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Edited by Cai Xiaopeng.
iv).
In 1930, Zhang Jingjiang, chairman of Zhejiang Province, died of illness. Zhejiang Province was the core territory of the Chiang dynasty. The various factions within the Kuomintang were fiercely contested. Chiang Kai-shek, contrary to the expectations of the various factions of the CC faction, the Whampoa faction and the political science department of Zhejiang, chose Zhang Nanxian, a person from other provinces who had no background and no faction, and was even good friends with his old enemy Li Jishen, to succeed him as the provincial chairman and director of the civil affairs department. It is estimated that he took a fancy to Zhang Nanxian's governing style of "being honest and self-disciplined, and being upright".
In his early years, Zhang Nanxian was deeply influenced by the Confucian people-oriented thought of "the people are only the state, and the country is solid" and "the people are precious, and the monarch is light". During the period of presiding over Zhejiang, he strictly implemented "streamlining administration and reducing expenditure", tightened the economy, ensured people's livelihood projects (Hangzhou Railway, Hangzhou Waterworks, power plants, etc.), and eliminated redundant personnel and miscellaneous items. Inevitably, the "cake" of some local interest groups has been moved. The slanderous remarks about Zhang Nanxian's "greed for money and lust" and "luxury in private residences, and greed for money by concubines" have repeatedly spread to the ears of Jiang Song and his wife.
In January 1934, during the visit of Chiang Kai-shek and his wife to Zhejiang, two anecdotes circulated:
One: Zhang Nan first made a public attack and asked Chiang Kai-shek to "pay" for Song Meiling:
At the welcome meeting held for Chiang Kai-shek, in front of hundreds of officials and villagers, Zhang Nanxian took out a large package of bills, with a cumulative expenditure of 13,780 yuan, saying that "Mrs. Zun and the old lady came to Hangzhou for half a month to play for a few days, you see how to deal with it." The province's finances are stretched thin, and there is really nothing that can be done." In full view of everyone, Chiang Kai-shek said sharply: "Whoever spends is responsible." Zhang Nanxian took the lead in applauding, echoing loudly: "Chairman Jiang abolished private government, was honest and self-disciplined, and was a model for the party-state, which made Zhang admire", and respectfully bent down to thank: "I thank you on behalf of more than 10 million people in Zhejiang Province."