Chapter 28 Drafting the Communiqué of the Second Plenary Session of the Seventh Central Committee of the Communist Party of China

January 31, 1949 was a historic day: more than 200,000 Kuomintang troops in Beiping were besieged by millions of People's Liberation Army, and General Fu Zuoyi decided to lead an uprising. On this day, Beiping declared peaceful liberation. It fell on Hu Qiao to release the news of the liberation of Peiping at home and abroad.He worked hard to write the "Liberation of Peking" press release, which was revised by Mao Zedong and issued by Xinhua News Agency at that time. This press release has more than 1,500 words, and Mao Zedong changed nearly 20 places. Some excerpts from the original text are as follows.Where Mao Zedong added, the following lines are marked:

The world-renowned ancient cultural capital, Beiping, with a population of more than two million, announced its liberation (today).The liberation of Peiping was one of the most important military and political developments in the revolution (movement) of the (great Chinese people).Beiping, where the original Kuomintang (the reactionary army and its military institutions were defended by about 200,000 people), was the first example of a peaceful (method) end to the war by implementing the eight peace conditions announced by Chairman Mao Zedong of the Communist Party of China.This fact happened because the People's Liberation Army was very powerful and invincible. The officers and soldiers of the Kuomintang (the majority of the reactionary army) were unwilling to put up a hopeless resistance, and the people (mass) of the Kuomintang (the vast majority of Peiping) resolutely supported it. The result of a truly democratic peace.The main force of the Kuomintang in Peiping has now moved to designated locations outside the city, and the People's Liberation Army is scheduled to begin entering the city (receiving defense) today.Knowing that the People's Liberation Army was about to march into Peiping, the workers, students, and citizens of Peiping hurriedly prepared for the grand welcome ceremony, and felt impatient because of the postponement of the Kuomintang's departure from the city.The (news) that the People's Liberation Army is about to enter Peiping peacefully (land) has suddenly restored the vitality of this ancient city, and (from January 23) prices have suddenly dropped.The streets were once again crowded with joyful pedestrians, who were inquiring about the exact date of the People's Liberation Army's entry into the city, asking and telling about the contents of the propaganda materials of the People's Liberation Army and the Communist Party. ...

From the "Liberation of Peking" news, it can be seen that Hu Qiaomu has changed his serious tone in his political comments and appeared lively. On the day after the news was released, Xinhua News Agency issued a commentary "How the Kuomintang Views the Peaceful Liberation of Peking".This article is also more than 1,500 words, Mao Zedong wrote about 1,300 words, and Hu Qiaomu wrote the first paragraph.It can be seen that Mao Zedong and Hu Qiaomu cooperated tacitly, exchanging ideas, regardless of you or me. At 3:30 p.m. on March 5, 1949, in the rectangular staff canteen in Xibaipo Village, which was built by the staff of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, about 70 people sat on benches.Mao Zedong presided over the meeting and announced that the Second Plenary Session of the Seventh Central Committee of the Communist Party of China will be held here.

Zhou Enlai reported the number of attendees to the conference.He announced the list of thirty-four members of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China attending the meeting, and announced the list of nineteen alternate members of the Central Committee, and then announced the list of twelve members attending the meeting: "Li Jingquan, Yang Shangkun, Fu Zhong, Luo Mai (ie Li Weihan), Li Tao, Hu Qiaomu, An Ziwen, Yang Lisan, Chen Gang, Liu Shaowen, Gao Wenhua, Liao Luyan." Although as Mao Zedong's secretary, Hu Qiaomu attended many meetings of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, but he only attended as a staff member.This time, as the deputy director of the Central Propaganda Department, he was an official non-voting representative and made a speech on news work at the conference.

The Second Plenary Session of the Seventh Central Committee of the Communist Party of China is a very important meeting, preparing for the CCP to seize the national power.On the opening day, Mao Zedong made a "Report at the Second Plenary Session of the Seventh Central Committee of the Communist Party of China".On the closing day (March 13), Mao Zedong made another report on "Working Methods of the Party Committee". Mao Zedong pointed out brilliantly: "We will soon be victorious throughout the country. This victory will break the Eastern Front of imperialism and will have great international significance. It will not take long to win this victory and it will not take a lot of effort; to consolidate this victory, It is a matter that takes a long time and requires a lot of energy.... Comrades must continue to maintain a style of modesty, prudence, and no arrogance or impetuosity, and comrades must continue to maintain a style of hard work."

On March 22, 1949, Xinhua News Agency issued the news "The Second Plenary Session of the Seventh Central Committee of the Communist Party of China".This kind of press release is also the communiqué issued by the CCP every time the Central Committee holds a plenary session.This press release was drafted by Hu Qiaomu. The full text is 1,500 characters, of which about 500 characters were added by Mao Zedong during review. The text added by Mao Zedong is mainly at the beginning and the end.At the beginning, he added a paragraph summarizing the meeting.At the end, he added a rather important conclusion:

The plenary session held that: Although China's economic heritage is backward, the Chinese people are brave and hardworking. With the assistance from the imperialist front, the speed of China's economic construction will not be very slow but may be quite fast, and China's prosperity can be counted as a success.There is no basis for pessimistic arguments about China's economic revival. When Hu Qiaomu followed Mao Zedong to the Second Plenary Session of the Seventh Central Committee, a reporter snapped a group photo of them.From the photos, it can be seen that the two were busy walking, which was snapped by reporters.Hu Qiaomu served as Mao Zedong's secretary for 25 years, and this photo is actually one of the few photos of him and Mao Zedong that can be found today!

In Hu Qiaomu's later years, he once said with regret: "At that time, I never thought that I should take a photo with the chairman!"