Ms. He Xiangning was a close comrade-in-arms of Mrs. Liao Zhongkai, Dr. Sun Yat-sen, who was not only an outstanding revolutionary and political activist, but also a famous painter who enjoyed a high reputation at home and abroad.
On August 13, 1937, the Battle of Songhu broke out, and the people from all walks of life in Shanghai organized themselves to actively collect donations to support the War of Resistance.
In order to support the frontline officers and men in the bloody war with the Japanese and Kosovars on the battlefield, He Xiangning took the lead in initiating the establishment of the "Chinese Women's Anti-Enemy Support Association" in Shanghai, and generously stated: "Since the 'September 18th,' the land has been lost and the people have been devastated by Japanese imperialism. Now the central government has decided to resist. Many chinese men are bleeding and injured on the front line, and in order to be worthy of the glorious history of the mainland and our ancestors, we must shoulder equal responsibilities with men..."
Soon after, Song Meiling established the "Chinese Women's Consolation self-defense Anti-Japanese War General Association" in Nanjing, and He Xiangning immediately changed the "Chinese Women's Anti-Japanese War Support Association" to "The Shanghai Branch of the Chinese Women's Consolation and Self-Defense Anti-War Soldiers Association".
In Shanghai, He Xiangning actively organized branch members to comfort the wounded on the battlefield, donated clothes and food, and sent condolences to the front line of the Shanghai War of Resistance.
On November 12, 1937, the Battle of Songhu ended and Shanghai fell.
He Xiangning decided to go to Hong Kong and continue to fight for the anti-Japanese campaign. Before leaving, she composed a poem: "The king bleeds, I shed tears." The battlefield is full of autumn colors, and Xiao Xiaofeng has risen..."
On November 27, He Xiangning left Shanghai and took a ship to Hong Kong.
When he first arrived in Hong Kong, He Xiangning published an article entitled "Reply to the Thirteen-Year Spirit" in the Hong Kong "Salvation Daily", continuing to shout for the War of Resistance, emphasizing in particular the need for unity in the War of Resistance and the need to mobilize the people, so it is necessary to restore Sun Yat-sen's three major policies of "uniting with Russia, uniting with the Communist Party, and supporting peasants and workers."
At that time, the "Mother of the Nation" Song Qingling was also in Hong Kong, collecting materials through the "Baomeng" and "Industrial Cooperation" organizations to support the mainland's War of Resistance. Taking advantage of his high prestige among overseas Chinese, He Xiangning jointly published a "Letter to Overseas Chinese Compatriots" with Soong Ching Ling to win the support of overseas Chinese in China's War of Resistance.
Under the active appeal of He Xiangning, overseas support materials such as coats, blankets, and daily necessities were continuously delivered to Hong Kong, and then transferred to the anti-Japanese battlefield in the mainland.
In order to thank the overseas Chinese for their patriotic enthusiasm, every time he received a donation from overseas Chinese, He Xiangning would send a painting he had carefully created.
In the autumn of the following year, He Xiangning published an article in Hong Kong's "Industry and Commerce Daily" entitled "Calling for Expanding the Campaign to Recruit Winter Clothes for Frontline Soldiers", calling on compatriots from all walks of life in Hong Kong to sew cotton clothes for frontline soldiers.
Subsequently, He Xiangning set off a "movement to sew cotton clothes" in the Women's Circles of Hong Kong, and took the lead in sewing cotton clothes for the frontline soldiers.
With the deepening of the War of Resistance Against Japan, a large number of refugees went south, living in a fixed place and displaced. He Xiangning saw it in his eyes and was anxious in his heart, and immediately initiated the convening of the "Joint Conference on Relief to Refugees in South China from All Walks of Life in Hong Kong", calling on overseas Chinese from all walks of life to donate money and materials to relieve refugees.
On January 6, 1941, the Anhui Incident that shocked China and foreign countries broke out, Ye Ting, commander of the New Fourth Army, was captured, deputy commander Xiang Ying and chief of staff Zhou Zikun were killed after breaking through the siege, and Yuan Guoping, director of the Political Department, was killed.
In order to rescue Ye Ting, commander of the New Fourth Army, He Xiangning, together with Soong Ching-ling, Liu Yazi, and Peng Zemin, wrote a letter to Chiang Kai-shek, demanding Ye Ting's release. But Chiang Kai-shek insisted on going his own way and refused to release Ye Ting.
He Xiang was so enraged that she contacted Soong Ching-ling and sent a joint telegram to Chiang Kai-shek denouncing his acts of sabotage of the War of Resistance and anti-communist separatism, and solemnly pointed out: "If the Communist Party is suppressed, there is a danger of civil war in China," and strongly demanded that the Kuomintang authorities "absolutely stop attacking the Communist Party by force in the future, and must stop suppressing the Communist Party." ”
He Xiangning and Soong Ching Ling jointly signed the letter, but Chiang Kai-shek was still a little jealous, and in a weak heart, he seized the telegram and refused to publish it.
In December 1941, Japan suddenly attacked Pearl Harbor, a U.S. Naval Base in the Pacific, and the Pacific War broke out. Subsequently, the Japanese army attacked Hong Kong, and on the 25th, Hong Kong fell.
After the occupation of Hong Kong, the Japanese army imposed martial law, prohibiting residents from passing, pedestrians on the road were not allowed to stand, all had to crouch on the side of the road, and the slightest movement would be immediately shot. At the same time, the Japanese also conducted large-scale searches throughout Hong Kong to eliminate the resistance.
At this time, He Xiangning had put life and death aside, did not pay attention to the martial law of the Japanese army, and spent time every day by painting.
One day, He Xiangning was immersed in painting when a group of Japanese troops suddenly surrounded her house. A Japanese soldier led several fierce Japanese soldiers to break through the door.
In the face of the Japanese army's interrogation, He Xiangning calmly straightened his hair, and then picked up the tea cup on the table and communicated with the Japanese army in fluent Japanese.
The Japanese army shaozuo did not know He Xiangning, saw her calmly, and could speak fluent Japanese, interrogated a few words, and then left with people.
On January 10, 1942, under the ingenious arrangement of Liao Chengzhi, He Xiangning left Hong Kong by ship and returned to Haifeng, Guangdong.
[Adhere to the original, do not forget the original heart, remember the history, taste life, welcome attention, common progress】