Chapter 5 Thrilling 1971

At the beginning of 1971, I worked as a correspondent in the company headquarters. My main tasks were to answer the phone, send documents and passwords to various sentry points, pick up and send documents to the regiment and battalion headquarters, and accompany company cadres to check sentry points at various sentry points. Because this year is the first year that my company has been on duty in the Tiananmen area again, the whole company is very cautious and serious about all tasks, especially every guard target and every sentry post, lest they be caught in the dark. The security incident at Tiananmen Square, the political center, caused irreparable political impact.Therefore, there were a lot of conferences on security work held at that time, and they talked about our special position, important security goals, and arduous security tasks.He also pointed out that each sentry post is the first line of defense. There should be no problems with the first line of defense, and inspections of security work cannot be done (meaning that any security mistakes in the Tiananmen area are shocking, and inspections are useless).In addition, Tiananmen Square is an area where the party and state leaders and important foreign guests often go to. We have to often deploy personnel to participate in temporary security tasks related to the safety of party and state leaders and important foreign guests, let alone any problems.After holding many security work conferences, everyone deeply felt that it is both an honor and a great responsibility to be on duty in the Tiananmen area. Only with a hundredfold vigilance to prevent enemy agents from sabotaging and ensure the absolute safety of security targets can we live up to the great trust of the party and the people.Many points, long lines, and wide areas are the image metaphors for the sentry positions of the whole company. In order to prevent blind spots of guards when the whip is too long, the company and platoon cadres have to check the sentries at each sentry position several times every night, so as to plan ahead and prevent problems before they happen.The new soldiers who have not been on duty in the first year are the weak link in the sentry. In order to enable them to stand guard independently, the company has carried out education on the history of guard work, security professional skills training, military training, and veteran leadership. Activities such as new soldiers standing guard quickly improved the recruits' ability to perform duties.

After several months of training, the cadres and soldiers have entered a period of proficiency in their security duties, and all posts, especially those fixed posts exposed to the scorching sun, have also entered the cool and pleasant autumn from the scorching midsummer.On the small square at the west gate of the Chinese Revolutionary History Museum, where we guard, workers are setting up various floats, preparing for the celebration of the 22nd anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Tiananmen Square looks so quiet and peaceful. On September 13, with the emergency order issued by the superior unit to immediately enter the first-level combat readiness, the situation changed suddenly, and the smell of gunpowder suddenly rose.Except for the enhanced security at each sentry post to prevent anyone from entering, all other personnel are on standby without leaving their guns and guns, and send bullets to each soldier.At that time, everyone didn't know what happened, but they all guessed that something big suddenly happened to the central government.Everyone suddenly felt that the situation was serious, tensed every nerve, and waited for the battle, making all preparations for battle.The main leader of the company also arranges shifts one by one with several senior members of the company headquarters (communicators, buglemen, hygienists, hairdressers, etc.), and takes turns on duty day and night to maintain smooth communication with the four platoons of superiors and subordinates.They are divided into posts and sentries, and go deep into each post, squad, and platoon to conduct inspections and supervision according to actual combat requirements.Each platoon and squad has formulated a combat plan to defeat the invading enemy and defend the safety of the guard target to the death.In this way, a few days passed in a very tense fighting atmosphere, and there was no fighting. Then we found that the inspections by the superiors seemed to be less frequent than before.Gradually, various internal news came through various channels. For example, our division’s motorcycle battalion quickly occupied the military airport in the western suburbs; a certain company of our battalion, led by the chief of staff of the regiment, entered Jingshan Park to occupy the commanding heights at night... This scene was like a big scene. The thrilling battle scene between the enemy and the enemy was due to the defection of Lin Biao, the number two figure in the party who was then the vice chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and presided over the daily work of the Central Military Commission, which was known as the "September 13" incident in history.At that time, Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai, who directed the smashing of the counter-revolutionary coup of Lin Biao clique, were in the Great Hall of the People opposite us.The garrison commander Wu Zhong participated in a 10-member central task force headed by Zhou Enlai to examine the problems of the Lin Biao Group. After the "September 13th" incident, with the support of Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai presided over the daily work of the Central Committee, and Ye Jianying took charge of the daily work of the Military Commission.Three months after the Lin Biao incident, the central government officially distributed materials 1, 2, and 3 about the Lin Biao incident for the cadres and the masses to learn from.I remember that when one of the materials was conveyed, the cadres and soldiers of our entire battalion gathered in the auditorium of the History Museum, and a deputy political commissar of the Beijing Garrison District personally conveyed it, which shows that he attaches great importance to it.

More than a month after the heart-pounding Lin Biao incident, our country received great news. That is, on October 25, the 26th session of the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly passed a proposal to restore all the legitimate rights of the People’s Republic of China in the United Nations. This is a major victory for our country on the diplomatic front. On the afternoon of November 9th, the 10-member Chinese delegation headed by Vice Foreign Minister Qiao Guanhua headed by Chairman Mao to attend the 26th United Nations General Assembly left for New York from the Capital Airport. All members of the Politburo in Beijing arrived at the airport. See off the Chinese delegation.I even participated in the Politburo members headed by Premier Zhou to the airport to see off the delegation route guards.Looking at the heads of cars heading east one after another, the soldiers participating in the security guards were full of joy in their hearts.

In the second half of the year, after I went to Tiananmen Square to pick up my duties, I participated in the meeting with Ceausescu, General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party and Chairman of the State Council, U Ne Win, Chairman of the Revolutionary Committee of the Union of Myanmar and Prime Minister of the Government, and Haile Se, the Emperor of Ethiopia. Rasi, North Korean Prime Minister Kim Il Sung, Pakistan People's Party Chairman Bhutto, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Van Binh and other foreign leaders' visiting guards in China. At that time, because I was a correspondent of the company headquarters, I did not directly participate in the security guards for the above-mentioned foreign guests' visits, but I participated in the mobilization of the security guards before the visit, and I also watched the grand welcome scene upstairs in the company headquarters.

Ceausescu is visiting my country from June 1 to 9.Before the visit, the national flags and colored flags of the two countries were hung all over Chang’an Avenue, red flags were flying above the Great Hall of the People and the History Museum, eight red flags were flying above the Tiananmen Gate and eight red lanterns were hung high, and there was joy to welcome the distinguished guests everywhere. atmosphere.On the day Ceausescu arrived in Beijing, Tiananmen Square was crowded with people, and the welcome crowd waving garlands and ribbons, singing and dancing, lined the streets to welcome friends from socialist countries in Europe.At night, the gorgeous lanterns reflect the clear outline of the Great Hall of the People, and the incandescent spotlights illuminate the majestic outer walls and towering pillars of the Great Hall of the People beautifully.This is the night scene when Premier Zhou held a welcome banquet for the Romanian party and government delegation in the Great Hall of the People.This is the first time I have seen the magnificent and grand scene when our country welcomes foreign guests, and I feel that my body is also stalwart, and my lofty, proud, and proud mood gathers in myself.This feeling and mood has been accompanied by all subsequent missions of guarding state guests. This is actually a kind of excited psychological reflection of my pride in the strength of the motherland.

The Chinese people, especially the middle-aged and elderly people, have deep feelings for Ceausescu and Romania under his leadership.During the "Cultural Revolution", among the few foreign guests visiting China, many were Romanian friends from the coast of the Black Sea.The last foreign guest that Premier Zhou met with was Ilier Wildec, member of the Political Executive Committee of the Central Committee of the Romanian Communist Party and Secretary of the Central Committee.Ceausescu has visited China many times. Among the few imported films in the early 1970s, the Romanian film "Waves of the Danube" and other ideological and artistic films released in China and the popularity of Romanian cigarettes in China are all witnesses to the friendly relations between China and Romania.

The Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I is also a foreign head of state who left a deep impression on us.There are five reasons: First, I heard from the introduction that the emperor is a powerful emperor who has been in power for more than 40 years and is firmly in charge of the country.The second is the Berlin Conference in 1885. European powers carved up Africa and produced about 50 colonies and protectorates. Only Ethiopia maintained its independence.The third is the special terrain.Not only is the terrain the highest in Africa, but there is also a great rift valley running through the whole territory from northeast to southwest, more than 100 kilometers wide and more than 2 kilometers deep, known as the Great Rift Valley of East Africa.Fourth, from 1960 to 1971, Ethiopia voted in favor of restoring my country's legal rights in the United Nations at each session of the UN General Assembly.Fifth, our country made a grand and enthusiastic welcome ceremony for Selassie, and his name is very easy to remember for our security personnel, and he will never forget it once he hears it.

There are also two special guests this year, one is King Sihanouk of Cambodia, and the other is Henry Kissinger, Assistant to the President of the United States for National Security Affairs.Sihanouk has been living in Beijing since establishing the National United Front and the Kingdom's Government of National Unity under its leadership in Beijing.At first it was in the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, and later it was moved to Dongjiaomin Lane, which was the main building and Legation Street in the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China.Premier Zhou has always received him as a head of state.During this period, Premier Zhou met with Sihanouk at the two residences many times.This alone shows Premier Zhou's good intentions for Cambodia's struggle against the US and national salvation under the leadership of Sihanouk.My company has also participated in the route guard missions between Premier Zhou and Sihanouk in Beijing many times.

Kissinger visited twice this year in July and October, the first of which was a secret visit.Although he is not a state guest, the sudden arrival of a special envoy of the US President after more than two decades of confrontation between China and the US shocked the world.At that time, the comrades who participated in the security for his secret visit to China only knew that he was an important person, but did not know who it was.Today, all the main figures involved in improving Sino-US relations have passed away, but Kissinger is still alive and actively committed to Sino-US friendly activities.

Since the "September 13th" incident that year, Chairman Mao has never climbed the Tiananmen Rostrum.According to statistics, from the founding ceremony in 1949 to May 1, 1971, Mao Zedong climbed the Tiananmen Rostrum 45 times.Since the National Day of this year, our country has changed the annual "May 1" and "October" celebrations in Tiananmen Square to holding garden activities in major parks.In addition to tourists visiting and taking pictures in Tiananmen Square on National Day this year, the most obvious symbol of celebrating the National Day is that a huge portrait of Sun Yat-sen was placed on the central axis of Tiananmen Square to the north of the Monument to the People's Heroes, and Chairman Mao on the Tiananmen Gate tower. Portrait twin peaks towering.It was Chairman Mao's decision to place a portrait of Sun Yat-sen opposite Tiananmen Square on May 1st and 11th every year.It fully reflects Mao Zedong's respect for this bourgeois revolutionary pioneer who overthrew the Qing Dynasty.