In Song Qingling's 88-year life, there was an important person who occupied two-thirds of her time, and he was Zhou Enlai. Whether in the difficult and difficult revolutionary years or after the founding of New China, Song Qingling regarded Zhou Enlai as his most intimate comrade-in-arms and confidant. After learning of Premier Zhou's death, Song Qingling was deeply saddened, did not say a word for a long time, and regretted: "The country has one less good helper!" ”。 At the memorial service, the 83-year-old Song Qingling was accused of being the "Prime Minister Gang" and angrily said: "What about I am the 'Prime Minister Gang'?" I quit! I resign! I should rest at such an old age, right? I go back to Shanghai to retire! ”
Looking back at the friendship between Song Qingling and Zhou Enlai spanning half a century, we must start from the Whampoa Military Academy in Guangzhou in 1924. At that time, Zhou Enlai had just returned from his studies in Europe and served as the director of the political department of the Whampoa Military Academy, and in only 2 months, the military school had begun to take shape. After Song Qingling heard about it, he was very appreciative. Therefore, when Zhou Enlai invited him to give a speech at the school, Song Qingling readily agreed. As they came and went, the two became increasingly familiar. Song Qingling later recalled the first meeting between the two and praised Zhou Enlai as "young and capable and versatile", leaving a deep impression on her.
Two years later, Chiang Kai-shek launched the White Terror and wantonly arrested and killed innocent Communists, completely violating Dr. Sun Yat-sen's last wishes. Subsequently, the Nanchang Uprising broke out, and Song Qingling published a public support in the newspaper. Even under the close surveillance of Kuomintang agents, he helped Zhou Enlai hide a number of secret documents of the CPC Central Committee. During this period, Song Qingling also risked his life to accompany American reporters to northern Shaanxi to visit Zhou Enlai. This historic interview showed the Long March of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army before the people of the whole world for the first time.
In 1937, when the July 7 Incident broke out, Zhou Enlai and others went south to Lushan to negotiate with Chiang Kai-shek, passing through Shanghai and preparing to visit Soong Ching-ling by the way. After Song Qingling learned about it, he was excited, thinking of meeting with his friend, who was rare to meet, and personally went out to greet him. Zhou Enlai carefully described to Soong Ching-ling the current national situation and the revolutionary propositions of the KUOMINTANG-CPC united front, and Soong Ching-ling expressed his resolute support for and vigorous support for kmt-communist cooperation.
After the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in 1949, Premier Zhou Enlai sent two telegrams to Soong Ching-ling and Soong Ching-ling, cordially inquiring about Soong Ching-ling's situation in Shanghai, and warmly inviting Soong Ching-ling to Beiping to attend a new political consultative conference to guide the construction of new China.
The friendship between Soong Ching Ling and Zhou Enlai became even closer after the founding of the People's Republic of China. Whenever Song Qingling and Zhou Enlai attended state affairs together, Zhou Enlai let Song Qingling walk in front to show respect. In view of some national priorities, Zhou Enlai also consulted Song Qingling's opinion. The tacit cooperation between the two made this revolutionary friendship stronger and stronger.
Song Qingling's residence in Beijing was personally inspected and selected by Zhou Enlai, and instructed the staff to take more care of Song Qingling, and he himself often visited. Every time Zhou Enlai came to his home as a guest, Song Qingling would prepare dishes according to his taste and personally select gifts for Zhou Enlai, which brought great relief to her life.
During the special period, the tomb of Song Qingling's parents was artificially destroyed, and Zhou Enlai immediately wrote down a list of protections, of which Song Qingling was in the first place. Even in the turbulent times, the two people still trust and support each other.
One day in 1974, Song Qingling suddenly suffered a facial paralysis, and the next day, Zhou Enlai personally called for condolences. After more than a month of treatment, Song Qingling basically recovered, began to worry about the physical condition of his friend Zhou Enlai, and wanted to catch a fish for him in the South Lake in the courtyard of the house. Not wanting to catch a fathead fish the first time he got out of the net, Song Qingling immediately asked his secretary to send the fish to Zhongnanhai to supplement Zhou Enlai's body.
Soon after, Song Qingling received an invitation to the reception for the 25th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Song Qingling, who had just finished facial paralysis treatment and was in poor health, did not intend to attend, but heard that premier Zhou, who was ill, would attend the reception and personally preside over it, and Song Qingling, who had not seen his friend for more than two years, agreed to participate with the expectation of reuniting old friends. At the meeting, seeing Zhou Enlai, who had just completed the second operation, his face was pale and his body was emaciated, Song Qingling couldn't help but wet his eyes with tears. After making a wonderful toast, Zhou Enlai was surrounded by the crowd, although his face was tired, he still said hello one by one, and Song Qingling could not bear to come forward to disturb him. This was also the last close meeting between the two men, and the last meeting was at the first session of the Fourth National People's Congress in 1975, where Soong Ching Ling sat on the rostrum and Zhou Enlai delivered the "Government Work Report" at the meeting.
One day after the National Day reception, Song Qingling received a condolence call from Mrs. Zhou Enlaituo, first apologizing for not being able to say hello on the day of the reception, and then saying that Premier Zhou was very relieved to see her sitting in the main guest seat and her body had recovered. It turned out that Zhou Enlai had been worried about Song Qingling's physical condition, and there were four or five thousand guests at the meeting, and he could still see Song Qingling at a glance and the sequelae she left behind because of facial paralysis.
In the last period of Zhou Enlai's life, there was one person who tried to send care to her, and she was Song Qingling. In 1976, Premier Zhou's illness was getting worse, and Soong Ching Ling was so anxious that he could not visit him. I heard that Premier Zhou loves to eat pigeon eggs, and the nutritional value is also high, so he quickly let people collect pigeon eggs in their own lofts. I wanted to wait for the pigeon eggs to save more before sending them out, but I didn't think that Premier Zhou's condition deteriorated too quickly and had reached the final stage. Therefore, Song Qingling hurriedly asked his adopted daughter Sui Yongqing to send 5 pigeon eggs to the West Flower Hall, hoping that they would make Premier Zhou's condition improve as soon as possible.
Three days later, the hospital received the bad news of Premier Zhou's death. After Song Qingling learned about it, he burst into tears, sat still for a long time without saying a word, and the grief in his heart could not be expressed. The next day, she went to the hospital with the support of her adopted daughter to bid farewell to the remains of Premier Zhou Enlai. Recalling the process of the two from acquaintance to acquaintance to fighting side by side, Song Qingling's tears could not stop falling. On January 15, the 83-year-old Song Qingling, supported by two adopted daughters, took the illness to participate in Zhou Enlai's mourning ceremony. After the meeting, some so-called "high-level" countries evaluated Song Qingling as a "prime minister's gang." After hearing this, Song Qingling was furious and angrily said: "What about I am the 'premier gang'?" I quit! I resign! I should rest at such an old age, right? I go back to Shanghai to retire! ”
A year after the loss of his close comrade-in-arms, Song Qingling published a long article entitled "Remembering Zhou Enlai", emotionally writing: "He was brave and good at war, diligent and earnest, tenacious, and enthusiastically worked for the people all his life. In the text, Song Qingling deeply remembered Zhou Enlai every word and expressed his admiration for all his efforts for the country and the people.
In 1981, song Qingling passed away at the age of 88. When people were collecting the relics, they found a speech in the corner cabinet, which was the premier's toast last week at the National Day reception on the 25th anniversary of the founding of New China. This 16-open speech, with only one crease, was left by Song Qingling in order to facilitate the return of it to the treasure, which shows the deep feelings of the two.
There are many touching friendships in the world, but few are like Song Qingling and Zhou Enlai, transcending time, transcending party membership, being in the same boat through thick and thin, feeling sorry for each other, like relatives and comrades-in-arms.