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"I admire two people very much in my life, one is my father and the other is Mr. Zhou."
In 1990, after being placed under house arrest by the Jiang family and son of the Kuomintang for 54 years, Zhang Xueliang finally restored his personal freedom.
More than half a century has passed. The "Young Marshal" who once dominated the Chinese political arena is now an octogenarian in his 90s.
After learning the news, a large number of reporters came to Zhang Xueliang's mansion and interviewed him.
Looking back, decades have passed, and Zhang Xueliang also felt a lot of emotion in the face of the media.
Zhang Xueliang
In the interview, he took the initiative to mention the two people he admired the most in his life.
The first one was his father, that is, the leader of the warlord of the Beiyang period of —" Northeast King " Zhang Zuolin .
And the other "Mr. Zhou" is our beloved Premier Zhou.
Zhang Xueliang revealed that he had secretly sent two letters to Premier Zhou when he was under house arrest by Chiang Kai-shek and had also received a reply from Premier Zhou.
Although the reply content was only 16 words, it moved Zhang Xueliang and remembered it firmly.
So, why did Zhang Xueliang admire Premier Zhou so much and even send him a letter? What 16 words did Premier Zhou reply?
week Prime Minister
Meeting after half a century
On January 13, 1988, Jiang Ching-kuo died of illness at Taipei Shilin Official Residence . Since then, Taiwan Province has completely bid farewell to the era ruled by the Jiang family father and son.
Seeing that he had finally escaped from the shackles of the Jiang family, people from all walks of life also began to care about Zhang Xueliang, who had been under house arrest for 50 years. A group of Chinese American scholars from the American Aesthetics led by , Northeastern University student Zhang Jieqian , put pressure on the Taiwan Provincial authorities to immediately release Zhang Xueliang who was under house arrest, and also sent letters to the past to care about Zhang Xueliang's current situation.
Not long after, Zhang Jieqian received a reply from Zhang Xueliang. The content in the letter
is roughly expressing gratitude to Zhang Jieqian and others, and then advises everyone not to be too radical. When the time comes, they will naturally meet everyone.
Zhang Xueliang
It can also be seen from it that Zhang Xueliang's days of returning to freedom are not too far away.
As expected, on June 1, 1990, Zhang Xueliang celebrated his 90th birthday.
His birthday was held at the Yuanshan Hotel in Taipei. In an instant, people from all walks of life came one after another, and relatives and friends gathered together. The entire hotel was filled with people coming to celebrate the birthday, with almost no gap.
This scene of guests full of guests also clearly shows that Zhang Xueliang has officially possessed a freedom and ended his 54-year period of under house arrest.
At the same time, the central government also went to congratulate Zhang Xueliang and immediately invited this "old friend" to return to the mainland and return to his hometown to take a look.
Zhang Xueliang, who was freed,
, however, because Zhang Xueliang was eager to go to the United States to visit his relatives, and the sensitive environment at that time, he had to politely decline the invitation from the central government.
Although the "Young Marshal" failed to return to his hometown in Northeast China, the central government sent an old friend of his to the United States on behalf of the central government to express his condolences.
This is Zhang Xueliang's old subordinate of the Northeast Army , Lu Zhengcao .
On May 29, 1991, after five days of twists and turns, 87-year-old Lu Zhengcao finally met Zhang Xueliang in a building in Manhattan, New York.
After more than fifty years, after seeing each other again, many past events surged into my heart.
Zhang Xueliang and Lu Zhengcao
Two people stared at each other with their eyes and clasped their hands tightly, giving each other a big hug.
After a brief greeting, Zhang Xueliang invited Lu Zhengcao to a nearby Chinese restaurant he usually likes to have lunch.
During lunch, the two of them talked about the past of the Northeast Army until their physical condition in recent years. When they were excited, red lights appeared in their eyes.
When talking about the matter after the two separated, Zhang Xueliang suddenly thought to Lu Zhengcao and asked: "Why did you go to Mr. Zhou?"
The reason why Zhang Xueliang asked this question was that in addition to knowing how his old subordinates chose the communist camp back then, he also cared about Premier Zhou's situation at that time.
Zhang Xueliang and Lu Zhengcao
Facing Zhang Xueliang's inquiry, Lu Zhengcao replied: "After the news that you were detained by Chiang Kai-shek came, the Northeast Army was also reorganized into various troops. Seeing that the Central Army retreated again and again on the front battlefield, I simply followed Premier Zhou to join the Eighth Route Army and ran to the rear of the Japanese to fight guerrillas."
Hearing these words, Zhang Xueliang was also He said with emotion: "Mr. Zhou has a unique vision."
Lu Zhengcao also said regretfully: "Yes, Premier Zhou advised you not to send Chiang Kai-shek away. If you listen to him... Alas, forget it, it's all over."
What Lu Zhengcao said was about the " Xi'an Incident ".
This incident was also the reason why Zhang Xueliang and Premier Zhou met.
Premier Zhou
The fate of Premier Zhou
On December 4, 1936, in order to launch an attack on Northern Shaanxi Red Army , Chiang Kai-shek personally flew to Xi'an to supervise the battle, and ordered Zhang Xueliang and the then director of the Xi'an Pacification Office and commander-in-chief of the 17th Route Army, to immediately send troops north and attack Red Army .
But at that time, the whole country was trapped in a strong national sentiment against the Japanese invaders, and was very resistant to Chiang Kai-shek's policy of "to resilient the country first when resisting foreign aggression".
In an instant, large-scale mass protests were everywhere in Xi'an City.
On December 9, on the day commemorating the first anniversary of the "January 29th" incident, the people in Xi'an held another parade, but a student was killed on the spot by the military and police who came to suppress it.
Chiang Kai-shek
suddenly became excited, and the people went to the official residence where Chiang Kai-shek was located in Lintong, hoping to petition and demonstration with Chiang Kai-shek.
However, facing the vision of the masses fighting against Japan together, Chiang Kai-shek chose to ignore it and forced Zhang Xueliang to stop the student movement and shoot at the students if necessary.
After receiving Chiang Kai-shek's order, Zhang Xueliang felt very difficult. He immediately drove to the parade, stood in front of everyone, and tried his best to persuade the students to go back.
However, at that time, everyone was already shrouded in anger and strong national sentiment.
So they shouted loudly together "The Chinese will not beat the Chinese!" "The Northeast Army will fight back to their hometown and regain the lost land in the Northeast!" and other slogans.
Zhang Xueliang
Seeing that the scene was becoming more and more difficult to control, Zhang Xueliang had to assure the students that he would give everyone a reply with practical actions within a week. The guarantee of
finally eased the imminent situation.
On December 12, after careful consideration, Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng jointly implemented a "military remonstrance" against Chiang Kai-shek.
At 2 a.m., Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng detained Chiang Kai-shek in Huaqingchi, and a large number of Kuomintang military and political officials were also detained.
This is the famous "Xi'an Incident".
Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng
In fact, Zhang Xueliang's actions were not impulsive.
As a year ago, Communist International represents Wang Ming published the "Letter to All Compatriots for the Anti-Japanese and National Saving the Country" (referred to as the "August 1 Declaration") in Moscow, which brought great feelings to Zhang Xueliang.
Among them, what our party has stated: as long as the Kuomintang stops attacking Soviet area and unites in fighting against the enemy, the Red Army is willing to work together with the Kuomintang army to fight against the war and save the country together, which also makes Zhang Xueliang very much agree with.
After all, in those days, , the three northeastern provinces, was lost in his hands, and his father Zhang Zuolin was also killed by the Japanese in Huanggutun . If you want to talk about the hatred between Zhang Xueliang and the Japanese, it is very great.
In April 1936, eight months before the Xi'an Incident, Zhang Xueliang also went to Yan'an in person to hold talks with the central government to discuss the cooperation to fight against Japan.
At that time, it was Premier Zhou who was responsible for the talks with Zhang Xueliang.
Premier Zhou
Long before meeting, Zhang Xueliang knew that in the Whampoa Military Academy of that year, there was a "Director Zhou" with excellent temperament and high popularity.
Now seeing him is indeed an eye-opener.
Whether in terms of image or conversation, the temperament shown by Premier Zhou is unique. After the talks with
, the two talked from politics to national sentiment and then to the future of the country, and they talked all night long.
Premier Zhou's strict logical thinking, strong patriotism and political views on seeking common ground while reserving differences left a deep impression on Zhang Xueliang, and made him completely unaware that time was passing so quickly.
From that time on, Zhang Xueliang felt admiration for Premier Zhou in his heart.
Prince Zhou
After returning from Yan'an, the words of the talks with Premier Zhou were still engraved in Zhang Xueliang's heart. It was from this time that he had the hope of resisting Chiang Kai-shek's orders and promoting the joint anti-Japanese war between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party.
After the Xi'an Incident broke out, Zhang Xueliang immediately contacted Yan'an, hoping that the central government could send someone to negotiate with him.
On the phone, Zhang Xueliang specifically expressed his hope that Premier Zhou could personally help him deal with this matter.
After receiving Zhang Xueliang's request, Premier Zhou immediately took a plane to Xi'an.
and personally advised Chiang Kai-shek.
After Premier Zhou and the two sides had properly coordinated, Chiang Kai-shek finally agreed to the proposal to stop the civil war and unite in fighting against Japan.
Premier Zhou
Premier Zhou’s correspondence between Zhang Xueliang
After the “Xi'an Incident” was properly resolved, Zhang Xueliang was very happy. He immediately expressed his gratitude to Premier Zhou, and then wanted to send Chiang Kai-shek back to Nanjing. As soon as the idea of
was proposed, it attracted Premier Zhou's concerns.
"Hanqing, I have worked with Chiang Kai-shek before. I know that this person is narrow-minded and vengeful. If you want to send him back to Nanjing, you may never return. I advise you to think about it again."
Facing Premier Zhou's advice, Zhang Xueliang said: "Everyone says it is easy to ask God to send God to God. Since I invited him, I naturally have to send him away, otherwise I will be ridiculed."
Chiang Kai-shek
As a result, as soon as the plane landed, Zhang Xueliang was indeed detained by Chiang Kai-shek.
At that time, Zhang Xueliang was the commander of the Northeast Army. As soon as he was detained, the Northeast Army immediately had no leader, which immediately triggered a riot.
Zhang Xueliang, who was under house arrest, also learned about this situation. He immediately wrote a letter and asked the person to send it to Premier Zhou, who was still in Xi'an. The content of the letter was probably "I hope Mr. Zhou can help appease the troops so as not to cause other accidents. "
. Premier Zhou expected this as early as when Zhang Xueliang was determined to send Chiang Kai-shek, so he had already comforted the soldiers of the Northeast Army with the generals of the Northeast Army and Yang Hucheng, successfully avoiding the outbreak of a greater conflict.
Zhang Xueliang
However, due to the unstable situation at that time, and Zhang Xueliang was detained by the Kuomintang and sent to Chongqing for secret detention, Premier Zhou's reply to the successful handling of the incident was difficult to deliver to him.
In 1945, after the end of the Anti-Japanese War, Premier Zhou accompanied Chairman Mao to Chongqing for peace talks with Chiang Kai-shek.
During the peace talks, Premier Zhou expressed his hope to the Kuomintang. Release the detained generals Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng. Although this request was rejected by the Kuomintang authorities, it also reached Zhang Xueliang's ears.
This touched him very much.
At the beginning of 1946, on the eve of Premier Zhou's about to leave Chongqing, Zhang Xueliang entrusted his old acquaintance, who was the one who served as the Dong at that time The vice president of the North Relief Association Modehui , passed a letter of thanks to Premier Zhou.
Premier Zhou
letter read: "Don't come for ten years, I miss you, (brother) should have the same feeling. Now that the Japanese invaders have driven them out, it is the quickest thing to be honest. Brother Erlai went to the state affairs again, and became a matchmaker again, and the original heavenly support him, and he achieved good results early. This is what good people think. Recently, my friend died tragically, and I heard it a lot, and I felt so sad that I was just worried. Everything is good, don’t worry, there is no other one left. "
After seeing this letter, Premier Zhou became more concerned about Zhang Xueliang's current situation.
However, at that time, the Kuomintang and the Communist Party had once again ushered in a sensitive stage, and it was still difficult to find a channel to reply to Zhang Xueliang, so Premier Zhou could only let Mo Dehui tell him about his concern for Zhang Xueliang.
Until 1961, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the "Xi'an Incident", Premier Zhou finally found an opportunity and wrote a trust The person was sent to Taiwan Province.
Prince Zhou
Before writing this letter, Premier Zhou thought about how to write what content in the letter. After all, Zhang Xueliang was still under house arrest by Chiang Kai-shek at that time. If the content in the letter was concerned, it would be detrimental to him.
So, Premier Zhou wrote only sixteen words with a stroke of his pen: "Tare for the country, be good at self-cultivation, the future is expected, and there will be hope for it in the future. ”
After receiving this letter, Zhang Xueliang immediately understood Premier Zhou’s good intentions. While he was moved, he also admired Premier Zhou even more.
Prince Zhou
976, when the news of Premier Zhou’s death reached Taiwan Province, Zhang Xueliang stayed in the room alone for a day. Even his family didn’t know what he did in the room, but he knew that during that period, Zhang Xueliang was very gloomy.
