Zhang Kunzhai’s personal experience

Zhang Kunzhai, formerly known as Debian, also known as Jiejie and Kunzhe, was from Beilun District, Ningbo City. Born on June 11, 1914 in Yaqian Village, Xiaogang. His father, Zhang Changling, is the manager of Shanghai Dexing Bank, and his family life is relatively comfortable. When he was young, he went to Shanghai with his parents and studied in the primary school affiliated with Shibei Middle School. On May 30, 1925, Zhang Kunzhai and his brother Zhang Chengzong were walking eastward from Tibet Road on Nanjing Road when they saw a parade of workers and students coming west from the Bund. There were about 10,000 people, waving small flags and shouting " Down with imperialism" slogan. The two brothers stood at the door of the Baocheng Silver Building on the west side of the Laozha patrol house. They saw with their own eyes that the British patrol opened fire and killed workers and students, killing 13 people and seriously injuring 15 others. This was the "May 30th Massacre" that shocked China and the world. 11-year-old Zhang Kunzhai was immediately excited and rushed home to tell his family excitedly. The whole family pooled their money, and he bought bread and biscuits. He went to the Laozha patrol room and entered through the back door to express condolences to the detained patriotic youth. The anti-imperialist struggle of the Shanghai people woke him up from his comfortable life and peaceful study, and he received a profound revolutionary education. From then on, he set his youthful ambition to fight against the imperialist reactionaries.

As his father died of illness in his prime and his family gradually declined, Zhang Kunzhai moved back to his hometown with his mother in 1926 and studied at Zhenhai County Middle School (today’s Zhenhai Middle School). At that time, there was also a revolutionary trend in Zhenhai. Rou Shi (Zhao Pingfu) was the academic director of the school. Under his influence, Kunzhai began to read progressive books and receive revolutionary enlightenment education. He often studied with some like-minded classmates. He loves reading literary and artistic books, from classical literature to progressive novels in translation, and never puts them down. When he saw the disparity between the rich and the poor in society, and whenever the rich and powerful bullied the weak, he stood up to fight against injustice. In 1927, the "April 12" counter-revolutionary coup in Shanghai spread to Ningbo and Zhenhai. Hu Jiaoqin, the principal of the county primary school, was killed. Kunzhai's cousin, a member of the Communist Party and a teacher at the school, was also arrested. This made him see the true face of Chiang Kai-shek's counterrevolutionary, and at the same time he also realized that there will be revolution if there is a revolution. Sacrifice, the young boy Kunzhai is mentally prepared to sacrifice everything for the revolution.

In 1929, Zhang Kunzhai graduated from junior high school and was admitted to Ningbo Industrial School. He attended high school for one year. In 1930, he dropped out of Shanghai and worked at Xintai Bank. He started as a trainee and gradually rose to Sales clerk. On January 28, 1932, Japan brazenly attacked Shanghai, and people from all walks of life set off an anti-Japanese upsurge. Kunzhai actively participated in the anti-Japanese and national salvation movement, soliciting donations from relatives and friends, buying condolences, writing letters of condolence, and expressing condolences to the frontline soldiers. Together with his colleagues in the banking industry, he promoted anti-Japanese and national salvation, aroused the public, and opposed the reactionary policies of the Kuomintang government that betrayed the country and surrendered and suppressed the people. He also pooled money with several patriotic young people to edit and publish the bimonthly magazine "Pomegranate", which means red flowers blooming and red seeds, symbolizing support for the Communist Party. Kunzhai actively wrote articles and was responsible for publishing and distribution. However, "Pomegranate" only published 4 issues before it was banned by the Social Affairs Bureau of the Kuomintang government and ceased publication. In order to find the Communist Party organization as soon as possible, Zhang Kunzhai moved around in many places in 1933. When he was attending night school at Liangcai cram school, he met a classmate named Hong who was an employee of the China Credit Information Bureau, and the two gradually became familiar with him. In 1934, Lao Hong brought leaflets of the "Chinese National Armed Self-Defense Committee", as well as publications such as "Red China News" and "Bolshevik". Kunzhai and his colleagues and friends felt like they had found a treasure and circulated them to each other. At this time, Kunzhai participated in the " The activities of the "Union of Social Scientists" and the "Armed Self-Defense Association".

In 1934, Zhang Kunzhai and Ms. Hu Meiqing of Hu Hengfang’s family on Zhenhai North Street got married in Shanghai. The couple had a deep affection. Not long after, Hu Meiqing returned to her hometown to visit relatives. She suddenly contracted an epidemic and died of an epidemic. She rushed back to Zhenhai out of poverty and was in great pain. Later, others advised him to find another partner, but he firmly refused and said that he would wait until the revolution was victorious before discussing marriage, so he devoted himself wholeheartedly to revolutionary work.

In April 1935, under the introduction of his old friend Hu Jia, Zhang Kunzhai joined the "Chinese National Armed Self-Defense Committee" and officially joined the revolutionary organization. That year, the "December 9th" anti-Japanese and national salvation movement in Peiping was launched vigorously across the country. Kunzhai actively participated in the activities, and organized with some bank employees to establish the "Professional Youth National Salvation Alliance", issued a manifesto, printed leaflets, opposed the Kuomintang's surrender policy, and demanded Stop the civil war and unite to resist Japan. In February 1936, the "Shanghai Professional Youth National Salvation Association" was established. The "Professional Youth National Salvation Alliance" in which Kunzhai participated participated as the initiating unit and became a brigade to which it belongs, including people from the financial sector, banks, banks, and insurance industries. Staff, Kunzhai is one of the active organizers and propagandists.

Whenever he studied current affairs and discussed theoretical issues, his serious and serious attitude left a deep impression on people and moved the members who participated in the discussion. In his daily interactions with friends, he had a humble attitude and sincere words, giving people a cordial and sincere attitude. impression. From 1935 to 1937, in the many demonstrations organized by the National Salvation Federation of all walks of life in Shanghai, Kunzhai always served as the liaison and picket leader, opening the way in front of the banking brigade and leading slogans. Once when the parade was disbanded, he was beaten by the Kuomintang police. .

These activities exposed the true reactionary nature of the Kuomintang’s false anti-Japanese and real civil war, and inspired and educated the masses. However, these activities still remain on a small scale, without actually going deep into the masses of workers to carry out propaganda and organizational work. They are not broad enough and tend to be closed-doorism and adventurism. In order to unite more employees in the banking industry to participate in the anti-Japanese and national salvation movement, it is necessary to use legal conditions to inspire the masses to be patriotic and resist Japan in various forms. In June 1936, more than 20 people including Zhang Chengzong, Shao Junmei, Han Hongchuo, Liang Tingjin, and Zhang Kunzhai initiated the establishment of the "Shanghai Banking Industry Amateur Association" (referred to as "UnionPay"). During the preparation stage, Kunzhai went to banks and banks to talk to acquaintances and publicize the purpose of the association so that everyone would be happy to participate. On October 4, "UnionPay" was formally established, with 440 members and patriotic senior figures in the banking industry, making it a progressive mass organization with widespread influence in Shanghai. "UnionPay" has established academic, entertainment, sports, publishing and other departments. Entertainment alone includes Peking opera, drama, music, singing, harmonica and other forms. In 1937, during the "August 13th" Japanese invasion force, the "UnionPay" organized a "wartime service area" in Shanghai. Kunzhai was one of the people in charge, responsible for organizing wartime rescue knowledge training classes and leading a singing team of 100 people. They sang on urban streets, wounded soldiers' hospitals, and refugee shelters to inspire the masses to rise up against Japan. They also went to refugee shelters to do publicity and education work, teach children in need to read and sing anti-Japanese songs.

On October 17, 1937, Zhang Kunzhai gloriously joined the Communist Party of China, and his long-cherished wish finally came true. He swore: For the liberation of the people and the realization of communism in China, I am willing to sacrifice everything - including my life! After that, Kunzhai went deeper into the grassroots level of banks and banks, held individual talks and carried out publicity and education based on the personality characteristics of different people. He has a strong Ningbo accent, which is particularly cordial to comrades. In more than half a year, he successively introduced Liang Tingjin, Dai Xiangsheng, Shu Ziqing, Ye Jinghao, He Guangren, Gu Luoyi, Yuan Qixiang, Xia Shouqi and other comrades to join the Communist Party of China. In 1939, "UnionPay" had 7,000 to 10,000 members, including hundreds of party members. Banks and banks had established party branches. In order to prepare for more arduous work in the future, Kunzhai insists on exercising every day, pulling springs, lifting dumbbells, sunbathing, and taking cold showers. In February 1939, Zhang Kunzhai was assigned by the party organization to Wuxi Meicun to participate in work in the Jiangnan guerrilla zone. Under the pseudonym Qin Guowei, he was assigned to a unit called the "Jiangsu and Zhejiang Guerrilla Army" and served as the secretary of the Political Training Department. The commander of the unit, Deng Benyin, is an old military officer. The members of the unit are very complex. There are stragglers, local gangs, but also underground members of the Communist Party of China. Among them are the chief of staff, director of the Political Training Department and some political workers. Party member. Zhang Kunzhai concurrently serves as the underground party branch secretary. Under extremely difficult living conditions and harsh working conditions, we must not only carry out united front work for the upper class, but also carry out publicity and education work on the persistence of the resistance war with unfamiliar and complex soldiers, so as to transform the army into a real force led by the party. of the anti-Japanese armed forces. Kunzhai is an intellectual who has lived in a big city for a long time. It is indeed a severe test to undertake this task. However, he worked hard to overcome various difficulties and used a variety of methods to carry out his work with tact and flexibility. The chief of staff was transferred in April, and the new chief of staff had reactionary ideas and publicly threatened to abolish the political instructor and reorganize the political training office. Not avoiding danger, he struggled to protect the underground party members and patriotic youth of the Communist Party of China. He is always vigilant to prevent accidents, and he never acts rashly to avoid falling into the enemy's trap. Just when the unit was in danger of being pulled away by the new chief of staff, the Old Sixth Regiment of the New Fourth Army led by Ye Fei entered Wuxi and joined the "Jiangnan Anti-Japanese Volunteer Army" (referred to as "Jiang Kang") led by Mei Guangdi and He Kexi. Deng Benyin's troops were quickly disarmed and the separation of officers and soldiers was dealt with. Zhang Kunzhai was assigned to the "Jiang Resistance" force and marched eastward via Yangcheng Lake. Soon, "Jiang Kang" was ordered to withdraw westward from Danyang, and all work in the east area of ??Huning Road in southern Jiangsu went underground.

When he was suffering from malaria, the East Road Working Committee of the Communist Party of China sent him to the Taipingqiao area by Yangcheng Lake in Suzhou to take over as the editor-in-chief of the bimonthly "Jiangnan", the official publication of the East Road Special Committee. He and three or four comrades from the editorial team worked at the Tutu Temple in the village during the day and stayed in farmers' homes at night. They worked day and night to edit and publish issues 5 to 9 of "Jiangnan". Each issue has more than 20 pages in 16 format. The contents include: articles by comrades in charge of the special committee, proposing the central work at that time; analysis of current affairs, important news at home and abroad; work Communication, discussion; literary essays, etc. "Jiangnan" often reported on the miserable life of the people in Jiangnan under the cruel rule of the enemy and puppets, inspiring the soldiers to bravely attack the enemy and persist in the arduous struggle against Japan. The circulation of each issue of "Jiangnan" continues to increase, and it is deeply loved by military and civilian readers.

In the winter of 1939, the local armed forces of Hu Zhaohan in the Taipingqiao area rebelled and massacred our democratic movement cadres. The special committee of Zhong *** East Road evacuated Taiping Bridge, and "Jiangnan" temporarily suspended publication. At this time, Kunzhai's health was very poor, his body was swollen, hemorrhoids were complicated by malaria, and it was difficult to walk. He could not be evacuated randomly, so the party organization decided to transfer him back to Shanghai. One dark night, Kunzhai returned home to Shanghai. He was in ragged clothes, had a long beard and hair, and was plagued by illness. However, he continued to work during his recuperation. At that time, Shanghai was in the dark age of Japanese occupation, and underground working conditions were extremely difficult. The party organization assigned Zhang Kunzhai to contact the money exchange branch of the financial sector. He presided over the compilation of the article "Money Exchange Industry in Post-War Shanghai", which was published in the book "Finance in Post-War Shanghai" published by the underground party organization in 1941. At the end of the year, he worked hard under extremely difficult conditions to investigate the enemy and puppet grain markets and wrote a special report. In 1945, he and other comrades compiled the "Who's Who in Shanghai's Industrial, Commercial and Financial Affairs". These all provide information for the New Fourth Army to enter Shanghai. In order to collect information in Japanese newspapers and facilitate the smooth passage of Japanese military posts, he studied Japanese by himself, often studying hard until late at night; in order to keep abreast of the Soviet Union's Patriotic War and learn Russian at the same time, he diligently practiced retroflex in front of the mirror. Pronunciation; After learning two common spoken languages, Russian and Japanese, he traveled around to purchase supplies to support the New Fourth Army. In order to save money, I was often reluctant to take the tram which cost only a few cents. My soles of my feet were blistered, but I still gritted my teeth and persisted.

In August 1945, the Anti-Japanese War was victorious, and the underground party prepared for the New Fourth Army to liberate Shanghai by cooperating internally and externally. Zhang Kunzhai excitedly printed flyers and wrote slogans, and was also preparing to distribute the flyers "Welcome Liu Changsheng as Mayor" to the upstairs of Dah Sing Company in person. However, the situation suddenly changed. The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China issued two urgent messages on the 21st, ordering the Shanghai Uprising to be suspended urgently and to continue to implement the struggle policy of "concealing and capable, accumulating strength, and lying in wait for the opportunity". At that time, the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China wanted to set up secret agencies and liaison points in Shanghai. Kunzhai was specifically responsible for setting up secret agencies and opened the "United Suit Service" at No. 123 Zhapu Road and No. 916 Fuchu Road (today's Yan'an Middle Road). He opened the "Fengji Rice Shop" and served as the manager. Underground party leaders Liu Changsheng, Zhang Chengzong, Wu Xueqian, Li Qitao, Pu Zuo and others often came to the store for activities. Soon, the secret radio station of the Municipal Party Committee, which was originally directly led by Liu Changsheng and Zhang Chengzong, was also led by Kunzhai. The operator of the secret radio station is Qin Hongjun. This is a confidential task for the Shanghai Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee to communicate with the central government. It has a heavy responsibility and a very heavy task. In order to familiarize himself with the business, Kunzhai also learned radio communication technology and was prepared to take up radio work if necessary.

In 1948, the People's Liberation Army was victorious and the battle line was approaching the Yangtze River. The number of messages exchanged between the Central Committee and the Shanghai Municipal Committee increased day by day, and the work of Qin Hongjun and Zhang Kunzhai also intensified. Kung Zhai's body gradually became weak, and he often had trouble sleeping and breathlessness. He had no time to seek medical treatment. Whenever it was late at night, there would be bursts of coughing from his bedroom until dawn, but he would go to work as usual the next day. The leader of the municipal party committee asked Keng Zhai whether he should use another radio station because the time for sending and receiving reports had been extended and it was easy for the enemy to detect it. He firmly said: "No, no, we can complete the task." He conveyed it to Qin Hongjun, who replied: "Use another radio station. , Aren’t they also in danger?” The two clasped hands, determined to take practical actions to welcome the long-awaited liberation of Shanghai.

In the middle of the night on March 17, 1949, Kuomintang agents used instruments to determine the location of the secret radio station and surrounded Qin Hongjun's home in Xinxinli, Dapuqiao.

After Qin sent out the last string of radio waves, he hid the machine, climbed up from the attic to the roof, and wanted to break out while it was dark. Unfortunately, it was raining, and moss grew on the roof tiles. He slipped and fell, and was swarmed by the crowd. Agent captured. On the afternoon of March 19, when Keng Zhai was about to knock on the door of Qin's house at the appointed time, he realized that something was wrong. He immediately turned around and left. When he walked to the entrance of the alley, he was held hostage by agents from both sides and could not escape. He was also arrested. He was tortured and tortured in prison. The tiger bench broke his legs, he was given pepper water to make him cough and vomit blood, and pulling out his fingernails made his heart hurt. However, he was always unyielding and kept secrets to gain time for the safe transfer of his comrades and to protect the party's leading organs from harm. He was willing to bear the pain and sacrifice himself, and was determined to use his own life for the victory of the party's cause, which fully demonstrated a Communist Party member's boundless devotion to the revolutionary cause. loyalty. On the evening of May 7, Kuomintang agents took 12 comrades including Zhang Kunzhai, Qin Hongjun, and Li Bai to Qijia Temple in Pudong and brutally killed them. Before the execution, the warriors shouted slogans and sang the Internationale. At this time, the rumble of artillery fire from the People's Liberation Army was approaching Shanghai, and the enemy pushed the martyrs' bodies into trenches and buried them hastily. Just 18 days later, Shanghai was liberated. The revolutionary ideal that Zhang Kunzhai had fought for since he was 11 years old was finally realized, but he died before the dawn of dawn.

On August 28, the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee held a grand memorial service for Zhang Kunzhai, Qin Hongjun, Li Bai and the three martyrs in the auditorium of Jiaotong University. The Shanghai Municipal Party Committee of the Communist Party of China wrote in the elegiac couplet: "You fought for the liberation of the people. If you fight for your cause to the last drop of blood, your fame will be immortal.”