The cold, muddy waters of Shanghai's Soochow Creek teemed with thousands of Chinese junks and smaller sampans. Terrified refugees were preparing once more to flee before the surging tide of Communism. Nevertheless, the great majority of Chinese were becoming more reconciled to the prospects of Communist rule. The cagey Reds had switched to a "soft" line.
Taking a tip from Lenin's 1921 Russian shift to the New Economic Policy, Communist Boss Mao Tse-tung was striving to ease the strain of revolution by talking of moderation. He hoped to allay the fears of capitalists and technicians, both Chinese and foreigners. New phrases which sounded like U.S. factory slogans urged workers to "study technique and raise production efficiency, cherish your implements and save raw materials." Said a Red soldier in Tsinan: "In the villages we have to eliminate feudalism and boost production, and in the cities we have to protect industry and commerce so that production may be increased." Within Communist ranks, leaders announced "self-examination conferences" for "correction of leftist tendencies."
"Walk, Don't Run." At Shihkiach-wang, railroad hub on the Peiping-Han-kow line some 175 miles south of Peiping, an American reported perceptible economic progress since, his visit six months earlier. The Communists had started many small industries—weaving shops, flour mills, brick kilns, foundries, machine shops—which are flourishing. He found wealthy merchants still operating. Many women had permanents which they got in reopened beauty shops.
At Kaifeng, capital of Honan province, the Communist take-over was peaceful. A U.S. woman missionary said "they came in, fired into the air and told Nationalist soldiers to lay down their arms. Civilians were told to go home—'walk, don't run.' " Commissars posted a bill of rights. One clause provided "freedom of thought and religion." Food was brought in and prices went down. Before the new policy was introduced, ton chang (the people's court) was dreaded by many middle-class Chinese. The Reds admitted regretfully that "in some places landlord and rich peasant elements were unnecessarily put to death." A month after Kaifeng's capture ton chang had done no "account settling."
Near Peiping, an American professor of English at Tsinghua University encountered a group of Communist soldiers while bicycling. "I am an American," he said. "We don't mind," one of the soldiers replied. "We understand not all Americans are against us." The soldier added with a grin: "We also understand Madame Chiang is not having much success in the U.S."
When nearby Yenching University was occupied, the commissar of local Red forces called on the university's administrative committee. He apologized for interruption of electric service and promised the university would have current from the newly captured Peiping power station within three days. It did.