In the turbulent years of the Republic of China, there was a figure who was loyal to Chiang Kai-shek and regarded him as an idol, but lost his life in a shocking incident. He was a graduate of the first phase of the Whampoa Military Academy, one of the "13 Taibao of the Fuxing Society", and was personally summoned and gifted by Chiang Kai-shek many times. However, the turn of fate came so suddenly, a secret telegram, a fire, pushed him into the abyss from which he could never recover. In the last moments of his life, he remained loyal to Chiang Kai-shek and did not reveal the secret letter that changed his fate. Who is this person? Why did he end up like this? And why did Chiang Kai-shek get rid of his loyal followers?
The era of the Whampoa Military Academy
Everyone in the world knows that Chiang Kai-shek founded the Whampoa Military Academy, but they don't know that among the first batch of cadets of this military academy, there is a young man named Yu Yi, whose fate will be closely linked to Chiang Kai-shek.
In 1924, China was in a special historical period. In order to cultivate revolutionary talents, Dr. Sun Yat-sen, with the help of the Soviet Union and the Comintern, founded the Whampoa Military Academy. The principal of this military academy was Chiang Kai-shek, who later became a prominent figure in Chinese politics.
This young man from Xiangyin, Hunan Province, applied for the Whampoa Military Academy with enthusiasm. That year, he was only in his early 20s, which was the age of high spirits. The fact that he was able to be admitted to the first batch of cadets of the Whampoa Military Academy shows that his ability is extraordinary. You must know that there were many talents who applied for the Whampoa Military Academy at that time, and all of them who could stand out were the best at that time.
During his studies at the military academy, he met many like-minded classmates, including Chen Geng, Zuo Quan, and Zeng Kuoqing, who later became famous in the history of the Chinese revolution. The fate of these people varied, some became generals of the Chinese Communist Party, others followed the Kuomintang, and the young chose the path of loyalty to Chiang Kai-shek.
The curriculum at the Whampoa Military Academy is intense and rigorous, with a great deal of military training and political theory study every day. He was at home in such an environment, not only excelling in military training, but also often having unique insights in political theory classes. This caught the attention of the schoolmaster, Chiang Kai-shek.
Once, Chiang Kai-shek came to inspect the classroom, and he happened to be answering a question. The hearty answer had both theoretical depth and practical integration, which made Chiang Kai-shek's eyes shine. After class, Chiang Kai-shek specially stopped him and chatted with him. This brief conversation became a turning point that changed the fate of the drunken.
Since then, Chiang Kai-shek has summoned him several times. In each conversation, Chiang Kai-shek would ask about his views on the current situation and his suggestions for military academies. The hearty answer always pleased Chiang Kai-shek. Chiang Kai-shek admired his talent, and even more admired his admiration for himself.
In his mind, Chiang Kai-shek seemed to have become an idol. He began to deliberately imitate Chiang Kai-shek's words and deeds, and even the tone of his speech moved closer to Chiang Kai-shek, intentionally or unintentionally. This kind of almost fanatical worship makes Yu Yi seem a bit maverick among his classmates.
One day, Chiang Kai-shek summoned him again. This time, Chiang Kai-shek did something that he will never forget: he gave him a photo of his military uniform, and also inscribed the photo with his own handwriting: "Wangyi will work hard to serve the public and serve the country." When he took the photo, his hands trembled with excitement. This photo became a guide for his later life.
The study life at the Whampoa Military Academy soon came to an end. At the graduation ceremony, he spoke as a representative of outstanding graduates. He impassionedly expressed that he would follow President Jiang all his life and strive for the rejuvenation of China all his life. Chiang Kai-shek, who was in the audience, listened and nodded with satisfaction.
In this way, with his admiration for Chiang Kai-shek, he embarked on the road of serving the country. He could not have imagined what the path would eventually lead him to. And that treasured photo will also become the last solace in his life.
Become a loyal follower of Chiang Kai-shek
After graduating from the Whampoa Military Academy, he officially stepped into the political arena. He quickly made a name for himself within the Kuomintang by virtue of the special relationship he had established with Chiang Kai-shek while he was in school. In 1927, Chiang Kai-shek staged the April 12 coup, marking the official rupture of the KMT-CCP cooperation. At this critical moment, he did not hesitate to choose to follow Chiang Kai-shek and became a member of the right wing of the Kuomintang.
Chiang Kai-shek was so impressed by his loyalty that he was soon recruited into the secret organization of the Fuxing Society. The Fuxing Society was founded by Chiang Kai-shek to consolidate his power, and its core members were known as the "Thirteen Taibao". The fact that he was able to become one of the "Thirteen Taibao" shows how much Chiang Kai-shek trusted him.
As a member of the Fuxing Society, he began to vigorously promote Chiang Kai-shek's ideas on various occasions. He often appeared at various political rallies and academic seminars, and expounded Chiang Kai-shek's statecraft in an endless manner. His eloquence, coupled with his deep understanding of Chiang Kai-shek's ideas, soon became an important propagandist within the Kuomintang.
In the process, he gradually formed his own political opinions. He strongly advocated fascism, believing that only a strong leader could lead China to prosperity and strength. In his view, Chiang Kai-shek was such a leader. In one of his speeches, he said: "Only the centralism of the dictatorship of the leader can get our country out of its present predicament." This remark caused a lot of controversy, but it also made Chiang Kai-shek see his loyalty to himself.
His political stature rose with his allegiance to Chiang Kai-shek. In 1932, he was appointed secretary general of the Organization Department of the Central Committee of the Kuomintang, a position that enabled him to participate directly in important personnel arrangements within the party. He took advantage of this opportunity to spare no effort to promote those loyal to Chiang Kai-shek, while also suppressing dissent. His approach, while resentful of some, further cemented Chiang Kai-shek's power base.
However, his political career has not been easy. In 1933, a sudden political upheaval nearly caused him to lose Chiang Kai-shek's trust. At that time, there were voices within the Kuomintang against Chiang Kai-shek, and some accused Chiang Kai-shek of dictatorship. At this time, he stood up and publicly defended Chiang Kai-shek. In one of his essays, he wrote: "In the current state of national crisis, we need a strong leader even more. Chairman Chiang's actions are all for the sake of the country's long-term peace and stability. "
After the article was published, it caused a huge response. Supporters of Chiang Kai-shek agreed, while opponents lashed out at him. In this controversy, he showed a firm stance and excellent debating ability, which won Chiang Kai-shek's appreciation even more.
In 1934, Chiang Kai-shek launched the "New Life Movement", which aimed to transform the social atmosphere by promoting traditional morality. He became one of the active advocates of this movement. He traveled extensively to promote the traditional virtues of "courtesy, righteousness, honesty and shame," while at the same time associating these ideas with Chiang Kai-shek's leadership. His efforts have made an important contribution to the promotion of the New Life Movement throughout the country.
As time passed, his influence within the KMT grew. He was not only a loyal follower of Chiang Kai-shek, but also an important implementer of Chiang Kai-shek's policies. In 1936, he was appointed deputy director of the Propaganda Department of the Central Committee of the Kuomintang, a position that gave him a greater voice.
However, just when he thought his political future was bright, a turning point in his fate crept in. In 1938, the Sino-Japanese War broke out, and the Nationalist Government was forced to move its capital to Chongqing. At a time of national crisis, he makes some puzzling decisions that ultimately lead to his tragic end.
Chiang Kai-shek secretly laid out and designed to frame him
In 1938, the Sino-Japanese War entered a full-scale stage, and the Nationalist Government was forced to move its capital to Chongqing. In these turbulent times, a critical turning point has been reached in his political career. On the surface, he was still Chiang Kai-shek's right-hand man, but in reality, a plot was brewing against him.
In the autumn of that year, Chiang Kai-shek convened a secret meeting. The main content of the meeting was to discuss how to respond to the Japanese attack, but after the meeting, Chiang Kai-shek left a few henchmen alone. In this small-scale conversation, Chiang Kai-shek made a shocking idea: he believed that some of the destabilizing elements in the party needed to be cleared, and Drunken was one of them.
Chiang Kai-shek's decision came as a surprise to everyone present. He had always been a loyal follower of Chiang Kai-shek, so why did he suddenly want to get rid of him? In fact, Chiang Kai-shek had his own considerations. As the war deepened, a number of different voices emerged within the Kuomintang. Some advocated negotiations with Japan for peace; Others insisted on fighting to the end. Although he had always supported Chiang Kai-shek, the views he expressed on certain occasions made Chiang Kai-shek suspicious.
What's more, Chiang Kai-shek believed that his influence in the party was already too great, which could threaten his dominance. As a statesman who knew the art of power, Chiang Kai-shek decided to get rid of the Bitter before his power could further expand.
However, the outright execution of the drunken could cause a shock within the party and may even lead to resentment among some people against Chiang Kai-shek. Therefore, Chiang Kai-shek decided to take a more covert approach: by designing a frame-up, so that he could bring about his own demise.
Chiang Kai-shek's plan was this: first, he would give Yu Yi an important task, ostensibly to trust him, but in fact to let his guard down. Then, through a series of carefully choreographed events, Gradually puts Drunken in a predicament from which he cannot escape. Finally, the execution of the drunken in the name of treason would not only remove this potential threat, but also deter other people in the party who might have dissenting intentions.
In order to implement this plan, Chiang Kai-shek first summoned the drunken. During the meeting, Chiang Kai-shek behaved unusually cordially, telling him that he had an important secret mission to be entrusted to him. The task was to conduct secret negotiations with the Japanese side to explore the possibility of peace. Chiang Kai-shek stressed that this was only a tentative contact, the purpose of which was to buy time, and did not mean that the war of resistance was abandoned.
He was both excited and apprehensive about this task. On the one hand, he was proud of Chiang Kai-shek's trust in him so much; On the other hand, he was also aware of the danger of the task. If it is not handled properly, it is easy to be labeled as a traitor. However, as a loyal follower of Chiang Kai-shek, he accepted the task anyway.
Next, Chiang Kai-shek began to lay his traps. He arranged for some of his cronies to play the role of intermediaries in the process of contacts with the Japanese side. These intermediaries deliberately distorted the content of the conversation between the two sides, so that he unwittingly said something that could be misinterpreted as pro-Japanese.
At the same time, Chiang Kai-shek also spread rumors within the party, suggesting that he might have a tendency to defect to the enemy. These rumors soon spread in Chongqing's political circles, and many people began to be suspicious of the drunkenness. Even some people who had been friends with him began to distance themselves from him.
Slowly, he felt the atmosphere around him become abnormal. He tried to explain the situation to Chiang Kai-shek, but Chiang Kai-shek always shirked on various grounds and did not give him a chance to defend himself. He begins to realize that he may be caught up in a huge conspiracy, but he doesn't know how to save himself.
It was at this moment that Chiang Kai-shek struck the final blow. He sent people to secretly contact the Japanese secret services, suggesting that they could pass on some false information to the Kuomintang through the Confession. The Japanese readily agreed to the proposal, believing it to be a good opportunity to break into the heart of the Kuomintang.
So, an encrypted telegram was delivered to the drunken office. The content of this telegram was some conditions for peace talks put forward by the Japanese side, but in fact these conditions were planned by Chiang Kai-shek. When he received this telegram, he immediately realized the seriousness of the matter. He decided to report to Chiang Kai-shek immediately, but before he could act, Chiang Kai-shek's guards broke into his office.
He was arrested on the spot on charges of colluding with the Japanese and attempting to betray the country. The news quickly spread throughout Chongqing, causing a huge shock. Many people could not believe that the drunken, who had always been loyal to Chiang Kai-shek, would do such a thing.
However, he did not know that all this was an elaborate trap designed by Chiang Kai-shek. He still believed that if he could meet Chiang Kai-shek, he would be able to explain everything. However, he never had the chance to see Chiang Kai-shek again.
He was tried unfairly and eventually executed
On December 15, 1938, the atmosphere in the Chongqing Military Court was solemn. There was a middle-aged man with a haggard face sitting in the defendant's seat, who was once infinitely beautiful. He was charged with treason for collaborating with the enemy and faced a possible death sentence.
The trial process appeared unfair from the outset. The evidence presented by the prosecutor consisted mainly of the implanted telegram and some transcripts of the conversation taken out of context. The so-called evidence was carefully screened and arranged for the purpose of proving that there was a suspicion of collusion with Japan.
As he tried to defend himself, the judge interrupted him frequently. He repeatedly stressed that his contacts with the Japanese side were entirely on the orders of Chiang Kai-shek, and the purpose was to confuse the enemy and gain time. However, no matter how he explained, the court fell on deaf ears.
Even more shocking was the fact that some of the colleagues who had worked with him were called as witnesses. In their testimonies, these people accused him of having pro-Japanese tendencies, and some even claimed to have seen him secretly meeting with Japanese spies. The testimonies were clearly choreographed, but they impressed the jury.
The trial lasted three days. During those three days, the defence lawyer had little opportunity to speak. Whenever a lawyer tries to question the authenticity of the evidence, he is warned by the judge for "obstruction of justice." The whole trial process is more like a pre-programmed drama than a fair legal process.
On 18 December, the Tribunal adjourned its hearing in preparation for final judgement. While awaiting sentencing, he was held in a dark, damp cell. He tried to get the message out to the outside world through the prison guards, hoping to get the attention of some honest people. However, these efforts are closely monitored by the prison authorities, and no information can be heard.
At the same time, Chongqing's public opinion field has been completely controlled. The newspapers were full of accusations and criticisms of the drunken, portraying him as a vile and shameless traitor. Some reports even claim that he had secretly defected to Japan many years ago and had been acting as a spy for Japan within the Kuomintang. These false reports further deepened the public's hatred of drunkenness.
On 20 December, the court reconvened and pronounced its final verdict. The judge read out the verdict in a cold and stern tone: "In view of the fact that the defendant was guilty of treason with the enemy, the evidence is conclusive, and the circumstances are serious, this court sentences the defendant to death for immediate execution." "
When the verdict was announced, cheers erupted from the auditorium. Most of these people were carefully selected, and their reactions further reinforced the image of the heinous sins. He tried to defend himself one last time, but his voice was quickly drowned out by the shouts of the bailiffs.
After the verdict came into effect, he was immediately escorted to the execution ground. The whole process went unusually quickly, as if to prevent any variables. On the way to the execution ground, he kept shouting loudly about his innocence, but his voice quickly disappeared into the sound of police cars whizzing by.
In the early morning of December 21, on a remote hillside on the outskirts of Chongqing, the firing squad was in place. When he was brought to the place of execution, he showed no fear on his face. He looked around, as if looking for someone, but eventually saw only a cold face.
At the last moment before the execution, he suddenly shouted: "I have been loyal to the party and the state all my life, and I have no regrets in death." History will give me my innocence! Before he could finish speaking, gunshots rang out.
His body was hastily buried in an unmarked grave near the execution ground. Officially, this was to prevent Japanese spies from stealing the body. But in reality, it's more like erasing all traces of the existence of the drunken.
The drunken family was also implicated. His wife was under house arrest and his children were denied the right to school and work. The whole family was trapped in a decades-long nightmare.
The case caused a huge sensation at the time and became a typical case of Chiang Kai-shek's eradication of dissidents. However, as time passed, people gradually realized that there were many doubts in this case. Some historians have begun to question the fairness of the trial, arguing that the indignant may well have been wronged.
The Historical Impact and Subsequent Development of the Xuyi Case
The fallout of the case has been going on in Chinese politics for decades. This case not only changed the power structure within the KMT, but also had a profound impact on the political ecology of China as a whole.
In the first years after his execution, Chiang Kai-shek's power was at its peak. Through this action to "purge the internal traitors", he succeeded in intimidating dissident forces in the party. Many people who originally disagreed with Chiang Kai-shek, after seeing the end of the drunkenness, chose to remain silent or expressed their support for Chiang Kai-shek. This political atmosphere strengthened the unity of the Kuomintang to a certain extent, but at the same time stifled the atmosphere of democratic discussion within the party.
However, as time went on, the negative effects of the case began to show. The first is a crisis of confidence within the KMT. Due to the large amount of fabricated evidence and the framing of Zhongliang in the Xuyi case, many party members began to be suspicious of the comrades around them. This climate of mistrust has seriously affected the unity and efficiency of the party.
Second, the case also affected the KMT's relations with other political parties. Some intellectuals and democrats who originally supported the Kuomintang began to question the KMT's ruling methods after seeing the handling of the case. This skepticism eventually led some to turn to the Communist Party or other political forces.
After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War in 1945, with the outbreak of the civil war between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, the Xuyi case once again became the focus of people's attention. The Communist Party used this case to vigorously promote the authoritarian rule and internal corruption of the Kuomintang. They portrayed him as a patriot brutally persecuted by Chiang Kai-shek in order to attract more supporters.
In 1949, after the Kuomintang regime retreated to Taiwan, the case became a taboo topic. Chiang Kai-shek strictly forbade anyone to mention or discuss the case. However, among the people, rumors about the unjust case are still circulating in the dark.
It was not until Chiang Kai-shek's death in 1975 that the case began to re-enter the public eye. Some historians and political commentators began to openly question the veracity of the case. They tried to reconstruct the truth of the case by collecting newspaper reports from the time, court records, and the memories of surviving witnesses.
In the 1980s, with the gradual democratization of Taiwanese politics, the case became an important case for people to reflect on authoritarian rule. Some scholars and journalists began to investigate the case in depth, and published some research results one after another. These studies not only revealed many doubts in the case, but also showed the power struggle at the top of the KMT at the time.
In 1990, Taiwan's "Legislative Yuan" held its first public discussion on the case. Some legislators have called for rehabilitation, and the government has asked the government to release the relevant files. Although the proposal did not pass, it marked the official entry of the case into the realm of public discussion.
In 2000, after the change of political parties in Taiwan, the new government decided to re-investigate a number of major historical unjust cases, including the case of drunkenness. After reviewing a large number of archival materials and interviewing some of the descendants of the parties concerned, the investigation team finally concluded that it was likely that he had been wronged.
In 2005, Taiwan's "Judicial Yuan" officially announced that it had been rehabilitated. This decision not only restored the name of the drunken, but also brought long-overdue justice to his family. The descendants received compensation from the government and accepted an official apology in public.
The rehabilitation of the case has aroused extensive discussion in Taiwan society. Many are reflecting on the injustices of authoritarian rule and calling for further progress in transitional justice. Some scholars have even suggested that Chiang Kai-shek's place in history should be re-evaluated.
On the mainland, the attitude towards the case is more complicated. Some historians have begun to revisit the case in an attempt to explore the reasons for the failure of the Kuomintang's rule. However, due to the fact that it involves sensitive issues such as cross-strait relations, the official has always maintained a cautious attitude on this topic.
In general, as a historical event, the Xuyi case not only reflects the political ecology of the time, but also becomes an important case for future generations to reflect on history and promote democracy. Its impact goes far beyond the fate of one individual, but profoundly affects the political process of China as a whole.