In the 1980s, there were frequent cross-strait economic and non-governmental exchanges between Taiwan and the mainland, and among the people who visited relatives in Taiwan was an elderly man with a strong spirit.
After the old man arrived in Taiwan, he first visited his two younger brothers, who had not seen each other for more than forty years, and they exchanged heartfelt and tearful words with each other.
After meeting his relatives, the old man went to meet with a group of Huangpu comrades-in-arms, and everyone talked about the past, shared the current situation, and exchanged comrades-in-arms happily.
Chiang Ching-kuo, who was the leader of Taiwan at the time, learned that the old man had come to Taiwan and specially arranged for people around him to bring a sum of money to the old man.
Chiang Kai-shek and Chiang Ching-kuo
But the old man threw the money aside, questioned what it meant, and loudly told Chiang Ching-kuo's people around him that I was not here to ask for money, and that I, Qiu Xingxiang, was not called Hanako.
Who is Qiu Xingxiang? Why did he let Chiang Ching-kuo look at him differently?
Seeing the money sent by Chiang Ching-kuo, why was he not only unhappy, but also indignant?
Young and studious Qiu Xingxiang
In Liyang, Jiangsu Province, older people have a deep memory of the legendary Figure Qiu Xingxiang, and can tell several old stories of Qiu Xingxiang anytime and anywhere.
Qiu Xingxiang character Liaofeng, a native of Qiujiaqiao, Nandu Town, Liyang, was born in 1907 in a large local peasant family, who was intelligent and studious since childhood, and had received a systematic old-fashioned education.
Qiu Xingxiang
When he was young, Qiu Xingxiang was a positive young man, and the old-style education taught Qiu Xingxiang to think literately, but he could not give him the answer to strengthen the country and enrich the people in the era of social turmoil, nor could he give him the guidance to save the country and save the people.
Qiu Xingxiang witnessed the encroachment and destruction of China by foreign invaders, and dreamed of joining the army to save the country one day, resisting foreign humiliation, and serving the country.
In 1925, at the age of 18, Qiu Xingxiang was admitted to the Huangpu Military Academy, the highest military academy in China at that time, and began his journey of learning new-style military knowledge.
At the military academy, Qiu Xingxiang came into contact with the Kuomintang's political propaganda, began to study materials such as the Three People's Principles and the leaders' quotations, and was very recognized and convinced of the propaganda in it.
Whampoa Military Academy
Qiu Xingxiang was influenced by the Four Books and Five Classics in his childhood, and he regarded the concept of loyalty and the creed of the soldiers in traditional culture as the standard.
Under the joint action of traditional culture and new culture, Qiu Xingxiang not only had a strong sense of loyalty to the king, but also particularly admired the representative figures of the new culture and new politics, and regarded Chiang Kai-shek, who was then the president of the Whampoa Military Academy, as the guiding light of his life.
Qiu Xingxiang was once known as Little Chiang Kai-shek
Qiu Xingxiang admired Chiang Kai-shek, and among his classmates at the Whampoa Military Academy, he was famous.
Every time Chiang Kai-shek spoke at the military academy, Qiu Xingxiang sat in the front row and sat precariously, listening attentively, reciting the wonderful parts of Chiang Kai-shek's speech, and often spontaneously preaching to others and discussing them with his classmates.
Chiang Kai-shek spoke
Chiang Kai-shek valued the post of president of the Whampoa Military Academy in order to cultivate a group of progressive young people and military talents for his own use, and at this time, he felt extremely proud to see such a loyal and reliable cadet as Qiu Xingxiang.
Chiang Kai-shek admired Qiu Xingxiang's loyalty, and when he was in military academy training, he often deliberately asked Qiu Xingxiang what you were and what you were going to do.
Qiu Xingxiang immediately stood up every time and replied solemnly and loudly: "Report to the principal, student Qiu Xingxiang, from Liyang, Jiangsu Province, to study for the revitalization of China and the service of the party and the state." ”
Such a question and answer has been asked many times and has become a kind of ritual between Chiang Kai-shek and Qiu Xingxiang.
Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek was very fond of the progressive youth of the Whampoa Military Academy, and he also cared for Qiu Xingxiang, who especially admired himself and could give himself the world in the future, and gave a lot of guidance and care.
Chiang Kai-shek once said in public that Qiu Xingxiang was a model student at the Whampoa Military Academy and would be a model for everyone in the future.
In traditional Chinese culture, the master is like a father, and after Qiu Xingxiang was recognized by Chiang Kai-shek, he was even more grateful to Chiang Kai-shek and even began to learn from Chiang Kai-shek's words and deeds.
Chiang Kai-shek paid attention to the style of military personnel, and Qiu Xingxiang scrupulously abided by the norms of military personnel in every word and deed, did not smoke, drank, or coveted pleasure, and vowed to be a Spartan model of military service.
Chiang Kai-shek liked to wear white gloves and black cloaks, and Qiu Xingxiang also learned from Chiang Kai-shek's image, arranged a similar dress for himself, and always dressed accordingly in his daily life.
After studying the details of Chiang Kai-shek's life for a long time, Qiu Xingxiang really had some similar images, and others began to call him "Little Chiang Kai-shek" after watching it.
Qiu Xingxiang's study of Chiang Kai-shek's image is not a flattery of the leading big man, but the heartfelt love and admiration of the confused young man who met his life mentor.
After receiving what he thought was the right life guidance, Qiu Xingxiang worked hard to learn military skills and exercise combat command knowledge, hoping to become a military talent who could share the burden of Chiang Kai-shek.
The unremitting efforts have also brought rich rewards to Qiu Xingxiang, and in the study and later work of the military academy, Qiu Xingxiang has received many meritorious awards and gradually become one of the so-called "one hundred and eight generals of Chiang Kai-shek".
The cadet era of the Whampoa Military Academy passed in a flash, and Qiu Xingxiang soon began a career of war between blood and fire.
War General "Qiu Tiger"
In 1928, Qiu Xingxiang began to serve as the commander of the special service battalion of the Eighteenth Army, he loved the soldiers in his daily life, and when he encountered difficulties, he took the lead and devoted his enthusiasm to training and preparing for war.
After the outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, Qiu Xingxiang heard of the war, feared no japanese attack, and actively asked for war.
The War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression
In the subsequent blood and fire test, Qiu Xingxiang, with his stoic character and outstanding military ability, played one wonderful battle example after another, and dealt a fierce blow to the arrogant Japanese Kou.
In a series of battles in southern Anhui and southern Jiangsu, Qiu Xingxiang followed the troops of the Eighteenth Army back to his hometown, and in liyang, Yixing, Jintan, Wujin and other four counties, he negotiated with the invading Japanese Kou, and with his sense of battlefield smell and familiarity with the terrain and landforms, Qiu Xingxiang shined in related battles.
In the First World War of Southern Jiangsu in southern Anhui Province, the Eighteenth Army combined position warfare and guerrilla warfare, and the famous Fifth Division of the Japanese Army annihilated more than 10,000 enemy Kou.
When the Shanghai War broke out in 1937, Qiu Xingxiang followed the troops into Shanghai, and in the "human cultivation field" in Luodian, Qiu Xingxiang died and fought with the Japanese for three months.
Battle of The Rowe
In the Battle of Shanghai, although the Chinese army did not win the victory in the end, this incomparably cruel battle made the Japanese invaders see China's indomitable soul, and also completely destroyed the dream of quick victory of the Japanese Kou.
After several years of arduous fighting, although the war was unfavorable for a while, the enthusiasm of the Chinese people for resisting the war did not diminish.
In 1939, Qiu Xingxiang was ordered to lead the 402nd Regiment of the 201st Brigade of the 67th Division to fight against the Japanese in the Jiangnan area.
In the brutal battle, the local patriotic people and their fathers and fellow villagers braved the rain to transport supplies for the anti-war team and rescue the wounded, so that Qiu Xingxiang and the 402nd Regiment could devote themselves to the battle.
Looking at the simple villagers and feeling the patriotic enthusiasm of everyone, Qiu Xingxiang excitedly said that he would rather die on the battlefield than live up to everyone's kindness and become a shameless slave to the country.
Qiu Xingxiang held a large knife in his hand and charged forward in the battle against the enemy, killing the Japanese Kou who was frightened and gave himself the name of "Qiu Tiger".
In the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, Qiu Xingxiang was brave and good at fighting, and made many military achievements, participating in a series of major battles such as the Battle of Songhu, the Battle of Nanjing, the Battle of Wuhan, the Expedition to Burma, the Battle of Western Hubei, and the Battle of Western Hunan, and finally accumulated merit and was promoted to the post of major general.
After the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, Qiu Xingxiang's outstanding achievements were greatly praised by Chiang Kai-shek, and he decided to appoint a good post to his beloved general, "Qiu Laohu.".
Qiu Xingxiang was ordered to be transferred to the commander of the 206th Division of the Youth Army and the commander of the Luoyang garrison, becoming a senior commander in Chiang Kai-shek's ace army.
During the civil war, Qiu Xingxiang still trusted his principal's words and fought endlessly for the corrupt Chiang family dynasty.
In 1948, when the War of Liberation was in full swing and the decline of the Kuomintang reactionary regime was already evident, Chiang Kai-shek specially summoned Qiu Xingxiang to hold on to the important area of Luoyang.
Chiang Kai-shek warned Qiu Xingxiang that Luoyang is a place of contention for all generations of soldiers, you have fought very well in Siping in the northeast, the terrain of Luoyang is similar to Siping Street, and you"Qiu Tiger" must once again play a mighty wind and give me a deadly defense of this important place.
Qiu Xingxiang still stood up as he did in the Whampoa Military Academy, answering Chiang Kai-shek loudly, serving the principal and the party-state, and vowing to defend luoyang to the death.
Old photos of Luoyang
In order to firmly defend Luoyang, politically, Qiu Xingxiang, in the name of the commander of the Luoyang garrison, established a system of joint meetings of the party, government, and army, and issued a "Letter to Defend Luoyang to Defend Luoyang" to the end.
In the army, Qiu Xingxiang personally disembarked the troops and led the officers of the whole army to take an oath together:
"Swear to die to defend Luoyang, people are in Luoyang, and if they don't succeed, they will become ren!"
Militarily, Qiu Xingxiang, in spite of popular opposition, forcibly demolished half of Luoyang City and built extremely strong fortifications, hoping to recreate the Battle of Siping again.
It can be said that in order to defend Luoyang, Qiu Xingxiang has already done what he should and should not do.
However, the unjust battle against the will of the people could not be won after all, Luoyang was still quickly captured by the People's Liberation Army, and Qiu Xingxiang himself became a prisoner.
Chen Geng (middle)
On March 15, 1948, Qiu Xingxiang, who had committed suicide while captured, was taken to the headquarters of General Chen Geng of the People's Liberation Army, and the two alumni of the Whampoa Military Academy met in this less harmonious way.
Facing Qiu Xingxiang, dressed in a soldier's costume (ready to change his clothes and escape when defeated), Chen Geng, who was wearing glasses, said with a smile:
"Whampoa Phase V." We are alumni too. ”
Chen Geng told Qiu Xingxiang that laying down his weapons is a friend, study hard and reform well, and you will be able to gain the understanding of the people.
After liberation, Qiu Xingxiang changed his mind
After liberation, Qiu Xingxiang was sent to the Gongdelin War Criminals Management Center for reform.
The prisoners of war in the Gongdelin War Criminals Management Center were all former leaders of the Nationalist army, such as Du Yuming, Song Xilian, Wang Yaowu, Fan Hanjie, Huang Wei, and others, who had led thousands of troops and held important positions in the Kuomintang government and the army.
Prisoners of war in the Prison of War Criminals
In front of these big men of the national army, Qiu Xingxiang is still a small character, there is no status and influence to talk about, in the study and transformation, Qiu Xingxiang can only silently stay in the back row.
In the days of life transformation, Qiu Xingxiang understood and learned a lot of progressive knowledge, and had a profound understanding of the reactionary behavior in the past.
Qiu Xingxiang, who is essentially patriotic and progressive, began to reflect on his past after a period of study.
Qiu Xingxiang remembered that in the unjust civil war, he forcibly demolished Luoyang City to build fortifications for the benefit of the high-ranking officials and rich classes, disregarding the survival needs of the people.
Displaced people
Those displaced people, those innocent and miserable faces, always appeared in Qiu Xingxiang's dreams, making him feel guilty after waking up in the dark and unable to sleep for a long time.
In order to numb his spirit, Qiu Xingxiang actively participated in labor, hoping to get some relief through fatigue.
Qiu Xingxiang worked conscientiously and earnestly in the vegetable field of the transformation farm; in the study classroom; conscientious study and active transformation, he soon had a great improvement in understanding and ideological change.
After this, Qiu Xingxiang was very prominent, picking dung to plant vegetables, weeding and planting land, burning fires to cook, washing and sewing quilts, and the former general became a new citizen of self-reliance.
The Gongdelin War Criminals Management Center selected Qiu Xingxiang as a "model worker," and this small character among the prisoners of war, this "Huangpu model student," once again became an example and model for everyone.
Once, the stubborn Huang Wei refused to study and reform, and Qiu Xingxiang quarreled with Huang Wei.
Huang Wei accused Qiu Xingxiang of forgetting the party-state, having no integrity, and having studied the sage books for many years.
Qiu Xingxiang retorted to Huang Wei, saying that in order to cater to Chiang Kai-shek's inscription, he changed the word given to him by his ancestors from "enlighten me" to "cultivate me", which was an act of forgetting the ancestors and was not worthy of talking about integrity.
Huang Wei
Qiu Xingxiang and Huang Wei quarreled and even moved their hands, but in the end they were persuaded by others and the discipline of the war criminals management center.
Qiu Xingxiang believes that his integrity is worthy, and it is a natural and natural move to accept the transformation.
After Qiu Xingxiang was pardoned, he found Huang Wei's daughter Huang Minnan and told her about the differences between the two, hoping that Huang Minnan could persuade his father Huang Wei to change his thinking and actively transform himself as soon as possible.
During the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, the war criminals of the War Criminals Management Center hoped to contribute to the country and crack down on US imperialism, so Qiu Xingxiang actively organized everyone to work and help the front line and the people through his own efforts.
Amnesty for war criminals
In the reform, Qiu Xingxiang corrected his attitude and actively studied, and finally in 1959, together with Du Yuming, Wang Yaowu, Chen Changjie and other senior Kuomintang war criminals, he became one of the first batch of war criminals to be pardoned by New China.
After being released by the new China amnesty, Premier Zhou cordially received Qiu Xingxiang.
Premier Zhou comforted Qiu Xingxiang, saying that the past has passed, and as a witness to history, Qiu Xingxiang can write out his own experience to warn future generations.
Premier Zhou instructed the relevant personnel to arrange for Qiu Xingxiang to serve as a commissioner of culture and history, which solved his life problems.
Zhou Enlai
Qiu Xingxiang resumed his life, worked diligently at his post, wrote "The Battle of Luoyang, Jiang's Army Annihilated reality", and dedicated his strength to enrich the historical records of the Liberation War.
Later, Qiu Xingxiang served as a member of the Fifth and Sixth CPPCC Committees and a commissioner of literature and history in Jiangsu Province, and died of illness in 1996.
Qiu Xingxiang, who visited taiwan, angrily rebuked Chiang Ching-kuo
Qiu Xingxiang, who started over, missed his relatives and friends very much after his life was stable, and he applied to the organization to visit his relatives in Taiwan.
At that time, the Taiwan authorities did not welcome the captured and reformed generals of the Nationalist Army to visit And visit their relatives in Taiwan, because they were afraid that their slanderous illusions would be exposed by these people.
Qiu Xingxiang made many efforts, and the trustee contacted Chiang Ching-kuo to complete the formalities for going to Taiwan.
Qiu Xingxiang (left)
When Qiu Xingxiang was preparing to leave after visiting his relatives and friends in Taiwan, Chiang Ching-kuo sent someone to give him a form and a sum of money, hoping that Qiu Xingxiang would sign and receive the money in the name of living difficulties.
This shady move made Qiu Xingxiang furious, and he said angrily:
"My life is very good now, I didn't come to Taiwan to ask for money, and I'm not called Hanako."
The scene at that time made Chiang Ching-kuo very embarrassed.
Qiu Xingxiang fought for half his life, not for the Chiang Dynasty, but for the Chinese people.
Therefore, after encountering this kind of thing of using himself to smear the new China, Qiu Xingxiang was furious.
From this point of view, Qiu Xingxiang's heart for the country and the people has not changed since the beginning and the end of his life.