Chapter 55

The provincial leadership paid much attention to the issue of the Zhang’s. They asked the people from public security offices, commerce chamber and political consultation conference to join the discussions. There was a stove of charcoal in the middle of the conference room. The discussions ranged from the grenade to Zhang Yunxuan’s resignation and Tang’s conflicts with the public security workers on the issue of Christianity. This was a special historical moment, and the anti-reactionary campaigns became important.

Yan thought a lot. The conference covered many topics, and he just worried about the Zhang’s. Zhang was a Kuomintang general as well as a revolutionary. That made the issue complicated!

Zhang had not done anything bad against the government. He even gave his shops, factories and companies to the workers. In fact, Zhang was a good citizen. There should be no excuse in questioning his integrity. That would only intensify the conflicts between the Communists and non-Communist democrats, Yan thought. But everybody was staring at Yan. He was aware that his opinion should be delivered with caution.

The Communists in this time seemed to take an extreme position against the old-times officers and rulers. They just thought revolution was right, and violence for the sake of revolution was nothing to blame for. In contrast, if anyone showed sympathy to the old-times rulers and officers, he might be accused in political positions. He would be regarded as a reactionary and even seriously punished.

This was the logic of political leadership at this time. This caused bad consequences.

Zhang might not realize the consequences of such illegal way of leadership. He resigned for fear of being accused of not understanding revolution. He was once a high-ranking officer, and of course it was hard for him to live a common life now. There should be a period of time for him to change his way of living. Yan realized that Zhang’s refusal of changing his way of living might make him suffer: he might be considered as a traitor instead of a revolutionary!

Yan was sympathetic for Zhang. Yet, he was a Communist. He had to treat the issue of the Zhang’s according to political points of view. He could not lose his standpoint.

Yan was aware that Zhang had been wronged. If Zhang had wanted to betray the Communists, he would not have taken the uprising. If he wanted to act as an agent of the Kuomintang, what was the point? Yan had talked with Zhang before, and knew there were once many chances for him to rebel against the Communists. But he had not. His wife and he believed that China would have a bright future.

He recalled that the day his mother-in-law and his children came to Guiyang, Zhang mentioned a lot about his worries and frustrations. He was aware that Zhang had indicated his dangerous situation. He thought Zhang trusted him, or he would not have given Tang Yin’s painting to him for care. Zhang’s worries stemmed from the present political situation.

Just imagine how many old-times officers and landlords would feel frightened at the present situation given Zhang’s worries. Zhang as a general who took the uprising would not oppose the government, but the act of some of the Communist leaders might hurt him and his family. Yan felt sorry for that. He had promised to Zhang that he would live a peaceful life in the new society, but the promise could hardly be realized.

Even a village head or township governor in the present society could decide over the others’ lives. That was bad for a legal society, Yan thought. The Communists should lead the public in getting a good life, and care and kindness should replace violence and indifference.

At the conference, there were a number of views. Some suggested arresting Zhang and Tang, while the others suggested arranging a job for Zhang. At this time, Yan’s gaze met Mr. Song’s.

Song and Yan had known each other for a long time. Song used to be an underground Communist, arranging for Zhang’s uprising. He was much respected and addressed as “Mr. Song.”

The other day, Mr. Song went to the Zhang’s for Tang’s refusal of talking about the problems related to the Christianity Association.

A man from the Department of Public Security asked, “Who is Song Xisheng?”

Even the Provincial Communist Secretary asked, “Who is Song Xisheng?”

Yan answered, “Mr. Song is Song Xisheng.”

The communist secretary laughed. Then, he stressed the importance of investigating the issue of the grenade. The Communists’ policy was rescue and help, but it did not mean anarchism. In another word, there should be no reactionaries in the revolutionary team, he said. Then, he asked, “Did the Provincial Commerce Chamber give Zhang Chairman Mao’s works for reading?”

The aide answered, “Yes.”

Then, the leader went on after a sip of tea, “I hear that Zhang’s wife is a Christian, and she is much opposed to revolution. She still sings a high praise of Christianity, and refuses to confess her relations with the foreign priests. Please let Mr. Song tell her: it doesn’t work for her to refuse to obey the government’s orders; it is not easy to win over Zhang, but more difficult to reform him.”

Yan was puzzled. He wondered what standards they should adopt in the united front work. Yan found Mr. Song raise his head, and knew he wanted to say something. Thus, he said, “Mr. Song, please tell us your view.”

Song had some pressures at this time. He was from the Zhang’s. He thought he had separated from them, but it was not so. He had been well treated in the Zhang’s. If Zhang had not taken the uprising, Song would not have lived a good life and enjoyed a high rank in the government. Both Songand Yan realized the importance of the Zhang’s for the Communists’ united front work.

Mr. Song said, “According to my talk with Zhang and his wife, the main problem is that Zhang is not used to the new society yet, and he is not used to working with a military representative. Sometimes, the military representative has been rash and impolite, and curses a lot. That is not good for the work.”

“What nonsense!” The public security leader remarked. “Is this the Kuomintang’s or Communist government? Should we cater to Zhang’s needs? I think the problem lies in whether Zhang is willing to be led by the Communists. I wonder where Mr. Song’s standpoint is.”

Song was shocked at this. He was sorry for his losing the political position.

Finding Mr. Song awkward, the Provincial Communist Secretary said, “Mr. Song just told his view. It’s not good to blame him for that.”

But the public security leader did not yield. He glared at Mr. Song, questioning, “Is there any point for the Communists to yield to the Kuomintang? He even said that Zhang and we are in the same family. What nonsense! I don’t think there is any point for holding the meeting.”

Mr. Song got excited and coughed a lot. The Provincial Communist Secretary and Yan helped him to relax and asked for a doctor.

The meeting ended in a chaos. The Department of Public Security ordered that a search be made to the Zhang’s house. The Provincial Communist Secretary was somehow annoyed at the public security leader’s acts, but he was aware that he could not stand by Tang who opposed to the government. He thought it might be better to take a compromised view. Thus, he remarked:

“Why should we make a decision in such a hurry? I think we should give the Zhang’s a month before we take any actions.”

The public security leader sat there, replying, “We don’t care whether Zhang will work in the office. We decide that Tang must come to the public security office before the New Year’s Day.”

The Provincial Communist Secretary asked, “What date is today?”

His secretary answered, “December 7.”

The public security leader said, “We’ll have the matter settled within this month.”

The Provincial Communist Secretary made no response. But Yan wondered why they should give 7 days less to the Zhang’s. For Yan, 7 days were important. They should not distort the superiors’ orders in that way. This time difference might have big consequences.