Chapter 47 Chapter 46 Turning Point

Letters from Tan Zhenlin to Mao Zedong and Lin Biao were sent to Lin Biao first.After reading the letter, Lin Biao was quite shocked and wrote a comment: "Tan Zhenlin's recent thoughts have become so muddled and depraved, which is completely unexpected." "The reason why I want to be like this is that I can't bear it." ※ ※ ※ On the afternoon of February 16th, after the "disturbance at Huairen Hall", the upright Tan Zhenlin still couldn't finish his words, and wrote another letter to Mao Zedong and Lin Biao when he returned home.The original text of this letter is as follows: Chairman, Vice Chairman Lin and all comrades in the Politburo: Originally, I have said everything I needed to say at today's meeting, but I still feel the need to write this letter again.If you count the struggle, this is the third time I fight back: the first time was on the phone the day before yesterday, and the second time was at the meeting.The reason why I want to do this is that I can't bear it anymore.Jiang Qing and the Central Cultural Revolution Group kept claiming that they were the executors of Chairman Mao's revolutionary line, but they did not listen to Chairman Mao's instructions at all;Jiang Qing broke into the Politburo meeting, slapped the table and shouted: "Chairman Mao, I want to rebel against you!" The chairman is the chairman of the whole party, so what are you, Jiang Qing?How dare you rebel against the chairman, what position do you place the chairman, his arrogance and arrogance are really more fierce than Wu Zetian.They don't make class analysis at all, and their methods are ruthless, which the party has never seen before.In one sentence, a person's political life is lost, which is called "blurring".Tao Zhu, Liu Zhijian, Tang Pingzhu, etc., the political lives of a series of people were ruined in this way.They incited the Red Guards and frantically fought against veteran cadres.Except for those in the army, almost all senior cadres above the provincial level who lived in Zhongnanhai were fought, wore high hats, and took planes (quote's note: "referring to jet planes", that is, bowing their heads and crossing their arms when fighting) in the image behind the metaphor).Many were physically broken.There are also many people who have their wives separated and their families ruined.Comrades Tan Qilong and Jiang Hua are like this. They also made a picture of one hundred ugliness, which was printed and distributed everywhere in Beijing, Shanghai, and Xi'an, and the influence was very bad.Our party has been vilified beyond measure!The real revisionists and counter-revolutionaries are ignored, and what they are interested in is to overthrow the old cadres.As long as you make a little mistake, you must be punished to death.Can they govern?Can you take over?I suspect.I thought for a long time, and finally made up my mind to sacrifice.But I will never commit suicide, nor will I commit treason.I will never allow them to be so reckless.The Prime Minister has been tortured enough by them. The Prime Minister is broad-minded and considerate, and often persuades us to wait.Wait, wait, wait until when?Should we wait until all veteran cadres have been beaten?No, no, ten thousand not!This is against me.Make up your mind, prepare to sacrifice, and fight on, fight on. On February 17, Tan Zhenlin put the letter in an envelope, wrote "Chairman Mao, Vice Chairman Lin" on the envelope and sent it out.

In addition, Tan Zhenlin also wrote a letter to Chen Boda, criticizing the "Central Cultural Revolution" in the same strong tone.Where did this letter go after that, Chen Boda no longer remembered.However, at that time, he remembered reading this letter to Zhou Enlai, Wang Li and others.Letters from Tan Zhenlin to Mao Zedong and Lin Biao were sent to Lin Biao first.After reading the letter, Lin Biao was quite shocked, and wrote a comment: "Tan Zhenlin's recent thinking has become so muddled and degraded, which is completely unexpected." On the morning of February 18, Zhang Chunqiao and Yao Wenyuan flew to Shanghai.Before Zhang Chunqiao left Beijing, he had already talked to Zhou Enlai about Mao Zedong's opinions on the night of the 16th.When Wang Li reported Mao Zedong's instructions on the night of the 16th to Zhou Enlai, Zhou Enlai said that Zhang Chunqiao had come to talk. On the afternoon of the 18th, Jiang Qing asked Wang Li to convey to Lin Biao the content of Mao Zedong's conversation on the night of the 16th.Jiang Qing asked Wang Li to wait at the Jingxi Hotel, and she went to Lin Biao's first.Then, she went from Lin Biao's house to Jingxi Hotel, and went to Lin Biao's house with Wang Li in the same car.Wang Li reported to Lin Biao one by one according to the main points of the Huairentang meeting and Mao Zedong's talk on the night of the 16th recorded in his notebook.Jiang Qing and Ye Qun were present.Foliage records.Wang Li remembered that Lin Biao didn't talk much.When Wang Li talked about Marshal Xu Qianqian, Lin Biao said: "He cannot represent the People's Liberation Army." When Wang Li talked about the old marshals questioning Chen Boda, Lin Biao said a crucial sentence: "Chen Boda is a good man, a scholar can master Such a big situation is not easy!" Lin Biao's words reached Chen Boda's ears, and Chen Boda, who was in a difficult situation, was grateful.Later, Chen Boda turned to Lin Biao, and the initial opportunity lay in this sentence.Chen Boda was besieged on all sides, but Lin Biao gave him strong support!After Wang Li's report, Jiang Qing asked Ye Qun to send a car to take Wang Li back to Diaoyutai.Jiang Qing stayed with Lin Biao.Lin Biao took out the letter written by Tan Zhenlin and handed it to Jiang Qing.Jiang Qing read the letter, as if he had found a treasure!

※ ※ ※ At this time Chen Boda also laughed. Although he was excluded from the meeting, this meeting became a turning point and saved him from the political crisis.Fight back!Fight back!Fight back! "The Central Cultural Revolution counterattacks with all its strength!" The old master and the "First Lady" turned the tables.The atmosphere in Huairen Hall has completely changed. ※ ※ ※ Jiang Qing did not return to Diaoyutai, but went straight to Zhongnanhai, and handed the letter from Tan Zhenlin to Mao Zedong. In the middle of the night, Mao Zedong called an emergency meeting, and Zhou Enlai, Ye Qun, Kang Sheng, Li Fuchun, Ye Jianying, Li Xiannian, and Xie Fuzhi were called.The list was made by Mao Zedong himself.Among them, Ye Qun was present as Lin Biao's representative—Lin Biao sent Ye Qun there because he said he was not in good health.

This list is intriguing.It seems that it was a committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, but Chen Boda, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the "number four" was excluded!Obviously, Mao Zedong was still angry with Chen Boda. In addition, none of the members of the "Central Cultural Revolution" was invited to come, except Kang Sheng, who came as a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.Jiang Qing was also not present.

At midnight, the meeting ended.Kang Sheng immediately rushed to Diaoyutai——by then, it was already the early morning of February 19. Kang Sheng went to Wang Li first.Wang Li and Kang Sheng live in the same building.Kang Sheng said to Wang Li: "I know you won't sleep yet, so let me tell you first: I just came back from a meeting with the chairman, and something happened! I have been with the chairman for so many years, and I have never seen him lose his temper like this! You immediately Bring Chen Boda, Guan Feng, and Qi Benyu, and I will convey the contents of the meeting. Jiang Qing should not call her, and I will talk to her alone after she wakes up."

Kang Sheng took out his notebook and conveyed it to Chen Boda, Wang Li and Guan Feng.Chen Boda was frustrated, how could he be excluded from such an important meeting. Kang Sheng said that Mao Zedong "sent the wrath of the proletariat"!After Mao Zedong read Tan Zhenlin's letter and Jiang Qing's instigation, he was furious and called this emergency meeting. Kang Sheng conveyed Mao Zedong's angry words full of gunpowder: "I will leave immediately, Lin Biao will also leave, Chen Boda and Jiang Qing will be shot! Kang Sheng will be exiled to the army! The Cultural Revolution Group will be reorganized and let them do it. Chen Yi will be the team leader, Tan Zhenlin and Xu Xiangqian will be the deputy team leaders. Yu Qiuli and Bo Yibo are team members. If it is not enough, invite Wang Ming and Zhang Guotao back. If the strength is not enough, please come from the United States and the Soviet Union!"

Kang Sheng said that after Mao Zedong lost his temper, Zhou Enlai persuaded Mao Zedong and took the initiative to conduct a self-criticism, saying that he had not grasped it well.After Zhou Enlai's persuasion, the atmosphere of the meeting eased, and Mao Zedong's anger gradually dissipated.In the end, Mao Zedong decided that Chen Yi, Tan Zhenlin, and Xu Xiangqian "asked for leave for review."It is necessary to hold an enlarged meeting of the Politburo to criticize Chen Yi, Tan Zhenlin, and Xu Xiangqian.It was decided that Zhou Enlai and Li Fuchun would talk to Chen Yi; Li Fuchun, Li Xiannian, and Xie Fuzhi would talk to Tan Zhenlin; and Ye Jianying, Li Xiannian, and Xie Fuzhi would talk to Xu Xiangqian.

After conveying the message, Kang Sheng showed a sinister smile: "Okay, this time the problem is solved, Chen Boda doesn't need to criticize, instead of opposing the 'Left', he opposed the Right, we are liberated!" At this time Chen Boda also laughed. Although he was excluded from the meeting, this meeting became a turning point and rescued him from the political crisis. Eight days ago, Mao Zedong ordered him and Jiang Qing to conduct a review.Now it's completely reversed, Mao Zedong wants Chen Yi, Tan Zhenlin, and Xu Xiangqian to make a review! In the past, Kang Sheng always called Jiang Qing by his first name, and always asked Jiang Qing to go to him if there was anything to do.This time, through Mao Zedong's "proletarian wrath", Kang Sheng learned Jiang Qing's ability, weighed Jiang Qing's political weight, and couldn't help "respecting" Jiang Qing. That day Kang Sheng was writing to Chen Boda, Wang Li, and Guan Feng After the message was delivered, a farce was performed: Kang Sheng sat there waiting, not daring to go to sleep, but not daring to wake Jiang Qing up.He ordered Jiang Qing to tell him when he woke up, and he immediately conveyed Mao Zedong's speech to her!Kang Sheng, known as "Old Kang", has never been so "respectful" to Jiang Qing!

Afterwards, when Kang Sheng met Jiang Qing, he was always "Comrade Jiang Qing" long and "Comrade Jiang Qing" short. Of course, Chen Boda also gave Jiang Qing three points, and she was "in charge" of the "Central Cultural Revolution" group. Fight back!Fight back!Fight back! "The Central Cultural Revolution counterattacks with all its strength!" The old master and the "First Lady" turned the tables. The atmosphere in Huairen Hall has completely changed.In accordance with Mao Zedong's instructions, seven meetings were held in Huairen Hall from February 22 to March 8, 1967, to criticize Chen Yi, Tan Zhenlin, and Xu Xiangqian, called the "Political Bureau Life Meeting".

In addition to members of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and members of the "Central Cultural Revolution", the participants of the "Political Bureau Life Meeting" included Xiao Hua, Ye Qun, Yu Qiuli, Gu Mu, and Wang Dongxing. Those new to the meeting do not know what happened on February 16.Wang Li compiled the records in the notebook into the "February 16 Huairen Hall Meeting" and published it, but deleted the contents involving Zhou Enlai, Chen Boda, and Kang Sheng. The "Central Cultural Revolutionaries" were full of air, showing their power to the "Four Marshals" and "Third Deputy" in Huairentang. The "four marshals" are the four marshals Chen Yi, Ye Jianying, Xu Xiangqian, and Nie Rongzhen, and the "three deputy" are the three deputy prime ministers Li Fuchun, Tan Zhenlin, and Li Xiannian.