June 1, 1990 is Zhang Xueliang's 90th birthday. After his birthday, he got an opportunity to visit relatives in the United States, so he sent Lu Zhengcao to the United States to invite him back to China.
Lu Zhengcao met with Zhang Xueliang three times in the United States and asked him if he was willing to return to China. Zhang Xueliang said that he also wanted to return to the mainland, but put forward three conditions. So, what are these three conditions?
In the end, did Zhang Xueliang return to the mainland?
Zhang Xueliang and *** were still concerned about their friends surnamed Zhang before their deaths In December 1936, after Zhang Xueliang sent Chiang Kai-shek back to Nanjing, he was unexpectedly imprisoned in Kong Xiang's mansion, completely isolated from the outside world.
He was first escorted to Xuedou Mountain in Fenghua Xikou, Zhejiang Province, and then transferred to Huangshan Mountain in Anhui Province because of a fire at the Xuedou Mountain Hotel. A month later, he was escorted to Suxianling, Hunan.
In the cold winter, there was no place to take a bath, so he had to go down the mountain to take a bath under the supervision of the spies. An officer wearing the rank of lieutenant general of the Kuomintang artillery saw him and gave a military salute, which made the spies very nervous.
They reported to their superiors and prepared to continue the transfer of Zhang Xueliang. Zhang Xueliang was transferred to Phoenix Mountain in Hunan. In May 1941, he was sent to Qilin Cave, Guiyang, for acute appendicitis**.
Half a year later, he was escorted to Chongqing. Before he had time to take a look at the mainland after the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, he was escorted to Baishiyi Airport by spies and flew directly to Taiwan. After the Kuomintang retreated to Taiwan, the Secret Bureau was disbanded, and the responsibility for the care of Zhang Xueliang fell into the hands of Chiang Kai-shek's eldest son, Chiang Ching-kuo.
In the summer of 1950, Chiang Ching-kuo and Zhang Xueliang met, and although the two met for the first time, they were as familiar as old friends.
In 1959, Zhang Xueliang was lifted and planned to build a house in the suburbs of Taipei. Chiang Ching-kuo, who learned of this news, personally selected a good piece of land for him. After the completion of the new house, Chiang Ching-kuo sent a full set of Chinese luxury furniture to congratulate him.
In April 1962, Chiang Ching-kuo and his wife accompanied Zhang Xueliang and his wife to perform in the ** gymnasium twice, which puzzled the director of the gymnasium. The director asked the ticket seller: "Mr. Jingguo is so busy, why does he still have time to perform skating?" ”
The conductor replied with a smile: "You may not know that Mr. Jingguo is to accompany Mr. Zhang Xueliang." He is full of respect for Zhang Xueliang, and he will try his best to meet Zhang Xueliang's request.
Watching two performances is nothing to him. Despite Chiang Ching-kuo's respect, Zhang Xueliang was still in the predicament of not being able to leave Taiwan. In 1974, some people learned that Chiang Kai-shek was seriously ill and planned to launch an offensive to demand the restoration of Zhang Xueliang's freedom.
When they reported this idea to ***, **, while appreciating their spirit of upholding justice, advised them to abandon this idea, why is that?
** It was mentioned that although Chiang Kai-shek had died, his hatred for Zhang Xueliang had not subsided. If you appeal, it may stimulate him, and even make him poison Zhang Xueliang before he dies, which is not good.
However, even in the final moments of his imminent death, he still cared about Zhang Xueliang and General Zhang Zhen in Taiwan, two friends who had contributed to the cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party and the Li Shaoshi incident.
Although he had many important things to consider, what he never forgot was General Zhang Xueliang's special contribution to the people and the nation.
**Assign a special person to the United States to pick up Zhang Xueliang to return to the motherland, on June 3, 1990, Zhang Xueliang will usher in his 90th birthday. After the death of Chiang Kai-shek and Chiang Ching-kuo and their succession, Taiwan entered a new historical period.
** Not closely related to the Chiang family, he does not want to be bound by the relationships and pressures left by the Chiang family. Therefore, for Zhang Xueliang, he chose to adopt a tolerant and respectful attitude.
Soon after, ** held Zhang Xueliang's 90th birthday, which not only respected Zhang Xueliang himself, but also did not have any loss to Taiwan. On the morning of the same day, Zhang Xueliang, accompanied by his wife Zhao Qixia, walked slowly into the living room.
When Zhao Qixia saw this scene, she choked up and said, "Han Qing, I didn't expect there to be such a day. Zhang Xueliang nodded and said, "Yes, I really didn't expect ......."On March 10, 1991, Zhang Xueliang and Zhao Qixia took a plane to the United States and began their journey to visit relatives.
Before leaving for the United States, Zhang Xueliang expressed to Chinese and foreign reporters at the airport his desire to return to the mainland to visit relatives.
When the news of Zhang Xueliang's return reached Beijing, ** attached great importance to it, and he immediately called *** and Yang Shangkun, suggesting that they hold a meeting to study how to welcome Zhang Xueliang's return.
He also gave specific instructions on all aspects of greeting Zhang Xueliang. *Attaches great importance to ***'s suggestion, and he decided to hold a meeting in the Great Hall of the People to convey ***'s instructions and make specific arrangements.
The meeting decided to hold a celebration of Zhang Xueliang's 91 st birthday to commemorate the 60 th anniversary of the "18 September" incident, send people to Shenyang to repair the mansion and mausoleum of the Zhang family, and send a comrade to the United States to convey the intention of welcoming Zhang Xueliang back to the mainland.
The first three arrangements all went well, but in the last task, ** decided to send Lu Zhengcao, who was very familiar with Zhang Xueliang, to the United States to pick up Zhang Xueliang. This decision was the subject of in-depth discussion and research.
Lu Zhengcao and Zhang Xueliang have a deep friendship with fellow villagers, and Zhang Xueliang once served as his teacher in the lecture hall of the three eastern provinces. In addition, Lu Zhengcao was also a direct participant in the Xi'an Incident.
Therefore, whether in terms of personal feelings or other aspects, he is the most suitable person to invite Zhang Xueliang to return to China. ** Sent someone to invite Zhang Xueliang to return to China, and Zhang put forward three conditions.
On May 23, 1991, Lu Zhengcao and his entourage set off from Beijing. After arriving in San Francisco, I found that I was a step late, and it turned out that Zhang Xueliang was not here, but went to New York.
On the morning of May 29, after some tossing and turning, Lu Zhengcao finally met Zhang Xueliang, who had been absent for a long time. The two met again, looked at each other, and were so excited that they couldn't speak for a long time.
When everyone sat down, Lu Zhengcao said with emotion: "Since Xi'an, the two of us haven't seen each other for 54 years, 5 months and 4 days......Before Zhang Xueliang could speak, Mrs. Pei on the side said: "When he knew that General Lu was coming to visit him today, he was so excited that he didn't sleep well all night, so he waited to meet you today!" ”
While everyone was chatting, Lu Zhengcao took out the gifts for Zhang Xueliang's birthday - "The Complete Collection of Chinese Peking Opera" and the videotapes of contemporary Peking Opera masters, etc. It was truly an unforgettable reunion!
Zhang Xueliang and Lü Zhengcao had lunch together in a Chinese restaurant, and Lü Zhengcao revealed to Zhang Xueliang the reasons for his turn to the Communist Party and his experience of carrying out the anti-Japanese struggle behind enemy lines in Jizhong.
Zhang Xueliang deeply regretted this, and said that his biggest regret was that he could not go to the battlefield to directly resist Japan. Subsequently, the two pushed off the next activities, agreed to chat next time, and asked Yan Mingguang to join their chat.
Yan Mingguang suggested that Zhang Xueliang go to Shanghai to find a famous doctor with eye disease. Zhang Xueliang expressed his approval and decided to return to the mainland to see a doctor or visit relatives, and was warmly welcomed and supported by Lu Zhengcao.
Zhang Xueliang said that he was just an ordinary person, and hoped that he would not be given privileges, otherwise it would have a bad impact. The three conditions he put forward were: I don't want too many people to know that he is going back, I don't want to see reporters, and everyone can make an appointment to meet and contact each other, but don't engage in sycophancy.
Lu Zhengcao expressed his understanding, although he did not want the people to welcome Zhang Xueliang, but Zhang Xueliang said that he was very happy to meet the people. In the conversation that lasted for more than 3 hours, Lu Zhengcao briefed Zhang Xueliang on the situation of New China and the new changes in his hometown, and Zhang Xueliang also asked about the situation of the new and old leaders, and said that if he returned to the mainland, he would definitely visit the leaders.
June 1st is Zhang Xueliang's 91st birthday, in order to avoid *** Lu Zhengcao and his party no longer attended, but Zhang Xueliang took the initiative to meet with Lu Zhengcao, which made Lu Zhengcao very happy.
In the following conversation, Zhang Xueliang expressed his views on the reunification of the mainland and Taiwan, and said that he had always advocated peaceful reunification. Zhang Xueliang and Lu Zhengcao chatted for more than two hours this time.
Soon after, Lu Zhengcao returned to China to resume his life, and Zhang Xueliang also left the United States to return to Taiwan, but he did not return to the mainland once. Some people think that it is because he is not in good health and has difficulty moving; But some people believe that it is to avoid suspicion that they have repeatedly postponed their trip back to the mainland.
According to the memories of the president of Northeastern University, who went to Taiwan to meet Zhang Xueliang at that time, Zhang Xueliang was actually very eager to return to the mainland in his heart, and his feelings for his hometown were very deep.
However, he ultimately failed to fulfill this wish. This is not because he is in poor health, nor is it to avoid suspicion, but because his wife Zhao Yidi, who has been with him for more than 60 years, is not in good health.
Zhang Xueliang and Zhao Yidi have a deep relationship, and he naturally hopes to return to his hometown with his wife. So, what do you think is the real reason why Zhang Xueliang failed to return to the mainland?