女人和土匪（英譯本）：共產黨人的誠與信

Chapter 18

 

Yang Yongchun looked embarrassed, rubbing his hands uneasily. He glanced at Tang Weiqi and the others. He knew they were waiting for him to speak. Then, he said:

“I am from the village of Dabazi in Maoli Mountain of Duyun. What do you mean by place of origin?”

Yang’s word incurred a fit of laughter from the people present. Then, Tang Weiqi told him patiently, “Dear brother, the public security workers meant to ask you about your ancestors’ origin.”

Yang answered, “I was born in the village of Dabazi in Maoli Mountain, so where were my parents born? Don’t you know that? Your mom!”

Comrade Li paused for a while, asking, “What do you mean by ‘your mom’? Are you cursing us?”

Yang replied, “How could I curse you since we are not enemies? Your mom!”

Comrade Gao said, “Let’s stop quarreling. The word ‘son of turtle’ in Sichuan dialect, the word ‘big me’ in Guizhou dialect, and the word ‘your mom’ are all dirty words. Comrade Li, take that word easy. Ok. Your place of origin is the village of Dabazi in Maoli Mountain. What are the names of your parents? What’s their occupation?”

Yang said, “My parents were both farmers. They had no land. My dad died when I was seven, and my mom died when I was nine. I only remember the villagers called my dad Yang Dingding, and my mom Madame Yang. That’s all.”

Comrade Gao said while writing, “That means you’re from a farmer’s family. That’s a good birth. Are you married? Do you have any kids?”

Yang looked frustrated. He scratched his head and murmured, “Yes, I was once married, but…”

The two public security workers got alert. Zhang Yunxuan knew why Yang paused, saying, “Director Yan is familiar with Yang’s affairs. Yang once poured out his bitterness at the meeting of reorganizing the surrendered army.”

Comrade Li admired Yang for his heroic acts of saving Director Yan, urging, “Since it’s your ‘bitterness’, it means it’s an affair of class exploitation. That’s glorious to tell it in the new society, isn’t it? Why do you hesitate to tell us about it?”

Zhang Yunxuan said, “There are kids here. It’s not good to tell it before them. I think it’s better to ask the kids to leave here first.”

“Ok,” Comrade Gao said to Zhang Zhong and Zhang Yong beside Dai Min, “please go out for fun.” Zhang Yan felt it interesting to listen to adults’ stories. He was dragged away reluctantly by a maidservant.

The kids left, but Yang still kept silent. Zhang Yunxuan had a sip of tea, saying that it was not good to tell all about Yang’s affair, which had not been known until the meeting of reorganizing the surrendered army.

In November 1949, Zhang Yunxuan’s army announced to break away from the Kuomintang rule in Guizhou. They were reorganized. The officers had to face the blaming and reprimanding from the soldiers every day. That made many people restless.

The officers and soldiers blamed and fought against each other as a result. Zhang Yunxuan thought this was against the agreement reached between the Communists and him when they decided to join the Communist troops.

In the early days after liberation, the negotiations for uprising between Director Yan and Zhang Yunxuan became successful with the help of Mr. Song a secret Communist and Tang Weiqi. Yan Zhengfu was the head of the Communist delegation. He made it clear: As long as the Kuomintang army stopped fighting against the Communists and joined the Communist army, they would have equal treatment as the PLA soldiers, and they would not be punished for their past wrongdoing; those unwilling to join the Communist army could go back home with some economic compensations, and those willing to join the Communist army would be reorganized.

So, wasn’t the criticism campaign within the uprising army a violation of the agreement made? Uprising and surrender were different! In fact, there were only two results for any war: the winners were kings, whereas the losers were servants.

Mr. Song remarked when he introduced Director Yan to Zhang Yunxuan, “The Communist and Kuomintang armies have fought for decades. It’s time to make peace. A united China is better than a divided China. A peaceful nation is better than a violent nation. Peace is better than war!”

Director Yan also remarked, “Mr. Song is right. The Chinese people cannot afford to shed blood any longer.”

Zhang Yunxuan was then a colonel. He was aware that Jiang Jieshi’s rule was on the verge of collapse. He had discussed with his wife about the time and place for escape. But Mr. Song had been their chamberlain for over a decade and taught Zhang Yan for a long time. They treated Mr. Song as their family member. They asked him about the decision to be made. Mr. Song persuaded them to stay.

Tang Weiqi was a devout Christian. She opposed to violence and blood-shedding. She knew from Mr. Song that there was no poverty, oppression, and vile under the rule of the Communists, and that everyone would enjoy freedom and equality in the new society. She was moved. She decided to stay. She also urged her husband to lay down arms for uprising. She told Zhang Yunxuan on the phone:

“Mr. Song says Communism is good for us. I think that the Communists are idealists. They can sacrifice for the happiness of most people like Jesus. Why should we escape to another country or the lonely island of Taiwan for the so-called peace? Why not stay in new China?”

Tang Weiqi was not willing to leave, neither was Zhang Yan. Zhang Yunxuan could not leave without them. Zhang was a person with a strong sense of national interest. He agreed to sign an agreement of uprising with Director Yan.

In fact, Zhang was aware that the uprising army could hardly get fair treatment. History had told him a lot, whether in Europe or Asia.

Zhang drank with the others while worrying about the future.

The agreement of uprising was signed. Director Yan shook Zhang’s hands with his thin and rough hands, saying, “Comrade Zhang, you have made great contributions to the peaceful liberation of Guizhou.”

Zhang was aware that he had nothing to show off given that the Kuomintang rule was over. The self-criticism campaign within the uprising army and the numerous “rescue” efforts made by the Communist leaders to him seemed like a dagger hurting him deeply. Zhang was sorry for the sense of trust in the early years of new China.