Elementary school has a text, called "I am a Chinese", this text is about a Chinese named Ji Hongchang in the United States, the article is basically about the 30s of the last century, Ji Hongchang to the United States when he sent something to China, the staff learned that he was Chinese immediately disdainful of him, then Ji Hongchang next to the friend told Ji Hongchang: "You should say that you are Japanese, so that others will respect you."
Ji Hongchang was very angry after hearing this, insisted that he was a Chinese, and in order to identify himself, he went back to make a small wooden plaque with the words "I am Chinese" written in English. In the future, no matter where he went, Ji Hongchang would wear this wooden plaque to show his identity as a Chinese at all times.
From this story, we can see that Ji Hongchang has a strong patriotism. Indeed, in the era in which he lived, the country was in the midst of drastic changes, and the great powers were eager to eat the big fat of China.
Ji Hongchang followed Feng Yuxiang to join the Northwest Army in his early years, and although he also belonged to the warlords, he remembered his father's teaching: "Being an official is not to get rich." Ji Hongchang is in a high position, he is more strict with himself, during his tenure as chairman of Ningxia, Ji Hongchangxing has eliminated the advantages and disadvantages, actively improved people's livelihood, and done a lot of practical things for the local people.
In 1931, after the outbreak of the 918 Incident, the national crisis became a sword hanging over everyone's head, and the 918 Incident also disrupted Ji Hongchang's subsequent plan to ask for the people's life. Ji Hongchang hated the Japanese aggression and advocated that the Nationalist government should actively resist Japan, which was contrary to Chiang Kai-shek's policy of "not resisting" and "taking care of the outside world must first be at home." Therefore, Ji Hongchang was regarded by Chiang Kai-shek as a "thorn in the eye." Only three days after the September 18 incident, Ji Hongchang was relieved of his military power by Chiang Kai-shek and "went abroad to investigate" under Chiang Kai-shek's arrangement.
Although Ji Hongchang is abroad, he is always concerned about the situation in the motherland. After returning to China, Ji Hongchang soon joined our party and, together with his old leader Feng Yuxiang, organized the "Chahar People's Anti-Japanese Allied Army" to resist the Japanese invasion. It is a pity that the "Chahar People's Anti-Japanese Allied Army" was opposed by Chiang Kai-shek and was eventually forced to disband.
After the dissolution of the "Chahar People's Anti-Japanese Allied Army", Ji Hongchang continued to engage in anti-Japanese activities, although Ji Hongchang did not have troops at this time, he used his own way to publicize the anti-Japanese resistance, and printed the "National Battle Flag" newspaper in an apartment in Tianjin, so that more ordinary people could participate in the movement against the Japanese.
As we said earlier, Ji Hongchang's anti-Japanese ideology is contrary to Chiang Kai-shek's policy, so Chiang Kai-shek cannot tolerate Ji Hongchang. In November 1934, Ji Hongchang was targeted by military agents during a meeting in the French Concession of Tianjin, who had planned to assassinate him on the spot, but Ji Hongchang was very difficult not to die. However, the actions of the agents attracted the police of the French Concession, and Ji Hongchang was arrested by the French Concession police.
At that time, the policy of the concession was relatively special, and in this case, Ji Hongchang had an accident in the French Concession, so it should be interrogated by the French Concession. According to the policy of the French Concession, Ji Hongchang is not only innocent, but also should be compensated, and in the end, he should be safe and sound. Chiang Kai-shek obviously did not allow such a thing to happen, and after that, Soong Mei-ling took public funds to the French Concession in Tianjin to pay bribes, hoping to "extradite" Ji Hongchang to a court controlled by the Republic of China.
The people of the French Concession agreed to Chiang Kai-shek's request after receiving benefits and "extradited" Ji Hongchang to the Kuomintang "Beiping Army Branch." Ji Hongchang's trial in Peiping (now Beijing) affirmed the application of the laws of the Republic of China at that time, so Ji Hongchang was found guilty and eventually shot by Chiang Kai-shek in 1934. If there was no bribe from Song Meiling, then Ji Hongchang could have been safe and sound, that is, Ji Hongchang was put to death by Song Meiling.
However, 11 years later, in 1945, the Japanese invaders formally surrendered, and China won the final victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan. If Ji Hongchang knew, he should be able to smile at the Nine Springs. 50 years after Ji Hongchang's sacrifice, he was recognized as a "national hero" for his significant contributions to China's anti-Japanese cause, which is both an affirmation and a tribute to Ji Hongchang.
Resources:
"Biography of Ji Hongchang" Ji Ruizhi