On April 6, 1969, Zhang Zhizhong, a former high-ranking Kuomintang official, died of illness at the age of 79. However, due to the social environment at that time, how to solve his future affairs became a problem, and the leadership of the United Front Work Department at that time made the decision not to hold a farewell ceremony.
However, when Premier Zhou learned of this, he immediately made two decisions and held a memorial service for Zhang Zhizhong, properly arranging Zhang Zhizhong's aftermath.
So, what two decisions did Premier Zhou make? Premier Zhou and Zhang Zhizhong, two former rivals, what happened to them?
Zhang Zhizhong and Premier Zhou's exchanges at the Whampoa Military Academy
In 1924, when Zhang Zhizhong was the chief of education at the Whampoa Military Academy, he met Premier Zhou, who was the director of the Political Department, and the two had the same views on the work of the military academy, domestic and foreign affairs, and China's future and destiny, and gradually established a deep personal friendship.
In August 1925, Premier Zhou and Deng Yingchao officially prepared to enter the palace of marriage after 5 years of emotional collision, due to financial constraints and busy affairs, Premier Zhou decided to do the marriage from Jane, and he only mentioned this matter to his friend Zhang Zhizhong.
After hearing this, Zhang Zhizhong thought that Premier Zhou's move was inappropriate, and he exhorted:
"Marriage is a major event in life, it can't be too simple, rest assured, I'll handle it for you."
Therefore, he immediately informed several confidants of the military academy and paid for it out of his own pocket, and the newcomer Premier Zhou and Deng Yingchao generously organized two tables of banquets.
Zhang Zhizhong usually rarely drinks, but at this Premier Zhou's wedding banquet, in addition to drinking freely, he also drunk Premier Zhou, who has always drunk well, and finally Premier Zhou was carried back by the guards and did not wake up until the next day. Later, when Deng Yingchao talked about these past events, he still remembered it vividly and was very moved by Zhang Zhizhong's help at that time.
In the same year, Zhang Zhizhong, who had a broad and deep understanding of the Communist Party, formally requested his close friend Premier Zhou to join the Communist Party. Premier Zhou immediately realized that Zhang Zhizhong, as a high-ranking figure in the Kuomintang, had an unusual request to join the Communist Party, and immediately reported to the Party Central Committee.
After careful study, the Central Committee believed that, given Zhang Zhizhong's situation at the time, it might be more beneficial for the Communist Party to remain in the Kuomintang. Premier Zhou told Zhang Zhizhong the views of the Party Central Committee, and Zhang Zhizhong pondered for a long time and said:
"This opinion does make sense, the CCP is very far-sighted, then I will continue to work for the Kuomintang."
After the liberation of the whole country, when Premier Zhou was talking about this with Zhang Zhizhong's son Zhang Yichun, he said with emotion and humor:
"If your father had joined the Communist Party at that time, he would have been either our marshal or a revolutionary martyr by now."
Zhang Zhizhong participated in the Chongqing negotiations
During the war years, Zhang Zhizhong, as the chief representative of the Kuomintang, held many peace talks with our party, the most notable of which was the Chongqing negotiations between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party in 1945.
Since Zhang Zhizhong did not support the civil war, he repeatedly advised Chiang Kai-shek to "unite with the Communist Party," so much so that on one occasion, Chiang Kai-shek was so annoyed by him that he said angrily: "Am I speaking to the Communist Party representatives?" ”
Chiang Kai-shek also suspected that Zhang Zhizhong had already defected to the Communist Party, and even arranged for Dai Li to search for evidence. However, instead of finding the slightest suspicion in Zhang Zhizhong, Dai Li came to the conclusion that Zhang Zhizhong was honest and incorruptible, and then Chiang Kai-shek had no choice but to be entrusted with a heavy task.
In 1945, after Chiang Kai-shek put forward the idea of peace talks between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, Chairman Mao gladly led a delegation to the peace talks. At that time, Zhang Zhizhong personally went to Yan'an to bring Chairman Mao and Premier Zhou to Chongqing.
After Chairman Mao and others arrived in Chongqing, Zhang Zhizhong and Premier Zhou worked together to ensure Chairman Mao's safety.
Chairman Mao, Premier Zhou, Zhang Zhizhong
In order for Chairman Mao to be able to work better, Zhang Zhizhong even vacated his house to Chairman Mao, and his family moved to a private house on the outskirts of Chongqing.
For the sake of safety, Zhang Zhizhong and Premier Zhou had a serious discussion, and in addition to increasing the security force, he also arranged for the service staff of his family to be specifically responsible for Chairman Mao's life, and did not let anyone interfere.
On October 10, when the Double Tenth Agreement was signed, the ceremony took place in the living room of Zhang Zhizhong's home. The day after the agreement was signed, Zhang Zhizhong personally sent Chairman Mao and others back to Yan'an.
Premier Zhou provided care and help to Zhang Zhizhong
During Zhang Zhizhong's tenure in the Kuomintang, although he held a high official position and held the rank of second-class general of the army, he kept his sleeves clean and never received ill-gotten gains.
When the Beijing peace talks broke down, he was left in Beijing by Premier Zhou as the chief representative of the Kuomintang peace talks, and his whole family managed to bring them to Beijing by all means.
In the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, China was in ruins and the national treasury was empty, although Zhang Zhizhong had a good position and served as the vice chairman of the Northwest Military and Political Commission, but according to the supply at that time, it was simply not enough to guarantee the expenses of the family, and life was quite tight.
Zhang Zhi saw that the family life of the party central leaders was very poor, and it was difficult to make any demands on Chairman Mao and Premier Zhou, so he had to ask his second son Zhang Yichun to borrow money from Fu Zuoyi.
Zhang Yichun, led by the relevant personnel, came to Fu Zuoyi's house and offered to borrow 250 silver dollars. Fu Zuoyi's economic situation was much better than Zhang Zhizhong's, and he was very sympathetic to Zhang Zhizhong's visit to borrow money. He immediately took 500 silver dollars and handed them to Zhang Yichun, saying that he would find him if he had any difficulties in the future.
Afterwards, when Fu Zuoyi was talking to Premier Zhou, he inadvertently mentioned that Zhang Zhizhong asked his son to borrow money from him. Subsequently, Premier Zhou immediately went to visit Zhang Zhizhong and his family, and took out 6,000 yuan from the relevant departments to subsidize the life of Zhang Zhizhong's family.
Premier Zhou decided on Zhang Zhizhong's funeral
On February 1, 1969, Li Zongren's memorial service was held at Babaoshan Mountain, and when Premier Zhou took time out of his busy schedule to attend, he saw Zhang Zhizhong, who looked a little sick, and he quickly stepped forward, held Zhang Zhizhong's hand, and said with concern: "Brother Wen Bai, you have to take care of your health!" ”
Li Zongren
However, this brief meeting turned out to be their last. After attending the memorial service, Zhang Zhizhong's health became weaker and his condition deteriorated significantly, even after consultations with medical experts sent by Chairman Mao and Premier Zhou.
On April 6, Zhang Zhizhong died of illness in Beijing, leaving a will saying:
"I can find the Communist Party and spend my old age under the leadership of the Communist Party without regrets."
Due to the social environment at that time, the leaders of the United Front Work Department made the decision not to hold a farewell ceremony based on Zhang Zhizhong's experience of joining the Kuomintang. But when Premier Zhou learned of this, he immediately issued instructions:
"First, I want to attend the farewell ceremony, and second, inform other old friends inside and outside Zhang Zhizhong's party."
Therefore, under the instructions of Premier Zhou, on April 9, Premier Zhou personally came to the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery to preside over the farewell ceremony of Zhang Zhizhong's body, deeply remembering this sincere friend who took care of each other with sincerity.