In 1976, Hua Guofeng asked everyone what to do? Ji Dengkui said a sentence that disappointed Hua Guofeng very much, causing Ji Dengkui to be quickly marginalized, and he resigned from all leadership positions in 1980.
What's going on?
Ji Dengkui was a big figure who was deeply valued by Chairman Mao in his later years, he was 30 years younger than Chairman Mao, and he met Chairman Mao very late, but Chairman Mao affectionately called him "my old friend", and he still called him so at the conference.
Ji Dengkui, who did not serve as the leader of the Henan Provincial Party Committee, was directly promoted to vice premier of the State Council, which can be said to be a steady progress. At the time of Chairman Mao's death, Ji Dengkui was still a member of the Politburo and the first political commissar of the Beijing Military Region.
At that time, he was only in his early 50s, very young and promising, and his future was limitless. What is even less known is that Hua Guofeng has become the supreme leader, he is from Jiaocheng, Shanxi, and Ji Dengkui is from Wuxiang, Shanxi, they are fellow villagers.
But in that critical period, Ji Dengkui disappointed Hua Guofeng. After Chairman Mao's death, those bad guys were very arrogant and ready to move, Hua Guofeng was worried and decided to preemptively take decisive measures against them.
Hua Guofeng made up his mind, and he still needed to seek the consent of his old comrades, Marshal Ye Jianying and Hua Guofeng reached an agreement, Hua Guofeng had a bottom in his heart, but this was not enough. Hua Guofeng also needs to win more people's support.
On September 16, Hua Guofeng convened a meeting, and basically all the big names at that time came, including Li Xiannian, Chen Xilian, and Ji Dengkui. Hua Guofeng got straight to the point and asked a question, how to solve the problem of the "Gang of Four" raised by Chairman Mao?
Before Chairman Mao's death, he did propose to solve the problem of the "Gang of Four", and said that it could not be solved this year, next year, next year, and the year after next. It's always something to be addressed.
Hua Guofeng has actually made up his mind in his heart, and the reason why he asked this is because he wants to hear everyone's opinions and get more support. As soon as Hua Guofeng's words fell, Ji Dengkui spoke, and he said: I'm afraid these people still have to be treated differently.
What does differential treatment mean? Ji Dengkui's thoughts may be different from Hua Guofeng's, this is obviously not the answer Hua Guofeng wants to hear. As soon as Ji Dengkui's words came out, it was difficult for everyone to speak anymore.
Because Ji Dengkui made a strange voice, as soon as he said this, everyone suddenly increased their vigilance, everyone still didn't know what kind of attitude the other party had, involving such a sensitive issue, if he said the wrong thing, he didn't know what the consequences would be.
Hua Guofeng originally wanted to hear everyone's attitude in order to win more support, but he didn't expect Ji Dengkui to say such an inappropriate thing. Hua Guofeng felt that the scope of this discussion was a bit large, and the personnel were a bit miscellaneous.
He felt that the discussion should be narrowed down and only those who could be trusted should be consulted. Ji Dengkui was naturally excluded. Ji Dengkui's speech forced Hua Guofeng and other active participants to keep a certain safe distance from him.
As a result, in the great struggle to smash the "Gang of Four," Ji Dengkui, who was in a high position, basically did not participate in it and did not play any role. For a big man, for a politician, this is very regrettable.
Objectively speaking, Ji Dengkui had no dealings with the "Gang of Four" gang, and although he knew Hua Guofeng's attitude, he did not disclose any meeting to the "Gang of Four" group, nor did he betray Hua Guofeng.
His remarks were, at best, neutral and impartial. But it's very out of place.
After the victory of that great struggle, Ji Dengkui was gradually marginalized, and later resigned from his post, and this "old friend" who was deeply respected by Chairman Mao faded out of the political arena.
(Reference book: "The Red Guard")