He served as the director of the political department at the Whampoa Military Academy, so he had in-depth contacts with many senior Kuomintang generals. This kind of interaction adds a lot of attraction to him in interpersonal interactions.
He had associates, friends, or teacher-student relationships with many Kuomintang generals during the Whampoa period. During their long career of revolutionary struggle, his charisma gradually made them feel good about the Communist Party, and eventually turned to the path of full support for the Communist Party.
Zheng Dongguo is one of them. Zheng Dongguo was born in Shimen, Hunan Province in 1903, and was admitted to the first phase of Huangpu in 1924, and listened to the director of the Political Department many times
After graduation, Zheng Dongguo served as a company party representative, battalion party representative, battalion commander and regiment commander in the National Revolutionary Army, and participated in the Eastern Expedition and the Northern Expedition.
Zheng Dongguo, promoted to brigade commander in 1932, later served as division commander, army commander, deputy commander-in-chief of the Chinese Army in India, deputy commander of the Third Front Army, deputy commander of the Northeast Security, acting commander and commander of the corps.
He was Chiang Kai-shek's protégé, who led the troops to play the national prestige during the Anti-Japanese War, and was a rare tiger general. However, in the famous city of Changchun in the northeast, he was forced to let go, and the "great cause of the party-state" that he had fought for most of his life soon collapsed, and finally chose to embrace the people sincerely.
Among them, the role of ** should not be underestimated. In September 1948, the strategic decisive battle between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party kicked off in the vast Northeast Plain. On October 14, the Northeast Field Army successfully attacked Jinzhou, and after 30 hours of fierce fighting, finally captured Jinzhou, completely annihilated the defending enemy in Jinzhou, and captured about 90,000 Kuomintang officers and soldiers.
On the same day, Jinzhou was conquered by the People's Liberation Army, and Chiang Kai-shek hurriedly flew to Shenyang, sent a plane to Changchun to deliver a warrant, ordering Zheng Dongguo to immediately lead his troops to retreat south.
However, Zheng Dongguo, who received the warrant, could not cry or laugh, and he sent a telegram to inform Chiang Kai-shek that the passage to Guannai had been blocked by the People's Liberation Army and could not break through. Chiang Kai-shek, who received the telegram, was very anxious, because he knew that if the defenders of Changchun could not break through, sooner or later they would also be defeated and defeated.
Although he understood that in the event of a breakout, the troops would most likely be annihilated on the way to retreat, he still decided to order a breakout, because he felt that it was better to be annihilated than to be captured.
So, on October 15, Chiang Kai-shek ordered Zheng Dongguo again: "In any case, we must break through the siege, otherwise we will be severely punished according to law!" ”
After Zheng Dongguo received the telegram, his heart couldn't help but be full of worry. He knew that the road to breakthrough was difficult, and his fate seemed to have been foreshadowed. This concern is not unfounded.
As early as May 24, the Northeast Field Army had already ended the fighting on the outskirts of Changchun and laid siege to Changchun. The army led by Xiao Jinguang and Xiao Hua trapped 100,000 well-armed Kuomintang troops in the city, and they had to rely on airdrops to survive.
As time passed, the contradictions within the Kuomintang garrison became increasingly acute, and Chiang Kai-shek's apparent order to send them to their deaths led to an uprising led by Zeng Zesheng on October 17.
On the 18th, Zheng Dongguo also came to the end of the mountain.
Zheng Dongguo was one of Chiang Kai-shek's cronies, and if he could defect at this time, it would be a major blow to the morale of the Kuomintang. To this end, the Politburo Standing Committee held a discussion in Xibaipo and decided to do its best to win the uprising of Zheng Dongguo.
*Thinks he's not politically problematic,** also says he's more honest. Eventually, ** decided to take action and asked *** to write to Jung Dong Kook as a teacher.
Title: Surrender or Destruction: Zheng Dongguo Faces a Choice Text: The situation in the whole country has been decided, and the battles near and far all point to the inevitable victory of the People's Liberation Army. Zheng Dongguo was in a lonely city, the people's hearts were scattered, and Chiang Kai-shek's breakout order was invalid.
The uprising of Commander Zeng Zesheng provided Zheng Dongguo with an opportunity to redeem himself. The original revolutionary intentions of Whampoa in the past should become the guide now, leading the Changchun garrison, opposing the rule of the Kuomintang, and joining the Chinese People's Liberation Army, will receive the leniency policy of the People's Liberation Army, not to blame the past, welcome the uprising, and give equal treatment.
It is hoped that we will contact General Xiao Jinguang and Xiao Hua on the front line as soon as possible to jointly respond to General Zeng Zesheng's uprising. Time is of the essence, and hopefully the old friendship will prompt you to make an informed decision.
**Nov. 18.
Xiao Hua's first encounter with Zheng Dongguo reflects the generosity of the senior generals of the People's Liberation Army. Although Zheng Dongguo was the general of the defeated army, Xiao Hua did not be domineering, but shook hands with him very calmly, and then left in the car, this detail deeply touched Zheng Dongguo.
That night, at the Corps Headquarters on the outskirts of Changchun, Xiao Jinguang and Xiao Hua invited Zheng Dongguo to dinner, and although they had been facing each other for several months, they were not alienated by this.
Their words were very polite, as if they had known him for a long time. During the banquet, although Zheng Dongguo was in a bad mood, he only cared about bowing his head and drinking, and did not speak much, but he finally raised his head and expressed his disappointment in the Kuomintang and his admiration for the People's Liberation Army.
Zheng Dongguo's heart was full of longing to go home and be an ordinary person, and he made a request to "not be public, public, or participate in official activities". He left Changchun and went to Harbin, where he followed the national situation through newspapers every day.
At first, his attitude towards the Communist Party was still a little emotional, but as he read *** and Marxist-Leninist books, he gradually gained a deeper understanding and awareness of the Communist Party.
In August 1950, because of health problems, Zheng Dongguo went to Shanghai for medical treatment, and when he passed through Beijing, Xiao Jinguang and Xiao Hua specially invited him to dinner, and hoped that he could participate in the liberation of Taiwan.
However, although the reunification of the two sides of the strait was his wish, he felt that it was against his morality and integrity to meet his former comrades-in-arms, so he rejected the proposal after a long period of thought.
**When the Prime Minister learned that Zheng Dongguo had come to Beijing, he specially asked someone to convey his intention to invite him to dinner at home. Zheng Dongguo was very surprised when he learned the news, he didn't expect that the *** prime minister who had a lot of opportunities would still remember him, a Whampoa student twenty years ago.
At the appointed time, Zheng Dongguo arrived as scheduled, and another teacher from Huangpu was also present. ** Stood up, held Zheng Dongguo's hand tightly, and said cordially: "Welcome, we haven't seen each other for a long time, it's great to have the opportunity to get together today......Zheng Dongguo originally imagined various meeting scenarios, but he was a little surprised by the cordial attitude of the prime minister, and he was moved to tears, and only said after a while: "* For decades, I have always remembered your teachings.
On the eve of the liberation of Changchun, you also wrote to me personally, and I am very grateful to you and the Communist Party for your lenient policy. ”
** smiled and waved his hand: "Don't mention the past, it's good if you can come over, let's serve the people together in the future!" After taking his seat, he asked Zheng if he had any other acquaintances in Beijing.
Zheng Dongguo thought for a moment and mentioned a classmate named Li Qizhong in the first phase of Whampoa, the two have a deep friendship and are now in Beijing. ** Immediate response: "I know this person, he is a counselor of the Government Council. ”
Then arrange for the staff to invite Li Qizhong over. Soon, Li Qizhong arrived, and after the four of them met each other, the atmosphere was very warm. During the meal, ** inquired about Zheng Dongguo's health and family situation in detail, and finally cared about his future plans.
Zheng Dongguo was at a loss, he thought for a moment and said, "I don't have any other specialties, and I'm old, so I plan to go back to my hometown to farm." Li Qizhong, who was on the side, interjected: "You dare to call yourself old in front of me? ”
One sentence made everyone laugh. ** Immediately saw through the student's intentions and said kindly: "As a general of the uprising, how can you let you go home to farm?"
Moreover, you are not yet fifty years old, and there is still a lot of time to contribute more to the people. Nation-building has only just begun, and there is still a lot to be done. ”
Zheng Dongguo was deeply moved by his attitude, and he immediately said: "I am ready to go back to Shanghai ** first, deal with family affairs, and then follow the arrangement." ”
**After listening, he nodded: "Go home and rest first, and then come back when your body is well, don't be in a hurry." A few days later, Kim Il Sung sent Park Il-woo to Beijing to ask for assistance, because of the situation of the Korean War, everyone was not sure whether to send troops, and the opponent was the most advanced army in the world, and they had no bottom in their hearts.
At the critical moment, ** remembered Zheng Dongguo in the War of Resistance Against Japan, who served as the deputy commander-in-chief of the army stationed in India, and had a lot of contact with the Americans in India, so he could provide some ideas.
** Sent someone to invite Zheng Dongguo to his home and asked him about the joint operations of the Chinese army in India and the Allied forces in northern Burma during the Anti-Japanese War.
Zheng Dongguo gave a detailed introduction to the operational characteristics of the US and British armies, and he believed that the Americans mainly relied on the best to fight wars and were not good at hard battles. In order to prove this, he gave an example of when the Chinese and American armies were on a joint mission, when the American soldiers were tired of marching, they first threw away the ** and ammunition, and then began to ** the suit, and when they arrived at the destination, there was only one pants left, while the Chinese soldiers would not throw away anything no matter how hard and tired they were.
These American soldiers arrived at their destination without ** equipment and had to rely on airlift. I couldn't help but laugh after listening to it. What Zheng Dongguo told was mentioned at the meeting a few days later, and everyone was surprised by it and learned more about the US military.
In the winter of 1951, Zheng Dongguo went south to Shanghai for medical treatment, during which he wrote to Li Qizhong to express that when he saw the construction of the motherland in full swing, his heart was boiling, and he planned to visit Beijing during the Spring Festival.
After receiving the letter, Li Qizhong immediately reported the matter to ***, and then invited Zheng Dongguo to come to Beijing. On the eve of the Spring Festival in 1952, Zheng Dongguo came to Beijing as promised, and ** took time out of his busy schedule to meet with him and set up a banquet, which made Zheng Dongguo very moved.
During the conversation, Zheng Dongguo frankly reported to *** what he had seen and heard for more than a year, and expressed his willingness to devote himself to the construction of New China.
This is a matter of great congratulations, and I welcome you on behalf of all of you. Soon after the Spring Festival, Zheng Dongguo returned to Shanghai to arrange household chores, and in June, he moved his family to Beijing, and under the care of ***, Zheng Dongguo was able to be appointed as a counselor of the Ministry of Water Resources.
Before the opening of the first National People's Congress in 1954, ** proposed Zheng Dongguo to serve as a member of the National Defense Military Commission, with a position of a ninth-level cadre, a salary of more than 270 yuan, and a special car.
However, at that time, when New China had just been established and was in ruins, Zheng Dongguo took the initiative to propose that there was no longer a need for special cars, and asked for the salary level to be reduced, and finally reduced to 245 yuan.
Until his later years, his salary remained at this level and remained unchanged.
Zheng Dongguo received an invitation from *** and went to ***'s house as a guest, and he was both excited and nervous. After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, Chiang Kai-shek tried to promote Zheng Dongguo to the chief of the guard in the chamber, which was a rare opportunity for most people, but Zheng Dongguo did not hesitate to refuse, because he could not stand Chiang Kai-shek's roar.
This time he was a guest at ***'s house, and he was still a little uneasy in his heart. As soon as he arrived at the door, ** stood up and said cordially in a Hunan accent: "Zheng Dongguo, your name is so loud." ”
The ** and *** next to him also laughed. After sitting down, ** asked Zheng Dongguo if he smoked, and Zheng Dongguo replied that he smoked. ** The cigarette was placed on the sofa, and Zheng Dongguo also took out a preparation point.
At this time, ** stood up and took out a match to light a cigarette for him. This seemingly random action had a very far-reaching impact on Zheng Dongguo. Having worked under Chiang Kai-shek for decades, he had never seen Chiang Kai-shek behave like this.
Zheng Dongguo used to be respectful in front of Chiang Kai-shek, but when he was in front of ***, he immediately felt the difference between the two. After defection, he began to study Mao Xuan and Marxist theory at home, but due to his weak foundation, many things were difficult to understand.
So, he asked *** for advice, and ** told him that when he was in the workers' movement, he used to be bitter and anxious because of the indifference of the workers, but then he understood that only by putting down the shelves and changing his thinking and stance could he really win the hearts of the workers.
This remark made Zheng Dongguo suddenly open his mouth and deeply inspired, and it also influenced his life from then on, and began a real change in his position.
After 1976, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) returned to work, and Zheng Dongguo was elected vice chairman of the Revolutionary Committee of the Kuomintang in 1979.
In the 80s of the last century, many veterans of the former Kuomintang uprising and surrender troops hoped to implement the policy. Every week, a large number of old comrades-in-arms come to Zhengdong country for help.
These old comrades-in-arms neither ate nor drank, they lived in Zhengdong Country when they came, and they would take some clothes and money with them when they left. In addition to these old comrades-in-arms, there are many more old comrades-in-arms who ask Zheng Dongguo for help by writing letters, hoping that he can issue a certificate to prove their historical situation.
In order to send these letters, it costs more than 70 yuan per month for postage. Later, the Kuomintang Revolutionary Committee said that the fee would be paid by the government, but Zheng Dongguo refused.
He said that being able to save a little bit for the public is a little bit, and he also has some torment in his heart.
Fortunately, I followed the Communist Party for the rest of my life. Because the political philosophy of the Communist Party is almost the same as the one he had when he attended the Whampoa Military Academy, this made him find a spiritual home, and naturally he supported the Communist Party more.
On January 27, 1991, Zheng Dongguo died in Beijing at the age of 88. Before his death, Zheng Dongguo said with regret: "I have no regrets, but I have not seen the reunification of the motherland, and I hope that one day in the future, our country can be reunified, and then the national revolution can be regarded as a real success." ”