Ji Hongchang (1895-1934), whose original name was Hengli, and whose courtesy name was Shiwu, was from Fugou, Henan Province. In 1913, he joined Feng Yuxiang's army and was promoted from a soldier to a regiment commander, brigade commander, division commander, and commander of the army. He was brave and good at fighting, and was known as "Ji Dabang". In May 1930, he participated in the Jiangfeng Yan War and served as the commander-in-chief of the 3rd Route of Feng Army. In September, he was incorporated by Chiang Kai-shek and appointed as the commander-in-chief of the 22nd Route Army and the commander-in-chief of the 30th Division. He was ordered to "encircle and suppress" the revolutionary bases of Hubei, Henan and Anhui, but he was unwilling to fight a civil war.

The following year, he said he was sick and went to Shanghai for medical treatment. He contacted the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China. He then organized an uprising in Huangchuan to participate in the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army but failed. He was dismissed in August and forced to go abroad for "inspection". He then traveled around Europe and the United States and delivered an anti-Japanese speech. In 1932, he returned to China and lived in Tianjin. He secretly contacted the Political Security Bureau of North China. In August, he went to Songbu, Macheng, Hubei to instigate the uprising of the 30th Division of the old subordinates. After sneaking back to Pingjin area, he joined the Communist Party of China and went to Thailand according to the instructions of the party.

The mountain contacted Feng Yuxiang to go out of the mountain to organize armed anti-Japanese war. He then sold his property, purchased firearms, and contacted his old subordinates. In May 1933, he established the Chahar People's Anti-Japanese Allied Army in Zhangjiakou with Feng Yuxiang and Fang Zhenwu. He served as the commander of the 2nd Army and was then appointed as the commander of the frontier of the northern route. He led his troops to attack the Japanese and puppet troops in Chabei, conquering the four counties including Kangbao and Duolun, and drove the Japanese troops out of the territory. Later, due to lack of support, the war ended in mid-October and failed. Ji Hongchang sneaked to Tianjin to continue to engage in anti-Japanese war.

Activity, in 1934, participated in the organization of the Chinese People's Anti-Fascist Alliance, was elected as the chairman, secretly printed the "National War Flag" newspaper, promoted the anti-Japanese war, contacted all parties, and prepared to reorganize the anti-Japanese armed forces. On November 9, he was assassinated and injured by the Military Affairs Bureau in the French Concession in Tianjin, arrested by the Ministry of Industry and extraditioned to the Beiping Military Branch. He was killed in the Beiping Army Prison on the 24th. A poem was written in front of the punishment: "I wish I would never die in the fight against Japan, and I am left ashamed today. The country is still so destructive, why should I cherish this?"

1. Abandon the dark and turn to the light to fight the ghosts

Ji Hongchang was born in a poor peasant family. He studied in a village school. When he was a teenager, he had been apprenticing in jewelry stores and grocery stores. In August 1913, he joined Feng Yuxiang's troops as a soldier at the age of 18 and began his military career. Ji Hongchang was loyal, agile, decisive, and led the way in war. He was highly appreciated by Feng Yuxiang. In 1921, he was promoted to battalion commander. In September 1924, he participated in the "Beijing Coup" launched by Feng Yuxiang. In October 1925, he was appointed as the commander of the Cavalry Regiment and the Chief of the Police of the Suiyuan Governor General Office, and later served as the commander of the 36th Brigade. In 1925, he met Communists in Zhangjiakou and began to come into contact with new revolutionary principles. In September 1926, he swore an oath with Feng Yuxiang's troops to participate in the Northern Expedition, and led his troops to participate in the battle to conquer Xianyang and Xi'an. The troops were expanded into the 19th Division and served as the commander.

During his time in Shaanxi, Ji Hongchang met the head of the local party group of the Communist Party of China in Shaanxi. In June 1927, the National Alliance Army carried out a "purge" and "sending off guests". The 19th Division was cancelled because it secretly protected the Communist Party members. Ji Hongchang was transferred to the special training class of the Peking Army University. In the autumn of 1928, he served as the commander of the 11th Division. In the spring of 1929, he led his troops to Ningxia and served as the provincial chairman. He proposed the slogan of "developing the Great Northwest" and was determined to promote the pros and cons for the people.

In the spring of 1930, the Battle of Feng, Yan and Chiang Zhongyuan broke out. Ji Hongchang was appointed as the commander-in-chief of the Third Route Army by Feng Yuxiang, and led his troops to fight in the eastern Henan area, severely attacking Chiang's army. However, under the purchase, division and disintegration of Chiang Kai-shek, the joint front against Chiang was soon divided. The Northwest Army collapsed across the board, and his troops were incorporated by Chiang. Ji was appointed as the commander-in-chief of the 22nd Route Army and the commander of the 30th Army. The defense area was in Huangchuan and Guangshan areas, Henan, and was responsible for the task of "suppressing the Communist Party". However, Ji Hongchang promoted to his subordinates and soldiers that "the gun was not right inward" and "the Chinese were not.

"Fighting the Chinese" and other progressive ideas, and wrote letters to the Soviet area in Sandaohe, saying that they would never fight with the Red Army and were ready to abandon the darkness and turn to the light at any time. In order to find the truth, they visited and studied several times in the Soviet area led by the Communist Party of China. In May 1931, Chiang Kai-shek sent Ji Hongchang to Jinjiazhai, Anhui to suppress the Red Army, and sent Leng Xin as a special commissioner to monitor the headquarters of Ji Hongchang. Ji Hongchang made up his idea to not fight a civil war, and secretly planned an uprising and join the Red Army. So Chiang Kai-shek revoked his military post and forced him to "go abroad for investigation" in the name of military investigation.

On February 28, 1932, Ji Hongchang returned to Shanghai. He joined the Shanghai Party Organization through the underground party members of the former Northwest Army. He soon returned to Tianjin and contacted the North China Political Security Bureau. In April of the same year, he joined the Communist Party of China. He transformed from a patriotic old soldier into a communist fighter. Soon, he went to Hubei, Henan and Anhui to recover the old uprising, purchased bullets, and went to Zhangjiakou to organize the anti-Japanese alliance.

In May, the Chahar People's Anti-Japanese Allied Army was established in Zhangjiakou, and served as the commander of the Second Army, the commander of the Cha Province's garrison, and the chief of the Public Security Bureau. In June, he led his troops to expedition the north to recover the lost land in Chadong. On the 22nd, he recovered Kangbaocheng. In July, he recovered Baochang and Guyuan County. When He Yingqin attacked Chahar, he jointly issued a telegram with the generals to condemn the Nanjing government, expressing his "vowing to use the blue blood of the soldiers to exaggerate the autumn grass outside the border", "The four provinces will never return, and this will remain unswerving."

In the winter of 1933, after the anti-Japanese armed forces led by General Ji Hongchang failed, he sneaked back to Tianjin and secretly carried out anti-Japanese activities against Chiang Kai-shek. He followed the party's instructions and contacted various anti-Japanese figures with comrades such as Xuan Xiawen and Nan Hanchen, organized the Chinese People's Anti-Fascist Alliance, and was elected as the chairman. At that time, people did not know that he was a Communist Party member. In people's minds, he was a respected legendary hero.

At that time, Zhang Shouchen, a famous crosstalk actor who was famous in Pingjin, was speaking crosstalk at the Song and Dance Tower of Taikang Shopping Mall in Tianjin (later renamed Xiaoliyuan). Zhang Shouchen was not only a bold explorer of crosstalk art, but also a patriot who was upright, clean and self-disciplined, and had national integrity. He was extremely indignant when he heard Chiang Kai-shek destroying the Japanese invaders and persecuting Ji Hongchang. Therefore, regardless of his personal safety, he always added a mat before the performance to praise Ji Hongchang: "The country has reached a critical moment of survival and death, and what he needs is a bloody hero. At this moment, there are heroes, but they have no place to use their skills. Take Ji Hongchang for example. In Chabei, he fought against Japan and killed the Japanese invaders and achieved brilliant results. We should support him and fight for our nation.

In one breath, those high-ranking figures were determined to be peaceful and intended to eliminate this part of the anti-Japanese forces, causing Ji Hongchang to go back to Tianjin in military affairs and regret. I think this situation is no different from Qin Hui of the Southern Song Dynasty and framed Yue Fei..." After saying the prelude, a joke he often said was "Bone-Take the Bones", which praised "Heroic bones, patriotism and enthusiasm, and always serious in doing things", "Heroic bones, heroic spirits last forever, and great public selflessly serve the people." At the same time, he angrily denounced "damaging bones, harming compatriots, sucking all the wealth and ointment of the people; no bones, money is held, and outsiders are used as a talisman; the bones of the thief, selling the country for glory, and pretending to be deaf when he knew he was scolded." It deeply satirized the corruption of the reactionary government and caused a strong response among the audience.

One day, after Zhang Shouchen finished speaking crosstalk, someone from the backstage told him that someone was going to see him. Zhang Shouchen came out to meet him, and the big man hurriedly stepped forward and said to him, "Mr. Zhang, a friend is waiting for you in the restaurant downstairs, and he asked me to come and invite you." Zhang Shouchen hurriedly asked who it was, but the big man refused to say his name, and just said, "You will know when you arrive at the restaurant!"

Zhang Shouchen soon came to the restaurant and walked into the elegant seat to see the friend who did not know him. He only saw his dark face, dignified attitude, and bright eyes. Zhang Shouchen was wondering, the friend came up kindly, asked him to sit on the top, and said with a smile: "Mr. Zhang, I have long admired Daming. I heard the crosstalk you performed just now, which is very good. Do you know the Ji Hongchang you talked about before crosstalk?" Zhang Shouchen said: "I don't know." The friend smiled and said: "I am Ji Hongchang!" When Zhang Shouchen heard this, he was surprised and happy. He stood up and grabbed Ji Hongchang's hand tightly, so excited that he couldn't say a word.

Ji Hongchang hurriedly asked Zhang Shouchen to sit down, and the two of them started chatting like good friends who had not seen each other for many years. Ji Hongchang asked Zhang Shouchen about the life situation of the Quyi artists, and finally said sincerely: "I have a confidant in life, and I will never regret it even if I die. I don't expect that I have a long-term friendship among artists, but I am very honored to have you, a confidant with integrity and reputation. I really admire your knowledge and courage. However, in this dark era, I advise you from the standpoint of a friend.

I hope you should be careful when speaking on the stage in the future so as not to cause trouble. The future is long, so there is no need to make unnecessary sacrifices! Because you are in a different situation from me, if you sacrifice your life for me, there is no place to complain. I am in danger every day and night, and I may be plotted against them one day. Today, I will not leave you for dinner, and I will be very happy to see you. In a few days, I will send you something as a souvenir. Friends, we will have a date in the future!"

Zhang Shouchen was very moved after hearing Ji Hongchang's words. With love and gratitude, he reluctantly parted with him. Two days later, he received two books to promote anti-Japanese wars sent by Ji Hongchang. Soon, news came that Ji Hongchang was arrested by the Kuomintang reactionaries. On November 24, Ji Hongchang was killed, and Zhang Shouchen was extremely sad and angry. This meeting had a great influence on Zhang Shouchen's political thoughts and artistic life. Zhang Shouchen often used "a conversation with you is better than reading ten years of books" during his lifetime to describe this unforgettable meeting. This sincere friendship established by Ji Hongchang and Zhang Shouchen in the sinister storms is still a good story in Quyuan.

In September 1933, the Anti-Japanese Allied Forces failed, Ji Hongchang returned to Tianjin and continued to engage in the anti-Japanese and national salvation struggle. In May 1934, Ji Hongchang organized the "Chinese People's Anti-Fascist Alliance" in Tianjin and served as a member of the Party Group. He set up a secret printing office at his residence at No. 40 Xiafei Road, French Concession in Tianjin to print the official publication of the Great Alliance "National War Flag". In August and September, Ji Hongchang sent staff to Anhui for military transport and was arrested, and his work to train anti-Japanese armed forces in Tianjin was exposed one after another. Chiang Kai-shek urgently ordered the Beiping Military Branch to arrest him. The Party Organization notified

He quickly evacuated Tianjin. Because the batches of weapons he handled had not arrived yet, the Guangxi anti-Japanese and anti-Chiang representatives who had been preparing for the meeting had not arrived yet, Ji Hongchang decided to stay for the time being. On the evening of November 9, he was transferred to Room 45 of the National Hotel in Tianjin. During a secret talk with the representative of Li Zongren of Guangxi, he was suddenly shot by a Kuomintang spy and injured his arm and was arrested by the French Concession Bureau of the Industrial Department. On November 14, he was extradited to the Tianjin Public Security Bureau of the Kuomintang. Faced with the enemy's continuous interrogation, he "stubborn attitude and cursed endlessly", denounced the authorities' selling the country and pretending to Japan, showing the Communists' agility and righteousness.

In prison, facing the torture of the enemy, he was not afraid and righteous. He Yingqin asked him: "Why are you engaged in anti-Japanese activities? Tell your secrets." Ji Hongchang replied sternly: "Anti-Japanese is the business of 450 million Chinese people. What is the secret? Only when Chia Jieshi harms the country and the people, secretly colludes with Japan, and does some unknown things, will there be a secret." Then he said: "I want to save the country, Chia wants to

When I was treasoned, I had to fight against Chiang for the sake of fighting against Japan." When asked why I joined the Communist Party and endangered the Republic of China, he replied frankly: "I am a Communist Party member. Due to the education of the Party, I got rid of the life of the old warlords and moved to the camp of the working masses of workers, peasants and workers. I was able to join the revolutionary ranks, become a member of the Communist Party, and fight for the liberation of our party's party, and this is the greatest glory of my life."

On November 22, Ji Hongchang was secretly transferred to Peking. On November 23, he was righteous and righteous in the "Military Law Meeting Trial" Law organized by the Kuomintang Beiping Military Branch. On November 24, 1934, Ji Hongchang was martyred. In his will to his wife, he wrote: "Mr. I am dead now, and I died for the times." On the morning of November 24, Ji Hongchang was taken from the Beiping Army Prison (addressed in the Nei Cannon Hutong of Dongzhimen) to the west execution ground in Tianqiao. Faced with the order of "on-site shooting", Ji Hongchang calmly walked onto the execution ground, used branches as a pen, and used the earth as paper, and wrote a righteous poem of confession: "I wish I could not resist Japan and die, and I would be ashamed of today; the country was still destroyed, so why should I cherish this!"

According to the Tianjin Ta Kung Pao at that time, at the last moment, Ji Hongchang put on a black cloak and strode to the execution ground. He "has calm and talked and laughed calmly" along the way. After writing the righteous poem of confession on the ground, he sternly said to the executioner: "I died to fight against Japan, and I cannot kneel down and be shot, and I cannot fall down even if I die! Give me a chair, and I have to sit and die." Then he said: "I died to fight against Japan, and I cannot be shot in the back. If you shoot in front of me, I will see with my own eyes how the enemy's bullets killed me." When the executioner raised his gun in front of him, he raised his eyebrows and stared at him, shouting: "Long live the anti-Japanese!" "Long live the Communist Party of China!" He sacrificed heroically.
Chapter completed!