After Japan's defeat in the war, seeing the puppet Manchurian regime disappear, Puyi, the puppet emperor of the puppet state of Manchukuo, had to issue the "Abdication Edict" for the third time and lay off his post again.
However, for Puyi, he did not have time to grieve and grieve for the loss of the title of emperor, but thought about how to save his life.
(Puyi old photo)
Puyi understood that if Japan was defeated, he, the puppet emperor, would have no use value. He was very afraid that the Japanese would kill him, so he tried his best to curry favor with the Japanese, hoping that they would protect his safety.
Fortunately, when the Japanese Kwantung Army retreated, Puyi, who had already withdrawn to Tonghua, also received orders to go to Shenyang Dongta Airport to fly to Japan. Therefore, under the arrangement of Yoshioka Yasuna, he accompanied the main force of the Kwantung Army to the East Tower Airport.
However, Puyi never expected that what he was waiting for at the East Tower Airport was a large Soviet plane.
Soon, more than 200 heavily armed Soviet Reds came down from the planes, and they soon took control of the entire airfield.
The Red Army spotted a young man in uniform in the crowd trying to walk toward a plane that was preparing to take off. They stopped the young man, and with the help of the interpreter, they learned that this young man was puyi, the emperor of the puppet state of Manchukuo, and immediately ignored the obstruction of Yoshioka Yasunori and "invited" Puyi and others to board the Soviet plane.
Along the way, Puyi's heart played a small drum. For the Japanese, he also knew three points, and for the Soviets, he really didn't know how to deal with it.
Soon, Puyi was sent to the Chita Headquarters by the Soviet Red Army. Subsequently, the Red Army formally issued him an arrest warrant and imprisoned him in the Morokovka Special Prison.
(Yasushi Yoshioka old photo)
Puyi, who became a prisoner under the ranks, never expected that after he arrived at the prison, the prison held a welcome party for him.
In addition, Puyi also received many preferential treatment. For example, he enjoys a separate room, can read books and newspapers, and even listen to the latest international news through the radio.
In life, the prison also gave Puyi a lot of care.
One is to equip him with medical staff and life nannies; the other is to allow him to take short walks near the prison for his health.
In terms of diet, taking into account his past living habits, he not only provided three meals, but also prepared an afternoon tea in the afternoon. Food is mainly western food, milk, bread and some small snacks.
Seeing that the Soviet Red Army did not embarrass itself, Puyi put his mind at ease. Therefore, he and his entourage returned to their old life, and the entourage, as before, wanted to honor him as "emperor" and prayed for peace. And he could scold these followers with impunity.
A few months later, Puyi was transferred to Boli No. 45 Special Prison. There, he still enjoys special privileges.
(Soviet Red Army and Puyi)
So, why did the Soviet Red Army give such preferential treatment to Puyi?
This is naturally Puyi has this value.
Puyi, as the emperor of the puppet state of Manchukuo, has always been with the Japanese, and is the one who knows the most about the conspiracies and crimes of the Japanese invasion of various countries. Therefore, in the Far East Military Tribunal not long after, Puyi became the most convincing witness to the crimes of the Japanese.
In addition, after the end of World War II, such an important figure as Puyi could easily attract international attention. Therefore, the preferential treatment of Puyi is of no benefit to the Soviet Union.
It was under such circumstances that Puyi was taken care of by the Red Army. Although he was imprisoned for 5 years, his life was even more comfortable than when he was a puppet emperor.
For the gouge in front of him, Puyi did not get by. He always worried that after China's victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, would the Soviet Union transfer him back to China as a "war criminal"?
This problem has plagued Puyi for a long time, and he has tried to bribe the Soviet government with some antique artifacts, saying that he wants to live in the Soviet Union permanently. However, there was a delay in receiving a reply.
Puyi thought about it and thought it might be because he was not a communist. So he read a lot of books on socialism and communism in prison and submitted many applications to the Soviet government to join the party.
(Puyi in Labor Reform)
In order to join the party, Puyi also made many efforts, and even said to the relevant staff, is there anyone in your Communist Party who has such a status as me? If not, please let me make the first one.
However, despite Puyi's efforts, the Soviet Red Army did not give him a happy word.
In 1950, the Soviet government prepared to hand over Puyi and others to the Chinese government. After Hearing this, Puyi again made a request to the interpreter to live in the Soviet Union permanently, but still did not get a reply.
Soon after, Puyi was extradited back to China as a "war criminal."
Subsequently, Puyi was imprisoned in the Fushun War Criminals Management Center and received ideological education and labor reform. This time, he really lived a "remodeled" life.
(Reference: "The First Half of My Life")