Chapter 37 6. Zhou Enlai personally drafted the central document for Deng Xiaoping's reinstatement

In February 1973, Deng Xiaoping suddenly received a notice from the central government asking him to return to Beijing in the near future.Of course, this may have been expected by Deng Xiaoping, who has always been calm and calm.A few days later, Deng Xiaoping and his family boarded the train going north and left the "General's Building" on the outskirts of Nanchang, Jiangxi, where he had spent more than three years with him.When parting, the 68-year-old Deng Xiaoping left a meaningful sentence: "I can still work for 20 years!" The ordeal of the "Cultural Revolution" did not crush Deng Xiaoping, let alone make him surrender.He later recalled this experience and said: "Lin Biao and the 'Gang of Four' always wanted to kill me. It should be said that Chairman Mao protected me." "I am an optimist and believe that the problem will be resolved one day." "I have worked under the leadership of Chairman Mao for a long time. Personally, I have hope for Chairman Mao. I believe that Chairman Mao understands me. It turns out that he took me back in 1973 and entrusted me very quickly. task."

At the same time, Zhou Enlai in Beijing formally informed Wang Dongxing, head of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, to arrange Deng Xiaoping’s residence after returning to Beijing; he also asked Wang to notify the members of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee in Beijing to hold a meeting to discuss the CPC Central Committee’s decision on Deng Xiaoping’s reinstatement. "Decision" draft. From late February to early March, Zhou Enlai presided over the meetings of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China to discuss the issue of Deng Xiaoping.Although the Politburo was full of struggles, the final result was produced, which was reflected in the report to Mao Zedong personally drafted by Zhou Enlai on the evening of March 9: "Concerning the restoration of Comrade Deng Xiaoping as Vice Premier of the State Council, the Politburo met several times It was discussed and reported during a meeting at the chairman's office. Now Comrade Xiaoping has returned to Beijing. In order to establish such a high-level model throughout the country, the Politburo believes that a decision needs to be made by the central government and sent to the party committee at the county and regiment level." Obviously, Zhou Enlai These words are solemnly written in order to further restore Deng Xiaoping's reputation nationwide, so that he can resume work after his comeback.

Immediately, Zhou Enlai sent the approval document and attachments to Deng Xiaoping in Beijing for his own opinions. On March 10, 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", Zhou Enlai asked for leave from the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and asked for "sick leave" for two weeks. The daily work of the Central Committee was handed over to Ye Jianying to preside over it.

What did Zhou Enlai's actions show? Since the Lin Biao incident in 1971, Zhou Enlai has been overloaded with work day and night while personally leading the struggle to criticize the ultra-left ideological trend.In May of the following year, medical staff detected cancer cells in Zhou Enlai's body for the first time.For this reason, Mao Zedong once exhorted with "rest, save labor, and don't be careless".At the same time, the medical staff repeatedly reminded him to reduce his work and cooperate with treatment.But Zhou Enlai didn't care. He still stuck to his post and worked hard due to illness.It wasn't until Deng Xiaoping's reinstatement finally became a fact that Zhou Enlai, who was physically and mentally exhausted, formally asked the central government for leave.This once again shows that solving the Deng Xiaoping issue occupies a special and important place in Zhou Enlai's heart.

On March 28 of the same year, when Zhou Enlai recovered a little, he met Deng Xiaoping with Li Xiannian and others at Yuquan Mountain in the western suburbs of Beijing.The next day, Zhou Enlai wrote to Mao Zedong: "He (Deng) is in good spirit and health. On the afternoon and evening of the 29th and 30th, I will wait for the chairman's notice to hold a Politburo meeting at the chairman's office. At that time, I will invite Comrade Xiaoping to meet with me. Chairman." On the afternoon of the 29th, accompanied by Zhou Enlai, Mao Zedong met with Deng Xiaoping at his residence in Zhongnanhai.This is their reunion after more than 6 years.When the two shook hands, Mao said eight words to Deng: "Work hard and protect your body." Mao Zedong was very happy to see that Deng was still as healthy and optimistic as before.

That night, Zhou Enlai presided over a meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, and it was further agreed that Deng Xiaoping "formally participated in the work of the State Council's business group and participated in foreign activities as a vice premier of the State Council; on important policy issues, Comrade Deng Xiaoping attended the Politburo meeting to participate in the discussion."After the meeting, Zhou Enlai made a report to Mao Zedong. In early April, Zhou Enlai and Deng Yingchao met with Deng Xiaoping and Zhuo Lin in Yuquan Mountain and had dinner together.According to Deng Xiaoping's later recollection of the scene at that time: "We went to see the prime minister and saw that he was so thin that he was out of shape. We were relatively speechless."

On April 12, Prince Sihanouk, the head of state of Cambodia, returned to Beijing from the Liberated Area of ​​Cambodia. Zhou Enlai hosted a grand state banquet in the Great Hall of the People to welcome the prince and his party.This newly arranged foreign affairs event brought forward the time for Deng Xiaoping's "appearance" by another week.This is the scene that "caused a great sensation" described at the beginning of this article. Afterwards, Deng Xiaoping began to participate in the business meetings of the State Council and exercised the post of Vice Premier of the State Council.According to incomplete statistics, from April 1973 to the end of this year, Deng participated in and presided over more than 140 domestic and foreign affairs activities, with an average of 3-4 games per week.

In late May, Deng Xiaoping attended the CPC Central Committee Work Conference chaired by Zhou Enlai to prepare for the 10th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.During the meeting, Zhou Enlai emphasized to the participants: The Central Committee's document on the reinstatement of Comrade Deng Xiaoping is a representative document, and the vast majority of comrades are satisfied with it.Comrade Deng Xiaoping attended the meeting today, and in the same situation, some other people also attended the meeting.The "some other people" mentioned here refers to a group of veteran cadres who were "liberated" before and after Deng Xiaoping's reinstatement, who were impacted during the "Cultural Revolution".

In August of the same year, Deng Xiaoping, as a member of the Bureau, attended the Tenth National Congress of the Communist Party of China and was elected as a member of the Tenth Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.During this period, Zhou Enlai specifically mentioned at a meeting attended by the heads of various provinces, municipalities, autonomous regions, and central party, government, and military agencies: Comrade Deng Xiaoping said that some old comrades who are not in good health can serve as consultants.Chairman Mao attached great importance to Comrade Xiaoping's opinions and proposed to organize an advisory committee with him as chairman.Regarding the establishment of the Central Advisory Committee, although it was impossible and impossible to realize it under the conditions at the time, Zhou Enlai showed everyone Deng Xiaoping's courage and ability on such an occasion, especially Mao Zedong's first response to Deng Xiaoping after his comeback. Expressing "political opinions" is highly valued and fully affirmed.

On diplomatic occasions, Zhou Enlai spoke more clearly.This autumn, when he accompanied Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau on a tour, he introduced Deng Xiaoping to them and said: "This is a leader who will become a very important person in the future!" After the National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Mao Zedong agreed with Ye Jianying's proposal, saying that he could "consider" Deng Xiaoping's part-time job in the army and participate in the work of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.This is the first time after Deng Xiaoping came back, Mao considered the issue of Deng integrating the three important positions of the central party, government, and army at the same time.

In mid-December, Mao Zedong finally made up his mind and made a final decision: Deng Xiaoping will serve as a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee and the Central Military Commission, and also the vice premier of the State Council. At a meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, 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. The Bureau added a 'Secretary-General'." Mao Zedong also gave Deng Xiaoping 8 words on the spot: "There is strength in softness, and needles are hidden in cotton." On December 22, Zhou Enlai, who was seriously ill but relaxed, wrote down the full text of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China’s notice on Deng Xiaoping’s appointment: At this point, Zhou Enlai, who had suffered from illness for eight full years during the "Cultural Revolution", finally breathed a sigh of relief. Deng Xiaoping's comeback in 1973 had a major and far-reaching impact on the development of Chinese history at that time and later. First of all, shortly after the "Cultural Revolution" began, as one of the main figures in the "Liu and Deng Bourgeois Headquarters" and "the second person in power in the party who took the capitalist road" came back to work, which will inevitably arouse people's dissatisfaction with the past. The re-understanding of many issues, including the views and reflections on the "Cultural Revolution", has had an impact and shock that is self-evident. Secondly, Zhou Enlai was diagnosed with cancer in May 1972.Although he continued to preside over the extremely heavy central daily work, his health deteriorated day by day. In this case, there must be a person who can coordinate the overall situation, has the ability to govern the country and has rich experience to assist him in his work, and can take over his position when necessary.Mao Zedong knew better than anyone else: Jiang Qing and others are simply not material for governing the country.He decided that Deng Xiaoping would come back and take up an important position, which showed his ultimate trust and reliance on the older generation of revolutionaries.In the end, Deng Xiaoping came back in the middle of the "Cultural Revolution" and gradually gathered key positions at the top of the central party, government and military. This greatly strengthened the party's internal health. struggle, for the establishment of a new leadership team of the State Council with Zhou Enlai and Deng Xiaoping at the core at the Fourth National People's Congress, for the effective and comprehensive rectification led by Deng Xiaoping in 1975, especially for the mourning of Zhou Enlai, support for Deng Xiaoping, and opposition to the "Gang of Four" during the Qingming outbreak in 1976 "The "Fourth Five-Year Movement" that shocked the whole country created extremely important conditions.