Did you know that in Shijingshan, Beijing, there is a Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery, known as the "Heroic Cemetery", where many leaders, scientists, writers and revolutionary martyrs who have made important contributions to the party and the country are buried?
However, you may not know much about it, there is also a special sleeper here, he is the last prince Aixin Jueluo Zaitao. For the last years of the Qing Dynasty, many people may know the last emperor Pu Yi, but relatively few people know about Pu Yi's uncle Zaitao.
Zaitao was the half-brother of Emperor Guangxu and Pu Yi's seventh uncle.
Aixin Jueluo Zaitao, born in the thirteenth year of Guangxu, has shown outstanding military talent since childhood. At the age of three, he was awarded the rank of second-class general of Zhenguo, five years later he was promoted to the rank of auxiliary prince, at the age of fifteen he inherited Baylor, and at the age of twenty-one, he was added to the rank of prince of the county and was appointed as the inspector of the general department.
Being in a high position at such an age is a testament to his outstanding ability. Zaitao's backbone and perseverance are even more admirable. At a young age, he was already in a high position, full of spirit and ideals.
In the last years of the Qing Dynasty, in order to train the national army, Zaitao resolutely went to the French Cavalry School for further study, showing a deep sense of responsibility for the future of the country.
Despite his military position, he never experienced a real war. Because of the decline of the Qing Dynasty, many children of the Eight Banners indulged in pleasure, and Zaitao was no exception. He has a deep love for horses, is also good at drawing horses, also likes Peking Opera and monkey opera, and has a deep martial arts foundation.
Although he loved horses, he was not very good at riding. Although the children of the Eight Banners are known as a nation on horseback, this obviously does not apply to him. However, even though he can't ride a horse, he is good at identifying horses.
As soon as a horse passed in front of him, he could accurately judge its age, quality, and purpose, whether it was more suitable for riding and shooting or transporting.
Aixin Jueluo Zaitao is a person who loves horses and Peking Opera. He cherished horses so much that he was even willing to exchange them for valuable antiques in order to get a thousand-mile horse.
Although his brother Jae-jin was reluctant to give it to him, he did not give up. In the end, he threatened to go to Cixi to theorize, and Jae-jin was forced to give him his Maxima.
In addition to horses, Zaitao was also very enthusiastic about Peking Opera, which was largely influenced by Cixi, who also liked to listen to opera, especially in her later years.
Zaitao was gradually attracted by the charm of Peking Opera, not only studying under the famous actor Zhang Qilin, but also worshipping Yang Xiaolou as his teacher. Whether it is the role of birth, dan, purity, end, or ugliness, he is very proficient in learning.
If it wasn't for genuine love, how could you learn so deeply? He has always lived a comfortable life, singing operas, walking birds, and admiring horses every day. However, this quiet life did not last long, and after the coup d'état in Beijing, the leisurely life of the imperial family was forced to end.
Zaitao fell into poverty due to the end of the Qing Dynasty, and although he sold his real estate, his life was still difficult due to the large population, and the former prince was finally reduced to the poverty he is today.
Soon after, the money from the sale of the property also ran out, and his life was in trouble again.
Zaitao (first from left) is in the era of war, the northeast has been occupied by the Japanese army, and the people are struggling to make a living. In order to support his family, he decided to set up a stall at the morning market in Deshengmen, Beijing.
This "ghost market" opens before dawn, and neither the buyer nor the seller wants to be recognized. There is news that "Tauber" is coming to set up a stall, attracting many people to look for good goods.
However, despite the difficult situation, Zaitao still sticks to his principles and conducts honest and trustworthy transactions.
In this world, there are some things that cannot be touched. The first rule of the ghost market made the Qing Dynasty royal family's property empty little by little, and in the end, only empty rooms and hungry family members remained.
His life was reduced to the point that he could not even meet the most basic food and clothing, which made him not hesitate to cut off relations with Pu Yi and was willing to become a "puppet" of the Japanese army, just to seek a glimmer of hope to restore the former glory.
In 1934, under the support of Japan, Pu Yi once again became the emperor of the Great Manchurian Empire, changed his yuan to "Kant", and changed the name of the country to "Great Manchurian Empire".
At that time, more than 200 Japanese ** participated in his enthronement ceremony, and the ** people of the Manchu Qing Dynasty also came to worship. They are dressed in gorgeous clothes, as if they are attending a lavish feast.
However, Pu Yi's uncle Zaitao was missing from this feast. Zaitao was Pu Yi's uncle, and according to convention, he was supposed to participate in such a ceremony. However, he went against the emperor's wishes.
Zaitao had witnessed the Japanese army's misdeeds, such as murder, plunder, and banditry. He had seen ruined cities and the arrogance of the officers. He also experienced the abdication ceremony presided over by the Empress Dowager Longyu.
Although Zaitao does not have grand ideals and ambitions, he adheres to the principle of "I'd rather die than be a traitor". Although he is easy-going, does not often argue with others, and is a little greedy for life and afraid of death, he is stupid enough, has his own bottom line, and knows clearly what can and cannot be touched.
Therefore, he resolutely severed relations with Pu Yi, who had taken refuge in Japan. Although Pu Yi had invited Zaitao when he was emperor in Tianjin, and hoped that he would come back to continue to support him, Zaitao did not respond.
In the end, Pu Yi still couldn't wait for Zaitao to bow to him. Although Zaitao's life has reached the point where it is difficult to make ends meet, he still relies on selling his property in that small alley to make ends meet.
Survival has become his top priority, and food and clothing are already a luxury for him.
Zaitao, a loyal and knowledgeable general who had studied abroad, witnessed this situation and felt the urge to fight for the country sprout in his heart, and this seed was deeply rooted in his heart.
In the face of the rejection of the invitation of officialdom, he did not feel hopeless, but only disappointed. In 1936, Song Zheyuan tried to buy Zaitao and let him return to officialdom by giving away a good horse, but Zaitao insisted on his position and did not waver.
Zaitao stayed true to his heart and resolutely refused to be a traitor, and refused many invitations, including Zhang Zuolin's invitation to race horses in 1924, even though he had lost to him. He still sticks to his heart for the horse he loves, and is not moved by the outside world.
Zhang Zuolin invited the guests after the horse race, and sincerely invited Zaitao to come out, but Zaitao politely declined, he thought that he was shallow and overwhelmed, and suggested that he find another talent.
After Pu Yi became the puppet Manchurian emperor, many old ministers returned one after another, but Zaitao insisted on himself and severed the relationship with Pu Yi's uncle and nephew. The Japanese took a fancy to Zaitao's intelligence and once sent an invitation, promising that as long as he was willing to serve in puppet Manchuria, he could get any position he wanted.
However, even though he lived in poverty, Zaitao still resolutely refused, he was unwilling to accept the food that came to him, and made his position clear: not to be a slave to the country.
I'd rather ride a bike than ride in your car. Although I live in poverty now, I will not be profited. I used to be a royal family, and now I am poor, although there is a gap, I can be a poor person as a royal family, but I can't do things that violate my conscience.
I'd rather live on a stall than go along with the Japanese. ”
Wang Yitang dedicated himself to the country after the founding of the People's Republic of China, and in 1950, he was in need of talents, and Zaitao ushered in his own opportunity. He submitted a proposal to the Prime Minister to apply the results of his research to the country.
At that time, manpower and horsepower were important productive forces, so this proposal quickly attracted the attention of superiors, and ** personally appointed Zaitao as an adviser to the Ma Political Bureau of the Artillery Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.
After receiving the letter of appointment, Zaitao was extremely excited, and he could finally use his knowledge and skills to serve the country. Although he is over the age of six, he still cherishes this opportunity and puts it in the most prominent position to watch it every day.
After taking office, he devoted himself to his work to repay the kindness of ***. Even though the job is hard, he enjoys it. During the period of resisting US aggression and aiding Korea, in order to buy a batch of war horses, the commander-in-chief personally found Zaitao, hoping that he could help.
Zaitao is good at choosing horses, and he gladly accepted the task.
After shaking hands with Zaitao, Zaitao devoted himself to the work of finding a good horse. He was not afraid of the cold winter, personally went to inspect the horse farms in various places, insisted on doing it himself, and was determined to complete this task.
Eventually, he managed to find 25,000 horses and transport them to the Yalu River. This was the first large-scale transportation of war horses in China's modern history, and it made an important contribution to the fight against US aid to Korea.
During the war when supplies were scarce, Zaitao did not hesitate to donate two boxes of treasures from his family.
In the flames of war, some people did not hesitate to sell their cherished treasures for the benefit of the country. And Zaitao's two grandchildren even threw themselves into the revolutionary cause and resisted bravely.
After the war, although Zaitao denied contact with Pu Yi, he still cared about this person who was imprisoned as a war criminal, and suggested that he should go and see him when he had time. This selfless dedication and sincere friendship are deeply admirable.
Title: Zaitao visits Pu Yi, and the grievances disappear In 1956, Zaitao took his family to visit his nephew Pu Yi in person. This visit made all the grievances between the two disappear.
When Zaitao suddenly appeared in front of Pu Yi, he saw his relatives and two sisters unprepared, and couldn't help crying. All the grievances have passed, and the former Zaitao and Pu Yien broke off, but now they hug each other and cry.
Three years later, Pu Yi was pardoned and released from prison, and he went to visit Zaitao as soon as possible. That day, there were two tables of people from Aixin Jueluo's house, who would have thought that the former royal family would now be reduced to the point that they couldn't get decent dishes.
A family of several people, sharing a simple meat dish, sat around and tasted vegetable dumplings and cheap wine, and chatted about the past days. Later, Pu Yi often took his wife to Zaitao's house, and everyone occasionally got together, which was very harmonious.
As the patriarch of the Aixin Jueluo family, Zaitao has made contributions to promoting national unity and moving forward hand in hand for all ethnic groups in New China. **and*** is extremely concerned about Zaitao, **and even gave him ministerial treatment, no matter where he goes, there is a car to pick him up.
Zaitao's life has been full of twists and turns, but he has always faced the ups and downs of life with a peaceful mind, is kind and kind, always maintains humility and courtesy, and does not forget his original intention.