Going out of the generals, opposing the independence and promoting reunification, the old elders, a lifelong legend-remembering Hao Baicun

Q

Q & A

China

2020.04.03

"Q & Divine" special program - Remembrance Hau Pei-tsun

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Hau Pei-tsun, out of the entry phase, the legendary life. This politician, who was once the most powerful politician in Taiwan, died in Taipei on March 30, 2020 due to multiple organ failure due to his advanced age.

As a veteran of the Anti-Japanese War, Hao Baicun was an important witness and witness of the prosperous years in China. He experienced the Battle of Guangzhou in 1938, the Battle of Southern Anhui in 1939, and then went to Burma with the 38th Division of the Chinese Expeditionary Army led by Sun Liren. In 2013, Mr. Hao was interviewed by "Q&A Shenzhou", and he recounted the history of that period of beacon horns and his life that he called "no good, no accomplishment".

From Huangpu Military Academy to the Anti-Japanese Battlefield

On August 8, 1919, Hao Baicun was born in Yancheng, Jiangsu. After his brother and sister died, Hao Baicun became the eldest son of the family, and his father placed great hopes on him. In 1935, 16-year-old Hao Baicun graduated from junior high school. Because his family was not wealthy, he gave up his plan to go to high school and applied for the Army Military Academy, the Huangpu Military Academy, which did not need to pay any fees.

In October 1938, the 21st Japanese Army pounced on Guangdong Province and the Guangzhou Bay area. The Kuomintang's fourth theater unit launched a defensive battle there. The Battle of Guangzhou broke out. Hao Baicun, who had just graduated from the Huangpu Military Academy, participated in the war.

Hao Bocun (first from the left in the second row) with his comrades in arms

Hao Bocun: I entered the Whampoa Military Academy in 1935. In June 1936, we should have summer vacation, and I plan to go home during summer vacation. However, on June 1st, the Guangdong and Guangxi incidents canceled the summer vacation. Well, we expect to have winter vacation in 1936 and the 25th year of the Republic of China. As a result, the "Double Twelfth" Incident and the Xi'an Incident occurred, and our winter vacation was cancelled. After the settlement of the Xi’an Incident, I think we can always have summer vacation in the 26th and 1937 of the Republic of China. As a result, the "July 7th" Incident happened. So I never missed a vacation in the three years I was in the military school. Did not go home to meet with his parents.

graduated in 1938. At that time, except for the fall of Peking, Shanghai, and Nanjing, most of the other areas had not yet fallen. I walked through Hankou, Zhengzhou, Quzhou, and arrived in northern Jiangsu. After returning to my home, I saw my parents and stayed for ten days. At that time, I thought, I was going back to the military soon. I didn't know if I would have the opportunity to meet my parents again, so the whole family took a picture. This picture is now in my house. My children and grandchildren, everyone should remember, this is the last time I met my parents.

Hao Bo Village soon after bidding farewell to his parents, Yancheng became the seat of the New Fourth Army military headquarters. In 1940 and 1944, Hao Bo Village’s parents died one after another. At that time, due to the confrontation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, Hao Baicun could not see them again until the death of his parents.

Hao Baicun: When we received the order, the Japanese had already occupied Guangzhou, so we went to Yuzhou and headed for Guangzhou Dongshan. When we were marching on the road, the Japanese chariot was already waiting for us in front. Their plane dropped bombs and fired with machine guns. The colleague (the driver) in our car was killed. He died at that time, so I was lucky that I was not killed. I was very young at the time, and was a second lieutenant. But at that time our soldiers were in their 30s and 40s, and most of them were adapted from the original Northeast Army. At that time, we were fighting against the Japanese. It was a real battle. Machine guns hit the ground, and sparks exploded like rain. I was there, and then it bleeds, but we continued to shoot with guns.

Wu Xiaoli: You just hummed "The March of the Volunteers" casually. You said this was the song of the War of Resistance. When would you sing this song?

Hao Baicun: At that time, would sing everywhere. The whole people, men, women, old and young would sing, "Get up, people who don't want to be slaves", they would.

In the two Chiangs era, the generals came and went

After 1949, Kinmen was once the forefront of the military struggle between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, and it was also the forerunner of the cross-strait armistice and reconciliation. Here, the "8.23 artillery battle" called the "Second Strait Crisis" took place. At that time, it was 39-year-old Hao Baicun who was in charge of Xiaojinmen. This military exploits also allowed him to obtain an important change after seven years: In December 1965, Chiang Kai-shek appointed Hao Bocun as the chief guard.

Later, Hao Baicun once said to himself: "Mr. Jingguo is nine years older than me. We are both a generation born in the early 20th century. Mr. Jingguo and I got along after coming to Taiwan. During the '8.23 Artillery Battle' in 1958, Mr. Guo came to Xiaojinmen amidst the sound of artillery fire and started my thirty years of following." In 1981, Jiang Jingguo appointed Hao Bocun as the "Chief of Staff." According to Taiwan's military regulations, the term of the "chief of staff" was two years, but Hao Bocun was re-elected for four terms and served a total of eight years.

Above: Hao Baicun (left) and Jiang Jingguo (right)

Below: Chiang Kai-shek (left) and Hao Bocun (right)

Hao Baicun: I would like to start with Jiang Jieshi's pick slightly different. In the past, he always chose Zhejiang natives and fellow villagers. He thinks that you only need to be the chief guard and help him with the case. He didn't further train the chief guard. This is my own guess. I have always led the soldiers. After the Golden Gate artillery battle, why did he assign me to be the chief of the guard? I think he just transferred me to his side to learn from him. So after I became the captain of the guard, he transferred me to the commander of the legion. There has never been a person who has been the chief of the guard. He called me the commander of the legion, the first legion, that was the largest legion.

In 1988, Jiang Jingguo passed away, which means that the era of "strongman politics" between Chiang and Chiang came to an end. But a big question mark has appeared in Taiwan's political arena: Who will be the master if the strongman is gone?

Hao Baicun: I talked to Mr. Jiang Jingguo in my later years. He never talked about heirs. It is not easy for us to say, "You are not in good health, you better consider who inherits", and no one asked him. But he always said that we already have a system, and this is what Jiang Jingguo told me personally. We know that his designated successor is Sun Yunjing.

Opposing Independence and Promoting Reunification, the old Jifuxie

In the early morning of February 24, 1984, Sun Yungang suffered a brain hemorrhage, which disrupted Chiang Ching-kuo’s layout for the future leadership of Taiwan. At this time, Lee Teng-hui became the successor of Chiang Ching-kuo’s vision.

However, Lee Teng-hui's "Taiwan independence" face became increasingly apparent. On January 30, 1993, Hao Baicun resigned from the post of "President of the Executive Yuan". In 1999, Lee Teng-hui proposed the "two-state theory" and became the "father of Taiwan independence." In the later period when Hao Baicun was the "President of the Executive Yuan," because he resolutely opposed "Taiwan independence," he was attacked by the DPP, and he was squeezed out secretly by Lee Teng-hui.

Hao Baicun: At that time, we felt that Mr. Lee Tenghui, he was the heir of Mr. Jingguo, and should continue to follow his (Jiang Jingguo) route. So when I was the "President of the Executive Yuan" back then, I think the two of us should continue to move forward along the route set by Mr. Jing Guo, so I am happy. He strongly invited me to do it again. I considered it for a few days and accepted it. When I accepted it, I thought to myself that I would be the "President of the Executive Yuan". This is my governance philosophy.The same article, also called people live and work in peace, isn't it? We want peace on both sides of the strait, and we must consider how to develop cross-strait relations.

Wu Xiaoli: When you visited the United States, someone said that you did a good job, but you shook your head and said, "Give it halfway." Do you think that if you could continue to be the "President of the Executive Yuan" at that time, it might not be the situation it is today?

Hao Baicun: , I think it might not work. Two people find that there is a difference in the basic ideological line. I can't follow him (Li Tenghui), right? So if I don't follow him, I must have a conflict with him (Li Tenghui). I think because in the entire political environment at that time, he (Lee Teng-hui) was in a high position. At the same time, I felt that I didn't have political ambitions. I didn't think I could commit it, so I would rather come down. "Taiwan independence" is impossible, and I think they have gradually learned about it now.

Wu Xiaoli: It is said that your memoir has been written and it is locked in the safe.

Hao Baicun: The memoir of was written when I was 80 years old, and I am 95 years old now (2013). During the 15 years, I feel that many things have happened. Talking about this memoir, like Hu Shizhi, he advocated that everyone should write memoirs. But like Mr. Yu Dawei, if he writes a memoir, he must have a lot of material, but he said I would never write a memoir. It seems that these two people are actually amazing people. So although I wrote it, it may not have any value.

Wu Xiaoli: How would you comment on your life?

Hao Baicun: Oh, I pretend to be a "double one" veteran, what is called a "double one" veteran, nothing is good, nothing is done.

More exciting, please watch:

April 3, 2020 Premiere:

Phoenix Satellite TV "Q&A Shenzhou"

Interview with the former editor of the Taiwanese administrative agency Hao Baicun