Mao Zedong invited democrats to visit the Temple of Heaven with him
The Temple of Heaven, located on the east side of the Yongding Gate, is a place where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties sacrificed heaven and prayed for a good year, and is also the largest surviving altar temple building in China, three times larger than the area of the Forbidden City. The building of the Temple of Heaven is divided into two parts, the inner altar and the outer altar, with two altar walls. The northern part of the altar wall is semicircular and the southern part is square, in line with the ancient concept of "heavenly round place".
Introducing the two former Qing Hanlin
One day in late September 1949, during the Golden Autumn Festival in Beijing, when the whole country was nervously preparing for the founding ceremony of the People's Republic of China, Mao Zedong was going to the Temple of Heaven for a walk, and his entourage immediately followed.
Mao Zedong drove out of Zhongnanhai by car, and when he reached the Temple of Heaven, he drove in through the East Gate and stopped in front of the drink shed about 100 meters behind the second gate on the south side of the road. At this time, the weather suddenly became gloomy, the sun was obscured in the clouds, and there were no tourists in the park, only the autumn wind blowing strongly, rustling on the ground with sand and rolled leaves.
After Getting out of the car, Mao Zedong sat down in the drink shed. This simple drink shed is made of wooden boards and mats, except for the south side of the store counter, the north and east sides are unobstructed. Apparently, Mao Zedong was waiting for some guest to arrive.
Not long after, several cars drove into the east gate of the Temple of Heaven and stopped on the road north of the drink shed, and Liu Bocheng, Chen Yi, Nie Rongzhen, Su Yu and other senior military leaders came down one after another, and after meeting with Mao Zedong, they waited for others together.
After the companions who visited the Temple of Heaven arrived, Mao Zedong said with great interest: "In the past few days, while discussing the opening of this CPPCC meeting, we have visited relatives and friends. After the opening of the conference, it will be even more nervous, so today I have taken a loophole, please come to this place, it is nothing more than to adjust life, take a breath! ”
Mao Zedong and Zhang Yuanji (right)
Mao Zedong's extremely ordinary words contained a deep friendship, and the people who accompanied him felt a shared warmth after listening to them, and they couldn't help but laugh. Then, Mao Zedong pointed to the two elders beside him and said loudly: "I would like to introduce you to two Hanlin of the Qing Dynasty: this is Mr. Zhang Yuanji, and this is Mr. Chen Shutong!" The entourage applauded in unison. Mao Zedong looked at the two Qing Dynasty Hanlin who were a little embarrassed, and deliberately quipped: "Below, let's first ask Mr. Zhang Yuanji to tell us how he examined Hanlin, met Empress Dowager Cixi several times, and whether she put up a shelf, okay?" ”
"Good!" The senior generals and officials who accompanied them also resumed their childish fun, just like the primary school students who heard the teacher's question and answered loudly in unison, which made Mr. Zhang Yuanji very embarrassed. He paused for a moment, smiled and said, "You may not know that Hanlin in the Qing Dynasty is probably equivalent to the current university professor." If you think about it, how could an ordinary professor casually meet the indispensable Cixi? ”
The people who traveled with the Temple of Heaven couldn't help but laugh out loud after hearing it.
"Chen Hanlin," Mao Zedong looked at Chen Shutong, deliberately shifting his target: "How do you feel about the old man coming here?" ”
After hearing this, Chen Shutong said very seriously: "Elder Zhang and I can be said to be the elders of the Three Dynasties, we have visited the emperor of the Qing Dynasty, we have met Yuan Shikai, and we have also had many dealings with Chiang Kai-shek. Only our Chairman Mao is not at all far away from us! ”
"Don't flatter me! Elder Chen, we must all be wary of what Mr. Lu Xun said about killing! Mao Zedong said very seriously, and then said loudly: "I propose that everyone take a group photo here, and then freely find a partner and visit the Temple of Heaven!" ”
Group photo with Chen Mingren
Mao's proposal was endorsed by his peers. When the accompanying photographer finished shooting and everyone was ready to freely combine with the Temple of Heaven, Mao Zedong pulled Chen Mingren aside and took the initiative to say: "General Ziliang, come, come, let's take a picture alone!" ”
This was too unexpected by Chen Mingren! At that time, it was impossible for an officer of his first rank to follow his Principal Jiang to participate in such an activity. Even if he had the opportunity to participate, he would not have been able to enjoy his privilege of taking a solo photo with Chiang Kai-shek. Therefore, he did not know what to do for a while. At this time, Chen Yi, who knew Mao Zedong's intentions, pushed Chen Mingren to Mao Zedong's side and said: "General Chen, you and the chairman are both fellow Hunan compatriots. ”
"General Chen, I heard that Chiang Kai-shek held a memorial service for you in Taiwan!" Mao Zedong said to Chen Mingren with a humorous tone.
"That's their old fashion!" Chen Mingren replied with contempt for Chiang Kai-shek.
They stopped one or two hundred meters west of the Prayer Hall, and Mao Zedong and General Chen Mingren took a group photo. After the group photo, Mao Zedong led a group of high-ranking generals to stroll towards the direction of the Prayer Hall, which can be said to be a walk.
Mao Zedong and Chen Mingren (right) pose for a group photo at the Temple of Heaven
Mao Zedong said humorously: "General Ziliang, there are many rumors outside now, saying that you have been detained by us, and that Du Yuming and Wang Yaowu were killed by our five horses." I would like to ask you to go to Jinan, Shandong Province, after the meeting, to see them, to introduce the situation to the outside world, and to write some letters to your relatives and friends who have not yet come, so as to promote their early awakening and early return. ”
"Yes, I will do it." Chen Mingren said happily.
"Can you also give this photo to your Huangpu classmates, as long as you can send it, can you send one?" Mao Zedong added.
"Well, I'll send it." Chen Mingren replied.
"Then how many copies are you going to print?"
"I'm going to wash 10 dozen, 120 sheets."
"Not enough, not enough, at least 50 dozen washes."
"Chairman! I did it! General Chen Mingren's military style was outstanding, and his answers were firm and concise, and he felt that Mao Zedong had given him an important task.
Mao Zedong invited Zhang Yuanji to tour the Temple of Heaven with him, accompanied by Chen Yi, Liu Bocheng, and Su Yu. Along the way, they were full of excitement and laughter. During his rest in Echoing Bigu Berlin, Mao Zedong invited Zhang Yuanji to sit next to him, asked him about his early participation in the Penghu Reform Law and the summons of Guangxu, and asked him if he had been here in his early years as an official in Beijing. Zhang Yuanji smiled and said, "This is where the emperor respects the heavens, how can a petty official like me come here?" ”
Mao Zedong listened and laughed heartily.
Mao Zedong said that the reason why the Penghu Reform Law failed was that the masses were not mobilized, but it also shed a lot of blood, leaving us with experience that we can learn from. He praised the Commercial Press for producing many useful books for the people, and said that he had read the book "Encyclopedia of Science" and learned a lot of knowledge. The "Ciyuan" produced by business was always on his desk when he was in Yan'an, and he often read it when writing. After this visit to the Temple of Heaven, there were more than a dozen correspondence between Mao Zedong and Zhang Yuanji. To this day, in the memorial room of Zhang Yuanji Library in Haiyan, Zhejiang, there is still a group photo of Mao Zedong and Zhang Yuanji at the Temple of Heaven. In the photo, Mao Zedong is pulling his finger to explain, and Zhang Yuanji listens carefully. This photograph is a true account of Mao's friendship with democrats and leaves a precious page on the temple of heaven.
——Excerpt from "Reading the World with Mao Zedong", published by Contemporary China Publishing House
Author: Li Kuicai
Editor: Zhou Yiqian