On November 11, 1948, Chen Brei attended an extraordinary meeting held by the Central Political Committee of the Kuomintang. After returning to his apartment, Jiang Junzhang saw his pale face and asked him why the meeting ended so late.
Chen Bui answered the question unintentionally: "How does my face look?" Jiang Junzhang continued to ask: "Is Mr. Chen feeling unwell?" Chen Bui nodded and sat down to eat. At the dinner table, Chen Bui changed his usual serious attitude and started chatting. talk.
The next night, Chen Bulei didn't even eat dinner. He hurried into the bedroom and told the staff: "Don't disturb me and let me be quiet!" That night, Chen Bulei stayed up all night and wrote furiously. Eleven suicide notes were written.
So, what happened at that meeting that made Chen Brai arrange his own affairs so urgently?
became the "gun barrel" of the Kuomintang
Chen Brai was an authentic scholar. He entered a private school at the age of 6 and was familiar with poetry and books. Under the influence of traditional Chinese culture, they have formed their own philosophy of life ideologically. " etiquette, justice, integrity " and "loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, etiquette, justice and peace" are the basic principles for their behavior.
So, when did Chen Brai and Chiang Kai-shek come into contact?
In 1912, Mr. Sun Yat-sen was elected as the provisional president and took office in Nanjing. Immediately afterwards, he published the first "Letter to Allies", the first draft of which was written in English. After the speech, the Foreign Affairs Minister of the Provisional National Government Wang Chonghui brought the book from Nanjing to Shanghai, but there was no one to translate it.
Wang Chonghui
At this moment, Chen Zhilan, the general manager of "Tianduo News", suggested that there was a reporter named Chen Brai in the newspaper who was very good in Chinese and English, and that he could give it a try. After
got the permission, Chen Bui translated one of the paragraphs. After Wang Chonghui read it, he praised it repeatedly. After the full text was translated, it was first published in "Tianduo Daily". For a time, Chen Brai became a "new star" in the news industry and received enthusiastic attention from people.
At the same time, Chen Bulei had already been noticed by Zhang Jingjiang and Dai Jitao .
As Chiang Kai-shek's "mentor", Zhang Jingjiang has reminded many times that if you want to achieve a great career, you must grasp two poles: : one is the barrel of the gun, and the other is the barrel of the pen.
When he was in charge of Nanchang, Zhang Jingjiang once again spoke from the bottom of his heart and said to Chiang Kai-shek: "The barrel of your gun is very hard, but the barrel of your pen is too weak."
Although Chiang Kai-shek was very conceited, he also knew that Zhang Jingjiang was right. , although they achieved military victory, they did not publish a decent article. I was surrounded by soldiers who commanded wars, and what I lacked was a pen with literary talent.
Zhang Jingjiang
At the same time, Zhang Jingjiang also found a good candidate for Chiang Kai-shek. He bluntly said: Chen Brai is the best candidate.
When he heard that it was Chen Brai, Chiang Kai-shek immediately became excited. He had heard of Chen Brai, and he himself often read his articles and had admired him for a long time.
Chiang Kai-shek knew how important it was to have a suitable secretary. This secretary must be able to truthfully express what he meant and also write down his own opinions. Such a person must be quick in thinking, sharp in writing, and loyal.
At that time, Chiang Kai-shek had already made up his mind to re-employ Chen Bulei, so he asked Zhang Jingjiang to go to Shanghai to invite Chen Bulei.
After Chen Brei and Pan Gongzhan came to Nanchang together, they met Chiang Kai-shek. Chiang Kai-shek took the initiative to put down his airs and asked Chen Brei not to call him commander-in-chief. Chen Brei also knew that Chiang Kai-shek was indeed sincere.
Chen Brei
At this appointment, Chen Brei and Pan Gongzhan, Chen Guofu were also present. Chiang Kai-shek looked at Chen Guofu next to him. Chen Guofu immediately understood what Chiang Kai-shek meant and said: "I invite you two to come today. We are here to introduce you to join the Chinese Kuomintang."
Chen Brai and Pan Gongzhan looked at each other and smiled, and took the "KMT Member Registration" Form", filled it out and handed it to Chen Guofu.
The big stone in Chiang Kai-shek's heart finally fell to the ground. He stood up, shook their hands, and said to Chen Guofu: "Chen Bulei and Pan Gongzhan joined the Chinese Kuomintang at the same time, and their relationship is under the direct branch of the Central Organization Department ."
In this way, Chen Bulei officially joined the Kuomintang.
After the two lived in Nanchang for more than ten days, Pan Gongzhan returned to Shanghai, while Chen Brai stayed with Chiang Kai-shek. The two would have a heart-to-heart talk every few days.
Chiang Kai-shek
A few days later, Chiang Kai-shek called Chen Brai and said that he wanted to write a "Letter to Huangpu Classmates", and then expressed his thoughts and ideas. Chen Bulei knew that this was a test by Chiang Kai-shek. Soon, Chen Bulei wrote the manuscript of the article quickly. After Chiang Kai-shek read it, he applauded.
After explaining his revision opinions, Chen Brai felt for the first time that Chiang Kai-shek was indeed not a simple person.
Later, with Chen Bulei as a "pen", Chiang Kai-shek also earned enough face, and Chen Bulei also made up his mind to follow Chiang Kai-shek.
Chen Bray compares himself to the woman who never married
Chen Bray is an ambitious young man with great ambitions. When he became a reporter, he wanted to inspire the Chinese people with his words.
Therefore, during the Anti-Japanese War, when Chiang Kai-shek was preparing to actively resist the war, Chen Bulei used his "pen" to write inspiring articles criticizing the current ills.
Even Japanese air raids and enemy bombings could not stop the beating tip of his pen. During countless sleepless nights, his passionate masterpieces came out one after another, which also earned Chiang Kai-shek enough face.
Chen Bulei was originally a person with a gloomy personality, but when there was an anti-Japanese upsurge in the country and the political situation gradually improved, Chen Bulei also saw the future of the country and the hope of the nation, and this was undoubtedly the most exciting thing for this scholar. thing.
Chen Brai
Therefore, he was in high spirits and enthusiasm during the writing process. He wrote, "Chiang Gong explained that the enemy will be defeated and the war of resistance will be successful. ... For years, physical and mental strength, this period is the most victorious. "This is the most enjoyable period of work in recent years," he wrote in his diary.
On the morning of October 22, 1938, as soon as the sirens stopped, Chiang Kai-shek asked Chen Brai to draft a "Letter to the Nation's Military and People that Victory Depends on Protracted Struggle." He also explained his consistent policy of protracted resistance, comprehensive resistance, and striving for the initiative.
Chen Bui carefully recorded Chiang Kai-shek's words with a pen, and Chiang Kai-shek also showed satisfaction with his serious attitude.
Even Mr. Wang Taidong, the author of "Chen Bulei's Foreign History", Mr. Wang Taidong, when evaluating the Anti-Japanese War Chen Bulei, said that at that time Chen Bulei was very handy and impassioned about the content of the Anti-Japanese War, which made him feel like he was back again. The period of high-spirited youth.
From 1927 to 1934, while holding administrative work, he would sometimes go to Nanjing to live for a few days. Usually he was still in Shanghai, doing his own news work. Therefore, during this period, whenever Chiang Kai-shek needed to write various manuscripts, he would return to Nanjing to draft them on his behalf.
Chiang Kai-shek
From 1935 to 1848, with the development of the Anti-Japanese War, Chen Brai officially resigned from his original position and came to Chiang Kai-shek's side. He served successively as the Director of the Second Attendant's Office, Secretary-General of the Central Political Commissar and other positions, becoming an indispensable member of Chiang Kai-shek's side. A missing person. After the victory of
, Chen Bulei was appointed as a member of the National Government. He is currently the national policy advisor of the Presidential Office and the acting secretary-general of the Central Political Committee.
Chen Brai is considered a high-ranking official among Chiang Kai-shek's cronies, but what makes him special from other cronies is that he is Chiang Kai-shek's first attendant. He followed Chiang Kai-shek like a shadow, writing documents and organizing intelligence documents for him.
During the Xi'an Incident, Chen Brai was bedridden due to illness and failed to participate in the rescue operation for Chiang Kai-shek. Therefore, he was also very guilty. When accompanied by his close friends, he would always pour out his loyalty to Chiang Kai-shek.
In a letter to his friend Wang Yunsheng, Chen Brei also talked about his sincerity for Chiang Kai-shek. He said self-deprecatingly: "I am like a married woman, I can only live forever."
Chen Brei
But during the civil war, this job was not as simple as Chen Brai originally thought. How could he, who pursued peace, bear to watch his compatriots killing each other, so it was always very painful whenever he drafted text for Chiang Kai-shek.
So I also thought about resigning and returning home after victory, but thinking that Chiang Kai-shek was so kind to me, the money around me would only last for three months after I returned.
Chen Brai has been an official for many years. He could have used his position to live a comfortable life, but after all, he is still a scholar with integrity and high ambitions, and a high official salary is not his pursuit.
Therefore, in the late period of the civil war, he wanted to end his life many times, but due to various reasons he was unable to return to his hometown, so he stayed with Chiang Kai-shek.
Although Chiang Kai-shek always treated Chen Brai with courtesy and called him Mr. Bray, he was like accompanying a tiger, and the days with Chiang Kai-shek were also full of suffering.
In late October 1948, Chen Brai's son was preparing to go abroad to say goodbye to his father. He saw that his father's mental state was very decadent and it seemed that he was not in good condition. His father poured out his bitterness to him and said with a sigh:
"The military in the front has been defeated to such an extent, and the mentality of the people in the rear has changed like this. At this moment, the highest authorities want me to write an article on " Total War ". This calls me How to write!"
As Chiang Kai-shek's chief secretary, Chen Brai often had to write some material that was not of his own free will, but he could only swallow his bitterness and have no one to talk to.
Chen Brei
Such a life also caused Chen Brei to suffer from severe neurasthenia, and his insomnia became more and more serious. Writing materials day and night to rush for the manuscript made him very painful. When he couldn't write anything, he would bang his head against the wall.
However, what tormented him the most was not just writing the materials, but also Chiang Kai-shek's reprimand, which made Chen Brai feel ashamed and made him feel that his self-esteem had been seriously hurt.
On November 2, 1948, the People's Liberation Army occupied Shenyang. On the night of the end of the "Liaoshen Campaign", Chen Brai came to Chiang Kai-shek's mansion for a night talk.
Prior to this, Chen Brai had always respected Chiang Kai-shek, and he would definitely listen to his suggestions. Therefore, he advised Chiang Kai-shek:
"In view of my humble position, this battle cannot be fought any longer. If With half of the country preserved, we can regain our strength and unify the country in the future."
Chiang Kai-shek couldn't hear these words and became furious:
"Since ancient times, there has been no one who can divide the world equally and live in peace. I just look down on you. If you beat him, he will fall, and if you don't beat him, he will collapse."
Chiang Kai-shek's reprimand deeply surprised Chen Brai. He did not expect that Chiang Kai-shek, who always respected him very much, would call himself a weakling. Scholars are already arrogant. Chiang Kai-shek's words surprised Chen Brai. His self-esteem was severely damaged.
Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Meiling
Seeing the two of them arguing, Soong Meiling quickly changed the subject and asked Chen Brai how his insomnia was going. Chen Bulei's anger just now has not subsided, and he said angrily: "It's getting worse."
Chiang Kai-shek didn't want to keep him, so he said: "It's time for you to rest." But at this time, Chen Bulei heard another meaning. , just as he was about to get up and leave, Chiang Kai-shek said again: "It's time for you to rest."
Chen Bulay was even more convinced of Chiang Kai-shek's meaning. On the way back, Chen Bulli muttered: "It's time for you to rest."
In Chiang Kai-shek's words Under the hint, Chen Brai made the decision to take a complete rest.
Chen Brai omitted two sentences and was forced to commit suicide
On November 13, 1948, Chen Brai's personal secretary opened the door of Chen Brai's bedroom and saw a horrifying sight. Chen Brei committed suicide by taking medicine, but it was reported in Nanjing that Chen Brei died of a heart attack.
So, why did Chen Brai commit suicide in this way? Why did he choose to commit suicide at this time?
Looking back at what happened a week before Chen Brei's death, we may be able to find some clues, and these things also make people know that it is not unexpected that Chen Brei made such a choice.
Chen Brei
November 8th is the last week of the countdown to Chen Brei’s life.
Today is the day when the Kuomintang party and government agencies hold the Prime Minister's Memorial Week. The heads of important agencies were called to Chiang Kai-shek to receive instructions. In this speech, Chiang Kai-shek cursed the position of the peace faction from the very beginning. He believed that this It was a sign of surrender to the Communist Party. He believed that no matter how many difficulties and failures he experienced, he must fight the Communist Party to the end.
In fact, Chiang Kai-shek was not referring to Chen Brai, but Chen Brai still vividly remembered the reprimand given to him that night, so he also believed that Chiang Kai-shek had something to say.
Chen Bulei’s proposal for peace was based on national interests and the peril of the Chinese nation. However, with Chiang Kai-shek, his proposal was accused of betraying the interests of the party and the country and betraying the Communist Party. For Chen Bulei, this was undoubtedly Another blow to him.
In this speech, Chiang Kai-shek said an important slogan in order to express his determination to fight against the enemy: "It will take eight years to resist the war and eight years to suppress the bandits." As soon as this statement came out, everyone was shocked.
Chiang Kai-shek
Among them, the most surprised one was Chen Brai. After eight years of resistance, the country has been devastated. Can it survive another eight years of civil war? And those democrats are also actively working for peace between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party. If they hear this sentence, what serious consequences will it cause?
None of this is known. In order to avoid unnecessary trouble, Chen Brai deliberately omitted these words when compiling the records of Chiang Kai-shek's speeches. But I didn't expect that just because these two sentences were omitted, Chiang Kai-shek became furious and became one of the reasons that forced Chen Brai to death.
These two sentences are Chiang Kai-shek's most proud work and the core of this speech. Now that they were deleted by Chen Brai, how could he not be angry? He decided to keep them.
He said to Chen Brai aggressively:
"What's wrong with you now? Is your brain too tired and can't be used at all? Just organize it as I said and don't omit it. This shows my determination to burn the boat." "
Chiang Kai-shek paced back and forth in the living room with his hands behind his back, as if to warn him: "There are no enemies, but I am invincible. The war of resistance has finally been won after eight years, and the 'suppression of bandits' will be victorious after eight years. "
Chiang Kai-shek
This time. The scolding of Chen Brai was something he had never done before following Chiang Kai-shek. In addition, the previous reprimanding of Chen Brai made him even more embarrassed. Chiang Kai-shek's insinuations and sarcasm made Chen Brai very tormented. His mental endurance had reached an unbearable level. One hit situation.
Therefore, these few words from Chiang Kai-shek made Chen Brai almost feel heartbroken. The conversation with Chiang Kai-shek that night decided Chen Brai's fate. Perhaps it was on this day that he made up his mind to commit suicide.
On November 11, the Central Political Committee held an extraordinary meeting. Chen Brai did not want to attend, but he went anyway. After Chen Brai entered the venue, he kept sitting in the corner of the venue, silent and not interested in the theme of the meeting.
While he was thinking about his thoughts, his consciousness was no longer under control, he entered his own state, and spoke out what he was thinking.
Just when the authorities were reviewing the lessons of the fall of Northeast China and resolutely determined to win the Xubeng Battle, Chen Brai, who had never spoken a word, coldly said four words: "Talking on paper!"
Everyone present was stunned. , the atmosphere in the venue instantly solidified, and Chen Brei didn't seem to realize that he had said the wrong thing. Just when everyone didn't know how to resolve the embarrassing atmosphere, Chen Brei once again released a time bomb.Said: "I will not accept your fate!"
Chiang Kai-shek
As soon as this statement came out, everyone looked at each other, wondering what happened to Chen Brai today. This sentence is equivalent to the crime of cursing the emperor. Chiang Kai-shek is here The seats were already boiling with anger. He shouted loudly: "Chen Brai!" Chen Brai was startled, and then he woke up and realized that he might have said something treacherous.
Chiang Kai-shek got angry, and no one dared to interrupt. His close associates opposed him in public, which made him feel that he had lost all face. He couldn't control himself at the meeting and shouted angrily: "You have followed me for twenty years, are you tired of it? , I want to change my family and get a new master, a more decent master than me!"
Later, based on what Chen Brai said, Chiang Kai-shek said that the work he was responsible for was also a mess. Chiang Kai-shek really couldn't understand what Chen Brai did at the meeting, but he decided not to keep him anymore and asked him to retire and return home in public to fulfill his wish.
Everyone was silent, and their faces were already sallow, waiting for Chiang Kai-shek's reprimand. When the words came to his lips, he felt that his behavior just now was a bit inappropriate, so he could only say: "The scholar has misled the country and misunderstood the wrong person. "
This sentence did not make any sense to the people present, because they were used to hearing Chiang Kai-shek swearing. But for Chen Brai, these words directly broke his heart, and the last line of defense in his heart collapsed completely.
The humiliation at the meeting made him unable to hold his head high. How could he, who had always been proud, endure such humiliation. And this became the direct reason why Chiang Kai-shek forced Chen Brai to death.
Chiang Kai-shek
In this way, Chen Brai was heartbroken and decided to end his life.
That night, Chen Brai stayed up all night and wrote a 1,500-word "Miscellaneous Notes" in which he talked about his views on life and death.
November 12th was the last day of Chen Brai's life. This day was the 84th anniversary of the birth of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. Chen Brai was originally going to attend the commemorative event that day, but he thought that he was going to follow the Prime Minister today, so it was okay not to go. So I took a day off to rest.
After lunch, he took a nap for an hour. In the evening, he told his secretary that he had to write some important materials tonight, so he should not disturb him and let him be quiet.
That night, Tao Yongbiao was guarding Chen Bulei downstairs, while Chen Bulei was writing furiously upstairs and wrote eleven suicide notes.
Early the next morning, the staff at home felt that Chen Brai had not gotten up yet, so they went upstairs and opened the door and found that Chen Brai had committed suicide by taking medicine.
After Chen Brai's death, people found golden yuan coupons 700 yuan under his bed. In addition to the 300 yuan that was to be given to the adjutant in his suicide note, there was only 400 yuan left. At that time, the price of rice was already 300 yuan. A few dozen yuan per stone.
Chen Brai's Grave
After Chen Brai's death, there were various speculations about the cause of his death.
But in fact, he committed suicide because he was forced to die by Chiang Kai-shek. His death was a complete disappointment to Chiang Kai-shek and a relief from his internal and external dilemma. The mental stimulation and physical injuries made him physically and mentally exhausted, and eventually he became ill and died in depression.
After Chen Bulei's death, Chiang Kai-shek wrote "Contemporary Perfect Man" in his handwriting to save Chen Bulei. But when I thought about Chiang Kai-shek's criticism of Chen Brai at the meeting on the 11th: "The scholar has wronged the country and misjudged the wrong person." I realized that this was the truest evaluation of Chen Brai in Chiang Kai-shek's heart. Perhaps this was the straw that broke the camel's back.
