There is a very special ancient building in Qiaojiapu Village, Shanxi Province, the Qiaojia Compound, which is a historical architectural relic with a lot of heritage. After hundreds of years of war, the Qiao family compound still retains the appearance of the beginning of construction without much change. The Qing Dynasty did not expropriate it, the warlords of the Republic of China did not seize it, and even the Japanese invaders did not destroy it.
So what kind of "magic" does the Qiao family compound have, which can withstand hundreds of years of baptism?
Joe's compound
In July 1937, Japan launched an all-out war of aggression against China. After Japan invaded China, it committed heinous crimes. During Japan's invasion of China, the "Three Lights Policy" was implemented. According to the "History of the War of Resistance Against Japan", from 1941 to 1942, the Japanese army carried out as many as 174 major sweeps in north China.
Wherever the Japanese army went, they burned and plundered, and cried out everywhere. In the process of the sweep, the Japanese army will never spare the wealthy families, and all the villages they pass through will be slaughtered. But why did the Qiao family compound in Shanxi survive?
A village completely burned down by the Japanese army
Joe's family is a rich family, and their money can be said to be innumerable. When the Eight-Nation Alliance invaded China and Empress Dowager Cixi fled, the Qiao family also generously donated money to help her tide over the difficulties. So, when was the Qiao family compound built, and how rich is it?
During the reign of Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty, the Qiao family compound began to take shape. Later, after Qiao Zhiyong took charge, large-scale construction was carried out, and the Qiao family compound was basically formed. Joe's ancestor was just a local domestic helper, a helpless bachelor. During the Qianlong period, Qiao Guifa and Qin surnamed each other met, the two formed brothers, at first they only ran some small businesses, and slowly had a little savings. Later, with continuous development, the Qiao family became the richest family in the region, but the Qin family only knew pleasure and declined.
According to the records of the "Barnyard Banknotes", the total assets of the Qiao family at that time were 4 million to 5 million taels, which should actually be far more than this number. At the end of the Qing Dynasty, the Qiao family owned more than 200 bank pawn shops and grain stores. All over the country, the working capital is 10 million taels. In addition to real estate such as land and real estate, these assets together can reach tens of millions of taels.
Joe Zhiyong
Joe's family was able to avoid being destroyed in the war, not because they had a lot of money, but because they did a good deed. This event dates back to the period when the Eight-Power Alliance invaded China. At that time, people's anti-foreign sentiment was very high, and it could even be said to be "blind". The Boxers demolished churches and treated foreign missionaries cruelly. At that time, six Italian missionaries were hunted down and fled into joe's compound when they had nowhere to escape.
The Joe family kindly hid the missionaries and secretly sent them back to Italy. After returning to Italy, the missionary told the Italian government about his escape experience. In order to thank the Joe family for their help, the Italian government specially gave the Joe family an Italian flag. It was this seemingly inconspicuous national flag that allowed the Qiao family compound to be saved later.
Italian missionary at the end of the Qing Dynasty
In the last years of the Qing Dynasty, Western powers invaded China, and the royal gardens were looted, not to mention civilian areas. And to give the Italian flag to joe's family, that is, the flag can represent Italy, and other countries dare not invade at will. During World War II, fascist countries such as Japan, Italy, and Germany formed an Axis alliance. So, at that time, Japan and Italy were allies. Joe's family planted an Italian flag at the door, which of course survived. Therefore, scholars say that if you ask the reason why the Qiao family compound was able to survive during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, just look at the flag at the entrance of the Qiao family compound at that time.
Shanxi Qiao family compound
The Joes were able to escape the invasion of war, and it was their own kindness that saved them. If Joe's family hadn't helped the strangers at the time, Joe's family would probably have had a tough time.