Zhang Xueliang commented on Yang Hucheng and didn't understand why Jiang killed him
On the evening of December 11, 1936, Chiang Kai-shek held a banquet for Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng in Huaqingchi. This dinner is not a Hongmen banquet, but behind it is the mystery of "a glass of wine to release military power".
At the banquet, Chiang Kai-shek announced the dismissal of Zhang Xueliang from the post of commander-in-chief of the Northwest Suppression of the Communist Party, and Jiang Dingwen took over, and at the same time appointed Wei Lihuang as the commander-in-chief of the four provinces of Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Suining, making him Yang Hucheng's boss.
This banquet, although calm on the surface, actually hides a struggle for power and subtle changes.
Lao Jiang expressed dissatisfaction with Zhang and Yang's performance in suppressing the Communists, and predicted that the ** Army would intervene in the northwest and take over the task of suppressing the Communists. After the dinner, Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng urgently convened a high-level meeting of the military and decided to take action and launch a "military admonition."
After the disagreement between Zhang and Yang, Nanjing** had different attitudes. Some advocated peace talks to avoid further conflict and protect Chiang Kai-shek's life.
These people consisted mainly of Chiang Kai-shek's cronies. The other part of the people, led by He Yingqin and others, saw this as an opportunity to seize power, and advocated immediately sending a large army to crusade against Zhang and Yang, in fact, they wanted to use Zhang and Yang to get rid of Lao Jiang.
Similarly, on the Xi'an side, after controlling Lao Jiang, Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng's opinions also diverged. Zhang Xueliang had no intention of killing Lao Jiang from the beginning, his real intention was only to admonish the soldiers.
Zhang Xueliang was undoubtedly a pioneer of military advice for the sake of military advice, and after he captured Chiang Kai-shek, he strongly invited Yang Hucheng to go with him to persuade him. However, Yang Hucheng did not accept this proposal, and decided to convene a meeting of the generals of the 17th Route Army on the evening of December 13 to discuss how to deal with Chiang Kai-shek.
Most of the top brass at the conference advocated killing Chiang Kai-shek immediately so that he would not retaliate against the Seventeenth Route Army if he escaped. They believed that after killing Chiang Kai-shek, it would be more prudent to discuss with other forces the plan to jointly resist Japan.
Although some people believe that Chiang Kai-shek has a certain amount of influence in the country, if he can agree to stop the civil war and fight against Japan together, he may not have to be killed. Yang Hucheng initially agreed with the majority, so when discussing with Zhang Xueliang, he repeatedly proposed to kill Chiang Kai-shek, but was dissuaded by Zhang Xueliang.
As the situation expanded, warlords and international powers everywhere began to pay attention. Long Yun of the Yunnan Army, Yan Xishan of the Jin Army, Liu Xiang of the Sichuan Army, Ma Bufang of Qinghai, Li Zongren of the Gui Department and others expressed their opinions one after another, basically not wanting the situation to get out of control and not wanting to return to the state of warlord melee.
Under the watchful eye of the Soviet Union, Stalin became concerned about the events. Under pressure from all sides, Yang Hucheng gave up his murderous intent against Chiang Kai-shek and instead sought a negotiated solution.
This decision resonated with the negotiators in Nanjing, and the two sides began to talk about the conditions for Chiang Kai-shek's release. In the end, Chiang Kai-shek agreed to the six demands put forward by Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng on unity against Japan.
However, on the same night that Zhang Xueliang planned to personally escort Chiang Kai-shek back to Nanjing, he discussed the matter with Yang Hucheng, but Yang Hucheng expressed his firm opposition to this.
Although Lao Chiang agreed to the six demands during the negotiations, he refused to sign the agreement, and only vouched for his leadership personality, and his attitude was resolute, seemingly unconcerned whether Zhang and Yang would kill him, probably because he saw that Zhang and Yang had no intention of doing so.
Yang Hucheng has always expressed dissatisfaction with the results of such negotiations. Now, Zhang Xueliang offered to personally escort Chiang Kai-shek back to Nanjing, which Yang Hucheng found unacceptable.
This led to a quarrel between Zhang and Yang over this issue on the night of the 25th, and many years later, Zhang Xueliang recalled that the quarrel between them over the issue of sending Chiang Kai-shek out of Shaanxi almost led to a break.
Zhang Xueliang demonstrated his political wisdom with his actions, and even if he lost his freedom, he insisted on escorting Chiang Kai-shek to Luoyang. His decision may have been seen as naïve, but in reality, he skillfully protected Chiang Kai-shek's face and prevented attacks from the pro-Japanese faction on their anti-Japanese policy.
This is the embodiment of his strong political acumen.
In this way, Zhang Xueliang expressed his attitude to Chiang Kai-shek, and his relationship with Chiang was eased. After the Xi'an Incident was resolved peacefully, Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng either fled abroad, or they could only choose Zhang Xueliang's way of dealing with it, because this was the best choice.
Of course, Zhang Xueliang and Chiang Kai-shek's relationship was closer than Yang Hucheng's, so Zhang Xueliang's method may not be suitable for Yang Hucheng. Unlike Zhang Xueliang, Yang Hucheng chose to be with his descendants after the incident was resolved, so did he suffer better than Zhang Xueliang?
Yang Hucheng did not benefit from the Xi'an incident, but suffered even more unfortunate treatment after the incident. He was removed from his post shortly after Chiang Kai-shek's return to Nanjing, and the 17th Route Army was subsequently abolished.
Although he monopolized military and political power in Xi'an, his strength was too weak compared to other warlords to compete with the ** army, resulting in his own troops being unable to protect him.
Eventually, under pressure from Chiang Kai-shek, he was forced to go to Europe for an "investigation", which was practically equivalent to being deported.
During his stay in Europe, the news of the July Seven Incident was like a bolt from the blue, which filled Yang Hucheng's heart with eagerness and anxiety. He knew that the country was in danger and the survival of the nation, and he was eager to rush back to the country and go to the battlefield to fight the invaders.
Yang Hucheng originally thought that as a patriotic citizen, his behavior was deeply righteous, and Chiang Kai-shek would not obstruct him. However, the reality disappointed him. Chiang Kai-shek obstructed his return to Japan in every possible way, and even did not hesitate to use various means.
In desperation, Yang Hucheng received help from the Soviet Union and was able to return to China. When Yang Hucheng arrived in Hong Kong by ship in November 1937, he was greeted by a telegram from Chiang Kai-shek informing him to go to Wuhan.
At that time, the situation on the battlefield was not optimistic, and the people had already moved to Wuhan. Although Yang Hucheng was a little hesitant in his heart, he still decided to go to Wuhan considering the needs of the country.
In Wuhan, it was not Chiang Kai-shek who was waiting for Yang Hucheng, but Dai Li, the head of the secret service, who told Yang Hucheng that Chiang Kai-shek was waiting for him in Nanchang. Yang Hucheng did not suspect it, thinking that Lao Jiang was coordinating the war situation in various places, so he followed Dai Li to Nanchang.
However, when he was taken to a villa in Xiong Shihui in Baihuazhou, Nanchang, surrounded by spy patrols and military police, Yang Hucheng realized that he had been deceived. Soon after, Nanjing fell, and Chiang Kai-shek left Nanchang for Chongqing.
He held a grudge against Yang Hucheng and Zhang Xueliang, so he arranged for them to be transferred to Guizhou under Dai Li's arrangement. Yang Hucheng was transferred to the Yanglangba Detention Center in Xifeng County, Guizhou, which later became the Xifeng Prison of the Military Commander.
Chiang Kai-shek gave Dai Li an order to ensure that Yang Hucheng could not escape or be rescued. Dai Li didn't dare to despise it, and Yang Hucheng lived in the detention center not long before he was transferred to a cave more than ten miles away from Xifeng County.
The military commander specially built two wooden houses here to put Yang Hucheng's family under house arrest. In fact, Yang Hucheng was not the only one who lost his freedom, but his wife and children were also under house arrest.
Although Yang Hucheng was nominally not imprisoned, in fact he was no different from in prison, isolated in the mountains, guarded by military commanders and spies outside the door, and his living conditions were very bad, and it was even difficult to change into a new cotton coat.
However, after 8 years of hard work, Yang Hucheng heard the news of Japan's surrender in 1945 at Hyuncheon-dong. Just like "the sword suddenly spread to collect the north of the thistle, and the first time he heard it, tears filled his clothes", although he did not personally participate in the battle, but the moment he learned of the victory, he was still so excited that he burst into tears.
Yang Hucheng thought he would be released after the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, but in 1946 he was told by the military commanders that he would be transferred to Chongqing, which made him think that he would have a chance to reconcile with Chiang Kai-shek.
However, he was sent directly to the "Sino-US Special Technical Cooperation Institute", which made him realize that he would spend the rest of his life under house arrest or imprisonment, and his hopes for freedom were dashed.
Then, in 1947, his wife, Xie Baozhen, died in captivity, which took a heavy toll on him, and his health deteriorated day by day.
In August 1949, when the Chiang dynasty was facing collapse, Chiang Kai-shek, who was about to flee overseas, launched a ruthless campaign against the political prisoners in prison. Mao Renfeng received a secret order from Chiang Kai-shek, asking him to secretly execute Yang Hucheng.
Agents from the Secrecy Bureau planned to assassinate Yang Hucheng's family in Songlinpo, a suburb of Chongqing. However, in reality, Yang Hucheng has been under house arrest and cannot be easily controlled, as the Secrecy Bureau claims.
So, the spies lied to him that they were going to Songlinpo to take a plane to Taiwan. At around 11 p.m. on September 17, Yang Hucheng, his second son Yang Zhengzhong, his daughter under the age of 10, secretary Song Qiyun, Song Qiyun's wife and children, adjutant Zhou Jiming, and a nanny were escorted to the Dai Gong Temple by members of the Secret Bureau.
The people from the Secret Bureau told them that they would stay at the Dai Gong Temple for one night. However, this is not a place to stay, but a trap.
Mao Renfeng ordered the spies to assassinate Yang Hucheng, and in order to prevent public attention, he ordered the spies not to use guns. The spies were armed with daggers and nervously guarded, preparing to assassinate Yang Hucheng and his family.
Yang Hucheng's ailing health aroused the vigilance of the spies, and they mainly focused on his son Yang Zhengzhong. The two spies who led the way entered the house first, but did not turn on the lights, which made Yang Hucheng feel a little strange, but he did not realize that it could be a harbinger of disaster.
The father and son walked into the dark room one after another, and Yang Hucheng was about to ask the spy to light the lamp, but he heard his son's exclamation. He turned around in surprise and saw two spies stabbing Yang Zhengzhong with sharp knives, and Yang Zhengzhong fell to the ground in pain, a scene that made Yang Hucheng feel painful.
Yang Hucheng and his family were brutally killed by spies, and the secretary Song Qiyun and his wife and children were also killed by daggers in the guardhouse, and the adjutant Zhou Jiming, the nanny and the youngest daughter were not spared.
In order to cover up the truth, the spies also destroyed Yang Hucheng's face with water and buried it under a flower bed. This cruel act is painful, and let us always remember history and cherish peace.
When he learned of Yang Hucheng's death, Zhang Xueliang felt endless grief. Despite being in prison, he can only silently remember this former comrade-in-arms. It wasn't until 1991 that he regained his freedom and gave an interview to **.
In the face of the interviewer, Zhang Xueliang, who was already in his nineties, mentioned Yang Hucheng and his death. Zhang Xueliang's evaluation of Yang Hucheng is "coarse". He thinks that although Yang Hucheng is fashionable, he doesn't know a lot of profound things.
Although Yang Hucheng is very good, he always wants everyone to think that he is a patriotic person.
Zhang Xueliang talked about the ending of Yang Hucheng, although more than 40 years have passed, his regret is still overflowing. "Yang Hucheng's death is an eternal pain in my heart, and I still don't understand why he was treated like this.
I don't know if this is Mr. Jiang's wishes, or Jingguo's instructions, or Mao Renfeng's opinion, I really can't understand it. "When he went abroad for an investigation, I advised him not to come back, because coming back would only bring trouble to himself.
As far as I am concerned, I was able to survive solely with the help of Madame Chiang, and if Mr. Chiang had done what Mr. Chiang meant, I would have been shot long ago. After the peaceful settlement of the Xi'an Incident, Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng each chose a different way to deal with it in the face of Chiang Kai-shek's inevitable retaliation.
Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng pinned their hopes on Chiang Kai-shek, believing that he could think of the interests of the country, regardless of personal gains and losses. However, they eventually fell into the control of Lao Jiang and ended up regrettably.
This was not because they were naïve or credulous, but in their hearts, the interests of the country were above all else, and they simply looked at Chiang Kai-shek with too much optimism. While there is nothing wrong with their actions, their judgments may be too idealistic.
References: Zhang Xueliang's Oral History Special, Phoenix TV, 2016, Thrilling Fourteen Days, China Youth Network, 2021