Chapter 16 handshake between great men

After Liu Zhidan was released from prison, the soldiers and civilians in the base area rejoiced and ran to tell each other: "Liu Zhidan has been released!" "The Shaanxi-Gansu base area has been saved!" Zhou Enlai led the headquarters staff to return to Wayaobao on December 8, 1935 after the victory in the Zhiluo Battle. As soon as Zhou Enlai arrived in Wayaobao, he invited and interviewed the leaders of the party, government and army in northern Shaanxi who had been wrongly arrested and released not long ago.In the courtyard of the Military Commission, Zhou Enlai stood outside the cave where he lived, welcoming Liu Zhidan who was striding forward.Liu Zhidan smiled kindly when he saw Zhou Enlai, and the two held their hands tightly.Zhou Enlai looked at the thin Liu Zhidan, and said affectionately: "Zhidan, you have been wronged." Liu Zhidan smiled and said, "Vice Chairman Zhou, do you still know me? I am from the fourth phase of Huangpu, and it is yours." Students." Zhou Enlai said in surprise, and then looked at Liu Zhidan carefully: "Yes, it turned out to be like this, we are comrades in arms. I want to thank you, we all thank you for creating this base area, so that the central government has We have settled down." Zhou Enlai said while stroking Liu Zhidan's shoulders and returning to the cave, the two had a simple meal prepared by Deng Yingchao, and had a long and sincere talk.

Liu Zhidan reported on the difficult journey and setbacks in the establishment of the Northwest base area, talked about the contributions of the Northwest comrades in the process of developing the base area, and also expressed his views on some people's ultra-left line and sectarianism, and expressed his own views on the current situation. the opinion of. Zhou Enlai also told Liu Zhidan about the Red Army's Long March, the process of constantly choosing footholds, the several important battles in which they broke through the enemy's siege and interception, and the difficulties of climbing snow-capped mountains and crossing grasslands, and the surprise of knowing that there is a base in northern Shaanxi.It also mentioned the differences of opinion between the central government and Zhang Guotao.Now, the Central Committee has finally found a home when it went north to resist the Japanese, but it is not familiar with the situation in the base area. How to consolidate and develop the northern Shaanxi base area in the future, how to crush the enemy's siege, etc., I want to hear Liu Zhidan's opinion.

Liu Zhidan smiled modestly and introduced the situation around the current base area in detail: the Northeast Army is in the south, which is the greatest pressure on the base area; the east is Yan Xishan's territory, and the main force will not be mobilized to take action at present; the north is empty, and the Kuomintang is stationed Some of the miscellaneous troops, if these miscellaneous troops are destroyed, the threat from the three sides will be reduced, and the base area can also be expanded... Zhou Enlai praised Liu Zhidan's analysis very much, and said that after Mao Zedong and Peng Dehuai came back, they would study the strategy against the enemy together.In addition, he also said that due to the victory of the Zhiluo Battle, the external pressure was temporarily relieved. To take root and develop in northern Shaanxi, it must obtain the support of the people.Zhou Enlai proposed to use the joint names of Liu Zhidan, Mao Zedong, and Peng Dehuai to issue a statement to the working people in northern Shaanxi to eliminate the influence of the mistaken suppression of counter-revolutionaries among the common people.

Soon, Mao Zedong, Peng Dehuai, and Liu Zhidan jointly issued the "Message to the Workers and Peasants in the Shaanxi, Gansu and Soviet Areas" announcement. Liu Zhidan thought of his teacher, Zhou Enlai, who came to northern Shaanxi after a difficult long march. As a student, he should invite the teacher to have a meal.Considering the poverty of his family, after discussing with his wife and Gui Rong, he bought a leg of lamb stewed, borrowed some good noodles from others, asked Zi Rubing to find a way to buy a bottle of shochu on credit, and then arranged the dinner. Zhou Enlai and Deng Yingchao came as scheduled, accompanied by Zhang Yunyi and Zi Rubing.A few people sat down in Liu Zhidan's humble home, and a few simple stir-fried dishes were placed on the square table. The kiln was filled with the delicious smell of mutton. Everyone jokingly said: "It's really fragrant, really fragrant, better than the royal banquet in the palace."Bai Rubing said: Mrs. Liu's tea and rice skills are excellent, and she is famous far and wide. Today everyone can enjoy the food.Liu Zhidan first toasted Zhou Enlai and other guests one by one. The atmosphere became active, and they sipped and chatted. The most talked about was the customs of northern Shaanxi and the Red Revolution in northern Shaanxi. Everyone was very happy, and a long time had passed.Tong Guirong suggested to Liu Zhidan: "The mutton is cooked. Let's talk while you eat, okay? Chairman Zhou must be hungry." The mutton was served and divided into everyone's bowls. Zhou Enlai took a bite and praised repeatedly.

Stewed mutton and chopped buckwheat noodles are Tong Guirong's best culinary skills.When she heard the compliment, she smiled shyly and continued to work on the case.Only the sound of noodle knives can be heard, and the thin, well-proportioned and soft noodles jumped out neatly. They were boiled in a pot, scooped up in a bowl, and poured with mutton soup.The white, fluffy buckwheat noodles were beautiful and delicious. Everyone praised them again and said that they would come to Chairman Liu's house to eat buckwheat noodles with mutton. On December 13, 1935, Mao Zedong returned to Wayaobao, and met Liu Zhidan the next day.On this day, there was heavy snow and the temperature dropped sharply. Mao Zedong was already waiting on the steps in front of the cave.When Zhou Enlai led Liu Zhidan into the yard, Mao Zedong strode down the steps and greeted him. Zhou Enlai introduced Liu Zhidan to Mao Zedong.Liu Zhidan saluted Mao Zedong with a military salute. Mao Zedong smiled back and held Liu Zhidan's hand tightly and said, "You have been wronged!"Mao Zedong kindly reached out and patted the snowflakes on Liu Zhidan's shoulder, and let Liu Zhidan into the cave.He Zizhen came out of the kiln when he heard the sound, asked Liu Zhidan to sit down repeatedly, and served tea and water neatly. Zhou Enlai introduced Mao Zedong's wife He Zizhen to Liu Zhidan.

After sitting down courteously to each other, Mao Zedong said: "For a revolutionary, being in prison is also a test and a kind of rest." Zhou Enlai said: "The 'Zuo' name prison is also 'Left'." Mao Zedong went on to say: "This place in northern Shaanxi has a revolutionary tradition in history. Li Baicheng and Zhang Xianzhong started the revolution here. Although this place is poor, but the poor want to change, and the poor will make revolution! Here The mass base is good, the geographical conditions are good, and it is a good place to carry out revolution!" Liu Zhidan nodded in agreement after hearing this.He deliberately reported the work in northern Shaanxi to Chairman Mao and Vice Chairman Zhou, and expressed that he would stick to the revolution with Chairman Mao and the Party Central Committee to the end.

The three leaders talked for a long time around the stove, and Liu Zhidan returned home late at night.Seeing Tong Guirong mending clothes, he said: "It's freezing cold, and Chairman Mao is still wearing ripped cloth shoes. He is from the south and is not used to the cold here. Hurry up and make a pair of cotton shoes." Tong Guirong asked: "I don't know how big Chairman Mao's feet are." Liu Zhidan smiled: "He is taller than me, so his feet are bigger than mine." After working with Guirong for two days and two nights, a pair of new cotton shoes was ready.Liu Zhidan was busy with work and was not at home, so Tong Guirong had to bring his daughter Zhenwa to give Chairman Mao cotton shoes.He Zizhen heard from the guard that Liu Zhidan's wife had come, so she hurried out to welcome the mother and daughter back to the kiln.Mao Zedong also came out of the kiln when he heard the sound, and enthusiastically gave up his seat.The simple and kind-hearted Tong Guirong was very cautious, handed the cotton shoes to Mao Zedong and said: "The task that Lao Liu gave me is to make you a pair of cloth shoes quickly. You try them on, and if they don't fit, I will make another pair. Mao Zedong happily took the cloth shoes, put them on, and said, "Zhidan is a caring person, and your sister-in-law Liu is also a warm-hearted person." Mao Zedong walked back and forth on the ground wearing new cotton shoes, unable to conceal his joy, saying repeatedly : "The shoes fit well, thank you old Liu, thank you sister-in-law Liu."

After Liu Zhidan was released from prison, the central government first appointed him as the deputy director of the rear office of the Northwest Revolutionary Military Commission and the commander of the Wayaobao security. He would accompany Zhou Enlai to recuperate before leading the army to the front line. On the afternoon of December 16, in the meeting room of the Military Commission compound, Zhou Enlai presided over the "Symposium for Representatives of Comrades from Northern Shaanxi". The knot in my heart was untied, and I will work more unitedly in the future.Dong Biwu, Wang Shoudao, Jia Tuofu, Zhang Yunyi, Guo Hongtao, Liu Zhidan, Gao Gang, Xi Zhongxun, Ma Wenrui, Zhang Xiushan, Yang Sen, Yang Qi, etc. attended the meeting.Nie Hongjun and Dai Jiying also attended the meeting on time.

After the meeting started, everyone asked Dai Jiying to speak first, but Dai Jiying was evasive and refused to admit his wrong approach.Zhou Enlai got angry, stood up and reprimanded Dai Jiying: "The more 'false revolutions' like Liu Zhidan, the better. It would be better if there were no 'real revolutions' like you..." Liu Zhidan spoke and said: "...things in the past Don't take it to heart, focus on the overall situation, and unite against the enemy. Everyone must obey the central leadership, obey the central dispatch, and work actively in their respective positions according to the central distribution." Zhou Enlai made a concluding speech. The revolutionary spirit of Comrade Bei said earnestly: "If 'Left' opportunism destroys this base, the central government will have no place to rest..."