The so-called democratic progressive figures in the Northeast at the time were all Communist sympathizers, for example, Yan Baohang, Gao Zhongmin, and Du Zhong-yuan, who regularly criticized Chiang Kai-shek as a dictator. They were worried that the Northeast Army would be bled dry. They suggested to Zhang that he cooperate with the Communists in resisting the Japanese and their opinions were bound to have an influence on him.
二、東北當時的所謂民主進步人士多為親共份子，如閻寶航、高崇民、杜重遠等，常常批評蔣介石獨裁，擔心東北軍被消耗殆盡，建議張學良聯共抗日，他們對張有相當的影響力；