Thirty-six years ago this month the Sian Incident was played out in the heartland of China. As a melodrama, Sian is more suspenseful than anything in the television repertoire of today. As history, Sian united China solidly behind Chiang Kai-shek for the War of Resistance Against Japan, yet ironically gave the Chinese Communists a new lease on life and opened a Pandora's box of plagues and tribulations for the Chinese people.
Through the early 1930s, Chiang Kai-shek had sought to hold the Japanese off with one hand while using the other to deal with Communist insurrection and prepare for the war he knew was inevitable. A year before Sian, he had made an approach to the Soviet Union regarding possible joint action against the Japanese. The result was nil but the Generalissimo's strategy never wavered. He was determined to unite China so that the external foe could be dealt with.
Prospects of the Communists were discouraging in the latter half of 1936. Pessimism was rife in Yenan. The rebels considered giving up their Shensi positions and made discreet inquiries as to the government's attitude. Chiang Kai-shek concluded that if the Communists could be knocked out in Shensi, they might listen to government offers of forgiveness and end their insurrection.
Forces on which the government could call in the Northwest included the Northeastern Army under Chang Hsueh-liang and the Shensi Provincial Army under Yang Hu-cheng. Either of these was larger than the total Communist force. However, the Northeastern Army had a much greater interest in trying to retake Manchuria, its former homeland, from the Japanese than in fighting against the Communists. Propagandists from Yenan played upon the anti-Japanese feelings of the Northeastern Army in Shansi and the Shensi Provincial Army.
Chang Hsueh-liang, the Young Marshal, reported to the Generalissimo that the situation of the Communist suppression forces was insecure. Chiang Kai-shek also received reports of fraternizing between Communists and the Young Marshal's forces. On December 3, the Generalissimo conferred with Chang Hsueh-liang at Loyang and decided to go on to Sian and persuade the forces under his command to deal with the Communists before taking on the Japanese.
Arriving at Sian, the Generalissimo went to Lintung, a hot springs resort about 15 miles from the city. He occupied a villa at the foot of a mountain and was guarded by only a score of his own men and some police. Chang Hsueh-liang stationed one battalion in the outskirts of Lintung. General Chen Cheng warned the Generalissimo of a plot but the latter remained intent upon convincing the Young Marshal, Yang Hu-cheng and other officers of the correctness of his views.
Chiang Kai-shek gave a dinner the evening of December 11. Chang attended but Yang, the Shensi commander, had another engagement. At the dinner's conclusion the Young Marshal introduced the Generalissimo to Col. Sun Ming-chiu and asked his commander to give the junior officer some words of encouragement. This the Generalissimo did, unaware that Col. Sun would be leading rebel troops in an occupation of Lintung seven hours later. Chiang Kai-shek gave details of plans for the final defeat of the Communists and expressed confidence the rebellion would be over in a few weeks.
The Young Marshal had already made contact with the Communists. He met with Chou En-lai in Yenan and decided to put his trust in the promises of the Communists' wiliest negotiator to reorganize Yen an forces, abolish the Red army, cease propaganda work in the National Army, release prisoners and support freedom of political activity except that endangering the government or the national leader.
Events of the early morning of December 12 are recounted in the Generalissimo's diary:
"At 5:30 a.m., when I was dressing after my exercise, I heard guns firing just in front of the gate of my headquarters. I sent one of my bodyguards to see what was the matter, but as he did not come back to report I sent two others out and then heard firing again, which then became continuous. Thereupon, I felt that the Northeastern troops had revolted. On this visit to Shensi I had only my personal bodyguards and 20 uniformed soldiers. The soldiers who had been put on guard duty outside my headquarters were Chang's bodyguards.
"Presently Lieutenant Mao sent a messenger to report that a mutiny had broken out and that the mutineers had already reached the second gate... The messenger said that Mao begged me first to proceed to the mountain at the back of my quarters... I asked what the mutinous troops looked like, and was told that they had on fur caps and belonged to the Northeastern troops.
"Accompanied by Tso Pei-chi, one of my own guard officers, and Chiang Hsiao-chung, an A.D.C., I started for the mountain at the back of the house. After crossing the Fei Hung Bridge we found the eastern side door securely locked and the key could nowhere be found. We then scaled the wall which was only about ten feet high and not difficult to get over, but just outside the wall there was a deep moat, the bottom of which was about 30 feet below the top of the wall. As it was still dark, I missed my footing and fell into the moat. I felt severe pain and was unable to rise. About three minutes later I managed to stand up but walked with difficulty. After walking several tens of paces we reached a small temple where some of my bodyguards were on duty. They helped me to climb the mountain.
"After about half an hour we reached the mountaintop and sat down on a piece of level ground for a short rest. I sent a bodyguard to a cliff before us to reconnoitre. Presently gun firing was heard on all sides. Bullets whizzed by quite close to my body. Some of the bodyguards were hit and dropped dead. I then realized that I was surrounded, that the mutiny was not local and that all of the Northeastern troops were taking part in it. So I decided not to take shelter, but to go back to my headquarters and see what could be done. I walked down the mountain as quickly as I could. Halfway down the mountain I fell in a cave which was overgrown with thorny shrubs and in which there was barely enough space to admit me. I felt exhausted. Twice I struggled to my feet but fell down again. I was compelled to remain there for a rest and await further developments.
"As the day gradually dawned, I could see from the cave that the Lishan Mountain was surrounded by a large number of troops. Then I heard the detonation of machine guns and hand grenades near my headquarters. I knew that my faithful bodyguards at the headquarters continued their resistance and that the rebels were using artillery to attack them. It was about nine o'clock, after which time no more firing could be heard. The rebels sought for me. Twice they passed the cave in which I had taken cover but failed to discover me.
"About 20 or 30 feet from my refuge I heard someone hotly arguing with the rebels. It was Chiang Hsiao-chung's voice. The rebels made a more thorough search. I heard one of the mutinous soldiers above the cave saying: "Here is a man in civilian dress; probably he is the Generalissimo." Another soldier said: 'Let us first fire a shot.' Still another said: 'Don't do that.' I then raised my voice and said: 'I am the Generalissimo. Don't be disrespectful. If you regard me as your prisoner, kill me, but don't subject me to indignities.' The mutineers said: 'We don't dare.' They fired three shots into the air and shouted: 'The Generalissimo is here! '
"Sun Ming-chiu, a battalion commander of Chang Hsueh-liang's bodyguard division, then approached me. He knelt before me with tears in his eyes and requested me to go down the mountain. Then I knew that the soldiers attacking the headquarters belonged to the second battalion of Chang's bodyguards. Sun accompanied me down the mountain. When we reached my headquarters I intended to go in for a rest. I saw through the doorway that things were in great disorder and the ground was strewn with dead bodies. Sun asked me to go by motor car to Sian. He said that my room was already in a state of confusion, and that he had received orders from his superiors to invite me to Sian.
"I ordered Sun to find the deputy commander Chang Hsueh-liang who he said was in Sian waiting for me. He added: 'We don't dare to mutiny against our superior officers; we wish to make a personal representation that Your Excellency will kindly grant our request.' To this I shouted in anger: 'Hold your tongue, you rebels. If you want to kill me, kill me right now.' Sun and the commander of the 2nd Brigade of the 105th Division saluted once again and requested me to board the car for the city. As I wanted to see Chang Hsueh-liang and find out from him what all this meant, I entered the car."
News of the Generalissimo's capture became known in Nanking at 3:50 p.m. on December 12. Half an hour later, Minister of War Ho Ying-chin received a circular telegram from Sian which bore 19 names, with that of Chang Hsueh-liang heading the list. However, at least 12 of them were forged, including that of Chen Cheng, who was among the 17 higher Central Government officials arrested by Yang Hu-cheng's troops in Sian. The telegram contained the eight-point program by the rebels demanding the National Government to reorganize the Nanking Government and admit all parties in the efforts of national salvation; cease civil war; immediately release leaders of patriotic bodies arrested in Shanghai; release political offenders; guarantee freedom to hold meetings and organize associations; give a free hand to patriotic movements; carry out the will of Dr. Sun Yat-sen; and immediately convoke a National Salvation Conference.
The contents of the circular telegram and the news of the Generalissimo's capture were learned in Shanghai later that day. Madame Chiang Kai-shek gave this account of her surprise and her activities in the Sian Incident.
"... like a thunderclap out of a clear sky, came the shock of the news that my husband, Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, had been captured in a mutiny at Sian, the capital of Shensi Province.
"That news was broken to me by Dr. H. H. Kung, Minister of Finance, who came full of anxiety to my Shanghai home, where I was holding a conference in connection with the reorganization of the Commission of Aeronautical Affairs, one of the tasks upon which I had been engaged for some time previously.
"'There has been a mutiny, and there's no news of the Generalissimo.'
"These words, falling from the lips of Dr. Kung, sounded ominous, even to one who has· been long accustomed to peril and dangerous situations...
"Nanking, the Capital, was as much in the dark as Shanghai, but I, with Dr. Kung and Mr. W.H. Donald (whom I had asked to fly to Sian) hastened there.
"I found that while official circles had been astounded by the unexpected nature of the coup and were wrought up to a state of high tension, members of the Standing Committee of the Central Executive Committee and the Central Political Council had met late on Saturday night and had taken action. They had deprived Chang Hsueh-liang, the leader of the mutiny, of his position as a member of the Military Affairs Commission and concurrently Acting Commander-in-Chief of the Northwestern Bandit Suppression Forces, and referred him to the Military Affairs Commission for severe punishment...
"While expressing misgivings as to the wisdom of hastily penalizing Chang Hsueh-liang before the full facts of the situation were known, or before Dr. Kung and I had arrived in Nanking, I was faced with a much more serious problem; to wit, what looked to me like an unhealthy obsession on the part of the leading military officers who asserted that they felt it their inexorable duty to mobilize the military machine forthwith and launch an immediate punitive expedition to attack Sian.
"To my mind this was a point of view that was intolerable ... So, rightly or wrongly, I decided to fight it and strive for a quick, calm and bloodless settlement of the whole affair.
"Before 8 a.m. I telegraphed Chang Hsueh-liang that Mr. Donald was flying that day to Sian. Mr. Donald also telegraphed, and we hoped for an early reply.
"We sought news everywhere, but there was a complete absence of it.
"I had stormy conferences with the nation's leaders. I pleaded for calmness of judgment pending the receipt of definite news; for the avoidance of precipitate action, and for confidence in the spiritual resources of our people. I urged that the leaders in Sian, until proven otherwise, should be taken at their word, but every effort should be speedily made to get at the truth.
"Early in the morning two other delayed telegrams arrived from Chang Hsueh-liang, one to Dr. Kung and one to me. I regarded the one to me as somewhat impertinent in its references to the Generalissimo.
"The awaited replies from Chang Hsueh-liang regarding Mr. Donald's visit did not come. To save time Mr. Donald, after lunch, left by airplane for Loyang with Colonel J.L. Huang, whom I sent in case an interpreter should be necessary.
"Through Mr. Donald I sent to the Generalissimo a letter in which I tried to comfort him with the thought that I knew that whatever he had done had always been for the sole purpose of benefiting the nation, saying that I commended him to God and that I would continue to pray for him.
"To Chang Hsueh-liang I wrote a long letter pointing out to him the disastrous effects his action would have upon the unity of the nation, and expressing my belief that he meant no harm to the country or to the Generalissimo by his imprudent and impetuous action; but that he should retrieve himself before it was too late.
"Mr. Donald telephoned to me in the evening that he had arrived at Loyang at sunset to find that although the officials there were but one and a half hours' flight from Sian they were just as badly off for news as were we at Nanking. He had learned that some twenty planes had made a demonstration flight over Sian that day just to show the mutineers that the Government was still in charge of the airfield. Chang Hsueh-liang had ordered his artillery section at Loyang to seize the field, but they had decided to disobey the order, so the Government had a large well-equipped air base in close proximity to Sian from which to operate. Mr. Donald said that he would fly to Sian next morning whether he heard from Chang Hsueh-liang or not, but during the night I received a wire addressed to Mr. Donald from Chang Hsueh liang asking him to go there, and that removed the apprehension I felt that his plane might be fired at."
On the next day, arguments between Madame Chiang and the military leaders continued.
"'Place the armies in position if you so desire, but do not fire a single shot,' I urged. 'Meanwhile let us use every effort to secure his release...
"When I added that I would personally fly to Sian to see what might be done, my suggestion was received with stern disapproval. I met opposition on all sides.
"Those favoring fighting did not seem to me to be over-merciful in their endeavors to frustrate my persistency, and in the heat of arguments there did not appear to be much time for gentleness.
"It was at this time that I learned that telegraph communications with Sian had been definitely interrupted somewhere, and that wires were being censored, but I received a surprise on Tuesday afternoon (December 15) when I heard Mr. Donald talking to me from Loyang by long distance telephone. He had flown there that morning, through bad weather, to give me direct information of the situation at Sian. He painted a swift picture. He confirmed that the Generalissimo was not being ill-treated; that he had consented, on Mr. Donald's arrival, to move to a comfortable house; that the Generalissimo had then, for the first time, talked to some extent with Han-ching (Chang Hsueh-liang), though he was still furious and resentful; that Han-ching had expressed his determination to go with the Generalissimo to Nanking, because what he had done, though wrong, was with good motives; that Han-ching particularly wished me to go there as well as Dr. Kung, and assured me of the high respect in which he and his associates held me; that the Generalissimo had instructed that I be told not to go to Sian on any account.
"Later that night I telephoned Mr. Donald telling him that doctors advised against Dr. Kung flying to Sian, but, in any case, he could not leave as he was acting as head of the Government. I asked him to find out from Han-ching if T. V. Soong (my brother) and General Ku Chu-tung (a trusted officer of the Generalissimo, then Chairman of Kweichow Province) would be acceptable instead of Dr. Kung. I informed him that every effort was being made to prevent my going, but that in spite of everything I was determined to go. I asked him whether or not he had sent out any news telegrams, as it was being said that he was supporting Chang Hsueh-liang. He told me he had sent only two telegrams, one a short news summary, and one a brief reply to a message from Mr. Hallett Abend, the New York Times correspondent.
"On Wednesday morning I again phoned to Mr. Donald just before he left for Sian. I told him to persuade Han-ching to let the Generalissimo return at once if he did not want to be responsible for dire calamity, and I urged him once more to give the Generalissimo an understanding of the situation as it concerned me, and to explain clearly that I was doing my utmost to prevent any fighting. 'Fly back to Nanking from Sian,' I urged him. 'No, I'll stay there,' he replied, and my last words were 'then you'll be killed if I cannot stop the fighting.' 'There may be another way,' he said, 'but I cannot say more.'
"Dr. Kung took the telephone from me and asked Mr. Donald to tell Chang Hsueh-liang that his very existence, to say nothing of his reputation, depended upon the safeguarding of the Generalissimo, and that Chang could save himself and the country if he would fly the Generalissimo to Taiyuanfu and release him. If he would do that, Dr. Kung promised, everything would be forgiven.
"During the night I received a radio from Mr. Donald saying that he had got back to Sian, had delivered my telephone messages to both the Generalissimo and Han-ching, and that the Sian officials would welcome T.V. Soong and General Ku.
"The days that followed were days of intense agony and activity for me. Military forces had been in action already east of Sian, and although snow storms at Sian prevented planes from crossing the mountains, I never knew when some plane or other might get through and bomb the city as they were bombing points along the railway line between Loyang and the mountains.
"On the morning of December 20, every nerve in my body was strained to have fighting suspended for another three days, and to leave with my brother, T.V, for Sian. At the last moment high officials came to the house and insisted that I should at least wait a little longer before going. The argument that restrained me from forcibly joining him was that I, by remaining in Nanking, could make certain that during his presence in Sian there would be no attack on the city. Hence I finally compromised with them that, if at the end of three days T.V. did not return to Nanking, no more obstacles would be placed in the way of my flying to Sian. To top it all I received a wire from Han-ching telling me that if fighting was not stopped I was not to think of going to Sian as he could not provide protection.
"On the following morning I received two wires from T.V., from Sian, one that the Generalissimo was all right, and the other that Mr. Donald would leave for Nanking that day.
"Mr. Donald, however, did not reach Nanking, but from Loyang he telephoned that he ... would arrive in Nanking on Monday, December 21, I also had a wire from T.V. that he, too, would return to Nanking on that day.
"Both arrived on different planes during the Monday afternoon, and after hearing their ac counts of things at Sian, I insisted on returning with them the next morning.
"It was interesting to me to hear from Mr. Donald that Han-ching had definite plans to fly out with the Generalissimo in the event of an attack. I felt then that I understood Han-ching's mentality, and that gave me more confidence, not only in my intuition, but also in my belief that I could reason with him when I had the opportunity to talk with him. The situation at Sian was, I reflected, that Mr. Donald had laid the foundations, T.V. had built the walls, and it would be I who would have to put on the roof.
"As General Chiang Ting-wen had already been in and out of Sian I requested him to accompany me in case the Generalissimo needed an officer of his standing as representative.
"General Chiang Ting-wen's wife, who regarded him as one who had been snatched from the grave, made objections to his returning there. At the airfield next morning I pointed out to her that I was not asking him to do something that I would not do myself, and I, being a woman, had much more at stake than he...
"With deep emotion she silently assented...
"The sun was shining throughout the flight to Loyang—the first sunshine that had appeared for a week—but the Loyang field, filled with bombers fully loaded for action, did not look very reassuring to me.
"As I boarded the plane I took the precaution to impress upon the officer in command of the Loyang air force that no planes were to approach Sian till ordered to do so by the Generalissimo.
"Now I began to feel anxious and apprehensive...
"'There's Lintung, where the Generalissimo was captured,' said Mr. Donald, pointing to a square walled city nestling under the white hills.
"My thoughts flew fast and furiously. In a moment or so it seemed we were circling over Sian and the airfield, but before the plane landed I made Mr. Donald promise, handing him a revolver, that if troops got out of control and seized me he should without hesitation shoot me.
"When the plane came to a standstill Han-ching came on board, looking very tired, very embarrassed, and somewhat ashamed.
"I greeted him as I always have done, and as we left the plane asked him quite casually not to let any of his men search my baggage...
"Just then, Yang Hu-cheng, an associate of Han-ching in the mutiny, came up. I shook hands with him as though I were just arriving on a casual visit. Yang was obviously very nervous, and just as obviously very relieved at my calm attitude.
"The car journey into the city was not as strained as it might have been, and as we reached the house of Han-ching he asked me if I wanted to go immediately to see the Generalissimo.
"I told him that I would first have some tea, wishing to show him that I took him to be a gentleman and was quite prepared to place myself in their hands.
"The Generalissimo had not yet been informed of my arrival, and I decided, in order to avoid giving him undue anxiety, to keep that fact from him until I saw him myself. The compound of the bungalow where the Generalissimo was detained, just a stone's throw from Han-ching's house, was strongly guarded, some of the guards having machine guns.
"As I walked into my husband's room he exclaimed: 'Why have you come? You have walked into a tiger's lair.' He shook his head sadly, and tears sprang to his eyes. 'I have come to see you,' trying to be as natural as I could. I felt it advisable to remove whatever tension I could from the situation.
"My husband was in bed, suffering from a wrenched back. He looked wan and ill. I promptly saw that I would have to nurse him to secure some comfort for him. As I saw him lying there injured and helpless, the shadow of his former self, with his hands, legs and feet cut by brambles and bruised by the rocks he clambered over when scrambling about the mountain, I felt surge through me an uncontrollable wave of resentment against those responsible for his plight.
"'Although I urged you not to come in any circumstances to Sian,' he said, 'still I felt' that I could not prevent it. I opened the Bible this morning and my eyes lit on the words: Jehovah will now do a new thing, and that is, He will make a woman protect a man.'...
"I sent for Han-ching. Probably he was relieved because I did not upbraid him, but whatever it was I was able immediately to talk quietly and sincerely to him. I endeavoured to show him that he and his associates were laboring under a delusion if they thought the people of the country were with them. I told him that he had made a bad mess of things and now the question was, how was he going to get out of it? 'If you had asked me,' I said, 'I could have told you that you could not get the Generalissimo to do anything by using force.'
"'But this would never have happened at all had you been here, Madame,' he surprised me by saying. 'We did wrong in seizing the Generalissimo, but we tried to do something which we thought was for the good of the country. But the Generalissimo would not discuss things with us. He was so angry after we detained him that he would not talk at all. Please, you try to make the Generalissimo less angry and tell him we really do not want anything, not even for him to sign anything. We do not want money, nor do we want territory.'
"I told him that I believed him, because if he did want material things he would be no better than the old time militarists. However, he had to prove that to the rest of the world by immediately effecting the Generalissimo's release without obliging him to make any commitments. I explained to him that he was too impatient and impulsive, and that many things could not be secured by taking drastic action...
"'Madame,' he repeated, 'I know I have done wrong, and I am not trying to justify myself or this action. The motive was good and it would never have happened if you had been here with the Generalissimo as you usually are. I tried again and again to speak to the Generalissimo, but each time he shut me up and scolded me violently.'
"'You do not understand the Generalissimo,' I said. 'The Generalissimo only scolds people of whom he has hopes. If he thinks people are useless he just dismisses them—he won't take the trouble to scold them. You always told the Generalissimo that you looked upon him as a father, and he took you at your word.'
"'You know I have always had great faith in you,' Han-ching said, 'and my associates all admire you. When they went through the Generalissimo's papers after he was detained they found two letters from you to the Generalissimo which caused them to hold you in even greater respect. They saw by those letters that you were heart and soul with the people and therefore they know, as I know, that you can adjust this situation so far as the Generalissimo is concerned so that he can quickly leave Sian. We wish him to leave safely and well because we do not wish in any way to interfere with the Generalissimo's work or welfare, since he is our leader and we wish to follow him. If he will only let us explain our ideas everything will be satisfactory, and that you can get him to do.'
"'Well, then you had better go and talk to them and tell them what I've just said' "...
The Young Marshal left Madame Chiang and went to talk the situation over with the mutinous officers.
"I waited until eleven o'clock. As he still had not returned, I sent a telephone message to inquire of his whereabouts. I was told that he was at a meeting. I gave instructions that after the meeting he should come to see me.
"By two o'clock in the morning he still had not appeared, and I telephoned again. A few minutes later he came, looking terribly harassed and heavy-eyed. He explained that as the meeting ended so late, he thought I had already retired, and did not want to disturb me.
"'What did they say? '
"'Yang and his men are not willing to release the Generalissimo,' he answered.
"'They say that since T.V. and Madame are friendly towards me, my head would be safe but what about theirs? They now blame me for getting them into this affair, and say that since none of our conditions are granted they would be in a worse fix than ever if they now released the Generalissimo. There will be another meeting tomorrow.'
"These were days of increasing anxiety ...
"During this time T.V. was kept incessantly occupied with conferences with this group of officers or that...
"Truly enough our arrival split the camp. Chang Hsueh-liang was held suspect from the moment Mr. Donald arrived, but when, after my talks with him, he more strongly asserted his views in favor of allowing the Generalissimo to leave as soon as possible, he was then classed as one of us, and the danger was constant that he and the rest of us would be arrested. That is why arrangements that were made by the leaders at one conference were upset at the next through the influence of some questioning person encountered in between times. There seemed to be no end to suspicion and doubt.
"'It is because the Government troops are coming closer and closer,' I told the Generalissimo...
"Every effort was being made by Han-ching to break down the doubts of his associates...
"Christmas Eve was filled with beliefs and dashed hopes. I told Han-ching that he should get the Generalissimo out on Christmas Day; that the truce was up on that day, and if an attack were launched we would surely be killed, and he' with us. Apart from that it would, as Dr. Kung had said in Nanking, be 'a splendid Christmas gift to the nation.'
"Han-ching looked baffled and bewildered, but promised to try his best to fulfill my hopes. He explained that he had practically no troops in the city, and that Yang's soldiers held the gates.
"'We might have to fight,' he said, 'and that will be very dangerous for you. I can smuggle the Generalissimo out. You and Donald fly off to Loyang. I'll have the Generalissimo disguised, get him out of the city by car, take him to where my troops are in barracks, and from there drive him by car to Loyang to meet you.' He talked this plan of a last resort over with T.V., who thought it should be tried if everything else failed.
"I refused, not only because the Generalissimo could not stand the car journey, his back having been injured, but because it was not the manner in which he should leave. 'He will not be disguised,' I said, 'and if he cannot go openly by airplane then I will stay with him, and if he is to die because of attacks on the city by the Government forces then I will die with him.'
"'It is imperative that you persuade them that the Generalissimo must be freed at once,' I said to Han-ching, as he went out. 'The whole of China demands it, and so does the whole world. Chinese everywhere are sending cablegram after cablegram demanding the Generalissimo's freedom and denouncing you as a traitor and worse.'
"'I know it,' said Han-ching. 'They have sent the wires to me. However, they do not understand that I mean no harm to the Generalissimo in any way.'
"The pressure now being exerted by T.V. and Han-ching on the others was making for increased suppressed excitement.
"In reality all the political reforms the Sian leaders espoused had long been in the mind of the Generalissimo himself, as they themselves saw from his diary and private papers. True to his nature, however, he kept what was in his mind to himself, and was, perhaps, too intolerant of others when they endeavored to express views to him, especially if those others (as in this case) were subordinates who, he thought, were not performing their duties according to orders. Being a rigid disciplinarian he resented any departure from fundamental military requirements by officers.
"As the sun went down on Christmas Eve, there was more dejection than hope apparent, but talk and more talk went on far into the night.
"And there came the dawn of Christmas Day ...
"Some cheer and some hope came to us with the Christmas sunlight, but throughout the whole morning the doubts remained. The recalcitrants wanted signed orders from the Generalissimo before they were willing to let him go. And the Generalissimo would not sign anything. Nor would he talk...
"Everyone seemed to be running about in confusion. T.V. went off to the city to see Yang; others went hither and yon pulling this string and that...
"Telephones were incessantly going, and there was continuous talking. T.V. suddenly came through the gates. From him we learned that those in command of the city had agreed that we could leave.
"When I told the Generalissimo we could leave he decided that he should speak to Han-ching and Yang Hu-chen together before he concluded his fortnight's stay with them. So Yang had to be called.
"While we were waiting the Generalissimo was told that Chang Hsueh-liang was determined to go to Nanking with him.
"The Generalissimo remonstrated; told him that there was no necessity for him to do so; that he should stay with his troops; that—in any case, he ordered him to stay.
"Han-ching explained that he was under obligation to go to Nanking. First, he had undertaken with his associates to take full responsibility for what had happened; and second, it was his duty to show that what had been done was not with mutinous intent, nor against the Generalissimo, his position, or power.
"I wish to specially point out that this is the first time on record that any high officer responsible for mutinous conduct had shown eagerness to proceed to the Capital to be tried for his misdeeds. This explained why the Central Government was lenient to Han-ching, a fact which many foreigners could not understand.
"The excitement was even more intensified when General Yang, with some bodyguards came to the house. He and Han-ching went straight to the Generalissimo's room. They stood at rigid attention, despite the Generalissimo's invitation to them to sit down, and they only did so when I finally told them that it would be easier for the Generalissimo to talk to them if they were to sit down, since he was compelled to lie down.
"When the Generalissimo began to speak to them I decided to take notes of what he said. He was gentle and earnest with them; they were visibly moved."
The Generalissimo said:
"This coup d'etat is an act which gravely affects both the continuity of Chinese history of five thousand years and the life and death of the Chinese nation, and it is a criterion whereby the character of the Chinese race may be judged. Since today you have shown due regard for the welfare of the nation and have decided to send me back to Nanking and no longer try to make any special demands or force me to make any promise or give any orders, it marks a turning point in the life of the nation, and is also an indication of the high moral and cultural standard of the Chinese people.
"It is an ancient Chinese saying that a gentleman should correct his mistakes as soon as he realizes them. The present outcome of the coup d'etat shows that you are both ready to correct your own mistakes, and that is creditable to you as well as auguring a bright future for the Chinese race. Since you are now so convinced by my sincerity towards you that you have the courage to acknowledge your wrongdoing, you are entitled to remain as my subordinates. Furthermore, since you can be so readily converted it will certainly be easier for your subordinates to follow suit.
"Formerly you were deceived by reactionaries and believed that I did not treat the people fairly and squarely and that I was not loyal to our revolutionary ideals. But now you have read my private diary for this whole year, the public and private telegrams and documents numbering some fifty thousand words that have passed through my hands during the past two months as well as my plans for the salvation of the nation, and those relating to internal administration, foreign affairs, military finance and education, numbering some one hundred thousand words, you must now know that there is not a single word which could condemn me of any self interest or insincerity on my part.
"In fact, since I took military command and began to take charge of military training, there are two principles which I have always emphasized to my students and subordinates, namely: that if I have any selfish motives or do anything against the welfare of the country and the people, then anybody may consider me a traitor and may shoot me on that account; and if my words and deeds are in the least insincere and I neglect the principles and revolutionary ideals, my soldiers may treat me as their enemy and may also shoot me.
"From my diary and the other documents, you can see whether you can find one word which is to the detriment of the Revolution. If you can find one such word here, I am still in Sian and you are at liberty to condemn and kill me. On my part, I am glad that I have always done what I have taught other people to do, namely, to be sincere and disinterested, and I can say in all confidence that I have done nothing of which I need be ashamed.
"The responsibility of this coup d'etat naturally rests with you two, but I consider myself also responsible for the causes which led up to the crisis. I have always worked for the country and always believed that my sincerity and teaching would reach all my subordinates. Hence I have not paid any attention to my personal safety. I have taken no precautions on that account and have therefore tempted the reactionaries to take advantage of the situation. Everything has its remote causes. My own carelessness was the remote cause of this coup d'etat and gave rise to this breakdown of discipline, causing the Central Government as well as the people much worry and the nation much loss. On this account I feel I am to be blamed and must apologize to the nation, the Party and the people.
"A country must have law and discipline. You two are military officers in command of troops, and when such a coup d'etat has taken place, you should submit to the judgment of the Central Government. However, I recognize that you were deceived by propaganda of reactionaries and misjudged my good intentions to be bad ones. Fortunately, immediately after the coup you realized that it was harmful to the country and expressed your deep remorse to me. Now you have further realized your own mistake in listening to reactionaries and are now convinced that not only have I had no bad intentions towards you, but that I have always had every consideration for you.
"I have always told my subordinates that when they make mistakes their superiors must also be blamed for not having given them adequate training. As I am in supreme command of the army, your fault is also my fault, and I must ask for punishment by the Central Authorities. At the same time, I will explain to them that you sincerely regret what you have done. As you have rectified your mistakes at an early stage, the crisis has not been prolonged, and I believe the Central Authorities should be able to be lenient with you.
"Meanwhile you should tell your subordinates how you have been deceived by reactionaries and how I have always had only the welfare of the nation at heart, so that they will not be unduly disturbed over whatever decisions the Central Government may make.
"I have always impressed upon the people the importance of ethical principles and integrity to cultivate a sense of probity and of shame, to bear responsibility, and to obey discipline. If a superior officer cannot make his subordinates observe these principles, he himself is partly to be blamed. Hence in connection with this crisis, I am ready to bear the responsibility as your superior officer. On your part you should be ready to abide by whatever decision the Central Government may make, and your subordinates need not have any fear for themselves.
"We must always remember that the life of the nation is more important than anything else. We should not care for ourselves although our personal integrity must be preserved in order that the nation may exist on a firm foundation. Our lives may be sacrificed, but the law and discipline of the nation must be upheld. Our bodies may be confined, but our spirit must be free. My own responsibility to the country and the Central Government will always be willingly borne as long as I live. That is why I have repeatedly refused to give any orders or sign anything you wanted me to give or sign while under duress. It is because I consider life or death a small matter compared with the upholding of moral principles.
"My words and deeds are not only to be left to posterity, but I want you to understand them so that you will also value moral principles more than anything else. I have said more than once that if I should make any promise to you or sign anything at your request while at Sian, it would amount to the destruction of the nation. If I should try to avoid danger and submit to any duress exercised by my subordinates my own integrity would be destroyed, and with it the integrity of the nation, which I represent. No matter whether it be an individual or a nation, the loss of integrity is tantamount to death itself. For the upholding of those moral principles which I have repeatedly emphasized to the people, I am ready to undergo any sacrifice. If I do not carry out my own teachings, my subordinates as well as the people of the country will not know what to follow and the nation will be as good as destroyed.
"From this coup you should learn a definite lesson: That integrity is more important than anything else and that national interests should precede personal ones. If you commit mistakes, do not hesitate to admit them and make corrections. You should bear responsibility for what you have done and should make these things plain to your subordinates.
"Dr. Sun Yat-sen used to instruct us that we must rebuild the moral fiber of the nation before we could effect a national revival. Honesty, righteousness and love of peace are important moral characteristics of our country. For more than ten years, I have devoted myself to uniting the nation, politically and spiritually, for national salvation and honesty and righteousness are of particular importance. I have always tried to carry out my own words. Anything that is beneficial to the country and the people I will do with total disregard of my personal interest. Recommendations of this nature have always been accepted and put in to practice.
"The policy of the Central Government for the last few years has been to achieve peace in and unification of the country, and to increase the strength of the nation. Nothing should be done to impair this strength. During the present crisis, as you engineered the coup, you are responsible for bringing about warfare in the country. But as you have expressed remorse, I shall recommend the Central Government to settle the matter in a way that will not be prejudicial to the interests of the nation.
"In short, you now know the situation of our country as well as my determination to save it. I always give first thought to the life and death of the nation as well as the success or failure of the revolution and do not pay any attention to personal favors or grudges. Questions of personal danger or loss are of no interest to me. I have had the benefit of receiving personal instruction from Dr. Sun concerning broadmindedness, benevolence and sincerity, and am not vindictive with regard to things that have passed. As you felt remorse very early it shows that you know that the welfare of the nation is above everything else. That being the case, you ought to obey unreservedly the orders of the Central Government, and carry out whatever decisions it may make. This is the way to save the nation from the dangers it is facing and this is the way to turn a national calamity into a national blessing."
Hua Ching Chih, where Chiang Kai-shek was held during the coup attempt by Chang Hsueh-liang. (File photo)
The Generalissimo, Madame Chiang and Chang Hsueh-liang left Sian by plane at 4 p.m. on December 25 and arrived in Nanking on December 26 to be welcomed by cheering crowds. The Young Marshal stayed at the Soong residence, which was under heavy guard. There he wrote a letter to the Generalissimo in which he tendered his formal apology.
"I am by nature rustic, surly and unpolished, due to which I have created an incident, which was at once impudent and illegal. I have committed a great crime.
"I have shamefacedly followed you to Nanking in order sincerely to await my punishment by you, punishment befitting in severity the degree of my crime, so that it may not only uphold law and discipline, but also serve as a warning to others in future against repetitions of such a crime.
"Whatever is beneficial to our country, I shall never decline, even if it means death. I beg you to leave aside sentiments of personal friendship, and let nothing hold you back from giving me the kind of punishment I deserve."
Later the Young Marshal wrote in his memoirs:
"When the Generalissimo first came to Shensi from Loyang, I personally escorted him wherever he went to prevent others from conspiring against his safety. I couldn't imagine that the one who eventually conspired against him was none other than myself! ... When I reminisced about the incident afterwards, I felt deep remorse for my thoughtlessness, for the incompetence of my 'staff and for the lack of discipline among Yang Hu cheng's troops... "