Chairman Mao and Premier Zhou took one last public group photo
On May 29, 1974, the seriously ill Premier Zhou accompanied Malaysian Prime Minister Razak to the Zhongnanhai swimming pool, where Chairman Mao lived and worked. When foreign guests visited, there were naturally photojournalists present, but Du Xiuxian never expected that this time he took the last public photo of Premier Zhou and Chairman Mao.
After the meeting, other personnel at the scene said goodbye to Chairman Mao and left one after another. Du Xiuxian packed up his camera and prepared to leave, but when he turned around, he found Premier Zhou standing at the door of the study and did not leave. What's going on here? After the talks with Chairman Mao, Premier Zhou always guided the foreign guests to leave.
Something went wrong, Du Xiuxian subconsciously picked up the camera. Chairman Mao also noticed that Premier Zhou had not left, and the two looked at each other in an instant. Chairman Mao, who was originally smiling, suddenly turned pale, and lowered his eyes sadly... I saw that both of them slowly stretched out their hands and held them tightly.
As the flash came on, Du Xiuxian captured the moment. In the photo, Chairman Mao's head is slightly lowered, his face is full of sadness and sickness, and it is obvious that his physical condition is not good. On the other hand, Premier Zhou's face was also full of sickness, and his eyes were slightly downward. Premier Zhou chose to shake hands with Chairman Mao at this time, meaning to say goodbye, because he will soon be hospitalized for treatment.
On June 1, 1974, Premier Zhou left Xihua Hall, where he had lived for 26 years, and was admitted to the 305 Hospital of the People's Liberation Army. Since then, Premier Zhou and Chairman Mao have had several conversations, and because there are no photojournalists at the scene, there is no photo of the two. Chairman Mao and Premier Zhou's friendship that lasted for more than half a century had long been clear to each other.
Chairman Mao and staff members take a group photo
Since Premier Zhou was diagnosed with bladder cancer, Chairman Mao has closely followed the progress of his condition. Chairman Mao was not in good health himself, and he could not visit the hospital in person, so he sent Zhang Yaoci to be on duty in the hospital. Zhang Yaoci received instructions from Chairman Mao that any changes in Premier Zhou's condition should be reported to him as soon as possible.
On January 5, 1976, doctors performed final surgery on Premier Zhou. At this time, the cancer cells in Premier Zhou's body had all spread, and many organs had malignant tumors and incontinence. This time, the operation was to open an opening in the lower left side of Premier Zhou's abdomen to clean up the "residue" in the intestine, but this operation had no effect on the condition.
Perhaps knowing that this was the last operation, Premier Zhou, who had closely cooperated with more than a dozen surgeries before, was reluctant to cooperate with the doctor. After the operation, Premier Zhou said to Zhang Zuoliang, a health care doctor who had followed him for many years: "My illness is already like this, and it is all clear. I don't want to trouble the experts anymore, they should go where they are needed most and treat more patients. I want to go home...... Alas, it's been more than two years since I came out, and I really want to go back and live there! ”
On January 7, Premier Zhou's condition continued to deteriorate, he was in a coma for a long time, and he did not wake up in the evening, and doctors took turns guarding him 24 hours a day. Deng Yingchao stayed up late the night before to take care of Premier Zhou, so he went back to rest that night, and he never thought that this parting was a farewell. Around 11 p.m., Premier Zhou woke up from a coma.
I saw Premier Zhou open his eyes slightly, and he recognized that it was Dr. Wu Jieping next to the hospital bed. Wu Jieping is Premier Zhou's most trusted doctor, he is the leader of Premier Zhou's medical team, and he has served as Premier Zhou's surgical master for many times. Seeing a tired Wu Jieping, Premier Zhou said, "Dr. Wu, I don't have anything to do here. You still go to take care of other sick comrades, you are needed even more there..."
In his later years, Premier Zhou
These were Premier Zhou's last words in his lifetime. After speaking, Premier Zhou kept his eyes open and kept looking in the direction towards the door. Zhang Zuoliang on the side asked in a low voice: "Prime Minister, do you still have something?" Is it looking for Sister Deng? The eldest sister is gone. Premier Zhou shook his head vigorously and did not answer. At 9:57 a.m. on January 8, Premier Zhou died at the age of 78.
When Deng Yingchao rushed to the hospital ward, Premier Zhou's body was covered with white sheets, and I saw her slowly walking to the hospital bed, lifting the sheets with trembling hands, and gently stroking Premier Zhou's cheeks. Then, lightly kissed Premier Zhou's forehead, and said with infinite grief: "Enlai, you are gone, I will never see you again..."
Seeing this scene, everyone at the scene cried, among which Deng Yingchao's cry was particularly heartbreaking. The news of Premier Zhou's death spread within the central authorities as soon as possible, and leading comrades of the central authorities came to the hospital one after another. In a living room next to Premier Zhou's ward, Deng Yingchao made Premier Zhou's will public, with a total of 3 points:
First, the ashes are not retained after cremation and scattered; Second, the handling of the aftermath should not be special, nor should it exceed anyone; Third, do not hold memorial services, do not bid farewell to the remains, and everything is simple.
Regarding Premier Zhou's funeral, Deng Yingchao only raised one opinion, "I personally have no opinions and requirements on Zhou Enlai's funeral, and everything is decided by the organization." As soon as the words fell, Li Xiannian was the first to stand up and object, saying: "Sister Deng, I'm afraid this won't work, we can't explain it to the people of the whole country without a memorial service." ”
Premier Zhou and Deng Yingchao
Li Xiannian's opinions were unanimously endorsed by other central leading comrades at the scene, and the result of everyone's discussion was that the farewell ceremony of the body should be held and a memorial service should be held. Whether or not the ashes are retained will be reported to Chairman Mao, subject to his opinion.
So, what was Chairman Mao's attitude towards Premier Zhou's funeral? As we all know, Chairman Mao did not attend Premier Zhou's memorial service, what is the reason behind this? As mentioned earlier, Chairman Mao was very concerned about Premier Zhou's condition, and there must be an unknown reason why he was unable to attend the memorial service.
On May 18, 1972, Premier Zhou welcomed African foreign guests at Beijing Airport, and on this day, it was confirmed by authoritative experts in Beijing and all over the country that Premier Zhou was suffering from bladder cancer. When Ye Jianying learned the news, he immediately reported the diagnosis report to Chairman Mao and proposed to immediately set up a special medical team for Premier Zhou.
Chairman Mao's health was also not good at this time, and he went into shock shortly after attending Chen Yi's memorial service. Zhang Yufeng recalled in his later years: "At this time, I was in the guard cadre duty room, and when I heard her call, several of us ran to the chairman's living room (which had become a bedroom and treatment room at that time), and the doctor who treated the chairman also arrived quickly. The chairman lay on his side on the bed, as if 'asleep'. Comrade Wu Xujun hurriedly took the pulse of the chairman. It was not clear whether it was a matter of urgency or tension, but Comrade Wu Xujun said to the doctors present: 'I can't feel the pulse.' ”
After more than 20 minutes of rescue, Chairman Mao had spontaneous breathing, and his pulse and electrocardiogram became normal. It was also after this shock that Chairman Mao's body was not as good as before. At this time, it was learned that Premier Zhou was suffering from cancer, which was undoubtedly a new blow to Chairman Mao, who needed to rely on Premier Zhou to handle a large number of internal and foreign affairs.
Chairman Mao and the staff in his later years
Chairman Mao read Ye Jianying's report over and over again, with a serious expression on his face, and after a long time said: "This matter must be kept secret from the outside world for the time being. As for how to treat, Chairman Mao instructed: "It is easy to spread and is dangerous, whether it can be controlled by traditional Chinese medicine methods, using traditional Chinese medicine." ”
Chairman Mao made such a suggestion for a reason, he said: "You surgeons can open operations at every turn, one to die, didn't Mr. Chen open the operation to death?" Didn't Xie Fuzhi also die from surgery? He also asked for "prevention of spread, attention to nutrition and rest." ”
Since being diagnosed with cancer, Premier Zhou has not changed his schedule, but has worked hard against the clock. At that time, it was a special period, and there were too many things that Premier Zhou needed to deal with. Premier Zhou knew his illness better than anyone else, and he decided to get more done in the limited time.
Zhang Zuoliang said in an interview: "Despite the cancer, Premier Zhou's work has not been lessened, on the contrary, he is busier than before." "Premier Zhou underwent two minor surgeries before being hospitalized, and the effect was obvious at first, and soon the symptoms of blood in the urine disappeared.
However, Premier Zhou was so busy that his condition worsened in early 1974 and doctors recommended him to undergo a third operation, which Premier Zhou did not agree to. See the "Annals of Zhou Enlai (1949-1976)", which has this record:
Of the 139 days from 1 January to 1 June 1974 when he was admitted to hospital for surgery, 9 days were between 12 hours and 14 hours a day, 74 days between 14 hours and 18 hours, 38 days exceeding 18 hours, 5 days of 24 consecutive hours and only 13 days of work within 12 hours.
Premier Zhou received foreign guests at the hospital
From the above records, it can be seen that Premier Zhou, who is 76 years old and seriously ill, is overloaded with work almost every day. For example, the work calendar on March 26 reads: "At three o'clock in the afternoon, get up; At 4 p.m., talks with Nyerere (fifth floor); At 7 p.m., accompany meals; At 10 p.m., Politburo meeting; At half past two in the morning, comrades of the Civil Aviation Administration held a meeting; 7 a.m., office; At twelve o'clock in the afternoon, go to the eastern suburbs to greet Prince Sihanouk and the queen; At 2 p.m., break. ”
Premier Zhou worked 23 hours straight that day, which is just a microcosm of his illness. From hospitalization to death, Premier Zhou underwent 13 major and minor surgeries, which means that the operation is required about every 40 days. Even so, as long as he can walk freely, he still insists on working.
"Bow down and die", this became the most distinctive label on Premier Zhou's body after suffering from cancer. In March 1975, Premier Zhou underwent his third major surgery after being hospitalized. After this operation, Premier Zhou's physical condition was not optimistic, but Chairman Mao was very concerned and repeatedly instructed the medical team to do their best.
Three months after the operation, Premier Zhou wrote his last letter to Chairman Mao:
PRESIDENT: Greetings, Chairman, hello! After my third operation, I recovered well in the past 80 days, with normal digestion and no occult blood. The bleeding in the bladder is still not broken, and it is less than 21cc in these 80 days (from March 26 to June 16), but compared with November 12 last year to February 4 this year, there are five days to go to the chairman's office, and there are two plenary meetings in January, a total of more than 80 days of only 13cc. There were only two proliferative cells and only three suspicious cells in those 80 days, but there were eight bad cells in these 80 days, and three bad cells in the last 10 days, so I interviewed four comrades of the Politburo Standing Committee, and they agreed to carry out bladder full-mirror electrocautery in advance. So as not to be electrocuted, bleeding a lot, you must open the operation, the night of the fifteenth has been approved - I can still afford it now, and I still weigh sixty-one pounds.
Everything is normal and safeguarded, please rest assured that the Chairman is at ease. Conditions after surgery should be reported by them.
...... I wish the Chairman growing health! Zhou Enlai 1975.6.16.22
Chairman Mao and Premier Zhou
At the time of writing, Premier Zhou weighed only 61 pounds, a weight that had not increased until his death. Many people burst into tears after reading this letter, which once again shows that Premier Zhou does everything meticulously and cares about others forever more than himself. After Premier Zhou's death, the Central Committee quickly drafted a report and sent it to Chairman Mao. Chairman Mao was resting until 3 a.m. on January 9, when Chairman Mao woke up and gave instructions on Premier Zhou's funeral report.
Chairman Mao agreed with the central authorities, and the farewell ceremony and memorial service of the body should be held, and the ashes would respect Premier Zhou's will and be scattered after the memorial service. Chairman Mao has made certain ideological preparations for Premier Zhou's death, because Zhang Yaoci has sent many reports on Premier Zhou's illness.
The staff endured their grief and read Premier Zhou's obituary for Chairman Mao:
"The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China, and the State Council announce with great sadness that Comrade Zhou Enlai, member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee, vice chairman of the Central Committee, premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, died of cancer in Beijing at 9:51 on 8 January 1976 at the age of 78."
Chairman Mao listened and slowly closed his eyes. After a while, the staff saw that Chairman Mao's tears could not stop flowing, and finally cried even more. Chairman Mao and Premier Zhou had a legendary friendship, and the two had gone hand in hand for more than half a century, surpassing everything else.
Premier Zhou
Since Premier Zhou's death, Chairman Mao has repeatedly given instructions on funeral matters. At this time, Chairman Mao's physical condition was not optimistic, and it was very difficult to speak. According to Zhang Yufeng's recollection, when Chairman Mao's speech was not clear, everyone could only guess through his lip shape and expression.
A few days before the memorial service, the central authorities sent Chairman Mao for approval the specifications of Premier Zhou's memorial service, the number of participants, the number of people, and the eulogy. Chairman Mao struggled to pick up the long-used red pencil and drew a circle where "Chairman Mao" was written on the report.
A circle holds Chairman Mao's commemoration of Premier Zhou and also marks the end of the history of two great men fighting side by side for more than half a century. According to the funeral process, Premier Zhou's memorial service will be held on January 15 in the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Here there is an episode, who will give the eulogy at the memorial meeting.
In the end, Ye Jianying clapped directly, and he said righteously: "The eulogy to the premier should be Comrade Xiaoping, who is vice chairman of the Party Central Committee, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, and first vice premier of the State Council, and presides over the daily work of the Central Committee." Whether in terms of specifications or qualifications, Comrade Xiaoping's eulogy to the premier is the most suitable, and no one else is suitable. I propose that Comrade Xiaoping deliver a eulogy for the Prime Minister! ”
On the afternoon of January 15, Premier Zhou's memorial meeting was solemnly held. The scene was solemn and solemn, and at the top of the rostrum was a banner with large characters: "Deeply mourning the great proletarian revolutionary and outstanding communist fighter Comrade Zhou Enlai of the Chinese people!" In the center hangs a huge portrait of Premier Zhou, and the urn below is covered with the flag of the Communist Party of China.
Deng Xiaoping's eulogy
In addition, wreaths were placed around the scene, and the wreaths personally sent by Chairman Mao were placed in the most conspicuous place. At that time, the requirements for the 5,000 delegates present were: wait in the east hall of the Great Hall of the People before 2:30 p.m. on the 15th; At 2:45, enter the designated location in the north hall one after another.
Seeing that the memorial service was about to begin, everyone had an expectation, that is, they hoped that Chairman Mao would suddenly attend the memorial service four years ago. But the expectation did not happen after all, until the memorial service ended, Chairman Mao did not appear. The reason why Chairman Mao did not attend the memorial service is not complicated because his physical condition no longer allows him to do so.
Zhang Yufeng also expects a miracle, and she has great respect for Premier Zhou. Seeing that the memorial service was about to be held, Zhang Yufeng asked in a low voice: "Chairman, the premier's memorial service is about to start, go to participate?" Zhang Yufeng regretted it after asking, and saw Chairman Mao patting his leg with his hand and said with difficulty: "I can't walk either." ”
This scene made Zhang Yufeng unforgettable for life, "Hearing this, and looking at Chairman Mao who was in pain on the sick bed in front of me, I couldn't suppress my tears... I regret that I should not have asked Chairman Mao, who was no longer able to act. (Zhang Yufeng: "Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai in the Later Years of Two and Three Things")
Deng Xiaoping held Premier Zhou's urn
After Premier Zhou's memorial service, Deng Yingchao left the Zhou family's relatives, staff and guards behind and held a small meeting in the Taiwan Hall of the Great Hall. Deng Yingchao announced a news in front of everyone: the next step was to fulfill Enlai's last wish and scatter his ashes.
In an instant, there was a lot of crying at the scene, and everyone was opposed to doing so. Deng Yingchao said: "When Enlai knew that his illness could not be saved, he repeatedly told me not to keep his ashes. This is what Enlai and I agreed together more than ten years ago, and his ashes were scattered in the land and rivers of the motherland. From a materialist point of view, matter does not perish, it is endless. Support Enlai's last wish. ”
After the meeting, Deng Yingchao escorted Premier Zhou's ashes to Tongxian Airport, where a small plane had already been parked. Premier Zhou's ashes were scattered in four places: over Beijing, the Miyun Reservoir in Beijing, the estuary of the Haihe River in Tianjin, and the estuary of the Yellow River in Binzhou, Shandong. Deng Yingchao did not participate in scattering ashes, and when the plane disappeared into the night, she burst into tears again.
Some people say that Premier Zhou gave his life to the greatest revolutionary cause during his lifetime, and for this he died with all his might; After a long sleep, he scattered his ashes on the earth and rivers of the motherland, and he seemed to leave me nothing, but he left everything to us. Premier Zhou is gone, but he has not gone far, and this prosperous era must be as he wishes!