten miles, so the Whampoa Military Academy soon spread that Jiang Xianyun's pen and He Zhenhan's mouth couldn't catch up with Chen Geng's legs. Chen Geng also won the reputation of "Huangpu Three Heroes" together with Jiang Xianyun and He Jinhan.
Subsequently, Chen Geng was transferred by Chiang Kai-shek as a staff officer, and he could go in and out of Chiang Kai-shek's office at will, without even shouting a "report".
When he was at the Whampoa Military Academy, Chiang Kai-shek talked to his students every week. His impression of Chen Geng is that "in this life, he has a weak appearance, but he has a stable personality, can work hard, and can lead soldiers." ”
However, after Chiang Kai-shek put forward the "Sorting Out Party Affairs Bill", Chen Geng's identity as a Communist Party member was made public, and Chiang Kai-shek added a new note next to his name: "You must not lead troops in this life." ”
And all this was seen by Chen Geng, knowing that Chiang Kai-shek was not a place to stay for a long time. So after Chiang Kai-shek betrayed the revolution, Chen Geng participated in the Nanchang Uprising.
Twenty-two years later, it was Chen Geng's Erye Fourth Corps that liberated Nanchang City, and Chiang Kai-shek was preparing for the defeat of Taiwan. Chiang Kai-shek also had remorse for the interpretation of Chen Geng, saying: "Chen Geng is a black sheep." ”
Then he said with regret:
"Five Hu Zongnan is not worth one Chen Geng!"