Section Three Report

  The arrival of Director Zhou not only made Zhuang Jihua see a "bright future", but also made Jiang Xianyun feel a "bright future". Although the first branch of the Communist Party of China in Huangpu was established in August, it was directly led by the Guangdong District Committee. However, within the party, there seemed to be no enthusiasm for developing organizations in the military, except for organizing personnel to take the entrance exam for Huangpu Military Academy, the instructions from the Guangdong District Committee to the Huangpu branch were only to study hard, unite with classmates, and counter right-wing speeches.

  Chiang Xianyun even sometimes thought that the superior leaders did not seem to value military work and were unwilling to develop organizations within the army. In fact, this idea of his was somewhat close to the mainstream consciousness of the high-level Communist Party at the time.

  Chen Duxiu once published an article believing that the revolution led by Sun Yat-sen failed because it was too focused on the military and ignored mobilizing the masses. This understanding became the mainstream opinion within the party at the time, and after the cooperation between the KMT and the CPC, the Communist Party gave up its development in the military and organized young party members to take the entrance exam for Whampoa Military Academy mainly to politically support Sun Yat-sen's reorganization of the Nationalist Party. The party's work was mainly focused on propaganda.

  Not only did Jiang Xianyun have this sense of loss, but also Yang Qigang and Li Zhiyong, who had access to the high levels within the party. Jiang Xianyun didn't know what attitude the new political commissar would take, but he felt that since Director Zhou was able to come and take up the post of political commissar at the military academy, it showed that the party's work in the army was beginning to change, so that night he eagerly sought out Director Zhou to report on his work.

  The political department is located on the first floor of the office building to the east. In the past, few people came to the political department, and when Shao Yuan-chong was in charge of the political department, he lived in Guangzhou City and took a boat back to the city after class every day. The staff of the political department had an independent office, just opposite the director's room, and Secretary Gan Nai-guang happily enjoyed this office alone, because there was only one secretary, staff member, and political instructor in the political department, and he didn't live here either.

  The first term is almost over, and the political department has hardly organized any activities. The debate team and drama club are all self-organized by students. The political department responsible for propaganda and mobilization has become the most unfamiliar department to military school students.

  Jiang Xianyun meticulously followed the military school regulations and saluted Director Zhou. The latter was reading a document under the lamp, taking notes with his pen on a piece of paper, looked up and saw him, saying: "Comrade Xianyun has arrived, please sit down, just wait for a moment, I'll be done soon."

  Jiang Xianyun looked around the room, simple, this was his first impression of the office.

  The space was divided into two parts by a screen, the right side occupying about two-thirds of it. This was obviously Director Zhou's office area. On this side of the office, there were two sofas against the wall, with a small tea table in between holding four or five teacups, and two rattan chairs opposite them. Behind the screen, a bed could be vaguely seen, with what seemed to be a writing desk at its head.

  After a while, Director Zhou put down his pen, stood up, saw Jiang Xianyun sitting there, and walked over to pour water for him, saying: "Sorry, you came here for the first time, but I made you wait so long."

  "The director is busy with work, it's right that we should wait. I'll get it myself." Jiang Xianyun stood up and reached out to take the water bottle.

  Director Zhou waved his hand, indicating for him to sit down: "Sit down, don't be polite."

  Putting down the water bottle, Director Zhou sat on the sofa and said: "Comrade Xianyun, I've just arrived and am not familiar with the situation in the military school. Although comrades from the Guangdong District Committee have introduced some things to me, many details are unclear to them as well. You are the secretary of the first branch directly under Huangpu, I'd like to hear your views."

  "Director Zhou, I came here today just to report on my work," said Jiang Xianyun.

  Jiang Xianyun then reported to Director Zhou on the work of the Huangpu branch since its establishment, including the Blood Flower Drama Society and the Youth Military Representatives Conference.

  "Director Zhou said calmly, 'Comrade Xianyun, what instructions did the higher authorities give to the Huangpu branch?' From his expression, it was impossible to discern any tendency."

  "When the branch was established, we were instructed to study hard, unite with our classmates, and oppose the rightists. Later, there were some specific instructions for the Blood Flower Drama Society, that the programs should be more revolutionary, not only performed within the school but also taken to other schools and among workers and peasants. According to the district committee's instructions, Li Zhi-long took the drama society to perform at the Agricultural Lecture Hall, Normal School, and the General Labor Union." answered Jiang Xianyun.

  "Superior instructions are correct," said Director Zhou: "What ideas do you have for the next stage of work?"

  "As for the next stage of work," Jiang Xianyun felt that since Director Zhou took office as the Secretary of Guangdong Provincial Committee, Director Zhou's attitude towards Huangpu was obviously different from his predecessor, not just emphasizing but extremely emphasizing.

  "In the next stage, I think our work center should revolve around the Youth Military Representative Conference, using this organization to unite more fellow students and also expand the influence of our party in the military."

  "En, very good, this thinking is correct. The Youth Military Representative Conference should become a powerful organization of our party and must be firmly grasped. In addition to this, we also need to publish a publication as the organ newspaper of the representative conference."

  "Your work is mainly focused on the Youth Military Alliance, and the Blood Flower Drama Society's work will be handled by Li Zhi Long. We need to produce more plays with clear revolutionary ideas. That Northern Expedition play I saw was very good, very moving, who wrote it?"

  "That was written by Zhuang Wen'ge, that was our first program, and the Blood Flower Drama Society came from it." Jiang Xiayun then explained the origin of the name of the drama society.

  "Hehe, the Cultural Revolution still has such energy, it's not simple." Director Zhou asked.

  "Wen Ge was a talented person, and his political attitude was moderate. On the one hand, he did not agree with some of our party's policies, but on the other hand, he firmly supported the cooperation between the KMT and the CPC." Jiang Xianyun carefully recalled Zhuang Jihua's words and then recounted some of his remarks from the teahouse to their dormitory.

  "These are all his words!" Director Zhou was surprised and found it hard to believe that such a young man could utter these words, which required profound theoretical cultivation and long-term practical experience to summarize.

  Director Zhou was silently pondering, he vaguely felt that Zhuang Jihua's point of view, although different from the party's understanding, did not seem malicious, but if he agreed with this point of view, many major policies of the party would have to be changed, and he was uncertain.

  After a moment of contemplation, he slowly said to Jiang Xianyun: "I'm not quite clear whether his views are correct or incorrect, and they need to be tested in practice. You should continue to influence him, even if you can't make him change his views and join our party, but at least prevent him from sliding to the right."

  Pausing for a moment, Director Zhou said: "However, your main job is still the Youth Military Representative Conference. Hurry up and publish the Chinese Soldier Newspaper. In addition, the Political Department is short of people. I have suggested to Principal Chiang that you, Li Zhi-long, Yang Qi-gang, Hong Jian-xiong and other comrades be transferred to work in the Political Department as trainee cadres. Principal Chiang has already agreed."

  Rumor has it that he will be working in the political department, Jiang Xianyun is very excited. This Director Zhou is back from France and has even been to Marx's hometown Germany. Being able to work under his direct leadership, his own progress will definitely be rapid. After the excitement, Jiang Xianyun suddenly thought of Zhuang Jihua's words, and a wave of unease surged up in his heart again, hesitating whether or not to tell Director Zhou.

  Director Zhou noticed Jiang Xianyun's change in demeanor and asked: "What's wrong, is there something else on your mind? Is it just temporary to the political department?"

  "No," said Director Jiang Xianyun finally decided to speak out, because once Zhuang Jihua's judgment was established, the party could take measures, so Jiang Xianyun reported Zhuang Jihua's words truthfully.

  Director Zhou raised an eyebrow and said: "Comrade Xianyun, it seems you have great faith in Zhuang Jihua's judgment."

  Jiang Xianyun was taken aback by these words, and then came to his senses. Had he been too trusting of Wenge's judgment? But why would it be like this? Jiang Xianyun thought back to his interactions with Zhuang Jihua, from Xuande's father to Shangtuan and Sun Zhongshan's northern expedition - Wenge's judgments had all been accurate, and his political sensitivity was even sharper than his own. Based on intuition, he believed that Wenge wouldn't say such things without reason.

  Director Zhou saw his change in expression, seemingly aware of his change in mood. However, he also developed a strong interest in Zhuang Jihua and said: "Let's talk about Zhuang Jihua, it seems he has had a great influence on you."

  Jiang Xianyun silently nodded in acknowledgement, then proceeded to recount and analyze the events from Zhuang Jihua's handling of the Xuanxue incident to Deng Yingda's recent resignation, detailing each outcome. Finally, he said: "From my understanding of the Cultural Revolution, he always acts with a purpose, and when he says these things, he always uses his eyes to remind me. I think he is reminding me of something about the Party. What I don't understand is what exactly he is trying to remind me of."

  Director Zhou now understands why Jiang Xianyun attaches so much importance to Zhuang Jihua's words. If the understanding of China's revolutionary path is still just an empty and vague theoretical issue, then these accurate judgments are almost divine. It would be strange if Jiang Xianyun were not affected by them. What is strange is that such a talented district committee did not remind him when introducing the situation?

  "What did he want to remind us of?" This question also lingered in Director Zhou's mind.

  "Tomorrow afternoon you and Zhuang Jihua come to the Political Department, we will have a detailed discussion about the issue of the Young Military Representatives Conference."

  Then Director Zhou asked the students about their reaction to the current political class, what requirements they had for the work of the Political Department, and various activities in the military school. Director Zhou's questions were very detailed, which was exactly what Jiang Xianyun usually paid attention to, and it would be difficult for someone else to answer if they came.

  Almost at the same time, a conversation was also taking place in Chiang Kai-shek's residence.

  ….

  "Principal, what does Wen Ge mean by saying this? Has he joined the Communist Party?"

  "No, this is what I learned from the Americans. The United States practices this kind of two-party alternating governance, and he grew up in the United States, naturally influenced." Chiang Kai-shek believed in his own judgment, Zhuang Jihua was a pragmatist, and would never believe in the empty and vague communism.