If the marriage between Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Meiling was based on pure love, it would definitely be untenable. The political nature behind the marriage of Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Meiling was clearly visible to the world when they first got married. Hu Lin, a famous newspaperman during the Republic of China, once commented that their marriage was a political marriage.
Chiang Kai-shek's remarriage was a premeditated political activity. He hoped to win the support of Mrs. Sun Yat-sen and Song Ziwen... At that time, Chiang Kai-shek also began to feel the need to seek support from the West. After marrying Soong Meiling, he had the "mouth and ears" to communicate with Westerners. In addition, he also admired Song Ziwen as a financial expert.
Therefore, for Chiang Kai-shek, at least at the beginning, marrying Soong Meiling was mostly for political purposes. He hoped to gain the support of the Jiangsu and Zhejiang plutocrats through marriage with the Song family and deal with the United States. Good relationship. The successful move of marrying into the Song family was an important reason why Chiang Kai-shek was able to defeat all the princes at that time.
Being connected because of politics does not mean that there is no affection between the two people. From the sweetness between the two when Chiang Kai-shek first pursued Soong Meiling, to the care they gave Soong Meiling after their marriage, to the resolute decision to go to Xi'an to negotiate alone when Chiang Kai-shek was killed, and to the subsequent trip to the United States to carry out diplomacy to seek international assistance, it was the relationship between the two. testimony.
After getting married, although the two slowly developed a relationship, Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Meiling had great differences regardless of their origins, education levels, and religious beliefs (Chiang later converted to Christianity). The gap, in today's terms, is that Soong Meiling is an out-and-out Bai Fumei. She was the third daughter of the famous Soong family. She grew up in the United States and received an American education. She was proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, while Chiang Kai-shek was just from the countryside. He is just a poor student or soldier in the county town. Therefore, the two have different ways of thinking and living habits, so there are many misunderstandings and frictions.
In Chiang Kai-shek’s diary, we see many records of conflicts between the couple.
In the morning, I went to Wusong with my third sister for a parade, and when I heard about his disagreement, I returned to Nanjing, feeling very depressed. A mother loves her son, a mother loves her brother, a sister loves her sister, a wife loves her husband, and yet I returned to Beijing alone. Who knows who loves and cherishes. Alas! Don't suffer because of being an orphan. I hate not being filial to my mother. How can I regret it now? (January 28, 1929)
But the family was in trouble and his spirit was scattered, so he was unable to accomplish anything. This year the responsibilities will be even more arduous, and I hope there will be internal helpers to help. (January 2, 1931)
In the morning, after a disagreement, my wife left for Shanghai without leaving, which made me even more miserable. When disaster comes, I should do it. Therefore, I don’t want the irresponsible person to suffer life and death, and I can’t bear to have my wife share the same suffering. (September 27, 1931)
From the above three diaries, we can see that Soong Meiling still had a somewhat "eldest lady" temper. She would run away from home if she disagreed with her, which made Chiang Kai-shek feel aggrieved. , like a "helpless child", but Chiang Kai-shek was still full of love for Soong Meiling and "could not bear his wife's suffering". He just hoped that his wife would change her mind and give him more help.
After getting along with his wife for a long time, Chiang Kai-shek gradually understood Soong Meiling's character and summed up a set of ways to get along, "The friendship between gentlemen is as light as water, and the same is true in the boudoir." "Treat your wife like a gentleman, treat each other as if you are a guest, treat each other as if you are a guest.
Even with the strategy of gentlemen meeting each other like water, Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Meiling still had a lot of conflicts, and Soong Meiling still ran away from home from time to time. At this time, Chiang Kai-shek usually had only two options. One was to call and send a telegram to Soong Meiling, begging his wife for forgiveness, and the other was to send in reinforcements and negotiate peace with the couple through a third party.
For example, in 1929, Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Meiling traveled to Shanghai together. Soong Meiling was unwilling to return to Nanjing with Chiang Kai-shek for some unknown reason, so Chiang Kai-shek resorted to making phone calls and sending telegrams.
Having a wife but not being able to live together, which brings the rest of the family down, is the greatest sin of unfilial piety...I can't sleep in the afternoon, but I feel lonely and sad...In the evening, I discuss party affairs, and my wife letter. (February 6, 1929)
I called my third sister to inquire about her illness. I miss her so much. (February 8, 1929)
If Soong Meiling is still unwilling to reconcile, Chiang Kai-shek will ask a third person to negotiate for peace. This person is usually Soong Ailing, the eldest sister of the Soong family.
Song Ailing was the most important figure in promoting the marriage between Chiang Kai-shek and Song Meiling. She knew the personalities of both Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Meiling very well, so if she came forward to negotiate peace, she would probably succeed.
In short, although Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Meiling had a deep relationship after their marriage, the couple often had conflicts, and these conflicts often ended with Chiang Kai-shek surrendering to Soong Meiling and seeking peace.
Here is an excerpt from an oral statement by Chiang Kai-shek's personal bodyguard Weng Yuan, which is extremely interesting.
The conflicts between Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Meiling as husband and wife were commonplace in the eyes of the staff around them. Every time there was a conflict, the staff would watch the couple's conflict with a joke mentality, because they all knew that the two would not really make a big fuss, and it wouldn't be long before Chiang Kai-shek would give in. Bring Soong Meiling back.
Every time I see this record, I can't help but laugh. It turns out that whether you are a politician or a commoner, you will always be a little bit "stingy" in your family.