◆ Jiang Feng, editor-in-chief of the Japanese monthly magazine of People's Daily Overseas Edition
The trip to Dongguan in April 2024 was made with a special emotion. So far, I have visited Guangdong, which is at the forefront of China's reform and opening up, more than once, for the purpose of participating in economic or scientific and technological innovation exchange activities, to witness the prosperity and changes here and feel the pulse of China's development. However, it is also a place of blood-pumping revolution. Dongguan has always been closely associated with the prosperity of the manufacturing industry, and is famous and active as a "world factory". As everyone knows, it is also a city full of revolutionary elements and atmosphere. I am very fortunate that this time, together with Jiang Junjie, executive chairman of the Japanese Chinese Chiang clan economic, trade and cultural promotion association, accompanied by the local clan relatives Mr. Jiang Shaofeng and Jiang Wenli's little sister, I walked into Humen, and was able to visit the former residence of the famous patriotic general Jiang Guangnai, the ancestor of the local Jiang clan in the annals of history.
Entering the "Sanjiang Natural Village" in Nanzha Village, Humen Town, Dongguan City, you will also arrive at Jiang Guangnai's "home" - "Liyin Garden". Due to the geographical location, Dongguan in mid-April has already ushered in humid heat. This also further sets off the shade and leisure of this "Liyin Garden". There are mango trees outside to shade the sun, and there are lychee trees inside to shade the light, full of green, which is a rare "paradise". In stark contrast to this tranquility, there is the turbulence behind Jiang Guangnai. "There is no army without Sichuan, and there is no country without Guangdong." On the revolutionary aspirants in Guangdong, we cannot fail to mention Jiang Guangnai. Talking about the war between China and Japan, I have to say Jiang Guangnai.
Visiting the old people in the former residence should talk about the past and the present. However, I first fixed my eyes on the "warm reminder" sign under the mango tree at the entrance to Jiang Guangnai's former residence, because it read: "Please do not linger under the tree to play, beware of dead branches and mango falling and hurting people." This is really "the predecessors planted the trees, and the descendants reaped the fruits". Looking at both sides of the plaque on the gate of "Liyin Garden", there is a beautiful and vigorous couplet of "who is still lying in the road, and the subject should scorn the bird is mortal", which also makes people read the golden iron horse of Jiang Guangnai's life. This former residence from Jiang Guangnai's grandfather, although it is an elegant Western-style villa-style garden building, but it does not see the luxury of the rich and noble family at all, but is more simple and indifferent, it is not only a three-dimensional space carrying the life of this legendary soldier, but also a thick history book that tells all the feelings of this patriotic general, it is a living room, but also an exhibition hall, I prefer to call it Jiang Guangnai's "life museum". Here, I can calm down and count a few "keywords" that belong to Jiang Guangnai that are worthy of being remembered by history.
"Abandon literature and follow martial arts", shaping Zheng Zheng iron bones
is different from Lu Xun's abandonment of medicine and literature, the young Jiang Guangnai took the route of saving the country by force. Going back, his grandfather Jiang Lixiang was a Jinshi in the Xianfeng period of the Qing Dynasty, his father Jiang Zimin was a person in the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty, and his mother Mrs. Zheng was a well-read and scholarly family. Looking at Jiang Guangnai's life history in the former residence, what is touching is that the times have created people. With a declining family background and the death of both parents, Jiang Guangnai failed to continue the scholarly incense, but left a piece of history for the world: "In ancient times, there was a mother-in-law who tattooed the word Jing Loyal to the country, and recently Mrs. Zheng entrusted her to abandon Wen Congwu on her deathbed". His mother's entrustment influenced Jiang Guangnai's life and Chinese history. I thought that if it weren't for this abandonment, maybe there would not be Jiang Guangnai, who is brilliant in history. Between abandonment and throw, what has been achieved is Jiang Guangnai's iron backbone as a generation of famous generals.
When I read the history of the Republic of China, I often sigh at the incredulity of people in the long river of time. Huangpu Guangzhou Army Primary School, the Alliance, the Fourth Middle School of the Nanjing Army, the Wuchang Uprising and the "Second Central Death Squad", Jiang Guangnai grew into the commander-in-chief of the 19th Route Army in such a military experience, and also opened a legendary chapter in Rong Ma's life. I don't know if the Iron Army created the Tiger General, or the Tiger General brought out the Iron Army. What is certain is that Jiang Guangnai's fame goes down in history because of his patriotic iron bones. Jiang Guangnai's patriotic backbone made him do what others dared to think of and dare not do. In the face of the military order to encircle and suppress the Soviet area, Jiang Guangnai said that he was sick and avoided it. Before facing the military orders of the Nanjing government not to resist Japan, he openly disobeyed the orders to resist. In my opinion, Jiang Guangnai's heart first sees himself as a Chinese before he sees himself as a soldier. The backbone behind it is upright for the family and the country. And because of Jiang Guangnai's special identity and upright words and deeds, his son Jiang Jianguo once said frankly that his children were displaced with him, but he was still proud of his father's greatness. In line with the current situation, we are vigorously advocating family style education and construction, and Jiang Guangnai's choice is a "textbook" model for teaching by word and deed.
"Don't give up an inch of grass", a true man who defends the land
Jiang Guangnai has not lost a battle in his life. In the great military exploits, the Songhu War of Resistance was the "ceiling". In 1931, on the eve of the "January 28 Incident" (known to the Japanese as the "First Shanghai Incident"), the Japanese repeatedly caused incidents under the clouds of war. The Nanjing government was afraid of the rising anti-Japanese sentiment of the 19th Route Army, and even wanted to transfer it out of Shanghai, intending to avoid a war without fighting. The gears of history turned, and on the night of January 28, the 19th Route Army, which was supposed to be handed over and evacuated, was meeting the Japanese army that had raided Shanghai. The 19th Route Army under the leadership of Jiang Guangnai issued a bold statement to the whole country that "Guangnai and others belong to the army, but they know that it is their duty to defend themselves and defend the territory, and they cannot give up their ......." Fighting more with less, lacking supplies, and outdated equipment, the 19th Route Army created a miracle of 30,000 divisions to resist the enemy's 100,000 people and fight for 33 days. So much so that Mao Zedong praised him in his 1936 letter as "enthusiastic and patriotic, such as a gentleman, knowing whether to take his words as inappropriate".
More than 90 years have passed since this war of resistance. Today, we are in Jiang Guangnai's former residence, looking at his statue, as if we can still read the loud declaration that he and a group of generals at that time in the "Letter to All Officers and Soldiers of the Nineteenth Route Army" "Throwing a head, that is, to ensure a point of peace in the world, and squandering a little blood, that is, to save a point of national fortune......". The fairness of history will be shown to future generations in the form of time. At the time of death, it is clear which one is broken and which one stands. After the "Shanghai Armistice Agreement", Jiang Guangnai at the memorial service for the soldiers of the Anti-Japanese War, "self-defense is a natural human right, 30,000 people generously ascended the throne, there are decapitated generals, there are no generals, the stone rots and the sea is dry; The Songhu War of Resistance was fixed in the history of anti-Japanese resistance, and Jiang Guangnai's "disobeying the order to resist Japan" became a spirit admired by those true warriors in the face of foreign invasion.
A good official who cares about Sangzi and benefits the people
The unpopularity of the Nanjing government during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression was also clear from patriotic generals like Jiang Guangnai. Since ancient times, the fate of the Chinese has always been tied to the country. In my opinion, Jiang Guangnai is the one who nails the two tightly together. Under the insistence of the Nanjing government, the civil war broke out, and Jiang Guangnai, who insisted on taking the correct line, resolutely engaged in democratic revolutionary activities until he promoted the establishment of the Kuomintang Revolution and openly broke with the Kuomintang. This kind of political choice stems from his unchanging feelings for his family and country. All the way from the battlefield, one thing Jiang Guangnai has been doing has been "benefiting". Founded "Jiyun Primary School" at the original site of "Nursery Hall", presided over the preparation for the construction of "Humen Hospital", raised funds to build "Humen Middle School", and initiated donations to establish "Dongguan Provincial Middle School". From the perspective of civilians, Jiang Guangnai fought well and did a high job, but he was not as big as his heart for benefiting Sang Zi. In this sense, the people who came to Jiang Guangnai's former residence saw a feat of resisting foreign invasion at the same time, and at the same time, there was a warm image of a man with lofty ideals in military uniforms with kindness and love.
It is said that in Liwan District, Guangzhou, there is also a Jiang Guangnai Memorial Primary School, and the statue of Jiang Guangnai standing in the school can be seen through the school gate, which is respectful, and it is a pity that I could not go to see it. The people have passed away, but the spirit lives on, just like this, immersed in the study, life and work of future generations, which is a silent and profound continuation, which is exactly what we need today.
Walking out of Jiang Guangnai's former residence, I saw a new building being built next to it. Mr. Jiang Shaofeng told us: It will be the General Jiang Guangnai Cultural Relics Exhibition Hall. Previously, General Jiang Guangnai's calligraphy and painting relics were stored in this former residence, but they were stolen several times. For this reason, the village decided to build a general Jiang Guangnai's cultural relics exhibition hall equipped with an anti-theft system. In addition to hating the thief in my heart, I also have a deep respect for the Jiang clan here.
This is how the bloodline is inherited!