One day in 1954, when Mao Zedong learned that Zhou Enlai was going to visit Zhang Zhizhong, he specially instructed: "Enlai, you go to Mr. Wen Bai's house to find someone for me and take care of him..."
Zhang Zhizhong was an old subordinate of Chiang Kai-shek and a well-known "master and faction" in the Kuomintang, who in the late stage of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression strongly advocated the political settlement of the CCP problem and the promotion of domestic peace.
It was precisely because of this that Chiang Kai-shek was suspicious, and Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai did not want to see this old friend of the Communist Party become the second Zhang Xueliang, and used all their strength to keep Zhang Zhizhong in Beiping.
Zhang Zhizhong began to follow the Communist Party.
So who in his family made Chairman Mao worry about this? This also starts with the Chongqing negotiations.
Three telegrams from Chiang Kai-shek
On August 15, 1945, Japanese imperialism announced its unconditional surrender.
When the news reached the mountain city, the people of Chongqing rejoiced.
While Zhang Zhizhong was overjoyed, he had a faint hint of worry, and he was keenly aware that the external troubles had indeed been solved, but the domestic political struggle was far from over.
Sure enough, Chiang Kai-shek soon made a move—he sent three consecutive telegrams to Yan'an, inviting Mao Zedong to Chongqing for negotiations.
Clear-eyed people can see that Chiang Kai-shek's move is ill-intentioned, and the old Chiang Kai-shek invited Mao Zedong to Chongqing this time, playing the trick of "real civil war and fake peace talks" to prepare for the launching of a civil war.
After careful consideration, the Party Central Committee and Mao Zedong decided to go to Chongqing to negotiate with the Kuomintang.
Before leaving, Mao Zedong explained to the Party Central Committee that if he arrived in Chongqing and was killed or imprisoned by Chiang Kai-shek, Liu Shaoqi would replace him.
When Zhou Enlai learned of Mao's plan, he insisted on accompanying Mao to Chongqing.
However, after learning that Mao Zedong was coming to Chongqing, Chiang Kai-shek's side was confused.
The original intention of his three telegrams was only a cover of "political initiative", that is, to deceive the people and prepare for the start of a civil war.
Old Jiang was very proud, so he sent a third telegram under false pretenses, calculating that if he refused again, then he would be able to take the opportunity to attack.
As a result, the day after the third telegram was sent, Mao Zedong quickly sent a call back.
"I was very impressed with the recitation of the telegram, and I was eager to meet with my husband to discuss the great plan for the peaceful construction of the country..."
Mao Zedong really wanted to come, and old Chiang was dumbfounded.
Mao Zedong's decision disrupted Chiang Kai-shek's original idea, and this play can be said to have become a fake, and Chiang Kai-shek had to continue to sing the fake drama to the end.
Chiang Kai-shek sent Zhang Zhizhong and U.S. Ambassador to China Hurley to Yan'an to pick up Mao Zedong and other CPC representatives to chongqing for talks, and Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Zhu De, and others personally greeted him at Yan'an Airport.
Since the decision to go to Chongqing, Mao Zedong's security has become the biggest worry for everyone, especially Zhou Enlai.
Despite all the hard work, Zhou Enlai was still extremely anxious and uneasy, afraid that something had gone wrong and caused unimaginable consequences.
But when he saw Zhang Zhizhong at the airport, his heart was relaxed.
Zhou Enlai confessed to Zhang Zhizhong that what he was most anxious about now was Mao Zedong's security.
Zhang Zhizhong pondered for a moment, and then said: "You don't feel at ease where Mr. Mao lives elsewhere, I can vacate Guiyuan and let Mr. Mao out." ”
To be able to live in Zhang Zhizhong's mansion, at least the safety is a little guaranteed, and the location of Guiyuan is also very good, Zhou Enlai is very happy, and then worried about where Zhang Zhizhong's family should live.
Zhang Zhizhong smiled: "That's easy to do, Chongqing is so big, where can you find a house?" ”
The two men discussed the issue of security personnel again, and Zhang Zhizhong said that in his Guiyuan Garden, there was a pistol platoon in the guard battalion of the Political Department, all of whom were hometown soldiers, and if one platoon was not enough, he would transfer people again.
After all the discussions were in place, on August 28, Zhou Enlai, Zhang Zhizhong, and others accompanied Mao Zedong to Chongqing.
As soon as he got off the plane, Chiang Kai-shek's deputies told Mao Zedong that Chiang Kai-shek had prepared a guest house for Mao Zedong to receive American guests, and the place was well equipped.
Mao Zedong laughed: "I am Chinese, not an American, and I do not live in the guest house where Americans live." ”
This is a polite refusal.
Mao Zedong's Life in Guiyuan
Mao Zedong moved into Zhang Zhizhong's Guiyuan Garden, and Zhang Zhizhong's family moved into a small courtyard to live temporarily.
The location of Guiyuan is very clever, located on the side of the road of Shangqing Temple in Chongqing, it is a small building surrounded by a bamboo fence, and a row of grass houses around it is the residence of the guards, Guiyuan is not so luxurious and exquisite, but it is convenient in transportation.
Moreover, in the opposite courtyard is Chiang Kai-shek's attendant room and official residence, the vigilance is not generally strict, and if old Chiang Kai-shek's own territory is not safe, then where is there safety to speak of?
The Zhang family briefly moved away from Guiyuan, leaving only the youngest son Zhang Yichun and the youngest daughter Zhang Sujiu living in the bungalow behind Guiyuan, because the children still had to go to school in the city, and it was inconvenient to live elsewhere.
Zhang Zhizhong specially dispatched the most reliable service personnel to be responsible for Mao Zedong's food, clothing, housing, and transportation, and also left the old nanny at home to take care of Mao Zedong, and repeatedly admonished the guards who were usually responsible for protecting their own safety: "DefendIng Mao Zedong is ten times better than me." ”
At that time, Chongqing was mixed with fish and dragons, and Mao Zedong's guards were very limited, and when Chiang Kai-shek learned of it, he designated The Commander of the Gendarmerie, Zhang Zhen, to send a guard squad in Guiyuan in the name of "security protection."
Every day, the guards would present information about Mao Zedong's movements, when and where he had met, and other information in the form of a "work daily" to Chiang Kai-shek.
During his time in Chongqing, Mao Zedong worked and met guests in Guiyuan during the day, and even the guards installed by the Kuomintang in Guiyuan were kind and often greeted them in a friendly manner.
After a young guard who had shook hands with Mao Zedong returned to the guard squad, he was still like a dream, he had seen many senior Kuomintang officials, and none of them had ever paid attention to the people below, and he really could not have dreamed that Mao Zedong would take the initiative to shake hands with him.
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, Mao Zedong also specially instructed his lieutenants to send some mooncakes and cigarettes to the gendarmes.
The kuomintang-communist negotiations lasted for more than 40 days in total, and Zhang Zhizhong played an extremely important role in it.
On September 20, Zhou Enlai visited Zhang Zhizhong to discuss with him mao zedong's return to Yan'an.
"Brother Wen Bai, it has been more than a month since Chairman Mao came to Chongqing, and the negotiated agreement has basically passed chairman Mao's desire to return to Yan'an as soon as possible." Zhou Enlai said.
Zhang Zhizhong asked which day he was going to leave.
"Get ready to go on October 1st." Zhou Enlai paused and said, "Let Chairman Mao go alone, we are not at ease!" ”
Zhang Zhizhong reassured him that he would be responsible for sending Mao back safely, but the schedule on October 1 was too slow to be available at least after the 10th.
Chiang Kai-shek wanted to send Zhang Zhizhong to Lanzhou immediately to Xinjiang to handle work.
Zhou Enlai hoped that Zhang Zhizhong would personally accompany Mao Zedong back to Yan'an and then to Lanzhou.
So on the afternoon of October 8, Zhang Zhizhong was approved by Chiang Kai-shek to send Mao Zedong back to Yan'an first, and then to Lanzhou.
On October 10, the Kuomintang signed the Double Tenth Agreement, and the signing ceremony was held in the living room of Guiyuan Garden.
The day after the agreement was signed, Mao Zedong accompanied by Zhang Zhizhong to Jiulongpo Airport and prepared to return to Yan'an.
Before leaving Guiyuan, Mao Zedong held on tightly to the old nanny of the Zhang family who had taken care of him for 43 days, thanking her for taking care of herself these days.
At the airport, Mao Zedong took the initiative to shake the hand of Li Jiexin, the leader of the guard squad, and said cordially: "This time you have worked hard, thank you all." ”
Mao Returned to Yan'an, while Zhou Enlai remained in Chongqing.
In the afternoon, the guards received a notice that Zhou Enlai was going to invite the battalion commander, company commander, platoon commander, and the whole class of guards to dinner, and said that Mao Zedong had sent everyone some northwest wool and a set of northwest wool.
In the evening, Zhou Enlai held a thank-you banquet in Guiyuan Garden, on behalf of the CPC, to express his gratitude to Zhang Zhizhong's family, as well as all the guards and logistics service personnel for their care over the past 40 days.
Zhou Enlai gently touched the head of 13-year-old Zhang Yichun and asked her to accompany him to toast.
Later, Zhou Enlai came to the kitchen with a wine glass and personally toasted the logistics masters responsible for cooking for Chairman Mao.
For the gifts given by Mao Zedong, after asking Chiang Kai-shek, the reply was that they could be accepted, so everyone happily accepted the gifts and rejoiced in the successful completion of the task.
After Zhang Zhizhong accompanied Mao Zedong to Yan'an safely, he was also warmly welcomed by the Communists, and everyone was very grateful for his efforts in negotiating and defending Mao Zedong's security.
On the morning of October 12, Zhang Zhizhong prepared to leave Yan'an by plane, and Mao Zedong, Liu Shaoqi and others personally sent them off.
On the way to the airport, Mao Zedong and Zhang Zhizhong were riding in the same car, and Mao Zedong sighed: "You are sincere in your pursuit of peace. ”
Zhang Zhizhong asked, "How can I see it?" ”
Mao Zedong humorously said: "I have investigated this, and your change of the "Sweeping Newspaper" to "Peace Daily" is an example... The second thing is that you have abolished a concentration camp run by Kangze and released many young people, which is also a great thing. ”
Zhang Zhizhong did not expect that Mao Zedong's investigation was so careful, and at the moment his heart was like a warm current, and he felt that his efforts had been recognized.
Zhang Zhizhong went to Yan'an
In 1946, Chiang Kai-shek brazenly launched a civil war, and Zhang Zhizhong repeatedly made written and verbal earnest statements, but Chiang Kai-shek could not listen to them.
In order to stop the civil war and achieve domestic peace, Zhang Zhizhong, Marshall, and Zhou Enlai formed a "three-person group of military mediation" and flew from Suiyuan to Yan'an as messengers of peace, which was warmly welcomed by the people of Yan'an.
That night, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China hosted a banquet for them, and Mao Zedong raised his glass of wine to thank the three generals who had fought for peace.
Zhang Zhizhong said humorously: "Brother has come to Yan'an this time, it is the third time. ”
Finally, he laughed and quipped: "I still have to tell a joke, I just talked to Chairman Mao, in the future, when you write history, don't forget to write a sentence, Zhang Zhizhong three to Yan'an." ”
After Zhang Zhizhong sat down, Mao Zedong smiled and asked, maybe he will come to Yan'an again in the future, why only "three to Yan'an"?
Zhang Zhizhong said that when peace is achieved, the government will move to Nanjing, and Yan'an will not have the opportunity to come.
Mao Zedong nodded and said that he was indeed going to Nanjing in the future, but Nanjing was very hot, and he was afraid of the heat, hoping to live here often and go to Nanjing for a meeting.
The defeat of the Kuomintang was decided, and in early 1948, Chiang Kai-shek issued a New Year's Day message asking for peace, and the CCP agreed to negotiate with the Nanjing government.
Zhang Zhizhong arrived in Beiping with a delegation of the Nanjing government worriedly.
Mao Zedong received Zhang Zhizhong, the two have not seen each other for more than 3 years since the last time, Mao Zedong shook hands with him and said hello, and thanked him for the reception in Chongqing that year.
Seeing Mao Zedong's smiling face, Zhang Zhizhong's originally uneasy mood calmed down slightly.
Zhang Zhizhong always took a positive attitude, took into account the overall situation, and strived to reach an agreement, and after the talks between the two sides, they finally reached the "Internal Peace Agreement."
However, the news spread back to the Nanjing government, but the Kuomintang did not buy it, and after reading this agreement, Li Zongren fell silent, Bai Chongxi fled in anger, and Chiang Kai-shek trembled with anger and scolded: "Wen Bai is incompetent, and he loses power and humiliates the country!" ”
The agreement, which condensed Zhang Zhizhong's painstaking efforts with the Communist Party, was rejected by the Nanjing government.
After the peace talks broke down, Zhang Zhizhong planned to return to his life.
Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai both retained him and persuaded him to stay.
At this time, Chiang Kai-shek was already extremely dissatisfied with Zhang Zhizhong, believing that he had defected to the Communist Party, and if Zhang Zhizhong returned again, the fate would be tragic.
Zhang Xueliang, the last prisoner who imprisoned Chiang Kai-shek to launch the Xi'an Incident, sent Chiang Kai-shek back to Nanjing with guilt after the incident was over, and when he arrived in Nanjing, he was locked up by Chiang Kai-shek.
This was also the result of Song Meiling and Song Ziwen's extreme efforts, and Chiang Kai-shek did not kill the killer in the end, but also put Zhang Xueliang under house arrest.
If Zhang Zhizhong returned to Chiang Kai-shek's side, he was afraid that the consequences would be unimaginable.
Zhang Zhizhong never forgot Chiang Kai-shek's kindness to his knowledge and promotion, and he longed for the brightness of new China and struggled with everything.
Zhou Enlai had already made up his mind to leave Zhang Zhizhong behind, and he could not watch this old friend fight like a moth to a fire, going to a doomed death situation.
A few days later, the Kuomintang sent a special plane to pick up their delegation and return to Nanjing.
The plane requested to land at Peiping Airport, but the command desk directly refused the request, on the grounds that "the airslide is being repaired and inconvenient to land".
This was Zhou Enlai's instructions.
The Kuomintang plane had no choice but to fly back to Nanjing.
Two days later, the news came that there were guests from Nanjing.
Zhou Enlai called Zhang Zhizhong to greet him, and Zhang Zhizhong, who was unknown, immediately blushed when he saw the people who stepped off the plane.
It was his wife and children, and the old nanny at home!
In order to strengthen Zhang Zhizhong's determination to stay, and to protect the safety of Zhang's family, Zhou Enlai specially sent someone to Nanjing to pick them up.
Zhang Zhizhong, with tears, smiled and sighed, Mr. Zhou, you really will stay.
Finally, under the enlightenment of Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai, Zhang Zhizhong resolutely decided to stay in Beiping, not to return to Chiang Kai-shek's side, to start a new life, and to follow the Communist Party on the bright road.
Zhang Zhizhong's family settled in Beiping and lived in a house arranged for them by the CCP.
Since then, Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai have always been concerned about the Zhang family, and often come to visit them.
Later, after the founding of New China, Mao Zedong was busy and did not go frequently, but he still remembered it in his heart.
Mao Zedong worried about Guiyuan's nanny
In 1954, Mao Zedong entrusted Zhou Enlai to Zhang Zhizhong's house to find the Guiyuan nanny of that year, and he had not yet thanked her properly.
Zhou Enlai came to the Zhang family, saw Zhang Yichun, and asked him where the nanny in Chongqing was now.
Zhang Yichun said, just at home.
Zhou Enlai asked him to invite people.
Zhang Yichun immediately called someone to call the nanny over.
The nanny hurried to arrive, and Zhou Enlai quickly got up to shake her hand and asked her, "Do you remember Chairman Mao?" ”
The nanny was a little surprised, and Zhou Enlai said, "Chairman Mao entrusted me to visit you!" More than 40 days in Chongqing have troubled you, and I thank you on behalf of the chairman! ”
The nanny was touched by the words, she did not expect that after so many years, the chairman was in a high position and always remembered her.
Zhou Enlai pulled the nanny to chat for a while, asking her if she had any difficulties now and whether she needed their help.
When the nanny heard this, a look of worry appeared on her face, and she snorted that her son had joined the New Fourth Army before and had not yet heard of his whereabouts, and wanted to ask the prime minister to help inquire about it.
Zhou Enlai also asked the nanny's son about the time of joining the army and the time of the last contact.
The nanny said that she joined the army in Anhui before the Anhui Incident, and after that, there was no news, and now whether she is alive or dead, she as a mother does not know.
Zhou Enlai asked the accompanying secretary to write down the specific information and instructed: "Be sure to check it carefully and carefully." ”
After that, Zhou Enlai returned to Zhongnanhai to report the nanny to Mao Zedong, who nodded in relief.
A month later, a phone call came into the premier's office, and Zhou Enlai picked it up, informing him that the nanny's son had been found and was now a platoon leader in the People's Liberation Army.
Zhou Enlai was very pleased, and immediately asked the staff to convey this good news to the nanny, and asked her for advice on whether he hoped that his son would change careers or continue to be a soldier.
When the nanny learned that her son was safe and sound, she wept with joy and thanked the prime minister and the staff one after another.
After thinking about it for a long time, the nanny told the staff that there were still a few acres of land at home, hoping that her son could return to the countryside to cultivate the land.
Zhang Yichun, who was beside him, listened, hurriedly dissuaded, and said to the nanny, how good it is to stay in the army as an officer, and the few acres of land at home are not as good as being soldiers?
But the nanny still hopes that her son will return to the countryside to farm.
After Zhou Enlai learned of this, he did not say a word, transferred his job to the nanny's son, and let the mother and son return to the countryside to live safely and steadily.
Zhang Zhizhong and the Communist Party were very friendly, and their friendship with Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai lasted most of his life, and Mao Zhou always gave assistance to the Zhang family.
In 1969, Zhang Zhizhong died of illness in Beijing, and on his deathbed, he did not forget his best friend, and praised Mao Zedong's great achievements in his will.
Zhang Zhizhong never regretted staying in Beiping, which was the most correct decision he made in his life.