China News Service, Beijing, January 30th: Title: Niece Zhou Bingde: Zhou Enlai devoted his life to Whampoa Military Academy

　　China News Service reporter Liu Xuanting

　　"This photo is of my uncle at the Whampoa Military Academy. He became the director of the political department of the military academy at the age of 26. He made a great push in political work and made the entire atmosphere of the Whampoa Military Academy much more active." Zhou Enlai in the photo Wearing a military uniform and a military cap, he is full of heroic spirit, with the vigor of a young man in his eyes. Touching old photos from nearly a century ago, Zhou Bingde, a descendant of Whampoa Military Academy, told China News Network reporters about his uncle Zhou Enlai's prosperous years at Whampoa Military Academy, recalling the revolutionary road during the war years.

Zhou Bingde showed reporters photos of his uncle Zhou Enlai during his time at the Whampoa Military Academy. Photo by Li Shuoxing

　　In the early 1920s, under the control of foreign powers, China was divided by warlords and devastated. The call to revitalize China and save the nation resounds throughout the land of China. In 1924, with the help of the Communist Party of China and the Soviet Union, Sun Yat-sen founded the Huangpu Military Academy, the Chinese Kuomintang Army Officer School, and appointed Chiang Kai-shek as the principal and Liao Zhongkai as the party representative. Zhou Enlai, who was 26 years old at the time, was invited by Zhang Shenfu to end his four-year stay in Europe and serve as the third director of the political department of the military academy.

　　Talking about the situation at that time, Zhou Bingde said, "My aunt Deng Yingchao once told me that my uncle received a very generous travel allowance from Whampoa Military Academy, but he was eager to return to China to participate in actual revolutionary work and did not wait for the travel money to arrive. So I borrowed money and bought the lowest cabin in the cabin. The journey took a month, and it was stuffy and hot. It was commonly known as the 'grilled yellow croaker'."

　　Zhou Bingde introduced that when he first arrived at Huangpu Military Academy, his uncle Zhou Enlai divided the political department of the military academy into three small groups, each performing their own duties. They organized students to hold symposiums, run newspapers, and publish publications, which invigorated the learning atmosphere of Huangpu Military Academy students.

　　In the autumn of 1924, the military academy established the Huangpu Branch of the Communist Party of China, a secret organization of the Party, which was under the leadership of the Military Department of the Guangdong District Committee of the Communist Party of China and was directly responsible for Zhou Enlai. During his teaching period at the school, Zhou Enlai developed a group of outstanding Communist Party members. Zhou Bingde said, "He talks to everyone sincerely, deeply and cordially. If some people are suitable, he will develop into a Communist Party member. Although some people cannot develop into Communist Party members, the friendship between them is still very deep. During the Anti-Japanese War, he was rescued from many dangers by his students."

　　During the Eastern Expedition and the Northern Expedition, the Communists made great contributions in political work and mobilizing the workers and peasants. But at the same time, Chiang Kai-shek has always been quite afraid of the Communist Party. Zhou Bingde said: "Chiang Kai-shek actually admired Zhou Enlai in his heart and always wanted to win over him, but Zhou Enlai never accepted it, especially after the 'Zhongshan Ship' incident, Zhou Enlai resigned as director of the Political Department and left."

　　"When he left school, Hu Zongnan, a first-term student who was three years older than him, knelt down and said to him, you will always be my teacher and I will always be your student." Zhou Bingde said, "This matter Chiang Kai-shek knew about it and asked Hu Zongnan why he was reluctant to part with Zhou Enlai and knelt down to see him off. Hu Zongnan replied, 'Once a teacher, always a father'. Although he and Zhou Enlai were different politically, he respected Zhou Enlai."

Zhou Bingde recalled to reporters the past events with his uncle Zhou Enlai. Photo by Li Shuoxing

　　On December 12, 1936, in order to save the nation from peril, end the civil war and unite to resist Japan, Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng launched the Xi'an Incident and detained Chiang Kai-shek. Subsequently, Xi'an and Nanjing started negotiations. Zhou Enlai, as the plenipotentiary representative of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, also participated in the negotiations and had an in-depth dialogue with Chiang Kai-shek, whom he had not met for a long time.

　　Zhou Bingde said that when Zhou Enlai pushed in the door and saw Chiang Kai-shek, his first words were, "Principal, we haven't seen each other in 10 years. You look much older than before." Chiang Kai-shek said, "You are my subordinate, you must listen to me. Yes." Zhou Enlai said back, "As long as you revoke the policy of settling domestic affairs first before resisting foreign aggression, not only I, Zhou Enlai, but our entire Red Army can listen to you." These words made Chiang Kai-shek happy and agreed to resist Japan.

　　In Zhou Bingde's view, without the cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party in the Xi'an Incident, China would have been unable to guarantee victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan. During the fourteen years of the War of Resistance, more than 200,000 Huangpu soldiers fought together for the national calamity and shed blood on the battlefield, despite having different beliefs. "Many people were also trained by Huangpu Military Academy. People like Marshal Ye Jianying, Xu Xiangqian, and Chen Geng were all early students of Huangpu, and they also had many military exploits."

　　In 1946, when the War of Liberation began, the students of Huangpu Military Academy faced two paths and made different choices. After the founding of New China, Zhou Enlai still influenced the people of Huangpu in the past with his extraordinary personality and charm.

　　Zhou Bingde said that after the founding of New China, Zhou Enlai still cared about Huangpu and his former students. Zhou Enlai invited some captured Kuomintang officers to hold a symposium and go to the Summer Palace to see the scenery and learn about New China. "These people were very convinced of Zhou Enlai and said that we did not do a good job and did not follow you on this path. But Zhou Enlai said instead that it was me, the teacher, who did not do a good job and I should lead you in a better direction. Walk."

Zhou Enlai’s niece Zhou Bingde was interviewed by a reporter from China News Service. Photo by Li Shuoxing

　　As the niece of Premier Zhou Enlai and the daughter of Zhou Enshou, the fourth generation of Huangpu, Zhou Bingde has special feelings for Huangpu. Over the past few decades, she has also participated in many sorority gatherings for Huangpu descendants to share their love for Huangpu. "Please go elsewhere to get promoted and make a fortune. Don't come here if you are greedy for life and afraid of death." Zhou Bingde still remembers the couplet on the gate of Whampoa Military Academy. "Whampoa Military Academy has had a great influence on China's revolution. It is a very revolutionary and advanced cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party." The revolutionary organization has trained a large number of outstanding military talents for China."

　　For hundreds of years, the river has surged, and the spirit of Huangpu has been tempered in the flames of war and passed down under the red flag. "We are all members of the Huangpu family. Reviving China and unifying China are the true meaning of the Huangpu spirit and the common aspiration of the Chinese people at home and abroad." Zhou Bingde said. (over)