Deng Rong, Deng Xiaoping's younger daughter, once said in an interview that one day she asked Deng Xiaoping, "Father, who in this life have the closest relationship you have?" ”
Without hesitation, Deng Xiaoping replied: "Premier Zhou, and you Uncle Li and Uncle Nie."
Looking back on Deng Gong's life, he selflessly dedicated himself to the cause of the motherland and shouldered the responsibility of building a prosperous and prosperous motherland all his life.
What kind of moving story is there between the great man of our motherland, Deng Xiaoping, and the three names he uttered?
"For me, he was always a brother"
Referring to the deep friendship between Deng Xiaoping and Zhou Enlai for more than half a century, the story begins in France.
On September 11, 1920, 16-year-old Deng Xiaoping, with full patriotic feelings and ideals for national salvation, boarded the "Antelepong" cruise ship from Shanghai to France with more than 80 students from the Chongqing Preparatory School for Work-study in France, and embarked on a journey of seeking new knowledge from the world and seeking truth from practice.
After more than 30 days of sea travel, Deng Xiaoping finally arrived in France on October 19, 1920.
ANGLEBON"
On November 7, 1920, Zhou Enlai, who had just returned from Japan, boarded the French cruise ship "Bordeaux" in Shanghai, with a voyage of up to 36 days, passing through Saigon and Singapore, crossing the Strait of Malacca, crossing the Indian Ocean, and then passing through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, entering the Mediterranean Sea, and in mid-December 1920, "Bordos" arrived at the port of Marseille in southern France.
As a result of the impact of the First World War, the economy of Europe was severely affected and entered a period of extreme depression.
After five months of study at the Valle Secondary School in France, Deng Xiaoping was forced to drop out of school because he could not afford to pay high tuition fees, and immediately began a work-study life of more than four years.
France in 1920
After Zhou Enlai arrived in France, unlike other students studying in France, Zhou Enlai mainly relied on writing manuscripts to earn income to maintain his livelihood, and in addition to writing, Zhou Enlai used it to examine the overall social situation, the workers' movement and the student movement.
In the spring of 1921, Zhang Shenfu, Zhao Shiyan, Chen Gongpei, Liu Qingyang and Zhou Enlai formally formed the Paris Communist Group.
In June 1922, the "Young Communist Party of China" was established in Paris, including three branches in France, Germany and Belgium. Subsequently, according to the notice of the CPC Central Committee and the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League, it was renamed as the "General Branch of the Chinese Socialist Youth League in Europe". Zhou Enlai was one of the heads of the general branch and was responsible for propaganda work.
Zhou Enlai in France
In 1923, at the age of 18, Deng Xiaoping joined the Communist Youth League of the Communist Party of China in Europe and became the youngest member.
Under the leadership of Zhou Enlai, who was 6 years older, Deng Xiaoping spread communism on the front of "Red Light", united the youth in Europe, and waged a struggle against imperialism and feudal warlords.
For nearly half a year, Deng Xiaoping and Zhou Enlai lived together day and night. Although at that time, the conditions were extremely harsh, and the hunger could only be filled with white water and bread, and the living conditions were relatively harsh. But this does not in any way stop the revolutionary enthusiasm and vigor of these patriotic and enthusiastic young people.
Communist Youth League of the Communist Party of China in Europe
Outside of work, Zhou Enlai and Deng Xiaoping also had a common hobby, they both loved to watch football and liked to eat croissants.
During their stay in France, the two established a deep friendship. Even decades later, Deng Xiaoping's daughter asked him, "Among those who studied in France, who do you have the closest relationship with?" ”
Deng Xiaoping replied, "Still Premier Zhou, I have always regarded him as a brother, and we have worked together the longest."
After the 1987 Session, the CPC Central Committee organs were secretly moved from Wuhan to Shanghai, and efforts were made to restore, rectify, and rebuild the party organizations that had been seriously damaged by the Kuomintang reactionaries, which was an important task facing the party Central Committee.
It is very coincidental that the Central Committee decided that Zhou Enlai, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee, would concurrently serve as the director of the Central Organization Bureau and be responsible for handling the daily work of the Central Committee. Deng Xiaoping was appointed secretary general of the Party Central Committee, responsible for assisting Zhou Enlai and other central leaders in handling the daily affairs of the central government.
Two old friends who used to be in France reunited in Shanghai under the shroud of white terror, fighting side by side and living and dying together.
With the close cooperation of the two men, the work of the CPC Central Committee in Shanghai has progressed smoothly and at the same time ensured the safety of the CPC Central Committee organs. During their work in the Shanghai Party Central Committee, the friendship between the two was further deepened.
In 1969, Deng Xiaoping was sent to Jiangxi. The Jiangxi Revolutionary Committee arranged for Deng Xiaoping to go to Ganzhou, and when Premier Zhou learned of it, he personally called the Jiangxi Provincial Revolutionary Committee twice in a row, saying that Deng Xiaoping was already 65 years old and asking the Jiangxi Revolutionary Committee to consider Deng Xiaoping as much as possible within the scope of its permission.
Later, Chairman Mao was ready to resume Deng Xiaoping's work, and Premier Zhou immediately conveyed Chairman Mao's instructions as a document to the Politburo, laying the foundation for Deng Xiaoping's comeback. Later, Premier Zhou personally wrote to Ji Dengkui and Wang Dongxing, asking them to propose a way to restore Deng Xiaoping's work. At the end of 1972, Ji Dengkui and Wang Dongxing formally proposed to resume the work of Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping.
In February 1973, Deng Xiaoping was notified to return to Beijing. At this time, Premier Zhou's condition recurred, but he could not care about treatment and rest at all, and held meetings for nearly half a month in a row to discuss the issue of Comrade Xiaoping's comeback, and when there were approximate results, Premier Zhou went to treat the disease.
Busy things overwhelmed Premier Zhou, and on September 20, 1975, Premier Zhou's condition deteriorated. About to undergo the fourth major surgery, Premier Zhou knew the condition of his body, and before he was about to be pushed into the operating room, he used all his strength to shout "Comrade Xiaoping!" ”
Deng Xiaoping immediately came to Premier Zhou's side, who was physically weak, but said loudly, "Comrade Xiaoping, your work over the past year or so has proved that you are much stronger than me."
This is the wisdom of Premier Zhou, and this sentence was actually not addressed to Deng Xiaoping, but to all the people present.
At the end of December 1973, Premier Zhou's condition deteriorated further, and suddenly his heart stopped beating, and after the hospital's timely rescue, he was temporarily out of danger, and Deng Xiaoping, Wang Hongwen, Zhang Chunqiao, and Wang Dongxing all came to the hospital. When Premier Zhou saw everyone, he used all his strength to say, "Comrade Chunqiao, you and Hong Wen should help Comrade Xiaoping more in their work."
At this time, Premier Zhou's life was in danger, but at this point, Premier Zhou was still worried about Deng Xiaoping and still wanted to help behind Deng Xiaoping's back.
On January 8, 1976, Premier Zhou, beloved by the people of the whole country, unfortunately passed away. Deng Xiaoping endured great grief and delivered a eulogy for Premier Zhou, and when he read the eulogy, he cried after countless battles and countless lives and deaths, which shows the profoundness of the friendship between the two.
"I witnessed their love"
The "Uncle Li" that Deng Xiaoping said to his daughter was Li Fuchun.
Deng Xiaoping's relationship with Li Fuchun and Cai Chang was also extraordinary, with decades of comrade-in-arms friendship and even family-like affection.
Same as premier Zhou's friendship. Deng Xiaoping, Li Fuchun, and Cai Chang met during their work-study period in France.
Li Fuchun
After Deng Xiaoping joined the Chinese Communist Youth League in France, he was with Li Fuchun and Cai Chang for a while. Deng Xiaoping and Cai Chang took the oath of enlistment in Paris together, and then Li Fuchun and Cai Chang became lifelong partners in France, and Deng Xiaoping was a witness to their love.
After 1923, Deng Xiaoping worked with Li Fuchun under the direct leadership of Zhou Enlai. At the same time as the revolution, in order to maintain their livelihood, Deng Xiaoping and Li Fuchun worked during the day and party work at night. They were in a crowded room, eating bread and drinking boiled water, encouraging each other. The harsh conditions could not resist their youthful vitality and optimistic revolutionary enthusiasm, during which time they became close comrades-in-arms, not relatives but even relatives.
Li Fuchun
In 1933, the Provisional Central Committee of the Communist Party of China was forced to move from Shanghai into the Soviet Union. In the Central Soviet Region, Deng Xiaoping resolutely implemented Mao Zedong's line and supported and supported Mao Zedong's ideas, but later adjusted his post and no longer served as the propaganda director of the Jiangxi Provincial Party Committee.
Deng Xiaoping was in the most difficult time, at this time, Li Fuchun was as concerned about Deng Xiaoping as ever, and Cai Chang also brought food to Deng Xiaoping.
Li Fuchun and Cai Chang
In October 1934, after the failure of the fifth anti-"encirclement and suppression" campaign, the main force of the Central Red Army, in order to get rid of the encirclement and pursuit of the Kuomintang troops, carried out a strategic shift, withdrew from the central base area, and carried out the Long March.
Deng Xiaoping was not on the list of transferees, and Li Fuchun, then acting director of the General Political Department, learned of the situation and added Deng Xiaoping to the ranks of the Long March.
In September 1939, Deng Xiaoping and Zhuo Lin were married in Yan'an, because the conditions were extremely difficult, the wedding ceremony was held in a cave, Mao Zedong and his wife, Liu Shaoqi, Zhang Wentian and his wife, Li Fuchun and his wife all came to the scene to celebrate for the newlyweds, and the scene was full of joy and laughter.
How can there be no wine at a festive wedding, optimistic and heroic revolutionaries, all of whom are good at alcohol. However, even the best amount of alcohol was drunk, and at that time, Kong Yuan and Xu Ming were also married with Deng Xiaoping and his wife, and at the end of the drink, Kong Yuan was drunk. Deng Xiaoping was not drunk, and later learned that Li Fuchun, worried that his old friend had drunk too much on the big day, secretly exchanged his wine for white water.
Deng Xiaoping and Zhuo Lin
As the years passed, the Chinese revolution ushered in a comprehensive victory.
In September 1954, Deng Xiaoping and Li Fuchun were simultaneously appointed vice premiers of the State Council of the People's Republic of China. The two families live next to each other, which makes the relationship between the two families closer.
In his spare time at work, Deng Xiaoping would take his wife and children to Li Fuchun's house to play, and Cai Chang liked Deng Xiaoping's children very much, and as soon as he saw the children coming, he immediately went to get candy for the children to eat.
Because of the needs of work, Deng Xiaoping and Li Fuchun often traveled together on business and held meetings together. Years of revolutionary friendship and tacit understanding, in the handling of things, the two have a surprising common understanding and views, perhaps this is what everyone calls "heroes see a little the same".
After 1966, Deng Xiaoping ushered in the trough of his life, and Li Fuchun also encountered setbacks. Li Fuchun managed to find two packs of cigarettes and told the guards that they would be delivered to Deng Xiaoping. Deng Xiaoping looked at the two packs of cigarettes in his hand, recalled the glory days of the past, and for a time knocked over the bottle of mixed tastes in his heart, and suddenly had mixed feelings.
On January 9, 1975, Li Fuchun died of illness in Beijing. In the same month, the Party Central Committee held a memorial service for him in the Hall of the People's Congress, at which Deng Xiaoping delivered a eulogy on behalf of the Party Central Committee to this old friend of the past and spoke highly of Li Fuchun's life.
Deng Xiaoping knew that Li Fuchun's death was a great blow to his wife, Cai Chang, and was very worried that Cai Chang was overly sad, and when visiting Cai Chang, Deng Xiaoping took Cai Chang's hand and said to her, "You have to take care of your body."
In May 1980, Deng Xiaoping brought four generations of his family to Cai Chang's residence to celebrate her 80th birthday, and Deng Xiaoping specially prepared a bouquet of flowers.
Recalling the bits and pieces of the past, warmth and laughter filled the whole room.
60 years have changed their appearance, carved wrinkles on their faces, and dyed their hair white, but what has not changed is the deep friendship between them.
"Fellow countryman" Nie Rongzhen
Deng Xiaoping and Nie Rongzhen were revolutionary comrades-in-arms for 72 years and had a strong friendship like brothers in 72 years.
The story between them also has to start from France.
In 1920, Deng Xiaoping arrived in France on the "Antelepón", and when they arrived in France, they were warmly welcomed, and among the crowd that greeted them was Nie Rongzhen, who had come to France a year earlier to work-study.
Nie Rongzhen was a native of Jiangjin, Sichuan (present-day Jiangjin District, Chongqing), and it happened that Deng Xiaoping was a native of Guang'an, Sichuan. At that time, both of them were from Sichuan and were fellow villagers.
Being able to meet their hometown in a foreign country, both of them have an indescribable cordiality in their hearts.
After the establishment of the "Young Communist Party of China in Europe" organized by Zhou Enlai, Deng Xiaoping and Nie Rongzhen also joined it, and later they also fought together on the "Red Light" position to propagate Marxism, and as a result, Deng Xiaoping and Nie Rongzhen became revolutionary comrades-in-arms on the basis of their fellow countrymen.
On the arduous long march of the Red Army, the former revolutionary comrades-in-arms were reunited.
Before the Red Army crossed the meadows, in Maoergai, Deng Xiaoping was appointed head of propaganda of the Political Department of the Red First Army, and the political commissar of the Red First Army was Nie Rongzhen. This made the two Sichuan compatriots come together again, and both of them had unspeakable excitement in their hearts.
In 1936, Deng Xiaoping, Nie Rongzhen, and Zuo Quan led the Red First Army on a western expedition to welcome the Red Second and Fourth Fronts to the north. In October of that year, the Red First, Second, and Fourth Fronts successfully met in Huining, Gansu, ending the 25,000-mile Long March.
At this time, Chiang Kai-shek mobilized a large army to attack the Red Army.
On November 21, the Red 1st, 2nd, and 4th Fronts launched an attack at The Mountain Castle in Huanxian County, Gansu Province, annihilating a multi-brigade of the Nationalist 78th Division that had penetrated deep into the mountain castle alone. Defeated the 1st Brigade of the Nationalist 1st Division and forced the enemy's main force to retreat westward. This was the first victory achieved after the three main divisions of the Red Army met, which made the Red Army show its might. And this battle, Deng Xiaoping and Nie Rongzhen also participated in it.
In 1953, the delegations of China and the DPRK and the representatives of the enemy delegations reached a ceasefire agreement at Panmunjom, thus ending the three-year War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea in victory. It was not until the ceasefire agreement was signed that Nie Rongzhen reported to the Central Committee, resigned from the post of chief of the general staff, and rested and recuperated.
As early as a year ago, Nie Rongzhen was overworked and caused his body to suffer from diseases.
During Nie Rongzhen's recuperation, Deng Xiaoping visited him several times.
In 1966, Deng Xiaoping was at a low ebb, but Nie Rongzhen did not care and still maintained good relations with Deng Xiaoping.
After Deng Xiaoping and Nie Rongzhen retired, they were still concerned about the construction and development of the motherland.
In 1992, after his retirement, Deng Xiaoping inspected Wuchang, Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Shanghai, and made a series of important speeches along the way, which is what we call the "Southern Talk".
After Nie Rongzhen learned of Deng Xiaoping's southern speech, he gave Deng Xiaoping a high praise: "Comrade Xiaoping is amazing! How many times did He talk to people about Deng Xiaoping, Nie Rongzhen couldn't help but praise "Comrade Xiaoping is great."
In April 1992, the 93-year-old Nie Rongzhen felt that his condition had deteriorated, and he was afraid that he would not be able to survive, and he wanted to leave a few last words while his mind was still clear.
The two old secretaries around them heard this and took out the tape recorder in grief.
Nie Rongzhen was already exhausted at this time, and when he spoke, his breath could not keep up, he seemed to be a little breathless, and his words were intermittent.
Nie Rongzhen said, "I am already 93 years old, and my life expectancy is also very long. I have been a member of the Party for 70 years, have never left the Party's post, and have always struggled all my life for the cause of the Party and the people. Although I have not made much contribution to the Party, the tasks entrusted to me by the Party have been resolutely fulfilled. I firmly believe in the party's policy of reform and opening up and firmly believe that it is very correct to take the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics. I very much agree with Comrade Deng Xiaoping's important remarks when he inspected the south. I would like to take a closer look at the gratifying situation in which the socialist cause for which I have struggled for decades is flourishing, and I would also like to hear more about the exciting good news of the motherland's scientific and technological undertakings..."
A month later, on May 14, 1992, Marshal Nie Rongzhen passed away. When Deng Xiaoping heard the bad news, he fell into deep sorrow.
The years have ruthlessly taken away people's youth and changed people's appearance. It has come and gone, and it has passed away in a hurry, and no one can stop it. Some people say that the years are merciless, but the author feels that what has been precipitated by the years is full of warmth. The story of a generation of great people and close friends is so warm and moving.
Resources
[1] Deng Pufang: Zhou Enlai and Deng Xiaoping were true confidants of the 20th century
[2] Deng Xiaoping's deep friendship with Li Fuchun and Cai Chang
[3] 72 years of deep friendship with Nie Rongzhen