Tales of Anna Shen, one of most notorious communist sleeper agents who penetrated deeply into the military command structure of Chiang Kai-shek's Republic of China Army and government.
How did she—the femme fatale of modern Chinese history—pull off such an intelligence coup? /1
1) What motivated Anna Shen to dedicate her life to radical social change?
Roots could be found in early tensions between her and her family. She was born into a well-to-do family in 1915, in Jiangsu Province of southern China. While she was allowed school education, her /2
(1 cont'd) family was otherwise very traditional, insisting on arranged marriage for her, which she had no interest in and tradition of which she despised. She also sided with her older sister when latter was physically abused by rest of family for being unable to conceive. /3
2) Accepted
She and her older sister fled their abusive family in 1932, and hitchhiked to Shanghai with modest savings. She was determined to further her education, and wanted to enroll at Shanghai Nanyang Commercial High School. When she approached the headmaster, she was /4
(2 cont’d) rebuffed, as it was too late to take Entrance Exam.
Anna Shen didn’t budge. The headmaster, exasperated, challenged Anna Shen to write Application Essay on the spot. She poured her heart out, about her family abuse and passion for social reform.
She was accepted. /5
(3) How did Anna Shen secure government position as stenographer?
She had superhuman skills.
Main selection criteria for that position was speed. She managed 400 Chinese characters (in shorthand) per minute, which placed her way above and beyond other candidates.
Accepted. /6
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