(423) Reflection on tardiness
"Why are you so confused!" Zhang Zuolin sighed and put down his arm dejectedly, "No, I'm confused, Rehe is close at hand, I didn't know that you dared to plant a big cigarette under my nose......"
"There are so many mistakes that I shouldn't be addicted to drugs, and now that the source of tobacco at home and abroad is cut off, I have no choice but to plant secretly in Rehe and build a factory to process ......," Zhang Xueliang said softly.
"Build a factory for you to smoke yourself? How much can you smoke alone? You're a three-year-old dad when you're a three-year-old! Zhang Zuolin slapped the table hard and shouted.
"At first, I just wanted to get some for myself to smoke, but then I was persuaded by the small people that it was better to plant it widely, process it and sell it, so that I could make huge profits...... so I did such a thing that violated the laws and disciplines of the country," Zhang Xueliang hurriedly explained.
Listening to his son's words, Zhang Zuolin gasped heavily and glared at Zhang Xueliang fiercely.
"If you don't want people to know, you can't do it unless you do! There is no impermeable wall in the world, and you don't want to think about it, how can you not be discovered at all when you operate this thing on a large scale in Rehe? β
Listening to his father's reprimand, Zhang Xueliang lowered his head again.
"What's going on with the sale of soybeans to the Japanese?" Zhang Zuolin asked.
"It's also for high ......profits," Zhang Xueliang replied cautiously, "I think that my father may not serve as the governor of Fengtian for too long, because I want to plan for my father's later life......"
"Okay, okay, don't talk about it." Zhang Zuolin waved his hand impatiently, and Zhang Xueliang immediately stopped talking.
Zhang Zuolin gradually fell into contemplation, and Zhang Xueliang stood there cautiously, staring at his father. The air in the room became heavy and oppressive for a while.
I don't know how long it took, Zhang Zuolin stood up,
"Your future is over." Zhang Zuolin paced in the room, Zhang Xueliang watched his father kick off the expensive cigarette gun he fell to the ground, and he didn't dare to say a word.
"If you want to save your life now, you can only rely on my old face." Zhang Zuolin sighed and said, "I think he will still sell my face." β
Hearing his father's words, Zhang Xueliang's heart ignited hope again.
"You go clean up and accompany me to see him later." Zhang Zuolin said.
Zhang Xueliang looked at his father with hesitant eyes, but his father didn't say anything more, but walked out with his hands behind his back.
After a while, Yu Fengzhi, Zhao Qixia and a few maids walked in and silently began to change Zhang Xueliang's clothes and freshen up.
Zhang Xueliang didn't say anything more, but was at the mercy of the women.
After a while, another servant came in and began to tidy up the room, taking away all the utensils he had used to smoke a large cigarette and the broken smoking gun on the floor.
After helping Zhang Xueliang finish freshening up, the women and servants all withdrew, leaving him alone in the room.
Zhang Xueliang was lying on the bed, probably because he was addicted to cigarettes and had some seizures, he felt a wave of sleepiness and quickly fell asleep.
In his sleep, he did not dream that he was tied to the execution ground, but found himself in another time and space, transformed into a gray-haired old man in his twilight years, sitting on a chaise longue, being interviewed by a man who looked like a scholar.
"About 'Nine? The policy of non-resistance at the time of the 18 Incident has been rumored for many years: It was Chiang Zhongzheng who ordered General Zhang not to resist, but later put the responsibility for non-resistance on General Zhang. General Zhang carried the black pot for Jiang Zhongzheng. This is now being clarified by the historiography. I would like to dedicate to my readers what General Zhang said about this issue in his later years. The scholar said to Zhang Xueliang, "Who gave the order of non-resistance?" β
"I've talked about 'nine? 18 Incident's issue of non-resistance liability. I've said it over and over again, 'Nine? The one who ordered non-resistance at the time of the 18th Incident was myself, not the National Central Government. ββ¦,
Zhang Xueliang was extremely surprised that he had made such an answer, but he subconsciously felt that such an answer was correct.
"You're talking about it when you're free, aren't you?"
"Yes, I remember it was in 1990, when NHK interviewed me, I said, 'Nine? At the time of the 18 Incident, I thought that Japan was using military action to provoke us, so I gave an order not to resist. I hope that this incident will be resolved peacefully. As it turned out, I was interested in 'Nine? The 'Eight Incidents' judgment was wrong. β
"Did you misjudge?"
"It was I myself who did not want to expand the incident and adopted a policy of non-resistance."
"Is that so?"
"I told them at the time that I didn't expect the Japanese to attack on a large scale, so I judged that we should not take advantage of the provocation of the Japanese military headquarters to expand the incident. Until now, many scholars believe that the Nationalist Central Government issued a directive on non-resistance. But the central government is not responsible for this matter. So, I can't put 'nine? The responsibility for non-resistance in the 18 Incident is shifted to the central government. β
"However, the NHK interview holds that with regard to the policy of non-resistance, General Chang has tried to prove that it is not Chiang Chung-cheng's responsibility, and given his current position, you have to say so. It means that General Zhang lives in Taiwan, and out of the situation, I can't help but say this, and the above does not represent General Zhang's true thoughts. β
"This is not the case, I, Zhang Xueliang, have always been a good man and a good character. In general, I am unlikely to succumb to the situation and speak insincerely. Especially in 1990, when not only Chiang Gong had already passed away, but the president of Jingguo had also passed away, and I was basically free. On June 1 of that year, Zhang Qun and others and my relatives and friends publicly celebrated my 90th birthday at the Yuanshan Hotel in Taipei, which may be regarded as a sign of my own freedom. NHK interviewed me after that. It wasn't long before I was visiting the United States. If I still have some scruples about talking about historical issues when Jiang Gong and his sons, especially when Jiang Gong was alive, I can already speak bluntly at this time. It is precisely because of this that I may take the initiative to invite Mr. Tang to catch a knife for my memoirs. When I was in New York in the United States, I took the initiative to ask for a discussion with young students at Columbia University about the history of the War of Resistance Against Japan, and I said more than once that this matter had nothing to do with Jiang Gong. β
"Someone once said that it was Chiang Zhongzheng who issued an edict ordering General Zhang to adopt a policy of non-resistance against Japanese aggression. Is there such an oracle? β
"It was our Northeast Army itself that chose not to resist. At that time, I judged that the Japanese would not occupy all of China, and I did not recognize their aggressive intentions, so I tried not to provoke the Japanese and give them an excuse to expand the war. 'Don't fight back, don't scold back' is my order, and it has nothing to do with Jiang Gong. I've talked more than once about 'nine? The 18th Incident is the question of non-resistance, I always say so. I say this not only in public but also privately to those I trust. β
"There's an article that says, 'Nine? After the 18 Incident, Chiang Kai-shek sent more than 10 telegrams and letters to General Zhang, ordering General Zhang not to resist. General Zhang's subordinates, Wang Zhuoru and Yan Baohang, advised the general to keep these telegrams properly. Later, when the general's wife, Yu Fengzhi, asked General Zhang to go to Europe for an investigation, she specially kept it in the safe of the HSBC Bank in London. Because of these letters, after the Xi'an Incident, Mrs. Zhang threatened to make the Nationalist Central Government and Jiang Zhongzheng dare not harm General Zhang. Is there such a thing? The scholar surnamed Tang asked again.
"Does Mr. Tang think it's possible?" Zhang Xueliang laughed.
In response to this, some scholars have pointed out that Yan Baohang and Wang Zhuoru were both on the mainland in their later years, and they also wrote articles about General Zhang, but neither of them mentioned such a major event as depositing the original non-resistance order in HSBC. However, according to Zhang Zhiyu, a staff member of the Columbia University library who is trusted by General Zhang and recorded the oral history for General Zhang, there are such words: 'Zhang once felt guilty and told the author: I am a feudal official, Middle East Road, nine? In the 18 incident, I usually have autonomy over the relations between the Soviet Union and Japan, and I cannot say that if something happens, I will shirk responsibility. βββ¦,
"It is rumored that I have Mr. Jiang's non-resistance oracle in Feng Zhi's hands, which is nonsense. Yu Fengzhi is not that kind of person. Zhang Xueliang said, "It's my responsibility, and I can't blame others." β
"Now I would like to solemnly declare once again that it is about non-resistance, 'Nine? '18 Incident' does not resist, not only does it say so in the book, but now many people are saying that this is an order from the central government to wash it away for me. That's not true. That order not to resist was given by me. To say that non-resistance is an order of the Central Committee, no, absolutely not. Zhang Xueliang said with some excitement: "I gave the order not to resist. The so-called non-resistance order I gave means that you don't clash with him, he comes to provoke, you leave him, you avoid him. This is because the provocations against Japan in the past have always been small and trivial. At that time, I also turned big things into small things and small things. β¦β¦ I didn't understand the situation of the Japanese in such a big way as Tohoku,...... I didn't expect Japan to dare to come like that, I didn't expect this matter in advance, and the intelligence was not enough, and I, as a feudal official, have to bear this responsibility. That's the explanation I'm giving you. If we do not resist, we must not blame the central authorities. β
"We've heard it for more than 50 years, and it's all this statement, and they all say that it's Jiang Gong's instructions to you!" The scholar surnamed Tang smiled and sighed: "It is said that Jiang Gong sent a telegram to you, saying that my brother must not be angry for a moment and ignore the nation-state. He also said that you were holding a leather bag and carrying the telegram manuscript on your body at all times. β
"Nonsense, nonsense, there is no such thing. I'm a person to speak, so we have to speak seriously. I can't blame others for this kind of thing. This is a fact, I would like to state it. That's the most important thing. This is not someone else's business, it's my own business, it's my responsibility. β
"On December 12, 1936, you and Yang Hucheng staged an armed military coup in Xi'an, abducting and detaining Jiang Zhongzheng, and killing all 67 guards of his guard platoon. In this regard, after the establishment of the government, the mainland trumpeted General Zhang as a 'hero of the ages' and a 'national hero'. But General Zhang, why did you call yourself 'the culprit among sinners' in your later years? β
Listening to the questioning of the scholar surnamed Tang, a trace of pain flashed in Zhang Xueliang's eyes.
"What do you think of the Xi'an Incident that you started?"
"I remember that it was in 1954, after I met Jiang Gong, I wrote "Xi'an Incident Anti-Awakening Record". I think that I did not have a clear understanding of the Communist Party at that time, and I regretted that I had harmed the country and the people in order to realize my wish to resist Japan. Zhang Xueliang said, "I am here today, I still have to say this." β
"On my 90th birthday, June 1, 1990, I quoted the words of the Bible: 'I am a sinner, the chief of sinners.' You should know that I have never complained about the imprisonment of Jiang Gong. When I arrived in the United States in 1991, the New York Times interviewed me, and I explained why I had decided to send Chiang Gong out of Xi'an and be punished, saying, 'I was in rebellion and had to take responsibility.' ββ
"Didn't you launch the 'Xi'an Incident' to force Jiang Gong to resist Japan?"
"It is not that Jiang Gong does not resist Japan, but he has serious differences with me on the timing of the anti-Japanese war. At that time, China's national strength could not match Japan's, and it was necessary to buy time as much as possible to reserve strength. At that time, Jiang Gong knew the strength of the two sides, and if he rushed to fight the battle, he could only bring about his own defeat. Therefore, Chiang Gong's strategy was to avoid the outbreak of all-out resistance against Japan as much as possible, so as to gain time to form more divisions, build munitions enterprises, and build national capabilities capable of fighting against Japan. At that time, the Chinese intellectuals kept a sober head about this by Mr. Hu Shi and his disciple Fu Sinian, who published an article entitled "The Importance of Preserving North China," advocating "armistice and seeking peace," pointing out that China's national conditions were "not enough to talk about war against Japan," and that "war will lead to great defeat, while peace will not necessarily lead to chaos." Mr. Hu Shih later said, 'If Japan can withdraw its troops from China and cease the war, China will not hesitate to recognize Manchukuo.' Mr. Hu Shih specifically explained: "Belgium was occupied by Germany, and France ceded two provinces to Prussia, all of which were expedient measures due to the disparity in strength, and later recovered when they had the strength. That's the same thing. ββ¦,
"Then why did you launch a war?"
"After the loss of Rehe, public opinion across the country was boiling. I was called a 'general of non-resistance', and even my brother was humiliated for it. I wanted to wash away the stigma of 'non-resistance generals' by resisting Japan, but not only could I not achieve it, but after leading the army to fight the Red Army twice, I was defeated both times. You know, I hastily inherited my father's business after my father's assassination and became the supreme commander of the Northeast Army. I didn't like to read since I was a child, I liked big cigarettes and women, and my knowledge level may not be as good as those students who went to the streets to march and shout anti-Japanese, let alone the level of Jiang Gong and Mr. Hu Shi who knew China's national conditions at that time; Moreover, I did not know about Jiang Gong's strategic deployment at all, which was a big mistake. β
"You're being too modest, aren't you? I remember that you were appointed brigade commander at the age of 19; At the end of that year, he was promoted to major general. In the year you launched the Xi'an Incident, you were only 36 years old, and you were promoted to the rank of first-class general in the army, and you were the highest military leader in all of China except for Jiang Gong. β
"No, no, I don't have that ability. I have another terrible thing, it is my Northeast character, Northeast people have advantages, but there are also many faults, reckless, impulsive, poke Lou Zi, I am this kind of character, and people ask me to stab a Lou Zi, I must stab both. With my level of knowledge, military power, and reckless character, what good can I do? Alas. β
"Who do you think is responsible for the Xi'an incident? You must know that the Xi'an Incident is the most dramatic event in China's modern history, because in China's 2,000-year history, there has never been such a military admonition. A military coup is tantamount to a military coup, and a coup d'Γ©tat is either a replacement or a puppet of the Supreme Leader, because it is impossible for common sense or logic to accept this method once the arrested person changes his political views under the threat of force, once he regains power. β
"To tell you the truth, I'm a person who doesn't follow logic, doesn't follow common sense, and doesn't want to do things with consequences. Let me tell you one thing, in fact, at the division commander meeting before the capture of Jiang Gong, I announced that I was going to do it, and everyone was speechless, only Commander Wang Yizhe asked, 'What should I do after I am captured?' I replied, 'Let's catch it first.' 'I am a son-in-law character, impermanent, impulsive, without a plan, working with people like me, being my commander has a headache, being my subordinates is unlucky, and the result is to harm friends and destroy subordinates. Alas! β
"To say that you have no plan to do things is probably not objective, but the historical materials published by the mainland have confirmed that before the Xi'an Incident, you secretly met and talked with the communists, and put forward a plan of 'you are forced outside, I will attack inside, and attack inside and outside, and turn Jiang around.'" Zhu Yongde's article on the Xi'an Incident also said: You earnestly asked to join the Communist Party, and now the document of the Communist International vetoing your request to join the Communist Party has been published, which shows that all the relations between you and the Communist Party are extraordinary. β
"I had lost my territory, I had no support, and I was desperate for military assistance from the Soviet Union. Now that I think about it, I still regret it. Zhang Xueliang sighed, "I deserve to lose my freedom for decades." If I were Jiang Gong, I would have shot him, because this is a betrayal! But Jiang Gong let me live, this is Jiang Gong's leniency. The most painful thing in my life was that Jiang Gong killed Yang Hucheng, because it was me who should have been killed. His father once told him that 'to be a soldier should put life and death out of the way, and hang his head on the belt of his trousers', in this regard, Xueliang did not dare to forget it in his life, and regarded life and death as normal. Defection is a capital offense, but I survived. Forty years of losing your freedom is fair. β
"Some people say that for you, General Zhang, the mainland has held you too high, and Taiwan has belittled him too low. Taiwan has degraded you as a 'sinner for the ages', mainly referring to the Xi'an Incident that led to the Communist Party's eventual growth. But without the Xi'an Incident, would the Communist Party have disappeared in China? Judging by the history that has taken place, it seems difficult to make such an absolute judgment. β
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