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With Chiang’s mind no longer focused on the political issues he could now
focus on himself. He decided to ask a young woman named Mayling Soong to marry
him. He was no longer married to his childhood wife and now wanted a companion.
First he had to get the approval of Mother Soong. She disagreed with his age and
religious beliefs but eventually, happily gave her approval for their marriage.
On December 1, 1927, they were married in the Soongs’ Shanghai home. Chiang
continued with his political mission with Mayling at his side. Her knowledge and
beauty helped him through his journey. Soon after his marriage Chiang gained
back command of the Kuomintang army and continued heading north. In 1928 his
army reached Peking and being the chief of the Nationalist party, he became head
of the Republic of China. After many years and many hard battles he finally made
peace with Japan. In the process he was elected China’s president in 1943 and
reelected in 1948. When the Communists won control of China in 1949, Chiang
escaped to Taiwan and set up a Nationalist China government there. Chiang was
reelected in 1954, 1960, 1966, and 1972.
He died on April 5, 1975 after being
ill since 1972 and left his official duties to his son, Premier Chiang Ching-kuo.
After reading this book I am more understand of the struggles that China has had
to face. Before this I did not even know who Chiang Kai-shek was. Now I know
that he was an important military leader and president of China amongst other
things. I have learned more about the Communist party and its wars with the
Nationalist Party. That without Chiang’s help the Nationalist party would not
have gotten as far as it did. And I have also learned more about China’s
culture. I did not know that they used to have arranged marriages that would
occur around age fourteen. It explained what their weddings are like and many
other traditions. “My fellow countrymen: History shows that freedom is never won
cheaply and that victory must be earned...All our people must be decisively
prepared for the counteroffensive and national recovery, and must stand ready to
respond to anti-Communist uprisings whenever and wherever they may occur. We
cannot afford to let such a fateful opportunity slip from our grip...We should
invigorate our revolutionary spirit and fuse it into strong combat formations.
All our blood, sweat, and toil, and all our resources, she be expended for the
sake of our sacred war of national recovery...All the evils of Communism must be
eradicated so as to eliminate the danger of a destructive world war and restore
a lasting peace and well-being for mankind. Only thus can the spirit of Dr. Sun
and the revolutionary martyrs rest in peace in Heaven.” This is my favorite
passage from this book because it is the real words spoken by Chiang. You can
feel his passion and energy in those words. It shows the struggles he had
already overcome and how willing he was to continue fighting for what he really
believed in. You can see why he was the great leader that he was.
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