Liang Qichao, Cai E's teacher and good friend, once invited German doctors from Chongqing to treat Cai E in Luzhou, Sichuan.
After receiving treatment in Luzhou, Cai E has been dragging his sick body to work in Chengdu. The reason why he is in such a hurry is that there will be another war here at this time, and he has to go.
On this trip to Chengdu, Cai E went by sedan chair. After eight days of turbulence, he arrived in Chengdu. On the day of his arrival, that is, July 29th, tens of thousands of ordinary people lined up in the street 40 miles away to welcome him. The common people saw the ill look on his face, but they didn't know that his life was only three months away.
During his ten days in Chengdu, Cai E drastically reorganized the Sichuan Army, unified fiscal revenue and expenditure, and formulated regulations on rewards and punishments for soldiers and officials. Military and political meetings were held frequently, and the heavy work made Cai E's health worse and worse.
Before leaving Chengdu, Cai E was too weak to walk three or two steps. After examination in Chengdu, Cai E was diagnosed as laryngeal tuberculosis. The doctor also told him that the climate in Sichuan was not conducive to treatment.
On August 9th, Cai E left Chengdu and went to Shanghai for medical treatment. At this time, his wife Pan Huiying and his son Cai Yongning have also set off from Kunming to meet them in Shanghai.
Cai E really suffered a lot all the way from Chengdu to Shanghai. I walked alone for nearly 20 days. Fortunately, it was a smooth trip.
After arriving in Shanghai, Cai E, who knew that he was seriously ill, lived in seclusion and declined all banquets and interviews. In order to facilitate treatment, he rented a small building next to Hongkou Hospital and lived there.
Soon, his wife Pan Huiying came to Shanghai with her son. The joy of reunion after such a long separation made Cai E in a good mood. Pan Huiying is strictly Cai E's concubine room, but in the Cai family, her status is completely equivalent to the original Liu Xiazhen. She received a new education and took part in the revolution. For many years, she has been a silent supporter behind her husband.
When she saw her husband whom she hadn't seen for more than a year, Pan Huiying was distressed to find that he was completely different from the radiant image in military uniform. His face is thin, his cheekbones are prominent, his wrinkles are deep, his lips are bloodless, and even his voice has become hoarse.
On the day of meeting, Pan Huiying shed tears. Cai E met her and comforted her: "Xianmei, it's all right now. I have resigned and retired, and we can live a good life together. It's just that it's hard for you to suffer so much for me these years. "
Pan Huiying didn't feel much better after listening. It doesn't matter how much she suffered. What she is worried about now is her husband's illness. Cai E probably understand the lady's mind, he added:
When Pan Huiying heard this, her mood instantly improved and she was full of expectations for her future life. On that day, the two reunited and talked about the life of their mother, family and hometown.
After the chat, Pan Huiying also agreed with Cai E in three chapters: From now on, everything should be health first, and don't be overworked. After hearing this, Cai E vowed: "In the future, I will definitely listen to you."
Shortly after Pan Huiying arrived, Cai E's close friend Huang Xing came to visit the sick. That day was the happiest day for Cai E, who formed an alliance with Huang Xing, Chen Tianhua and Song on the Japanese reef. During the revolutionary career, they have been watching and helping each other. Alas, Chen Tianhua and Song are dead, and there are only two of the four brothers left.
"How to lose so much, much thinner than when I was studying in the Japanese NCO school. This shows that you sent troops because of Yuan's fierce battle, my good brother. " At the sight of Cai E, Huang Xing said distressfully.
Cai E heard this, the in the mind a bitter, he sighed and said:
Hearing this, Huang Xing's tears have been swirling in her eyes. As a revolutionary, how could he not understand the hardships of the revolution? I can hear my sick brother tell these difficulties with his own ears, and he has an unspeakable bitterness in his heart.
On that day, while lying chatting with Huang Xing, Cai E suddenly realized in her mind that Huang Xing was much older than before, and her situation seemed to be not much better than herself. For an instant, he even had a bad feeling.
Shortly after Huang Xing left, Liang Qichao went to see a doctor. He urged Cai E to "go to Japan for treatment" on the grounds that the medical conditions there were more advanced. Pan Huiying also tried to support him to go to Japan for treatment.
On September 9th, two months before Cai E's death, accompanied by his wife, he went to Japan for treatment. Before he left, his throat hurt so much that he couldn't talk often.
After arriving in Japan, Cai E entered Fukuoka Medical University Hospital, the affiliated hospital of Kyushu Imperial University. As before, he rented a house near the hospital. This trip was accompanied by his adjutant He Xiangpeng and others.
During the treatment, Cai E's condition did not get any improvement. This result made Cai E feel very depressed. I don't know why, after arriving in Japan, he always wanted to see the reef he and Huang Xing swore.
One day, Cai E finally couldn't help taking his wife along the coast and headed for the reef. Cai E was very excited when he saw the big stone in the distance. He immediately stopped at the seaside and sat cross-legged. For a long time, he stared blankly at the rolling stones in the sea.
Pan Huiying knew that the reef was the place where they formed an alliance. She also knows that in their youth, with the ambition of serving the country, they talked with patriotic young people about state affairs, ideals and personal ambitions on that reef countless times.
Because I know that Pan Huiying has been silently accompanying Cai E while looking at the rocks cross-legged. Like him, she just looked at the rocks.
I don't know how long it took, Cai E finally spoke, his voice excited and deep:
Hearing this, Pan Huiying was shocked. She only knew that Chen Tianhua threw himself into the sea for the revolution, but she didn't know that this was the place where he died. Her eyes were moist at once.
"If you are ambitious, you will die first, and your blood will boil!" Cai E whispered to his wife beside him with infinite sadness.
Pan Huiying was deeply moved. As a revolutionary, her heart was completely shocked by the tragic scene at the moment, and her tears blurred. She seemed to see Chen Tianhua running to the sea. She covered her mouth with a handkerchief and tried not to cry.
"Not only Chen Tianhua, but also Huang Xing made great sacrifices for the revolution. His health is already very poor. Every time he recovered from his illness, he was never idle. He failed many times in the revolution, and he was excluded ... "At some point, Cai E's voice choked.
"Huang Xing is overworked and in poor health, but he is only in his 40 s and has a long way to go. I hope that Brother Huang Can will take care of his health and make a comeback, contribute to the reconstruction of the Republic of China and the rejuvenation of China, and make the tragic and dark motherland rich and strong as soon as possible. " When he said this, Cai E's voice was deep and powerful.
Pan Huiying listened, and her husband pinned the hope of revolution on Huang Xing. At this moment, her mood became particularly heavy.
That day, they stayed at the seaside and didn't go back until very late. In the following days, Cai E returned to the hospital for further treatment, which had no effect.
65438+1October 3 1, eight days before Cai E's death: Huang Xing, the hero who founded the Republic of China, suddenly died in Shanghai. For Cai E, the news was like a thunderbolt under the clear sky in Wan Li, which knocked him down at once.
After getting the exact news of Huang Xing's death, Cai E fell into a semi-coma state. Pan Huiying and the children gathered around him, sobbing in a low voice. Doctors, Japanese friends, adjutants and guards are all around his bed, guarding him.
Under the careful care of everyone, Cai E woke up slowly the next morning. But when he woke up again, he was already very weak, pale, with thin cheeks and shortness of breath.
Seeing that he woke up, Pan Huiying went to pour a glass of water, drank some water and took a few pills. After that, Cai E told the adjutant to go out to accompany Yongning, leaving only Huiying to accompany him to rest in his room.
Pan Huiying is already in a bad mood. The news she got from the doctor was not optimistic. She knew that her husband couldn't help it this time. Cai E knows his body very well. He advised his wife: "If you really die, it is also a destiny and a natural law. There is no need to be sad."
In the next few days, Cai E often fell asleep. When he was awake, he kept thinking about Huang Xing and their unfinished revolutionary cause. During this period, he also got bad news from Zhao Kun, the speaker of Yunnan Provincial Assembly who came to visit him. Zhao Kun told him:
Cai E was worried and angry at the news that Sichuan was once again in chaos. His indignation tunnel:
When will the country that Cai E has devoted itself to become rich and strong? Now, he can't give the answer to this question. He hates his sick body, and he hates that he can only watch the country split and the chaos of warlords, but he can't do anything about it.
Worried about state affairs, Cai E also worried about Huang Xing's funeral. He struggled to write a letter of condolence to Huang Xing in his own hand on his deathbed. He also tearfully wrote an elegiac couplet for crying Huang Keqiang, saying:
This elegy became the last words of Cai E's life. Cai E's masterpiece turned out to be a hero crying a hero, which is probably unexpected to the world.
After writing, Cai E immediately wrote to Zhang, a friend who lives in Shanghai, asking him to send a eulogy to the mourning hall for Huang Xing. Everything is arranged, and Cai E's strength is all spent.
On his deathbed, Cai E missed his hometown very much. His hometown Wugangfu (now Dongkou County) Shanmen's hometown is really beautiful. In front of the house is the winding Yellow River with rippling blue waves. Behind the house, there are beautiful green hills, rivers and mountains. Zhong Ling is beautiful.
At the thought of his hometown, Cai E felt very calm. Just as he was thinking about his hometown, a white-haired old man loomed in his mind. This man is his mother Wang.
"White-haired people send black-haired people!" Cai E lightly sighed. After holding his hand, Pan Huiying looked at his wife and remembered his original wife Liu Xiazhen, his daughters Julian, Shu Lian and Cai Duan. At this time, he also thought sadly: they haven't seen each other for a year or two. ...
"In the future, I will not be around you, and everything will be taken care of by yourself." Cai E mumbling tunnel. Pan Huiying nodded tearfully. She knew that his words were farewell.
165438+1on the evening of 7 October, the day before Cai E's death, he said with emotion to the adjutant around him:
After listening to his words, the adjutants all sobbed. He feels sorry, but they don't think so!
165438+1October 8, that is, in the early morning of Cai E's death, he dictated his will. Later, this will was recorded by Shi and He, and called on the whole country:
When she dictated her will, Pan Huiying heard her voice getting lower and lower, and her heart ached. Say that finish "thin burial", she looked at his head hanging down slowly, there is no sound at all. ...
Pan Huiying pounced on Cai E like crazy, crying and shouting:
Only eight days after Huang Xing's death, Cai E followed. Their successive departure was a great blow to the revolution.
After Cai E's death, Pan Huiying cut off a lock of General Cai E's hair to show her infinite admiration and eternal memory for her husband, and combed it in a bun until the end of her life. From then until her death, she never remarried.
Four days after Cai E's death, Congress decided to posthumously award Cai E as a general and hold a state funeral. 19 17, his coffin was transported back to Changsha and buried on the famous Yuelu Mountain in Changsha.
About the death of Cai E, Chen Jiongming's elegy is probably the best summary: