preface
In November 1949, the Liberation War had entered the final stage of total victory, the People's Liberation Army was invincible on the battlefield, and Officials of all sizes of the Kuomintang were anxious to pack their bags and prepare to flee to Taiwan with Chiang Kai-shek.
Chiang Kai-shek sent people to find Zhang Boling many times,
Persuade him to go to Taiwan with him
At the same time, Premier Zhou Enlai asked Fu Zuoyi to convey a piece of advice to Zhang Boling's son Zhang Xilu: I hope he does not go to Taiwan, not only that, Wang Endong, manager of the Nanjing branch of Jincheng Bank, wrote a letter to Zhang Boling:
"Fei Fei didn't let the old headmaster move."
Fei Fei is Zhou Enlai.
Chiang Kai-shek was very uneasy, directly came by car, personally knocked on the door of Zhang Boling's house, sat for several hours, before leaving, Chiang Kai-shek's head hit the car door frame hard, the noise even startled the children who were playing around, the vehicle started, Chiang Kai-shek took out a white handkerchief and gently rubbed his forehead.
This conversation with Zhang Boling made Chiang Kai-shek even more upset.
Picture | Zhang Boling
Zhou Enlai's mentor, Mr. Zhang Boling
Zhang Boling, a great educator, he spent his life's efforts on education, he has founded Nankai Middle School, Nankai University, Nankai Girls' Middle School, Nankai Primary School, Chongqing Nankai Middle School and other schools.
Zhou Enlai was his student and was called "the best student in Nankai" by Zhang Boling. ”
In 1937, the July 7 Incident broke out, the Japanese army invaded China bombed many colleges and universities, including Nankai University, Nankai University had to move the school south, the bad behavior of the Japanese army aroused the patriotic hearts of countless young people with lofty ideals, they all had to throw themselves into the pen, take up arms, rush to the battlefield, and serve the motherland, and at this time Zhou Enlai was acting as a representative of the Communist Party, uniting all aspects of the anti-Japanese and national salvation forces, leading the anti-Japanese work, the students had no way to serve the country, Zhang Boling wrote to his student Zhou Enlai:
"Xiang Yu (Zhou Enlai Character Xiang Yu——— Author) Xiandi Dajian:
Hereby Nankai alumnus Yang Zuozhoujun, former director of the Hubei Office of income tax affairs, is in a state crisis and plans to kill the enemy and go to work in northern Shaanxi. Use a special letter to introduce, that is, please use for commission. ”
Anyone who wanted to go to northern Shaanxi and defect to the revolutionary base areas was introduced to Zhou Enlai one by one, which increased the number of teachers and students who had not been in contact for a long time and were busy with their respective correspondence.
In 1938, in order to organize the Nankai Middle School in Chongqing, Zhang Boling came to Wuhan to raise funds, and it just so happened that Zhou Enlai was also in Wuhan because he was the deputy director of the Political Department of the Military Commission of the National Government, and there were just a lot of Nankai alumni in Wuhan, so everyone organized a party.
On the second floor of Wuhan Hankou Jincheng Bank, 108 alumni of Nankai University gathered here to welcome their mentor Zhang Boling
Zhou Enlai, dressed in a dark blue Zhongshan suit, was simple and neat, and went to the appointment with his wife Deng Yingchao and Liu Qingyang, the introducer of his joining the Communist Party. The venue gathered Wu Guozhen, the leader of the Communist Party and the mayor of Wuhan at the time, and the atmosphere was very warm, and Zhou Enlai cordially greeted Zhang Boling, shook hands and hugged him.
After a brief greeting, Zhang Boling invited Zhou Enlai to address the alumni:
"Come on, come and talk to everyone."
Zhou Enlai fell generously and immediately began to speak; he fondly recalled that in the past, when he was in Nankai, he had been deeply taught by Zhang Boling, and that the spirit of Nankai had accompanied him for many years; Zhou Enlai also analyzed with everyone the current situation of the War of Resistance, the Japanese army was constantly increasing its troops, and the war situation was just when it was glued, he named the future of the War of Resistance in the future, and in the future the Kuomintang and the Communist Party would fully cooperate and fight the War of Resistance in an all-round way, and everyone in the audience applauded.
The alumni also carefully prepared photos about Nankai and the alumni, and everyone's photos were displayed in turn, seeing Zhou Enlai dressed in military uniforms and beards on the Long March Road, Zhang Boling pointed with a cane and said to everyone:
"Don't say, this head is worth 100,000 yuan."
Picture | Zhou Enlai arrived in northern Shaanxi
Before the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, in order to arrest the vast number of Communists, the Kuomintang, in addition to fiercely attacking by force and encircling and blocking them, also adopted the method of offering rewards, writing in an urgent telegram sent by Chiang Kai-shek to Zhu Shaoliang:
"1. Mao Bandit Zedong's Reward for The Capturers is 100,000 yuan, and the Reward for Those Who Sacrifice the First Rank is 80,000 Yuan;
2. Lin Bandit Biao and Peng Bandit Dehuai each receive 60,000 yuan for each, and those who dedicate the first rank will each receive 40,000 yuan;
3. Bogu and Zhou Enlai will each receive 50,000 yuan for the two bandits, and 30,000 yuan for those who have donated the first rank;
4. All members of the Puppet Central Committee, political commissars of puppet regiments, commanders of puppet armies [regiments], and pseudo-division commanders of the pseudo-first and third armies shall be awarded 30,000 yuan each, and those who have sacrificed the first rank shall be awarded 20,000 yuan;
5. All the other famous bandits, who are able to capture or sacrifice their first rank, shall still be rewarded according to the previous rewards..."
Of course, the price of this reward changes from time to time, in order to win the main force of the Red Army and "catch" the leaders of the Red Army, Chiang Kai-shek almost did everything to the extreme, and later, Chiang Kai-shek rewarded Zhou Enlai's head with a high price of 100,000 yuan, but this trick of the Kuomintang was always unable to defeat the Communists.
Recalling the incident now, the alumni joked:
"Principal, you can lead Alumni Zhou to Mr. Jiang and ask him for hundreds of thousands of yuan, isn't this a good way to raise funds?"
Everyone, including Zhou Enlai and Zhang Boling, laughed, and the gathering of Nankai alumni ended in a lively atmosphere, and in the years of tension, the temporary distance between them and their friends became a rare and happy thing.
In July of the same year, Zhang Boling served as the first deputy speaker of the National Suffragette, living in Jinnan Village, a teaching staff dormitory in Shapingba Nankai Middle School in Chongqing, where Weng Wenhao, Tan Zhongkui, Fu Zuoyi, Liu Yazi, Fan Xudong and others lived, and well-known people like Guo Moruo and Cao Yu often came here.
Jinnan Village once became the center of social activities in Chongqing.
In order to extensively unite patriots from all walks of life and unite against Japan, Zhou Enlai often came to Chongqing Nankai Middle School to meet with Zhang Boling, who invited him to speak in the study hall.
"I, who am also a student in Nankai, Principal Zhang is my principal, and some of the teachers present here are also my teachers, and I am very happy to be able to return to my alma mater again, meet with teachers and classmates, and talk about major national events."
Zhou Enlai called on everyone to unite and wage a heroic struggle against the Japanese. After the speech, Zhang Boling also specially invited Zhou Enlai and Deng Yingchao to dinner and talk.
During this period, Zhou Enlai and Zhang Boling often came and went, and if Zhou Enlai returned to Yan'an and was no longer in Chongqing, they exchanged letters. Zhang Boling has been living in Jinnan Village,
In 1945, after the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, Chairman Mao and Zhou Enlai and their party came to Chongqing to negotiate with the Kuomintang, and Chairman Mao also made a special trip here to visit Zhang Boling.
Pictured | Tsunan Village
In November 1949, the War of Liberation had entered its final stages, the defeat of the Kuomintang had been decided, and Zhang Boling was completely disappointed in the decay and incompetence of the Kuomintang government, and resolutely resigned from the kuomintang government examination institute invited by Chiang Kai-shek to live a reclusive life in Jinnan Village.
At this time, Chiang Kai-shek, as well as officials large and small, were preparing to flee, and as a former senior official of the Kuomintang government, where should Zhang Boling go, if he followed Chiang Kai-shek, then the Kuomintang might gain a great advantage in public opinion, and if he stayed behind to sincerely greet the Communist Party, then the prestige of the Kuomintang would only be more defeated.
The stay of the highly respected Mr. Zhang Boling became a matter of concern for everyone for a while.
In order to win over Zhang Boling, Zhou Enlai secretly sent a letter, and Chiang Kai-shek personally came to the door to persuade him
At this time in Chongqing, the remnants of the Kuomintang were carrying out the final stubborn resistance, and on the other hand, they were fleeing for their lives in a terrible way, and Zhang Boling had done things for the Kuomintang, and his safety was not inevitably threatened.
Seeing that he was about to lose, Chiang Kai-shek quickly sent his son Chiang Ching-kuo to find Zhang Boling and persuade him to go to Taiwan with him, but Zhang Boling had long been disappointed in the Kuomintang government led by Chiang Kai-shek and did not want to follow them away.
Figure | from left to right: Zhang Zhizhong, Zhou Enlai, Fu Zuoyi, Qu Wushang
At this time, his former good friend Fu Zuoyi was worried about Zhang Boling's safety and found Zhou Enlai, hoping to help think of a way to solve his current predicament.
Zhou Enlai entrusted Fu Zuoyi to secretly convey to Zhang Boling's son Zhang Xilu a letter signed "Anonymous" that he hoped not to go to Taiwan and stay to participate in the construction of new China.
Zhou Enlai also specially entrusted Wang Endong, manager of the Nanjing branch of Jincheng Bank, who is also an alumnus of Nankai, to write a letter to Zhang Boling:
Fei Fei didn't let the old headmaster move.
The "Feifei" in the letter is the pen name that Zhou Enlai used when he was studying at Nankai University, and Zhang Boling knew that this was Zhou Enlai's care and love for him, and he made up his mind even more determined not to follow Chiang Kai-shek.
On the other hand, Zhang Boling was slow to move, Chiang Kai-shek was particularly anxious and uneasy, and he couldn't even sleep well, thinking that if the former high-ranking Kuomintang officials did not go with him, the impact would be great, and in desperation,
Chiang Kai-shek decided to visit him in person and persuade him to leave with him.
Pictured| Chiang Kai-shek
On the afternoon of November 21, chongqing from time to time heard the rumbling of the people's liberation army, which was a clarion call for victory, you know, in 9 days, this beautiful mountain city will be liberated, from Chongqing Nankai Middle School to Jinnan Village, on the way, the Kuomintang soldiers are guarded with guns, the people are too scared to walk on the street, the long street, only to see a few young children playing freely.
The car in which Chiang Kai-shek took stopped at the door of Zhang Boling's residence, the children rarely saw such a rare thing as a car, and they all came around to admire, and suddenly, the car door opened, Chiang Kai-shek was wearing a military uniform, walked down from the car, looked solemn and serious, did not say a word, and strode into Zhang Boling's door.
Zhang Boling had just woken up from his nap, saw Chiang Kai-shek coming, quickly put on his robe, and treated him with courtesy, Zhang Boling and Chiang Kai-shek sat on the sofa, and together they sat together, as well as Zhang Boling's wife.
After a brief greeting, Chiang Kai-shek went straight to the point:
"I'm going to Taiwan recently, does the old man want to go with me?" If the gentleman is unwell, I ask them to set up a special bed for him on the plane, as long as the gentleman is willing to go, any condition is good. ”
Zhang Boling was speechless for a moment, did not know what to say, there was only a long silence left in the air, and Mrs. Zhang Boling took the initiative to break the silence:
"Mr. Jiang, you see, Bo Ling, he is old and sick, and he really can't do anything." Besides, several of our sons are in the north, and they plan not to go anywhere, and he is reluctant to have children and grandchildren, nor is he willing to go south, so he will not go to Taiwan. ”
Zhang Boling politely refused Chiang Kai-shek's invitation, Chiang Kai-shek said a few more words, the couple never let go, at this time, Chiang Kai-shek can be considered to have completely understood that Zhang Boling is iron in this heart and does not go with him.
Chiang Kai-shek sat silently on the sofa for a long time, thinking about his own generals.
Zhang Lingfu
Has been dead for two years,
Du Yuming
Captured at the beginning of the year,
Fu Zuoyi
After the uprising surrendered, there were few people around him, and the fall surged into his heart, and Zhang Boling and his wife did not speak, and after a long period of silence, Chiang Kai-shek got up and bid farewell to Zhang Boling.
Mr. and Mrs. Zhang Boling sent Chiang Kai-shek to the door and watched him get into the car, and just as he boarded the car, an accident suddenly occurred that no one expected.
Chiang Kai-shek's head slammed directly into the door frame of the car, making a loud noise
Even the children who were playing around ran over to see what was happening, and the guards standing guard on the side were frightened and panicked, and quickly ran to Chiang Kai-shek's side, asking what was wrong, Chiang Kai-shek replied "It's okay", and sat directly in the car and sped away.
Watching Chiang Kai-shek's car leave, Zhang Boling and his wife were also relieved, and since then they have gone their separate ways. They turned and went back to the house,
At this time, Chiang Kai-shek was sitting in the car, not saying a word, holding a white handkerchief in his hand to wipe the wound on his forehead, this time Zhang Boling refused, Chiang Kai-shek was even more upset.
Pictured| Chairman Mao and Chiang Kai-shek
A month ago, Chairman Mao stood on the tower of Tiananmen Square and announced the founding of New China, he no longer had a foothold, originally before leaving, he wanted to take Zhang Boling with him, but he did not expect to be firmly rejected, decadent, lonely, and desolate.
On November 29, 1949, on the eve of the liberation of Chongqing, Chiang Kai-shek and his party arrived at Baishiyi Airport. On the way to the airport, there were war refugees, defeated soldiers, and anchored military vehicles lying in the middle of the road, and Chiang Kai-shek's car could not pass, so he could only get out of the car and walk through a muddy road before getting into the car and going all the way to the airport.
Without a word, Chiang Kai-shek went directly into the cabin and prepared to sleep, according to the driver's recollection of Yi Fu'en,
Chiang Kai-shek's mood was visibly bad to the naked eye, he did not give any instructions to everyone, everyone did not dare to ask him, and no one dared to provoke him at this time.
The plane had not yet reached the scheduled take-off time, but at this time, not far from the airport, the figure of the People's Liberation Army activities had already been seen, and Gu Zhutong, who was accompanying him, instructed Yi Fuen to ask Chiang Kai-shek whether to take off urgently.
When Yi Fuen walked to the door of Chiang Kai-shek's cabin, he found that he was washing his face, so he quickly seized the opportunity and asked: "Now that the situation is critical, do you want to take off quickly?" Chiang Kai-shek was expressionless and whispered, "Okay."
Yi Fuen quickly returned to the cockpit and started the aircraft engine,
The plane carried Chiang Kai-shek and his party out of Chongqing and arrived in Chengdu, where of course the war situation was also decided, Hu Zongnan was defeated and retreated, and the Kuomintang army was in full swing.
In fact, after Chiang Kai-shek arrived in Chengdu, he also specially asked his son Chiang Ching-kuo to invite Zhang Boling again, saying:
"Leave a plane for sir, and you can leave whenever you want."
”
Zhang Boling was resolute in his will and refused again.
Picture | Zhang Boling and Chiang Ching-kuo in the biographical drama
On December 10, Chiang Kai-shek, who was distraught, and his son Chiang Ching-kuo, under the protection of their retinue, left Chengdu Airport and fled to Taiwan, with few people around him.
When all the dust settled, Fu Zuoyi reported to Zhou Enlai:
"Zhang Boling did not go, hoping to return to the north."
Zhou Enlai was very happy and quickly contacted Deng Xiaoping, hoping that he would assist him, looking forward to the day when his mentor Zhang Boling came to Beijing.
On the last day of Chiang Kai-shek's life, Chiang Ching-kuo recorded in his diary: His father asked about Zhang Boling
On May 3, 1950, under the arrangement and instructions of Zhou Enlai, Zhang Boling and his wife arrived in Beijing by plane and stayed at the home of their friend Fu Zuoyi in Beijing.
He hurried to Fu Zuoyi's house to care for the principal and his mother.
Picture | stills of "Zhang Boling"
Zhang Boling and his wife stayed in Beijing for about 4 months, during which Zhou Enlai often came to visit him, Zhou Enlai said, and he could tell himself in time about the needs and difficulties of life, and he would help solve them as much as possible, which made Zhang Boling and his wife very moved.
When Zhang Boling left Beijing, it was already autumn, and the weather had become much cooler, so Zhou Enlai and Deng Yingchao specially set up a banquet in the West Flower Hall to entertain them. On this trip, Zhang Boling wanted to return to Tianjin, and Zhou Enlai wrote a special letter to the Tianjin side, hoping to take care of it, and before leaving, Zhou Enlai said: "Back in Tianjin, if there are any difficulties, you must tell me in time." ”
Zhang Boling and his wife nodded, thanked each other, and then left.
This was also Zhang Boling's last trip to Beijing.
After Zhang Boling arrived in Tianjin, the family lived at No. 87 Dali Road (now No. 39 Dali Road, Heping District), which is a comfortable small Western-style building, and the elderly Zhang Boling has three sons Zhang Xizuo around him, who goes to bed early and gets up early every day, plays cards against the standard, and does not follow Chiang Kai-shek's old age to be very happy.
On the evening of February 17, 1951, the famous educator, Lu Muzhai's son Lu Kaiyi specially came to visit Zhang Boling, the two talked very happily, before leaving, 76-year-old Zhang Boling was reluctant to give up, insisted on sending Lu Kaiyi to the door, from the upper floor to the gate, for the elderly, it takes some physical effort.
The third daughter-in-law Qu Angui was worried about the body of the elderly Zhang Boling, and came to bring him hot tea, only to see that Zhang Boling had fallen to the ground, unable to speak, he had committed a cerebral hemorrhage, and the family quickly called a doctor to help treat him.
Zhang Boling was urgently rescued, but the body is still very weak, he, as well as his family know in their hearts, now it has reached the time of death, taking advantage of the time when the brain is clear, Zhang Boling asked the student Huang Yusheng to come over, write a will by his bedside, after writing, Huang Yusheng read it to him again, Zhang Boling nodded, gave a thumbs up, at this time he could not make a sound at all.
On February 23, 1950, Zhang Boling lay in bed for six or seven days, and then closed her eyes forever and died. When Zhou Enlai heard the news in Beijing, he immediately rushed to Tianjin to help deal with the aftermath of his mentor.
Four days after Zhang Boling's death, Chiang Kai-shek, who was in Taiwan, learned of this news, wrote down the words "mourning without end" in his diary on that day, and specially ordered him to hold a memorial meeting for Zhang Boling.
Pictured| Chiang Kai-shek and Chiang Ching-kuo
On April 5, 1975, the last day of Chiang Kai-shek's life, chiang ching-kuo came to visit his father as usual, Chiang Kai-shek sat in a wheelchair, smiling, and his spirit looked good, Chiang Kai-shek also specifically asked about Zhang Boling, asking about Zhang Boling's centennial birthday, Zhang Boling was born in 1876, although he has passed away, but the younger generations have not forgotten his birthday.
That evening, Chiang Kai-shek died of illness, and Chiang Ching-kuo wrote in his diary for the day:
"Father asked about the Qingming Festival and the centenary of Mr. Zhang Boling's birthday..."