Zhou Bin’s heroic deeds

Zhou Bin entered a rural school at the age of 9, was admitted to the high school attached to Nanjing Jinling University at the age of 16, and later transferred to Suining County Middle School Normal School. I often read progressive books and periodicals such as "Morning News", "New Youth" and "The Communist Manifesto". At the age of 19, he went to Nanjing to study. He was expelled for participating in the "Students Association" and organizing students to oppose the school authorities. He was accused of "making trouble". He returned to his hometown at the age of 20 and joined the peasant movement.

He participated in Zhangwei’s struggle against government rent. In March 1929, under the leadership of the party organization, Zhou Bin persuaded his grandfather to free up five houses in his family to run a school. He allowed the children of poor farmers to attend school for free, and his family was solely responsible for the living expenses of teachers and students from poor families. This primary school was actually a cover for Zhou Bin and others to carry out revolutionary activities. The classroom is used for students to attend classes during the day and is used as a gathering place for farmers at night, providing convenience for carrying out the work of the farmers' movement.

In the spring of 1932, according to the instructions of the Jiangsu Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Suining County Committee decided to launch the Qutou Maqian riot. County Party Secretary Lu Zhuozhi and others went to Zhou Bin's house many times to hold meetings to study the riots. After confirming the victory of the Qutou Maqian uprising, they mobilized the Huanghetao armed forces and established political power. If the uprising failed, they would go to Jiuding Mountain to establish a revolutionary base.

Zhou Bin is the organizer and leader of this riot. A series of preparations were made before the riot. He held party member meetings, cadre meetings, armed training team members, and borrowed more than 20 guns. A large number of slogans and leaflets were mimeographed and written and posted everywhere. The slogans include: Overthrow the local tyrants and evil gentry, carry out agrarian revolution, establish red armed forces, etc.

In the early morning of April 17, 1932, the riot members gathered at the designated location. In the name of holding a school board meeting, Zhou Bin called school director Zhu Shouhong to Qutou Elementary School and ordered him to hand over the guns at home. When Zhu refused to hand over his gun, Zhou Bin slammed the table, and the people ambush in the inner room swarmed up and tied up Zhu Shouhong. The reactionary landlord Liang Dezhong did not arrive at the meeting. Zhou Bin quickly led his team members to rush into his house, opened the granary, distributed food and clothing to poor farmers, and burned the land deeds in public. The team members rushed into Zhu Shouhong's house and distributed food and supplies to the poor. They also confiscated all the guns, ammunition, horses, etc. belonging to the Liang and Zhu families. Zhou Bin personally led the team members to his home and distributed food and property to the people. The Qutou riot won its first battle. Then, Zhou Bin led the rioters to attack the Ma Qian Township Office. However, due to the rebellion of the landlord elements who had sneaked into the party, the riot failed in a situation where the enemy was strong and we were weak.

The reactionary Kuomintang authorities offered a reward of 5,000 silver dollars to capture Zhou Bin. For his safety, the party organization transferred him away from Suining and continued his revolutionary struggle in other places. Later he was transferred to the Xuzhou Special Committee. In June 1933, Zhou Bin was arrested due to a traitor's informant. Facing the fierce enemy, Zhou Bin acted uprightly. The enemy asked the traitor to persuade Zhou Bin to surrender. Zhou Bin pointed at the traitor's nose and cursed: "Coward, spineless, shameless!" When the enemy learned that Zhou Bin's grandfather was running around in Xuzhou to rescue Zhou Bin, he deliberately said: "As long as Zhou Bin looks back, we will never stop." If he joins the Communist Party, he will be allowed to go home and die with his master." After Zhou Bin received his grandfather's letter of persuasion, he immediately wrote back: "Sir, you can go home in peace and take care of the housework. Don't stay in Xuzhou for a long time and waste your energy. It’s a waste of Sichuan money.”

Torture, coercion, and inducements are of no use to Zhou Bin. On the afternoon of July 30, 1933, Zhou Bin was taken to the execution ground. On the way, the enemy also said to Zhou Bin: "Mr. Zhou, as long as you turn your back, even if you surrender, we will release you immediately." However, Zhou Bin held his head high and said loudly: "I am afraid of death if I am not a Communist Party member!" When he died, Zhou Bin stood proudly and shouted: "Down with the Kuomintang reactionaries!" "Long live the Communist Party of China!"