Chapter 12 The Red Army's Claims

  Chen Haisong then came to the Tunmen captives in Huozhou, "First of all, thank you for your support and help to the Red Army. Without your assistance and guidance, we really couldn't have handled these horses."

  "Haven't you two been wronged in any way these past couple of days?"

  Han Zhongliang hastily said "Your army is very kind and didn't make things difficult for everyone."

  Everyone used to fight with the Red Army because of Ma Bufang's reactionary propaganda, he has always been slandering and vilifying us.

  He said we have green faces and fangs, and eat human flesh raw, is that right?

  He said we killed back to destroy the religion, did we kill people outside the battlefield? Did you forbid us from praying? Were we forced to eat pork? No!

  Because the Red Army is an armed force of the people, and you are also ordinary peasants who have been oppressed by the landlords and cannot make a living.

  The Red Army has strict discipline, lofty ideals, and a strong fighting spirit. They fight bravely, don't you all have personal experience with this?

  Han Zhongliang nodded sincerely and said: "Your army is righteous, your army is brave, we are very admiring, from now on we will never be enemies with your army again."

  "The Red Army comes from the toiling masses, who were oppressed before joining the army. We are very resentful of the reactionary gentry and evil tyrants who oppress good people. Generally, we will confiscate their grain and property, distribute them to the surrounding masses, confiscate their land and give it to landless peasants, and shoot those evil tyrants who have committed many crimes and are hated by the people."

  The Red Army was ruthless to the landlords and wealthy merchants, but never beat or scolded the masses, nor did they seize their property. As a result, they were very popular among the common people, who regarded us as heavenly soldiers and generals who punished the wicked and helped the poor.

  Otherwise, we would not have developed dozens of bases and hundreds of thousands of Red Army soldiers in just a few years. It's not like Ma Bufang said that innocent people were killed indiscriminately and villages were slaughtered.

  We pursue the ideal of communism, believe in Marxism, and aim to establish a society without exploitation or oppression in China. Let every Chinese person, including all ethnic groups living on Chinese soil, have enough food to eat, warm clothes to wear, land to farm, and houses to live in; let the country be prosperous and the people happy - isn't this good?

  This is good for the ordinary people, but it's a disaster for those big landlords and bourgeoisie. They don't allow the oppressed and enslaved peasants to turn over and become masters. They don't allow the feudal system that has maintained the interests of the landlord class for thousands of years to be overthrown. They regard us as beasts and hunt us down everywhere, saying we are rebellious, communist, wife-sharing, inhumane, and nationalist annihilators. You are all being deceived.

  We came here just to get to Xinjiang, to receive a batch of Soviet aid materials, and had no intention of being enemies with Muslim brothers. It was the Ma family army that was used by Chiang Kai-shek to surround and intercept us all the way, refusing to let go, and slaughtering thousands of our soldiers.

  "I hope you will introduce the Red Army truthfully among Muslim brothers in the future, and introduce our propositions."

  "Definitely."

  We are a party representing the interests of all ethnic groups in China. In our eyes, all ethnic groups in China are equal members of the big family of the Chinese nation.

  We resolutely oppose Great Han chauvinism, oppose discrimination, exploitation and oppression against minority nationalities. We respect your religious beliefs, respect your living habits, respect your good wishes for national autonomy. As long as the democratic revolution led by us wins victory throughout the country, everything I have said will become a reality, not far from now, everyone can wait and see.

  But we also resolutely oppose the implementation of feudal armed separatism in minority areas, like Ma Bufang's cruel oppression of Han and Hui compatriots at home, exhausting his troops abroad, making enemies with neighboring ethnic groups, and treating Qinghai, Gansu, and Ningxia as his own fiefdom. This is not helping Muslim compatriots gain respect, but rather will put Muslims on the opposite side of the country, becoming a social scourge that any central government must eliminate.

  I do not wish for the vast numbers of Hui compatriots to be hoodwinked by their reactionary propaganda and become sacrifices for Ma Bufang's personal family ambitions.

  To put an end to this senseless civil war, to save more lives of the Red Army and Ma's troops, and to preserve some vitality and living forces for the Chinese nation against foreign aggression, we will take action to prompt both sides to cease fire as soon as possible and negotiate peacefully.

  I hope you can join in, which is beneficial to both parties. I can guarantee that you will not be asked to slaughter your Muslim brothers, but only do some communication and liaison work.

  "We will try to minimize unnecessary casualties on both sides in the battle, and treat other Ma family soldiers as we do you. After obtaining true peace, all Ma family soldiers will be released."

  Han Zhongliang, as a member of the upper class in the Hui ethnic group, fully accepted Chen Haishan's description of the current situation and future. He sincerely said: "I personally deeply agree with Comrade Chen's party policy, and I am also deeply worried about the future of Muslims."

  We are all peasants who work at home, with parents and wives and children at home. No one wants to throw their lives away here. It can be seen that Comrade Chen Zhengde really regards us Muslims as brothers and is concerned about our future. I am willing to provide assistance.

  "But I cannot join your army, otherwise, all my family members will suffer in prison. Please understand this bitter situation, sir."

  Chen Haisong was very satisfied with his statement and immediately said: "I fully understand and fully respect, I will not enlist you into the army, nor will I restrict your freedom. You will communicate with Muslim brothers who are about to enter the prisoner-of-war camp as prisoners of war."

  You are a bridge between the two armies of Han and Hui, spreading our views, introducing the Red Army's national policy, eliminating the estrangement and misunderstanding between the two armies.

  I also hope you trust us and don't take the opportunity to escape or intentionally sabotage our actions. Not participating is fine, but if you do participate, you must obey my army's command; otherwise, don't blame me for enforcing battlefield discipline." "Those who want to participate, please sign up."

  Walking out of captivity, Chen Haisong was delighted. Ma Bufang's brutal rule was actually unpopular among the people, including ordinary people from his own ethnic group and Muslims from the Dongxiang, Bao'an and Salar ethnic groups who were exploited to the point of poverty.

  He was ambitious but had a weak foundation, only barely holding on with the support of powerful military force and religion. As long as the myth of his invincibility is broken and Muslim masses come to realize his selfish intentions and the terrible consequences, the basis of his reactionary rule will inevitably be shaken. The collective decision of 178 people to help the Red Army has already broken history and explained the problem.

  He ordered Li Yi to send 90 team members from the guard platoon to Dujiabao to hand over to Wang Dayong, one for each class, to help soldiers learn to feed horses, walk horses, ride horses, speak Qinghai dialect, and manage them centrally in peacetime. They were called the Muslim detachment first company, and they had to respect their religious beliefs and living habits, not discriminate against them, and not take revenge.

  He then took the remaining 88 men to form the second company of the Muslim battalion, and assigned them to each squad to help feed horses, tame horses, ride horses, increase mutual understanding, eliminate estrangement, and learn Qinghai dialect.

  After dealing with the prisoners, he came to the combat room. Zhang Zhenyu and Liu Gang were studying the maps of Zhangye and Linze, occasionally making notes on paper.

  He walked over, pulled up a stool and sat down quietly, watching and listening.

  As a serving chief of staff from modern times, he understands that the general staff is the brain of the modern army, and staff work is the soul of the troops. The headquarters staff system shoulders the functions of planning and guiding the construction and organization of the troops and commanding operations, with an important position and great responsibility.

  Staff officers should be responsible both upwards and downwards, they must care about the grassroots level, sympathize with the officers and men, and help solve practical difficulties.

  Staff work undertakes a large number of organizational coordination tasks, must be meticulous in planning and organization, good at communication and coordination, actively and steadily handle complex and tense situations, with strong executive power.

  Staff work is fast-paced, fully loaded and highly efficient. It requires staff officers to be diligent, meticulous and maintain a high morale and full enthusiasm for their work at all times.

  The Red Army had established its own staff system very early on, learning from the Soviet experience. However, due to complex historical reasons, this effective command and management system eventually evolved into a mouthpiece for party and government leaders.

  In comparison, the German army's rigorous and efficient staff system at all levels can guarantee to the greatest extent that all combat actions and plans are scientific and rational, minimize unknown risks, and maximize effectiveness.

  Thanks to this, the German army achieved astonishing results in two world wars with one country against all of Europe.

  To continuously develop and grow, to win without fail, the headquarters must play its role to the greatest extent possible, supporting and encouraging departmental staff to boldly plan and make scientific decisions.

  "Commissar, you've arrived. This is our drafted plan for the surprise attack on Zhangye. Please review it." Zhang Zhenyu's words interrupted Chen Haisong's thoughts.

  He took the few pages of paper and casually placed them on the table, saying: "I just came to take a look, didn't expect it to be done so quickly, your efficiency is very high. Let's talk about the main links."