The Reader and the Readeress have come into cafe and have decided to eat portions of ice cream.
- You, seem, to have started to read a biography of Chiang Kai-shek?
- Yes... - hesitantly answered the Readeress. But reading a biography of Chiang Kai-shek, written by Yuri M. Galenovich, published in 1999, I am thinking constantly about Sun Yat-sen.
- Probably, I. Ermashov about Sun Yat-sen wrote more fascinatingly if to compare with Yu.M. Galenovich?
- No, I wouldn't say that. One of the most interesting fragments of the book by Yu. M. Galenovich - a story about the history of the family, about the ancestors of Chiang Kai-shek. Chiang Kai-shek belongs to the kin of Jiang, to the 28 generation. Chinese families keep pedigree books, from which a modern curious person can learn about their ancestors and family ties for hundreds or even thousands of years. Among the ancestors of the Chiang Kai-shek had a lot of outstanding people. But, however, none of them served the Manchurian authorities. Y. M. Galenovich wrote a lot of interesting about the childhood and youth of Chiang Kai-shek. Chiang Kai-shek was born on October 31, 1887. (He was 21 years younger than Sun Yat-sen.) Chiang Kai-shek in childhood and adolescence studied the ancient writings of the Chinese sages.
Since the times of the Chinese revolution in 1911 and till our times there have passed more than 100 years. We possess an additional information on the taken place events.
There is an impression, that that knowledge, which Sun Yat-sen "have seen", looking in the future, has begun to lead the own independent life, after Sun Yat-sen has stated this knowledge in own works.
And a figures of history lived their own, - human, - life.
Chiang Kai-shek received in 1910 a military education. In December 1910, as a graduate of the military school, he was sent to serve in the Japanese army as a candidate for military academies.
He began to participate in the activities of the Kuomintang. Sun Yat-sen perceived him as the person, on whom could rely, trust.
Chiang Kai-shek on behalf of Sun Yat-sen in 1923 visited Russia, met with the leaders of Russia and of the Comintern. His opinion about the expediency of cooperation with the Bolsheviks was, in General, - negative. As it is possible to assume, Chiang Kai-shek, during the trip to Russia, saw the image of Sun Yat-sen in time of sleeping.
Chiang Kai-shek was got the increasing experience - the military, party, state experience. He held more and more high positions. After the death of Sun Yat-sen in 1925, Chiang Kai-shek gradually became the main leader in 1926.
In addition, he in 1927 he married Soong Mei-ling, the younger sister. (The Soong sisters - Ai-ling, Ching-ling and Mei-ling). Middle sister, Ching-ling, married Sun Yat-sen in 1915. Her older sister, Ai-ling, as Vladilen Vorontsov writes, "agreed to marry young businessman Kung Hsiang-hsi, the heir to the influential banking house from Shanxi, a direct descendant of Confucius").
Chiang Kai-shek unified the country. The unity of the country, at least the formal unity, was declared in 1928. Then he broke off relations with the Communists and Russia. He has strained the relations with the West, with Western powers.
What, do you think, happened at this historical stage?
The Reader looked at the Readeress and said:
- Of course, the China began to form an army of modern type. This gave the result: Chiang Kai-shek achieved the unification of the country. But the country itself has changed little. However, and army, perhaps, still not enough has changed for the better.
So, a some form of weakness could have come out.
- As Yu.M. Galenovich writes, Japan in 1931 begins aggression against China. And in 1937 full-scale War of Resistance of Japan breaks out. In 1929 there were next armed conflicts concerning KVZhD. (Kitaysko-Vostochnaya Zheleznaya Doroga or KVZhD, - the Chinese Far East Railway, North Manchuria Railway).
So, a some form of weakness could have come out.
- As Yu.M. Galenovich writes, Japan in 1931 begins the aggression against China. And in 1937 the full-scale War of Resistance of Japan breaks out. In 1929 armed conflicts concerning KVZhD took place. (Kitaysko-Vostochnaya Zheleznaya Doroga or KVZhD, - the Chinese Far East Railway, North Manchuria Railway).
So, the weakness of the China could really manifested itself.
- Sun Yat-sen bequeathed to be friends with Russia?..
- A figures of history lived the own, - human, - life. That knowledge, which Sun Yat-sen "have seen", looking in the future, and which he has stated in the works, has begun to lead the own independent life.
- And we will continue to eat our portions of ice cream, - the Reader has smiled.
- Yes! - confirmed the Readeress.
July 14, 2018 21:58
Translation from Russian into English: July 15, 2018 13:17.
Владимир Владимирович Залесский "Рассказ о самостоятельной жизни".