Chapter 26 4. The true relationship between Zhou Enlai and Deng Xiaoping in adversity

On August 20th and 23rd, 1980, Comrade Deng Xiaoping, who was already 76 years old, said in answer to a question from the Italian journalist Oleina Farage: "Premier Zhou has been diligent and diligent all his life. , A person who works hard. He always works more than 12 hours a day, sometimes more than 16 hours, all his life. We have known each other very early and lived together when we were working and studying in France. He has always been a brother to me .We embarked on the road of revolution at about the same time. He is a man respected by comrades and the people.” Deng Xiaoping also talked about Zhou Enlai's difficult situation during the "Cultural Revolution": "He was in a very difficult position, and he said a lot of things against his will and did a lot of things against his will. But the people forgive him. Because he didn't do these things, he didn't say He can't keep these words himself, nor can he neutralize them and reduce losses. He has protected quite a number of people."

"Lu Yao knows the horsepower, and a friend in adversity is true." Zhou Enlai and Deng Xiaoping, two proletarian revolutionaries, helped each other in the same boat during their revolutionary career for more than half a century, and forged a pure and brotherly friendship.Especially in the turbulent waves of the "Cultural Revolution", their friendship has been sublimated. As early as 1965, at a small meeting held before the "Cultural Revolution", when Zhou Enlai talked about Chairman Mao's "successor" with several other central leaders, according to Mao Zedong's own opinions on the successor, he once He cited Deng Xiaoping's name without hesitation, thinking that Deng could succeed Mao to "steer the helm".Because Zhou Enlai knew Deng Xiaoping's character, talent, and conduct best.Unfortunately, the "Cultural Revolution" launched by Mao Zedong mistakenly pointed the finger at the so-called "Liu and Deng bourgeois reactionary line".Lin Biao and Jiang Qing incited the masses to overthrow Liu Shaoqi and Deng Xiaoping.Under such circumstances, Zhou Enlai did everything possible to care for and protect them.

The Eleventh Plenary Session of the Eighth Central Committee of the Communist Party of China held in August 1966 was originally scheduled to be held for five days from one day to five days.On August 4th, it was suddenly decided to extend the session and hold a Politburo life session.Jiang Qing arranged for everyone to criticize Liu Shaoqi and Deng Xiaoping.At the beginning of the life meeting, Xie Fuzhi took the lead.In several meetings, only Zhou Enlai and Tao Zhu did not speak, even if it was the kind of "unwilling" words to cope with the situation.In November, the mass organization of the Central School of Political Science and Law held a meeting to criticize Li Xuefeng, the first secretary of the Beijing Municipal Party Committee, in an attempt to track down the "black line leaders" Liu Shaoqi and Deng Xiaoping from him.Zhou Enlai informed Xinhua News Agency after learning about it: Liu and Deng's problems have been resolved by the Central Committee, so don't engage in them among the masses. The Central Committee does not support them holding such a meeting. Xinhua News Agency, People's Daily, and radio stations are not allowed to send people to attend.Zhou Enlai greeted Deng Xiaoping and asked him to go out of Zhongnanhai as little as possible.In January 1967, at the instigation of Jiang Qing, the Beijing "rebels" yelled loudly outside Zhongnanhai Gate day and night to fight Liu Shaoqi and Deng Xiaoping, but Zhou Enlai categorically stopped them.He said: "Even if a comrade has made a wrong line, he cannot be said to be non-revolutionary, let alone counter-revolutionary."

In the autumn of 1969, shortly after the Ninth National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Party Central Committee made arrangements for "war preparations to evacuate" the old comrades in Beijing, and decided to place Deng Xiaoping, the "second capitalist roader in the Party," and his family in Jiangxi, so that Deng worked half-work and half-rest within a limited range. On October 18th and 19th, at the same time that Lin Biao issued "Order No. 1" in an attempt to persecute Deng Xiaoping, Zhou Enlai called the core leading group of the Jiangxi Provincial Revolutionary Committee from Beijing to give special instructions and suggestions on the arrangements for Deng Xiaoping's family. Confession, clearly requesting local care, specific to location, housing, security, living and medical conditions, etc.When Zhou Enlai learned that the person in charge of the Jiangxi Provincial Revolutionary Committee had originally placed Deng Xiaoping in Ganzhou, he immediately denied it, and pointed out that "Ganzhou is far from Nanchang, the transportation is inconvenient, and it is a mountainous area with poor living conditions, so Deng's family was moved to Ganzhou." It's not appropriate to arrange it here."

Later, Zhou Enlai made specific suggestions: it is better to choose the suburbs of Nanchang, and the house should also be a two-story building. Can go out for a walk, but also to ensure safety.According to the instructions of Premier Zhou Enlai, the core leading group of Jiangxi Province withdrew the original arrangement, and finally placed Deng Xiaoping’s family in the residence of the principal (major general) of a certain infantry school in Wangchenggang, Xinjian County, on the outskirts of Nanchang City (commonly known as "General Building") , whose conditions basically meet the requirements put forward by Zhou Enlai; and Deng Xiaoping's "decentralization of labor" in the newly built county tractor repair factory is not far from his residence.Luo Ming, the person in charge of the factory, stated: "The issue of protecting Deng Xiaoping's absolute safety was instructed by Premier Zhou, and we must implement the instructions of the Premier without compromise."

Even so, Zhou Enlai was not at ease, until the "revision plan" of the Jiangxi Provincial Core Leading Group was fully implemented, and the "stone" that had been hanging in Zhou Enlai's heart for a long time was considered to be on the ground.On October 20 of the same year, Deng Xiaoping and his wife left Beijing for Nanchang by plane.From then on, he began to live in exile, half working and half studying.Since then, Zhou Enlai, who has been entangled in numerous domestic and foreign affairs, has been obsessed with "decentralization" to Deng Xiaoping's family thousands of miles away.

One year later, in the autumn of 1970, the Party Central Committee held the Second Plenary Session of the Ninth Central Committee in Lushan, Jiangxi.At this meeting, Lin Biao and his gang made a big fuss in Lushan to seize power.During the meeting, Zhou Enlai finally suffered a heart attack due to exhaustion, and the medical staff present immediately rescued him.One day, Zhou Enlai, who was lying on the hospital bed, said to Zhang Zuoliang, the health doctor beside him: "I have two acquaintances here (referring to Jiangxi)! One is your colleague, and her name is Zheng Shuyun (that is, Premier Zhou's health care nurse. Jiangxi's "May 7th" cadre school labor); the other is my colleague, named Deng Xiaoping, who lives near Nanchang now. One is 'Zheng', one is 'Deng', and two are 'ear knives'!" In Lin Biao and Jiang Qing In the autumn of 1970, when the group was full-fledged and powerful, Zhou Enlai actually called Deng Xiaoping, who wore the hat of "the second capitalist roader in the party", "my colleague"!It can be seen that Deng occupied the position in Zhou's mind.

In September 1971, Zhou Enlai fully assisted Mao Zedong with his unique courage, courage and wisdom of a proletarian revolutionist, and decisively dealt with the "September 13" counter-revolutionary defection of Lin Biao.On the morning of November 5th of the same year, Deng Xiaoping and his wife "enjoyed" the political treatment of "revolutionary masses" in their "decentralized labor" tractor repair factory in Xinjian County—listening to the Central Committee's "About Lin Biao's Treason" together with all the workers of the factory. Notification of Fleeing" document delivery. After the "September 13th" incident, Zhou Enlai, who presided over the daily work of the central government, seized the opportunity and resolutely raised the banner of criticizing the ultra-left ideological trend. The "healing" work is an initial correction of the mistakes of the "Cultural Revolution".While leading this struggle to criticize the ultra-left trend of thought, Zhou Enlai paid great attention to the vast number of veteran cadres who had been hit and persecuted during the "Cultural Revolution", and did everything possible to create conditions for their "liberation" and resumption of work.

On January 10, Chen Yi's memorial service was grandly held in the auditorium of Beijing Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery.Mao Zedong attended the memorial meeting in person.In a conversation with Zhang Qian, Chen Yi's relative, Mao Zedong claimed that Chen Yi was "a good man" and "a good comrade."He also pointed to Zhou Enlai, Ye Jianying, etc. present here and said: "Lin Biao's conspiracy has been accomplished, and he wants to get rid of us old people." In this conversation, Mao Zedong also mentioned Deng Xiaoping, and he made Deng and Liu Bocheng, who was a member of the Ninth Central Political Bureau at the time, was tied together, saying that Deng was a contradiction among the people.Obviously, Mao Zedong drew Deng Xiaoping as his "opposite".For Zhou Enlai who was present, Mao Zedong's "qualification" of Deng Xiaoping's question was just a signal he had been waiting for for a long time.He knows very well that once the "No. 2 capitalist roader in the party" is "uncapped" or even "liberated", it will inevitably drive a large number of veteran cadres who made "mistakes" during the "Cultural Revolution" to come back to work.At this time, how he hopes that these old comrades will be "liberated" earlier!Therefore, Zhou Enlai signaled to Chen Yi's children on the spot to spread Mao Zedong's evaluation of Deng Xiaoping, so as to spread public opinion for Deng Xiaoping's early "comeback".At the same time, Zhou Enlai himself made full use of various occasions to "stab" the content of Mao Zedong's speech.In late January of the same year, when Zhou Enlai received representatives from a foreign conference in the Great Hall of the People, he explicitly discussed the issue of Deng Xiaoping in front of Jiang Qing, Yao Wenyuan and others.He pointed out: In the process of exposing and criticizing Lin Biao, two types of contradictions of different nature must not be confused; Lin Biao and his group wanted to turn Deng Xiaoping into a contradiction between ourselves and the enemy, which was not in line with the chairman's intention.

Deng Xiaoping was extremely sensitive to changes in the high-level political climate. On August 3 of this year, he personally wrote a letter to Mao Zedong, asking the central government to do a little work for the party and the people.On August 14, Mao Zedong criticized Zhou Enlai for the letter, emphasizing Deng Xiaoping's historical achievements.Zhou Enlai, who had a close relationship with Deng Xiaoping, got the "sword of Shang Fang" and deeply felt that Deng Xiaoping's "comeback" was hopeful.He seized this "opportunity" in time, and immediately printed several copies of Mao Zedong's instructions and Deng Xiaoping's letter and sent them to members of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee for circulation.On the 15th, he presided over a meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee to convey this instruction, and then notified the Jiangxi Provincial Party Committee in the name of the Central Committee, announcing that Deng Xiaoping would immediately relieve labor supervision, resume the life of the party organization, participate in some investigation and research activities, and instruct the original civil servants , the secretary transferred to Deng Xiaoping's side to help work, and approved Deng Xiaoping's request for his son Deng Pufang to return to Beijing for medical treatment.

However, at this moment, Zhou Enlai's struggle to criticize the ultra-left ideological trend encountered great resistance from Jiang Qing and his gang. The instructions were "shelved" for four months, until December 17th of that year, Chairman Mao once again talked to Zhou Enlai about the issue of Deng Xiaoping's old comrades. On the 18th, Zhou Enlai wrote to Ji Dengkui and Wang Dongxing: In order to make this matter truly come true, Zhou Enlai also invited Ji and Wang to come for an interview, instructing them to put forward Deng Xiaoping's suggestion that Deng Xiaoping remain the vice premier in accordance with the spirit of Chairman Mao's speech.Thanks to Zhou Enlai's tireless efforts, he finally knocked on the door of Deng Xiaoping's "second comeback".In February 1973, Deng Xiaoping, who was nearly seventy years old, received a notice from the central government asking him to return to Beijing in the near future.A few days later, Deng Xiaoping and his family boarded the train back to Beijing and left the "General Building" in the suburbs of Nanchang, Jiangxi, where he had spent more than three years with him.At the same time, Zhou Enlai in Beijing formally informed Wang Dongxing, the person in charge of the General Office of the Central Committee, that he was asked to arrange Deng Xiaoping’s residence after returning to Beijing, and to inform the members of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee in Beijing to hold a meeting to discuss the “Decision of the CPC Central Committee on Deng Xiaoping’s reinstatement.” "draft. From late February to early March, Zhou Enlai presided over the meetings of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee to discuss the Deng Xiaoping issue.Although the Politburo was full of struggles, the final result was that on March 10, 1973, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China issued the "Decision on Resuming Comrade Deng Xiaoping's Party Organizational Life and the Position of Vice Premier of the State Council" to the entire party. ".On the day when the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China issued the "Decision" on Deng Xiaoping's reinstatement, Zhou Enlai formally asked for leave from the Political Bureau of the Central Committee for two weeks of "sick leave", and the daily work of the Central Committee was handed over to Ye Jianying.Zhou Enlai's move fully shows how important the solution to the Deng Xiaoping issue is in Zhou Enlai's heart.On March 28 of the same year, Zhou Enlai recovered slightly and met with Deng Xiaoping with Li Xiannian and others.The next day Zhou Enlai asked Deng Xiaoping to have a meeting with Mao Zedong.On April 9, Zhou Enlai and Deng Yingchao had a long talk with Deng Xiaoping and his wife at Yuquan Mountain and had dinner together.On April 12, Zhou Enlai and Deng Xiaoping appeared in the banquet hall of the Great Hall of the People at the same time, warmly welcoming the Cambodian head of state Prince Norodom Sihanouk and his wife who had just returned to Beijing from the Liberated Areas of Cambodia. "Vice Premier of the State Council" made his first public appearance after "returning".After that, Deng Xiaoping began to participate in the business meetings of the State Council and exercised the post of Vice Premier of the State Council.Zhou Enlai also kept asking Deng Xiaoping to participate in important activities of the party and the country.In August of the same year, Deng Xiaoping was elected as a member of the Tenth Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.In mid-December, Mao Zedong agreed with Zhou Enlai's proposal and made a final decision: it was decided that Deng Xiaoping would serve as a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee and the Central Military Commission, as well as Vice Premier of the State Council.At a meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee, Mao Zedong said loudly in front of all members of the Political Bureau: "Comrade Xiaoping was invited back by the Political Bureau of the Central Committee, not me alone. Comrade Xiaoping entered the Politburo for the Politburo." A 'Secretary-General' was added." Mao Zedong also gave Deng Xiaoping eight words on the spot: "There is strength in softness, and needles are hidden in cotton".On December 22, Zhou Enlai, who was getting more and more ill, used his inflexible right hand to write down word by word the notice of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China regarding Deng Xiaoping's appointment, which was approved at a meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee that day. So far, Deng Xiaoping has integrated the three important positions of the central party, the government, and the army, and the pattern of Deng Xiaoping succeeding Zhou Enlai has initially formed.This is the time for Zhou Enlai, who suffered from illness for eight full years during the "Cultural Revolution", to breathe a sigh of relief.In 1973, when Zhou Enlai met with Canadian friends Ronning and others, he specially asked the foreign guests to meet Deng Xiaoping and said: "I want you to meet someone who will become an important person—Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping." The prestige at home and abroad let the international community understand Deng Xiaoping after his "comeback". At the beginning of 1974, Zhou Enlai's health was deteriorating day by day, just as the cancer was developing and his condition was getting worse.Since late January, he had had bloody stools for days, and had to be treated to control cancer cells.However, the "Gang of Four" was inhumane and set off vicious waves against the Prime Minister time and time again.In the autumn and winter of 1973, Jiang Qing attacked Zhou Enlai to liberate Deng Xiaoping and a large number of veteran cadres, and was "impatient" to seize power, saying that the struggle with Zhou Enlai was "the eleventh line struggle."In 1974, as soon as Zhou Enlai had his first major operation, Jiang Qing hurriedly instructed his writing team to "criticize modern Confucians" and "criticize great Confucians in the party", and fled to Tianjin to give a female commune member with ulterior motives. The name was changed to "Zhou Kezhou", and he said bluntly that "use our week to overcome his other week." On January 18, 1974, Zhou Enlai presided over a meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee, and proposed the establishment of the Political Bureau led by Ye Jianying, with Wang Hongwen, The five-member group of the Central Military Commission, which Zhang Chunqiao, Deng Xiaoping, and Chen Xilian participated in, has full authority to handle the daily affairs and emergency combat matters of the Central Military Commission, which was approved by Mao Zedong.Deng Xiaoping thus entered the core of the military leadership.In this way, Deng Xiaoping took the first step in succeeding Zhou Enlai.On May 19 of the same year, Deng Xiaoping accompanied Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai to meet with the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios.This is the first time that Deng Xiaoping entered Mao Zedong's study in more than a year since his "comeback".Zhou Enlai deliberately arranged for Deng Xiaoping to sit on Mao Zedong's right side where he had always been accompanying guests, trying to tell the outside world through the photographer's unique sensitivity and the news media: Zhou Enlai was seriously ill and Deng Xiaoping would take over the power. This series of actions certainly touched the sensitive nerves of Jiang Qing and his group.As early as March 1974, at the meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee discussing candidates to attend the sixth special session of the United Nations General Assembly, Jiang Qing openly pointed his target at Deng Xiaoping, disagreeing with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for various reasons (actually Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai's opinion) Deng Xiaoping led a delegation to attend the General Assembly meeting and made a speech on behalf of the Chinese government at the General Assembly.This was the first time that the "Gang of Four" had directly attacked Deng Xiaoping since Deng Xiaoping's reinstatement.Due to Jiang Qing's opposition, the Politburo's first discussion was unresolved.The next day, despite Jiang Qing's obstruction, Zhou Enlai took a pen to comment on the report of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, agreed with the plan proposed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and sent the document to Mao Zedong and members of the Politburo for circulation.Jiang Qing was furious after seeing the approval document, and even "ordered" the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to withdraw its original report.When the Politburo of the Central Committee discussed candidates to attend the UNGA meeting for the second time, thanks to Zhou Enlai’s efforts in advance, members of the Politburo, except Jiang Qing, unanimously agreed that Deng Xiaoping would lead a delegation to attend the special session of the UNGA.For this reason, Jiang Qing became hysterical and rioted in the Politburo.Practice has shown that Deng Xiaoping led a delegation to attend the special session of the UN General Assembly this time, no matter from the domestic or international perspective, it is of great significance. has a crucial role.For this reason, Zhou Enlai also attached great importance to Deng Xiaoping's trip, and personally intervened and checked the flight safety issue, and no negligence was allowed.At the end of March, Zhou Enlai wrote to Mao Zedong: Comrade Xiaoping's going abroad has been strengthened in all aspects; when the delegation left Beijing on April 6, a grand farewell ceremony was planned to be held in a grand manner.After being approved, Zhou Enlai told the person in charge of civil aviation and relevant departments: "Comrade Deng Xiaoping attended the United Nations General Assembly on behalf of the People's Republic of China. We will pave the way for him to successfully complete his mission, add glory, and spread a red carpet for him." The highest standards of diplomatic etiquette.At about 7 o'clock in the morning on April 6th, although Zhou Enlai stayed up all night, he was full of energy and not tired. He drove to the Capital Airport in person to see Deng Xiaoping and his party off.Colorful flags fluttered at the airport, and thousands of people dressed in colorful costumes sang and danced to send off warmly.On April 10, Deng Xiaoping made a speech on behalf of the Chinese government at the sixth special session of the UN General Assembly, comprehensively expounding Mao Zedong's theory of "three worlds" and the foreign policy of the Chinese government, which aroused widespread concern in the world's public opinion. Some people of insight believed that , Deng Xiaoping represented the image of new China, and was undoubtedly one of the "best agents" of Premier Zhou Enlai.On April 19, Deng Xiaoping led a delegation to return home with honors.Zhou Enlai went to the airport again and held a grand welcome ceremony to "clean up the wind and clean up the dust" for his old comrades-in-arms.At this moment, Zhou Enlai had been diagnosed with cancer recurrence.But at this time Zhou Enlai still said that he could not be hospitalized immediately.He still works day and night, overloaded.Deng Yingchao did not "reveal" the reasons for Zhou Enlai's repeated delays in hospitalization until several years after Zhou Enlai's death.She said: During that time, Enlai was always worried about Xiaoping's affairs. He was worried that people like Jiang Qing would attack Comrade Xiaoping while he was in the hospital.So he can't leave work... On October 4, Mao Zedong, who was in Wuhan, proposed to the central government that Deng Xiaoping be the first vice premier of the State Council.At the same time, Mao Zedong also put forward his opinion on convening the Fourth National People's Congress.This important decision made by Mao Zedong after repeated deliberation became the most concrete and effective step for Deng Xiaoping to succeed the seriously ill Premier Zhou Enlai in an all-round way.On the evening of October 6, Jiang Qing, who had learned of Mao Zedong's personnel arrangements, rushed to the hospital impatiently, and presented her "opinions" on the personnel arrangements of the Fourth National People's Congress and the candidate for the chief of the army's general staff to Zhou Enlai, who had just received foreign guests and was not yet recovering from fatigue. ".Zhou Enlai, who was ill, was weak at this time, but his mind was clear.He dealt with Jiang Qing for two full hours with great restraint and patience, and did not make a definite statement on all substantive issues.Jiang Qing didn't know at this time that Deng Xiaoping had already had a private conversation with Zhou Enlai just before she rushed to the hospital.Two days later, Deng Xiaoping had another long talk with Zhou Enlai in the sick room.On the evening of October 17, at the meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee, Jiang Qing and others jointly launched a surprise attack on Deng Xiaoping, which had been premeditated, and pointed the spearhead of the attack at the State Council under the leadership of Zhou Enlai and Deng Xiaoping.At the meeting, Jiang Qing attacked and abused Deng Xiaoping with shrew-style language after a while of spitting.Deng Xiaoping couldn't bear it anymore, got up angrily, and left the venue.That night, the "Gang of Four" met at Jiang Qing's place.After some planning, it was decided to send Wang Hongwen to Changsha to sue Deng Xiaoping and Zhou Enlai to Mao Zedong, who was recuperating there.After listening to Wang Hongwen's report, Mao Zedong immediately severely criticized Wang, pointing out: If you have an opinion, you should discuss it face to face, so it can't be done!To unite with Comrade Xiaoping.He also said: After you go back, you should talk to the Prime Minister and Comrade Jianying more, don't get involved with Jiang Qing, you should pay attention to her.Mao Zedong solemnly proposed that Deng Xiaoping be the vice chairman of the Party Central Committee, first vice premier, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission and chief of staff.At the beginning of November, Zhou Enlai wrote at his desk in the sickroom and reported to Mao Zedong in Changsha the preparations for the Fourth National People's Congress. He said that he firmly supported and implemented the Chairman's proposal that Comrade Deng Xiaoping should be the first vice premier and also serve as the chief of staff.Zhou Enlai also expressed in his conversation with Ye Jianying, Li Xiannian and other leading comrades of the Central Committee: He sincerely supports Chairman Mao's instructions and will continue to support Comrade Xiaoping's work.On November 12, Deng Xiaoping accompanied the foreign guests to Changsha to meet with Mao Zedong.In the afternoon of the same day, Mao Zedong mentioned to Deng the "turmoil" at the Politburo meeting on October 17. He highly appreciated Deng Xiaoping's open boycott of Jiang Qing, and said loudly: "You started a 'steel company', okay, I agree with you !” Finally, Mao Zedong proposed that Deng Xiaoping preside over the drafting of Premier Zhou Enlai’s government work report at the Fourth National People’s Congress.On the afternoon of December 18, Zhou Enlai had a private conversation with Deng Xiaoping in the hospital for the last time in 1974, and decided on various important plans for the Fourth National People's Congress.At noon on December 23, Zhou Enlai flew to Changsha to report to Mao Zedong on the preparations for the Fourth National People's Congress.While Mao Zedong severely criticized the "Gang of Four", he also spoke highly of Deng Xiaoping.He said: "He (referring to Deng) has strong political thinking." Mao Zedong pointed to his head with his finger as he said. "Politics (English 'politics') is better than him." Mao Zedong pointed to Wang Hongwen again: "He (referring to Wang) is not as strong as Deng Xiaoping." To emphasize the meaning of the words, Mao Zedong grabbed a pencil and wrote on the paper A big "strong" word.Seeing this, Zhou Enlai nodded heavily in agreement.During the conversation, when Zhou Enlai reported to Mao Zedong that according to the agreed personnel arrangement, Deng Xiaoping would be appointed as the first vice premier of the State Council and the chief of the General Staff of the Military Commission. He is also the chief of the general staff." As he spoke, he wrote down the words "Talents are hard to come by" on the paper.Zhou Enlai understood his meaning deeply, and blurted out: "Talents are rare." Mao Zedong put down his pen with a smile.Mao Zedong turned his head and said to Wang Hongwen: "The Prime Minister is still our Prime Minister." He also took care of Zhou Enlai: "You are not in good health. After the Fourth National People's Congress, you can rest assured to recuperate! Comrade Xiaoping can take over the work of the State Council." Zhou Enlai once again Nod solemnly.Half a month later, the first meeting of the Fourth National People's Congress elected a new leadership core of the State Council represented by Zhou Enlai and Deng Xiaoping, and the "Changsha Decision" finally became a reality. After the "Changsha Decision" at the end of 1974, Zhou Enlai, who was seriously ill, pinned his hopes on Deng Xiaoping after his comeback.On January 5, 1975, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China issued the No. 1 Document, appointing Deng Xiaoping as Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission and Chief of General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.Prior to this, Deng Xiaoping had been added as a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and resumed his position as vice premier of the State Council.Faced with the devastated scene swept away by the hurricane of the "Cultural Revolution", Deng Xiaoping acted decisively, using the power entrusted to him by Chairman Mao, and relying on his sense of responsibility for the future and destiny of the disaster-ridden country, he began to work without hesitation with the support of Zhou Enlai. A comprehensive rectification of the "Cultural Revolution". On January 25, the Fourth National People's Congress had just closed for a week.Deng Xiaoping, the newly appointed Vice Chairman of the CPC Central Committee, First Vice Premier of the State Council, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission and Chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, came to the General Staff Department and delivered a famous speech to cadres above the regimental rank.Deng Xiaoping's speech with extraordinary momentum and sharp style became the starting point of all the work he led this year, and it was the "first shot" to launch a comprehensive rectification.While Deng Xiaoping was vigorously implementing a comprehensive rectification, Zhou Enlai met and talked with Deng Xiaoping more frequently in the hospital.After the Fourth National People's Congress, Zhou Enlai met with Deng Xiaoping once or twice a week on average.In the ward, the two old comrades-in-arms had a heart-to-heart talk, discussing the affairs of the country, often late into the night.In addition, Zhou Enlai often talked with members of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee and relevant responsible persons of the State Council to learn about various work situations and asked them to support the rectification led by Deng Xiaoping.At the end of January, Zhou Enlai listened directly to the report of Zhou Rongxin, the new Minister of Education, at the hospital. After learning about the current situation of the education department and Chi Qun and others’ interference and damage to the education work, he clearly expressed his support for Zhou Rongxin’s reform of the education system according to Deng Xiaoping’s opinion. rectify.In the early morning of April 16, Zhou Enlai personally asked Ji Dengkui, who was sent by the central government to Zhejiang to help with the rectification work, to talk to Ji Dengkui. He proposed to Ji that according to Comrade Xiaoping's request, practical and feasible rectification measures should be formulated to solve the Zhejiang problem. The comprehensive rectification led by Deng Xiaoping aroused great panic and bitter hatred among the "Gang of Four".They used various tricks to target Deng Xiaoping and Premier Zhou Enlai who supported Deng again and again.On the evening of May 3, members of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee in Beijing received a notice to hold a meeting at Mao Zedong's residence in Zhongnanhai.Mao Zedong emphasized his tone at the meeting, gesticulating and preaching: "Practice Marxism-Leninism, not revisionism; unite, not split; be aboveboard, not conspiracies. Don't engage in the 'Gang of Four', you don't want to do it, why? Do you still do it?" This was Mao Zedong's point out of the "Gang of Four" and its sectarian activities after criticizing Jiang Qing's group several times in 1974.The next day, Zhou Enlai discussed in the hospital with Deng Xiaoping, who had officially started to preside over the daily work of the Central Committee. According to Mao Zedong's instructions, the "Gang of Four" needed to be further criticized in the Politburo.Immediately, he wrote a written opinion at his desk, expressing his "agreement with Deng Xiaoping's opinion" and supporting Deng's presiding over the Politburo meeting to criticize the "Gang of Four." With the support of Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai, starting from the second half of this year, the rectification led by Deng Xiaoping was carried out comprehensively and rapidly in various fields such as agriculture, commerce, education, science and technology, and literature and art.Deng Xiaoping's comprehensive rectification quickly and systematically corrected all kinds of mistakes since the "Cultural Revolution", and made all aspects of work significantly improved in a short period of time. This comprehensive rectification has won the hearts of the party and the people.In October 1987, when talking about the issue of reform, Deng Xiaoping pointed out: "When it comes to reform, in fact, we have already experimented for a period of time from 1974 to 1975. In 1973, Zhou Enlai The Prime Minister was seriously ill and took me back from Jiangxi's "cowshed". At the beginning, I took over Premier Zhou's work in charge of the State Council. In 1975, I presided over the executive work of the Central Committee. To improve the economy, the first thing is to restore the order of production. Wherever this is done, it will be effective. Soon, I was defeated by the "Gang of Four". I was "three ups and three downs". , the people miss Premier Zhou, and there are quite a few people who support me. This proves that the reforms from 1974 to 1975 were very popular and reflected the aspirations of the people." After Zhou Enlai's death, the people's spontaneous mourning activities in Beijing's Tiananmen Square on Tomb-sweeping Day closely linked Zhou Enlai and Deng Xiaoping, two proletarian revolutionaries.Since Zhou Enlai was seriously ill and hospitalized, Deng Xiaoping has presided over the daily work of the central party and government since early 1975.The comprehensive rectification work initiated by Deng Xiaoping had to involve many wrong policies implemented during the "Cultural Revolution", and had to gradually develop into a relatively systematic correction of these wrong policies.In 1975, the apparently positive changes that occurred on the economic front strongly proved the mistakes of the so-called "criticizing Lin Piao and Confucius" movement, and began to inspire the broad masses of cadres and the masses to seriously consider the mistakes of the "Cultural Revolution."This change not only angered the "Gang of Four", but also was intolerable to Mao Zedong. In the second half of 1975, Zhou Enlai's condition became more and more serious. At that time, Deng Xiaoping's work burden was heavy, and the struggle with the "Gang of Four" also entered a "white-hot" stage, but he always came to Zhou Enlai's ward once or twice a week.Ye Jianying, Li Xiannian, etc. often came to Zhou Enlai's sick bed to greet him. On January 8, 1976, 78-year-old Premier Zhou Enlai unfortunately died of illness in Beijing.When the bad news came, "Kyushu was silent all of a sudden, and there were no words but tears. The confession was silent, and tears fell again. When I heard it, I couldn't believe it, but when I believed it, my heart was broken!" Deng Xiaoping, who was the vice chairman of the Party Central Committee at that time, strongly restrained himself He sent away his most beloved "brother" and comrade-in-arms Zhou Enlai with sadness, and delivered a eulogy speech on behalf of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China at the memorial meeting for Zhou Enlai, giving a high evaluation of Zhou Enlai's fighting life.The general public expressed their condolences in various ways. The "Gang of Four" tried their best to suppress the mourning activities of the masses.In addition, after October 1975, the nationwide political movement of "countering the right deviation and overturning verdicts" was launched to criticize the correct leadership of Deng Xiaoping and some other central leaders, and the political and economic situation, which was once improving, deteriorated sharply.April 4th of this year was the Bingchen Ching Ming Festival, and the mourning activities of the people in the capital reached their climax.Millions of revolutionary masses flocked to Tiananmen Square to denounce the "Gang of Four" in disregard of the numerous prohibitions at the time, and the revolutionary indignation grew ever higher. The "Gang of Four" used the stolen power to frantically suppress the revolutionary masses, track down and destroy revolutionary poems;Mao Zedong, who was seriously ill at the time, listened to the slander and made the mistake of stating that he would fire Deng from all his posts and retain his party membership to see how it would work.As a result, Comrade Deng Xiaoping suffered the injustice of "being defeated for the third time".However, just as Zhou Enlai said before his death: the people are fair, believe in the majority of the party and the people, as the saying goes, "Look at things in the long run", and history will be judged. In October 1976, the "Gang of Four" was smashed and the ten-year-long disaster of the "Cultural Revolution" ended. After the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Party, under the guidance of Deng Xiaoping's thought of emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts, unjust, false and wrongly decided cases during the "Cultural Revolution" were rehabilitated, and the "Tiananmen Incident" was also completely rehabilitated. Today, under the leadership of the Party Central Committee with Jiang Zemin at the core, the entire Party and the people of the whole country are holding high the great banner of Deng Xiaoping Theory, following the road of building socialism with Chinese characteristics pioneered by Deng Xiaoping, in order to inherit Zhou Enlai's report in the "Fourth National People's Congress" The political will put forward in the Chinese Communist Party is to strive to build our country into a powerful socialist modernized country.