The Study On Wu Pei-fu Under Japan's Lure, 1927-1939

After anti-Japanese War entered into a deadlock, in order to change the passive situation, Japan made an attempt to allure the influential military celebrities and politicians out of office into surrender so that they could establish a national puppet regime. Through a series of sifting, they leveled their target at Wu Peifu. To this end Japan launched an all-dimensional campaign with all kinds of methods such as establishing specific institution, making special invitation, striving to creating agreeable circumstances, coercing him into observance, establishing good relationships, taking psychological offense into prior consideration, taking advantage of Chinese traitors' expostulation, respectfully inviting him into office and drawing over his relatives and subordinates. Confronting with Japan's enticing activities, Wu Peifu behaved rather resourceful. He only took actions when it was right time; neither declined the position in public nor promised to accept it unambiguously. Finally, the sensational campaign ended with Japan's failure to bring on Wu Peifu's surrender, owing to the conflicts among Japan's political powers, the efforts made by various social classes on Wu Peifu and the effect of Wu's subjective elements.In face of Japan's lure into surrender, the contemporary celebrities in nationalist party such as Jiang Jieshi, Wang Jingwei and Wu Peifu responded differently. Wu and Jiang refrained from Japan's enticement, upheld their national stand, while Wang went astray by his own choice, thus was pegged onto the column of stigma in history. The failure of Japan's alluring Wu Peifu into surrender not only brought reputation of patriotism to Wu Peifu in his senectitude, but also aroused the anti-Japanese fighting morale of Chinese people, which stimulated Chinese traitors' government, demolished Japan's predetermined policy and accelerated Japan's pace of losing the invasion war. Although Wu Peifu is not a genuine patriot, his unaccountable death contributed to bis integrity and fame in his old age.