7. Table tennis champion Zhuang Zedong opened the prelude to the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States

In Nagoya, the cherry blossoms are in full bloom in April. The cherry blossoms bloom with their unique freshness and coquettishness. Clusters of translucent pink petals are scattered throughout Nagoya. Nagoya has become a sea of flowers, a world of flowers.

Sunday, April 4th. The citizens of Nagoya, immersed in the "ping pong fever", surrounded the training hall where famous players from all over the world gathered. Zhuang Zedong, the former three-time world singles champion and returned to the international table tennis arena after four years of hiding, is naturally in the spotlight. In the men's team championship and runner-up finals, Zhuang Zedong defeated the last world champion, this year's No. 1 seed, Japan's new star Shigeo Ito 2-1, which made him even more magical in the minds of athletes from all over the world and Japanese audiences. The eyes of athletes from all over the world followed him. He was surrounded by autographs from Japanese fans. Everywhere he went, there was cheering.

Tomorrow, the men's singles competition will begin. After two hours of hard training in the training hall, Zhuang Zedong jumped on the bus of the Chinese team and prepared to go to the competition hall - Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium. The team is here. There was laughter and spring in the carriage.

The bus started slowly.

At this moment, a young athlete with blond hair and a blue tracksuit ran over, looking around and looking anxious, apparently not finding his team's car.

The driver of the bus braked the car with a "grunt" and opened the door with a "snort". He wanted to give the blonde young man a ride.

The blonde youth got into the car. Only then did everyone see that there were a few letters printed on the chest of his tracksuit: U. S. A. Oh, it's an American! An American broke into a Chinese car.

Suddenly, the atmosphere in the carriage became tense, and there was a certain uneasiness in the whispering of chatter. China and the United States, known as the "farthest countries on earth", have not only geographical and political distances, but also emotional and psychological distances. It's like an invisible barrier in the carriage. The Chinese athlete subconsciously leaned back, and the American athlete sat alone in front of him, no one paying attention to him.

The air in the carriage froze and was suffocating.

Zhuang Zedong, who was sitting in the back row, saw this scene and stood up.

People looked at him in amazement, wondering what he wanted to do.

Someone quietly tugged at the corner of his coat and winked at him. He also smiled and blinked, shaking his head slightly imperceptibly.

Ran away in front of the other.

From his seat to the uninvited guest in the front row, only five meters away, it only takes a few seconds.

He walked over. He did not expect that this would become a political news that would make newspaper headlines, that he would be crossing a historical chasm, that he would be crossing an era, and that it would decisively affect his future destiny and future.

He walked over. What did he think about in these five meters and a few seconds? It seems that he should have thought of the teachings of the great leader, of the party's consistent policies, and of his glorious mission. But for only a few seconds, he didn't think about anything, and he didn't have time to think about it.

He walked over. He felt he should walk over.

He is so calm, sincere, generous, and polite.

The American athlete knew Zhuang Zedong and immediately excitedly introduced himself, his name is Glenn Cohen, 19 years old this year, a second-year student at St. Morminca College in the United States. He studied politics and history at school. He was eager to learn about China. He knew that China had the Great Wall, the only man-made structure on the earth that could be seen with the naked eye on the moon, and it was the pride of mankind. He admires the Chinese's table tennis skills, and he is very happy to be able to talk to Zhuang Zedong in the car today.

Zhuang Zedong said enthusiastically: "The American people are a great people, and Chinese athletes are willing to make extensive friends with athletes from all over the world, and we ······are here for friendship." As he spoke, he opened the zipper of his handbag, took out a Hangzhou brocade, shook it open and looked, oh, it is a famous Chinese attraction - Hangzhou West Lake. The lake and mountains are ethereal and beautiful.

Cohen clapped his hands for joy.

The Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium soon arrived, and Cohen and Zhuang Zedong were chatting happily, and when they got off the bus, the two were still talking enthusiastically. Cohen held the brocade in one hand and Zhuang Zedong's arm in the other, as if he was a close friend. At the time of the breakup, Cohen also said loudly: "When I go back, I will hang it on the most eye-catching wall." ”

The handshake between China and American athletes was the first since World War II. What does it mean?

The sensitive minds of several Western reporters present immediately became excited, and without waiting to make a judgment, they immediately surrounded them and grabbed this historic footage with cameras of various models. Then he drove the car and rushed to the press center.

A person in charge of the Chinese table tennis delegation immediately approached Zhuang Zedong and said, "We haven't asked for advice on this kind of issue, so let's stop here."

Zhuang Zedong understood his feelings. For decades, the US Government has been hostile to the Chinese people and has done its utmost to obstruct the mainland's legitimate seat in the United Nations, and contacts between the official representatives of the two countries have always been very cautious and cold. Zhuang Zedong also flashed in his mind the terrifying scene of how many people were being hung up as "American spies" and fighting. Having overseas relations is a major political suspicion, and people can't hide from any foreign-related incident. However, he remembered Chairman Mao's teaching: "We place great hopes on the American people" and Premier Zhou's policy of "friendship first, competition second," and his heart was steady.

He said: "Cohen is our guest when he gets on our bus, and we will be rude if we don't come and go." Cohen may give back souvenirs, and it's not good not to take them. I'll take care of it. ”

But what would it mean to do so, and what would the consequences be? He didn't know or imagine it. He just wanted to be a messenger of friendship. Perhaps, he will have to be criticized when he returns home. He was not at peace.

The person in charge said, "You can stop in moderation, and I'll go back and ask for instructions." ”

The next day, Zhuang Zedong had just arrived at the door of the competition hall, and Cohen, who was already waiting there, ran to meet him. He held the Hangzhou brocade in one hand and handed over a short-sleeved sweatshirt with a youth anti-war medal pinned to the chest of the sweatshirt at that time. "This medal symbolizes the sincere will of the American people to oppose war and hope for peace," Cohen said. ”

Zhuang Zedong accepted the gift happily and thanked him loudly.

Once again, the hands of the Chinese and American people were clasped tightly together.

Zhuang Zedong calmly held hands with Cohen, held the sportswear with the other hand, and smiled at the dense various camera lenses······

From that day on, American athletes ran to the Chinese delegation's residence one after another, repeatedly and tentatively asking the same question: "Can you invite us to visit China?"

It's unimaginable.

The Chinese delegation promptly sought instructions from China.

The State Sports Commission immediately appealed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately appealed to the State Council.

Premier Zhou immediately reported to Chairman Mao.

Chairman Mao was far-sighted and wise, and played a ball to US President Nixon, who was wandering: inviting the US table tennis team.

At noon on April 7, Song Zhong, secretary general of the Chinese table tennis delegation, personally handed over the official invitation to Harrison, the representative of the US table tennis team.

The news shocked Japan like a thunderbolt.

The next day, the front pages of major Japanese newspapers were marked with a bold headline:

"Prelude to the Formal Approach of the United States and China"

"An ingenious and sophisticated move on China's complex diplomatic chessboard"

"China's table tennis diplomacy can be said to have achieved unprecedented success"

"The CCP's table tennis shook the whole world"

"No one could have imagined that the CCP's table tennis would play such an amazing political achievement"

······

This news shocked the United States like a thunderbolt.

"The CIA is in a mess" (foreign news), "Nixon is under increasing pressure from the American public" (foreign news), "the United States has set off a ping-pong fever" (foreign news), "calls for recognition of the People's Republic of China are heard everywhere in the United States" (foreign news)······

The ball turned the earth.

On 11 April, the US table tennis delegation went to Beijing and was received by Premier Zhou.

On 14 April, Nixon announced in Washington "five new steps to ease US-China relations."

The White House announced: ready to welcome the Chinese table tennis team and journalists.

In July, US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger made a secret visit to China, and later announced that Nixon would visit China.

In October, the twenty-sixth session of the General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to restore the continent's legitimate seat in the United Nations.

······

Half a year, just half a year, has changed the world political situation for twenty-four years.

The historical process has reached a point where direct dialogue between China and the United States has become imperative. If Cohen hadn't stepped on a Chinese bus in Nagoya, history would have looked for another opportunity. Now, history has chosen Zhuang Zedong and opened a new page through his hands. At the same time, it also pushed Zhuang Zedong onto the political stage.

The Chinese table tennis delegation is going to pay a return visit to the United States. This is the first People's Chinese delegation to visit the United States. They are a sports delegation, but also a "diplomatic" delegation, and they have an unusual mission.

The Prime Minister will receive them personally.

The table tennis delegation waited for the Prime Minister in the lounge of the Great Hall of the People.

The Prime Minister arranged the meeting in the middle of that foreign event. The Prime Minister's time is precious, and every minute is packed with work.

Here comes the Prime Minister. The athletes hurriedly stood up. The Prime Minister kindly asked them to sit down, and he himself casually pulled a chair and sat in front of them.

The prime minister asked: "Who will be the head of the delegation this time?"

Everyone replied: "Comrade Li Menghua." ”

The prime minister asked again: "What about Xiaozhuang?"

"He was the deputy head of the regiment. ”

The prime minister said: "Can Xiao Zhuang be the head of the regiment?"

Comrade Li Menghua said: "Premier, that's what we thought about in the first place. ”

Zhuang Zedong immediately stood up uneasily and said sincerely: "Prime Minister, let Comrade Menghua be the head of the regiment, I am too young and have no experience in foreign affairs······ ”

The prime minister smiled kindly, and waved his arm Xi: "You can learn without experience, you should be right, it doesn't matter if young people make some mistakes, I will bear it." Please ask Comrades Li Menghua and Qian Dayong to help you in your work. ”

Zhuang Zedong opened his mouth, not knowing what to say.

He remembers that at some of the national meetings held here, the prime minister called him to the front row by name and took the lead in applauding, saying: "These are diplomats who don't wear diplomatic uniforms." After the meeting, the prime minister summoned him separately and said: "I have read the article you wrote about friendship first and competition second, and it is very good, I think it can be publicized." ”

He also heard that the Prime Minister had mentioned him several times in discussions on the promotion of young cadres.

Now, the Prime Minister has personally nominated him to be the head of the delegation, and he will be the head of such an extraordinary delegation. He was deeply aware of the Prime Minister's ardent expectations of him.

The Prime Minister stared at him with blazing eyes, his eyes full of care, anticipation and hope.

Zhuang Zedong looked at the prime minister excitedly, his eyes full of gratitude, admiration and admiration.

Please see the follow-up

Excerpt from "Ping Pong Apocalypse - Zhuang Zedong in the "Cultural Revolution"!