The internal situation of the Kuomintang was complicated, and some people were bent on opposing Chiang Kai-shek and were reactionary against the Communists and the broad masses of the people.
On the other hand, there are some people who stick to their principles, cherish simple patriotic feelings, always pursue peace, and call on all social strata to unite as one to jointly build China. Among them, the most commendable is General Zhang Zhizhong, a native of Chaohu, Anhui Province.
Born in 1890, Zhang Zhi** dropped out of private school after only a few years of private school due to his poor family background, and later worked as an apprentice in a shop to earn a living. However, as the times were turbulent and the shop closed, he had to change careers to become a police officer.
During this time, he was exposed to progressive ideas and began to pursue freedom and democracy. After the Wuchang Uprising, he immediately responded, joined the revolutionary army, and fought against the Qing army.
In 1912, Zhang Zhizhong was selected to study at the Baoding Military Academy for his outstanding performance. When Yuan Shikai deviated from the revolutionary road, he was full of anger in his heart, and went south to Guangzhou to join the Cantonese army, holding high the banner of opposing feudalism and confronting the Beiyang army.
Subsequently, the Whampoa Military Academy was established, and Zhang Zhizhong served as the head of the officer corps and the chief of staff of the 2nd Division of the National Revolutionary Army, forming a deep friendship with the National Revolutionary Army. In the Central Plains War, Zhang Zhizhong personally led the 2nd Division to participate in the battle, defeated the Northwest Army and the Jin Sui Army, and protected the people of Nanjing.
In 1936, Zhang Zhizhong, together with Yang Hucheng, detained Chiang Kai-shek and forced him to abandon the domestic dispute and give priority to the anti-Japanese resistance. At this critical moment, Zhang Zhizhong immediately united with a number of Kuomintang veterans to call for a peaceful solution to this issue and propose the establishment of a united front to jointly confront foreign enemies.
In the Battle of Songhu, Zhang Zhizhong served as the commander-in-chief of the 9th Group Army, leading his troops to fight fiercely with the Japanese army in Shanghai, severely defeating the enemy's arrogance and strengthening the determination of the whole nation to resist the war.
In 1941, Chiang Kai-shek ambushed the New Fourth Army in southern Anhui, resulting in the death of a large number of officers and soldiers. When Zhang Zhizhong learned of this, he immediately advised Chiang Kai-shek to give up the ideological dispute, give priority to the overall situation of resisting Japan, and never ignore the general interests of the nation for the sake of personal interests.
In 1945, Zhang Zhizhong stepped forward and went to Xinjiang to help rescue nearly 100 communists who were detained by Sheng Shicai. During the Chongqing negotiations, Zhang Zhizhong's home was taken as a foothold, and in order to protect the safety of the company, Zhang Zhizhong deliberately dispatched his most trusted guard troops.
In 1946, the domestic situation was tense, the Kuomintang army and the People's Liberation Army were tense, and a major war was about to break out. Zhang Zhizhong, with the affection of his compatriots, repeatedly begged Chiang Kai-shek to stop the war and establish an alliance with the Communists**, and went to Yan'an on behalf of the Kuomintang many times to meet with *** and *** to exhort them to be patient and avoid war.
However, Chiang Kai-shek still had a reactionary heart, and despite the dissuasion of the people, he once again provoked a war.
Zhang Zhizhong adhered to the concept of harmonious coexistence with his compatriots and refused to join the war on the front line. This greatly displeased Chiang Kai-shek, so he stripped him of his military post and placed him in an idle position.
In this way, Zhang Zhizhong became the only high-ranking general in the Kuomintang who had never fought against the PLA. In 1949, Zhang Zhizhong was extremely disappointed with the perverse behavior of the Kuomintang, and he decisively broke with it and chose the path of communism.
Subsequently, he actively participated in assisting *** to successfully negotiate with the Xinjiang authorities to bring this important northwest region under the jurisdiction of the people. He also attended the first CPPCC meeting and promoted the process of legalization and democratization of the country.
From 1950, Zhang Zhizhong held key positions as a progressive until his death in 1969.
Zhang Zhizhong was highly praised by the Communists, taking the red ** Guo Rugui as an example, he especially praised Zhang Zhizhong when he compiled his memoirs in his later years and described his personal experience of lurking in the enemy camp.
He admitted that among all the Kuomintang generals, he admired Zhang Zhizhong the most, because he was the most just and patriotic person. He deeply admired this peace general, who was the only Kuomintang general who convinced him.
General Zhang Zhizhong was a staunch patriot and humanitarian. Although he was trapped in the enemy camp, he always had the country and the people in his heart. When foreign enemies invaded, he stepped forward and tried to save the nation from peril.
However, when he discovered that the Kuomintang was corrupt and dark and could not be saved, he resolutely chose to abandon the darkness and devote himself to the communist cause, thus winning the respect and trust of the broad masses of the people.