1940 was a difficult year for the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Anti-Japanese Base Area. The Japanese army invading China implemented a plan of public order and rectification, the economic construction of the anti-Japanese base areas was completely blocked, and the anti-Japanese front-line operations were seriously affected.
In the face of the severe situation at home, many patriotic overseas Chinese could not sit still and extended a helping hand to the motherland one after another. Among them was Chen Jiageng, a patriotic overseas Chinese leader living in Singapore, who led a delegation back to the motherland to comfort the anti-Japanese soldiers and civilians with the earnest entrustment of the vast number of overseas Chinese in Nanyang.
Chiang Kai-shek attached special importance to the prestige and status of this overseas Chinese leader among overseas Chinese, and ordered that the reception and guarantee work be done at all costs.
In Chiang Kai-shek's eyes, Chen Jiageng's most attractive identity was that of the chairman of the Nanyang Overseas Chinese Association, which had raised more than 400 million French dollars for the country since its establishment in 1938, and a large number of materials from the front line of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression were continuously transported to China.
For the sake of money, Chiang Kai-shek also fought.
In accordance with the requirements of Chiang Kai-shek's instructions, the National Government has set up a very "well-organized" welcome committee, which is composed of more than 20 important departments of the party, government, and army, such as the Propaganda Department, the Ministry of Finance, and the Overseas Chinese Committee. In the current extremely financially constrained situation, a generous amount of reception funds were spent, of which the cost of the banquet alone amounted to 80,000 yuan - according to Chinese historical data, this money could buy 800 head of cattle at that time!
Next, Chen Jiageng spent more than 60 days in Chongqing, basically forced to exhaust himself at various banquets every day.
"Eating tight in the front" and "eating tightly in the rear" were the norm for officials large and small during the war, which made Chen Jiageng disgusted and bitter.
Chen Jiageng indignantly published a three-day strike statement in the Kuomintang's "Central Daily" and issued a solemn warning: "In this difficult and difficult period of the War of Resistance, I hope that the government and the people will practice economy and do not consume material resources!" "
Chongqing made him feel physically and mentally exhausted, and Chen Jiageng decided to go to the legendary Yan'an, but encountered different circumstances...
On the evening of June 1, 1940, Mao Zedong hosted a banquet to entertain Chen Jiageng.
Compared to the luxury of Chongqing, the banquet was a bit unsightly – the banquet was open-air, just outside Mao's caves, and the table was even more special, with a large table on a small, dilapidated square table. The table top was cratered, and a few old newspapers were laid out to cover up the ugliness; the chinese cabbage and beans grown in Mao Zedong's own vegetable garden were eaten, and the most important thing was a bowl of chicken soup per person.
Mao Zedong implored the guests who came from afar to forgive, saying that they really could not come up with anything luxurious and high-end, and did not know whether the rich man could eat the habits. As for the chicken soup, Mao Zedong also explained: This is the only chicken in the neighbor's mother's house, laying eggs, and she heard that my distinguished guest came to the door and quietly slaughtered it.
Chen Jiageng was moved to tears by the scene in front of him. The political party in this ravine is simple and incorruptible, and the military and the people have deep feelings for the water, which is completely different from the scene of decay and degeneration in Chongqing. As soon as he returned to Chongqing, Chen Jiageng held a press conference non-stop and declared to the people of the whole country: Yan'an let me "see the blue sky like a cloud and mist", and China's hope is in Yan'an. Since then, he has parted ways with the Kuomintang.
Chairman Mao completely conquered Chen Jiageng with such a style story, and it is worth pondering by every one of our comrades today. At the same time, it also led a large number of patriotic overseas Chinese to dedicate themselves to the motherland, and donations flowed endlessly to the anti-Japanese base areas under the leadership of the CPC, which played an important role in winning the victory of the War of Resistance.
From donating more than 200,000 yuan in the Xinhai Revolution, to pledging 4 million national yuan to establish Xiamen University, to donating 10 million yuan to support the motherland in the War of Resistance Against Japan, Chen Jiageng silently practiced his patriotic oath with practical actions again and again.
After the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in 1945, Chairman Mao personally presented him with a banner inscribed with the words "Overseas Chinese Banner, National Glory."
On August 12, 1961, Mr. Chan Kah Kee passed away at the age of 87. Although this great man has left us forever, his patriotism and feelings of saving the country and the people will deeply infect every generation of Chinese, and we will never forget him. (Text/Soldier Observation)