Everyone in the world knows that Li Liejun is the father of the Xinhai Revolution and an anti-Japanese hero, but who would have thought that this admirable revolutionary pioneer also has an unknown dark side? It's a long-forgotten past, about friendship, love and betrayal. The story starts with Li Liejun's classmate and friend Gong Yong. Who would have thought that this close friend who shared weal and woe with Li Liejun would become the victim of the biggest stain on Li Liejun's life? And all this is only because of a beautiful woman - Hua Shiqi. How did she become the trigger for this tragedy? How did Li Liejun go from a best friend to a betrayer? How did this unbearable past affect Li Liejun's future life?
The deep friendship between Li Liejun and Gong Yong
It is said that it was the autumn of 1899, and in a private school in Wuning County, Jiangxi Province, two teenagers were immersed in hard study. These two teenagers, one is named Li Liejun and the other is Gong Yong. Who would have thought that these two seemingly ordinary teenagers would leave a strong mark in China's modern history in the future?
At that time, Li Liejun, the character Xiaru, was born in 1882, two years older than Gong Yong. Although he is of the same age, Li Liejun's temperament is different. His eyes are like torches, his speech is extraordinary, and he can often say some shocking opinions. Gong Yong has a gentle personality and is humble, and is often impressed by Li Liejun's remarks. In this way, the two teenagers with complementary personalities soon became inseparable friends.
Although the life in the private school is boring, the two of them enjoy it. They read books together, discuss current affairs together, and imagine the future together. Li Liejun often said: "We study not for the imperial examination, but to save the country!" Every time Gong Yong heard such words, his blood boiled and he nodded again and again.
After graduation, Li Liejun was admitted to the Wuchang Naval Academy, while Gong Yong entered the Jiangxi Army Academy. Although the two places are separated, the friendship between the two has not been weakened because of this. They often corresponded and shared what they had seen and heard. Li Liejun wrote in the letter: "Brother Yong, I have seen many new things here, our country is really backward! We must work hard to change this rotten situation! "
In 1905, Sun Yat-sen established the League in Japan, and Li Liejun joined without hesitation. In his letter to Gong Yong, he wrote excitedly: "Brother Yong, I have found the direction of my life! We want to overthrow the Manchus and establish the Republic of China! Come and join us! Although Gong Yong did not immediately join the Alliance, he expressed his sincere admiration for Li Liejun's choice.
In 1911, the Wuchang Uprising broke out, and the horn of the Xinhai Revolution sounded. Li Liejun immediately threw himself into the revolution and soon became the chief of staff of the Jiangxi Governor's Office. At this time, he remembered his best friend Gong Yong, who was far away. He sent a telegram to Gong Yong: "Brother Yong, the revolution needs you, come to Jiangxi!" "
After receiving the telegram, Gong Yong resigned from his original job without hesitation and traveled thousands of miles to Jiangxi. Li Liejun saw his best friend he hadn't seen for many years, and he was so excited that he burst into tears. He held Gong Yong's hand tightly and said, "Brother Yong, you came at the right time!" I'm missing a right-hand man! "
In this way, Gong Yong became Li Liejun's adjutant. The two fought side by side in the wave of revolution and fought together for the establishment of New China. Li Liejun often said to other colleagues: "Brother Yong is not only my adjutant, but also my brother!" He is indispensable for our revolutionary cause! "
In the following days, Li Liejun and Gong Yong were inseparable. Whether it's making battle plans or handling day-to-day affairs, the two work together seamlessly. Li Liejun even handed over some confidential documents to Gong Yong for safekeeping, which shows the depth of trust in him.
In the spring of 1912, the smoke of revolution had just dissipated, and the nascent Republic of China was in ruins. On this day, Gong Yongxing rushed to Li Liejun's office, his face filled with joy that could not be concealed.
"Brother Xia Ru, I have a happy event to tell you!" Gong Yong said excitedly.
Li Liejun put down the documents in his hand, smiled and asked, "What makes Brother Yong so happy?" "
"I'm getting married!" Gong Yong blurted out, "The family has arranged it for me, and the object is Hua Shiqi, a descendant of Hua Hongshan, the prime minister of the Ming Dynasty in Wuxi." I heard that this young lady is not only outstanding, but also has received a new education! "
When Li Liejun heard this, he patted Gong Yong's shoulder and quipped: "You kid is blessed!" When will you go back to Fuzhou to get married? "
"The eighth day of next month." Gong Yong replied, "I want to take a marriage leave, is it okay?" "
Li Liejun readily agreed: "Of course you can, go ahead, prepare for your marriage." "
In this way, Gong Yong returned to Fuzhou with full expectations to prepare for the marriage. A month later, he married Hua Shiqi as scheduled. After the wedding leave, Gong Yong returned to the army with a spring breeze on his face, showing off his wife's beauty and talent when he met people, and also took out a group photo to show others.
One day, Gong Yongxing rushed to Li Liejun's office, eager to share his joy with his best friend. He took out a group photo and handed it to Li Liejun: "Brother Xia Ru, this is my wife Hua Shiqi, what do you think?" "
Li Liejun took the photo and just glanced at it casually, but he was stunned as if he had been struck by lightning. Hua Shiqi in the photo has bright eyes and bright teeth, elegant temperament, and his smile reveals intellectuality and gentleness. At this moment, Li Liejun felt his heart beat faster and had difficulty breathing, he had never seen such a beautiful and moving woman.
"Brother Xia Ru, what's wrong with you?" Gong Yong saw that Li Liejun didn't react for a long time, and couldn't help asking.
Li Liejun came back to his senses at this time, and barely squeezed out a smile: "Okay, very good." Brother Yong is really blessed. "
From that day on, Li Liejun's heart could no longer be calm. Hua Shiqi's figure is like a seed, taking root in his heart and growing stronger and stronger. He began to frequently ask Gong Yong about Hua Shiqi, and every time he heard Gong Yong describe Hua Shiqi's talent and virtues, Li Liejun would feel a pang of heartache and jealousy.
In order to hide his inner fluctuations, Li Liejun began to pay special attention to Gong Yong. He handed over many important military affairs and top-secret documents to Gong Yong to deal with, ostensibly because of his trust, but in fact to be able to hear more about Hua Shiqi.
However, the more Li Liejun heard about Hua Shiqi, the more he couldn't control his feelings. He began to fantasize about what it would be like if Hua Shiqi was his wife. This thought made him both excited and painful, and he knew that it was a betrayal of his best friend, but he couldn't suppress the longing in his heart.
As the days passed, Li Liejun's inner struggle became more and more intense. He began to become restless and often absent-minded at work. Sometimes, he would suddenly get angry with Gong Yong, and then regret it. This unusual behavior attracted the attention of those around them, but no one knew the real reason.
One day, Li Liejun sat alone in his office, staring at the map on the wall in a daze. Suddenly, a bold idea flashed in his mind: If Gong Yong is gone, will Hua Shiqi become his wife? As soon as this thought appeared, Li Liejun himself was startled. He hurriedly shook his head, trying to dispel the terrible thought.
However, once the seed is planted, it keeps growing. Li Liejun began to dream about Hua Shiqi frequently, and in the dream, they were very affectionate and affectionate. Every time he wakes up from a dream, Li Liejun feels a strong sense of emptiness and loss.
Just when Li Liejun was struggling in his heart, an important military task was placed in front of him. This mission required sending a reliable person to Fuzhou with classified documents to meet with Sun Yat-sen. Li Liejun wanted to go in person, but suddenly, a dark thought came to his mind.
He found Gong Yong and said to him, "Brother Yong, I have an important task for you. You take these confidential documents to Fuzhou to meet with Sun Dudu. After the task is completed, you can stay a little longer and spend time with your sister-in-law. "
Gong Yong's murder and Li Liejun's lies
In the early autumn of 1913, on a stormy night, on the mountain road outside Fuzhou, a lonely figure was struggling to move forward. This person was Gong Yong, who had just finished a secret meeting with Sun Yat-sen and was hurrying back to Jiangxi to report to Li Liejun. However, the gears of fate have begun to turn, and a tragedy is about to unfold.
Just as Gong Yong was halfway up the mountain, several masked people suddenly sprang out of the bushes on the side of the road. They armed with sharp blades, and without saying a word, they launched an attack on Gong Yong. Although Gong Yong was good, he was outnumbered and was quickly subdued. The masked man brutally searched Gong Yong's belongings, took all the documents and valuables, and then pushed him off the cliff.
Early the next morning, local villagers found Gong Yong's body and immediately reported it to the government. The news soon spread to Jiangxi, and Li Liejun rushed to Fuzhou immediately after hearing the news. He came to the scene of the crime and looked at the corpse, which had been changed beyond recognition, with a grief-stricken expression on his face.
"Brother Yong, Brother Yong, why did you leave like this?" Li Liejun knelt beside the corpse and wept bitterly. When the people around saw this scene, they were all moved.
However, just when everyone was immersed in grief, Li Liejun suddenly stood up and said with a gloomy face: "This is not an accident, this is murder!" The confidential documents that Brother Yong was carrying are gone, someone must have killed someone for these documents! "
These words immediately attracted the attention of everyone present. Li Liejun continued: "I suspect that this was done by Japanese spies. Recently, we received information that the Japanese have been probing about our military deployments. Brother Yong's trip was carrying confidential documents in this regard. "
Li Liejun's speculation seems reasonable, but in fact it is a carefully woven lie. What the truth is, only Li Liejun knows it in his heart.
In the days that followed, Li Liejun behaved very positively. On the one hand, he organized people to investigate the case, and on the other hand, he personally went to Gong Yong's home to offer condolences. When he saw Hua Shiqi again, he was thrilled in his heart, but on the surface, he pretended to be grief-stricken.
"Mrs. Sister-in-law, I feel deeply guilty for Brother Yong's death." Li Liejun held Hua Shiqi's hand and said, "I promise you, I will definitely find out the truth and avenge Brother Yong!" "
Hua Shiqi couldn't cry, just nodded slightly. She didn't notice that a trace of heat and greed flashed in Li Liejun's eyes when he looked at her.
In the following investigation, Li Liejun deliberately misled the direction and led all the suspicions to the Japanese spies. He even falsified some "evidence" to further confirm this claim. Soon, public opinion determined that Gong Yong's death was related to Japanese spies, which made Li Liejun breathe a sigh of relief.
However, it didn't end there. Gong Yong's death caused an uproar in the army, and many people doubted it. Some of the officers who were close friends with Gong Yong began to investigate privately, and they found that there were many suspicious points in the case.
First of all, the place where Gong Yong was killed was not on his original itinerary. According to the plan, he should take another safer road, why did he appear on that remote mountain road?
Secondly, although Gong Yong's belongings were looted, a priceless jade pendant he carried with him was intact. If it was really a robbery, why did such a valuable item be left out?
What is even more suspicious is that not long after the incident, someone saw Li Liejun coming to the scene of the crime alone late at night and staying there for a long time. What the hell is he doing?
These suspicions have gradually attracted the attention of some people. Among them, the most active is Gong Yong's cousin Gong Hua. He did not believe the official findings and decided to investigate secretly on his own.
Gong Hua began to travel around to collect clues. He found that on the night of the crime, some villagers saw a horse-drawn carriage hurriedly leaving the scene of the crime. What was even more surprising was that someone recognized that the carriage belonged to Li Liejun's troops.
As the investigation deepened, Gong Hua gradually touched some unknown secrets. He found that Li Liejun had been frequenting a private club recently, which happened to be a well-known gold cave in Fuzhou. What's even more disturbing is that Li Liejun seems to have frequent contact with Hua Shiqi, and the relationship between the two seems a little ambiguous.
Just when Gong Hua was about to get close to the truth, an accident happened. One night, while he was sorting through the clues he had gathered, someone suddenly broke into his residence. After a fierce fight, Gong Hua was seriously injured and all evidence was snatched away.
This incident sounded the alarm for Gong Hua. He realized that he might have touched something he shouldn't. For his own safety, he had to temporarily abandon the investigation and quietly leave Fuzhou.
Li Liejun's ambition and Hua Shiqi's predicament
As time passed, Li Liejun's ambitions swelled more and more. Not only did he expand his influence in the military, but he also began to get involved in politics. At the beginning of 1914, Li Liejun used his influence in Jiangxi to be successfully elected as a member of the National Assembly. This move catapulted him on the political scene and laid the foundation for his later political ambitions.
However, Li Liejun was not satisfied with this. He knew very well that in order to gain a firm foothold in troubled times, military power and political status alone were not enough. He needs more resources and support. So, Li Liejun set his sights on Hua Shiqi.
After Hua Shiqi became a famous family, he not only had a prominent family background, but also inherited a considerable family property. What's more, she has a wide range of contacts in her social circle. Li Liejun realized that if he could get Hua Shiqi, he could not only satisfy his selfish desires, but also add help to his political career.
As a result, Li Liejun began to visit the Hua family frequently, under the banner of caring for his widow, but in fact secretly approached Hua Shiqi. He often came to visit with precious gifts, sometimes expensive jewelry, sometimes rare medicinal herbs, and even some novelties imported from abroad. These actions attracted the attention of the rest of the Hua family, some praised Li Liejun's righteousness, and others became suspicious of his intentions.
Hua Shiqi was not aware of Li Liejun's true intentions at first. As a widow who has just lost her husband, she is grateful for Li Liejun's care and care. However, as time went on, Li Liejun's actions made her feel more and more uneasy.
One day, Li Liejun took advantage of the wine to confess his heart to Hua Shiqi. He claimed that he had always had a crush on Hua Shiqi, but he didn't dare to show it because of his brotherhood with Gong Yong. Now that Gong Yong has passed away, he hopes to be able to take care of Hua Shiqi for the rest of his life.
This confession made Hua Shiqi panic. She politely rejected Li Liejun, saying that she would keep her filial piety and would not remarry. However, Li Liejun did not give up. He began to use his power to secretly pressure the Hua family, hoping to force Hua Shiqi to comply.
The Hua family has mixed attitudes towards this. Some people think that Li Liejun is indeed a good choice, after all, he has a prominent position and can bring more benefits to the Hua family. But there are also people who have doubts about Li Liejun's character, especially about the cause of Gong Yong's death.
Faced with the pressure of the family and the entanglement of Li Liejun, Hua Shiqi fell into a dilemma. On the one hand, she has to take into account the interests of the family and the wishes of the elders, and on the other hand, she cannot accept the union with her husband's friends. This inner struggle made her thinner and thinner, and she washed her face with tears all day long.
At this moment, an unexpected visitor came to Hua's house. This person is Gong Hua, Gong Yong's cousin. Gong Hua has been secretly collecting evidence since the last investigation was frustrated. This time he brought some amazing discoveries.
Gong Hua revealed to Hua Shiqi that he suspected that Gong Yong's death was related to Li Liejun. He told Hua Shiqi that the evidence he had collected showed that Li Liejun's cronies had appeared near the crime scene on the night of the crime. What's even more shocking is that Gong Hua also found a letter that implied that Li Liejun had long thought about Hua Shiqi.
This information was like a bolt from the blue, which made Hua Shiqi fall into extreme shock and grief. She began to think back to Li Liejun's recent behavior, and the more she thought about it, the more suspicious she felt. However, she also understands that these suspicions cannot be confirmed without solid evidence.
Hua Shiqi decided to stay put, and at the same time secretly assisted Gong Hua to continue the investigation. She began to approach Li Liejun intentionally, hoping to extract some useful information from his mouth. This decision left Hua Shiqi with a conscience condemnation, but in order to find out the truth, she had no choice.
At the same time, Li Liejun seemed to sense something. He became more cautious and increased pressure on the Hua family. He used his influence in the military and political circles to begin to interfere in the Hua family's business, causing a lot of economic losses to the Hua family.
In the face of Li Liejun's step-by-step pressing, there were also disagreements within the Hua family. Some people advocate marrying Li Liejun as soon as possible to protect the interests of the family; There are also people who resolutely oppose it, believing that Hua Shiqi cannot be wronged. The controversy intensified, and the Hua family fell into an unprecedented crisis.
At this critical moment, Gong Hua brought an important news. He said he had found a key witness who might know the truth about Gong Yong's death. However, just as Gong Hua was about to bring this witness to appear, the accident happened again. The witness suddenly disappeared, and Gong Hua was also attacked by unknown persons and was seriously injured and hospitalized.
The truth is revealed and Li Liejun's ending
In the spring of 1915, a sudden storm swept through the Jiangxi political arena. Just as Li Liejun was about to fulfill his political ambitions, an anonymous letter was sent to the desk of the Beiyang government. The letter exposed in detail Li Liejun's various crimes of murdering Gong Yong and forcing Hua Shiqi, and also attached a large amount of evidence.
The Beiyang government immediately dispatched an investigation team to Jiangxi to secretly investigate the matter. The investigation team included several experienced veteran detectives, who soon found some clues.
First, they revisited the scene of Gong Yong's murder. Through careful investigation, investigators uncovered some details that had been overlooked. On a large tree near the scene of the crime, they found a bloodstained button. The style of this button is completely consistent with the military uniform of Li Liejun's troops.
Secondly, the investigation team visited local villagers. An elderly farmer provides an important clue. He recalled that on the night of the crime, he had seen a horse-drawn carriage hurrying by. Although it was getting late, he vaguely remembered that there was a figure in the carriage that looked very much like Li Liejun.
What's more, the investigation team found a batch of documents in Li Liejun's secret residence. These documents not only contain military secrets carried by Gong Yong, but also some personal correspondence between Li Liejun and Hua Shiqi. These letters clearly show that Li Liejun had plotted against Hua Shiqi long before Gong Yong's death.
As the investigation deepened, more evidence surfaced. One of Li Liejun's cronies confided the truth after drinking, admitting that he killed Gong Yong on Li Liejun's orders. The cronie also handed over an audio recording of the entire process of Li Liejun's murder order.
At the same time, Gong Hua also woke up from a coma. He provided the investigation team with all the evidence he had gathered, including the written testimony of the missing witness. The testimony details how Li Liejun planned and carried out the murder of Gong Yong.
Faced with ironclad evidence, Li Liejun finally confessed his crime. He admitted that he had always had ill intentions towards Hua Shiqi, and Gong Yong's presence became an obstacle for him. In order to achieve his goal, he did not hesitate to design and murder his friend.
Li Liejun's confession caused an uproar in Jiangxi. Many people could hardly believe that this once highly respected general could do such a despicable thing. For a time, the entire Jiangxi political arena fell into chaos.
The Beiyang government reacted quickly. They ordered Li Liejun's arrest and military trial. Considering the heinous nature and impact of Li Liejun's crime, the military court finally sentenced Li Liejun to death.
One early morning in the late summer of 1915, Li Liejun was escorted to the execution ground. In the last moments of his life, he asked for forgiveness from Hua Shiqi and Gong Yong's spirits in heaven. Then, the gunshots rang out, and the once powerful general fell.
The fall of Li Liejun set off a chain reaction. Many of his followers and accomplices were also investigated and punished one by one, and Jiangxi's political landscape changed dramatically as a result. The Beiyang government took the opportunity to strengthen its control over Jiangxi and appointed a new military and political chief.
For Hua Shiqi, this result is both a justice and a relief. She finally avenged her deceased husband and got rid of Li Liejun's entanglement. However, the turmoil also brought her great trauma. In order to calm the pain in his heart, Hua Shiqi decided to stay away from the hustle and bustle and live in seclusion in the mountains and forests.
Gong Hua performed well in this incident and was appreciated by his superiors. He was promoted to District Attorney and continues to fight for justice. At the same time, he also took on the responsibility of taking care of Hua Shiqi and often visited the sister-in-law.
After this turmoil, Jiangxi society gradually returned to calm. However, the repercussions of Li Liejun's case are far from over. It became a microcosm of that turbulent era, reflecting the chaos of the warlords' time of warfighting.
Years later, when people look back on this period of history, they are often filled with emotion. Li Liejun's case is not only a personal tragedy, but also a tragedy of the entire era. It teaches us that in an age of violence and deception, there could be fatal betrayal between even the closest friends.
However, this case also shows the power of good to triumph over evil. Although Li Liejun was once powerful, he could not escape the punishment of the law in the end. This gave a glimmer of hope to those tumultuous times, and to see that even in the darkest of moments, justice and truth would eventually come to light.
The aftermath of Li Liejun's case continued into the late Republic of China. It has become an important case for historians and jurists to study, and has provided valuable historical lessons for future generations. And for those who have experienced this turmoil, this past will always be an indelible memory in their hearts, often surfacing in the dead of night, which makes people sigh.