Zhang Xueliang As a legend in modern Chinese history, there are many mysteries in it. Even Chiang Kai-shek and Chiang Ching-kuo have repeatedly expressed their hope that he could write a memoir. He had agreed, but after he finished writing the outline, he decided to give up.
Zhang Xueliang
He said this:
"I can't write! Because what I want to write, good and bad, have to be written in a real way, I can't just say good. And I think some things are not something that cannot be said, but they cannot be said from my mouth."
But then, when Zhang Zhibing, a professor at Columbia University, invited Zhang Xueliang to oral history, he thought he would refuse, but unexpectedly, after agreeing, he put forward a confusing condition: must be announced after 2002.
Chiang Kai-shek asked Zhang Xueliang to write memoirs
Chiang Kai-shek, as a rising star in the Kuomintang, always attached importance to the maintenance and shaping of his image. In his early years, he personally wrote "President Sun's Death in Guangzhou", and "Mr. Chiang Kai-shek in the 15th Year of the Republic of China" compiled by Mao Sicheng, are all to help Chiang Kai-shek shape his image.
1926, he paid more attention to his image. On the one hand, he was strict with himself and improved his cultivation, while shaping himself into Sun Yat-sen's heir through various channels. After the success of the Northern Expedition, Chiang Kai-shek used various means to shape himself into the image of a national leader.
Chiang Kai-shek
However, the Xi'an Incident in 1936 made the image Chiang Kai-shek had created over the years collapsed and even lost his face. This made him angry, and decades of hard work were ruined, which should be regarded as the darkest moment in his life for him.
However, during the incident, he fled in a panic, and was in a mess, and even lost control of his emotions when he was detained.
Since joining the army, Chiang Kai-shek has never been so embarrassed, so in his diary, Chiang Kai-shek also called this experience "the misfortune of Xi'an". But as the incident developed, he gradually calmed down. He knew that his image represented the country. When he was in danger, he could not let his image fall again and again.
During his detention, he also thought of suicide. He said: "It is better to die than to be humiliated by birth." "Since I was born for the revolution, I should die for the revolution."
So on December 30, Chiang Kai-shek wrote three wills to Soong Mei-ling, two sons and all the citizens. But these three wills were detained by Zhang Xueliang and failed to be issued.
Before the Xi'an Incident, Zhang Xueliang and Chiang Kai-shek
In addition to using wills to show their intentions, he also refused to sign the negotiations to show his struggle.
Later, Chiang Kai-shek accepted the proposal of anti-Japanese and national salvation, and the Xi'an Incident was peacefully resolved. When Chiang Kai-shek returned to Nanjing, newspaper media also beautified Chiang Kai-shek's image to a certain extent while reporting.
After the Xi'an Incident, Chiang Kai-shek made detailed memories of the incident, but Zhang Xueliang remained silent, which also gave Chiang Kai-shek the opportunity to reshape his image.
In 1937, Chen Bulei was processed and published in a book called "Xi'an Half Moon Record", which described the before and after the Xi'an Incident in detail.
In Chiang Kai-shek's writing, he portrayed himself into a mighty and unyielding image, fearless and righteous image. is not consistent with the facts, and this is also due to his beautification of his self-image.
Zhang Xueliang and Chiang Kai-shek after the September 18th Incident
After the Xi'an Incident, Chiang Kai-shek summoned Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng to give a speech. The speech lasted for about half an hour. On the surface, it was to appease the two of them, but in fact it was also to reiterate their image as the leader and tell them not to commit crimes. At the end of the speech, Chiang Kai-shek pretended to appease Zhang Xueliang with a broad mind, and he would not be able to grudge him.
However, when he returned to Nanjing, he broke his promise. Not only did he imprison Zhang Xueliang, but he also killed Yang Hucheng. In this way, Chiang Kai-shek was a person with different opinions.
On December 29, the Military Committee of the National Government held a trial on how to deal with Zhang Xueliang. In fact, the trial was also carried out according to Chiang Kai-shek's opinion. On the eve of the trial, the presiding judge Li Liejun specially visited Chiang Kai-shek and suggested that Chiang Kai-shek be generous and pardon Zhang Xueliang.
Song Ziwen also advised Chiang Kai-shek to handle it with lenient treatment, but Chiang Kai-shek did not agree, and even blamed Song Ziwen for only knowing personal feelings and ignoring the national offenses. Therefore, he must avenge this revenge.
Zhang Xueliang and Chiang Kai-shek
Finally, the trial decided to sentence Zhang Xueliang to ten years in prison . Although Chiang Kai-shek granted a pardon to Zhang Xueliang on January 4, 1937, this pardon was just superficial, not only achieving his image of broad mind, but also achieving the purpose of punishing Zhang Xueliang. Little did they know that this amnesty made Zhang Xueliang lose his freedom for decades.
The Xi'an Incident was a disaster for Chiang Kai-shek, but because of this disaster, Chiang Kai-shek became a blessing in disguise. Chiang Kai-shek's image not only changed in a gorgeous way, but even became an anti-Japanese leader, and more and more people supported him. He gained both fame and fortune, not only won the hearts of the people, but also consolidated his political power.
For this major historical event, Chiang Kai-shek knew how much benefit he had gained in this incident, but in the end he even shamelessly put Zhang Xueliang under house arrest and killed Yang Hucheng.
However, for this matter, Yang Hucheng's friend Guo Zengkai also wrote a lie as an insider that exposed Chiang Kai-shek's concealment of the truth of the incident, fabricated and historical facts. So, Chiang Kai-shek ordered Zhang Xueliang to retell the entire story of the Xi'an Incident and testify for himself.
Zhang Xueliang
Zhang Xueliang came to an abrupt end when the story was retelling the facts. It can also be seen that Zhang Xueliang is neither willing to expose Chiang Kai-shek's lies nor perjury. Finally, Zhang Xueliang wrote his inner thoughts in a repentant tone, which was actually avoiding the problems that Chiang Kai-shek threw at him.
However, after reading it, Chiang Ching-kuo instructed that the Xi'an Incident should be continued in one paragraph. When Zhang Xueliang was in a dilemma, he had to reluctantly make perjury for Chiang Kai-shek.
In addition to helping him testify about the Xi'an Incident, Chiang Kai-shek asked Zhang Xueliang to write about the story of the Xi'an Incident, another saying was to provide information for him to write "Soviet Russia and China".
Perhaps, after this incident, Zhang Xueliang knew that the memoirs he wrote would cause major historical inaccuracies, so he set a rule not to write memoirs thereafter.
In his later years, Zhang Xueliang
However, when he left Taiwan, he had a great interest in "oral history" and did not refuse, but he still put forward a condition.
and the Chiang family ended their grudges
After the Kuomintang retreated to Taiwan, Secret Service was revoked, and Chiang Ching-kuo became Zhang Xueliang's guardian. Anything about Zhang Xueliang must be submitted to Chiang Ching-kuo regardless of size. Without his instructions, no decisions or arrangements regarding Zhang Xueliang will be allowed.
In 1959, after Zhang Xueliang was lifted from the ban, he became much more free. He could go out and make friends, but it was limited to Taiwan. Zhang Xueliang's behavior and behavior will still be sent to Chiang Ching-kuo one by one, and it has never stopped for ten years.
Some people may be wondering why Chiang Kai-shek didn’t kill Zhang Xueliang?
Chiang Kai-shek
After coming to Taiwan, Chiang Kai-shek was very contradictory to Zhang Xueliang. He paid attention to Zhang Xueliang's health and safety and asked Soong Mei-ling to send a gift, but also refused to meet him. It was not until he was asked to write a memoir of the Xi'an Incident in 1954 that he summoned Zhang Xueliang for the first time.
Because Soong Mei-ling and Zhang Xueliang are better in private, Zhang Xueliang is also allowed to go to Chiang Kai-shek and his wife's private church to pray. There, it is inevitable to see Chiang Kai-shek, but every time I see Zhang Xueliang, Chiang Kai-shek's attitude is relatively cold, either nodding or a few cold greetings.
Zhang Xueliang also knew very well that since the military admonition, the two of them have become strangers.During his imprisonment, Chiang Kai-shek provided Zhang Xueliang with funds from an infantry regiment to support his life. He would ask about his situation every time and tell him to study hard.
When Jiang Ching-kuo took over Zhang Xueliang, he took a more calm approach to Zhang Xueliang. even hopes to be one of his friends. He is enthusiastic and treats Zhang Xueliang with courtesy. He often visits Zhang Xueliang at home, and even accompanys Zhang Xueliang and Zhao Yidi to the gymnasium to watch ice skating performances.
Zhang Xueliang and Zhao Yidi
Zhang Xueliang did not surpass his enthusiasm for Jiang Jingguo, and he was very cautious. Every time Jiang Jingguo gave him any gift, Zhang Xueliang always tried every means to give it back.
After Chiang Ching-kuo became Taiwan's Minister of Defense, Zhang Xueliang considered that he was busy with work and did not want to waste his time, so he asked him if he could reduce his contacts with him in the future. Chiang Ching-kuo smiled on the phone: "No matter how busy you work, you can see if your old friends still have time."
Later, after Chiang Ching-kuo became the president of Taiwan, Zhang Xueliang took the initiative to go to Chiang Ching-kuo's residence to congratulate him in person and expressed his hope to reduce contact with each other in the future. Chiang Ching-kuo disagreed, but the two finally reached an agreement to meet once every six months.
On April 5, 1975, Chiang Kai-shek died in Taipei due to a sudden heart disease . Zhang Xueliang learned that Chiang Kai-shek's death was at 2 a.m. That night, it rained heavily outside the house, but the phone ringing woke Zhang Xueliang from his sleep.
Zhang Qun told him that Chiang Kai-shek passed away a few hours ago. After hearing this, Zhang Xueliang said "ah" and was slightly stunned.
In his later years, Zhang Xueliang
On the fourth day after Chiang Kai-shek's death, under the concession of Chiang Ching-kuo, Zhang Xueliang and Zhao Yidi came to the memorial hall to pay their respects.
Zhang Xueliang stood next to Chiang Kai-shek's crystal coffin and stared at Chiang Kai-shek for a long time. It is the person in front of him who has lost half of his life's freedom. It is this person who has dominated him for nearly 50 years. Because of his existence, his life trajectory has undergone major changes.
In order to mourn Chiang Kai-shek, Zhang Xueliang thought for three days and wrote a couplet:
care, and like the struggle between flesh and blood
political views, just like hatred
These short sixteen words do not fully explain the mysterious relationship between the two.
Afterwards, Zhang Xueliang heard that Chiang Kai-shek also told Chiang Ching-kuo that he should not let go of the tiger to Zhang Xueliang before his death. Zhang Xueliang did not expect that he had been imprisoned in Taiwan for more than 40 years, and Chiang Kai-shek had not yet put his guard down on him. This also shows that Chiang Kai-shek did not forgive Zhang Xueliang until his death, and hated him until his death.
Zhang Xueliang
Thinking of this, Zhang Xueliang didn't know whether to cry or laugh. In order to get rid of the Jiang family's vigilance towards him, Zhang Xueliang tried his best to express his no interest in politics. He said bluntly:
"I don't even want the name Zhang Xueliang! I don't want to be Zhang Xueliang, I just want to be an ordinary person, and do whatever I want."
However, Jiang Jingguo knew Zhang Xueliang's good intentions. Now Zhang Xueliang does not have a soldier, so he can't cause any trouble.
Therefore, later, Chiang Ching-kuo was also trying his best to make concessions to show his enlightenment.
On October 5, 1979, on the occasion of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Jiang Ching-kuo and his wife invited more than a dozen people including Zhang Xueliang and his wife to spend the Mid-Autumn Festival together. Five days later, he was invited to attend the Kuomintang military parade and officially appeared in public.
Jiang Jingguo and Chiang Kai-shek
On the afternoon of January 3, 1988, Jiang Jingguo died of a heart attack. The next day, Zhang Xueliang also came to the Veterans General Hospital to pay condolences to Chiang Ching-kuo. He bowed deeply in front of Chiang Ching-kuo's coffin, perhaps thanking him for his long-term kindness and care for himself.
With the death of Chiang Ching-kuo, Zhang Xueliang finally came to an end with the Jiang family and said his final farewell.
So, what did Zhang Xueliang reveal when he or she oraled his history in the United States in his later years?
Zhang Xueliang agreed to oral history, but there was a condition
In 1983, Zhang Xueliang and his two sons born to Yu Fengzhi died one after another. Zhang Xueliang also tactfully expressed his thoughts of going to the United States to take a look.
This time, I finally got the consent of going abroad to visit relatives. On March 10, 1991, Zhang Xueliang and Zhao Yidi boarded the plane hand in hand.
Zhang Xueliang and Zhao Yidi
Zhang Xueliang was mixed with emotion when he boarded the plane. This was the third time he had boarded the plane since he was restricted. The first two times were prisoners, and this time he was already a completely free man.
The news that Zhang Xueliang went to the United States caused an uproar in the United States, and in the hearts of Americans, Zhang Xueliang is also regarded as an amazing hero, so he was also very surprised and excited by the news of Zhang Xueliang's arrival.
Although Zhang Xueliang has informed him on the phone in advance that all relatives, except for their son and grandson who live in Los Angeles, come to the airport to receive, will wait at home.
Little did they know that the reporter was already waiting for an interview when Zhang Xueliang arrived at the airport. Although the airport interview only asked a few questions, the whole United States knew about Zhang Xueliang's arrival in the United States. Therefore, when Zhang Xueliang and his wife returned to their daughter's home, they kept calling them to greet each other until late at night.
Zhang Xueliang was also very happy and said with a laugh, "Okay, all directions will bring storms to Zhongzhou!"
Zhang Xueliang
Later, a reporter from VOA program also interviewed Zhang Xueliang and said bluntly that he hoped he could talk about the Xi'an Incident. Zhang Xueliang was silent for a moment and said:
"I don't want to say too much about this matter. I have published a lot outside, and everyone knows about these things. The reason why I don't say it is because I don't want to hurt others with words. Let's leave this matter to history to comment! It will evaluate whatever it likes, and all praise and criticism are by people, and the matter is clearly placed there."
After returning to Taiwan from the United States to visit relatives, Zhang Xueliang returned to a dull life.
On December 15, 1993, major media speculated that Zhang Xueliang's physical condition was that Zhang Xueliang and Zhao Yidi accidentally appeared at the airport and were preparing to go to the United States again. On this trip, he was going to the United States to see his son and grandson. Unexpectedly, Zhang Xueliang's departure from Taiwan ended his life in Taiwan.
Although he is nearly a year of squid, Zhang Xueliang is in good health and is full of curiosity about new things and new environments. They spent the New Year this year in Hawaii. At the advice of their relatives and friends, they were preparing to do long-term recuperation here to spend their old age.
Zhang Xueliang in Hawaii
In a comfortable environment, the two gradually relaxed. Zhang Xueliang's daily activities were also arranged, and it seemed that he had forgotten the unhappiness he was in Taiwan. Since settling in Hawaii, I have been to church every week for worship unless I feel unwell.
But things are unpredictable. In 1980, when Zhao Yidi was undergoing a check-up in the hospital, the diagnosis was lung cancer. Fortunately, the timely discovery was early cancer. After the operation, he lived for twenty years and did not die until 2000.
After Zhao Yidi's death, Zhang Xueliang's life lost his vitality, and he sat by the sea day after day at the sun, looking at the tides, and the tides were rising and falling. But at this time, he still had two long-cherished wishes in his heart, returning home and unification. And these two wishes have been expressed in public occasions over the years.
Zhang Xueliang's later years
Even if he wants to go back now, his body, who is already a hundred years old, can no longer withstand this tossing.
But for those things that happened before, Zhang Xueliang also showed a responsible attitude towards history and did not write memoirs.
However, in 1991, a professor at Columbia University asked Zhang Xueliang to conduct "oral history".Columbia University is the academic institution with the richest collection of archives of important modern and contemporary figures in China. It has founded the Oral History Center. Through recording interviews with alive historical figures, it retains precious materials for world history. Before that, Li Zongren , Hu Shi , Kong Xiangxi and others also conducted interviews.
Zhang Xueliang also unexpectedly expressed great interest, but put forward a condition: all oral materials must be published after 2002.
Why did he put forward such a condition? It turns out that in order to respect history and not hurt everyone, he did not want to add trouble to the still-living Soong Mei-ling, and also to consider his life span. Taking his friend Zhang Qun as an example, he insisted on living to 102 years old, so he made this decision.
Zhang Xueliang and his wife were interviewed
So from October 1991, Zhang Xueliang began his five-year oral history interview, which was not completed in Hawaii in the summer of 1996.
Facts as he expected, on October 14, 2001, Zhang Xueliang finally completed the last journey of his life, and his era calmly ended.
The song ended and the towers were ethereal, but history did not put an end to Zhang Xueliang. The mystery about his life was being revealed one by one...
In 1990, Japanese reporters asked him about the content of the conversation about the Xi'an Incident, but Zhang Xueliang refused at that time. He said this:
1. First, this matter should not come from my mouth. It turns out from my mouth that I am boasting and complacent. I don't want to be praised by others, and I don't want to defend myself; second, I don't want to hurt people. If I say it all here, I will hurt many people.
Judging from the situation at that time, the insiders of these important secrets include Zhang Xueliang, Chiang Kai-shek, Zhou Enlai, Soong Ziwen and Soong Mei-ling, and these things will definitely hurt people once they are announced.
The reason why 2022 was chosen is also related to the content he published and the people who lived there at that time. When deciding on this matter, three of the five people who knew the core secret had passed away, only him and Soong Mei-ling were left. So in 2022, one or two people may die, and even if one person is left, nothing will happen.
In oral history, he revealed:
"I am not dead, the key is that Mr. Jiang helps me. Mr. Jiang is going to shoot me. I don't know. I don't know this situation, but I only know when I see something."
This thing is written by the American minister. He wrote: "Song told Mr. Jiang, if you have something unfavorable to that little guy, I will go away from Taiwan immediately. I I will announce your affairs to you." "She said he had 'Xi'an Incident', and she said he didn't want money, he didn't want territory, what he wanted, what he wanted was sacrifice."
Zhang Xueliang
Zhang Xueliang and Song family siblings have a good personal relationship, so they guaranteed Zhang Xueliang in solving the Xi'an Incident, but what they said in Xi'an became empty words. So if he said directly, he thought it was disrespectful to the living Soong Mei-ling.
So he chose to announce this history at the time after his death. As expected, he left peacefully on the 76th day before 2002. Perhaps this is his best explanation to history.
