Chapter 44 Chapter 12 "You've Had a Great Year!" - 1975 "Overall"

On the evening of January 10, 1975, the conference hall of Beijing Jingxi Hotel was brightly lit and solemn.The closing meeting of the Second Plenary Session of the Tenth Central Committee of the Communist Party of China is being held here. Zhou Enlai, who had just rushed to the venue from the hospital, was dressed in a slightly baggy dark gray uniform, with a clear face and piercing eyes.He sat on the rostrum and personally presided over this historic meeting. After passing the agenda of the plenary session, Zhou Enlai delivered a speech to the present Central Committee members and alternate Central Committee members in a slow and steady tone:

"Before the end of this plenary session of the Central Committee, I asked Chairman Mao if I had anything to convey to you. Chairman Mao said eight words: 'It is better to be stable and united.' Now, what I want to tell you is Chairman Mao's This sentence says, "It is better to be stable and united." I hope that the work of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee, the work of the party committees and revolutionary committees of provinces, cities, and autonomous regions, and the work of the Chinese People's Liberation Army will all follow Chairman Mao's instructions and be stable and united. Do a better job in all aspects this year, and live up to the great trust of the party and the people.  …”

Among the many old comrades present at the meeting, many of them had not seen Zhou Enlai who was sick and hospitalized for a long time.At this moment, seeing Zhou Enlai's sick appearance and listening to his exhortations, they were all moved; at the same time, they were also deeply worried about his health. A week later, Xinhua News Agency was late to broadcast the news of the Second Plenary Session of the Tenth Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.This is an extremely short "Communiqué" of the plenary session, in which, according to the past practice, the situation of the personnel present at the meeting, the host of the meeting and the speaker, etc., are all missing.The last line in the report read: "The meeting elected Comrade Deng Xiaoping as vice chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee."

For Zhou Enlai, who participated in and presided over the last plenary session of the CPC Central Committee during his lifetime, this sentence is enough.However, the Second Plenary Session of the Tenth Central Committee of the Communist Party of China was only the first of a series of important meetings that Zhou Enlai attended after he fell ill in 1975. At 8 o'clock in the evening on January 13, Premier Zhou Enlai's firm and clear Jiangsu-Zhejiang accent was heard again in the Great Hall of the People, the venue for the opening ceremony of the first session of the Fourth National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China:

"In accordance with Chairman Mao's instructions, the Political Work Report of the Third National People's Congress once proposed that starting from the third five-year plan, the development of my country's national economy can be conceived in two steps: the first step is to spend 15 years, that is, in the Before 1980, establish an independent and relatively complete industrial system and national economic system; the second step is to fully realize the modernization of agriculture, industry, national defense and science and technology within this century, so that my country's national economy will be at the forefront of the world. ..."

This is the "Government Work Report" written by Zhou Enlai on behalf of the State Council to more than 2,800 representatives.In this report of less than 5,000 words drafted by Deng Xiaoping, the most striking thing is that it issued a great call to realize the "four modernizations" to the people of all ethnic groups in the country.And this call was put forward by the reporter at this place 10 years ago. Today, he just reiterated this goal. During the meeting, Zhou En came to the Tianjin delegation to participate in the group discussion.Representatives who love their prime minister sent their greetings to Zhou Enlai one after another.Faced with sincere faces, Zhou Enlai seemed to feel that there was no need to hide anything.He frankly and solemnly stated to everyone: I have already suffered from cancer, and the working hours will not be too long. This is also a natural law and does not depend on human will.Now, I am fighting the disease in the hospital, and if possible, I will continue to fight with you to achieve our ambitious goals together.

When Zhou En said the above remarks, the delegates found that the Premier Zhou in front of him seemed to be a different person compared with a few years ago: due to overwork, he was so thin that he was almost out of shape; Wrinkled and age-spotted; movements and voices too old and tired... At the plenary meeting held on January 17, the list of the Premier, Vice Premier, Ministers of various ministries and directors of various committees of the People's Republic of China appointed by the meeting was announced based on the proposal of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.Among the deputy prime ministers following Premier Zhou Enlai, Deng Xiaoping, Li Xiannian, Wang Zhen, Yu Qiuli, Gu Mu and other well-tested revolutionaries appeared.This marked the formation of a new leadership team of the State Council with Zhou Enlai and Deng Xiaoping as the core.

After the announcement of the appointment of the new State Council, people who have been worried about the future and destiny of the party and the country really felt comfort and hope. On the afternoon of February 1, Zhou Enlai rushed to the Great Hall of the People to preside over an executive meeting of the State Council attended by 12 vice premiers, Ye Jianying, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, and Guo Moruo, president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.At the beginning of the meeting, Zhou Enlai said straight to the point: "I am not in good health. From now on, the work of the State Council will be presided over by Comrade Xiaoping. The hospital does not want to let me out, but I still want to try to meet with you once a week..." Then , Zhou Enlai began to announce the division of labor among the vice premiers in a solemn tone: "Comrade Deng Xiaoping, in charge of foreign affairs, presided over meetings and submitted major documents on behalf of Premier Zhou Enlai during Premier Zhou Enlai's recuperation period..."

At this time, Deng Xiaoping, who was beside Zhou Enlai, was sitting calmly and thoughtfully.Before the meeting, Zhou Enlai considered whether Deng would preside over today's meeting, but he finally decided to preside over it himself.The reason is just like what he said to the staff around him, some things are not easy for Comrade Xiaoping himself to say, so it is better for me to say them. After announcing the division of labor among the vice premiers, Zhou Enlai then presided over a plenary meeting of the State Council attended by ministers from various ministries of the State Council.At the meeting, Zhou Enlai continued to deliver a speech, proposing:

According to Chairman Mao's instructions and the decision of the Party Central Committee, we will start today to complete the work after the Fourth National People's Congress.Today is the start.For me, I'm afraid I can only complete this "beginning" task.What will happen in the future will mainly be done by the deputy prime ministers. He paused, looked around the venue, and said emphatically: Chairman Mao said that Comrade Xiaoping was "a rare talent" and "strong in political thinking."The current new team of the State Council is headed by Comrade Xiaoping, a total of 12 members.Comrade Xiaoping will be invited to host such meetings in the future.I hope that the new State Council will have a new atmosphere and lead the people of the whole country to work hard to complete and overfulfill this year's national economic plan and the fourth five-year plan...

Zhou Enlai's speech won warm applause from the audience.