蔡公(gong)時(1881—1928),江(jiang)西省(sheng)九江(jiang)市人,幼習經史,1902年組織慎所染齋,明為講學,實則宣傳革命(ming),很快被查封,后(hou)赴日本留(liu)學,攻(gong)讀于東京弘文(wen)學校,并加(jia)入中國同盟(meng)會,并以《民報》為陣地(di),從事反對帝制(zhi)、建立共和的革命(ming)宣傳。
回國(guo)后,于1904年(nian)隨黃興、譚人(ren)(ren)鳳(feng)等人(ren)(ren)入(ru)粵,參與欽廉之役,失(shi)敗后出走越南,后輾(zhan)轉(zhuan)返回江西,任法政學(xue)堂教授(shou),秘密進行革(ge)命宣傳;1913年(nian),二次(ci)革(ge)命失(shi)敗后,復赴日(ri)本,入(ru)東京(jing)帝國(guo)大學(xue)政治(zhi)經濟科學(xue)習。
1917年(nian)后,任(ren)(ren)廣州(zhou)護法軍政(zheng)府大元帥(shuai)府參議;1922年(nian),任(ren)(ren)第五師參議,后改任(ren)(ren)秘書;1926年(nian),任(ren)(ren)上(shang)海工(gong)統委(wei)(wei)員會委(wei)(wei)員;1927年(nian)5月(yue),任(ren)(ren)金陵關監督等職。
1928年春,任(ren)國(guo)民革命軍總司令部戰(zhan)地政(zheng)務委員兼外交(jiao)(jiao)處主(zhu)任(ren),隨軍北伐;5月1日(ri)進(jin)駐濟(ji)南(nan)(nan),任(ren)國(guo)民政(zheng)府外交(jiao)(jiao)部山東(dong)交(jiao)(jiao)涉員;時日(ri)本政(zheng)府為阻止(zhi)英美勢力向中國(guo)北方(fang)發展,借口(kou)保護(hu)僑民,派兵侵占濟(ji)南(nan)(nan)。
5月3日,日寇(kou)尋釁(xin)挑起事端,肆意捕殺中(zhong)國(guo)(guo)軍(jun)民(min),制造了震驚中(zhong)外(wai)的(de)“濟南慘案”;是日下午,日軍(jun)將位于(yu)濟南商埠經四路小緯六路的(de)山東交(jiao)涉(she)公(gong)(gong)署(shu)包圍,此時,蔡公(gong)(gong)時剛(gang)接手(shou)交(jiao)涉(she)公(gong)(gong)署(shu)工作;晚(wan)9時,日軍(jun)50余(yu)人持械進入交(jiao)涉(she)公(gong)(gong)署(shu)內,威逼工作人員交(jiao)出(chu)武器;蔡公(gong)(gong)時挺身而出(chu),說“我們系外(wai)交(jiao)人員,不(bu)(bu)攜(xie)帶(dai)武器”;日軍(jun)置(zhi)國(guo)(guo)際公(gong)(gong)法于(yu)不(bu)(bu)顧,蓄意撕毀國(guo)(guo)民(min)政府旗幟青天白日旗及孫中(zhong)山畫像,強行(xing)搜掠文件。
為(wei)避免事(shi)態擴大(da)(da),蔡(cai)公(gong)(gong)(gong)時(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)婉(wan)言要(yao)求日(ri)(ri)(ri)(ri)軍(jun)(jun)停止搜查,退(tui)出公(gong)(gong)(gong)署;并請日(ri)(ri)(ri)(ri)領(ling)事(shi)前來洽商(shang),但均遭拒絕;隨后(hou),日(ri)(ri)(ri)(ri)軍(jun)(jun)以(yi)(yi)暴力(li)手段將(jiang)(jiang)交(jiao)涉署人員捆縛;蔡(cai)公(gong)(gong)(gong)時(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)據理力(li)爭,日(ri)(ri)(ri)(ri)本(ben)(ben)軍(jun)(jun)官(guan)惱(nao)羞成怒,命令日(ri)(ri)(ri)(ri)本(ben)(ben)兵也將(jiang)(jiang)蔡(cai)公(gong)(gong)(gong)時(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)綁縛起(qi)來。蔡(cai)公(gong)(gong)(gong)時(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)忍(ren)無可(ke)忍(ren),便怒斥(chi)(chi)道(dao):“汝(ru)等不(bu)(bu)(bu)明外交(jiao)禮(li)儀,一(yi)(yi)味無理蠻(man)干!此次貴國(guo)出兵濟南,說是(shi)保(bao)護僑民,為(wei)何(he)借隙尋釁,肆行狂妄,做出種(zhong)種(zhong)無理之(zhi)舉(ju)動,實非文明國(guo)所(suo)宜(yi)出此!一(yi)(yi)個會(hui)說中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)話的日(ri)(ri)(ri)(ri)本(ben)(ben)軍(jun)(jun)官(guan)冷笑道(dao):“你們(men)的蔣(jiang)(jiang)總(zong)司令都不(bu)(bu)(bu)敢(gan)罵(ma)(ma)大(da)(da)日(ri)(ri)(ri)(ri)本(ben)(ben)皇軍(jun)(jun)半句,他(ta)想找(zhao)我們(men)談判(pan),我們(men)都沒有興(xing)趣。你的官(guan)兒有多(duo)大(da)(da),再(zai)大(da)(da)也大(da)(da)不(bu)(bu)(bu)過蔣(jiang)(jiang)先生!"那日(ri)(ri)(ri)(ri)本(ben)(ben)軍(jun)(jun)官(guan)還(huan)不(bu)(bu)(bu)解氣,一(yi)(yi)巴(ba)掌摜在(zai)蔡(cai)公(gong)(gong)(gong)時(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)的臉(lian)上,還(huan)咬牙切齒罵(ma)(ma)道(dao):“你不(bu)(bu)(bu)要(yao)命啦,竟敢(gan)辱(ru)罵(ma)(ma)皇軍(jun)(jun),把你送(song)到(dao)蔣(jiang)(jiang)總(zong)司令手里,他(ta)也得殺了(le)你,再(zai)向大(da)(da)日(ri)(ri)(ri)(ri)本(ben)(ben)皇軍(jun)(jun)道(dao)歉(qian)!“蔡(cai)公(gong)(gong)(gong)時(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)一(yi)(yi)腔愛國(guo)熱(re)血(xue)似(si)烈火般熊熊燃燒,義憤填膺,痛(tong)斥(chi)(chi)日(ri)(ri)(ri)(ri)寇(kou)說:你們(men)這(zhe)(zhe)些強(qiang)盜!我早就(jiu)看透你們(men),現在(zai)我以(yi)(yi)一(yi)(yi)個中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)人的身份(fen)痛(tong)斥(chi)(chi)你們(men)這(zhe)(zhe)幫強(qiang)盜。日(ri)(ri)(ri)(ri)本(ben)(ben)軍(jun)(jun)官(guan)獸性大(da)(da)發,命日(ri)(ri)(ri)(ri)本(ben)(ben)兵揮動刺刀(dao)將(jiang)(jiang)蔡(cai)公(gong)(gong)(gong)時(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)割耳、切鼻。頓時(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)鮮血(xue)噴流,血(xue)肉模糊,慘不(bu)(bu)(bu)忍(ren)睹。日(ri)(ri)(ri)(ri)本(ben)(ben)強(qiang)盜放聲狂笑,形同禽獸!那日(ri)(ri)(ri)(ri)本(ben)(ben)軍(jun)(jun)官(guan)原以(yi)(yi)為(wei)會(hui)把蔡(cai)公(gong)(gong)(gong)時(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)嚇得低聲下氣求饒(rao)性命,卻見(jian)蔡(cai)公(gong)(gong)(gong)時(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)虎目圓睜,大(da)(da)聲怒罵(ma)(ma):“日(ri)(ri)(ri)(ri)本(ben)(ben)強(qiang)盜禽獸不(bu)(bu)(bu)如,此種(zhong)國(guo)恥,何(he)時(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)能雪!野獸們(men),中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)人可(ke)殺不(bu)(bu)(bu)可(ke)辱(ru)!”同人聞(wen)言皆放聲大(da)(da)哭,痛(tong)罵(ma)(ma)日(ri)(ri)(ri)(ri)寇(kou);日(ri)(ri)(ri)(ri)寇(kou)更為(wei)惱(nao)怒,將(jiang)(jiang)蔡(cai)公(gong)(gong)(gong)時(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)拖到(dao)交(jiao)涉署院內(nei)殘忍(ren)槍殺,可(ke)憐蔡(cai)公(gong)(gong)(gong)時(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)正值英年,未見(jian)國(guo)家統(tong)一(yi)(yi),竟犧(xi)牲在(zai)倭寇(kou)的槍下。蔡(cai)公(gong)(gong)(gong)時(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)在(zai)赴任不(bu)(bu)(bu)到(dao)一(yi)(yi)天之(zhi)內(nei),壯烈殉國(guo)。?
日寇于5月11日上午舉(ju)行“顯(xian)揚國威”的入城儀式,開始慘絕人(ren)寰(huan)的大屠殺(sha):見人(ren)就開槍射殺(sha),見女人(ren)就割去雙乳,亂刀刺(ci)死(si)。濟(ji)南(nan)軍(jun)民死(si)傷一(yi)(yi)萬一(yi)(yi)千余人(ren),濟(ji)南(nan)城內血流成河,尸橫遍地,慘不(bu)忍睹,舉(ju)世公憤。
蔡公時被殘忍殺害(hai),激起中國(guo)人(ren)民(min)的極大(da)憤(fen)怒(nu);各(ge)地民(min)眾(zhong)、團體紛紛舉(ju)行示威(wei)抗議,主(zhu)張廢除(chu)不平等(deng)條約,抵制日貨;美國(guo)、法(fa)國(guo)、英(ying)國(guo)、新加坡、加拿大(da)、菲(fei)律賓、印(yin)尼、馬來西亞等(deng)海(hai)外華(hua)人(ren)、華(hua)僑為濟南慘(can)案踴躍(yue)捐款(kuan),華(hua)人(ren)青年學生懇請(qing)回國(guo)參加對日斗爭,采用(yong)各(ge)種形式討(tao)伐日本軍國(guo)主(zhu)義(yi),要求嚴懲(cheng)肇事者,賠償損失,聲援(yuan)國(guo)內正義(yi)的斗爭。
全國成立(li)“濟南五(wu)三殉難烈(lie)士紀念會(hui)”(何思源為主(zhu)席),1928年5月12日,國民(min)政(zheng)府對蔡公時(shi)等17人員明令褒揚,國民(min)黨(dang)政(zheng)府要人蔣介石(shi)、李(li)烈(lie)鈞、于右任、李(li)宗仁、馮玉祥、孫科、宋子文、陳立(li)夫、孔祥熙、王正廷等人題字贊裱詞。
蔡公(gong)時是民國(guo)(guo)以(yi)來第(di)一位抗(kang)日烈士,李烈鈞的題詞(ci)贊他為“外交史上第(di)一人(ren)”;馮玉祥為他題詞(ci)“誓雪國(guo)(guo)恥”;李宗(zong)仁題詞(ci)“民族(zu)精(jing)神,千古卓絕”;于右任(ren)撰詩(shi)“此鼻(bi)此耳(er),此仇此恥!嗚呼!泰山之下(xia)血(xue)未止(zhi)!”。
藝術大師徐悲鴻(hong)為(wei)其創(chuang)作巨幅油畫《蔡公時濟南被(bei)難圖》。
蔡(cai)公時是詩(shi)人,早年他曾寫過謁黃花崗七十(shi)二(er)烈士墓的七律,其(qi)中“英雄血(xue)和杜鵑(juan)開(kai)”、“不抱丹心(xin)莫(mo)錯來”、“功名(ming)都在死(si)中求”等句,忠義之(zhi)氣溢于(yu)言表,讀起(qi)來讓人蕩(dang)氣回腸。