preface
At the foot of Dajian Mountain in Xizhi District, New Taipei City, Taiwan Province, there is a cemetery located here. Judging from the scale, you can imagine how beautiful the tomb owner was before he died. But now it is overgrown and dilapidated, and the owner of this tombstone is Du Yuesheng, who was once known as the "Emperor of Shanghai".
Du Yuesheng Cemetery in Taiwan
Speaking of Du Yuesheng, he is a big man who runs through Shanghai, and in his later years, he made a wrong choice, moved his family to Hong Kong, and did not set foot on the land of the motherland before his death. For this decision he made, we must start with himself.
He was in cahoots with Chiang Kai-shek
Du Yuesheng was born in Pudong Town, Shanghai, and is an authentic Shanghainese. Due to his family's poverty, he lived on the streets of Shanghai since he was a child. Later, under the recommendation of others, he joined the Green Gang and came to work under the head of the dragon head Jinrong, and gradually emerged in Shanghai.
In 1925, the 37-year-old Du Yuesheng used the contacts and resources he had accumulated to open a company called "Sanxin" in Shanghai to run the opium business. Du Yuesheng also grew up at a very fast pace and ranked first among the three tycoons in Shanghai.
Group photo of the three tycoons in Shanghai
As the boss of the Shanghai gang, Du Yuesheng is not satisfied with this, he wants to further improve his identity and status in this chaotic world, so as to realize his desire to join the "high society". At this time, he thought of his good friend Chiang Kai-shek.
Mentioning Chiang Kai-shek and Du Yuesheng, the two people met in Shanghai Beach in their early years and joined the Green Gang together, and their relationship was very good. With the rupture of relations between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, Du Yuesheng began to fall to Chiang Kai-shek and played the role of "anti-communist vanguard".
In April 1927, Chiang Kai-shek launched the "April 12" counter-revolutionary coup. Before the coup d'état, Chiang Kai-shek sent people to Shanghai several times to contact Du Yuesheng and others, asking them to be prepared so that they could strike at any time against the Chinese Communists.
In accordance with Chiang Kai-shek's deployment, Du Yuesheng, together with others, set up a rogue armed organization, the "Chinese Communist Progressive Association," and helped Chiang Kai-shek win the support of foreign concessions, thus making full "preparations" for Chiang Kai-shek's next actions.
Du Yuesheng slaughtered the revolutionary masses
In the early morning of April 12, Du Yuesheng, in accordance with prior arrangements, led the members of the Green Gang to launch a surprise attack on the workers' pickets led by the Communist Party of China, firing the first shots of the "April 12" counter-revolutionary coup. That night, he summoned the Kuomintang Twenty-sixth Army and prepared to massacre the revolutionary masses on Baoshan Road in Shanghai.
On April 13, Du Yuesheng, along with Jin Jinrong, Zhang Xiaolin, Chen Qun, and others, issued a "manifesto" to constantly denigrate the Chinese Communist Party. After that, Du Yuesheng, together with Chiang Kai-shek, hunted down revolutionaries, sealed down the central organs, and killed a large number of revolutionary volunteers.
On April 18, the Kuomintang government was proclaimed. In recognition of Du Yuesheng's role in the "counter-revolutionary" coup, Chiang Kai-shek specially appointed him as "Major General, Commander-in-Chief of the Army, Navy, and Air Force." With the support of Chiang Kai-shek, Du Yuesheng gained a considerable amount of political capital, became the "number one tycoon" in Shanghai Beach and even the whole Chinese underworld, and began his "political career".
Du Yuesheng old photo
In July 1937, the All-Out War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression broke out. Du Yuesheng scrupulously adhered to the integrity of a Chinese, and he did not become a traitor like Zhang Xiaolin, but constantly supported the front line and tried his best to support the Chinese in the War of Resistance.
During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, he did a lot of charity activities, not only donating silver dollars and transporting materials, but also taking the initiative to donate more than 100 aircraft to support the War of Resistance, which was respected by all the Chinese people.
After the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japan, Du Yuesheng returned to Shanghai and was successfully elected chairman of the Shanghai Senate. Because people within the Kuomintang were unwilling to support him, Du Yuesheng took the initiative to resign and continued to go deep into the fields of industry and commerce, finance, and culture.
In 1948, the National Government 'Constitutional National Congress' was convened, and Du Yuesheng actively supported Chiang Kai-shek's election as the first president. Du Yuesheng actively supported Chiang Kai-shek, but in the end he was exchanged for Chiang Kai-shek's distrust.
Old photo of Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Ching-kuo fought the tiger, and Du Yuesheng was greatly disappointed in Chiang Kai-shek
Since Chiang Kai-shek launched the civil war in 1946, the Kuomintang has expended a lot of manpower and material resources, resulting in a high financial deficit of the Kuomintang government. After some speculative businessmen saw this, they operated in the dark to seek huge profits, resulting in very serious inflation within the kuomintang area.
Prices are extremely high, they can rise more than a hundred times a day, the legal tender is greatly devalued, the wages of workers are not enough to eat, and the currency has lost its original role. Shanghai, as China's largest financial market and the key to stabilizing the national economy, chiang kai-shek entrusted the task of rectifying Shanghai's economy to his son Chiang Ching-kuo.
Chiang Ching-kuo gave a speech in Shanghai
After Chiang Ching-kuo came to Shanghai, he acted vigorously, and he sucked up a large amount of deposits in the hands of Shanghai merchants by issuing "golden coupons", confiscating his wealth into the name of the Nationalist government, and temporarily suppressing large-scale inflation. Chiang Ching-kuo's move won the support of the people of Shanghai, and for a time, newspapers praised Chiang Ching-kuo's articles.
The good times did not last long, and chiang ching-kuo encountered hard stubble not long after his work, and he aimed the knife at Du Yuesheng's son Du Weiping's body. At first, Du Yuesheng said indifferently: "If Du Weiping is gone, I still have seven sons."
When Chiang Kai-shek learned of this, he made a special phone call to Du Yuesheng, asking him to support Chiang Ching-kuo's reforms in Shanghai. Du Yuesheng trusted Chiang Kai-shek, and he publicly issued a statement in the "Business Daily": "For twenty years, I have supported the leader and obeyed the government, which is well known. Monetary reform can only succeed, not fail. ”
Two days later, Chiang Ching-kuo went to the meeting insinuatingly about Du Yuesheng. He pointed out that at present, some people are still speculating, and if they are caught, they will be severely punished.
Du Yuesheng's face could not hang up at once, and he found Jiang Jingguo and said: "Du Weiping is my son, he violated the state's regulations, and should be investigated and dealt with according to law." Do you also have to check the matter of Yang's subsidiary, otherwise you will not be able to convince the public. ”
Du Yuesheng's words made Jiang Jingguo understand at once, because the boss behind the Yang subsidiary was his cousin Kong Lingkan. In order to show his determination to rectify Shanghai's economy, Chiang Ching-kuo ordered kong Lingkan's "Yang subsidiary" to be directly seized.
This matter reached Song Meiling's ears and aroused Song Meiling's strong dissatisfaction, and she dialed the phone to contact Chiang Kai-shek, who was supervising the battle in Peiping.
When the distraught Chiang Kai-shek learned the news, he handed over his affairs to Fu Zuoyi, and he rushed to Shanghai on a special plane. When Chiang Kai-shek saw Chiang Ching-kuo, his first words were to persuade him to "value peace."
Under the persuasion of Chiang Kai-shek, Kong Lingkan only paid a part of the money and was released, for a large family like the Kong family, money is the least important, and this money is not much, this matter will be hastily passed.
Kong Lingkan
Kong Lingkan had already been released, and if he continued to hold Du Weiping, he would not be able to say that he could not pass, and the court sentenced him to a left and right sentence, only six months in prison, and it was not long before Du Yuesheng paid a deposit and released him on bail.
The release of these two men also meant the failure of Shanghai's economic reforms, and Chiang Ching-kuo had to resign from his post and leave Shanghai silently. After passing through this incident, Du Yuesheng saw through the true face of Chiang Kai-shek and became no longer trusting Chiang Kai-shek.
Soon after the failure of the "Shanghai Control Plan", Chiang Kai-shek was forced to step down, and the Kuomintang government faced an even more serious crisis. Chiang Kai-shek hated Du Yuesheng in his heart, but what happened later made Chiang Kai-shek continue to seek cooperation with Du Yuesheng.
The Kuomintang army was gradually defeated on the battlefield, and Chiang Kai-shek needed Du Yuesheng to restrain the merchants living in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai, avoid falling into the hands of the Chinese Communist Party, and continue to serve the Kuomintang government. Chiang Kai-shek constantly instructed Du Yuesheng to squeeze out Du Yuesheng's last bit of value.
Du Yuesheng was reading the newspaper
However, due to Chiang Kai-shek's negligence, the Kuomintang internally published an article entitled "A New Page in the History of the Party," which not only accused Du Yuesheng of what he had done, but also blamed Du Yuesheng's "rout" in Shanghai on Du Yuesheng's head, and called on everyone to eliminate Du Yuesheng's forces in Shanghai.
The enraged Chiang Kai-shek sent people to appease Du Yuesheng many times, hoping that he would not believe such rumors. But Du Yuesheng and Chiang Kai-shek already had a "gap", how could he credulously believe his rhetoric, he was completely disappointed in Chiang Kai-shek in his heart.
Zhang Shizhao invited Du Yuesheng to return to China, and Du Yuesheng sighed afterwards: I can't go back
In 1949, with the continuous development of the battlefield situation, Du Yuesheng also began to prepare for his departure from Shanghai. On the surface, he pretended to be uncertain in order to confuse everyone and avoid any accidents that would happen to either side of the Kuomintang and the Communist Party.
Old photos of the time when the Kuomintang army was defeated and retreated
In late March 1949, Chiang Kai-shek met with Du Yuesheng in Shanghai and said to him: "It seems that It is difficult to hold on to Shanghai's words, So Mr. Du should make preparations first, and if necessary, he can go to Taiwan with his family to help the party and the state to achieve great causes." ”
Chiang Kai-shek saw Du Yuesheng's hesitant look and continued: "Mr. Du has been cooperating with the central authorities for 16 years, but you have made great contributions in the 16-year Qing Party movement of the Republic of China and formed a lot of grudges with the Communists, and they will certainly not let you go." ”
Du Yuesheng was well aware of Chiang Kai-shek's remarks, which made it clear that he wanted to follow him to Taiwan. If you refuse, then it will definitely lead to the disaster of killing, he replied: "President, you can rest assured, I absolutely do not have any luck with the Communist Party." ”
Immediately after, Du Yuesheng said: "I understand the president's kindness, but the weather in Taiwan is humid and sweltering, my asthma has recurred, I want to go to Hong Kong for treatment first, and then go to Taiwan to serve the president, I don't know if the president can agree?" After saying that, Du Yuesheng deliberately pretended to be breathless.
The Shanghai area was liberated
Chiang Kai-shek was well aware of Du Yuesheng's scheming, and he exhorted: "I just can't bear to watch my friend become a ghost under the knife of the Communist Party." ”
On April 21, 1949, a million male divisions of the Chinese People's Liberation Army crossed the Yangtze River, liberated Nanjing and other places, and quickly launched a large-scale attack on the area south of the Yangtze River. On April 28, hundreds of thousands of PLA soldiers began to march around Shanghai, and Du Yuesheng was ready to leave Shanghai.
Before leaving Shanghai, he made full preparations. First he prepared a large amount of money for future needs. Secondly, he also sorted out the accounts of the Zhonghui Bank he founded, thus preserving his reputation as a faithful man.
On May 1, on the eve of the liberation of Shanghai, Du Yuesheng's passenger, the Baoshuyun, went straight from the waterway to Hong Kong.
After the liberation of Shanghai by the People's Liberation Army, the Shanghai municipal government realized the importance of Du Yuesheng in calming the hearts and minds of the new regime. As mayor, Chen Yi hopes that Du Yuesheng will return to Shanghai, and he thinks of Zhang Shizhao, who once served in the Kuomintang.
Zhang Shizhao
Zhang Shizhao once served as the education chief of the Republic of China, and he was a good friend of the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, and maintained close ties with many senior leaders.
Du Yuesheng was ordered to come to Du Yuesheng's residence in Hong Kong, the Kennedy Taidu Mansion. At this time, Du Yuesheng was unwell, basically lying on the bed every day, Zhang Shizhao's arrival made Du Yuesheng's heart extremely excited, and the two people began to talk freely.
Zhang Shizhao explained our party's policy, and he made it clear that only after Du Yuesheng returned to Shanghai, he would certainly receive preferential treatment from the people's government and provide good living conditions as much as possible. Du Yuesheng sat quietly in a chair and listened to his old friend talk about the changes that have taken place in Shanghai and related policies, but still did not express his position.
After that, Zhang Shizhao, while avoiding Kuomintang agents, went to du mansion many times. Du Yuesheng often invited him to dinner, and the two people talked and laughed at the table, as if they had returned to the scene of that year.
Zhang Shizhao continued to do Du Yuesheng's work, but Du Yuesheng was determined. Later, Du Yuesheng's attitude also changed greatly, and he directly ordered everyone to take Zhang Shizhao out and refused to meet him.
Du Yuesheng
Du Yuesheng looked at Zhang Shizhao's departing back, constantly recalling the past before, he said with emotion: "I can't go back." ”
After Zhang Shizhao returned to Shanghai, he showed Chen Yi the details about Du Yuesheng, and Chen Yi did not have a dead heart for Du Yuesheng's attitude, and still kept sending him invitations.
In response to the invitation letter issued by Chen Yi, Du Yuesheng specially asked people to send a reply letter. The letter said: "If I do not return to Shanghai, I can send a special person to Shanghai to represent me with full authority." ”
In the face of Chen Yi's personal invitation, Du Yuesheng was so perfunctory that it was really unconvincing, and this matter ended hastily.
In Du Yuesheng's heart, the reason why he refused Mayor Chen Yi's invitation was more because he did not believe in the Chinese Communist Party, and he did not believe that the Communists would have such great courage. He felt that if he returned to the mainland, he would definitely be "liquidated" for the mistakes he had committed, so he refused their retention, but he missed a good opportunity.
Chen Yi came to inspect below
Du Yuesheng died of illness and left his last words on his deathbed: China's future is promising
After Du Yuesheng came to Hong Kong, his asthma became more serious due to the fatigue of the boat and the fact that he had been worried about his future. He had wanted to live like this quietly, but Chiang Kai-shek did not let him go.
After Chiang Kai-shek learned of Du Yuesheng's contacts with the Chinese Communists, he instructed his subordinates to conduct a "nerve war" against Du Yuesheng, and he entrusted du Yuesheng with false news that the Shanghai Municipal People's Government would hold a public trial meeting on April 12, at which time the murderers such as Jin Jinrong and Du Yuesheng would be tried and killed.
Du Yuesheng was difficult to distinguish between true and false, and did not sleep well for several days; du Yuesheng once again refused Chiang Kai-shek's request to go to Taiwan, and Chiang Kai-shek's plot ultimately failed.
Chiang Kai-shek was not satisfied, and repeatedly sent spies to Hong Kong to threaten Du Yuesheng, and Du Yuesheng on his sickbed was frightened and panicked. He had been thinking about his final fate, his nerves were weak, and his whole person had lost his spirit.
Du Yuesheng and his wife Meng Xiaodong
On August 7, 1951, Du Yuesheng once again fell into a coma. When he woke up, he asked his family to invite his secretary Hu Xuwu, saying that he wanted to dictate his will. He said to the crowd in a hoarse voice, "Look at the way I look now, I don't know when I'll be gone." Now I still have the strength to speak, and make a will as soon as possible, so as not to regret it when the time comes. ”
Du Yuesheng's will did not involve politics, but was entirely about family trivia of inheritance. Before his death, he had a total of 100,000 cash, each wife divided into 10,000, sons 10,000, unmarried daughters 6,000, and married daughters 4,000.
Du Yuesheng knew in his heart that Chiang Kai-shek would certainly not let him go, and even if he only had one corpse left, he would carry it to Taiwan. To this end, Du Yuesheng specially explained: his funeral can not be handled in a big way, but the coffin must be used with the best.
Du Yuesheng and his family
The purpose of Du Yuesheng's confession of the coffin was to allow his bones to be temporarily preserved, and when the motherland was reunified, he would be transported back to the mainland for burial.
On August 14, 1951, Du Yuesheng, who was in a coma, woke up again, and before he could speak, the tears in the corners of his eyes had already flowed first. Perhaps at this time, he was still nostalgic for the mainland of the motherland, but he could not help himself.
Two days later, Du Yuesheng died. Before dying, he said to his children: "I have no hope, you still have hope, China still has hope." ”
After Du Yuesheng's death, his family prepared a fine coffin in accordance with the will and transported his body to Taiwan. Until now, future generations have still not fulfilled his last wish to return to the mainland.
Du Yuesheng's life was both hateful and pathetic. He has always stood against the people, followed Chiang Kai-shek against the revolutionary cause, and never thought of being abandoned by Chiang Kai-shek. In his later years, Du Yuesheng eventually died in a foreign land, which was also the punishment he deserved.