In 1974, Chairman Mao, Zhou Enlai and other leaders were preparing for the upcoming Fourth National People's Congress. When considering the candidate for deputy prime minister to be elected at the meeting, Chairman Mao asked Zhou Enlai: "Enlai, who do you think is better to be no

In 1974, Chairman Mao, Zhou Enlai and other leaders were preparing for the upcoming Fourth National People's Congress. When considering the candidate for deputy prime minister to be elected at the meeting, Chairman Mao asked Zhou Enlai:

"Enlai, who do you think is better to be nominated by the deputy prime minister?"

Picture | Chairman Mao

"Chairman, I think since he is the vice premier of the State Council, then It must be representative, both peasants, farmers, and businessmen should consider it. "

" You are right. I think Chen Yonggui is a good one among cadres from farmers! "

" His political achievements in Dazhai are very good! Yes, the country needs a deputy prime minister like him who is good at agriculture. "

So, who is Chen Yonggui?

Why do Chairman Mao and Zhou Enlai value him so much? The story of

has to start from 1963.

1. Chairman Mao set up a model for agricultural cadres

In the summer of 1963, the Dazhai Brigade in Xiyang County, Shanxi Province, where Chen Yonggui was located, encountered a severe flood.

The severe disaster destroyed all the crops that the Dazhai brigade had worked hard for for half a year, leaving a large number of farmers homeless.

The most serious thing is that the terraces that Chen Yonggui and his team worked for more than ten years to repair were all washed away by the flood.

After learning about this, the Shanxi Provincial Party Committee decided to transfer some relief grain and relief materials from the national treasury to help the Dazhai brigade tide over the difficulties.

What was incredible to the Shanxi Provincial Party Committee was that after discussion with all the members of the Dazhai Party branch, Chen Yonggui and all the members of the Dazhai Party branch came up with the decision of "three no's and three no's", that is, no relief grain, no relief money, and no relief materials; A lot, members earn a lot, and a lot of grain is paid to the state treasury for unified purchase.

Neither the provincial party committee nor the prefectural party committee believed that the Dazhai brigade could still achieve "three no-needs and three no-doubts" under such conditions.

Some people even think that the ideas of Chen Yonggui and the Dazhai Brigade Party Branch are unrealistic.

Chen Yonggui did not pay much attention to the doubts from the outside world. He was determined to answer with his own actions.

In the second half of 1963, the Dazhai brigade, led by Chen Yonggui, was full of energy, repairing terraces and houses, and replanting crops. After several months of hard work, a bumper harvest was ushered in that autumn.

The grain output that year was not less, but more than last year. The average yield per mu reached more than 700 kilograms, and the total output reached more than 200,000 kilograms. Not only were the commune members' rations sufficient, but more than 100,000 kilograms were also handed over to the state. The newly built houses also look better than the previous ones.

After seeing the results, the members trusted and supported Chen Yonggui and the Dazhai Party branch even more. This was indeed an amazing miracle at the time.

Soon, this matter received great attention from the Shanxi Provincial Party Committee, and the Provincial Party Committee sent people to Dazhai to conduct a careful investigation and summary.

After rigorous investigation and interviews, the Provincial Party Committee announced that Dazhai's results were not fake, Dazhai's experience was advanced, and Chen Yonggui's leadership was correct.

As a result, Dazhai Brigade was established as an advanced model of agricultural production by the Shanxi Provincial Party Committee.

In November, the Shanxi Provincial Party Committee called on party committees at all levels, especially grassroots party branches, to learn from Dazhai and Chen Yonggui. Driven by the Provincial Party Committee, Shanxi embarked on an upsurge of learning from Dazhai and Chen Yonggui.

"Three don'ts, three don'ts" embodies the precious spirit of self-reliance and hard work of the working people of that era.

The party and the country need such advanced deeds to boost people's hearts. The Central People's Broadcasting Station broadcasts the deeds of Dazhai and Chen Yonggui on a rolling basis. In early 1964, "People's Daily" also published a newsletter report on "Road to Dazhai" and issued an editorial. Chen Yonggui and the Dazhai Brigade became even more famous.

On March 27, 1964, Chairman Mao took a train south to inspect the socialist construction situation in rural areas. After arriving in Handan, Hebei, he stayed there for a few days and specially invited Shanxi Provincial Party Committee Secretary Tao Lujia and Hebei Provincial Party Committee Secretary Lin Tie to the train to listen to their work reports.

Chairman Mao said to Tao Lujia:

"How is your agricultural production in Shanxi?"

"Our Dazhai Brigade in Xiyang County , under the leadership of Party Secretary Chen Yonggui, made the 'three no's, three no's" There are few such deeds.

In 1974, Chairman Mao, Zhou Enlai and other leaders were preparing for the upcoming Fourth National People's Congress. When considering the candidate for deputy prime minister to be elected at the meeting, Chairman Mao asked Zhou Enlai:

"Enlai, who do you think is better to be nominated by the deputy prime minister?"

Picture | Chairman Mao

"Chairman, I think since he is the vice premier of the State Council, then It must be representative, both peasants, farmers, and businessmen should consider it. "

" You are right. I think Chen Yonggui is a good one among cadres from farmers! "

" His political achievements in Dazhai are very good! Yes, the country needs a deputy prime minister like him who is good at agriculture. "

So, who is Chen Yonggui?

Why do Chairman Mao and Zhou Enlai value him so much? The story of

has to start from 1963.

1. Chairman Mao set up a model for agricultural cadres

In the summer of 1963, the Dazhai Brigade in Xiyang County, Shanxi Province, where Chen Yonggui was located, encountered a severe flood.

The severe disaster destroyed all the crops that the Dazhai brigade had worked hard for for half a year, leaving a large number of farmers homeless.

The most serious thing is that the terraces that Chen Yonggui and his team worked for more than ten years to repair were all washed away by the flood.

After learning about this, the Shanxi Provincial Party Committee decided to transfer some relief grain and relief materials from the national treasury to help the Dazhai brigade tide over the difficulties.

What was incredible to the Shanxi Provincial Party Committee was that after discussion with all the members of the Dazhai Party branch, Chen Yonggui and all the members of the Dazhai Party branch came up with the decision of "three no's and three no's", that is, no relief grain, no relief money, and no relief materials; A lot, members earn a lot, and a lot of grain is paid to the state treasury for unified purchase.

Neither the provincial party committee nor the prefectural party committee believed that the Dazhai brigade could still achieve "three no-needs and three no-doubts" under such conditions.

Some people even think that the ideas of Chen Yonggui and the Dazhai Brigade Party Branch are unrealistic.

Chen Yonggui did not pay much attention to the doubts from the outside world. He was determined to answer with his own actions.

In the second half of 1963, the Dazhai brigade, led by Chen Yonggui, was full of energy, repairing terraces and houses, and replanting crops. After several months of hard work, a bumper harvest was ushered in that autumn.

The grain output that year was not less, but more than last year. The average yield per mu reached more than 700 kilograms, and the total output reached more than 200,000 kilograms. Not only were the commune members' rations sufficient, but more than 100,000 kilograms were also handed over to the state. The newly built houses also look better than the previous ones.

After seeing the results, the members trusted and supported Chen Yonggui and the Dazhai Party branch even more. This was indeed an amazing miracle at the time.

Soon, this matter received great attention from the Shanxi Provincial Party Committee, and the Provincial Party Committee sent people to Dazhai to conduct a careful investigation and summary.

After rigorous investigation and interviews, the Provincial Party Committee announced that Dazhai's results were not fake, Dazhai's experience was advanced, and Chen Yonggui's leadership was correct.

As a result, Dazhai Brigade was established as an advanced model of agricultural production by the Shanxi Provincial Party Committee.

In November, the Shanxi Provincial Party Committee called on party committees at all levels, especially grassroots party branches, to learn from Dazhai and Chen Yonggui. Driven by the Provincial Party Committee, Shanxi embarked on an upsurge of learning from Dazhai and Chen Yonggui.

"Three don'ts, three don'ts" embodies the precious spirit of self-reliance and hard work of the working people of that era.

The party and the country need such advanced deeds to boost people's hearts. The Central People's Broadcasting Station broadcasts the deeds of Dazhai and Chen Yonggui on a rolling basis. In early 1964, "People's Daily" also published a newsletter report on "Road to Dazhai" and issued an editorial. Chen Yonggui and the Dazhai Brigade became even more famous.

On March 27, 1964, Chairman Mao took a train south to inspect the socialist construction situation in rural areas. After arriving in Handan, Hebei, he stayed there for a few days and specially invited Shanxi Provincial Party Committee Secretary Tao Lujia and Hebei Provincial Party Committee Secretary Lin Tie to the train to listen to their work reports.

Chairman Mao said to Tao Lujia:

"How is your agricultural production in Shanxi?"

"Our Dazhai Brigade in Xiyang County , under the leadership of Party Secretary Chen Yonggui, made the 'three no's, three no's" There are few such deeds."

"What does "three don't want, three don't have" mean? "

Picture | Tao Lujia

Tao Lujia makes a long story short, including the story of Chen Yonggui leading the team to increase grain production in the flood year, the "Road to Dazhai" reported by the "People's Daily" newsletter, and Chen Yonggui being invited by the Beijing Municipal Party Committee to People's The Great Hall told Chairman Mao all about the Dazhai experience to more than 10,000 party members and cadres.

Chairman Mao was very interested after hearing this:

"I didn't read the report in the People's Daily. The Beijing Municipal Party Committee requested it." I don’t know anything about Chen Yonggui, but I am quite interested in him. Do you have any information about him? "

" Yes, I will ask the secretary to send it to you later. What are the words for "

" Chen Yonggui? "

" Erdong Chen, forever, rich and noble. He is a rough guy and illiterate. "

" He is a talented person who can achieve great results despite not knowing how to read. Don't forget to give me his materials. "

" OK, Chairman! "

On the way, he called Zhou Enlai and informed him to pay attention to the materials about Chen Yonggui and Dazhai's experience.

After Zhou Enlai hung up the phone with Chairman Mao, he immediately found a large amount of materials about Chen Yonggui and Dazhai Brigade. While reading the materials, Moved by their spirit of hard work, he believed that both Chen Yonggui and Dazhai should be established as models.

To be on the safe side, he did not express his position directly to the chairman, but called Tao Lujia and asked him to take the people there in person. A long-term investigation was conducted in Dazhai.

Tao Lujia stayed in Dazhai for more than 20 days in accordance with Zhou Enlai's instructions, and wrote the "Dazhai Brigade Investigation Report".

The report fully affirmed Chen Yonggui personally. Fully affirming the spirit of hard work of the Dazhai brigade.

On May 25, Chairman Mao had returned to Beijing, and Tao Lujia also presented the deeds of Chen Yonggui and Dazhai to the chairman's desk.

Mao Zedong read the report carefully. , he greatly appreciated Chen Yonggui's deeds, fully affirmed Dazhai's experience, and was moved by the achievements of Dazhai people in difficult circumstances.

From then on, Chairman Mao firmly remembered the Dazhai brigade and Chen Yonggui.

At the rural work conference held in May of that year, Chairman Mao said:

"If agriculture wants to be independent and self-reliant, it must be like the Xiyang Dazhai Brigade in Shanxi Province, which does not borrow the country's money or the country's grain. Carry forward the spirit of self-reliance and hard work. "

At the beginning of June, at the meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau, Chairman Mao and Zhou Enlai talked about the Dazhai experience and Chen Yonggui's deeds to the Standing Committee members. The chairman said:

"Agriculture must rely on the Dazhai spirit and be self-reliant. "

It can be seen that the chairman had already begun to put forward the slogan " agriculture should learn from Dazhai".

In December 1964, at a meeting of the Third National People's Congress, Zhou Enlai stated in the government work report:

"Dazhai is to carry out rural development." An advanced example of building and developing agricultural production. "

December 26th, coincided with Chairman Mao's 71st birthday. He invited Liu Shaoqi, Zhou Enlai and other central leaders and Qian Xuesen, Xing Yanzi, Chen Yonggui and other advanced representatives from all walks of life to attend the dinner.

Picture | Chen Yonggui

On this day, Chen Yonggui deliberately put on a slightly newer black double-breasted jacket over his old cotton-padded jacket, with a white towel wrapped around his head. He looked like an honest Shanxi farmer.

Chairman Mao cordially stepped forward to shake hands with him. At a loss for words, the chairman just grinned stupidly and asked him to sit next to him.

The chairman said a lot to him:

"You are an expert in agriculture!" "

Chen Yonggui did not understand what Chairman Mao said in Xiangtan dialect. Zhou Enlai explained for him:

"The chairman said you are an agricultural expert. "

Chen Yonggui shook his head quickly:

"I am just a farmer with little knowledge, not an expert.

Chairman praised him:

"You solved a big problem that has been bothering me. How can you not be considered an expert?" "

" How else can I help the chairman? "

" Yes, it was your deeds in Dazhai that allowed me to find a way out for the food problem of 600 million Chinese people. Chairman "

" has given the award."

"How old are you this year? "

" Chairman, I am 50 years old! "

" has reached the age where he knows his destiny! How is everyone at home? "

" My family is doing well, but I am tired from production. "

" You should also pay more attention to your health when engaged in production. Your body is the capital of revolution! "

Then, Chairman Mao introduced Chen Yonggui to everyone present:

"Chen Yonggui is an agricultural expert, but he is different from ordinary experts. He has practical experience and knowledge. He is much better than those professors who follow the textbooks in universities, and he is more powerful than those cadres who are divorced from the masses. They are not as good as Chen Yonggui. "

It is rare for a grassroots cadre like Chen Yonggui to receive such praise from Chairman Mao, which shows how much Chairman Mao attaches importance to him.

Finally, the Chairman also encouraged him:

Picture | Chairman Mao meets with Chen Yonggui and other representatives

"You want to Learn more about culture, summarize your experience in words, and teach our senior cadres so that they can understand more dialectics. You must continue to carry forward the fine style of hard work and connecting with the masses, and maintain the true qualities of working people. You also need to lead Dazhai to carry out scientific farming, increase production, and set a good start for the people of the country. "

" I will definitely listen to the chairman and the party, and will unswervingly follow the chairman to carry out production and fight to the end. "

Later, Zhou Enlai took time out to climb Hutou Mountain in Dazhai three times. Guo Moruo, president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences , even proposed that he should be buried in Hutou Mountain a hundred years later. Although Chairman Mao did not go to Dazhai in person After investigation, he has found a model of rural work that suits his own ideas.

Dazhai, driven by Chairman Mao and other leaders, appeared in newspapers, radio, and movie theaters, with the sentence "A clear river, a tiger head mountain" resounding. All over the country.

2. Was Chen Yonggui a "traitor"?

After receiving the commendation from the central government, Chen Yonggui was elected as the director of the Xiyang County Revolutionary Committee, and soon became the deputy director of the Shanxi Provincial Revolutionary Committee. Started his political career.

In September 1968, some military cadres discovered that there were serious historical issues in the resume Chen Yonggui filled out before joining the Ninth National Congress.

This historical issue occurred when he was 27 years old (1942). , once served as the president of the "maintenance committee" for the Japanese.

The specific situation is this. After the Japanese occupied Xiyang County, Japanese soldiers also came to Dazhai. The Japanese planned to establish a so-called "maintenance committee" in Dazhai. " and asked the villagers in Dazhai to recommend one person to be the president (also called the village head or representative).

None of the villagers in Dazhai wanted to be the president. After thinking about it, they finally found the "migrant population" in the village - Chen Yonggui .

Chen Yonggui was naturally unwilling. He was a passionate young man. He was originally going to join the Eighth Route Army and carry guns to fight the Japanese. But at that time, the Eighth Route Army was engaged in guerrilla tactics and was very unpredictable. He searched many places but couldn't find him. Isn't it an insult to him to be elected as the president of the "Maintenance Committee" as soon as he returned to Dazhai?

At this time, a cloth dealer named Cao found Chen Yonggui:

" I suggest you become this president! "

Chen Yonggui was about to curse, but the man had to reveal his identity:

"I am from the Independent Battalion of the Eighth Route Army, and I was sent to persuade you by the superiors. Is "

" real or fake? "

" is absolutely true! "

" Then give me a reason to be the president. "

" Think about it, after becoming the president of the Japs, on the surface you are working for them, but secretly, you can find traces of the Japs for the Eighth Route Army. This is also anti-Japanese! "

" Great idea! "

A few days later, the Japanese asked people to ask who would be the president. Chen Yonggui took the initiative to stand up and said:

"I will be the president! "

After he became the president, he automatically became a member of the "New Asia Anti-Communist Salvation Congress" established by the Japanese. He had the opportunity to understand the Japanese's movements internally and reported the situation to the Eighth Route Army in a timely manner.

What the Japanese asked him to do , but he always finds various reasons to excuse himself.

Gradually, they realized that Chen Yonggui's motives were impure, and they seized on him for providing intelligence to the Eighth Route Army.

They put him in prison and tortured him severely, forcing him to reveal the whereabouts of the Eighth Route Army.

Picture | Chen Yonggui

Chen Yonggui refused to say that when the Japanese were about to shoot him, Xiyang County was taken back by the Eighth Route Army, and he was lucky enough to save his life.

After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, he was regarded as a traitor by the villagers because he served as the chairman of the "Maintenance Committee" for the enemy.

He defended himself:

"The Eighth Route Army asked me to be a traitor, and I sent them a lot of information! How could he suddenly become a traitor?"

No one in the village believed what he said. They thought that he had By agreeing to be the president, he was coveting the glory and wealth promised by the Japanese.

The only person who knew the inside story, the cloth dealer surnamed Cao, had long ago not known whether he had died or gone elsewhere. Chen Yonggui now had a hard time explaining it.

Although the villagers fought against him in the name of a traitor, they did not actually kill him. The villagers knew in their hearts that he had not done any bad things for the Japanese since he became president. So, he was punished symbolically and let him go.

Chen Yonggui felt uncomfortable when faced with his own "black history." When military cadres severely criticized him, he burst into tears:

"I am guilty. I should not have deceived Chairman Mao. I will go to Beijing to apologize to the Chairman!"

After the army cadres reported the matter to Beijing, Politburo member Chen Xilian conveyed the opinion on Chairman Mao's behalf:

"Chairman Mao knows about this matter and is not allowed to mention it again in the future!"

With the support of Chairman Mao, Chen Yonggui successfully became the Representatives of the "Ninth National Congress" also became members of the presidium and were elected as members of the Central Committee at the meeting.

3. Entering Zhongnanhai

In 1972, when the Tenth National Congress of the Communist Party of China was held, Chen Yonggui continued to serve as a member of the Central Committee.

Later, after being nominated by Chairman Mao and unanimously agreed by everyone, he was elected as a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee.

In 1974, Chairman Mao, Zhou Enlai and other leaders were preparing for the upcoming Fourth National People's Congress. When considering the candidate for Vice Premier of the State Council to be elected at the meeting, Chairman Mao asked Zhou Enlai:

"Enlai, who do you think is better to be nominated by the Vice Premier?"

Picture | Premier Zhou and Chairman Mao

"Chairman, I think since it is the State Council Vice Prime Minister, we need to be representative. People from the countryside, industry and commerce should consider it. "

" That's right. I think Chen Yonggui is a good one among farmers. "

" His political achievements in Dazhai are very good!

"Yes, the country needs a vice prime minister like him who is good at agriculture."

Later, Chairman Mao and Zhou Enlai solicited the opinions of some old comrades, and they all agreed that Chen Yonggui should be the vice premier of the State Council.

One day, Zhou Enlai found Chen Yonggui and told him that he had become a candidate for vice prime minister.

He said embarrassedly:

"Premier Zhou, my educational level is low, I really can't be a deputy prime minister!"

"Comrade Yonggui, are you a party member?"

"I am!"

"You must be a party member. Obey the party’s arrangements. Others are vying for the position of deputy prime minister, but you still don’t want to do it? "

"But Premier Zhou, I am from a peasant background!"

"New China’s leaders never choose their origins, Li Zicheng Wasn't he a farmer back then? Who would have thought that he would eventually go to Beijing and force Emperor Chongzhen to hang himself? So, go ahead and do it boldly, don't be afraid!"

Chen Yonggui reluctantly agreed.

On January 13, 1975, the Fourth National People's Congress voted to elect Zhou Enlai as Premier of the State Council. At the same time, 12 more people were elected as vice premiers of the State Council, including Chen Yonggui, who ranked seventh.

Once, at a cadre meeting in Xiyang County, Chen Yonggui said excitedly:

"At all times and in all countries, there have been few leaders who promoted an illiterate peasant to a central leader. Marx did not, Lenin did not, but Chairman Mao did not." Created this history.This means that Chairman Mao truly relies on the people, comes from the people, and goes to the people! "

After he became the deputy prime minister, the central government arranged for him to live in Building 43 of Diaoyutai. The place was heavily guarded. He was used to living a free life and was very uncomfortable with it. He often went out to hang out, but when he returned to the office, he saw piles of He was frightened by the mountains of documents

html In May, he wrote to Chairman Mao, requesting to travel to more places, and proposed a " three-three system " principle, that is, one-third of the time should be spent on . Xiyang; One-third went to all parts of the country; one-third were in Beijing.

Chairman Mao read his letter and gave him the approval:

"Agree!" There is no fish to catch on the Diaoyutai. "

He moved out of Diaoyutai smoothly.

4. Not changing his true nature as a farmer

Chen Yonggui is in a high position, but his simple and honest nature as a farmer has not changed.

When attending meetings and working in Beijing, he did not change his Shanxi peasant attire. , he said:

"I am used to being a farmer, but I would feel uncomfortable wearing Mao suit . "When

was the deputy prime minister, he alone moved his family to Beijing, while his wife and children stayed in Dazhai to work on the farm. The Shanxi Provincial Party Committee proposed that all the household registrations of his family be moved to Beijing. He patted the table and asked :

“Let’s see who dares to do this! "

Picture | Chen Yonggui

Chen Yonggui does not receive the salary of the position of deputy prime minister. His source of income is all the work points recorded by Dazhai as a medium labor force. His rations are the grains distributed to him by Dazhai. Sell ​​it and exchange it for national food stamps for use in Beijing.

Seeing that he is living in poverty, the central government will still subsidize him 36 yuan for living expenses every month. Shanxi Province will give him 60 yuan as a part-time subsidy. Their family's income plus these. There is not much left over from the subsidy every month.

A cadre at Chen Yonggui's level can receive "special provisions" from the state, but he often only has a large bowl of millet porridge or a few steamed buns with pickles. He would skip three meals a day. If guests came over, he would eat a little better, but only on noodles.

He was very addicted to cigarettes. He smoked home-grown cigarettes in his hometown, but switched to cigarettes after moving to Beijing. But they are all low-quality cigarettes, which make you cough when you smoke them. Maybe he got lung cancer in his later years, which was probably closely related to smoking low-quality cigarettes.

After he moved into Zhongnanhai, he had to do his own housework, such as folding quilts, washing clothes, sweeping the floor, and making tea. He did it all by himself, even competing with the police officers:

"I can still move, so I don't need your help." "

When he had nothing to do in Beijing, he reclaimed the open space near his house and planted beans, cucumbers and other vegetables. If he couldn't finish it, he would send it to the kitchen of the security team.

In his position as deputy prime minister, Chen Yonggui devoted himself to He worked hard and traveled all over the country, conducted many investigations and studies, and put forward many opinions on agricultural development to the central government. His opinions and suggestions were supported by many rural grassroots cadres.

Chen Yonggui always insisted on being honest and self-disciplined, and went to once and for all. During the visit to Mexico , Yao Guang, the Chinese Ambassador to Mexico, learned that each of them had been issued a 20-yuan foreign exchange coupon and suggested that each person buy a watch.

He said:

“Do I need to wear a foreign watch when going abroad? Premier Zhou is still wearing a Shanghai watch. You can’t buy it, you can’t buy it. "

After 1980, Chen Yonggui resigned from all his positions. The state arranged for him to work as a consultant on a farm in the eastern suburbs of Beijing, with the purpose of allowing him to earn some pension money. He took the initiative to cancel the pension arranged by the state for him. Cars and other public goods were moved near the farm, and

worked as a consultant on the farm. In fact, it was a temporary job, and he did not have much work to do. He worked hard on the farm all day long, observing crops. Growth, pests and diseases, and fertilizer ratio. In daily life, he always kept good habits of diligence and frugality, which won unanimous praise from the farm staff.

On March 26, 1986, Chen Yonggui died in Beijing due to advanced lung cancer.

On March 29, Xinhua News Agency issued an obituary:

Picture | Chen Yonggui

"Comrade Chen Yonggui was once a famous agricultural labor model in the country. He was highly praised by the Party Central Committee, Chairman Mao, and Premier Zhou. He obeyed the party and led the masses throughout his life. Take the road of collectivization."

According to his last wish, his family took his ashes back to Dazhai Brigade, scattered them on Hutou Mountain, and erected a monument for him on the mountain, with the inscription:

"Gong Gai Hu" "Head, the achievements anchor the earth!"

These eight words completely summarize his achievements on the land throughout his life. He was promoted from Hutou Mountain by the central government, and after his death, he returned to his hometown again. Maybe this is his destination!

"

"How old are you this year? "

" Chairman, I am 50 years old! "

" has reached the age where he knows his destiny! How is everyone at home? "

" My family is doing well, but I am tired from production. "

" You should also pay more attention to your health when engaged in production. Your body is the capital of revolution! "

Then, Chairman Mao introduced Chen Yonggui to everyone present:

"Chen Yonggui is an agricultural expert, but he is different from ordinary experts. He has practical experience and knowledge. He is much better than those professors who follow the textbooks in universities, and he is more powerful than those cadres who are divorced from the masses. They are not as good as Chen Yonggui. "

It is rare for a grassroots cadre like Chen Yonggui to receive such praise from Chairman Mao, which shows how much Chairman Mao attaches importance to him.

Finally, the Chairman also encouraged him:

Picture | Chairman Mao meets with Chen Yonggui and other representatives

"You want to Learn more about culture, summarize your experience in words, and teach our senior cadres so that they can understand more dialectics. You must continue to carry forward the fine style of hard work and connecting with the masses, and maintain the true qualities of working people. You also need to lead Dazhai to carry out scientific farming, increase production, and set a good start for the people of the country. "

" I will definitely listen to the chairman and the party, and will unswervingly follow the chairman to carry out production and fight to the end. "

Later, Zhou Enlai took time out to climb Hutou Mountain in Dazhai three times. Guo Moruo, president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences , even proposed that he should be buried in Hutou Mountain a hundred years later. Although Chairman Mao did not go to Dazhai in person After investigation, he has found a model of rural work that suits his own ideas.

Dazhai, driven by Chairman Mao and other leaders, appeared in newspapers, radio, and movie theaters, with the sentence "A clear river, a tiger head mountain" resounding. All over the country.

2. Was Chen Yonggui a "traitor"?

After receiving the commendation from the central government, Chen Yonggui was elected as the director of the Xiyang County Revolutionary Committee, and soon became the deputy director of the Shanxi Provincial Revolutionary Committee. Started his political career.

In September 1968, some military cadres discovered that there were serious historical issues in the resume Chen Yonggui filled out before joining the Ninth National Congress.

This historical issue occurred when he was 27 years old (1942). , once served as the president of the "maintenance committee" for the Japanese.

The specific situation is this. After the Japanese occupied Xiyang County, Japanese soldiers also came to Dazhai. The Japanese planned to establish a so-called "maintenance committee" in Dazhai. " and asked the villagers in Dazhai to recommend one person to be the president (also called the village head or representative).

None of the villagers in Dazhai wanted to be the president. After thinking about it, they finally found the "migrant population" in the village - Chen Yonggui .

Chen Yonggui was naturally unwilling. He was a passionate young man. He was originally going to join the Eighth Route Army and carry guns to fight the Japanese. But at that time, the Eighth Route Army was engaged in guerrilla tactics and was very unpredictable. He searched many places but couldn't find him. Isn't it an insult to him to be elected as the president of the "Maintenance Committee" as soon as he returned to Dazhai?

At this time, a cloth dealer named Cao found Chen Yonggui:

" I suggest you become this president! "

Chen Yonggui was about to curse, but the man had to reveal his identity:

"I am from the Independent Battalion of the Eighth Route Army, and I was sent to persuade you by the superiors. Is "

" real or fake? "

" is absolutely true! "

" Then give me a reason to be the president. "

" Think about it, after becoming the president of the Japs, on the surface you are working for them, but secretly, you can find traces of the Japs for the Eighth Route Army. This is also anti-Japanese! "

" Great idea! "

A few days later, the Japanese asked people to ask who would be the president. Chen Yonggui took the initiative to stand up and said:

"I will be the president! "

After he became the president, he automatically became a member of the "New Asia Anti-Communist Salvation Congress" established by the Japanese. He had the opportunity to understand the Japanese's movements internally and reported the situation to the Eighth Route Army in a timely manner.

What the Japanese asked him to do , but he always finds various reasons to excuse himself.

Gradually, they realized that Chen Yonggui's motives were impure, and they seized on him for providing intelligence to the Eighth Route Army.

They put him in prison and tortured him severely, forcing him to reveal the whereabouts of the Eighth Route Army.

Picture | Chen Yonggui

Chen Yonggui refused to say that when the Japanese were about to shoot him, Xiyang County was taken back by the Eighth Route Army, and he was lucky enough to save his life.

After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, he was regarded as a traitor by the villagers because he served as the chairman of the "Maintenance Committee" for the enemy.

He defended himself:

"The Eighth Route Army asked me to be a traitor, and I sent them a lot of information! How could he suddenly become a traitor?"

No one in the village believed what he said. They thought that he had By agreeing to be the president, he was coveting the glory and wealth promised by the Japanese.

The only person who knew the inside story, the cloth dealer surnamed Cao, had long ago not known whether he had died or gone elsewhere. Chen Yonggui now had a hard time explaining it.

Although the villagers fought against him in the name of a traitor, they did not actually kill him. The villagers knew in their hearts that he had not done any bad things for the Japanese since he became president. So, he was punished symbolically and let him go.

Chen Yonggui felt uncomfortable when faced with his own "black history." When military cadres severely criticized him, he burst into tears:

"I am guilty. I should not have deceived Chairman Mao. I will go to Beijing to apologize to the Chairman!"

After the army cadres reported the matter to Beijing, Politburo member Chen Xilian conveyed the opinion on Chairman Mao's behalf:

"Chairman Mao knows about this matter and is not allowed to mention it again in the future!"

With the support of Chairman Mao, Chen Yonggui successfully became the Representatives of the "Ninth National Congress" also became members of the presidium and were elected as members of the Central Committee at the meeting.

3. Entering Zhongnanhai

In 1972, when the Tenth National Congress of the Communist Party of China was held, Chen Yonggui continued to serve as a member of the Central Committee.

Later, after being nominated by Chairman Mao and unanimously agreed by everyone, he was elected as a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee.

In 1974, Chairman Mao, Zhou Enlai and other leaders were preparing for the upcoming Fourth National People's Congress. When considering the candidate for Vice Premier of the State Council to be elected at the meeting, Chairman Mao asked Zhou Enlai:

"Enlai, who do you think is better to be nominated by the Vice Premier?"

Picture | Premier Zhou and Chairman Mao

"Chairman, I think since it is the State Council Vice Prime Minister, we need to be representative. People from the countryside, industry and commerce should consider it. "

" That's right. I think Chen Yonggui is a good one among farmers. "

" His political achievements in Dazhai are very good!

"Yes, the country needs a vice prime minister like him who is good at agriculture."

Later, Chairman Mao and Zhou Enlai solicited the opinions of some old comrades, and they all agreed that Chen Yonggui should be the vice premier of the State Council.

One day, Zhou Enlai found Chen Yonggui and told him that he had become a candidate for vice prime minister.

He said embarrassedly:

"Premier Zhou, my educational level is low, I really can't be a deputy prime minister!"

"Comrade Yonggui, are you a party member?"

"I am!"

"You must be a party member. Obey the party’s arrangements. Others are vying for the position of deputy prime minister, but you still don’t want to do it? "

"But Premier Zhou, I am from a peasant background!"

"New China’s leaders never choose their origins, Li Zicheng Wasn't he a farmer back then? Who would have thought that he would eventually go to Beijing and force Emperor Chongzhen to hang himself? So, go ahead and do it boldly, don't be afraid!"

Chen Yonggui reluctantly agreed.

On January 13, 1975, the Fourth National People's Congress voted to elect Zhou Enlai as Premier of the State Council. At the same time, 12 more people were elected as vice premiers of the State Council, including Chen Yonggui, who ranked seventh.

Once, at a cadre meeting in Xiyang County, Chen Yonggui said excitedly:

"At all times and in all countries, there have been few leaders who promoted an illiterate peasant to a central leader. Marx did not, Lenin did not, but Chairman Mao did not." Created this history.This means that Chairman Mao truly relies on the people, comes from the people, and goes to the people! "

After he became the deputy prime minister, the central government arranged for him to live in Building 43 of Diaoyutai. The place was heavily guarded. He was used to living a free life and was very uncomfortable with it. He often went out to hang out, but when he returned to the office, he saw piles of He was frightened by the mountains of documents

html In May, he wrote to Chairman Mao, requesting to travel to more places, and proposed a " three-three system " principle, that is, one-third of the time should be spent on . Xiyang; One-third went to all parts of the country; one-third were in Beijing.

Chairman Mao read his letter and gave him the approval:

"Agree!" There is no fish to catch on the Diaoyutai. "

He moved out of Diaoyutai smoothly.

4. Not changing his true nature as a farmer

Chen Yonggui is in a high position, but his simple and honest nature as a farmer has not changed.

When attending meetings and working in Beijing, he did not change his Shanxi peasant attire. , he said:

"I am used to being a farmer, but I would feel uncomfortable wearing Mao suit . "When

was the deputy prime minister, he alone moved his family to Beijing, while his wife and children stayed in Dazhai to work on the farm. The Shanxi Provincial Party Committee proposed that all the household registrations of his family be moved to Beijing. He patted the table and asked :

“Let’s see who dares to do this! "

Picture | Chen Yonggui

Chen Yonggui does not receive the salary of the position of deputy prime minister. His source of income is all the work points recorded by Dazhai as a medium labor force. His rations are the grains distributed to him by Dazhai. Sell ​​it and exchange it for national food stamps for use in Beijing.

Seeing that he is living in poverty, the central government will still subsidize him 36 yuan for living expenses every month. Shanxi Province will give him 60 yuan as a part-time subsidy. Their family's income plus these. There is not much left over from the subsidy every month.

A cadre at Chen Yonggui's level can receive "special provisions" from the state, but he often only has a large bowl of millet porridge or a few steamed buns with pickles. He would skip three meals a day. If guests came over, he would eat a little better, but only on noodles.

He was very addicted to cigarettes. He smoked home-grown cigarettes in his hometown, but switched to cigarettes after moving to Beijing. But they are all low-quality cigarettes, which make you cough when you smoke them. Maybe he got lung cancer in his later years, which was probably closely related to smoking low-quality cigarettes.

After he moved into Zhongnanhai, he had to do his own housework, such as folding quilts, washing clothes, sweeping the floor, and making tea. He did it all by himself, even competing with the police officers:

"I can still move, so I don't need your help." "

When he had nothing to do in Beijing, he reclaimed the open space near his house and planted beans, cucumbers and other vegetables. If he couldn't finish it, he would send it to the kitchen of the security team.

In his position as deputy prime minister, Chen Yonggui devoted himself to He worked hard and traveled all over the country, conducted many investigations and studies, and put forward many opinions on agricultural development to the central government. His opinions and suggestions were supported by many rural grassroots cadres.

Chen Yonggui always insisted on being honest and self-disciplined, and went to once and for all. During the visit to Mexico , Yao Guang, the Chinese Ambassador to Mexico, learned that each of them had been issued a 20-yuan foreign exchange coupon and suggested that each person buy a watch.

He said:

“Do I need to wear a foreign watch when going abroad? Premier Zhou is still wearing a Shanghai watch. You can’t buy it, you can’t buy it. "

After 1980, Chen Yonggui resigned from all his positions. The state arranged for him to work as a consultant on a farm in the eastern suburbs of Beijing, with the purpose of allowing him to earn some pension money. He took the initiative to cancel the pension arranged by the state for him. Cars and other public goods were moved near the farm, and

worked as a consultant on the farm. In fact, it was a temporary job, and he did not have much work to do. He worked hard on the farm all day long, observing crops. Growth, pests and diseases, and fertilizer ratio. In daily life, he always kept good habits of diligence and frugality, which won unanimous praise from the farm staff.

On March 26, 1986, Chen Yonggui died in Beijing due to advanced lung cancer.

On March 29, Xinhua News Agency issued an obituary:

Picture | Chen Yonggui

"Comrade Chen Yonggui was once a famous agricultural labor model in the country. He was highly praised by the Party Central Committee, Chairman Mao, and Premier Zhou. He obeyed the party and led the masses throughout his life. Take the road of collectivization."

According to his last wish, his family took his ashes back to Dazhai Brigade, scattered them on Hutou Mountain, and erected a monument for him on the mountain, with the inscription:

"Gong Gai Hu" "Head, the achievements anchor the earth!"

These eight words completely summarize his achievements on the land throughout his life. He was promoted from Hutou Mountain by the central government, and after his death, he returned to his hometown again. Maybe this is his destination!