Chen Yi (Chinese: 陈宜; pinyin: Wáng Yi) was a second-class army general of the Kuomintang, who also served as chairman of Zhejiang and Fujian Province, and was an important figure in both military and political circles.
His biggest characteristic is that he is very affectionate with people.
Chen Yi was born in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, at the age of 19, he traveled to Japan to study, joined the Guangfu Society led by Dr. Sun Yat-sen, and became acquainted with Qiu Jin, Cai Yuanpei, Jiang Baili, Cai Yi and others.
However, he and Lu Xun embarked on different paths--one pro-Jiang and one anti-Chiang Kai-shek, but the two sometimes lived in letters or went to the door to talk, and the relationship lasted for 30 years.
Lu Xun once gave him the "Legends of the Tang and Song Dynasties", and he gave Lu Xun a pocket-sized two-volume copy of "Letters and Diaries of Goethe". In Chen Yi's bookcase, the Complete Works of Lu Xun have always been displayed, and when I have time, I will take it out and read it. When Lu Xun died, Chen Yi telegraphed Chiang Kai-shek and proposed a solemn state funeral.
However, this move was not approved by Chiang Kai-shek.
Nevertheless, after Lu Xun's death, people gave him the "national soul" banner and spontaneously sent him a funeral, and the funeral was like a state funeral.
Therefore, some people say that Chen Yi was the most sensible general in the Kuomintang army.
However, such a famous Kuomintang general and political dignitary died at the hands of another second-ranking Kuomintang general who treated his son more than his son, Tang Enbo.
Chen Yi's relationship with Tang is very deep.
Tang Enbo is also a Native of Jinhua, Zhejiang, born very bitter, followed by others also ran to Japan to study, the result of a few months of no money, had to drop out of school to return to China, raise funds for study, Chen Yi heard the news, funded him to enter the Japanese Army Non-Commissioned Officer School 18th Infantry Section to study. After Tang Enbo returned to China, he had no job, and Chen Yi recommended him to serve as a major staff officer in Nanjing. Later, he was transferred to the Central Military Academy as the captain of the brigade and the captain of the colonel. In 1932, Chen Yi recommended Tang Enbo to He Yingqin as the commander of the 89th Division. Tang regarded Chen Yi as his biological father.
Unexpectedly, in 1949, when Chen Yi was preparing to revolt and throw herself into the light, she was betrayed by Tang Enbo and arrested by Chiang Kai-shek.
In the autumn of 1948, Chen Yi, then chairman of Zhejiang Province, believed that the defeat of the Kuomintang had been decided, and did not want Zhejiang Province to suffer the ravages of war and the people to suffer, and after secret negotiations with the Chinese Communists, an agreement was reached to kowtow, change the Zhejiang Provincial Security Corps, and welcome the People's Liberation Army to cross the river to the south. In response to the demands of all parties for strengthening military defenses, Chen Yi said at the provincial government meeting:
"The Communists are not Japanese, and we cannot deal with them by means of foreign wars. Domestic military air defense is not necessary and can be postponed. ”
When preparing to go to the new life, Chen Yi did not forget to take Tang Enbo with her. On January 27, 1949, Chen Yi sent his nephew Ding Mingnan to Shanghai with a handwritten letter to ask Tang Enbo to prepare for the uprising.
Unexpectedly, Tang Enbo sent Chen Yi's secret letter to the Executive Yuan for photography while sending the original letter to Fenghua to inform Chiang Kai-shek. The relevant personnel immediately reported to Chen Yi and asked him to take measures as soon as possible to ensure safety.
However, Chen Yi thought that Tang Enbo would not betray him, and expressed doubts, saying: "The relationship between Enbo and me, you know, he is simply my son." ”
Chen Yiwan did not expect that Tang Enbo was such a ruthless person.
On February 17, the Guangzhou Executive Yuan announced the reorganization of the Zhejiang provincial government based on Chiang Kai-shek's secret telegram. Chen Yi and his cronies were dismissed. Chen Yi sighed and said, "I do things alone and do things alone."
After completing the transfer, he went to Shanghai, where he was immediately arrested by agents and killed in June of the following year. At the time of execution, the sergeant brought a plate of food and a bottle of wine. He rolled up his sleeves and said, "No need, let's go!" ”
Two sergeants stepped forward to help him, and he threw both hands down, refused, and walked out with his head held high. When he got to the execution ground, he got out of the car peacefully, turned back to the executioner and said, 'Shoot me in the head.' As he walked, he said:
"Man dies, the spirit does not die!" People die, spirits do not die! ”
Chen Yi was 67 years old when she was killed. After Chen Yi was killed, all sides accused the ungrateful Tang Enbo faction of calling him "the most ungrateful and ruthless general."
In the final period of the Liberation War, Chen Yi chose to prepare for the uprising and follow the Communists, like a great river to the east. Although he was killed by Chiang Kai-shek after the defeat, he followed the spirit of light and indeed did not die. Later, he was posthumously recognized by the CCP as a "patriot who gave his life to the cause of the liberation of the Chinese people" and received the title of revolutionary martyr.