Memoirs of Li Zongren (volumes 1 and 2)
by Tang Degang
About This Novel
Li Zongren (1891-1969) was one of the few political leaders and figures in modern Chinese history. He was the military leader of the Guangxi Clan and an important member of the central leadership of the Kuomintang. In April 1948, he served as the first vice president of the National Government. In January 1949, he served as acting president after Chiang Kai-shek resigned from power. In December of the same year, he went to the United States. In 1965, he returned to his roots and issued a statement in Beijing, determined to contribute to the reunification of the motherland. Li Zongren served in the military throughout his life and went through countless wars such as protecting the country, protecting the law, the Northern Expedition, Jiang Gui, the Anti-Japanese War, and the civil war between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, which directly affected the trend of modern Chinese politics and history. While living in the United States, Li Zongren was invited by Columbia University and under the auspices of the "East Asian Institute·Chinese Oral History Department". In 1958, he began to personally narrate his more than thirty years of military career and the major military events he participated in. The historian Tang Degang compiled and wrote it, and it became "Memoirs of Li Zongren". This book is also an original history book that requires the most study, the most labor, and the most difficulties among Tang Degang's personal published works. It took more than twenty years from the initial consultation to the publication. "Memoirs of Li Zongren" is a complete record of Li Zongren's extraordinary life career, and it is also the most faithful portrayal of Li's mental journey at each stage of his life. It completely preserves Li Zongren's true face in Chinese history and indirectly reveals many little-known political insider stories or military secrets. It has extremely important reference value for understanding and studying modern Chinese history.
What Readers Think
Rating
Community(0)
Official(11)Scraped 11d ago
Too much nonsense
The author talks too much nonsense,
Read it in one sitting. From this memoir, we not only learned about Li Zongren's life, but also learned about the history of China during the Republic of China. In short, history is the history of people. What a great book!
Um
This book is very, very good. Very good.
One characteristic of oral history is that although it is often not possible to see the real narrator, it is possible to see the self that the narrator wants to construct. Li Zongren too beautified the actions of the Guangxi Clique during the Northern Expedition. The reason why the Guangxi Clique supported the Northern Expedition was probably not only his so-called revolutionary enthusiasm, but also related to the poor financial situation of the Guangxi Clique and the current situation in Guangdong and Guangxi at that time. Li Zongren may have promoted the Northern Expedition in this way because he could use the Northern Expedition to achieve the purpose of unifying Guangdong and Guangxi and to personally rise to the upper echelons of the government. The saying that when Guangzhou gets rich later, the army will become corrupted is probably all an excuse. The real reason is probably not that if the situation in Guangzhou is rough, there will be no need to fake the Guangxi Clan's military strength and they will go north on their own. The Guangxi Clan will have financial difficulties. The so-called best opportunity for the Northern Expedition was probably the best opportunity for the Guangxi clique. At that time, there were many factions in the Guangdong clique, but the Guangxi clique had integrated internally, and the Li-Bai Alliance had been completed. Li Zongren was a former member of the Democratic League, so how could he know nothing about the situation in Guangzhou at that time. But in any case, the Guangxi clan had great honors in promoting the Northern Expedition. Although Li Zongren often glossed over his remarks, he was often able to hit the nail on the head when talking about serious matters.
Reading Li Zongren's Memoirs
27 days to experience Li's life
In the later years of his life, he also used two "weapons" to play the role of "frightening birds who hate others": one is to return to the mainland and give away his "surplus value"; the other is to hide in famous mountains and complete the publication of his (Li Zongren's Memoirs). These two "weapons" are the best ending of his life, which is really amazing. ...
good
Not bad, very good, very good.
After reading it in one breath, I felt that the Republic of China prospered and fell suddenly! During the eight years of the War of Resistance, there were many loyal and courageous people. However, the Chiang family was unable to lead troops or generals, and was divided into factions. The country was governed only by power and deceit. He was not determined to uphold justice, and rewards and punishments were uneven. They were all direct lineage, arbitrary but incompetent, and his virtue was not enough to match his position. After four years of competition, the mainland changed hands. Who does it? Who will listen to it?
General Li Zongren is worth watching! There is also some Guangxi history in it!
The general went to Guangzhou in person to promote the Northern Expedition!
Li Zongren, what a pity. He can be considered a hero in troubled times.
Rating
Community(0)
Official(11)Scraped 11d ago
Too much nonsense
The author talks too much nonsense,
Read it in one sitting. From this memoir, we not only learned about Li Zongren's life, but also learned about the history of China during the Republic of China. In short, history is the history of people. What a great book!
Um
This book is very, very good. Very good.
One characteristic of oral history is that although it is often not possible to see the real narrator, it is possible to see the self that the narrator wants to construct. Li Zongren too beautified the actions of the Guangxi Clique during the Northern Expedition. The reason why the Guangxi Clique supported the Northern Expedition was probably not only his so-called revolutionary enthusiasm, but also related to the poor financial situation of the Guangxi Clique and the current situation in Guangdong and Guangxi at that time. Li Zongren may have promoted the Northern Expedition in this way because he could use the Northern Expedition to achieve the purpose of unifying Guangdong and Guangxi and to personally rise to the upper echelons of the government. The saying that when Guangzhou gets rich later, the army will become corrupted is probably all an excuse. The real reason is probably not that if the situation in Guangzhou is rough, there will be no need to fake the Guangxi Clan's military strength and they will go north on their own. The Guangxi Clan will have financial difficulties. The so-called best opportunity for the Northern Expedition was probably the best opportunity for the Guangxi clique. At that time, there were many factions in the Guangdong clique, but the Guangxi clique had integrated internally, and the Li-Bai Alliance had been completed. Li Zongren was a former member of the Democratic League, so how could he know nothing about the situation in Guangzhou at that time. But in any case, the Guangxi clan had great honors in promoting the Northern Expedition. Although Li Zongren often glossed over his remarks, he was often able to hit the nail on the head when talking about serious matters.
Reading Li Zongren's Memoirs
27 days to experience Li's life
In the later years of his life, he also used two "weapons" to play the role of "frightening birds who hate others": one is to return to the mainland and give away his "surplus value"; the other is to hide in famous mountains and complete the publication of his (Li Zongren's Memoirs). These two "weapons" are the best ending of his life, which is really amazing. ...
good
Not bad, very good, very good.
After reading it in one breath, I felt that the Republic of China prospered and fell suddenly! During the eight years of the War of Resistance, there were many loyal and courageous people. However, the Chiang family was unable to lead troops or generals, and was divided into factions. The country was governed only by power and deceit. He was not determined to uphold justice, and rewards and punishments were uneven. They were all direct lineage, arbitrary but incompetent, and his virtue was not enough to match his position. After four years of competition, the mainland changed hands. Who does it? Who will listen to it?
General Li Zongren is worth watching! There is also some Guangxi history in it!
The general went to Guangzhou in person to promote the Northern Expedition!
Li Zongren, what a pity. He can be considered a hero in troubled times.
