In 1980, Chen Yonggui, then vice premier of the State Council, suddenly said such incomprehensible words to his son Chen Mingzhu. Why would a high-ranking national leader take the initiative to ask to write a letter of resignation, and what kind of reasons and stories are hidden behind it? This makes people curious about this. Why did Chen Yonggui make such a decision? What considerations did he have? And what kind of encounters did he go through? Let us find out.
1. Introduction: Chen Yonggui suddenly asked his son to write a letter of resignation for him
It was an ordinary day in 1980, and the spring sunshine in Beijing was warm and warm. Chen Yonggui sat in the study, looking a little tired. As Vice Premier of the State Council, he is busy with affairs, but recently, his mood has been particularly heavy.
Chen Mingzhu walked into the study, saw his father's appearance, and couldn't help asking, "Father, have you been thinking about anything lately?" ＂
Chen Yonggui looked up at his son and sighed: "Son, I have indeed been a little troubled recently. As you know, after the Fifth Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee, the situation has undergone some changes, and I feel that my work is becoming more and more inadequate. ＂
Chen Mingzhu asked in surprise: "But father, you have always worked diligently for the country, how can you have such thoughts?"
Chen Yonggui shook his head: "You don't understand. The colleagues around me have all changed, and even Comrade Hua Guofeng's situation is a little delicate, and I really can't cope with it. He paused, and suddenly said, "Son, you can help me write a resignation report, so that others don't come to me for trouble." ＂
Chen Mingzhu was taken aback: "Father, what are you talking about? You are the vice premier of the State Council, how can you have any reason to resign? If people dismiss you from your post, you will continue to do it!"
Chen Yonggui insisted on his opinion: "No, I really can't do it anymore." You just say that I am not in good health, my education level is not enough, I am not qualified for the job, and I need to resign and go home to rest. ＂
Looking at his father's determined expression, Chen Mingzhu nodded helplessly and began to write the words and sentences of the resignation report for him. Why did a once-prestigious national leader make such a decision, and what are the reasons and stories behind it? Let us continue to explore.
2. Chen Yonggui's work has been questioned
One of the important reasons why Chen Yonggui suddenly resigned was that he encountered unprecedented doubts and criticism at work. As a staunch supporter and promoter of the rural people's communization movement, Chen Yonggui was once known as an "expert in rural work". The "Dazhai experience" advocated by him, which was modeled by the Dazhai People's Commune in Xiyang County, was all the rage in the 60s of the last century and became a model for rural areas across the country to learn.
However, in the late 70s, with the deepening of China's rural reform, the Dazhai model began to be questioned and criticized. Some experts and scholars have pointed out that in its pursuit of increasing grain production, the Dazhai Commune overemphasized the people's spirit of collectivism and arduous struggle and neglected the vital interests of the peasants, resulting in the peasants' living standards not being improved for a long time.
What's more, some people pointed out that the grain production data of Dazhai Commune was seriously waterlogged, and the increase in production was exaggerated. As the main promoter of the Dazhai experience, Chen Yonggui had to assume leadership responsibility for this.
In 1979, when Chen Yonggui returned to his hometown of Xiyang County, Shanxi Province, to inspect, some local cadres bluntly told him that the Dazhai model was no longer feasible and needed to be reformed. Although Chen Yonggui was still insisting on his views on the surface, he was already a little shaken in his heart.
After returning to Beijing, Chen Yonggui began to reflect on his long-standing work philosophy. He realized that with the development of the times, the countryside must be reformed, and the Dazhai model has been unable to adapt to the new situation. As a veteran rural worker, he has the responsibility to chart the course for rural reform.
Just as Chen Yonggui was entangled in his heart, the central decision-making level also had a new understanding of the disadvantages of the Dazhai model. They believe that the Dazhai model emphasizes concentrating on running large households, but ignores the peasants' enthusiasm for production, which runs counter to the current direction of rural reform.
Faced with the dual pressure from the central and local governments, Chen Yonggui deeply felt that the doubts and criticisms at work were beyond his ability to bear. He began to wonder whether he was still qualified to remain in the leadership position, and whether he should voluntarily resign to make way for rural reform. It was in this state of mind that he made that puzzling request to his son.
3. Chen Yonggui privately inquired about his whereabouts
Although Chen Yonggui has made up his mind to resign from the post of vice premier of the State Council, deep down he does not want to "end" here. As a veteran revolutionary who has grown up step by step from the grassroots level, Chen Yonggui's dedication to the cause and his love for the countryside are deep-rooted.
Not long before Chen Yonggui submitted his resignation, he made a special trip back to his hometown of Xiyang County, Shanxi Province to inspect it. There, he privately found Liu Shugang, the new secretary of the county party committee, and the two had been old friends for many years.
Chen Yonggui said to Liu Shugang: "Shugang, how big do you think my problem is this time? Can I go back to Xiyang in the future and do a job like a deputy director?"
Liu Shugang was silent for a moment after hearing this, and replied cautiously: "Yonggui, your current situation is indeed a little delicate. But don't worry, the organization attaches importance to you, and it will definitely be arranged well. ＂
Chen Yonggui nodded, seemingly satisfied with this answer.
In fact, the reason why Chen Yonggui privately inquired about his whereabouts was because he was deeply helpless and resentful of the criticism of the Dazhai model. In his opinion, he has fought for the cause of the countryside all his life, although the approach is a little simple and crude, but the original intention is good, why is it so criticized?
However, Chen Yonggui also knows that he is a party cadre after all and must obey the organization's decisions. If the organization did ask him to resign, he had no other choice. But he still secretly hopes in his heart that he can continue to do some work within his capacity for the cause of the rural areas.
It is with this expectation that Chen Yonggui will privately ask his old friend Liu Shugang about his whereabouts. He hopes that even if he cannot continue to serve as vice premier of the State Council, he will be able to return to his hometown of Xiyang and take up relatively easy but rural work-related positions.
However, Chen Yonggui's little selfishness was soon broken by the development of reality. Out of care for Chen Yonggui, the central leaders finally decided not to let him return to his hometown to take up his post, but arranged a house for him in Beijing.
This undoubtedly made Chen Yonggui feel a little disappointed, but he also understood that this was the organization's consideration for his advanced age. As an old revolutionary, he must obey the decisions of the organization, and not blindly pursue selfishness.
Fourth, the media has repeatedly criticized the Dazhai model
In addition to being questioned by the central and local governments, another important reason for Chen Yonggui's decision to resign was the repeated criticism and criticism of the Dazhai model by the mainstream media at that time.
In 1980, after the central government established the basic policy of rural reform, mainstream media such as Xinhua News Agency and People's Daily began to publish articles violently attacking the Dazhai model.
Xinhua News Agency published a commentary article entitled "Dazhai Goes Backwards". The article points out that although the Dazhai model has made some achievements in the short term, it will inevitably become rigid in the long run, which runs counter to the direction of rural reform.
The People's Daily published an analysis article entitled "'Seven Fights and Eight Fights' Cause Serious Consequences to Dazhai." The article says that the Dazhai model has one-sidedly pursued increasing grain production, neglected the vital interests of the peasants, and resulted in the failure to improve the peasants' living standards for a long time.
In addition, some local media outlets have joined the ranks of critics of the Dazhai model. For example, Shanxi Daily published an article entitled "Xiyang Learns from Dazhai, the Successes and Failures of "Great Dry Socialism"", which questioned whether the Dazhai model is suitable for the current situation.
These articles smashed at Chen Yonggui like cannonballs one by one, making him feel extremely shocked and angry. As the main advocate and promoter of the Dazhai model, how can he tolerate his hard work being severely criticized and belittled by people?
Chen Yonggui has tried to justify the Dazhai model through some means, but to no avail. He could only swallow this breath secretly in his heart, feeling extremely helpless and lost.
It is in this state of mind that Chen Yonggui will make that incomprehensible request to his son. He believes that since his work philosophy and practices are no longer recognized by the central government, and he cannot bear the doubts and criticisms from all directions, then taking the initiative to resign may be the best choice.
However, although Chen Yonggui was angry and helpless at the criticism of the media, he did not publicly refute or defend himself, but chose to think about the overall situation of reform and take the initiative to bear the criticism. This indifferent attitude also reflects the humility and generosity that he should have as an old revolutionary.