In the early morning of June 4, 1928, the handsome Zhang Zuolin encountered the last moment of his life. At that time, the sky was not completely bright, and Zhang Zuolin's special train was slowly driving into the bridge near the Huanggutun Railway Station. No one thought that this seemingly calm morning would hide a huge disaster.
When the special train passed the Sandong Bridge at the intersection of the Gyeongbong and South Manchurian railways, suddenly, a deafening explosion broke the silence of the early morning. At the moment of the explosion, the flames soared into the sky, the smoke was filled, and the entire Sandong Bridge seemed to be torn apart by a huge force. Zhang Zuolin's special train was severely damaged in the explosion, and the carriage was blown to pieces, leaving only the base and part of the wreckage. The bridge deck around the train was blown off in an instant, the rails drooped at the breaks, and the sleepers were blown up and scattered all over the ground.
In the explosion, Zhang Zuolin was blown out more than three feet away, his throat was ruptured, and blood flowed like an infusion. He was surrounded by his retinue and subordinates who had also suffered heavy losses, dead or wounded, wailing and crying one after another, and the whole scene was extremely tragic.
From some photos taken by the Japanese army at that time, it can be seen that the Japanese soldiers at the scene were also searching for Zhang Zuolin's traces, and they tried to confirm whether Zhang Zuolin was dead. Some Japanese soldiers stood on the bombed-out compartment and could see that the side panels and roof of the compartment had been blown to the ground, leaving only the floor and doors.
After the explosion, Fengtian Governor Liu Shangqing quickly rushed to the scene after hearing the news and organized rescue work. It's just that under the medical conditions at that time, Zhang Zuolin's injuries were irreparable. He was rushed to the "Great Marshal's Mansion" in Shenyang, but he was already dying. The medics tried their best to save the life, but in the end they were unable to recover. At around 9:30 a.m., Zhang Zuolin died of his injuries at the age of 53.
When Zhang Zuolin passed away, there was still a trace of unwillingness and anger on his face. At the last moment of his life, he said to Mrs. Lu: "Tell Xiaoliuzi (Zhang Xueliang's milk name) to put the country first and do it well!" I'm nothing with this stinky skin. This sentence reflects his deep concern for the fate of the country and his ardent expectations for his son.
After the explosion, the entire Tohoku was plunged into great shock and grief. People took to the streets to pay their respects to the former leader. At the same time, extensive investigation and speculation were launched on the truth of the incident. Later, after investigation, it was confirmed that the explosion was caused by explosives pre-planted by the Japanese Kwantung Army. This incident has also become an important memory in the history of Sino-Japanese relations.