Kong’s ancestral home was Qufu, Shandong. His ancestor Kong Hong went to Shanxi to be an official during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, and his descendants came to Taigu, Shanxi to do business and make a living. Kong Xiangxi's grandfather Kong Qingxian became a rich man because he took over the bank run by his uncle Kong Renxian. Kong Xiangxi's father Kong Fanci inherited the ancestral business, but became addicted to the habit of smoking opium. When Kong Xiangxi was born, his family was already in decline.

Build schools and build industries.

In 1907, Kong Xiangxi returned to Beijing after completing his studies. He politely declined the invitations from the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications and Peiyang University, and returned to Taigu to run a school. The school was named "Mingxian School", which means to commemorate the victims of Gengzi, and became the first middle school in Taigu. Kong Xiangxi ran the school with equal emphasis on morality, intelligence, and physical education. He adopted the American Infantry Code, made wooden guns, and trained students. The new teaching method was a hit with students and attracted the attention of local business groups and the police department.

Old photos of Kong Xiangxi

The initial success of investing in industry and running schools for rich people brought glory to the young Kong Xiangxi, but this ambitious young man did not stop there. . The savvy accumulated from the businessman's family background, the Western industrial and commercial model, and the deepening of social relationship foundation drove him to embark on a broader path and devote himself to the business world.

With his keen business vision, Kong Xiangxi saw that kerosene had become a necessity for residents to light lamps at night, and operating kerosene would be profitable. In 1912, he established a company with Wu Shukong, paid a deposit to the British businessman Asia Fuel Oil Company, and obtained the general agent distribution rights of Asia Shell Fuel Oil in Shaanxi Province. Relying on the unique status of the comprador, Kong Xiangxi made considerable profits every year and earned the "first pot of gold" in the business world.

Official circles are in the country.

Kong Xiangxi's success in running schools and industries enhanced his social prestige and increased his influence in officialdom. He gave full play to his experienced and good coordination skills, moved freely among major political forces, and gained more political capital. The biggest speculation is that it promoted the marriage between Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Meiling.

Kong Xiangxi and his wife

In early 1925, Sun Yat-sen died of illness in Beijing. Kong Xiangxi was one of the signers of the "Prime Minister's Will". In the spring of 1926, he went to the United States, received an honorary doctorate in law from Oberlin University, and raised more than one million yuan for Mingxian School to open an undergraduate department. In the same year, he left the United States and returned to China. After arriving in Guangzhou, he was appointed as a member of the Guangdong Branch of the Central Political Conference of the Kuomintang and Director of Finance of Guangdong Province, and was also in charge of rear financial affairs. After that, he officially entered politics.

In August 1927, internal conflicts in the Nanjing government intensified, and Chiang Kai-shek was forced to resign. In order to plan Chiang's comeback, he traveled to Ningxia, Han, Shanghai, Guangdong, Shaanxi, and Henan to win over all parties and "painstakingly resolved the matter for several months, using all possible care and mediation efforts." Finally, he and Feng Yuxiang jointly issued a statement calling for "cross-strait unity" and welcomed Chiang's reinstatement. In January 1928, Chiang Kai-shek was reinstated as "Commander-in-Chief of the National Revolutionary Army".

While Kong Xiangxi was running around to win over allies for Chiang Kai-shek, he did not forget to hold hands with Chiang Kai-shek's lifelong partner, namely his wife Soong Ailing's sister Soong Meiling, which contributed to the success of this far-reaching political marriage. The marriage between Chiang Kai-shek and Song Dynasty facilitated Chiang Kai-shek's close ties with the Jiangsu and Zhejiang plutocrats, and externally helped to win the support of the British and American governments and foreign capital investment in China, thereby stabilizing the financial foundation and diplomatic status of the Nanjing government, while the Kong and Song families A fellow national, he easily gained political status through the regime controlled by Chiang Kai-shek

In November 1944, amidst the changing political situation, Kong Xiangxi was forced to resign from important positions such as Finance Minister, ending the control of China's finances. day. However, due to Chiang Kai-shek's patronage and suppression, the Kong family's disgraceful behavior in corrupting the country has never been thoroughly investigated and appropriately punished.

Stay in the United States, away from home.

After resigning as Minister of Finance, Kong Xiangxi stayed in the United States for more than half a year. In 1945, he resigned as Vice President of the Executive Yuan, left the United States, and returned to China in July. In the same month, he resigned as governor of the Central Bank and vice chairman of the General Department of the Fourth Alliance. In October, he resigned as chairman of the Agricultural Bank of China. So far, he has only retained the title of chairman of the Bank of China and member of the Central Executive Committee of the Kuomintang.

Photos of Kong Xiangxi attending events

In order to make a comeback, Kong Xiangxi also carried out some activities. In 1946, he was elected as a delegate to the National Congress, but there was no hope of his comeback due to resistance from political factions, CC and other factions.

In the autumn of 1947, he hurriedly left Shanghai for the United States to escape the political storm on the grounds that he had received a telegram from Song Ailing who was seriously ill in the United States. In January 1948, he resigned as chairman of the Bank of China and completely faded out of politics.

Chiang Kai-shek retired to Taiwan Province and hired Kong Xiangxi as "State Counselor". In 1962, Kong went to Taiwan Province to live temporarily. In 1966, his old illness relapsed and he went to the United States for treatment. He eventually died of a heart attack in New York on August 16, 1967.