Zhang Xueliang (left) is watching the sea in Jinshan. Whenever he has the chance, Zhang Xueliang always likes to go to the seaside and look into the distance. The sky is the shore at the end of the sea, his children are on the east side of the sea, and his hometown is on the west side of the sea. The heart is racing with the waves, and the worries are endless. On the right is an article by Song Ziwen
| An excerpt by Dou Yingtai
from an exclusive manuscript published in "National Humanities and History" in February 2011. It has been abridged and may not be reproduced without authorization. Readers are welcome to share it in their own name on their friends circle
on December 31, 1936. On the same day, the results of the Kuomintang military court trial came out, and the military commander was responsible for the order to discipline Zhang Xueliang. Zhang Xueliang and his best friend Song Ziwen said goodbye in front of Song's official residence, Jiming Temple Mansion. From then on, the two friends, who had been friends for decades, became separated. It was not until the 1960s that they reunited in Taipei. That was also the last time they met in their lives. "It is infinitely sad to meet each other", Zhang Xueliang used these six words to describe their reunion after a long separation. The twists and turns and sadness are self-evident.
Song Ziwen and Chiang Kai-shek parted ways for complex reasons. One of the important factors was dissatisfaction with Chiang Kai-shek's reneging on his promise and the confinement of Zhang Xueliang. During the 30 years since Zhang lost his freedom, Song Ziwen first actively tried to win a certain range of personal freedom for Zhang Xueliang, but failed. Later, he sent money and daily necessities to Zhang Xueliang many times. When he lived in the United States, Song also took care of Zhang Xueliang's first wife Yu Fengzhi and their children, and helped Zhang Xueliang act as an agent for property distribution and other matters. The friendship between the two was extraordinary.
Song Ziwen raised money for Yu Fengzhi to go to the United States for medical treatment.
Brother Zi An translated and handed it over to Brother Yunong and transferred it to Brother Hanqing:
Iyager accompanied his wife to Washington, while Martin and Lei Meng were still in England. He has been repeatedly asked to come to the United States or Ireland. Paulin is in Germany and has been asked to come to the United States or Sweden. The baby is fine.
This is the telegram that Song Ziwen forwarded to Zhang Xueliang in the United States in 1940. During Zhang Xueliang's confinement in Hunan, his wife Yu Fengzhi suffered from breast cancer, which was untreatable in China at the time. Zhang persuaded Chiang Kai-shek through Soong Meiling to allow Yu Fengzhi to go to the United States for medical treatment. Under Song Ziwen's personal arrangement, Yu Fengzhi took an American plane out of Shanghai. Song himself flew to the United States first on official business. After seeing Yu Feng arrive in Washington, he immediately prepared to report to Zhang Xueliang the good news that his wife had arrived safely in the United States. At that time, even senior Kuomintang officials like Song Ziwen faced many obstacles in getting in touch with Zhang Xueliang. The telegram with only a few words was first translated and forwarded by his brother Song Zian, who worked at the Bank of Guangdong in Hong Kong. Military agent Dai Li was the key link in whether Zhang Xueliang could see the telegram. Fortunately, Song Ziwen's status prevented Dai Li from being careless. Two days after receiving the telegram, Dai Li sent a special person to Zhang Xueliang's secret prison. Martin, Lei Meng, and Baobao in the
message are all the nicknames of Zhang Xueliang's children. The three children were left to study abroad when Zhang Xueliang went to Europe for military inspection in 1934. He was always concerned about their safety. This time Song Ziwen not only worked with Soong Meiling to help his sick wife leave the country safely, but also found out about the whereabouts of his two sons and one daughter in the United States. This made Zhang Xueliang, who was under house arrest, very happy to hear the news, which was better than a panacea.
Yu Fengzhi urgently needed an expensive medical expense for surgery. Before Song Ziwen went abroad, he had received Zhang Xueliang's trust and went to the United States to resolve Zhang Xueliang's personal deposit frozen by Citibank after the "Xi'an Incident". Song Ziwen really worked hard for this life-saving money and encountered various troubles at first. Fortunately, Song Ziwen had been responsible for financial affairs for many years and had many friends in the American officialdom and financial circles. After all kinds of efforts, all the frozen money was successfully resolved.
On August 13, 1940, Song Ziwen telegraphed to Zhang Xueliang: "The affairs of Han (which is the abbreviation of Zhang Hanqing) have been completed. If it is not needed urgently, for long-term purposes, how about handing it over to the Guangdong Bank in San Francisco for safekeeping?" After obtaining Zhang Xueliang's approval, Another telegram was sent on the 21st of that month, saying: "When guaranteeing Brother Han's check, I promised to hand over Brother Han's personal letter to the bank within two months to prove that the check was signed by him. Brother Han's English has been neglected for a long time, and it is inconsistent with the original The handwriting is not very consistent, so I asked him to prove it with a Chinese letter. Please send the letter to Songsun's brother."
Zhang Xueliang was deeply moved when he learned that Song Ziwen was so devoted and laborious to the task he entrusted.When he was free in the past, it might not be surprising to have an attitude like Song Ziwen's, but now he is a prisoner, surrounded by secret agents, and everyone treats him coldly. Song Ziwen treats each other with sincerity as always, which is unusual.
What made Zhang Xueliang particularly emotional was that Song Ziwen and his wife traveled between Washington and New York for Yu Fengzhi's surgery. Until November of that year, the New York City area along the Hudson River was already covered in silvery white snow and fog, and Song Ziwen still had no idea. During this period, he kept reporting Yu Fengzhi's condition to Zhang Xueliang, and a telegram shows the joys and sorrows involved: "My dear wife is suffering from breast cancer. My brother and others have repeatedly urged early surgery for treatment, but she wants to wait until the son comes to the United States from England at the end of the month before undergoing surgery. ”
In addition to the busy military affairs, Zhang Xueliang did not forget to use sports to relax. This is Zhang Xueliang and Yu Fengzhi on the golf course
Zhang Xueliang saw Yu Fengzhi's stubborn character and Song Ziwen's urgency, so he sent a letter to his wife from Hunan. Finally, with the full support of Song Ziwen and other friends, Yu Fengzhi finally He agreed to undergo a major surgery to remove his left breast at Harkness Mission Hospital in New York, thus saving his life. Naturally, Song Ziwen had a share of the credit for this. On February 1, 1941, Song Ziwen sent a safe telegram to Zhang Xueliang, which said, "My dear wife, the operation went well." At this point, Zhang Xueliang finally let go of his hanging heart.
Song wrote a letter to Zhang Xueliang who was under house arrest on November 30, 1942. He did not finish it that night and continued to write again the next day. Many heartfelt words came to his heart instantly. In the long letter,
talked about Zhang Xueliang's near-death operation a year ago, and his concern was palpable. He said: "Last year, my brother suffered from appendicitis and had two surgeries. I can't forget him for being so far away. Fortunately, I have good health every day. The news is that the treatment process has turned the crisis into peace, and the illness has been cured. It has been effective since then. I am glad that I will not take any medicine for a while, and I will gradually recover from the disease. How about comfort and celebration? Has your interest in fishing and reading not diminished?"
Song also reported the current situation of his overseas relatives to his old friends in confinement: Zhang Xueliang is far away in the mountains of Guizhou, and it is an unparalleled spiritual comfort to receive such heartfelt letters from Song Ziwen. . Although Chiang Kai-shek disapproved of the relationship between Soong Meiling and Song Ziwen and Zhang Xueliang, there was nothing he could do about it.
"Brothers are brothers and must be dealt with in a pragmatic manner"
A few months after the "August 15th Restoration" in 1945, Zhang Xueliang wrote a letter to Song Ziwen in Nanjing. The entire article was a private matter, and it was still Difficult details that are difficult to tell outsiders.
I read in the newspaper that my brother has returned to China, and that he is safe here. However, the cash brought from Hong Kong has long been used up, and now the money is often empty. My brother is well aware of Yunong's situation and doesn't want to bother (extort) him all the time. Nowadays, everything is expensive. My brother and my fourth sister smoke about 1,000 cigarettes a month. Even the cheap "Daying" cigarettes cost nearly 10,000 yuan. We read magazines and buy books every month, and there are also allowances for two servants. The four of us wear shoes, socks, clothes, quilts, etc. The total monthly income is several thousand yuan. A pair of shoes is always more than 100 yuan, a quilt is always more than 2,000 yuan, and a set of cotton-padded clothes is always 3,000 yuan. The four of us just brush our teeth and it costs us five hundred yuan a month. Nowadays, money is so inconsequential. It seems that the numbers are so huge. Ten thousand yuan cannot be used as a few hundred yuan before the war. My younger brother has never been poor. Sometimes my younger brother and my fourth sister look at each other and laugh, feeling that they are penniless, which is really fun. Now I have to call my brother a general, and I plan to borrow hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Bank of China or my brother in the name of my fourth sister, which will either be repaid by my brother in the future, or be repaid immediately by my brother's letter to my country in the United States. There are two methods, please choose one. In short, I have a monthly allowance of 20,000 yuan (which sounds scary, but it was actually only one or two hundred yuan back then). Please help me find a way. Otherwise, once you get tens of thousands of dollars, what will you do next month? My brother is almost becoming a Jew now. He smokes cigarettes to the end and is reluctant to throw away the butts. Choose soft shoes when walking to avoid wasting your shoes. Will you laugh when you hear this? ...
This letter from Zhang Xueliang went through many twists and turns, reviewed at many levels, and passed through the hands of several people. It was already in the spring of 1946 when Song Ziwen received it. Song Ziwen saw Zhang's letter asking for help and was saddened by it. He had gone to Shenyang in person in the early years and had seen Marshal Zhang's luxury in the Marshal's Mansion.After hard mediation, Song Ziwen quickly provided Zhang Xueliang with enough money to tide him over.
After that, Song Ziwen's experience in the Kuomintang regime became increasingly unsatisfactory, and he had no choice but to resign in early 1947 and went to Shanghai to live a life of seclusion. Although his official career was not smooth, Song Ziwen was different from other senior officials of the Kuomintang. In April of this year, Mo Dehui, the veteran of the Northeast Army, received Chiang Kai-shek's permission to go to Hsinchu, Taiwan to visit Zhang Xueliang. After Song Ziwen heard about it, he ordered the Bank of Taiwan to settle the payment of NT$200,000 for him. I used it for the meeting and also entrusted Mo to bring daily necessities. Song Ziwen wrote a letter to Zhang in his own handwriting: "In June last year, I sent a seal with a fishing rod and coffee attached. In January this year, I sent a letter to Brother Yunong to forward it to Yiyage for coming to China. Returning to the United States last month, my brother returned to China in October last year to inspect the eight years of war. He took advantage of Brother Liu Zhen's invitation and offered him four bottles of wine, ten American cigarettes, and EDIFH silk scarves and lipstick."
Zhang Xueliang's two children.
When Mo Dehui left Taiwan, Zhang Xueliang also wrote a reply to Song Ziwen. In the letter, he gratefully said to Song: "I have been distracted too much by my family affairs. I also handed over French currency and many cartons of cigarettes." Wait, I can’t say thank you anymore. The deep love for an old friend in times of need can only be hidden in the heart."
In this letter, Zhang Xueliang also talked about the distribution of the Zhang family property in Shenyang, Peiping, Xi'an and other places after Japan surrendered. Zhang Xueliang asked Song Ziwen to ask Chiang Kai-shek for instructions on his behalf. Song Ziwen not only completed the matter for him, but also served as the head of the committee for the distribution of Zhang's property from beginning to end. This was certainly not something that a casual acquaintance could do.
On April 19, 1946, Zhang Xueliang mentioned in his reply to Song Ziwen: "Cigarettes, when Mo Dehui came back, various friends sent a lot of them, enough for the two of us for a year. Please don't bring any more to avoid lest "A waste." After Song Ziwen received Zhang Xueliang's letter, he wrote a reply, saying: "Brothers are brothers and must be dealt with in a practical manner."
The only and final reunion was in 1949, when Song Ziwen completely broke up with the seemingly distant Chiang Kai-shek. , to work as an apartment in the United States. Song Ziwen and Zhang Leyi can often see Yu Fengzhi and several of her children in the United States. In the 1950s, Yu Fengzhi's second son became mentally ill. She desperately wanted the poor child to see his father before he died. However, Yu Fengzhi regarded Jiang as an enemy and refused to make a request to Taiwan. She asked Song Ziwen The couple expressed this meaning. Although Song was living overseas because of his opposition to Chiang Kai-shek at that time and was completely unable to assist in this matter, he still agreed and wrote a letter to his sister Meiling, fulfilling the long-cherished wish of the Zhang family and his son to finally meet.
During the decades he lived in the United States, Song Ziwen kept asking about Zhang Xueliang's current situation. As long as overseas newspapers publish information related to old friends, Song Ziwen will inquire about it. When "The Confessions of Zhang Xueliang" was spread from Taiwan to the United States in the late 1950s, Song Ziwen once lamented this. In essence, his and Zhang Xueliang's pursuit of faith were different after all. Later, Song Ziwen paid special attention to Yu Fengzhi, who had moved from New York to Los Angeles. After hearing her tell the story of Zhang Xueliang's so-called "Confessions", he felt relieved. Song Ziwen, who has lived in the Kuomintang system for most of his life, naturally understands the political dynamics of the "two Chiangs" (Chiang Kai-shek and Chiang Ching-kuo) after they came to power. There are often unpredictable inner stories under the surface calm.
Chiang Kai-shek has continuously sent people to the United States to persuade Kong Xiangxi and Song Ziwen, who were watching the fire from across the shore, to return to Taiwan one day earlier, but Song Ziwen politely declined. After many urgings from her sister Mei Ling, she finally decided to return to Taiwan in 1963, but she only agreed to "go sightseeing" and did not accept any official position.
Song Ziwen came not so much for sightseeing as he wanted to take this opportunity to meet many of his former political acquaintances. Among them, the person he is most eager to see is naturally Zhang Xueliang, who has been separated for 27 years.
On February 13, 1963, not long after the Spring Festival, Taipei was experiencing a cold spring. Song Ziwen quietly came to No. 70 Fuxinggang in the suburbs of Taipei. This is a quiet residential area at the foot of Datun Mountain. Long before Song Ziwen returned to Taiwan, Zhang Xueliang moved here from Kaohsiung two years ago. At that time, his living conditions improved slightly, but he had to enter the small two-room building in Beitou. Meeting with Zhang still requires layers of approval before the trip can take place.Song Ziwen wanted to see Zhang, but of course no one dared to stop him. After all, Song Ziwen had a special status.
As early as two days ago, Zhang Xueliang heard that a guest was visiting his apartment. But he didn't dare to ask at the time, and the agents around him didn't explain who was coming. However, Zhang Xueliang seemed to have guessed that it was Song Ziwen, because not long ago a Taiwanese newspaper revealed the news of Song Ziwen's visit to Taiwan. At noon, there was the sound of a car in front of the apartment, and soon several guests entered his small courtyard. Agents in charge of security had deployed plainclothes guards at Zhang's residence beforehand, which was only used when important visitors arrived. Although Zhang Xueliang was mentally prepared, when he and Song Ziwen met in the small building, he was still shocked and stunned. Not seen for more than 20 years, Song Ziwen, who was in the prime of life in the Nanjing government, was 69 years old. He had a slumped appearance, hair as white as snow, and a pair of dim eyes hidden behind spectacle lenses, and his gaze was a little dull. Zhang Xueliang is hard of hearing and has a bald forehead. Although his gait is still strong, time is not forgiving after all. The dust of the world has covered up the heroic appearance of the past, and they have all become old and frustrated people.
Regarding the conversation during this meeting, neither Zhang Xueliang nor Song Ziwen left detailed records, and the accompanying visitors Huang Renlin (director-general of the Kuomintang Inspirational Society) and Ye Xiufeng (a special agent of the Central Unification Committee) also did not write down a few words, so we can only refer to them. There is only a brief record in Zhang Xueliang's diary: "At 11:30 p.m., J.L (Huang Renlin) accompanied T.V (Song Ziwen) and Xiu Feng. They had not come here for many years. They met with infinite sadness. They talked happily for a while and then resigned... "
Before the breakup, Zhang Xueliang talked about hosting a banquet at home to entertain Song Ziwen. Regardless of the political atmosphere at the time, Song Ziwen readily agreed that he would definitely visit Beitou again.
Four days later, Song Ziwen indeed kept his promise. At noon on February 17, Song Ziwen declined the banquet invited by some senior military and political leaders of the Kuomintang and insisted on going to Zhangzhai for the banquet. This time Song Ziwen looked better than last time, and he came accompanied by Huang Renlin, Ye Xiufeng and others. Miss Zhao Si personally cooked some of her best dishes and entertained Song Ziwen and his entourage warmly. There was some excitement during the meeting, but the topic still did not involve sensitive political issues. There were people eavesdropping on the conversation between him and Song Ziwen. What they talked about was nothing more than Song's overseas experiences and Zhang's life in Taiwan.
Before Zhang Xueliang and Song Ziwen broke up, they had prepared gifts for his visit. They were two of the calligraphy and paintings of famous celebrities that he had always carried with him during his confinement, and they were brought to Taiwan from the mainland. Zhang Xueliang, who has loved painting all his life, is willing to give ancient paintings that he has collected for many years to visiting guests. Song Ziwen is probably the first person. Zhang Xueliang recorded in his diary: "We left at about three o'clock after the interview. I gave T·V two paintings, and gave Xiufeng and J·L a Chinese and English version of the New Testament. ..."
Zhang Xueliang and Song Ziwen's The reunion ended in a hurry, and this was the last time the two best friends of the century met. Originally, Song Ziwen had an agreement when he went to the Zhang family for a banquet that they would meet again before Song left Taiwan. Song Ziwen wanted to thank the young marshal for the banquet. Zhang Xueliang was in suspense about meeting again every day.
Zhang Xueliang took the photo and wrote "Edith (Zhao Yidi) uses a sewing machine". Zhang Zhizhong took his daughter to Inoue Hot Spring. After her return, her daughter said: "Zhao Yidi made most of his clothes by himself."
html February 27 was an important schedule arranged by Song Ziwen before his trip - having dinner with Zhang Xueliang at a Chinese restaurant on Boai Road in Taipei Lunch. Unexpectedly, just the morning before the banquet, Zhang Xueliang suddenly received a call. The caller was Huang Renlin, who had arranged for Song Ziwen to come to Zhangyu in Beitou. He only told Zhang Xueliang: "The banquet time has been advanced. Yes, the location is still at the Chinese restaurant on Boai Road. "Zhang Xueliang and Miss Zhao Si drove to the restaurant at noon on February 26, accompanied by two secret agents. To Zhang Xueliang's surprise, Song Ziwen was not present, and his brother Song Zian was hosting the banquet instead. Song Zian told Zhang Xueliang: Song Ziwen would return to the United States early the next day because his wife Zhang Leyi accidentally fell in love at home in the United States and suffered a serious leg injury. Zhang Xueliang was very sad because he did not expect to meet Song Ziwen in Taiwan this time. , time is rushed every time, and the last farewell message is missed.However, in their opinion, there is still a chance to meet in the future.None of them would have thought that this quick meeting in Taipei in the early spring of 1963 would be their farewell. Afterwards, Song Ziwen flew to Hong Kong in February 1969 to attend the funeral of his brother Song Zian, but refused to go to Taiwan, which was just around the corner. Zhang Xueliang knew the mood of his old friend. In his later years, Song Ziwen was still arrogant and looked down on Chiang Kai-shek. He did not want to revisit the unpleasant atmosphere in Taiwan. On April 25, 1971, Song Ziwen died suddenly while having dinner with friends in San Francisco. At that time, Zhang Xueliang was traveling in southern Taiwan. He heard the bad news about his old friend and learned that Chiang Kai-shek only dealt with the matter with a plaque saying "Xun Youyong Memorial". At that time, Zhang Xueliang faced the sea and burst into tears.
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