Preface
Li Zongren returned to China in the summer of 1965, and this incident caused a huge response at home and abroad. Li Zongren first proposed this wish in 1955. Over the past 10 years, Li Zongren himself has overcome many difficulties, Premier Zhou has devoted a lot of effort, and the middleman has interspersed with the leads, especially Cheng Siyuan has done a lot of work. These are the objective conditions that led to Li Zongren's return.
Picture | Photo of Li Zongren and Zhou Enlai shaking hands
The most important thing is Li Zongren's own long-term changes in his thoughts. Cheng Siyuan, secretary who has been with Li Zongren for many years and has been trusted by Li Zongren, believes that Li Zongren's return to China is mainly related to three major events that happened.
Cheng Siyuan gave advice for Li Zongren
Cheng Siyuan was born in 1909 in an ordinary farmer's home in Dacheng Village, Daqiao Town, Binyang County, Guangxi. When he was a child, he stared at the eagle flying in the sky and was out of his way when he was weeding. When his father asked him the reason, he said he envied the eagle for flying far away. So his father named him Cheng Siyuan.
When I was young, due to the poverty of my family, Cheng Siyuan had to study while helping his father herd cattle. He called the cow's back "study room". Once, Mr. Wei, who was teaching, asked him to recite the "Three Character Classic", and Cheng Siyuan finished memorizing it word by word. Mr. Wei asked him to write it dictated again, and he wrote it all right. When asked why he wrote it? Cheng Siyuan said that he often wrote his words on the back of a cow.
Teaching teacher was overjoyed after hearing this. He felt that a student like Cheng Siyuan, who is diligent and studious, has great future in the future.
After Cheng Siyuan finished studying in Binyang County Higher Elementary School, he caught up with Li Zongren's 4th Regiment of the 7th Army of the National Revolutionary Army sent people to Binyang County to recruit 4 documents. 18-year-old Cheng Siyuan signed up for the exam and was finally admitted with the first place.
1930, Cheng Siyuan became the commander-in-chief secretary of Li Zongren. When working around Li Zongren, Bai Chongxi, , Cheng Siyuan puts the word "sincerity" first. What he pursues is that he will not say a lie in his life, so it is easy to gain the trust of his superiors. In Li Zongren's eyes, Cheng Siyuan is an outstanding secretary who is quick-witted and honest.
1934, Li Zongren sent Cheng Siyuan abroad to study. Three years later, he received a Ph.D. in Political Economics from the University of Rome. During this period, he also went to Western countries such as France, Britain, and Germany, and wrote the situation there in a diary and brought it back to China.
Picture | Li Zongren (right)
During the Anti-Japanese War, there was a couplet circulating in Guangxi that satirized the soldiers' ineffective combat. The provincial government moved several times under the attack of the Japanese army. The full text is as follows:
Guizhou Provincial Government moved several times, and it was not suitable for mountains, and they were all at ease. Baise has changed all the time, and it has been changed. From then on, it has been to Lingyun and lived and worked in peace.
The fourth war zone has suffered repeated defeats, but Fakui has no hair, Xiawei has no power, Xiang Yu, but fortunately, he was shining with the dragon's back, and he was angry and alive.
The couplet Yishan, Du'an, Baise, Lingyun, and Leye are all the names of county towns in Guangxi. In the couplet, Fakui (Zhang), Xia Wei, Xiang Yu (He Yunsong), Long Guang (Deng), and Jiansheng (Bai Chongxi) are all names of senior officials of the Guangxi clan.
Li Zongren was very angry about this. But at this time, a reporter sent an article "Repeated defeats" to be published in " Guangxi Daily ". The content of this article echoes the widely circulated couplets, and was scolded by Li Zongren as being desensive and influential. So, Li Zongren immediately called Cheng Siyuan and asked if he had a good plan?
After Cheng Siyuan looked at it, he asked Li Zongren to rest assured and just need to change the question. In this way, the article published on that day was changed to "Fighting Again and Fight Again and Again". The explanation given by Cheng Siyuan is that this can change the original text's negative and pessimistic tone, reflecting the fighting spirit of our soldiers becoming more and more courageous as they setbacks.
Photo | A photo of Cheng Siyuan and his wife
In the late period of the Liberation War, Li Zongren saw through the current situation and proposed to go to the United States for medical treatment, asking Bai Chongxi to be responsible for handling the endgame.
On November 20, 1949, Li Zongren decided to go to Hong Kong for treatment first.In a written conversation, he said:
"The stomach disease recurs, the duodenum has signs of bleeding, and the mental fatigue is so determined to go to Hong Kong today to take the surgery as soon as possible, otherwise it may have serious impact on your health."
That night, secretary Cheng Siyuan went to Hong Kong first, and he handled the treatment in Hong Kong and other procedures for Li Zongren. Not long after Li Zongren arrived at Taihe Hospital in Hong Kong, Chiang Kai-shek sent several telegrams urging him to come back, but Li Zongren did not agree.
On December 5, Li Zongren and his family went to the United States from Hong Kong. On the 17th, he was admitted to a hospital in New York for treatment. After the operation, he was discharged from the hospital on January 20, 1950. At that time, Li Zongren originally planned to return to the mainland after recovering from his health, but because the mainland had been liberated, he stayed in the United States and settled. During this period, the one who kept in touch with Li Zongren was Cheng Siyuan, a secretary in Hong Kong.
Photo | Chiang Kai-shek and Li Zongren
11, Cheng Siyuan reported to Li Zongren that Mao Bangchu, former director of the Materials Purchase Department of the Kuomintang Air Force in the United States, received a telegram from Chiang Kai-shek to send a huge sum of money back to Taipei. After Li Zongren learned about it, he instructed Mao Bangchu that he would never hand over the money.
It turned out that as early as January 1949, Chiang Kai-shek asked Mao Bangchu to propose the $10 million sent to him from Bank of China and save it again to avoid being frozen by Li Zongren's government. Mao Bangchu believed that Li Zongren was in power when the money was remitted and Chiang Kai-shek had no right to deal with it.
Mao Bangchu has no historical relationship with Li Zongren, but fortunately, Mao Bangchu's assistant knew Cheng Siyuan. Through the Cheng Siyuan Tower Bridge, Mao Bangchu and Li Zongren were able to contact each other.
Cheng Siyuan returned to China for Li Zongren to "go to Beijing for five times"
On March 10, 1954, a "National Congress" was held in Taipei. At the meeting, the so-called "Improvement of Vice President Li Zongren's illegal dereliction of duty" was passed, and Li Zongren's position was removed.
Li Zongren was unwilling to go back to Taiwan. He had said to Cheng Siyuan before, "A turtle bastard only went to Taiwan." But he didn't want to go back to the mainland either, because he still had a certain view of the Communist Party. The reason is nothing more than that I have fought with the Communist Party for decades and I am the acting president of the Kuomintang. How will the Communist Party treat it?
Photo | Li Zongren's military uniform photo
In this case, Li Zongren decided to settle in the United States and spent $60,000 to buy a property in Anglin Town, New Jersey. Li Zongren stayed Cheng Siyuan in Hong Kong to play a liaison role.
1956, my country's first five-year plan was successfully completed. On April 28 of the same year, Cheng Siyuan returned to Beijing from Hong Kong. On the evening of May 7, Mr. Zhang Zhizhong invited Cheng Siyuan to get together at home. After the meal, Zhang Zhizhong conveyed good news to Cheng Siyuan, saying that Premier Zhou would meet him at a cocktail party held by the CPPCC tomorrow afternoon.
After coming out of Zhang Zhizhong's home, Cheng Siyuan was so excited that he couldn't sleep, and recalled the scene of meeting Zhou Enlai in Wuhan. The next day, Zhang Zhizhong and Cheng Siyuan were talking at the cocktail party on the third floor of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Hall, when Premier Zhou walked steadily.
Premier Zhou stretched out his hand to Cheng Siyuan with a smile and said, Welcome back! We met in Wuhan in 1938. After 18 years, Premier Zhou can still remember Cheng Siyuan, and I have to admire Premier Zhou's memory for being amazing.
Picture | Premier Zhou
Premier Zhou asked Cheng Siyuan about his age, and Cheng Siyuan said he was 47 years old. Premier Zhou praised him for his good health, and Cheng Siyuan said that he often swam overseas.
In this conversation, Premier Zhou did not directly touch the topic, but gave Cheng Siyuan a buffer period. Premier Zhou said, I hope you can go around and have a look more. For example, in Northeast China, that is our industrial base, you can go and have a look! Let’s take more places to see, and let’s talk more materials when you return overseas!
Cheng Siyuan said that he was in a hurry and was not ready to go to another place.
Premier Zhou smiled and nodded, let Liu Fei, Qu Wu and others present accompany Cheng Siyuan around and talk about the situation of the motherland in recent years. Let’s visit for a few days first and talk about important things.One afternoon 24 days later, Premier Zhou held a banquet at the Ziguang Pavilion in Zhongnanhai to entertain Cheng Siyuan, and attended by Li Jishen, Zhang Zhizhong, Huang Shaohong, Liu Fei, Qu Wu and others. Before lunch, Premier Zhou had a relaxed and pleasant conversation with Cheng Siyuan.
Premier Zhou emphasized that this is the third time our party has contacted Kuomintang personnel since the founding of the People's Republic of China. The first two times were when Ye Jianying had contacted former Bank of China President Zhang Gongquan in Guangdong, and also with Long Yun's son Longshengwu . For Cheng Siyuan, this can be regarded as an honor.
This conversation lasted for 3 hours. Later, the topic attracted Mr. Li Zongren. Premier Zhou said that Mr. Lee Zongren issued a statement last year, opposing "Taiwan trusteeship" and opposing "Taiwan independence", and advocated that the Taiwan issue be resolved by the Chinese themselves.
Picture | Li Zongren
Premier Zhou believes that this is the performance of Mr. Li Zongren being overseas and caring about his motherland. He welcomes Mr. Li Zongren to come back and take a look when he thinks it is convenient.
Cheng Siyuan was very happy to be received by Premier Zhou, especially Premier Zhou instructed him to convey the spirit of the conversation to overseas people and invited Mr. Li Zongren to return to China at the right time. Cheng Siyuan regarded it as a task assigned to him by Premier Zhou, and he was willing to work hard for it.
After returning to Hong Kong, Cheng Siyuan wrote a letter to Li Zongren, who was in the United States, about the meeting with Premier Zhou. Soon, he received a reply from Li Zongren's criticism, saying that this time he went to Beijing was of great importance, but he did not discuss it with him in advance.
In fact, Cheng Siyuan didn’t have time to discuss with Li Zongren. In addition, he also considered that if he wrote a letter to Li Zongren in advance, if he did not agree, he would not be in a dilemma. Therefore, he had to take action first and then report. It can be seen that Li Zongren's thoughts at this time were still very vigilant and conservative.
1 years later, Cheng Siyuan's eldest daughter, Cheng Yueru, , stage name Lin Dai, was an actress in Hong Kong. After winning the title of Best Actress at the 2nd Asian Film Festival, she went to Columbia University to study at in the United States. Every weekend, she would visit Li Zongren's house. During this period, Li Zongren and Cheng Siyuan wrote a letter saying that seeing Cheng Yueru is like seeing relatives, and the homesickness in their hearts will surge into their hearts and will not be calmed down for a long time.
Photo | Lin Dai
In 1958, Cheng Yueru returned to Hong Kong. She and her father Cheng Siyuan talked about Li Zongren's life in the United States. "Mr. Li is not used to living in the United States, so he always wants to return to his country." Soon, Li Zongren sent another letter to Cheng Siyuan, saying that he had preserved a batch of cultural relics and hoped to dedicate it to the motherland.
1959, the 10th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China . A large delegation was organized overseas to return to China to participate in the celebration, and Cheng Siyuan was on the invitation list. After attending the celebration, Cheng Siyuan was notified that Premier Zhou would meet him.
On October 25, Premier Zhou met with Cheng Siyuan at the Ziguang Pavilion in Zhongnanhai. Next to them are Zhang Zhizhong, Shao Lizi and others. During the conversation, Cheng Siyuan talked about Mr. Li Zongren’s updates over the past few years. The Prime Minister said that Mr. Delin wanted to contribute some cultural relics to the country out of patriotic enthusiasm, and the government expressed his appreciation. As for his willingness to return to his roots, it is estimated that the time for him to return to his country is not yet ripe.
Premier Zhou said that Li Zongren can go to Europe to talk to Cheng Siyuan before making a decision.
On the second day, Premier Zhou invited Cheng Siyuan to visit Miyun Reservoir . While enjoying the beautiful scenery, Premier Zhou pointed to the water and said to Cheng Siyuan that Chairman Mao had swim here a month ago. Cheng Siyuan took advantage of the lack of anyone around him and said to Premier Zhou, "I am very ashamed." What the Prime Minister said to me in 1956, I did very little. After hearing this, Premier Zhou comforted him and said, "Don't say that."
html In early November, Cheng Siyuan returned overseas. Afterwards, he wrote a letter to Li Zongren on this trip.In the autumn of 1960, Li Zongren began to deploy his trip to Europe. He specially invited his wife, Guo Dejie, to Hong Kong to discuss with Cheng Siyuan.
Photo | Lee Zongren and his wife Guo Dejie
The location where both parties met was set in Tsuen Wan Linyuan. Linyuan is a bungalow built by Guo Dejie for her mother to support her old age.For safety reasons, the conversation between the two sides was held in a fast car. After discussion, they agreed to meet in Zurich in Switzerland . There is neutral country , and it is also a famous scenic tourist area. Li Zongren went there in the name of visiting relatives and traveling, so it did not attract attention. Cheng Siyuan flew to Rome under the name of visiting the Rome monuments, and then switched to Switzerland. After
, Guo Dejie flew back to the United States and told Li Zongren about the details of her conversation with Cheng Siyuan. Cheng Siyuan was waiting for Li Zongren to give a reply.
On June 10, 1961, Cheng Siyuan went to Beijing three times. During this trip, Cheng Siyuan reported to Premier Zhou about Guo Dejie's visit to Hong Kong and discussing with him.
In November 1962, in order to maintain territorial integrity, our country launched a self-defense counterattack against the provocations of Indian expansionists. Imperialism reverses black and white to carry out rampant anti-China actions.
At this time, Li Zongren published an article "Further Discussion on the China-India Border Issue", which mentioned:
" The Sino-India Border Line has not been delineated for centuries. Why did Mr. Nehru suddenly raise this question and then invade the Chinese border? Why did he refuse to negotiate with China to demarcate boundaries? It seems that he has other motivations in addition to the border issue.
First, I want to use the border issue to solve internal difficulties in India.
Second, I want to use the Sino-Indian conflict to win US aid.
The US government and opposition criticized China for exercising sovereignty over Tibet. This would be of no benefit to the United States and would only hurt the feelings of the Chinese. It should be thought twice about it."
On November 14, 1963, Cheng Siyuan returned to Beijing and asked Prime Minister Zhou for his meeting with Li Zongren in Switzerland. Late the next night, Premier Zhou met him at the Ziguang Pavilion in Zhongnanhai and asked him to convey to Li Zongren the "four functions":
"First, Mr. Li can come back and settle in the motherland;
second, you can come back or go to the United States;
third, you can stay in Europe for a period before you stop;
fourth, you can go out after you come back, and if you are willing to come back, you can come back."
In short, come and go freely, without restrictions.
Shortly after talking to Premier Zhou, Cheng Siyuan flew to Zurich. After the two sides met, Cheng Siyuan conveyed Premier Zhou’s greetings to him and his opinions on “Four Corres” to Li Zongren. After hearing this, Li Zongren immediately said, "I just need to go back to my motherland to settle down and spend my old age."
On December 22, Li Zongren and Cheng Siyuan left Zurich on the same day. Cheng Siyuan returned to Hong Kong and immediately wrote a letter to Premier Zhou for his meeting with Li Zongren.
Cheng Siyuan went to Beijing for the fifth time on June 18, 1965. That day, Premier Zhou left Beijing to visit the fourteen African countries, and before leaving, he gave specific instructions on Li Zongren's return to China.
Cheng Siyuan pointed out that Li Zongren's return to China was related to three major events
On July 20, 1965, Li Zongren and his wife and Cheng Siyuan arrived at Capital Airport on a Chinese civil aviation plane. After the special plane arrived in Beijing, we went to welcome the leaders of the party and state such as Premier Zhou, senior generals of the army, well-known patriots of the Kuomintang, the last emperor, and the Puyi , and others.
Li Zongren issued a statement in the airport hall, expressing his patriotic enthusiasm and hoped that Taiwan's Kuomintang comrades, overseas Chinese and patriots would resolutely follow the path of patriotism and anti-imperialism.
Regarding Li Zongren's ideological change in his return to China, Cheng Siyuan once said that it was related to three major events:
First, the Chinese army showed strength in the Korean battlefield, and drove the arrogant American imperial back from the side of Yalu River, causing the United States to suffer the greatest defeat in history;
Second, China drove the invaders out of the border in the self-defense counterattack against India, and China later released more than 20,000 prisoners from the other side and withdrew from the occupied Indian side invading all land outside the front border.
Third, China successfully exploded atomic bomb , breaking the nuclear monopoly between the United States and the Soviet Union, and forming a new triangular balance.
