Chapter 4 June 4, 1966

Although Nankou Village is a remote mountain village, it has beautiful scenery and friendly residents.But it is by no means a paradise.We are here to engage in class warfare.I don't agree with the ultra-left way of talking about it every year, every month, and never forgetting class struggle.However, Nankou Village, like other places, is by no means without problems, and it seems necessary to engage in a little "class struggle".How could we have imagined that while we were engaging in class struggle here, a storm of class struggle had already surged across the country.The center of this storm is Beijing, and the center of Beijing is Peking University.

We didn't know this at first.We live in the suburbs of Beijing and devote ourselves to social education. We seem to be farther away from the world and closer to nature.The spring of 1966, like any spring in the past, came late.It is normal for spring to come late in mountain villages.However, the peach blossoms, apricot blossoms, and pear blossoms finally bloomed one after another, a piece of pink and white, which complement each other, and the spring is full of joy.Our activities, on the surface, are business as usual, all is calm.But news from the papers, news from outside, that a great movement is approaching us.Peking University has always been the place where political movements gained momentum.Although we were not at the school at this time, the situation was not very clear; but there was something brewing there just like the thick clouds before the storm, and we had a bottom line in our hearts.It's just that because we live in the suburbs, we can still get a little peace for the time being.

As May approaches, the wind outside is getting tighter and tighter.The central government issued some documents one after another, such as "5.16 notice".The matter is already very clear; however, as I said above, my brain lacks the most political cells, the string of class struggle.I still went my own way, in the warm sunshine of Nankou Village, in the environment of blooming flowers, I became a frog in the well, and never connected this storm with my own destiny. At this time, the Yanyuan in the city might look completely different.People who came back from the city learned that the school had been boiled.The two factions (or how many factions it is hard to say) were arguing endlessly, and beatings began to appear.It is said that the Central Committee sent a certain official to Peking University and held a meeting overnight, trying to stop this unhealthy trend of not respecting the rule of law and acting out of control.I heard that it worked in a short period of time.However, a few days later, on May 25th, that "Lafayette" gathered several people from the philosophy department and posted a big-character poster: "What are Song Shuo, Lu Ping, and Peng Peiyun going to do?" Aroused the debate of two factions, some people are in favor, some people are against.I heard that near the big dining room, the disputants formed a circle and yelled loudly all night long.I don't know how many circles there are, and I can't tell how many people participated.It seems that a boulder broke through the water and sky of Peking University, and the place is in chaos.

We do not know the details of this big-character poster.However, we immediately felt that this was the continuation and development of the social education movement in the school.At the so-called "International Hotel Conference" I mentioned above, the anti-Lu Ping faction suffered a defeat and suffered a setback.According to the laws of our movement over the past few years, this time it is the person who has been punished who has risen again, ready to punish others. On June 1, I suddenly heard the big-character poster broadcast by the Central Radio Station, and someone attached a compliment, saying that it was a "Marxist-Leninist big-character poster."I don't have the time and ability to deliberate and study: Why is a big-character poster "Marxist-Leninist"?To this day, I still haven't evolved enough to understand the meaning of it.Anyway, Marxism-Leninism is Marxism-Leninism, it seems that nails are nailed to the chopping board, it is beyond doubt.Of course, people in Nankou Village talked about this big-character poster; but it didn't form two factions with strict barriers, it was just a general discussion.At this time, news from the campus continued to come in one after another, and it didn't seem to have much disturbance to our mood. We really didn't understand the real situation. We were in the mountains, as if we heard light thunder coming from a distance, No raindrops, nothing to do with me, still "social education" endlessly, and I still have a little bit of contentment in my heart.

There are as many as seven or eight teachers and students in the Department of Eastern Languages ​​of Peking University participating in social teaching in Nankou Village, including the secretary of the general branch and the head of the department, and that is me.According to the above regulations, we are all targeted because we are all "incumbents".Almost all the people in power, except for a few favored ones at the top, follow the road of capitalism (the mysterious Chinese language shortens it to "capitalist roaders").In Nankou Village, the capitalist roaders of the Department of Oriental Languages ​​got along very well with ordinary teachers and students.Therefore, we two capitalist-roaders are "rarely confused", like sleeping in a sweet dream, without realizing at all that we are walking on the edge of a cliff, with nowhere to go, just waiting for someone to push us from behind. , can immediately fall into the deep ravine.And the person who pushed us was surrounding us respectfully at this time, wagging his beautiful little tail, just like a lap dog.

Unexpectedly—in fact, if we have a keen sense of politics, we should have thought of it—on June 4th, we suddenly received an order from someone in the school: return to school immediately and join the revolution.We didn't bring many things, no books, no soft clothes, a few quilts, a washbasin, we rolled it up, and we went immediately and squeezed into the big bus sent by the school.Nankou Village, where I lived for seven or eight months, is about to say goodbye. "The guest tree is regarded as a hometown", if it is said that there is no nostalgia at all, that is not the truth.There was indeed a feeling of parting in my heart.However, at this time, there is a taste of chaos, so I don't care to chew it carefully.I don't know what other people think.The secretary of our general branch has more political cells than me, and has more experience in class struggle than me.He was silent, maybe a little premonition.But at this time, no one knows what their future looks like.Although I was a little confused and murmured, I didn't have time to think too much.When I returned home from Nankou Village on leave, I was always elated; but this time when I returned home, it seemed like I was heading towards a terraincognita (unknown land).

More than an hour later, we arrived at Yanyuan.I had subconsciously expected that there would be teachers and students from the Department of Oriental Languages ​​to welcome us, shake hands warmly, and exchange affectionate greetings. After all, we are still the secretary of the general branch and the head of the department, and no one has dismissed our officials yet.However, as soon as I entered the school gate, I was shocked: this is the Yanyuan we just left not long ago!This is simply a big temple fair.On the campus boulevard, cars of all sizes were parked in disorder.There are as many bicycles as there are crucian carp crossing the river.Under the tree in front of the house, in every corner, as long as there is a little space, it will be crowded with bicycles.It's really majestic, like a sea of ​​bicycles.As for the people in the school and the people from outside, there are countless.Thousands of heads gathered, and voices were buzzing.With the large dining hall as the center, people are crowded in groups and groups, as if a needle cannot be inserted, and water cannot be poured.As soon as our car entered the school gate, it was difficult to move an inch.We had no choice but to get out of the car and walk. It seemed that a few drops of water merged into the waves of the sea, and there was not even a little splash.All the greetings, handshakes, and greetings were all fantasies, and they all went to Java.

It is said that it has been like this every day since June 1st.People who came to Peking University to worship the first "Marxism-Leninism poster" poured into Yanyuan like a tide.In the eyes of "Marxist-Leninist" believers, Peking University is an extremely sacred and extremely desirable holy place, surpassing Mecca, surpassing Jerusalem, and surpassing Leiyin Temple on Lingjiu Peak in the West.One pilgrimage can cleanse all filth and all sins in the body and soul.There are more than 70,000 to 80,000 or even hundreds of thousands of people who come here every day.First, people from nearby schools came, then people from schools farther away, and finally people from many universities in other places, who traveled thousands of miles and traveled a long way.Of course, the local citizens did their part, and squeezed in to join in the fun, booing inside.This is much happier than visiting the flyover.In addition to people, the walls, the ground, and the trees were covered with big-character posters, the content of which was one-sided, and they all supported "the first big-character poster of Marxism-Leninism."The sea of ​​people, the sea of ​​big-character posters, are full of colors, and the noise goes up to nine days.

While I was stunned, I squeezed into the crowd.Although there was no greeting, no welcome; but there was no scolding, no criticism, no punching, no kicking.As a free man, I blended into the sea of ​​people and enjoyed myself for the time being.The secretary of the general branch who came back together was not in a good situation.As soon as he got out of the car, he was "picked up" or "robbed" by the young revolutionary general.Received I do not know where to go.He is an imperial "capitalist roader" and deserves what he deserves.Since then, for several years, I have not seen him again.On the big wall outside the Foreign Language Building, I saw a large number of big-character posters posted for him, calling him "Shepherd Secretary", doing everything possible to slander, spread rumors, fabricate things out of nothing, and personally attack him.It is said that he is "Lu Ping's black team", a royalist, a hero who takes the capitalist road, and a vanguard.Of course, Lu Ping's life was even more difficult.He is the person named in the Marxist-Leninist poster, the culprit, and the imperial criminal.I don't know his details.All I know is that he was picked out by the "revolutionary" masses and criticized and fought day and night, forty-eight hours a day.The venue for criticism is generally where he lives.He was surrounded and stood on top of a short wall, while the crowd below shouted slogans and cursed loudly.Those who presided over the criticism made up accusations and talked nonsense.At this time, the public sentiment was "passionate" and filled with "righteous indignation".The critique of Lu Ping became the most attractive sight of Peking University for a while.No matter who you are, as long as you come to Peking University, you must come to visit it.And everyone has the right to drag Lu Ping out of the house to criticize, just like the old days of calling out famous actors in the theater.

what about meAlthough I have realized that I am a mud bodhisattva crossing the river, I cannot protect myself; but no one has come to "pick me up" and I can still live at home and have freedom of movement.Someone put up a big-character poster for me. This is what should be done, and it is not surprising.Fortunately, there were not many big-character posters.One day, I went to the 40th floor where the students of the Department of Oriental Languages ​​lived to read the big-character posters.One was posted for me, and the content was to criticize a rather popular essay of mine: "Spring Man Yanyuan".In the hearts of the "young generals" who put up big-character posters, spring symbolizes capitalism; praising spring is praising capitalism.I was really puzzled at the time: Why is the bright spring, a symbol of life and prosperity, welcomed by people all over the world, all over the world, just a symbol of capitalism?Over the next decade or so, I was still puzzled; to this day, it is still a fog to me.My wooden head is not open, and it seems that this life is hopeless.As I mentioned above, Yao Wenyuan's stinking article criticizing "Hai Jui Dismissed from Office" was deeply written and thoughtful, and it made a lot of fallacies.Later works such as "Yanshan Evening Talk" which criticized the "Sanjia Village" developed on the original basis.It seems that this method has a background, at least it has been approved by someone.Later, the poison became endless, and a series of "theories" such as "using novels to oppose the party" came out one after another, and the talkers were all over the world.My political level is not higher than others.I am also a devout person.However, one thing is clear to me: the spring in my article has nothing to do with capitalism.I sincerely sing the praises of the motherland's spring.Therefore, when I read that big-character poster, I really felt suffocated and snorted involuntarily.This humming didn’t even take half a second, but it was recorded by someone hiding behind me just like my article about Yao Wenyuan in Nankou Village. down).Later, as soon as I jumped out to oppose their "Lafayette", it became a heavy shell that hit me.

Anyway, I am still a free man at this time, and I can roam around freely.Compared with June 4th, Yanyuan at this time was much more lively.At that time, many remote provinces were blocked by thousands of mountains and rivers, and they could not rush to Beijing to worship the "sacred land" of Peking University.They're all here now.Yanyuan looks relatively vast in normal days.However, in the days of "Swallow Garden with wind and rain in all directions", it seems extremely narrow and small.There are bushes on the side of the mountain, corners and corners, and people are crowded everywhere.My insignificant person is more like a drop of water in the ocean, or a grain of rice in Taicang. According to my observations, at this stage, the spearhead of the struggle was directed at the so-called "capitalist roaders."What is a "capitalist roader"?Up to the Central People's Government, down to a small department, as long as there is a leader, he must be a "capitalist roader."So the capitalist roaders are everywhere, and the talkers are everywhere.My political awareness was extremely low, and I was always devout and devout and supported the "Cultural Revolution" for a long period of time.However, every unit must have a capitalist roader, but I can't understand it anyway.Every boss, big or small, has become a capitalist roader. How did we achieve our achievements in our work?Anyway, I have nowhere to say this truth, no one to say it.Since the above thinks so, and the "revolutionary young general" also thinks so, then that's the only way.Isn't the revolution a dinner party? What else can I say?Pity that we have studied materialism and dialectics devoutly for more than ten years, but in the end it came to naught.Materialists should be realistic.What is the current practice of seeking truth from facts?I am puzzled. The revolutionary young general must not be underestimated.They have inexhaustible creativity.The capitalist-roader at Peking University was hung with a large wooden plaque around his neck, with the name of the capitalist-roader written on it.This genius invention came from the hands of the generals of the North.Just as Paris led the new trend of world fashion, Peking University at that time was indeed leading the new trend of the "Cultural Revolution" in the country.As soon as the new thing of hanging wooden plaques around the neck appeared, it immediately spread throughout the country.And there are new developments in some places.The steel wires used to hang the wooden signs are getting thinner, and the wooden signs are getting larger and heavier.The gravity of the earth sucked the steel wire into the flesh of the "prisoner", causing blood to flow out.Peking University lags behind in this regard, and I have never seen a scene of bloodshed.But I have seen a lot of "criticism" scenes.If it is in the house, the capitalist roaders stand on the podium, bow their heads and hang their cards. The "revolutionary" masses sit on chairs.If it is outdoors, the capitalist roaders will stand on chairs, walls, or stones, anyway, in a higher place, so as to show the public, of course, they must bow their heads and hang their signs.I haven't seen a criticism program, but it seems that there is still a criticism program.First of all, I always read the quotations first, and then shouted: "Bring so-and-so capitalist roader up!" So the capitalist roader was twisted behind his back by two or more young students wearing red armbands, holding his head, put on trial.At this time, the slogans of the masses were loud, and they even shouted "Long live what!" The main spokesperson stepped forward to speak and criticize.The speech counts the accusations of the critics, almost 100% rumors and slanders, and in the end it must be raised to an astonishing height: anti-party, anti-socialism, and anti-great leader.Anyway, what he says is the truth, and what he says is the law.The revolutionary masses have a lot of hats in their hands, and they can wear whatever they want for the "prisoner". They also ask the "prisoner" whether to admit it or not.What is the role of this criticism?I can't tell.Is it to deter the "prisoners"?I can't tell.Some of the people who participated in or visited the criticism were serious and righteous.Some are laughing too.People from all over the world came to Peking University to learn Buddhist scriptures and pilgrimage, and some also took the opportunity to vent their persecution madness, and everyone was happy in the end, and the day when the people were happy really came.This "advanced" experience was taken away, and in an instant, it spread throughout the country.As for the "jet sitting" that became popular later, it was not seen at that time.Whose invention is this?No one has studied it, and it seems that no one has come forward to apply for a patent so far. In the Department of Eastern Languages ​​of Peking University, one of the targets of criticism at this time is the secretary of the general branch I mentioned above.The hat is readily available: capitalist roader.One was an old professor who was traveling with me.The hat is also readily available: Reactionary Academic Authority, and an additional hat is added: Historical Counter-Revolution.There were many big-character posters for the two of them, and the criticism was fierce and brutal.I have only seen one criticism of the secretary of the general branch, and it was in front of a tent specially set up for pasting big-character posters.All the big-character posters about him were pasted on the mat shed, counting his "crimes" and personal attacks such as "shepherd secretary".He stood in front of the shed with his head bowed.I don't remember the wooden sign hanging around his neck, but a piece of white paper was pasted on his chest, with his name written on it, and a cross drawn with a Chinese ink brush.This is learned from the judiciary, maybe from old novels.When a prisoner was bound to the execution ground for beheading, there was a wooden sign on his back with the prisoner's name written on it and a red cross painted on it.At this time, the secretary also enjoyed this kind of treatment.Criticism is of course fierce, and the slogans are loud.After the denunciation ceremony was over, a big-character poster was pasted on his back, ordering "Go home!" The big-character poster must not be torn off, otherwise the crime will be added to the crime. The first criticism of that professor was in the large conference room upstairs of the foreign language department.In the corridor, from the first floor to the second floor, there are big-character posters.There are also quite a few cartoons, which depict the professor holding a steel knife, with red teeth and fangs, and blood dripping from the edge of the knife, trying to illustrate how many people he killed.In an instant, the building was filled with blood and murderous aura.One can imagine the intensity of the so-called "criticism" of an old man who is not allowed to speak in such an atmosphere.As a result, the young students who participated in the criticism were full of enthusiasm, telling the truth and lying at the same time, spitting and cursing at the same time, and the air was full of gunpowder.A wastebasket fell on the old professor's head.It is unknown which young general poured the whole bottle of blue ink on him, and his clothes turned into mottled American military uniforms.Under such circumstances, the old man was ordered to "get out" and walk home. On June 18th, some "genius" suddenly had a whim, and wanted to "fight ghosts" on a large scale on this day.The address was chosen on a rather high step on the east side of the twenty-ninth floor of the student dormitory.I didn't dare to visit this day.Because I still have a little self-knowledge.For a mud bodhisattva like me, it's best to keep your head out and keep your tail tight.Sitting at home, I heard the voices of people in the south, and the slogans were loud.Later, I heard people say that the "ghosts" who had been caught up to that time had to fight one by one, so as to promote the glory of the people and the voice of the revolution.Each "ghost" was put on a high platform, shouted slogans, and then kicked the "ghost" off the stage. The "ghosts" got dizzy from the fall, got up from the mud on the ground, limped, and fled back home.Even old professors in their 60s and 70s and patients lying in bed, as long as they are labeled as "ghosts", they will be dragged to criticize without exception.They couldn't walk, so they carried them in baskets, lay down on the "ghost fighting" platform, got scolded, kicked off the platform at the end, and then carried them home in baskets.I heard that that night, the entire Yanyuan beat people everywhere, cursed people everywhere, and called others ghosts and snake gods. The real ghosts and snake gods rampaged wildly and killed humanity. From then on, every year on June 18th, there must be "fighting ghosts".I never imagined that on this day two years later, I would also become a "ghost" and be fought by a big fight.Bow and prosperity are rare in a thousand years.This is a foreign language, so I won't show it here for the time being. Temporary carefree, of course quite comfortable.But I was not at ease.I clearly realized that I should also wear a hat on my head.I have been the head of the Department of Oriental Languages ​​for 20 years, can I get away with it like this?