Chapter 68 Loud Advocate of the "Standard of Truth"

In 1979, Zhen Xiaoying, who was already well-known in Taiyuan, received a transfer order from the Organization Department of the Central Committee.In the previous year, a theoretical article entitled "Practice is the only criterion for testing truth" caused an uproar in the ideological circles. Zhen Xiaoying was transferred to the Central Party School during the upsurge of this ideological discussion. The publication of the article "Practice is the only criterion for testing truth" has a direct relationship with the Central Party School. After smashing the "Gang of Four" and ending the 10-year "Cultural Revolution", the cadres and the masses strongly demanded to correct the erroneous theories, principles and policies of the "Cultural Revolution", completely reverse the serious situation caused by the 10-year turmoil, and bring China out of danger. Rise up again.However, this requirement and aspiration have encountered serious obstacles, the work of the party and the country has been in a state of hesitation in its progress, and many people's minds are still tightly bound by the "two whatevers" thinking.China is at a major historical juncture.It was against this background that on October 9, 1977, the resumed Central Party School opened.Ye Jianying, then vice chairman of the Central Committee, spoke at the opening ceremony.

In her speech, Ye Jianying asked the Central Party School to seriously study the history of the party's 9th, 10th, and 11th line struggles, and demanded that in the research, the theory should be connected with practice, and the theory must not be confused with empty talk and bragging. Even lying is mixed up. Hu Yaobang, who was then the Minister of Central Organization and presided over the work of the Party School, emphasized the importance of practice when talking about how to study the history of the "Cultural Revolution".He said: "The history of the past ten years should not be based on any document or speech of any comrade, but on practice!"

Under the guidance and organization of Hu Yaobang, in early 1978, the theoretical workers of the Party School wrote the second draft of "Several Issues Concerning the Study of the Ninth, Tenth, and Eleventh Line Struggles."The article puts forward the principles that should be followed in the study of party history: First, the basic principles and spiritual essence of Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought should be used for research completely and accurately.Second, practice should be used as the criterion for testing truth and distinguishing right from wrong, and conduct research realistically.Whether the line is correct or not is not a question of theory but a question of practice, which must be proved by the results of practice.

After the resumption of the Central Party School, 807 trainees from ministries and commissions of central state organs, party committees of various provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions, and units above the military level participated in the discussion of this article.Because Hu Yaobang presided over the work of the Party School and implemented the "Four No Principles", that is, not to catch braids, not to wear hats, not to beat sticks, and not to pack bags, the thinking of the staff and students was very active. And before that, on August 25, 1977, the ninth issue of the Central Party School's journal "Theoretical Trends" published the article "Theoretical Work Must Restore and Promote the Style of Seeking Truth from Facts" written by the editorial team of the journal, which defended Mao Zedong from some people. Criticize the mistakes made in his later years, defend the wrong line of the "Cultural Revolution", and criticize the practice of "not taking objective reality as the standard" to evaluate the "Cultural Revolution".Later, "People's Daily" also published Shao Huaze's "Writing Style and Cognitive Line", which pointed out that the standard for testing the quality of work and the level of work depends on practice.

In order to promote the ideological emancipation movement on a larger scale and set things right, Hu Yaobang hoped to write a more profound and effective theoretical article.Under his support and guidance, Sun Changjiang of the Theoretical Research Office of the Party School of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China began to draft the article "On Practice Standards".Wu Jiang, deputy dean of education and director of the theoretical research office of the Central Party School, is in charge of this matter. At this time, Yang Xiguang, a student at the Party School and the editor-in-chief of Guangming Daily, discovered a manuscript by Hu Fuming, a teacher of the Department of Philosophy at Nanjing University, "Practice Is the Standard for Testing All Truth."When Yang Xiguang saw this article, he connected with the study, discussion and confrontation of the Central Party School, and decided to take down the article first, make revisions, and then focus on publishing it.Afterwards, Yang Xiguang learned that Sun Changjiang was drafting a similar article, so he invited the two authors together to discuss and revise it, making the article more mature in theory.In the end, it was decided to combine the original draft written by Sun Changjiang and Hu Fuming's article together for revision, which was completed by Sun Changjiang.

After 10 major revisions, "Practice Is the Only Criteria for Testing Truth" reviewed and finalized by Hu Yaobang was finally published in full on May 10, 1978, in the party school's internal journal "Theoretical Trends".The next day, "Guangming Daily" published the full text, signed as a special commentator of this newspaper. On May 12, "People's Daily" and "Liberation Army Daily" reprinted this article in full.Xinhua News Agency distributed this article to the national press. This article blew the clarion call for a great discussion on the standard of truth, and set off an upsurge in emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts among the entire party and the people of the country.At the end of the year, the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee was held with great historical significance. It broke through the serious shackles of the long-term "Left" erroneous thinking, criticized the erroneous policy of "two whatevers", and clearly pointed out that it is necessary to fully and accurately grasp the principles of Mao Zedong Thought. scientific system.The plenary meeting spoke highly of the discussion on the standard of truth, re-established the ideological, political and organizational lines of Marxism, and made a strategic decision to shift the focus of the work of the party and the country to socialist modernization and implement reform and opening up.China's socialist modernization drive has entered a new stage.Zhen Xiaoying, who was transferred back to the party school, felt particularly inspired by breaking through the shackles of the "two whatevers", implementing the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee, and adhering to and developing Marxism.Soon after arriving at the school, he participated in a seminar on "truth" organized by the school and made a speech at the meeting.Unexpectedly, her hastily prepared speech won praise from the participating experts.

Zhen Xiaoying's first lecture at the party school was to give party lessons to the faculty and staff of the party school.Although she has been away from the party school for many years, she has never stopped studying and thinking about theories. In addition, she has been engaged in the practice of cadre theoretical education for many years, and is familiar with the thoughts of leading cadres and ordinary party members. The ideological and theoretical doubts and difficulties, focusing on the important juncture of historical turning point, in the new era of socialist modernization, how to play the vanguard and exemplary role of party members, lively, pertinent, and appealing, to the teaching staff Work to impress.This also created conditions for her to step onto the platform of the Central Party School.Before the reform and opening up, it was not easy to get on the podium of the Central Party School.At that time, some old teachers, although they had worked in the party school for many years, had never taught a class, and spent their entire lives looking up materials and copying cards.Zhen Xiaoying is a beneficiary of reform and opening up.In the reform atmosphere of breaking down seniority and boldly employing young people, she quickly stepped onto the podium, and her lectures were well received by students. In 1984, Zhen Xiaoying served as the deputy head of the teaching and research group and began research on party building theory.In the party school, which is the forefront of learning and propagating Marxism, adhering to and developing Marxism, she has been studying and working hard for more than 20 years. Provincial and ministerial awards, and gradually grow into a theoretical worker with certain social influence and popularity.