Chen Yun Leads Peasant MovementLabor MovementHis Hometown

The year 1927 saw changes in China’s revolution. Chiang Kai-shek betrayed the revolution and launched the counter-revolutionary massacre of the communists, which led to the failure of the Great National Revolution. Many communists were killed in the “White Terror” of the Kuomintang reactionary government. Some less determined people defected or lost confidence in the revolution. Some people who used to be associated with the CPC were reluctant to stay close at that time. Chen Yun himself was also wanted by the Kuomintang government. In some near escapes, he was fortunately assisted by fellow workers. People persuaded him to quit the CPC for his own safety, but he said no even if he would be imprisoned or killed. Chen firmly believed that the communists and revolutionary masses cannot be defeated.

In the fall of 1927, the CPC confirmed the general guidelines for the Agrarian Revolution and the armed resistance against the Kuomintang, and took the launching of the Autumn Harvest Uprising as its main task at that time. Chen had known the importance of peasants in China’s revolution. While leading labor strikes in 1926, he published an article entitled The Chinese National Movement: Its Past and Future on Struggle, a journal of the Labor Union of Publishing House of Shanghai Commercial Press. He pointed out in the article that the workers have realized how weak they are in the absence of the peasantry, the powerful main force that is destined to play such an important part in the national movement in China, an agricultural country. Without their participation, the Chinese revolution has little hope of success.

Therefore, when Chen Yun was sent to his hometown (Xiaozheng Town in Qingpu County) to lead the peasant movement, he went with pleasure and arrived in early October. At that time, the CPC organization in Xiaozheng was destroyed. The Peasant Association also stopped its activities under pressure. Chen then stayed in a peasant’s home located in the south of the river. He cleaned up pigsties and collected cockspur grass with peasants in the surrounding villages during daytime to look for activists among them. In the evening, he chatted with peasants relaxing in the cool grain-sunning ground for publicity and mobilization. He started from the interests of peasants themselves and inspired them step by step, telling them the actual relationship between peasants and landlords. People there came to understand that landlords had been exploiting them in various ways, which brought sufferings to them generation after generation. He pointed out the fact that better harvest did not necessarily mean better life for peasants. For hundreds of years, peasants had been struggling to survive no matter how their crops grew. To completely solve the problem and to cultivate their own fields for adequate food and clothing, they had to get rid of the “rent rice” and usury, and work together to fight against unfair rent and interest. As peasants' awareness enhanced, Chen Yun started to restore the Peasant Association in Xiaozheng and develop the key members into CPC members, thus establishing a CPC organization there. The first day of the tenth lunar month was a traditional temple fair in the south of the Yangtze River, known as “Ancestor Worship Festival”. Chen Yun seized the opportunity and delivered a speech to over 3,000 people, pointing out the fact that landlords and despotic gentries had been exploiting and oppressing peasants. Chen said that the only path to the liberation of peasants was to overthrow the despotic gentry and reactionary Kuomintang regime. He called on all the people to unite and fight against landlords and local tyrants. The speech exerted wide influence. Many people learnt that Chen Yun had returned hometown to lead the revolution.

In November, the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee decided to set up the CPC Qingpu County Committee and appointed Chen Yun as the Secretary. Led by Chen and CPC Qingpu County Committee, dozens of villages in Qingpu County rapidly built their peasant associations. By the end of that year, 5,000 peasants had joined and initiated large-scale campaigns against unfair rent and interest. Unprecedentedly, the peasants paid nothing to landlords that year, not even a grain. The landlords and local tyrants were greatly alarmed. Holding the grudge, they intended to counterattack. On January 3, l928, a leading landlord in Xiaozheng colluded with Kuomintang police force to collect rent with loaded guns. In order to consolidate the anti-rent achievements, Chen Yun set up a peasant armed force and launched an uprising in Xiaozheng. The peasant armed force attacked Xiaozheng on the evening of the 5th and attacked the Security Mission headquarters of Fanbangxin Town on the 9th. They disarmed the local landlord force and executed a number of flagitious despotic gentries and landlords. Although the uprising failed under the enemy’s repression, it bravely fought against Chiang Kai-shek's massacre policy in the heart area of Kuomintang’s rule, effectively cracked down on the local tyrants, and strengthened the influence of the CPC among the peasants.

In July 1928, the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee set up the CPC Qingpu Special Committee and appointed Chen Yun as Committee Member and Head of the Organization Department. In November, he entered the Provincial Committee, and was responsible for peasant movement in other counties. From February to March 1929, according to the instructions of the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee, Chen participated in and led the peasant uprisings initiated by the CPC Fengxian County Committee and the CPC Jinshan County Committee, attacking houses of the bullies and landlords in Zhuanghang and Xinjie. After that, Chen was transferred to the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee and served as Inspector of Shanghai and Nanjing, and was in charge of inspecting underground work in Suzhou, Wuxi, Changzhou, Danyang, Zhenjiang and Nanjing. He learnt in detail about the actual situation of various CPC organizations and peasant movements in these areas, and deeply pondered strategies and plans for these movements. During this period, he completed more than 10 documents, a total of over 40,000 words, including the Letter from CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee to CPC Changzhou County Committee, Letter from CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee to CPC Yangzhou County Committee, Letter from CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee to CPC Danyang County Committee - the Current Focus of CPC’s Work in Danyang, Letter from CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee to CPC Chongming County Committee -Instructions on the Main Task of Labor and Peasant Movements and Other Work, Letter from CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee to CPC Lianshui County Committee - General Guidelines of Mass Movement Under New Situation and the Work of the Red-knife Organization and Letter from CPC Jiangsu Provincial   Committee to CPC Yancheng County Committee. On August 15, 1929, after the leadership restructuring of the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee, Chen Yun was elected as member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee, serving as Secretary of the Peasant Movement Committee.

Shortly thereafter, the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee issued the Notice on the Struggle of Autumn Harvest, requiring the CPC organizations across the province to attach great importance to the struggle of autumn harvest that year. On September 10, Chen Yun listened to the report of the CPC Changzhou County Committee on Tianning Temple tenant-peasants’ request for clearing of exorbitant rent and their resistance against rent. The land of Tianning Temple in Changzhou is more than 60,000 mu, covering Changzhou, Danyang, Jiangyin, Changshu and other counties. The arable land of the Tianning Temple is more than 10,000 mu, including over 3,000 mu in its southeastern villages with more than 200 tenant-peasant households. The monks and abbot, with a benevolent appearance, secretly colluded with the local corrupt officials and evil gentries, military and police minions to acrimoniously oppress the tenant-peasants. Over the past three years, the tenant-peasants had been fighting against the unfair rent and requesting for field rent reimbursement, replacing the old tenancy agreements, limiting the rent per mu and prohibiting usury. On September 12, the Standing Committee of the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee analyzed the situation and decided to send Chen Yun as the representative to guide the local struggle of autumn harvest.

On September 16, Chen Yun disguised himself as a teacher and left Shanghai for Changzhou. As fall came close, the anti-rent campaign of tenant-peasants in Tianning Temple was about to begin. On October 4, Chen arrived in Changzhou once again during his inspection journey. At that time, under the leadership of the CPC Changzhou County Committee, the tenant-peasants were in resolute anti-rent struggle. The County Committee and the county government of Kuomintang issued a bulletin to force tenant-peasants to pay rent. Chen Yun convened leaders of the CPC County Committee, the CPC District Committee and the CPC Dujiaqiao organizations to develop strategies for struggle together. At 4:00 p.m. on the 10th, the CPC Changzhou County Committee held a meeting attended by more than 300 tenant-peasants. After the meeting, they smashed the rent-collecting boat in Duanshiqiao, beat the monks who were collecting rents, and compelled the monk leader to write a pledge, reading “Tianning Temple will not collect rent before the clearance of previously overcharged rent.” Chen Yun participated in the entire process in person and did not leave Changzhou for Shanghai until the initial victory.

After the Tianning Temple peasant uprising, Chen Yun further explored the law of peasant movements and got a general understanding of peasant movements in Jiangsu Province. In November 1929, he systematically elaborated his thoughts about this issue in The Peasant Movement in Jiangsu, the report he delivered on behalf of the Agricultural Commission at the Second CPC Jiangsu Provincial Congress. He pointed out that peasant movements in Jiangsu Province “are the struggle of poor peasants for their vital interests.” Chen also believed that the CPC should stay closer with the masses, push forward the agrarian revolution and organize guerrilla war in this process. The CPC should mobilize peasants in various ways to “bring all kinds of regular struggles together to fight against imperialism and feudal forces.” At the Congress, Chen Yun was elected by the Executive Committee of the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee as alternate member of the Standing Committee. He also continued to serve as Secretary of the Agricultural Commission. After the Congress, peasant struggles and armed fights in Jiangsu Province scored bigger achievements guided by the CPC’s correct policies and strategies.

After 1929, the Agrarian Revolution had been advanced constantly and the revolutionary forces in China began to revive. Particularly, the outbreak of wars among Kuomintang warlords seemed to indicate the bright prospects of the Chinese revolution. The favorable situation fostered “left” adventurism represented by Li Lisan. They thought that the Chinese revolution had been “mature and rejuvenated” and advocated “large-scale labor strikes” centering on cities, which was supposed to be the preparation for armed uprising in “central cities”. However, the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee realized that workers had not become the main force of labor movements, and there were still major difficulties in bringing the masses together. After consideration, the Provincial Committee rearranged Chen’s work. Chen Yun went to Huzhong District in mid-to-late October and started regular contact with CPC members to learn about the local situation. He also attended three meetings of the CPC Huzhong District Committee, a meeting of the CPC branch of the pharmaceutical industry and some meetings of the Labor Union of Huzhong District. Based on a careful investigation of workers' struggles, Chen Yun wrote about the researches and discussions on the strike at the bulb factory. To support the bulb factory workers' strike and prepare for the general protest and the general strike on the International Workers’ Day, at the request of the CPC Central Committee, the CPC Provincial Committee set up Shanghai General Action Committee and District Action Committees in March. Chen Yun was appointed as alternate member of the Standing Committee of the General Action Committee and Party Secretary of Shanghai Fanan District. Back then, Fanan District included the French Concession and Nanshi District. The reactionary power was stronger in the latter, a large industrial area gathering Chinese and French municipal workers, heavy industry workers and handicraft workers. Chen Yun prepared a lot to organize workers in Fanan District. On May 1, tens of thousands of workers and students in Shanghai broke through the blockade of the Concession police and organized a grand parade on Nanjing Road.

During his tenure as the Secretary of Fanan District, Chen focused on railway, arsenal, Jiangnan Shipyard, tram plant and electric light plant, especially Fanan Arsenal. In early June, the capitalists of Fanan Arsenal received an order requiring 3,000 shells before 12 o’clock that day. To deliver goods on time, the arsenal hired a group of unskilled temporary workers whose operation were non-standard. As a result, an explosion took place, causing about 46 deaths and 18 seriously injured. After the incident, the arsenal mobilized a large number of military and police force to surround the site in an attempt to cover the fact hastily. The workers, dissatisfied with the way the arsenal dealt with the accident, went on strike. Upon learning of the incident, Chen Yun went to the CPC Fanan District Committee for countermeasure. It was believed that the fight was not just an ordinary labor strike, but an anti-warlord struggle in essence. They should also put forward the slogan against warlord wars and extra work, and request for 30% increase in wage, 5,000 yuan for each family of the deceased and 500 yuan for each of the injured. In addition, a family support group should be set up. These measures had staunchly protected the workers' vital interests. To mitigate the harm of leftism, Chen opposed over-optimism about the situation. On July 5, the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee conveyed instructions from the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and All-China Federation of Trade Unions, calling on workers across the country to go on a big protest on July 16. At the meeting, many people overestimated the situation and thought that each district in Shanghai should launch a few strikes. However, Chen Yun pointed out that the Party branch in Fanan District was busy mobilizing workers instead of arranging work in the factory. On July 12, while the Standing Committee of the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee was discussing the preparation for “July 16” protest, Chen Yun pointed out once again that there was hardly any time left for preparing the strikes as expected. Instead, they should focus on actions centering on one or two places. On July 13, The Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee decided in a meeting to organize a soldier uprising in Nanjing, and at the same time mobilize General Alliance of Workers in Shanghai, striving for the first victory in the armed uprising in Wuhan to establish a national Soviet regime. To implement this plan, several organizations were established, including the Southern Bureau, Northern Bureau, Yangtze River Bureau and the General Action Committee of Jiangsu Province. On the 15th, the General Action Committee convened the first meeting, appointing Chen Yun as member of the Standing Committee of the General Action Committee responsible for work of other counties, and Secretary of Shanghai Zhabei District Action Committee. On August 25, at a joint meeting of District Party Committee Secretaries and military staff officers in Shanghai, Chen Yun pointed out that the revolutionary situation was not fully mature in Zhabei District. Among the existing 24 red vanguards, only 12 of them could be mobilized. The promotional materials, though large in number, can hardly be sent out due to traffic problems. Baoshan Colored Glass Factory was the only spot where strike preparation was relatively mature.

Soon, Li Lisan’s “left” adventurism was criticized by the Third International. On August 22, the Political Bureau of CPC Central Committee convened a meeting to convey the guidelines of the Third International’s Resolution on the Issue of China and ceased the original risky plan. The Third Plenary Session of the Sixth CPC Central Committee was held in Shanghai from September 24 to 28. The event corrected the left-leaning path and suspended the leadership of Li Lisan. At the meeting, Chen Yun was elected as an alternate member of the Central Committee.

In early October 1930, CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee was renamed CPC Jiangnan Provincial Committee, directly under the leadership of CPC Central Committee. The Shanghai-based organ had jurisdiction over Party organizations in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui and Shanghai City. Chen Yun was appointed as a member of the Standing Committee of CPC Jiangnan Provincial Committee, Head of the Organization Department, Secretary of the Inter-county Working Committee, and later the Head of Women's Work Department. When CPC Jiangnan Provincial Committee was first established, Chen Yun proposed to the Provincial Standing Committee that there should be collective provincial leadership and the district leadership should be stable, too. The inspection system should be restored and the work of local Party branches should be based on the actual situation of the local people. Guidance and instructions should be provided to support Party branches in factories and the rural areas. On January 1, 1931, Chen Yun made a practical proposal on how to adapt to the situation, mobilize the masses, centralize Party leadership and improve branch organization in the organizational work report to the Standing Committee of CPC Jiangnan Provincial Committee.