Zhou Enlai and Zhu De
preface
Talking about the friendship between Zhou Enlai and Zhu De, Zhu De's daughter Zhu Min once said emotionally: "For decades, Uncle Zhou and his father were in solidarity. They respect each other, encourage each other, support each other, relate to each other..."
Zhou Enlai spoke, and Zhu De's actions made people tear up
In May 1972, Zhou Enlai was diagnosed with bladder cancer during an examination, and chairman Mao, after learning about it, gave a special explanation: to prevent spread, pay attention to nutrition and rest. Later, as his body deteriorated, urologists performed electrocautery treatment for Zhou Enlai, and Zhou Enlai's body improved slightly.
As a cancer patient, Zhou Enlai should have continued to receive treatment to consolidate the effect. However, for the sake of the future of the party and the country, he chose to take into account the overall situation and wronged himself.
It was not until May 31, 1974, that Zhou Enlai personally sent away a foreign guest that he was admitted to the 305 Hospital of the People's Liberation Army and continued treatment.
At the end of that year, Zhou Enlai flew to Changsha on the basis of the opinions of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee to report to Chairman Mao on the preparations for the Fourth National People's Congress.
At this meeting, Chairman Mao and Zhou Enlai, after a long night of talks, finally finalized important issues such as proposing to the Fourth Npc the list of leading bodies of various government departments. This policy decision plays a key role in the stable development of China's future situation and the future of the party and the country.
Chairman Mao and Zhou Enlai
During his stay in Changsha, Zhou Enlai not only reported to Chairman Mao, but also remembered Chairman Mao's birthday. He instructed the staff to give Chairman Mao a simple birthday.
After Zhou Enlai returned from Changsha, he was ill and attended the first session of the Fourth National People's Congress held in Beijing in early 1975.
The opening ceremony of the conference was presided over by Zhu De, who is nearly 90 years old. Zhou Enlai delivered a "Government Work Report" at the meeting, reiterating the two-step idea of developing the mainland's national economy.
At that time, Zhou Enlai's body was very weak, because he was too tired, and his face was unusually emaciated. But he insisted on finishing the report while standing, the last government report in his life.
It is worth noting that when Zhou Enlai got up and made a firm, clear Northern Jiangsu accent, the staff next to him took time to tidy up his chair. Zhu De, who was close to Zhou Enlai, also suddenly stood up.
When the staff also sorted out his chair and tried to help him sit down, Zhu De did not sit down, but stood side by side with his old friend until Zhou Enlai finished his report.
Therefore, there was a tearful scene on the rostrum: an elderly man, and a seriously ill patient, two people standing side by side. The people at the venue were amazed by this scene.
There is not much explanation in history for this scene. However, it is not difficult to understand the deep friendship between Zhou Enlai and Zhu De for decades.
Zhou Enlai and Zhu De stood side by side
In that special era, Zhou Enlai shouldered a heavy burden on his shoulders, but his physical condition was very bad, and Zhu De wanted to use this action to express his companionship and support for his old friends.
Their friendship, as Zhu Min said: "Solidarity, mutual respect, mutual encouragement, mutual care..."
Zhou Enlai's friendship with Zhu De
The acquaintance and intersection between Zhu De and Zhou Enlai stemmed from Zhu De's dedication to revolution and their mutual appreciation.
In his early years, Zhu De joined Dr. Sun Yat-sen's China League, and was later assigned to the left team of the New Army in Yunnan, where he successively participated in the support of the anti-Qing struggle, against Yuan Shikai's restoration of the imperial system, and against the Beiyang warlord Duan Qirui in the War of Protection of the Law.
In 1921, Zhu De and Sun Bingwen agreed that after overthrowing Tang Jiyao, he would leave the army to join Sun Bingwen.
So, Zhu De arrived in Beijing in 1922.
During this period, Sun Bingwen mentioned to Zhu De that his friend Li Dazhao had organized a new party, the Communist Party of China.
After learning that the Communist Party of China opposed the imperialist powers and feudal warlords, was committed to liberating the toiling masses, and established the dictatorship of the proletariat, Zhu De said excitedly: "This is a good party!" I've heard about it before and I want to join! ”
Jude when he was young
However, at that time, Li Dazhao went to the south, Chen Duxiu was in Shanghai, and Sun Bingwen just happened to know Chen Duxiu, so he took Zhu De to Shanghai to find Chen Duxiu and explain the matter of joining the party.
To Zhu De's regret, when they braved the sun and came to Shanghai to see Chen Duxiu, explaining their identity and intentions, Chen Duxiu looked up and down Zhu De, and said thoughtfully:
"An identity like yours still needs a long period of study, a sincere application, and then a long period of training and testing before the Communist Party will accept it." I advise you not to join the Communist Party, but to go back to the old army..."
Chen Duxiu's refusal made Zhu De feel frustrated, disappointed, and aggrieved. But he did not lose hope and confidence. He made up his mind: He must become a member of the Chinese Communist Party.
Under the support of strong faith, Zhu De and Sun Bingwen came to France again and decided to study the theories and methods of revolution in Marx's hometown.
While in Paris, Zhu De heard that one of the Chinese students was a Communist Party student, so he quickly asked them to take them to meet the Chinese student. That international student was Zhou Enlai.
Unfortunately, Zhou Enlai had already gone to Berlin. Therefore, Zhu De and Sun Bingwen decided to go to Berlin to find Zhou Enlai.
Sun Bingwen
Although the goal is firm, after meeting with Chen Duxiu, Zhu De has some lack of confidence. On the train, he said worriedly:
"Will Zhou Enlai be like Chen Duxiu, because of the experience of our old army..."
In this way, they came to Berlin with a nervous mood.
After seeing Zhou Enlai, Zhu De was a little surprised. At that time, Zhou Enlai was only 24 years old, with a clear eyebrow, and he was already holding an important position in the Chinese Communist Party. Jude is 36 years old.
After Zhu De explained his intentions, Zhou Enlai warmly received them. He poured them two cups of hot water and brought them two more basins of water to wash their faces and wipe their sweat.
During the conversation, Zhou Enlai's humility, enthusiasm, and outstanding talent impressed Zhu De.
Zhou Enlai was also impressed by Zhu De's renunciation of the high-ranking official Houlu, his existing position, and his determination to join the Communist Party. So, after several conversations, Zhou Enlai said, "I am willing to introduce you to the Communist Party of China!" ”
Hearing these words, Zhu De excitedly held Zhou Enlai's hand tightly, and it took a long time before he said: "Comrade Enlai! ”
Zhou Enlai in his youth
In this way, Zhou Enlai and Zhu De opened a deep friendship of more than 50 years.
During the Nanchang Uprising, after Zhou Enlai's meticulous planning and organization, Zhu De, in coordination with Zhou Enlai, meticulously laid down the "Hongmen Banquet" in his apartment, dragging several regimental commanders of the enemy army to weaken the enemy's strength, so that the rebel army successfully fired the first shot of armed resistance against the Kuomintang reactionaries and launched the Nanchang Uprising.
In the days that followed, Zhou Enlai and Zhu De experienced the white terror of the Kuomintang. In the face of the Kuomintang's brutal killing of the Communists, their inner convictions have never wavered.
After the fifth anti-encirclement and suppression campaign, the Red Army began a strategic shift. Zhou Enlai and Zhu De experienced another 25,000-mile long march.
These tribulations have further deepened their friendship. At work, they work closely together, and in life, they always care about each other. This kind of concern is embodied in all kinds of big things and small things.
After the Xi'an Incident, Zhou Enlai was invited to discuss with Zhang Xueliang and others how to deal with it.
It was a time when it was freezing cold. Zhu De was worried that Zhou Enlai would freeze his body, so he took out a blanket that he had carried with him for many years and gave it to Zhou Enlai.
Chang
At that time, Jude was about 50 years old. Under such harsh conditions, this blanket was still more important to him, but he chose to give it to Zhou Enlai, who was 12 years younger than him. It is enough to see his deep affection for Zhou Enlai.
It is worth noting that this blanket was later returned to Jude's hands.
After the realization of the second cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communists, Zhu De personally led his troops to cross the Yellow River in the east and went to the front line to fight against the Invading Japanese Army.
Zhou Enlai felt that Zhu De was old and the living conditions on the front line were difficult, so he asked his wife, Deng Yingchao, to carefully sew and mend the blanket that Zhu De had given him, and then hand it back to Zhu De.
The blanket circled between Zhou Enlai and Zhu De, reflecting their simple concern for each other. Later, this blanket accompanied Zhu De until the founding of New China.
Shortly after the Fourth National People's Congress, Zhou Enlai's illness worsened, and Zhu De felt that at this time, he should take on more work to reduce the burden of his old friends.
As a result, Zhu De undertook a lot of foreign affairs activities. Nearly 90 years old, he frequently receives foreign heads of state, heads of government, parliamentary leaders and so on.
In a year and a half, Zhu De only attended the ceremony of accepting the national letter, as many as 40 times!
Jude and foreign guests
In order to express his firm revolutionary will and live up to the great trust of the party and the people, Zhu De's spirit was incomparably invigorated, and he repeatedly wrote down the banner of "Revolution to the End" with his pen.
Zhou Enlai did not stop his work. In January 1975, Zhou Enlai underwent a third surgery. In five months, Zhou Enlai presided over politburo meetings, politburo standing committee meetings, and executive meetings of the State Council as many as 20 times.
In addition, during the year of his serious illness in 1975, Zhou Enlai had 127 conversations with deng Xiaoping, Ye Jianying, Li Xiannian and other leaders, as well as the heads of various departments.
Moreover, during Deng Xiaoping's presidency, Zhou Enlai met with him every few days, and the two met and talked together as many as 12 times in just three months.
When Zhou Enlai entered the operating room for the fourth time, he was still concerned about work. When the medical staff was ready to push him into the operating room, Zhou Enlai signaled to stop and asked softly: "Is Comrade Xiaoping here?" ”
Hearing that Zhou Enlai was looking for himself, Deng Xiaoping quickly stepped forward and walked to Zhou Enlai. Zhou Enlai clasped Deng Xiaoping's hand tightly and said to him, "This year, you did a good job! Much better than me..."
Zhou Enlai and Deng Xiaoping
After Zhou Enlai fell ill and was hospitalized, although Zhu De was very concerned about his old friend's body and wanted to visit him a few more times, he was afraid of disturbing Zhou Enlai's illness.
Once, Zhu De called Zhou Enlai's side and said that he had not seen him for a long time and wanted to go and see. However, at that time, Zhou Enlai's physical condition was not good, and it was not appropriate to meet. Therefore, Zhu De did not see Zhou Enlai.
Therefore, in the dilemma, Zhu De finally went to the ward to visit Zhou Enlai only once.
On July 11, Zhou Enlai's health was not bad.
After getting up, while doing exercises in the room, he said to his personal guard Gao Zhenpu: "You call and ask Mr. Zhu how his health is, and whether he has time now." Some time ago, he wanted to come to see me, but I was not in good health, so I didn't invite him to come. See if he can come today..."
So Gao Zhenpu called Zhu De's wife, Kang Keqing. Kang Keqing told Gao Zhenpu:
"Mr. Zhu is preparing to go to Beidaihe to recuperate, and has been waiting to meet with the premier... He's in good health now and can meet! ”
So, at 5:50 p.m. that day, Zhu De appeared in Zhou Enlai's hospital room. In order not to worry his old friend, Zhou Enlai specially changed his sick clothes before Zhu De came.
Gao Zhenpu
When the old friends met, the two were very excited, and at the same time, they stretched out their hands and held each other tightly. Zhu De asked Zhou Enlai in a trembling voice, "How are you?" ”
Zhou Enlai replied, "It's okay, it's okay." Come on, let's sit down and talk. ”
When Zhu De sat down on the sofa, the attentive Zhou Enlai asked Zhu De:
"Do you want to change to a taller chair?" Jude said, "That's it. ”
After more than twenty minutes of conversation, Zhou Enlai sent Zhu De out of the parlor and shook hands with him to say goodbye. Finally, after watching Zhu De get in the car and leave, Zhou Enlai returned to the ward.
The two hadn't seen each other in a long time, and there must have been a lot to say. The reason why we only talked for more than twenty minutes was because Zhou Enlai considered that Zhu De had diabetes and had the habit of eating on time for many years.
Zhou Enlai was concerned about Zhu De's health, so he wanted him to be able to go home for dinner at 6 o'clock.
Unfortunately, this meeting became the last time they saw each other.
Zhou Enlai died, Zhu De: How is this worthy of Enlai
In November 1975, Zhou Enlai's condition became more serious. Although he had difficulty swallowing and severe pain often struck, he fought against the disease with amazing perseverance. He was still concerned about the political situation at home and abroad, lying in bed and listening to medical personnel read newspapers to him.
Zhou Enlai
On January 7, 1976, Zhou Enlai, who was dying, realized that he had reached the last moment, and he said to the medical staff: "I have nothing to do here, you go and take care of other sick people..."
At 9:57 a.m. the next morning, Zhou Enlai closed his eyes forever at the 305 Hospital of the People's Liberation Army.
At that time, Zhu De had just been discharged from the hospital and was in poor health. Fearing he was provoked, the family did not immediately tell him the news.
Therefore, in the afternoon of the same day, Zhu De also received foreign guests. After finishing his work, Kang Keqing told Zhu De: "The prime minister's condition has recently deteriorated. ”
Zhu De did not react to Kang Keqing's meaning, he said: "No, the operation was successful, how could it deteriorate?" ”
Kang Keqing replied: "The situation is not very good. Jude was still reluctant to believe it, and he continued:
"There are so many doctors treating the prime minister, the disease will not develop so quickly!"
At eight o'clock in the evening, Zhu De finally heard the bad news of Zhou Enlai's death from the radio. But at this time, he still did not want to believe it. It wasn't until he saw that everyone in the family had a look of pain on their faces that he believed it.
Zhu De saluted Zhou Enlai's body
Listening to the mournful music that kept playing, Judd wept bitterly. Zhu De's grandson recalled: "When Marshal Chen Yi died, Grandpa also cried. But this time, completely differently, Grandpa had cried to the point where he couldn't help himself. He told the story of Zhou Enlai to the people around him over and over again..."
On January 11, after receiving a notice to bid farewell to Zhou Enlai's body, Zhu De specially put on a military uniform and accompanied by his daughter Zhu Min to Beijing Hospital.
On the way, Zhu De always had to take off his military hat to greet his old friend. After coming to the hospital, looking at Zhou Enlai's body, Zhu De held a military hat in his left hand, and his eyes stared directly at Zhou Enlai, tears in his eyes.
He kept whispering, "Enlai, Enlai..." Then Zhu De bowed deeply to Zhou Enlai's body.
After straightening up, Zhu De slowly raised his trembling right arm and saluted Zhou Enlai with a military salute. His feelings for Zhou Enlai were all contained in this standard military salute.
After returning home, due to being too sad, Jude did not eat or sleep for several days. At this time, Jude was 90 years old, which also made his body even weaker.
So, on January 15, when Zhu De was preparing to attend Zhou Enlai's memorial service, his legs were weak and he didn't even have the strength to stand up.
Zhu De admired Zhou Enlai's remains
At this time, Jude sat on the sofa and sighed uneasily:
"Oh, I can't go, how is this worthy of Grace..."
In chagrin, Zhu De suddenly thought that he could watch Zhou Enlai's memorial service on TV. So he immediately asked someone to turn on the TV for him, and said, "Even if I sit at home, I will also attend Enlai's memorial service..."
After Zhou Enlai's death, Zhu De's health also became worse and worse. In March of the same year, Zhu De began to use a wheelchair, and his blood pressure continued to fluctuate high. In May, Jude occasionally suffered from angina.
In June, Zhu De caught a cold because he waited too long for foreign guests. The doctor found that Judd's mental state was very poor, a situation that had not been seen in the past. As a result, Jude was taken to the hospital.
Subsequently, Jude's cold turned into pneumonia, and a serious infection appeared in the lungs. After consultation, the doctor gave Zhu De a shot of gentamicin. Soon, Jude had a fever, was in a good mood, and joked with the children.
However, a few days later, Jude developed severe symptoms of kidney failure. Immediately after, Zhu De's entire body organs began to fail, and he immediately fell into a coma.
A photograph of Zhu De in Zhou Enlai's bedroom
At 2:27 p.m. on July 6, Zhu De died of illness. He and his friend Zhou Enlai met in another place...
From acquaintance, fellowship to acquaintance, the friendship between Zhou Enlai and Zhu De, in more than half a century, has experienced countless ups and downs, becoming deeper and more indestructible.
All of this is reflected in a simple blanket, as well as standing side by side at the fourth session of the National People's Congress, taking the initiative to share after a serious illness, crying and weeping after death, telling the stories of old friends over and over again, and a humble corner of Zhou Enlai's room.
In Zhou Enlai's bedroom, there was a small round table with a photograph of Zhu De wearing reading glasses and carefully looking at the documents. In front of the photo, there is also a flower towel, which is similar to the red carpet used to receive foreign guests. It is enough to see how much they value each other...