Perhaps in the dust of history, these names have long been blurred. But today, I want to tell you about an almost absurd historical event: a traitorous high-ranking official named Zhao Xinbo, who left a huge inheritance in Japan, but sparked a thrilling succession battle. When his wife, Zhao Biyan, went to Japan in 1976 to claim an inheritance, she actually met four "herself" in court! These people all claimed to be the real heirs of Zhao Xinbo, what kind of secret was hidden behind this?
Zhao Xinbo, a name that has been almost forgotten in the shadow of history, his life is full of twists and controversies. Born in 1890, he was originally a smart boy in Wanping County, Hebei Province. In 1915, with a dream, he crossed the sea to study in Japan, and ten years later became the first Chinese student to obtain a doctorate in law from Tokyo Imperial University. This study abroad experience not only allowed him to get acquainted with some Japanese political and military figures, but also laid the groundwork for his later life trajectory.
After returning to China, Zhao Xinbo was ostensibly a scholar, but in fact he had become a close confidant of Japan. After the establishment of the puppet state of Manchukuo in 1932, he was appointed president of the Legislative Yuan, becoming a symbol of power of the era. His official career has not been smooth sailing, and internal factional struggles and personal greed have led him to frequent controversies. In 1937, he chose to resign and fled the turmoil of Manchukuo with his family, living in seclusion in Japan.
In Tokyo, Zhao Xinbo used his power and resources to secretly buy a large amount of real estate. In order to avoid risks, these properties are all registered in the name of his wife Zhao Biyan. This seemingly wise move later became the trigger for an inheritance dispute. In 1945, at the end of World War II, Japan announced its unconditional surrender, and Zhao Xinbo did not have time to escape, and was finally arrested and detained in Beiping.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Zhao Xinbo was always worried, and died suddenly of high blood pressure in an investigation in 1951. And his wife Zhao Biyan changed her name to hide her identity and lived a low-key life with her son Zhao Zongyang. It wasn't until 1963 that an unexpected event broke their peace, and the cadres of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office suddenly came to the door and informed them that Zhao Xinbo's inheritance in Japan was now ownerless, and they had the right to inherit it.
Zhao Biyan was stunned by this sudden news, after all, she has been living in seclusion for many years, and now she has to face this transnational battle for inheritance. And when she went to Japan to fight a lawsuit, she was even more surprised to find that there were four fake "Zhao Biyan" in court. These four people insisted on their own words, insisting that they were the real Zhao Biyan, and justifiably asked to inherit the inheritance. This dramatic scene shocked and confused everyone present. It turned out that Zhao Xinbo's huge wealth and his influence in Japan over the years have attracted the attention of many pretenders.
This lawsuit is not just a battle of laws, but more like an in-depth discussion about identity, wealth and trust. Zhao Biyan must face one challenger after another, while also proving her authenticity. The arguments in court were intense and complex, and each "Zhao Biyan" provided evidence to support his claims, including historical documents, family testimony and even Zhao Xinbo's personal letters during his lifetime.
In this case, Zhao Biyan's legal team carried out a careful investigation and comparative analysis. They must not only find out the authenticity of these evidences, but also reveal the true identities and motives behind the other three "Zhao Biyan". After a series of court battles and external investigations, it was finally proved that the real Zhao Biyan was Zhao Xinbo's legal wife, and the claims of the other three were successfully dismissed.
The lawsuit has not only attracted widespread attention in Japan, but has also sparked a series of discussions in China about historical memory, justice and revenge. In 1976, when Zhao Biyan finally got her inheritance back, she not only justified her name, but also drew an end to the legacy of Zhao Xinbo, a complex historical figure. The process was filled with tears, anger, and deep anxiety about the future.
From the glory of Zhao Xinbo's study in Japan, to becoming a traitor and a high-ranking official, to the transnational struggle for inheritance, this series of events not only reveals the fate of a family, but also reflects the disputes and changes of an era. This cross-era legal war is not only a competition for Zhao Xinbo's wealth, but also a review of history. In the story, we see the complexity of human nature, the challenge of justice, and the weight of history. Let us not forget the past, cherish the present, and face the future bravely.