Zhazidong

　　During the Anti-Japanese War — a prison jointly operated with the espionage agencies of U.S. imperialism, specifically designed to imprison Communists and progressive youths. It is situated at the foot of Geleshan Mountain in Chongqing, China. Originally a coal mine, Zhazidong was founded by Cheng Erchang, who was born in 1886 in Zhangjiachang, Ciqikou. At the age of 23, Cheng sold his land holdings and successively established three charcoal plants in the areas of Tudi Tang, Zhazidong, and Qingcaopo between today’s Ciqikou and Martyrs’ Cemetery, mining bituminous coal. The Zhazidong coal mine was opened in 1920. Initially a manually excavated coal pit, it earned its name due to the large amount of slag produced. It is located 2.5 kilometers from Bai Mansion. In 1939, the site was converted into a prison, and in 1943 it was transformed into the second prison by the Sino-American Cooperative Organization, directly under the Southwest Command. The Zhazidong prison is surrounded by mountains on three sides, with a deep ditch in front. The prison is divided into an inner and outer courtyard, along with a basement used for storage. The outer courtyard housed the prison offices and interrogation rooms, while the inner courtyard contained 16 male cells and 2 female cells, which at its peak held over 700 prisoners. Figures such as Luo Shiwen, Jiang Zhuyun (Sister Jiang), and Li Qinglin were imprisoned here at various times.

　　Zhazidong was originally a small manually operated coal pit, named for producing more slag than coal. Surrounded by mountains on three sides and a ditch on one, its terrain offered concealment. In 1943, when Bai Mansion was repurposed as the third guesthouse of the Sino-American Cooperative Organization and the "political prisoners" held there were relocated here, they were moved back to Bai Mansion in April 1947.

　　In December 1947, Zhazidong, which had been closed for over half a year, reopened as the Second Detention House of the Second Office of the Chongqing Military Command. The detainees primarily included "key suspects" arrested during the "June 1st" mass arrests in 1947, those apprehended in the "Trend Forward Newspaper" case and the "Little Civil Revolution" case. Following the failure of the armed uprisings in Eastern Sichuan, captured rebels also contributed to the prisoner count, which at its height exceeded 300. Martyrs such as Jiang Zhuyun, Xu Jianye, and Yu Zusheng were once imprisoned here.

　　The Zhazidong detention facility was divided into an inner and outer courtyard. The inner courtyard featured an exercise yard, sixteen male cells (each one-story with a loft), and two female cells. To demoralize the revolutionaries, the secret police deliberately painted slogans on the walls of the inner courtyard, such as: “Youth once gone never returns, think carefully, recognize the time and place, do not persist in error,” “Boundless confusion, repent and find salvation,” and “Remain calm and patient, harbor no resentment or worry.” The outer courtyard housed the secret police offices and interrogation rooms. The outer courtyard walls were inscribed with slogans directed at the secret police: “What the superiors cannot see, think of, hear, or do, we must see, think of, hear, and do for them.”

　　Bai Mansion was originally the suburban villa of Sichuan warlord Bai Ju. In 1939, the Military Statistics Bureau (Juntong) converted it into a prison to hold “political prisoners.” After the establishment of the Sino-American Cooperative Organization in 1943, it briefly served as a guesthouse for American personnel. All detainees held at Bai Mansion were considered by Juntong to be “political prisoners involved in serious cases.” These included anti-Japanese patriotic general Huang Xiansheng, Zhou Junshi, president of Tongji University, patriotic figures—, Communist Song Qiyun, Xu Linxia and their young son “Little Radish Head.” At its peak, over 200 “political prisoners” were held here.

　　Zhazidong was a place for holding ordinary “prisoners.”

　　On November 27, 1949, when the People's Liberation Army had already liberated most of Sichuan, the authorities began executing the detained individuals. Due to insufficient guards at Zhazidong, guards from Bai Mansion were also reassigned, leaving only one guard behind. Luo Guangbin, author of Red Crag, and others persuaded the guard by explaining the situation and promising that if he released them, they would testify on his behalf and he would receive leniency from the government. After the guard released them, they fled to the mountains outside the prison and thus avoided execution.

　　Historical Background

　　After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese people yearned for peace and democracy, aspiring to establish a new democratic state where the people were the masters. The reactionary forces, however, still aimed to turn China into a country dominated by landlords and the big bourgeoisie. They colluded with U.S. imperialism and in June 1946 launched attacks on the Liberated Areas led by the CCP, sparking a civil war.

　　The Chinese People's Liberation Army valiantly fought back against the attacks by the reactionary army. By autumn 1948, during the three major campaigns — Liaoshen, Huaihai, and Pingjin — over 1.5 million reactionary troops were either annihilated or reorganized. The main force of the reactionary army was essentially destroyed, greatly accelerating the nationwide victory of the Liberation War.

　　On April 21, 1949, the People's Liberation Army crossed the Yangtze River forcefully, launching the Yangtze River Crossing Campaign, surging southward with overwhelming momentum. The enemy’s defensive lines were shattered. On April 23, the PLA entered Nanjing and occupied the reactionary government’s “presidential palace.”

　　October 1, 1949, is a day forever commemorated by the Chinese people. On this day, the People’s Republic of China was founded.