The War of Liberation was in 1949, and the national army led by Chiang Kai-shek had been completely defeated. He had to consider the way out and where to retreat? According to the situation at that time, Chiang Kai-shek had three choices, namely Taiwan Island , southwest Sichuan and Chongqing, and Hainan Island .
For Chiang Kai-shek, the three places have their own advantages. Taiwan Island and Hainan Island are separated from the mainland by sea. Compared with Hainan Island, Taiwan Island is a larger distance from the mainland; Sichuan and Chongqing in the southwest are also good places, because during the War of Resistance Against Japan, after the Japanese army conquered Nanjing, the Kuomintang headed by Chiang Kai-shek moved its capital to Chongqing. With its terrain advantages, it defended and waited for change, and achieved the final victory of the War of Resistance.
After a series of considerations, Chiang Kai-shek finally chose to retreat to Taiwan. He made this decision and one of them played a very critical role. It can be said that the idea came from this person. He was Zhang Qiyun, a geography and historian of the Republic of China. He was called the founder of Chinese human geography.
The relationship between Zhang Qiyun and Chiang Kai-shek?
Zhang Qiyun is from Zhejiang. He was smart and studious since childhood. When he grew up, he studied at National Central South University and studied under famous experts such as Zhu Kezhen, Liu Yizheng, and Liu Boming. He is well-known in the academic circle.
Zhang Qiyun entered politics and won the trust of Chiang Kai-shek. The two key figures Chen Xunci and Chen Bulei are very important. Chen Xunci and Zhang Qiyun are classmates of the same major. With Chen Xunci's recommendation, Zhang Qiyun met Chen Bulei.
Chen Bulei is an important figure around Chiang Kai-shek. He is known as the "literary courage" and is deeply trusted by Chiang Kai-shek. Chen Bulei was capable, loyal to Chiang Kai-shek, and even finally committed suicide to prove his "loyalty to the emperor". Influenced by Chen Bulei, Zhang Qiyun was also loyal and respectful to Chiang Kai-shek.
In March 1941, under the recommendation of Chen Bulei, Zhang Qiyun was able to meet Chiang Kai-shek, and the two started contacting each other since then. Since then, under the influence of Chen Bulei, Zhang Qiyun and Chiang Kai-shek have maintained a good relationship.
In November 1948, Chen Bulei passed away, which was a big blow to Chiang Kai-shek. He urgently needed someone like him to share his worries. In that context, Wu Zongyue recommended Zhang Qiyun to Chiang Kai-shek. Since then, Zhang Qiyun has become "Chen Bulei's second", and Chiang Kai-shek's confidant entered the center of power.
Generally speaking, Zhang Qiyun is Chiang Kai-shek's confidant and entered politics with the recommendation of Chen Bulei.
Zhang Qiyun advised Chiang Kai-shek to retreat to Taiwan
Time comes to the end of 1948. The situation of the War of Liberation has changed significantly. Chiang Kai-shek's army collapsed across the board, and failure has become inevitable. Even Chiang Kai-shek himself has to accept this reality.
Faced with our army's fierce offensive, Chiang Kai-shek needed to find a way out. After discussion, there were three options, namely, Taiwan, Hainan and , southwest region, , centered on Sichuan.
At first, the Kuomintang tended to retreat to the southwest region centered on Sichuan. Because of the previous experience of the Anti-Japanese War, it was easy to defend but difficult to attack, and it was indeed a place to defend.
At the most critical moment, Chiang Kai-shek chose Taiwan and made a decision in early 1949: to withdraw the Kuomintang's party, politics, military, finance and culture centers eastward, and he accepted the advice of historical geographer Zhang Qiyun.
Why did Zhang Qiyun suggest that Chiang Kai-shek choose Taiwan as the retreat base? From the perspective of his geographer, there are 5 considerations.
First, Taiwan Strait The sea is wide and the waves are high. Only it can temporarily prevent our army without the advantages of naval and air force to pursue victory. This is a major premise.
Secondly, as a base, Taiwan has four advantages that cannot be compared with other regions;
First point: Taiwan is located in the southeast of mainland my country, with a tropical and subtropical climate, which is conducive to the growth of animals and plants, and is rich in resources, and can be used for the needs of the military and civilians.
Second point: Taiwan has convenient internal transportation. Previously, the region was occupied by the Japanese army for many years during the Anti-Japanese War, leaving behind many industrial foundations. If it is good at operating, its economic development will be considerable.
The third point: From a military perspective, Taiwan is separated from the mainland, easy to defend, and connected with the US Far East defense line. That is a strategic location. Therefore, the United States will not ignore it. If it receives US aid, the situation will improve greatly.
The fourth point: Taiwan was ruled by Japan for 50 years ago. After returning to the embrace of the motherland, it had a sense of return to the National Government. The underground party power of our army is relatively weak in Taiwan and has fewer personnel, which is conducive to Chiang Kai-shek's rule.
Zhang Qiyun suggested that Chiang Kai-shek use Taiwan as a base, and there are five considerations as evidence. Every word and sentence in Chiang Kai-shek's heart will naturally be taken seriously.
If you consider it from Chiang Kai-shek's standpoint, Hainan, Sichuan and Taiwan will retreat three places, after comprehensive consideration, Taiwan is indeed the most suitable. Zhang Qiyun's words moved Chiang Kai-shek and finally made the decision to retreat to Taiwan.
Unfortunately, Zhang Qiyun guessed that he was not wrong. After the outbreak of the Korean War, the United States interfered in our internal affairs and sent the Seventh Fleet into the Taiwan Strait to prevent our army from liberating Taiwan.
Without the interference of the US military, our army has great hope to liberate Taiwan and achieve the reunification of the motherland. The imposed interference of the US military has enabled Chiang Kai-shek to continue to survive in Taiwan and implement a dictatorship.
The two sides of the Taiwan Strait have not yet been unified, and its root cause is that Chiang Kai-shek retreated to Taiwan at the end of the War of Liberation. I believe that with the continuous expansion of our country's comprehensive strength, Taiwan will one day return to the embrace of the motherland. By that time, China will surely achieve great rejuvenation.
