On August 18, 1966, Mao Zedong and Deng Zihui took a group photo on the tower of Tiananmen Square. From left to right, Chen Yun, Deng Zihui, Zhu De, Mao Zedong, Lin Biao, He Long, Ye Jianying, and Xu Xiangqian are in order.
When people see this old photo, it may not be unfamiliar, but there is a little-known story behind it.
On August 18, 1966, when a million people in Beijing held a rally in Tiananmen Square, Mao Zedong received representatives of the Capital's Red Guards for the first time at the Tiananmen Tower, and Deng Zihui, then vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, was also notified to participate. According to Deng Zihui's son Deng Huaisheng, during the break between the receptions, Mao Zedong returned to the hall, Deng Zihui and Chen Yun were also there, and several veteran marshals proposed to take pictures with the chairman, and Mao Zedong immediately said to Deng Zihui and Chen Yun: Comrades in the two places should also take pictures together. The photographer presses the shutter, and the precious historical moment is frozen forever. Afterwards, Deng Zihui was very happy and specially explained to the Xinhua reporter to wash a few more sheets as a souvenir. Although Deng Zihui has suffered several setbacks and has been criticized many times because of the problem of agricultural co-operation, he still has deep feelings for Mao Zedong, and this is also his last group photo with Mao Zedong.
Deng Zihui always had great respect and admiration for Mao Zedong. As early as 1921, when he was still wandering among various political trends and schools of thought, exploring the truth of the revolution, he was moved by Mao Zedong's magnificent article published in the Xiangjiang Review. In March 1929, Mao Zedong led the Red Fourth Army into Fujian, the two met and knew each other, and in more than a year of fighting and living together, whether after work or after dinner, they often wandered in the woods and by the creek on the edge of the village, discussing the theoretical issues of Marxism-Leninism and the construction of base areas, and learning from Mao Zedong the work style and method of adhering to the mass line. The two of them shared views on the fundamental issues of China's agrarian revolution, when Mao Zedong was being ostracized and persecuted by Wang Ming's leftist line, and Deng Zihui was one of the few leaders who supported Mao Zedong.
During that time, Mao Zedong was suffering from a vicious disease and weak physique, and Deng Zihui, who was the secretary of the Minxi Special Committee, made a special trip to buy milk, beef, sugar and other nutritional products, stewed old hens to supplement their nutrition, and asked Fu Lianhui to diagnose and treat them, and Mao Zedong quickly recovered his health. The extraordinary years of getting along made Mao Zedong and Deng Zihui feel sorry for each other and forged a deep friendship.
In November 1931, the Provisional Government of the Chinese Soviet was established, with Mao Zedong as chairman, and Mao appreciated Deng Zihui's financial management ability and nominated him as the first Minister of Finance (acting Minister of Land). It was not until the winter of 1932, after the Red First Army had conquered Zhangzhou, that the two of them met again, and Mao Zedong's first words when he saw Deng Zihui were: "I have been looking for you for a long time!" In this way, Deng Zi resumed to Ruijin's official inauguration.
In October 1935, the Central Red Army was forced to move and begin the Long March, while Deng Zihui was ordered to stay in the Soviet zone and lead the guerrilla war behind enemy lines with Xiang Ying and Chen Yi. Since then, the two have been on their separate sides.
In April 1946, Deng Zihui, then secretary of the Central China Branch Bureau, went to Yan'an to attend the relevant meeting of the Cpc Central Committee, and when Deng Zihui and his party arrived at Wangjiaping, Mao Zedong personally came out to greet them. Mao Zedong said to Deng Zihui: "Alas, 'The road knows the horsepower from afar, and the people's hearts are seen over time', it seems that we are right. "In the Central Soviet Region, they were all persecuted by Wang Ming's left-leaning line. As he parted, Mao gave Deng a blanket and a photograph of himself. Mao Zedong had great respect for Deng Zihui and affectionately called him "Elder Deng".
At the beginning of 1953, with the beginning of the country's large-scale economic construction, Deng Zihui, one of the "five horses into Beijing", was entrusted by Mao Zedong to go to Beijing to serve as the director of the Central Rural Work Department (and later as vice premier of the State Council), leading the rural work of the whole country. After arriving in Beijing, Mao Zedong immediately met with Deng Zihui in Zhongnanhai and said: Comrade Zihui, transfer you to be the commander-in-chief of the countryside. Deng Zihui said that the chairman should still be the commander-in-chief, and we should be assistants. Later, due to well-known reasons, Deng Zihui was criticized and dismissed from his post, but despite this, Deng Zihui still had deep feelings for the party and Mao Zedong, did not forget the mission for which he had struggled all his life, continued to go down to the countryside to conduct investigations and studies, and expressed his views directly to the party Central Committee and Mao Zedong.
During this reception at the Tiananmen Gate Tower, he solemnly suggested to Mao Zedong that peasants should be allowed to raise cattle privately and develop cattle breeding. Afterwards, the family was greatly surprised, and in the general environment at that time, it was obviously inappropriate to put forward this proposal, and it was risky, but he said disapprovingly: "Allowing farmers to raise cattle is beneficial to production and beneficial to the country." Any suggestion that benefits the people and the country should be mentioned! Mao Zedong once said: Deng Lao is a single-handed household (no organized activities) and a Yang conspiracy (openly speaking, not secret activities). Born into a peasant, Deng Zihui's understanding and affection for the peasants made him argue with Mao Zedong again and again, even when his life was in danger. Time flies, and the people in the photos have all been ancient, but the immortal merits of Mao Zedong, Deng Zihui and others for the founding of New China and the deep friendship between life and death will always be remembered by future generations! (Lu Xiaoyang)
