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Mr. Ren
Editor|Mr. Ren
October 1, 1974 was the 25th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. According to the custom, dignitaries from all walks of life of the Republic will celebrate the birthday of the motherland in the Great Hall of the People.
However, it was such a big day, and the atmosphere in the Great Hall of the People was extremely solemn. It was not until Premier Zhou Enlai walked into the Great Hall of the People that the people lifted their spirits, and thunderous applause broke out in the venue.
Under everyone's attention, Zhou Enlai walked to the rostrum to greet the National Day reception. During Zhou Enlai's speech, his speech was interrupted by applause from the audience ten times, and many people in the venue were moved to tears because of Zhou Enlai's speech.
So, what exactly made Zhou Enlai's speech have such a fierce response at that time? What was the special meaning of the 1974 National Day reception?
Zhou Enlai attended the reception, why was the doctor opposed
As early as a few months before the National Day reception in 1974, Premier Zhou Enlai had prepared the speech for the reception. However, Zhou Enlai's doctor strongly disagreed with Zhou Enlai's attendance at the reception, because Premier Zhou Enlai's condition had reached a rather unoptimistic point at that time.
In 1972, Zhou Enlai had difficulty urinating and blood in the urine, and when Zhou Enlai's health doctor conducted a monthly routine urine test on Zhou Enlai, he also found that the number of red blood cells in Zhou Enlai's urine increased significantly. After a comprehensive examination by the hospital, the doctor found that Zhou Enlai had bladder transitional epithelial cell carcinoma.
Zhou Enlai's condition surprised the medical team - considering that Zhou Enlai was still in the post of premier at the time, diagnosing cancer was definitely not a trivial matter, so the medical team immediately reported the news to Chairman Mao and asked Chairman Mao to decide.
When Chairman Mao learned of Zhou Enlai's illness, it was like a thunderbolt on a sunny day, and he was immediately sad. But he quickly calmed down and gave instructions: First, the medical team spared no effort to treat Premier Zhou Enlai's condition. Considering the risk of surgery, Chairman Mao suggested not to open the operation first, and give priority to drug treatment. Second, do not inform Deng Yingchao of Zhou Enlai's condition for the time being.
However, Zhou Enlai's actual condition deteriorated much more seriously than Chairman Mao and the medical team thought: in 1973, Zhou Enlai again had severe blood in the urine, and the entire toilet was dyed red. At this time, even Deng Yingchao learned of Zhou Enlai's condition, so Zhou Enlai was urgently transferred to the hospital for treatment.
During the treatment, in order to improve Zhou Enlai's condition as soon as possible, the hospital violated Chairman Mao's instructions of "not moving the knife" and burned the cancer cells in the epidermis of Zhou Enlai's bladder membrane with electrocautery, and Zhou Enlai's condition of blood in the urine was quickly alleviated. But unfortunately, because the follow-up hospital did not follow up the chemotherapy technology in time, Zhou Enlai's condition of blood in the urine recurred again - after this operation, Zhou Enlai's condition became more serious.
By early 1974, Premier Zhou Enlai's illness had reached a very serious level. In March 1974, Zhou Enlai's daily urine blood volume had reached 300 ml. In June 1974, Zhou Enlai underwent his first cystectomy. After the operation, the condition improved to a certain extent, but unfortunately, at that time, the hospital had found that the cancer cells in Zhou Enlai's body had metastasized - which means that any treatment can only extend Premier Zhou Enlai's life, but cannot completely cure Premier Zhou Enlai's condition.
But even though his body has become terminally ill to this field, Zhou Enlai is still struggling on the front line of the premier's work and is unwilling to give up the work at hand. Especially when he learned that the 1974 National Day reception still needed to be held, Zhou Enlai prepared the speech several months earlier. However, Zhou Enlai's doctors no longer recommended that Zhou Enlai attend large events, and each attendance was a double torture of mind and body for Premier Zhou, who was physically weak at the time.
Zhou Enlai attended the reception and visited the Great Hall of the People for the last time
With the announcement of Zhou Enlai's condition, more than one person came to persuade Zhou Enlai and advised him not to attend the 1974 National Day reception. However, Zhou Enlai declined the suggestions of others, saying that if his body allows, he will still try his best to participate.
So, what is the reason why Premier Zhou Enlai has repeatedly insisted that he also attend this meeting? In addition to the reason why Premier Zhou Enlai himself has always been conscientious, this is also inextricably linked to Chairman Mao's physical health at that time.
In the new China in the 70s of the 20th century, Chairman Mao and Premier Zhou Enlai were the two backbones that supported the Republic. However, Chairman Mao was older than Premier Zhou Enlai. After 1971, Chairman Mao's physical health also continued to deteriorate, and in his later years, in addition to suffering from severe cataract disease and near-blindness in both eyes, Chairman Mao also suffered from severe lobar pneumonia, and would be woken up every day by his own cough.
Therefore, according to Chairman Mao's physical condition at that time, it was naturally impossible for the chairman to attend the 1974 reception. Therefore, the expectations of attending the reception at that time were all pinned on Premier Zhou Enlai alone. Although Premier Zhou Enlai's physical health is also very unoptimistic, I am afraid that there is no second person in the Republic who can be qualified to hold this reception besides the premier.
Another reason why Premier Zhou Enlai thought he had to attend the reception was that at that time, the participants in the annual National Day reception were mainly some meritorious ministers who had contributed to the country's scientific research, economy, military and other undertakings, and most of them intellectuals. They have devoted their lives to the development of the country and deserve the condolences of the country. In the 70s of the 20th century, Premier Zhou Enlai expressed condolences to these intellectuals on behalf of the country, which had an additional unique meaning.
Although Premier Zhou Enlai had so many reasons to go at that time, all the staff attending this reception were still nervous: If Premier Zhou Enlai did not come, how would this reception be conducted? If Premier Zhou Enlai comes, will his body be able to eat well?
On October 1, 1974, the Great Hall of the People was almost full, and while everyone was wondering whether Premier Zhou Enlai would attend the reception, people suddenly noticed a haggard and thin figure walking into the venue accompanied by medical staff—he was the long-awaited Premier Zhou Enlai.
Seeing Premier Zhou Enlai still wearing a Zhongshan costume and holding a speech in a personable manner, all the staff on the scene could not help but applaud. Premier Zhou Enlai smiled and raised his hands, signaled everyone in the room to be quiet, walked slowly to the rostrum, and began to address the reception for the 25th anniversary of the National Day, which became a particularly moving scene at the 1974 National Day reception.
In his speech at the reception for the 25th anniversary of the National Day, Zhou Enlai, on behalf of the country, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the workers who are struggling in the front line of scientific research, economy and military, and hoped that they could live up to the trust of the country, continue to make efforts, and create new brilliance. Premier Zhou Enlai's short speech was interrupted by applause more than 10 times.
The people attending this reception were not only very touching by Premier Enlai's inspiring speech last week, but that Premier Zhou Enlai had a very special meaning to them. In 1966, faced with the unprecedented storm test of the Republic, Premier Zhou Enlai withstood great pressure and drew up a special protection list to protect most intellectuals engaged in scientific research from the scourge of vain.
Most of these intellectuals were grateful to Premier Zhou Enlai for his protection. Without Premier Zhou Enlai's protection, they would not have known where they were at the 1974 National Day reception. Therefore, when they saw Premier Zhou Enlai standing on the rostrum, instead of taking credit for this, he thanked these scientific research workers, everyone present could not help but tear their eyes.
With the end of Premier Zhou Enlai's congratulatory speech, the banquet for the 1974 National Day reception was officially held. Premier Zhou Enlai held a wine glass in his hand and toasted every scientific research staff member at each table gracefully, as if he was more than a decade younger in an instant. Premier Zhou Enlai's assistant poured Moutai wine for Premier Zhou Enlai, but in fact the bottle of Moutai had already been filled with water, and the doctor told Premier Zhou Enlai: If you have to attend the 1974 reception, then you must not drink alcohol, which is also a compromise made by Premier Zhou Enlai to doctors in order to attend the meeting.
Although Premier Zhou Enlai himself knew in his heart that his cup was filled with boiled water, he still carefully saluted the guests who came to this reception at every table. After the banquet, Zhou Enlai smiled and said goodbye to every participant - this was also the penultimate appearance in the Great Hall of the People in Premier Zhou Enlai's life, and every staff member who attended the meeting really saw eight words in Premier Zhou Enlai's body: bow to the fullest, die later.
The people will always be a good prime minister
After attending the National Day reception in 1974, Premier Zhou Enlai's physical health deteriorated again: in 1975, during a gastrointestinal examination, Premier Zhou Enlai found that cancer cells in the bladder had spread to the stomach, and tumors near the large intestine were the size of walnuts.
In order to save Zhou Enlai's life as much as possible, the hospital decided to remove the colon with a tumor in the right half of Premier Zhou Enlai, and electrocautery treatment was performed on Zhou Enlai's bladder cancer again. At this time, Premier Zhou Enlai had undergone more than ten surgeries. After one operation, Premier Zhou Enlai said to the medical staff: "Thank you for saving me, you have really worked hard, but please don't waste time on me, leave your energy to more patients in need." ”
In January 1975, on the occasion of the Fourth National People's Congress Congress, Zhou Enlai attended as scheduled. At this time, after several surgeries, and he was malnourished, his body was so emaciated that he was almost deformed. At that time, everyone learned that Zhou Enlai's physical condition had reached the point of almost running out of oil, and many people in the venue immediately cried - Zhou Enlai left the venue accompanied by everyone after completing his work report, which was his last farewell to the Great Hall of the People in his life.
In October 1975, Premier Zhou Enlai's physical health could no longer allow him to get out of bed and walk half a step. He himself was completely dependent on nasal feeding to stay alive at the time and fell into a coma for a long time. The prime minister, who has worked hard for the people all his life, has reached the last moment of his life.
On January 6, 1976, Zhou Enlai, who was suffering from illness, passed away at the age of 78. Chairman Mao, who was on his hospital bed, couldn't help but close his eyes in pain when he learned of Premier Zhou Enlai's death. Subsequently, millions of people in Beijing spontaneously watched Premier Zhou Enlai's hearse, which is the famous "Ten Miles Long Street Sending Premier to Premier" in the history of the Republic, and Premier Zhou Enlai's status in the eyes of the people is self-evident.
The spirit of serving the people and the selfless mind have made Premier Zhou Enlai a near-perfect person in China's modern history, which is why there is still a steady stream of people admiring and remembering the premier today. The Sri Lankan people have passed away, but the spirit of Premier Zhou Enlai will live on forever and inspire everyone in future generations.