Since ancient times, the capital has always been the seat of the military, political and economic center of successive dynasties, and the capital of China's first dynasty, the Xia Dynasty, was completed in Henan, which shows that since china had its own political power, it has had the concept of "national capital", and since then thousands of national capitals have been born successively.
In the practical sense, the capital is not the "capital", and the first mention of the word "capital" in China should originate from Chiang Kai-shek's National Government in Nanjing in 1927. In 1927, Chiang Kai-shek designated Nanjing as the "capital" of the Nationalist government.
So later, when New China was finally put to Beijing, what kind of twisted and untold experience did it have? Did china choose the capital to have any other candidate addresses?
Through meticulous analysis, the author of this article will tell you the ins and outs of Beijing, the capital of new China, through citing scriptures and texts, and telling everyone in a rigorous tone.
In September 1948, just before the National Turning Point Armageddon, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China held the September Conference in Xibaipo, which mainly discussed two issues:
First, plan and lay out the strategic armageddon.
2. Discuss the location of the capital after the founding of New China.
Strictly speaking, this is also the first time that our Party has mentioned the issue of Dingdu in the form of a conference. The concept of Dingdu was first proposed by Mao Zedong, to which Nie Rongzhen wrote in his memoirs (Nie Rongzhen's Memoirs):
From a long-term point of view, proceeding from the interests of the state and the people, Comrade Mao Zedong believed that Taiyuan must be fought, but Peiping tried not to fight for two reasons:
First, we must protect the historical and cultural capital, and even what the Japanese did not do in the first place, we must not deviate from our ancestors.
Second, after the founding of New China, it is very likely that the capital of Beiping will be built, and once the guns are fired, Beiping will most likely fall into ruins.
It is worth mentioning that striving for the peaceful liberation of Peiping was first proposed by Nie Rongzhen during his participation in Xibaipo's meeting, and was recognized by Mao Zedong.
Nie Rongzhen
Nie Rongzhen judged from this that it was very likely that the capital of New China would be Beiping. On the other hand, The Beiping Defender Fu Zuoyi not only showed great intention to negotiate, but his daughter Fu Dongju was also the inner line of our party, which provided greater help and confidence for our army to peacefully liberate Peiping.
After the September meeting, the various party organs had basically publicized Peiping as the capital after the founding of New China, and when Mao Zedong sent Peng Zhen and Ye Jianying to Beiping to organize the work of the municipal party committee, Ye Jianying had already predicted through Mao Zedong's speech that Beiping would become the capital of new China.
Mao Zedong said to the two men:
This time to take over Beiping, the international community is watching us, the impact is very large. You must achieve better results like you did in taking over Shenyang and Jinan, and don't fall behind. At the same time, it is also necessary to guard against some "left" errors.
The so-called "Left" mistake refers to the use of violent means to radically maintain stability.
In December 1948, when Ye Jianying was appointed mayor of Beiping City, he repeatedly stated to the party and government organs and the people in public speeches:
We must do a good job in the construction of Beiping, because it is likely to be our red capital in the future!
In January 1949, on the eve of the People's Liberation Army's implementation of the "encirclement without fighting" strategy against Peiping, the CPC Central Committee issued a special instruction:
Strive for General Fu Zuoyi's uprising, soldiers without bloodshed, peaceful liberation of Beiping, and not destroying every brick and tile of Beiping!
After the peaceful liberation of Peiping, the issue of the location of the capital at that time was not conclusive, and whether the final capital of Beiping could be finally determined was still debatable to the central authorities.
Moreover, in addition to Beiping, our party's choice of capital is another satisfactory choice, that is, Harbin, which is known as the "Moscow of the East."
Friends who are familiar with history know that the northeast is the first province liberated by our Party and the People's Liberation Army, and Harbin is the first big city liberated by our Party. In fact, in the early days of 1948, our Party once set it up as a "special city" with the intention of relocating the party and government organs of the CPC Central Committee to Harbin.
At that time, Harbin was considered as the political and economic center of the CPC Central Committee for two main reasons:
I. As early as 1945, Harbin had become the first big city liberated by our Party, and our Party and the People's Liberation Army had a deep mass foundation and deep roots in this area, and belonged to the nature of a large rear area.
Second, Harbin, bordering the Soviet Union in the north, once the international and war events change, the Soviet Red Army can arrive at night, without worrying about security at all.
However, with the expansion of the War of Liberation and the fermentation of the war situation in northeast China, the situation of the times soon decided that our Party's decision to designate Harbin as the capital was no longer mature. On the one hand, the Kuomintang army reinforced the northeast in large numbers and seized important cities and their main transportation routes, thus pulling down Harbin's previous military, political, and transportation advantages, and the decision to make Harbin the capital was no longer rational and mature.
In this regard, before the Liaoshen Campaign was launched, Lin Biao, commander-in-chief of Siye, also sent a telegram to Mao Zedong and other central leaders to inquire about this matter:
Will the CENTRAL Central Committee of the Communist Party of China be relocated to Harbin?
But Mao Zedong sternly refused, mao zedong said:
The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China must remain in Guannei, and I cannot leave for the time being!
It can be seen from this that the central government's idea of making Harbin the capital has basically died at this time.
Harbin at that time
However, up to this time, our Party was still confused and hesitant about whether to abandon Harbin and choose another city as the capital and which city to choose.
To this end, in February 1949, When Peiping had been peacefully liberated, the Central Bureau of the Communist Party of China specially invited Comrade Wang Jiaxiang, director of the Northeast Work Department, to Xibaipo to attend the Second Plenary Session of the Seventh Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.
As everyone knows, Wang Jiaxiang, as a member of the party's first generation of leading collectives, has firmly stood up many times at the critical juncture of life and death and the great turning point of the party and the Red Army, supporting Mao Zedong and his correct thinking and line, so that our party has avoided greater losses.
During this meeting, Mao Zedong also showed no exception his trust in the issue of Dingdu, and Mao Zedong and Wang Jiaxiang had a detailed discussion on the issue of Dingdu after the founding of New China.
Mao Zedong said:
Jia Xiang, our war of liberation will soon be won a national victory, but after the founding of New China, where the capital will be located is still unknown. The dynasties in our Chinese history are either fixed in Xi'an, or they are all in Luoyang, Kaifeng or Nanjing and Beiping, they are the four ancient capitals! Some comrades think that we should also imitate the ancients, but I Mao Zedong do not see it this way, we still have to look at the problem from the perspective of development, the capitals of all dynasties and dynasties have their own times and limitations, our new China is a new chapter, the capital should also have a new environment that should be adapted to its development.
Mao Zedong's speech was full of words, that is, he hoped to hear what kind of views this comrade from Harbin in the northeast had on new China.
As for Mao Zedong's question, Wang Jiaxiang was obviously prepared, giving a total of more than a dozen alternative cities that may be used as capitals, and after a detailed analysis and explanation of the inadequacy of Nanjing, Kaifeng and Xi'an as capitals, he said:
Chairman, I think that whether it was the past dynasty or the former Kuomintang government, the capital of Nanjing, although it claimed to be a tiger in the dragon pan and the terrain was dangerous, it was short-lived in the end. Although this statement has historical fatalistic overtones, we certainly do not believe in this set. However, judging from the current international situation, Nanjing is too close to the coast, and he is the seat of Chiang Kai-shek's foundation, which is not good for us! Therefore, I suggest that the most ideal location for our capital should be in Beiping!
First of all, the north and south of the flat land, with an excellent geographical and strategic location, its north to the northeast, the south to the central plains, once the situation changes, the long national border can give a certain buffer. In addition, although his east is the Bohai Sea, the Bohai Sea is an inland sea, with two peninsula arches of Liaoning and Shandong, but there is no worries. In addition, Peiping is the ancient capital of the Six Dynasties, and from the psychological point of view of the people, it is also willing to accept it!
Obviously, in Wang Jiaxiang's speech, the capital of new China should be considered on the basis of excellent military, political, economic and geographical location, and it is obvious that Peiping is indeed the most preferred.
Wang Jiaxiang
After listening to Wang Jiaxiang's analysis, Mao Zedong was very relieved to agree, and Mao Zedong replied:
Jia Xiang, in your words, I agree. In the future, we will set the capital in Beiping. Chiang Kai-shek's government set the capital in Nanjing because his foundation was Jiangsu and Zhejiang capitalists. We must also find our foundation in Beiping, that is, the broad working class and the working masses.
So, what are the alternative cities proposed by Wang Jiaxiang? Why are they not suitable as capitals?
The alternative cities listed by Wang Jiaxiang were Harbin, Xi'an, Yan'an, Shanghai, Chengdu, Kaifeng, Beiping, Luoyang, Chongqing, Guangzhou and Nanjing, and finally after a round of screening at the conference, Harbin, Xi'an, Kaifeng, Luoyang, Nanjing and Beiping were left.
The reason for choosing Harbin has been given above, and the other five ancient capitals can be listed as a matter of course, so why did New China initially set its capital in Beijing? Instead of Xi'an, Kaifeng or Nanjing?
Here we will make a comprehensive and specific analysis from the aspects of military, politics, economy, transportation and geographical location.
The first is Xi'an.
As one of the four ancient capitals, Xi'an has had more than ten dynasties built here, among which the famous Ones are Han, Sui, and Tang, and these dynasties are set to be here, which is an extremely excellent rationality.
sian
But from an objective point of view, these dynasties are all fixed here, and they all have their inevitability and contingency.
First of all, in terms of inevitability. Even Ma Qian of the Taishi Company once said in the "History":
He who does things will be in the southeast, and those who reap the merits will always be in the northwest.
That is to say, since ancient times, the people who have caused trouble in the southeast have often gathered in the northwest.
Why?
Then Tai Shi Gong said:
Therefore, the land of Guanzhong is one-third of the world, and the people are no more than three; but if they measure their wealth, they will live in six.
It can be seen from this that Taishi believes that the land of Guanzhong is rich and oily, which is one of the main reasons why it is the capital of the country.
In contrast, Zhang Liang in the Zizhi Tongjian made a comprehensive analysis and explanation of the superiority of the capital Xi'an:
Guanzhong, Left Kunhan, Right Longshu, Woye Qianli, South has bashu Rao, north has Hu Wan's interests, blocking three sides and defending, only one side to control the princes in the east; the princes are stable, the rivers and caos are the world, and the west is given to the Beijing division; the princes have changed, and they have gone down the river, which is enough to lose. This so-called golden city is a thousand miles, and the kingdom of heaven is also.
In a word: There is land in the guan that can be cultivated, there are dangers to defend, and there are rivers to irrigate.
Ancient feudal dynasties, strategic defense and persuasion of nongsang, has always been the top priority of the ruler to develop national strength.
In terms of chance, first the Western Zhou Dynasty in Guanzhong defeated the Shang Dynasty in the Central Plains, and then the Han Dynasty defeated the Chu clan in Jiangdong, which are all historical accidents.
However, with the unification of the Han regime and the convergence of territory for thousands of years, Xi'an, as the seat of a wealthy city far away from the southeast coast, has long since ceased to meet the needs of the development of the Han regime, let alone the just needs of the development of the capital in the new century.
With the development of thousands of years, the center of China's economy and politics has long shifted from the initial strategic defense of the west to the central region, and slowly expanded and shifted to the east and coastal black land cities, so the capital of Xi'an is not in line with the trend and the general trend of development, let alone conform to the national conditions and the people's aspirations.
This is followed by Nanjing.
Nanjing is the ancient capital of the Six Dynasties, from the Eastern Jin, Song, Qi, Liang, and Chen dynasties of the Wei and Jin Dynasties, to the Southern Tang Dynasty of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, and then to the Later Ming Dynasty and the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.
nanking
Of course, the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Song, Qi, Liang, Chen, and the Southern Tang Dynasty of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms were all located here, because this was the location of its native origin, just like the Original Three Kingdoms of Eastern Wu, it was impossible to choose and could not give up. The Ming Dynasty's establishment of its capital here is precisely the classic embodiment of the Han people's shift of the center of discovery from the west to the east.
However, as Mao Zedong once said, "Nanjing is the birthplace of Chiang Kai-shek's Jiangsu and Zhejiang factions!" ”
In this way, the establishment of Nanjing, the capital of our country, means that there are many factors of political uneasiness that are surging undercurrents. As we all know, the capital has been a military town since ancient times, a symbol of a country's authority and sovereignty, and from the perspective of location, Nanjing is too far north of the Great Wall and too far from Japan, which are unfavorable factors.
On the other hand, Nanjing is closer to Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and these are unfavorable geopolitics, while compared with other cities, our Party's mass base and foundation in Nanjing are shallower, and once the situation changes, it will be more difficult to gain the support of the Soviet Union and the rear area.
Finally, Luoyang and Kaifeng.
Although Luoyang is known as the ancient capital of the Nine Dynasties, and Kaifeng was the most prosperous city during the Song Dynasty, Luoyang and Kaifeng also have the limitations of their era and geographical location, which have long been economically backward, and all aspects of traffic problems are difficult to change in the short term.
Luoyang
First of all, as mentioned above, during the period of New China, China's politics, economy, and culture had completed the transfer from the west to the central region and then to the eastern coastal areas, and the central plains were not in line with the national conditions, let alone the trend and general trend.
Secondly, Luoyang and Kaifeng, the middle section of the Yellow River Basin, our mother river, are the places where the floods have been most rampant in the past years. Therefore, the capital is fixed here, and flooding is a major problem that cannot be crossed.
In contrast, the central government finally determined that the capital was Beiping.
<h1 class="pgc-h-center-line" data-track="69" > so what is the real rationality of The capital is Beiping? </h1>
Leaving aside other factors, the author's example is enough to know Chairman Mao's cleverness.
As everyone knows, on the day of the founding ceremony of new China, although there were dozens of fighter planes in our air force, there were actually only 17 fighters, and what is extremely rare in Chinese and foreign history is that these aircraft were all displayed with live ammunition under the orders of Mao Zedong, in order to resist the enemy attacked by the Kuomintang.
At that time, Chiang Kai-shek had already shrunk taiwan, but he also tried to use planes to bomb China's founding ceremony and made meticulous arrangements.
Yu Jishi, director of Chiang Kai-shek's office, later recalled that in response to the bombing of China's founding ceremony, Chiang Kai-shek first ordered him to exchange views with Zhou Zhirou, commander of the Air Force.
Zhou Zhirou believed that the bombing must be refueled in the middle of the way, and secondly, at that time, the Chinese Communists already had an air force, and it was very likely that there would be no return, and the effect would not be great, and the casualties would be increased, and it was recommended to cancel. However, Zhou Zhirou still formed an air force commando team and was ready to be on standby.
At that time, Chiang Kai-shek's northernmost air base was on Kinmen Island, and the straight-line distance to Beijing was more than 1,700 kilometers. Therefore, Zhou Zhirou believed that it was necessary to request the assistance of the Americans and allow the Air Force to divert to the US Air Base in Busan, South Korea, to refuel.
However, when Chiang Kai-shek made this request to the US side, he was immediately rejected by the US side.
According to the author's analysis, there are two reasons.
First, at that time, the United States and the Soviet Union were in the Cold War, and the United States did not want to offend New China and made enemies in Asia too early.
Second, the United States does not approve of the chiang kai-shek government's approach and considers its approach meaningless.
In the end, Chiang Kai-shek cancelled the bombing of the founding ceremony of our new China, but chose to witness the birth of our new China on the radio.
Looking back, the distance between Kinmen and Nanjing is extremely dangerous, and Chiang Kai-shek is fully capable of achieving his goal of indiscriminate bombardment.
It can be seen from this that the strategic layout of the CPC Central Committee toward Beijing, the capital of new China, is incomparably great.
Finally, on September 27, 1949, the first meeting of the Chinese Political Consultative Conference was held in Beiping, and the meeting finally unanimously approved the establishment of the capital of Beiping and the change of Beiping to Beijing.
The Book of Rites and the Middle Way once said:
Everything is established if it is hesitant, and if it is not hesitated, it is abolished.
Obviously, it was through this forward-looking vision and great strategic layout that the Cpc took one step at a time and looked at three steps ahead of time that it was able to take precautions, guard against the occurrence of the situation, and finally won the victory of the revolution and the liberation of the people.
Mao Zedong also said in "On Protracted War":
Without prior planning and preparation, victory in war cannot be won.
It can be seen from this that the establishment of the capital of our new China is the crystallization of the wisdom and painstaking efforts of countless great and outstanding communists. Digging into it and digging in, we will find that it is actually the most advanced and intelligent Chinese nation since ancient times, the most comprehensive strategic layout in terms of military, political, economic, geopolitical, and international situation.