Introduction
1949, the People's Republic of China was founded, and the National Government of was defeated and retreated to Taiwan. As the old regime was destroyed and the new regime changed, the mentality of intellectuals was even more complicated. All the intellectuals who chose to stay were full of love for this suffering land, and all of them were full of care for the national economy and people's livelihood. This sincere relationship has always maintained a chaotic and confusing connection between them and the country.
01
Dream of "Independence, Democracy, Peace, Unity and Richness"
83-year-old Zhang Yuanji As the only old man who has seen important Chinese politicians such as Emperor Guangxu, Sun Yat-sen, Yuan Shikai , Chiang Kai-shek , in 1949, he witnessed this scene in Shanghai.
Mr. Zhang Yuanji
11 On May 25, 2019, on the eve of the liberation of Shanghai, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China called Chen Yi and hired 14 people, including Zhang Yuanji, as consultants of the Shanghai Municipal Government. In early June, Chen Yi visited Zhang Yuanji.
Facing an unprecedented new era, excitement and confusion, joy and dislocation, the mentality of the elderly can be said to be extremely complicated. On August 24, when he learned from his old friend Uncle Chen's correspondence that he was listed as a representative of the upcoming new CPPCC meeting, he immediately replied and declined. There are as many as five reasons why he listed "there are actually difficult to respond to".
On the night of writing, Mei Dajun, director of the Shanghai Municipal Government Communications Department, visited and conveyed the intention of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China to invite him to go north. It happened that Zhang Yuanji went to bed early and was received by his son. The next day (August 25), he wrote to Mei to say thank you. Please convey your apology to Zhou Enlai.
Two days later, Mei Dajun brought Shanghai Mayor Chen Yi and Vice Mayor Pan Hannian to visit again, asking him to go north to attend the CPPCC meeting, and hoped that he would arrive at Beiping before September 10. On August 30, Zhang Yuanji, who was still hesitating, wrote to Mei Dajun, and declined again. At the same time, he replied to Chen Yi and Pan Hannian to express his inconvenience and apologies.
At this moment, Chen Yun, who was born in a business employee and was at the core of the central government, came to visit and told him that during his inspection in Northeast China not long ago, he saw that the business branches in Shenyang and Changchun were in good condition. Please rest assured, and introduced to him the economic policies of the Communist Party of China during the New Democratic period. Zhang Yuanji decided to go north to attend the meeting.
In more than half a century since Hundred-year-old reform , he has not only never participated in any political party, but has always kept a distance from politics. This time the call to the north is indeed very special for Zhang Yuanji, because he has indeed embraced hopes and dreams for nearly a hundred years. On November 26, Zhang Yuanji said earnestly when attending the report of the CPPCC meeting: "Some people say that the Communist Party has come and our lives are suffering. You must know that this suffering has been hundreds of years - especially the suffering accumulated over the past hundred years, not the suffering brought by the Communist Party... Liberation is not a change of dynasty, but a great change over thousands of years. ... Our people across the country still have to endure hardships, grit their teeth, and spend this extraordinary period to build an independent, democratic, peaceful, unified and prosperous new China." This is the thought of an old man who witnessed all the historical changes since the Reform Movement of 1898 at that time, and it was his sincere and sincere words. "Independence, democracy, peace, unification and prosperity" is the dream of several generations of Chinese intellectuals after all. It was precisely because of this dream that Zhang Yuanji finally accepted the invitation and went north to attend the New CPPCC meeting.
After arriving in Peking, Mao Zedong treated Zhang Yuanji with great courtesy and asked him to visit the temple of heaven. At the end of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference on October 9, Mao Zedong personally "sented him to the door." Not only that, Zhu De visited Zhang and Zhou Enlai recommended Zhang as the first seat when he invited the CPPCC representatives to have a dinner.On the 11th, Mao Zedong invited Zhang Yuanji and Zhou Peishan to Zhongnanhai for dinner, giving Zhang Yuanji an opportunity to speak in person to the supreme leader, hoping that the CCP can achieve greater sentiment, develop the economy, and solve the sufferings of people's livelihood. Mao Zedong also explained and explained his views to Zhang one by one. Zhang Yuanji was very happy that day, so he wrote down the contents of the conversation one by one in his diary of the day.
1 On October 17, Zhang Yuanji wrote a letter to Zhou Enlai to say goodbye on the eve of his departure from Beijing, and he still rejoiced in his thoughts on national strength and people's livelihood. "Now Guangzhou is down, Hong Kong is in its arms. It is good to make good use of the country and people's livelihood. Both of them are beneficial. They must be in the midst of their plans, and there is no need to talk."
02
"A corrupt party, an incompetent regime, what reason do you have to continue to follow it?"
1949 was a special year. Historic changes are taking place throughout China, and everyone in this year must also make their own choices. For Zhu Kezhen , his choice is even more important: should he continue to do it as the principal of Zhejiang University ?
Zhu Kezhen
He had worked as the president of Zhejiang University for 13 years. He experienced the arduous War of Resistance Against Japan in the past 13 years. Zhejiang University moved its campus in the fourth year and ran a difficult school on a thousand miles of trekking. Under the motto of "Seeking Truth", Zhu Kezhen selected talents and appointed talents to gathered a large number of first-class professors and talents. By the end of the War of Resistance Against Japan, Zhejiang University, which was in a corner of the southwest, had entered the ranks of China's first-class universities, becoming one of the four or five best universities at that time, and was known as "Oriental Cambridge".
But after Zhejiang University returned to Hangzhou, Zhu Kezhen found that it was even more difficult to be the principal. On the one hand, the Kuomintang is becoming increasingly corrupt and dictatorial, and its rule becomes increasingly cruel; on the other hand, the students' resistance is becoming increasingly fierce, and they will take to the streets to march at any time.
Zhu Kezhen’s feelings for students are summarized by Zhejiang University alumni, called “Love your child as a child”, and there are 4 other words, “Love your school as a home”. Xu Liangying, a graduate of Zhejiang University and later head of the underground party of Zhejiang University of the Communist Party of China, said, "At that time, there were few university presidents in the country who could have been arrested like him. He had to go to prison to see the students. During the trial, he went directly to listen. He cared about his son more than the father of the student."
As the president of the university, Zhu Kezhen had to fight against the atrocities of the Kuomintang authorities, and on the other hand, he had to calm the emotions of the students on the school and not take excessive actions. However, the students from Zhejiang University did strike, and the professors from Zhejiang University also participated. Then, schools in Peking and Shanghai began to respond, forming the third climax of China's student movement in 1947.
Zhu Kezhen wrote in his "ideological autobiography" for many years later, "Kuomintang spies regard Zhejiang University as a thorn in their eyes, and in their eyes, I am on the side of the students and are their opposite. Before they withdraw, they may do something that is unfavorable to me."
and Zhu Kezhen's love for students is also an important reason for gaining favor from the Communist Party.
11 In February 1949, the Zhejiang University Student Autonomous Association, under the control of the underground party of the Communist Party of China, launched an event to congratulate Zhu Kezhen on his 60th birthday. As Zhu Kezhen, he didn't know that there was an organization behind this event, and the students thought that his birthday was February 25, and it was actually March 7, but he did feel the love of Zhejiang University teachers and students for him - that feeling was all from the heart. Before this, Xu Liangying presided over the work of one thing. On New Year's Day in 1949, in the name of the "Hangzhou Working Committee of the Communist Party of China", he wrote letters to a group of progressive people to wish him a happy New Year, hoping to stay and participate in the construction of New China. Zhu Kezhen is one of the recipients.
According to Zhu Kezhen's original understanding of university education, universities are a place to learn knowledge and cultivate personality and do knowledge, and so much politics should not be incorporated. However, after Zhejiang University returned to Hangzhou, Zhu Kezhen spent a lot of his life as president on the political trend. He was physically and mentally exhausted and tired to rescue students and seek funds for Zhejiang University. But his decision to leave Zhejiang University was very sudden.On April 28, 1949, he received a telegram from Minister of Education Hang Liwu asking him to go to Nanjing immediately. He called back and said that he could not go now because the school was facing rumors of evacuation and people were in panic. Later, he received the assurance of the Zhejiang Provincial Security Commander that he would never go to Zhejiang University to arrest people. He felt that he could be relieved of the school. He also heard that the society had to serve as the vice chairman of the Maintenance Committee to welcome the CCP. He felt that it would be difficult to explain his relationship with politics when he stayed at Zhejiang University at this time. Then Hang Liwu's telegram was the best reason to leave Zhejiang University.
htmlOn April 29, Zhu Kezhen boarded the train from Hangzhou to Shanghai. At this time, Zhu Kezhen was completely disappointed with the Kuomintang. Moreover, the mainland was the best place for him to study weather, so he made up his mind not to go to Taiwan . But for the Communist Party, to use his later "ideological autobiography", he "has no understanding of the Communist Party's school-running policy", although he had decided to stay in his heart. Because he was completely desperate about the old regime, "For a corrupt party, an incompetent regime, what reason do you have to continue to follow it?"
htmlOn May 6, there were 20 days before Shanghai was liberated, and Hangzhou had been liberated for 3 days. Zhu Kezhen walked on Fenglin Bridge in Shanghai and met Jiang Jingguo unexpectedly. Although Zhu Kezhen has always had a good relationship with Chiang Kai-shek and Chiang Ching-kuo and his son, Chiang Ching-kuo is now the person Zhu Kezhen doesn't want to meet the least. Jiang Jingguo advised Zhu Kezhen to go to Taiwan quickly, and said that he was invited to him in the name of his father. Zhu Kezhen politely said to each other. Chiang Ching-kuo later recorded the meeting in his diary, saying that Zhu Kezhen not only did not go to Taiwan at that time, but also advised Chiang Ching-kuo to stay in the mainland as well.
Zhu Kezhen really felt the danger. Zhu Kezhen came to Shanghai on April 30. On May 2, he went to the streets to buy newspapers and found that the newspaper had reported that he had "flying to Taiwan", which shocked him and didn't know where the news came from. At this juncture of alternation of regimes, every move of famous intellectuals like Zhu Kezhen has become part of the political trend. Their situation is subtle and complex, and they are full of dangers.
If the Kuomintang cannot pull Zhu Kezhen away, there is no possibility of hijacking or assassination. Judging from the historical materials disclosed today, the Kuomintang military and police had withheld democratic figures Zhang Lan and Luo Longji, and were preparing to execute him on the way in the name of escorting him to Taiwan. Fortunately, they were rescued by underground CCP members lurking in the Kuomintang.
htmlOn May 26, Zhu Kezhen woke up and Shanghai had changed its flag. "The People's Liberation Army stands guard on the road, and the order is excellent, and there is no bullying of the people. There are also positions in front of the institute, and the students in the institute don't accept food. Those who stand guard at the gate will be tired and lying on the ground, and they will never disturb people. It is rare to have good discipline." In his diary that day, Zhu Kezhen wrote down his first good impression of the Communist army.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Zhu Kezhen served as the vice president of of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. At that time, when Li Siguang, deputy director of , had not returned to China, as a scientist in natural sciences, Zhu Kezhen made great contributions to the establishment of the Chinese Academy of Sciences with his down-to-earth work and lofty people's expectations.
03
"Born as a Chinese, die as a Chinese scholar"
According to the research of scholar Fu Guoyong , Among the 81 academicians of the Kuomintang Central Research Institute that year, 24 chose to leave, and the rest were like Zhu Kezhen, who chose to stay.
Fu Ren University President Chen Yuan determined to stay, but Hu Shi invited him to fly away on the same plane, but he flatly refused. In an open letter to Hu Shi, Chen Yuan said: "On the eve of the liberation of Peking, the Nanjing government took the planes again and again. I think although you and Mr. Chen Yinke have left, the young students told me with their actions that they are waiting for the light, they are welcoming the new society, and I know that the new power has grown..."
Chen Yinke did not leave after being "rescued", because he felt that it was necessary to leave for political reasons, but he was insulated in politics, so he finally chose to live in Lingnan for the rest of his life.His friend Wu Mi traveled west into Sichuan, standing among the people in Beibei, Chongqing to welcome liberation. He repeatedly said: "I don't want to escape to Taiwan, China, and depend on the United States. 'The country of parents cannot be abandoned!'"
Tsinghua University Professor Pujiangqing did not leave, because the suffering of migrating with his family and his parents during the Anti-Japanese War was still in front of him and could not be forgotten. Just as I calmed down, I had another exhausted escape experience. How could I imagine it? He wrote in his diary: "I don't want to leave either. My family is here and I don't want to be in a mess of moving anymore. I have no place in the south. My mother and brother are in Shanghai (Shanghai) and Songjiang. The days of liberation are as close as possible. If I go to Taiwan or Guangdong, I will lose contact with my mother and brother."
Logist Jin Yuelin is a happy bachelor. He doesn't have to consider his family. The reason for his not to leave is just as straightforward as his personality. He said: "The Communist Party is a compatriot after all, and it is not invaded by foreigners, so it is acceptable."
, and Chinese studies master Liang Shuming never thought of leaving the mainland. He later recalled: "Although someone came to invite me to Hong Kong, my idea was decided. No matter what the outcome of the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, as a descendant of Yan and Huang who was born and raised here, and asked himself what reason did I have to go to Hong Kong?"
Philosopher Feng Youlan also did not leave. He took over the Tsinghua University professor meeting in times of crisis and shouldered the important task of "protecting the school". He said: "The reason why I did not leave when I was liberated was mainly due to my disappointment with the Kuomintang reactionaries." Moreover, he advised the people around him: "No matter which party is in power, as long as it can lead China well, it will be supported."
For Qian Zhongshu and Yang Jiang , Oxford University and Hong Kong University both sent letters to hire them with high salaries, but they still stayed. Later, someone asked Yang Jiang and his wife why they didn't go abroad. Yang Jiang said: "A person decides where he goes at a critical moment, perhaps his most basic relationship. We never sing patriotic tunes, not only do not sing, but also don't like to listen. But we don't run away, but we just don't want to leave our parents' country. Our country is a weak country with a lot of national shame. We run out to rest and be second-class citizens. We don't want to. We are cultural people, love the motherland's culture, love the motherland's writing, and love the motherland's language. In a word, we are stubborn Chinese people and don't want to be foreigners."
Qian Zhongshu and Yang Jiang
At that time, there were too many intellectuals who stayed in the mainland for "living for Chinese people and dying for Chinese scholars." such as Zhang Boling , Zhang Yuanji, Zhu Kezhen, Chu Anping, Luo Longji, etc. are all famous social wise men. There are more people left behind in the literary and artistic circles, such as Shen Congwen , Laoshe , Ba Jin , etc. Influential intellectuals in the press, such as Wang Yunsheng , Xu Zhucheng , Zhao Chaogou , Chen Mingde and Deng Jixing and his wife, almost all went north from Hong Kong to welcome the new regime.
Scholars who stayed in China are taking action, and students who are wandering overseas have also embarked on the road to return home.
At that time, the animal husbandry expert of the Food Organization Animal Husbandry Commissioner of the United Nations Tang Yiren was working in the United States at the time. After the founding ceremony of on October 1, 1949, Tang Yiren resolutely left the United States and returned to China with his family. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Tang Yiren told his wife, "The life of orphans overseas should be over. Let's go back to the motherland." After returning to China, Tang Yiren traveled all over the borders of the desert and the Gobi outside the border, and carried out sheep improvement and breeding in pastoral areas such as Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Qinghai, and Ningxia. Even in his later years, he still did not stop working when he got bone marrow cancer and was bedridden. He filled the gap in China's fine wool varieties and established China's own livestock ecology.
"The country has been through war for a long time, and farmers are the first to be affected. Those who study farmers should return to China immediately and use the knowledge they have learned to provide timely assistance to the vast number of farmers." This is the reason why agricultural machinery expert Zeng Dechao returned to China. He returned to China a year earlier than Tang Yiren.
There are many people who make the same choice as them. In 1950, Dai Fanglan, who was then a professor of the Department of Plant Pathology at Beijing Agricultural University, wrote in a letter to American students who studied in the past year, "We must recognize that this change is not like 1 Revolution - a superficial change, but a major change in China over thousands of years... I think this change is the correct way to lead to the country's prosperity and prosperity and the world's harmony..." Like Dai Fanglan, many scholars of that generation have experienced the backward situation of old China and have also studied abroad to contact the latest technology, but in the end, they all chose to return to their hometown.
Plant physiologist and phytochemist Tang Peisong , who served as vice president of Beijing Agricultural University in 1950, said in his memoirs, "I am a Chinese, of course I have to go back to China. My growth education is nurtured by the blood and sweat of 40 million people." When Tang Peisong was young, he studied at Tsinghua School established by the Boxer Indemnity . What he said is the Boxer Indemnity. When Tang Peisong refused to go to Nanjing in 1948, he once said the same thing, " Tsinghua was built by the blood and sweat of the whole Chinese people. Now it is time to return it to the people."
And the CCP's struggle for intellectuals in 1949 can also be said to have shown the "eighteen martial arts", the interweaving of factors such as the "body" (work and life) and "heart" (understanding and respect) of intellectuals has made intellectuals feel the intimacy and warmth of the new regime. The CCP does not regard itself as a conquering the world, nor does it rely on military forces to impose its propositions on others. Instead, it actively seeks to conduct equal consultations with democratic parties concentrated in intellectuals, prepare for the establishment of a democratic coalition government, and share the new regime.
From the end of 1948 to the eve of the founding of the People's Republic of China, many intellectuals had the feeling of "running towards the light". Whether it is Ma Xulun's writing "The wise men are not easy to gather, and they are solemn to China" or Sa Zhenbing 's writing "When the heroes founded the country and rode together, they were successful in this day", or Fei Xiaotong 's feeling: "When I stepped into the venue, I saw many people, people in uniforms, work clothes, short shirts, cheongsams, suits, long robes, and a melon hat - these many people who know different things at a glance, and they will discuss issues together in one venue, which is the first time in my life." The above all points to the "heart of the world" of people from all walks of life, including intellectuals.
Source: New Weekly
