Communist International, Communist Party of the Soviet Union (Bolshevik) and the Chinese Revolution: Selected Documents (1926--1927) [Volume 1 and 2]

Author: First Research Department of the Institute of Party History of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1998-08-01
Features:
1. Borodin and the Nationalist Party Second National Congress
2. Political Report of the Nationalist Party Second National Congress by Wang Jingwei (January 6, 1926)
Distinguished Representatives,
Today, I will provide a comprehensive report on the political situation after the first national congress and before the second national congress. This period spans nearly two years, and during this short time, I can only report on some important events. Moreover, regarding military matters, Comrade Chiang Kai-shek will provide a report, and for financial matters, Comrade Soong Chia-wen will submit a written report. However, when discussing politics, it is inevitable to touch upon military and financial aspects, as omitting them would render the situation unclear. Therefore, what I will discuss today will also include a general overview of the political, military, and financial matters.
The political situation during these two years can be divided into three periods:
First period: From the first congress to the time when the Generalissimo went north for the struggle. This period dates from March 13 to November 11 of the 13th year.
Second period: From the Generalissimo’s northward struggle to his death. This period was short but highly significant, covering December 13 of the 13th year to March 14 of the 14th year.
Third period: From the Generalissimo’s death to the present. This period spans from March 14 of the 14th year to January 15 of the 15th year.
Let’s first discuss the first period: Since the first congress issued a declaration explaining the current situation in China and elucidating the essence of the Three Principles of the People, as well as determining the minimum program, it should have been implemented in accordance with the program after the congress concluded. Unfortunately, at that time, various obstacles remained unresolved, and the supreme authority of the party was originally in the Central Executive Committee. The Generalissimo then wanted to include military comrades in the Central Executive Committee, appointing figures such as Yang Xiwen, Li Liejun, Bo Wenwei, and Tan Yankai as Central Executive Committee members, while Xu Chongzhi, Liu Zhenhuan, and Fan Zhongxiu were appointed as Central Supervisory Committee members. The Generalissimo’s intention was to unite the military comrades and implement the resolutions of the congress, enabling everyone to genuinely strive for the cause under the banner of the principles.
However, this intention proved utterly unattainable. Yang Xiwen and Liu Zhenhuan, who held significant military power in Guangzhou, were unwilling to genuinely implement the Generalissimo’s principles. At that time, Comrade Xu Chongzhi was still in Shanghai and only returned to Guangzhou in March. Comrade Tan Yankai was isolated in Beijiang, later forced to retreat eastward due to pressure from Yang Xiwen’s forces, with his survival uncertain, let alone any development. Although the Generalissimo convened several military conferences and passed many important resolutions, they ultimately followed the principle of " outward compliance but inward defiance," rendering them ineffective.
One time, the Generalissimo, seeing the severe suffering of the Hunan Army, could no longer endure it. They had a poignant saying at the time: "Starving without food, freezing without clothes, sick without medicine, and dying without burial." Yet, the troops under Liu and Yang occupied key positions, firmly gripping the provincial finances, unwilling to spare even a bit for the Hunan Army’s survival. I remember one day during a military conference, the Generalissimo spoke with great sorrow: "Generals of the Yunnan and Guangxi armies, I am very grateful to you for driving away Chen Jiongming. When I was in Shanghai, I had no power at all and originally had no intention of returning to Guangzhou. I wanted to focus on writing, promoting my political views to the people of Guangdong. Later, you all sent people to Shanghai, demanding that I return to Guangzhou immediately, vowing to wholeheartedly support me, obey my commands, and implement my principles. I was even more grateful and thus decided to return. But I never expected that you would wear my hat to trample on my homeland. As a revolutionary, I am not afraid of sacrifice. If it benefits the nation, I am willing to sacrifice together with the people of Guangdong. However, your actions have only ruined my homeland without benefiting the country. Therefore, I can no longer work with you, and I must leave to return to Xiangshan."
At that time, Yang and Liu and their associates replied, "Why are you angry today, Generalissimo? Whatever you ask, we will obey." The Generalissimo then proposed the unification of finances.