Why did Zhang Zuolin repeatedly say with regret, "The three people I am most sorry for in my life are all women"?
On March 19, 1875 (February 12, the first year of Guangxu), he was born in Xiaowa Village, 90 Huali Bei, Haicheng County, Fengtian. In 1887, he studied with Mr. Yang Jingzhen in a private school for three months.
In 1888, his father Zhang Youcai was beaten to death by a gambler. He and his second brother went to take revenge. The gun went off and accidentally injured someone. The second brother was arrested. He escaped and went to Zhen'an County with his mother Wang and his sister. He ate at his grandfather's house in Zhaojiamiao Village (that is, Heishan County) (now part of Beizhen County).
In 1889, he studied to be a carpenter, sold buns as a peddler, and studied to be a veterinarian. Zhang Zuolin is a great hero of the generation. He treats his brothers with kindness and wealth, and treats Japan and Russia with a domineering attitude, which makes people admire him very much. But throughout his life, what was most criticized was his treatment of his first wife, Zhao Chungui, who was initially chaotic and eventually abandoned. Zhao Chungui was the woman Zhang Zuolin felt most sorry for in his life.
Zhao Chungui, also known as Zhao Erniu, is the daughter of Zhao Zhanyuan, the landlord of Zhaojiamiao. When Zhao Zhanyuan met Zhang Zuolin by chance, he found that this young man was not big in stature and had a good temper. He would become a great person in the future, so he took a gamble and married his daughter Zhao Chungui to Zhang Zuolin, who had nothing at the time and was idle. This bet was indeed the right one.
Zhang Zuolin started from the insurance team, and worked as a regiment commander, battalion commander, commander, and military training minister outside the customs. By the time Yuan Shikai became president after the Revolution of 1911, Zhang Zuolin had become the lieutenant general commander of the 27th Division, and he was very popular. Almost controlled the entire military power of Fengtian (today's Shenyang). After Zhang Zuolin married Zhao Chungui, he spent a beautiful but short time. Zhao Chungui gave birth to Zhang Zuolin's three children: Zhang Shoufang, Zhang Xueliang, and Zhang Xueming.
What is commendable is that Zhao Chungui is not only Zhang Zuolin's virtuous wife, but also his good helper. One year, Zhang Zuolin had a conflict with his sworn brother Wu Junsheng and almost started a fight. At this critical moment, Zhao Chungui launched "lady diplomacy" and took the initiative to become a sister with Wu Junsheng's wife Cao. The flash of swords and shadows disappeared.
When Zhang Zuolin encountered something, he no longer took the initiative to discuss it with Zhao Chungui. After the two had quarrels over trivial matters in life, Zhang Zuolin often treated Zhao Chungui coldly and like a master. More importantly, Zhang Zuolin began to like other successful men, preferring the new and hating the old, taking concubines and marrying new ones.
Zhang Zuolin married his second wife, Lu Shouxuan, and his third wife, Dai Xianyu, on his own initiative without consulting Zhao Chungui. The quarrels between the two became more and more frequent. After another fierce quarrel, Zhao Chungui returned to his hometown in Xinmin County with his children. Zhang Zuolin did not stop him, pretending not to know, and said: "How can a man be restrained by your crying and fussing!"
Maybe Zhang Zuolin felt sorry for his wife, so Zhao Chungui's funeral was arranged It has to be extremely grand. At that time, officials at all levels in Fengtian and Xinmin counties wore sackcloth and mourning for Zhao Chungui. Zhang Zuolin asked Mr. Feng Shui to take a fancy to Yimafang. The west side of this cemetery faces three mountains, namely Ma'an Mountain, Yin Mountain and Monkey Mountain, which coincides with the ancient meanings of "immediately sealing the title of a marquis" and "the title of a marquis hanging a seal". Zhang Zuolin found that the Feng Shui here was good, so he buried his mother, Mrs. Wang Tai, here.