On September 30th in Eastern Time (October 1st in Beijing Time), the “76 Years of CCP Damaging the Nation and People – Counterattack against the CCP’s United Front Conspiracy” seminar was held in New York. A descendant of a senior general of the Republic of China military took the stage to speak, recounting how his grandfather was deceived by the CCP’s United Front tactics and the persecution his family faced, urging everyone to recognize the dangers of CCP’s United Front strategy.
The young man, named Wang Fengyi, from Chengdu, Sichuan, said, “I have come forward to speak out because my family has been victims of the CCP’s United Front tactics.”
Wang Fengyi’s grandfather was General Wang Zunxu, who served as the chairman of Sichuan province during the Anti-Japanese War era. He fell into the CCP’s United Front trap in Chengdu due to his eldest son, Wang Zejun, being held hostage after being captured in a battle.
Later, Wang Zejun was never released and passed away in prison during the CCP’s “general amnesty” in the final year of his imprisonment. During the Anti-Rightist Campaign, Wang Zunxu fell into a CCP trap while fleeing the mainland and was captured. In 1960, he protested by going on a hunger strike in prison until his death.
Wang Zunxu was a senior general of the Sichuan Army during the Republic of China era, commanding the 29th Army Group. Historical records show that he led the 29th Army Group in numerous major battles during the eight-year resistance war against Japan, resulting in over 2,300 battles and casualties to Japanese soldiers exceeding 40,000.
After years of resistance, the 29th Army Group was reduced to less than 20,000 troops by 1944, leading to the disbandment of the 29th Army Group headquarters and the 67th Army, leaving only the 44th Army.
Wang Fengyi told the reporters of Dajiyuan that his grandfather had been a scholar during the late Qing Dynasty, belonging to an intellectual family background. After the abolition of the imperial examination system and the establishment of new schools in 1905, he attended the new military school in Sichuan and later joined the New Army. He participated in the Protect the Constitution Movement and the Xinhai Revolution, gradually rising through the ranks.
“My grandfather had six wives and 14 children. Wang Zejun, my father’s eldest brother, enlisted in the military right after high school. He followed in his father’s footsteps, gradually rising through the ranks during the Anti-Japanese War. During the Battle of Xuzhou, he was a major general leading the 44th Army of the National Revolutionary Army. During the resistance period, my grandfather, my eldest uncle (Wang Zejun), and my uncle’s eldest son all served on the front lines, making it a three-generation family of warriors, which is quite rare,” he said.
In February 1945, Wang Zunxu was appointed as the Supreme Commander of the Chongqing Garrison Command. During the Chongqing peace talks between the Kuomintang and the Chinese Communist Party, Wang Zunxu was responsible for the security of both sides and had a slight rapport with Mao Zedong. In November 1948, Wang Zejun was captured during the Battle of Huaihai and detained in Beijing’s Gongdelin No.1.
Wang Zunxu once wrote to Mao Zedong, stating that one should not provoke heavenly principles beyond their limits.
By the end of December 1949, as Chiang Kai-shek and Hu Zongnan flew to Taiwan, Chengdu essentially became an empty city, with Wang Zunxu choosing to remain in Chengdu. “My grandfather was deeply attached to his son and hoped that the CCP would treat him well. At that time, both Chiang Kai-shek and Li Zongren offered him to leave with them, as they had significant family and business assets. Since he couldn’t bear leaving alone, he stayed behind,” Wang Fengyi recounted.
“At that time, the CCP sent people to Chengdu to negotiate with him, promising to return his son if he peacefully rebelled. Chengdu was not in a position to resist at the time. Since he had few troops, he united scattered militias primarily to maintain Chengdu’s public order, self-proclaiming as the Chengdu Public Security General Commander. After much deliberation, he decided to open the gates and accepted the ‘peaceful liberation.'”
Later, Wang Zejun was imprisoned for 26 years until his death in 1974. Wang Fengyi stated, “When the Red Army passed through Sichuan, local warlords tried to obstruct and attack them. Many warlords collaborated with the Communist forces to transport opium. However, my grandfather was against opium and had no dealings with them. There is an installment in the Long March documentary specifically mentioning my elder uncle Wang Zejun going to intercept them.”
“Based on historical records, there were still some old grudges against them. Furthermore, my elder uncle had a stubborn nature and refused to yield, never accepting ‘re-education,’ which led to his prolonged imprisonment. His descendants found records in Beijing stating that he was beaten to death in prison.”
After 1949, Wang Zunxu was successively appointed as the Deputy Director of the Sichuan West Cultural Relics Preservation Committee and held various roles in the Southwest Military and Political Committee, Sichuan Provincial Government, and Sichuan Political Consultative Conference. However, he declined all positions offered to him.
Wang Fengyi said, “My grandfather refused to accept any position offered by the CCP. During the Anti-Rightist Movement, he was a target for suppression as a staunchly anti-Communist figure and was dealt with using extreme measures. At that time, his secretary, Chen Zizhuang, who had ties to secret societies and underground networks, earned his trust for many years. Chen Zizhuang, as a member of secret societies, convinced him to take his writings to Hong Kong for overseas publication to shed light on the internal situation in the country. My grandfather likely considered leaving the country but did not commit treason. He even took leave and reported to relevant authorities about his trip to Hong Kong for dental treatment.
“When they reached Shenzhen, they were ambushed near the border. He was arrested the next day, and the newspapers immediately printed ‘Wang Zunxu defects.’ In reality, he was detained for three years without trial or conviction. Our family has been searching for information; he was extremely angry during his imprisonment, often denouncing being deceived by Mao Zedong and others.”
In 2014, Wang Fengyi accompanied his father to a school reunion in Chongqing. He joined a group supporting WWII veterans and learned more about his grandfather, gaining a deeper understanding of the true history of the war and the contributions of the Nationalist Army.
“My grandfather hailed from Xichong, and most of his subordinates were also from there. If we visit Xichong to find the Nationalist Army veterans, over eighty percent were from my grandfather’s former unit,” Wang Fengyi recalled. He recounted visiting a paralyzed veteran from the 44th Army who was once their medical officer, bearing witness to their emotional reunion. Wang Fengyi shared the story of another soldier from the Huangpu Military Academy who recounted Wang Zunxu’s strict military discipline and kindness.
He further shared a story of a couple in the army who married on the front lines and faced numerous challenges together, underscoring the sacrifices made by those fighting during the war.
Regarding his father, Wang Fengyi recounted that he chose to stay in the mainland rather than go to Taiwan with the fleet in 1949, rejecting the CCP’s rule and enduring significant personal hardships due to his unwavering anti-Communist stance.
According to Wang Fengyi, his father’s generation faced persecution if they did not leave the country, enduring labor camps or re-education, displaying the systemic oppression under one-party rule and the need for vigilance against the insidious tactics of the CCP.
Wang Fengyi emphasized the need for Taiwan’s leadership to remain alert, drawing from the lessons of history and the harrowing experiences of his family. He warned against making deals with the CCP, as it often comes with hidden strings attached – likening it to the tale of the snake and the farmer.
In 2018, after his father’s passing, Wang Fengyi decided to leave the oppressive environment in China, arriving in the United States in 2023. He reflected on his family’s saga as a cautionary tale, emphasizing the need to remain steadfast against the CCP’s deceptive tactics and the importance of preserving one’s integrity amid adversity.