After the Xi'an Incident, Zhang Xueliang knew the danger, but he personally sent Chiang Kai-shek back to Nanjing, and lived a life of house arrest ever since.
In 1975, Zhang Xueliang finally wanted to take the old Jiang away, but before he died, the old Jiang called Jiang Jingguo to him, explained the reason for refusing to release Zhang Xueliang, and reminded his son: "Don't let the tiger go!" Zhang Xueliang, who is in his 70s, can only continue to "squat in prison".
Why did Zhang Xueliang send Lao Jiang back to Beijing in the first place? Why didn't Lao Jiang release Zhang Xueliang? And why not kill him?
First, send the old Jiang back to Beijing
Zhang Xueliang and Song Meiling have a very good personal relationship, and even have a little feeling of confidante, Zhang Xueliang once said frankly: "If it weren't for his wife Yu Fengzhi, I would definitely chase Song Meiling." ”
Although the two did not have a husband and wife fate, they became close friends and were very close.
After the Xi'an Incident, Zhang Xueliang knew that sending Lao Jiang back to Beijing might be a road of no return, but he still sent it for the sake of national righteousness.
Before sending Lao Jiang back to Beijing, Song Meiling asked, "Aren't you afraid that someone will attack you when you come to Nanjing?" ”
Zhang Xueliang replied calmly: "I am not afraid that it is false, but now the war of resistance is the first priority, the chairman must go back to command the battle, only if I send him back, can I save his prestige, compared with the country, my personal life and death are nothing, even if I am sentenced to death, I have no regrets." ”
Song Meiling was touched by him and promised: "I will definitely protect you!" ”
Old Jiang is narrow-minded, and his eyes will be rewarded, not to mention that Zhang Xueliang did this kind of "following offense" and almost killed him, so that he was a chairman of the committee to lose face, how could he let it go?
However, at that time, public opinion was biased towards Zhang Xueliang, and Song Meiling and Song Ziwen constantly put pressure on Lao Jiang, who could only imprison Zhang Xueliang through military trials.
Second, Zhang Xueliang's situation in Taiwan
After the defeat of the Kuomintang in Taiwan (region), some people advocated releasing Zhang Xueliang, but more people thought that he could not be spared.
From the perspective of the Communist Party, although Zhang Xueliang did not directly participate in the anti-Japanese resistance, he was a well-deserved anti-Japanese hero. However, in the eyes of the Kuomintang, Zhang Xueliang was an important reason for their defeat in Taiwan, and there were many people who wanted to kill him. In fact, Zhang Xueliang was just an excuse for their own failure.
With the support of the argument that "everything is to blame Zhang Xueliang", Lao Jiang logically proposed to put Zhang Xueliang under long-term house arrest. Although he wanted to get rid of Zhang Xueliang quickly, due to many reasons, it was inconvenient to kill Zhang Xueliang.
On February 26, 1947, when the people of Taiwan were dissatisfied with the rule of the Kuomintang and an armed uprising broke out, Lao Chiang took the opportunity to give Mao Renfeng an order: "If anyone tries to rob Zhang Xueliang, shoot Zhang Xueliang immediately." ”
Lao Jiang hoped that this turmoil would affect Zhang Xueliang, so he could borrow a knife to kill people and clean himself, but unfortunately his wishful calculation was wrong, and the uprising did not affect Zhang Xueliang's area.
3. Last words
Before dying, Lao Jiang said to Jiang Jingguo: "Don't let Zhang Xueliang go, don't see him locked up in prison, the Northeast Army is still bent on him, this person is a great threat, you can't take a little risk, don't let the tiger go!" ”
Chiang Ching-kuo "inherited his father's business" and continued to detain Zhang Xueliang, although he had no hatred for Zhang Xueliang and treated him like a friend, but it was impossible to let him go.
Also the "criminal minister" who initiated the Xi'an Incident, Lao Jiang killed Yang Hucheng early, but he did not move Zhang Xueliang, on the one hand, for the sake of Song Meiling's face, on the other hand, Zhang Xueliang did not advocate killing Lao Jiang, Lao Jiang did not hate him as deeply as Yang Hucheng, but the most important reason was fear of the Northeast Army.
After Zhang Xueliang went to Europe that year, Lao Jiang still could not transfer a soldier of the Northeast Army, and after Zhang Xueliang was detained, many old units of the Northeast Army have been rushing to rescue him. If it weren't for Zhang Xueliang's desire to provoke another civil war because of him and suppress the emotions of the Northeast Army, I am afraid that he would have been rescued.
The Northeast Army is a private army, and the entire army is loyal to Zhang Zuolin and Zhang Xueliang, even if Yang Hucheng and Yu Xuezhong took the warrant left by Zhang Xueliang, they still could not move the Northeast Army. Old Jiang was jealous of the strength of the Northeast Army and even more afraid of their loyalty.
Zhang Xueliang is so innocent, he has never been an ambitious person, only bright and full of patriotic enthusiasm, otherwise he would have killed Lao Jiang directly, how could he personally send him back?
Old Jiang He did not understand Zhang Xueliang's character, but he was suspicious in life, and he felt that Zhang Xueliang could put a knife on his neck once, and he could fight a second time, and he could not "let the tiger return to the mountain". Even if Zhang Xueliang is already an old man in his 70s, Lao Jiang does not dare to let his son take it lightly.
It was not until 1990 that Zhang Xueliang regained his freedom, when he was nearly 90 years old and imprisoned for half a century, when a reporter later asked him: "If you were given another chance, would you still choose that way?" ”
Zhang Xueliang said without hesitation: "Yes!" ”
epilogue
Zhang Xueliang's house arrest career is a modern tragedy, the country is moving towards freedom step by step, and this hero has lost his freedom, but compared with Yang Hucheng, he was lucky to end well.