Marshal Chen Yi's lifelong struggle for the revolution and the construction of new China can be said to be the greatest contribution. However, after the death of Marshal Chen Yi in 1972, the specifications of the memorial service were very "low-key", and many people could not attend, including Zhou Enlai.
Chen Yi
However, on the day of the memorial service, an incident occurred, prompting the specifications of the memorial service to be raised instantly, and Zhou Enlai immediately set the tone: members and alternate members of the Politburo in Beijing must be present.
What happened?
Chen Yi died of illness
On October 20, 1970, Chen Yi returned to Beijing from Shijiazhuang, this time because he felt hidden pain in his abdomen, his blood pressure was very high, and he urgently needed hospitalization.
As a marshal who has made great contributions to the new China, Chen Yi is now nearly seventy years old, and his health premier Zhou is very concerned, so his application report was quickly approved.
Chen Yi
On October 26, Chen Yi was admitted to the 301 Hospital, but for some reason, his condition did not get the attention it deserved, and after 56 days of hospitalization, he was discharged from the hospital because Chen Yi's body was not in serious trouble.
However, after returning home, Chen Yi still felt abdominal discomfort, and he did not know that Chen Yi was already suffering from cancer at this time.
Under the advice of Chen Yi's relatives and the staff around him, Chen Yi went to the 301 Hospital for expert consultation, and the result of the consultation was acute appendicitis, which required surgery.
Unexpectedly, however, when Chen Yi's abdomen was opened, the doctors were surprised to find that it was not appendicitis, but colon cancer. As a last resort, the doctor decided to change the surgical plan on an ad hoc basis, and the operation did not go well because it was not prepared as it should be.
Two months after the operation, Chen Yi went to Beijing Ritan Hospital for chemotherapy treatment. But it was too late, and the cancer had begun to spread.
Chen Yi and his family
Beginning in November 1971, Chen Yi's condition suddenly deteriorated, vomiting incessantly, and his body was maintained by infusion. Since he had reached the advanced stage of cancer, Chen Yi's condition was lacking.
After the news of Chen Yi's serious illness came, Zhou Enlai, Liu Bocheng, Zhu De, and Nie Rongzhen went to visit one after another, and Wang Zhen and Ye Jianying visited almost every day to accompany Mr. Chen to relieve his boredom.
On January 2, 1972, Chen Yi's condition became more serious, and it was very difficult to speak, even to open his eyes. This afternoon, Li Xiannian walked into Chen Yi's hospital room, and Chen Yi said every word with great difficulty: "Thank you, old comrade... I can't talk much. ”
Seeing that Mr. Chen was seriously ill, Li Xiannian turned around and burst into tears.
That night, Zhou Enlai suddenly received a doctor's report: Chen Yi was suddenly conscious and seemed to return to the light.
Zhou Enlai received the report, immediately drove to Ritan Hospital, and hurried into Chen Yi's ward. He realized that this might be the last time he and Chen Yi met, and his close comrades-in-arms would be goodbye forever.
Chen Yi and Zhou Enlai
That night, Zhou Enlai stayed in the ward for a long time. After leaving, Chen Yi fell into a coma again.
On January 4, Chen Yi made a final farewell to his family, and his last words to his wife and daughter were: "... Keep moving forward... Defeat the enemy..."
On January 6, Chen Yi died of illness, and the memorial service was scheduled for January 10, four days later.
It can be said that the time is relatively rushed, not only that, but the specifications of Chen Yi's memorial service are even more unexpected.
Because the memorial service specifications were "low-key", Zhou Enlai was worried
After Chen Yi's death, there was no obituary, no funeral committee, the body was sent to the 301 Hospital for autopsy, and even the news was only disseminated within a certain range, and Chairman Mao did not know it.
It was not until 2 January that Chairman Mao, when reviewing the documents sent by the Central Committee on January 8, discovered that one of them was a document on the specifications of Chen Yi's memorial service, and it was from this document that he first learned of the news of Chen Yi's death.
Chairman Mao
In this document, the specifications for Chen Yi's memorial service were set: it was held according to the rank of military elder. According to the specifications of this regulation, Chairman Mao and other members of the Politburo are not required to participate.
It can be seen from this that the standard of Chen Yi's memorial service is not high, not even the most basic position, and as a mere elder of the Central Military Commission, it would be a supreme honor if the vice chairman of the Central Military Commission could attend it. For this reason, Chen Yi's memorial service was decided to give a eulogy to Ye Jianying, who was then vice chairman of the Central Military Commission and presided over the daily work.
Indeed, according to the specifications of Chen Yi's memorial service at that time, the eulogy delivered by Ye Jianying was already at the highest level, and it was impossible to be higher.
Of course, at this level, the scale of the memorial service will not be very large, and the procedure will be relatively simple, so there is no need to set up a funeral committee.
At that time, when Chairman Mao was reviewing the documents on Chen Yi's memorial service, he only made changes to one part of the eulogy, deleting "meritorious deeds."
But that's not the end of it.
On January 10, that is, the day of Chen Yi's memorial service, according to the custom, Chairman Mao worked at night, and the lunch break has become a habit of not moving for many years, but on this day, Chairman Mao had no sleep, no rest, and was more irritable, grabbing a book to read, but the mood seemed to be unable to calm down, and the book could not be read at all.
This state of affairs lasted until 1:30 p.m., when Chairman Mao suddenly informed the staff around him to immediately prepare a car and go to Comrade Chen Yi's memorial service.
Chairman Mao and Chen Yi
Just in the gap between the preparation of the car, the staff immediately informed Zhou Enlai of the news.
In fact, as Chen Yi's closest comrade-in-arms and brother, Zhou Enlai was worried about Chen Yi's memorial service.
According to the specifications set by Chen Yi's memorial service at that time, Zhou Enlai could not even participate, because this was very asymmetrical in rank. After decades of ups and downs, deep affection and righteousness, how can we not send our comrades-in-arms on their last journey.
Of course, not only that, Zhou Enlai was worried not only about whether he could participate, but more importantly, he was very sorry about the specifications of Chen Yi's memorial service, but he could not change it.
At this moment, the news that Chairman Mao was going to attend Chen Yi's memorial service came, which was undoubtedly a charcoal in the snow for Zhou Enlai, and it was this news that solved the "urgent need."
The specifications of the memorial service were raised, and Zhou Enlai immediately made a decision
Since Chairman Mao has decided to participate, the specifications of the memorial service are bound to change.
Zhou Enlai immediately decided to raise the specifications and scale of the memorial service:
He immediately informed Vice President Song Qingling to attend; he also made an urgent appointment with Prince Sihanouk, the head of state of Cambodia in Beijing, and invited the prince and his wife to attend.
Obviously, these two measures have raised the specifications of Chen Yi's memorial service to a very high level, which can be said to set the tone for the memorial service.
Chen Yi and Zhou Enlai
Immediately afterward, Zhou Enlai demanded that the General Office of the Central Committee immediately inform the members and alternate members of the Politburo in Beijing that they must be present.
In addition, Zhou Enlai also made an important decision: anyone who requested to participate in Chen Yi's memorial service was allowed to participate.
Since then, Chen Yi's memorial service has reached the top level in terms of specifications and scale.
Chairman Mao appeared at the memorial service
Because of the upgrade of the specifications, the people of Babaoshan immediately became nervous and busy. Of course, the funeral committee was also quickly established, and the on-site layout and details also reflected the high specifications.
Above the entrance of the Babaoshan Auditorium, a huge wooden plaque was immediately made, and seven big characters were written: "Comrade Chen Yi Memorial Service"
Directly in front of the hall hangs a huge portrait of Chen Yi, under which is placed Chen Yi's urn, covered with party flags. On the right side of the urn are a huge wreath donated by Chairman Mao, and on the left side are wreaths of the central authorities and various ministries and commissions.
Soon, babaoshan crowded, more than 1,000 representatives from all walks of life who participated in Chen Yi's memorial service arrived one after another, everyone came with a heavy mood, and suddenly the sad atmosphere began to spread in Babaoshan, some people silently shed tears, some people cried.
Just then, a van pulled into BabaoShan, and a woman stepped out of the car, her face haggard and sad.
Soon someone recognized her, and she was Chen Yi's wife, Zhang Qian.
Chen Yi's couple
More than an hour before the memorial service began, Zhou Enlai arrived at the scene, checked the preparations for the memorial service, and then asked: "Where are you going to let Chairman Mao rest?"
The staff opened the door of the third lounge, and Zhou Enlai looked around, very satisfied with the furnishings in the room, but still not at ease, sat on the sofa prepared for Chairman Mao and tried it, and pressed the soft and hard with his hand.
It was almost time for the memorial service to begin, and Song Qingling and Prince Sihanouk arrived one after another.
At the same time, Chairman Mao also arrived at the scene, and Zhou Enlai immediately stepped forward to greet him and accompanied Chairman Mao to see Zhang Qian.
Zhang Qian was in the second lounge, and when she saw Chairman Mao arrive, she immediately stepped forward to greet her, she shook Chairman Mao's hand, and only said Chairman Mao once and could not cry.
Chairman Mao shook hands with Zhang Qian
With tears in his eyes, Chairman Mao said bitterly and slowly: "Comrade Chen Yi is a good man and a good comrade."
The memorial service began in a sad atmosphere and was presided over by Li Desheng, director of the General Political Department.
Li Desheng announced: "I would like to invite Zhou Enlai, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and premier of the State Council, to deliver a eulogy."
In fact, the eulogy addressee identified by the previous memorial service was Ye Jianying, and Chairman Mao's appearance changed everything.
In fact, with Chen Yi's historical merits, such treatment can be said to be appropriate and normal, but in the historical environment at that time, it was very rare to have such a standard memorial service.