1976, shortly after the great leader Chairman Mao passed away, the staff around him rushed to Beijing to mourn Chairman Mao, and only one person named Gao Zhi has not appeared for a long time. For this reason, Li Min called him and asked him why he hadn't arrived in Beijing yet. Suddenly, a crying sound came from the other end of the phone: "Xiao Min, it's not that I don't want to go, it's that I can't go now!"
So, who is Gao Zhi who is missing? What stories happened with the Chairman? Why does Li Min care whether this person is present? Who is Gao Zhi?
Gao Zhi is a native of Shaanxi . He has heard of many glorious deeds of the Communist Party and Chairman Mao since childhood. He is full of yearning for the Revolution and Yan'an, and he is full of respect for Chairman Mao. In 1944, Gao Zhi joined the Communist Party. Later, in order to meet Chairman Mao, he rode a donkey to Yan'an after the party organization expressed the news that Yan'an was short of people. During
, Gao Zhi had to walk seventy or eighty miles a day for five days. On the last day, when Gao Zhi wanted to sit down and take a breath and drink water, he suddenly saw the Yan'an Pagoda in the distance. Now he couldn't help but feel excited and quickly whipped in Yan'an. Fortunately, as soon as Gao Zhi arrived in Yan'an, he was assigned to work in the Central Confidential Department by the Party organization.
Of course, this is inseparable from his higher level of education. From then on, he had the opportunity to meet Chairman Mao, and later, Gao Zhi became one of Chairman Mao's "five secrets". It is such a person with a simple original intention, but later realized his dream as he wished. This is inseparable from his seriousness, striving to be progressive, kind and diligent in business.
Gao Zhi’s work in confidentiality is to maintain contact with 19 liberated areas across the country through telegram. Although he had a lot of work and was busy with work on weekdays, Gao Zhi knew the importance of his work and did not neglect for a moment. He worked very seriously and carefully, which also laid the foundation for him to become Chairman Mao's secretary in the future.
Once, Gao Zhi noticed a unique telegram, with the words on it flying dragons and phoenixes dancing, which was quite imposing. When I asked my colleagues around me, I realized that this telegram was written by Chairman Mao. Gao Zhi was very excited after listening to it and was very glad that he could work for Chairman Mao, so he translated the telegram more seriously since then.
First meeting with Chairman Mao
More than a month after joining the company, Gao Zhi once walked on the loess slope of Yangjialing with his colleagues and saw a person with a slender back walking in front of him. Gao Zhi looked at the background similar to the chairman in the newspaper, but was not sure, and his colleague told him that the man was the chairman. Gao Zhi's eyes lit up, and he looked at Chairman Mao's figure in a flash, gradually moving away...
952, Gao Zhi was transferred to Zhongnanhai because of his good work ability and work attitude, and was mainly responsible for the meeting work of the Politburo meeting. At this time, he often met Chairman Mao during meetings. The following year, Director of the Confidential Office of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, Ye Zilong , found Gao Zhi and informed the organization that he decided to transfer him to serve as the confidential secretary of the chairman.
Gao Zhi didn't recover after hearing this. When he reacted, he said to Ye Zilong with a serious face but couldn't hide his heart and said excitedly: "Director Ye, do you think I can really be Chairman Mao's confidential secretary? Working with Chairman Mao, I'm afraid of me..."
Ye Zilong saw Gao Zhi's nervous and unconfident look, patted Gao Zhi's shoulder and smiled: "What are you afraid of? This decision is the result of repeated considerations of the organization. You have done a good job in confidentiality and have been unanimously recognized by the organization. You will definitely be competent for this job and believe in yourself."
Gao Zhi was greatly encouraged by Ye Zilong's words. He thought for a while and then hesitated: "That... I have a Shaanxi accent. If I don't communicate well, it will affect my work." Ye Zilong laughed again after hearing this, and then replied seriously: "You, you forgot that our Chairman has lived in Shaanxi for thirteen years? What's the point of your accent?"
Although he had Ye Zilong's guarantee, Gao Zhi was still a little worried and asked, "The Chairman is from Hunan, and I can't speak Hunan dialect?" Ye Zilong replied: "This is not important. It's okay for you to adapt to the Chairman for a while.Don't worry, the Chairman is easy to get along with. If you don't understand anything, just ask. ”
Gao Zhi knew that it was not easy to say anything about this, and he was still willing to serve Chairman Mao, so he mustered up the courage and said, "Then let me try it. If it doesn't work, transfer me away to avoid affecting the Chairman's work. ”
The next day, Gao Zhi came to Fengzeyuan, Zhongnanhai to report, and Chairman Mao’s secretary Luo Guanglu was responsible for receiving him. In this way, Gao Zhi became Chairman Mao’s secretary and became an indispensable right-hand assistant.
When Gao Zhi went to report on the first day, he was about to meet the chairman resting, so Luo Guanglu received him and explained his work content. That afternoon, when Chairman Mao woke up, he knew that the new secretary had arrived, so he asked Luo Guanglu to call Gao Zhi into the bedroom. As soon as he entered, Gao Zhi saw the chairman lying on the bed reading. This was the first time Gao Zhi had face-to-face contact with the chairman.
Although he had met the chairman many times during meetings before, he had never had a close conversation with the chairman like this. Gao Zhi was extremely nervous. At the same time, he quickly walked to the chairman's bed and said hello: "Hello, Chairman, my name is Gao Zhi! "
Seeing this, the Chairman also put down the book, stood up and held Gao Zhi's hand and said, "Comrade Gao Zhi, right? Welcome. "Gao Zhi was so nervous that he was sweating. The Chairman joked when he noticed this situation: "Gao Zhi, very high wisdom, this name is really good. "
Then, the chairman talked about family matters with Gao Zhi. Listening to the chairman's approachable words, Gao Zhi felt much more relaxed and felt that the chairman was such a friendly person. The chairman asked Gao Zhi where he had attended and what work he had done. Gao Zhi said that he had been studying in Suide Normal School for a year.
Chairman praised after hearing this: "I am familiar with Suide Normal School. It is a very good school in northern Shaanxi. It seems that you are the most educated among the staff around me. I have to ask you to help me do something in the future. I wonder if you are willing or not? ”
Gao Zhi immediately said after hearing this: “I am willing, I am sure I am willing. "In his later years, Gao Zhi recalled the first meeting with the Chairman, and he could not forget the Chairman's approachability. It was the Chairman's kind words that made him no longer nervous and restrained.
never forgets, there will be a resounding
Just after he came to the Chairman, Gao Zhi was not so skilled in some work. Once the Chairman asked him to add titles to some documents, which seemed more convenient for him. At that time, Gao Zhi had no experience in adding titles, so he referred to them. The way the article titled " People's Daily " was not only a regular title, but also a subtitle was added. When the chairman saw these documents that were titled by Gao Zhi, he laughed and said that Gao Zhi was a "scholar writing newspaper".
then said: "These files are for me to see, how simple it is, it is straightforward and clear at a glance, there is no need to be so literary. "Since then, Gao Zhi added the title according to what the Chairman said, "righteous" and received a lot of praise from the Chairman. Over time, Gao Zhi's secretary work has been getting better and better, and he is becoming more and more skillful.
Gao Zhi and Luo Guanglu not only serve Chairman Mao's work, but also are responsible for the Chairman's daily activities, including convening Politburo meetings, meeting guests, and receiving foreign guests. Since 1956, the Central Committee has officially appointed five secretary, but these people do not live with the Chairman. Only Gao Zhi and Luo Guanglu take turns on duty next to the Chairman, arrange activities for the Chairman, and complete the affairs assigned by the Chairman.
Gao Zhi When he is with Chairman Mao, he is very cautious and careful, for fear of making a mistake. Whenever Chairman Mao speaks, as long as Gao Zhi doesn't hear clearly or understands, he will ask again, and he will not be vague because he is afraid of trouble. Because he knows that working for Chairman Mao is related to the whole country and the overall situation of the country, and he will never be careless.
Chairman Mao has the patience to repeat the matter clearly every time, and is never bored with it. But if anyone does something wrong, he will be severely criticized by the Chairman. Everyone knows that the Chairman is very energetic, and he devotes himself to his work day and night. Even if Gao Zhi and Luo Guanglu are in class with Chairman Mao, they still cannot stand the Chairman.
One night, Gao Zhi, who was on duty, fell asleep because he was too sleepy. When he woke up, it was dawn. Gao Zhi felt nervous: "Oh, the Chairman must have something to ask me at night!" Gao Zhi hurried to the study. The Chairman had indeed not yet rested, and the desk was filled with a thick stack of reviewed documents. Obviously, Gao Zhi failed to help the chairman process the documents that night.
Gao Zhi quickly walked to the chairman's desk and said guiltily: "Chairman, you have processed so many documents alone in one night, why don't you call me?" Chairman Mao looked at the documents and looked up at Gao Zhi and said, "No important urgent matter!"
Gao Zhi said again: "Chairman, I doze off last night, which made you not rest until now. I... I have lost my responsibility."
"You have worked very hard, people always have to rest. I don't want others to disturb me when I rest. Don't do to others what I don't want to do to others! Besides, there is really nothing you need to help me last night." The chairman said casually.
Gao Zhi hurriedly said, "Chairman, Comrade Luo and I work in shifts. We have more rest time than you, and it is not hard. Moreover, it is our responsibility to help you solve problems."
"But you still have to help me do things. The daily workload is also large. I know whether it is hard or not." Chairman Mao said.
Chairman Mao’s demeanor of taking the world as his responsibility and putting himself in others’ shoes is deeply engraved in Gao Zhi’s heart. Chairman Mao has the habit of taking a walk before going to bed, and thinks that taking a walk after work can relax your brain and make it easier to fall asleep.
On that day, the chairman suddenly wanted to go to the restaurant to eat something on his way out, so everyone decided to eat in a mutton soaking steamed bun restaurant. Before getting off the bus, Gao Zhi asked the guards to go to the restaurant to investigate and choose a safe parking spot. Until he got off the bus, he was still a little nervous because the restaurant had not done security work in advance and could not guarantee certain safety.
Fortunately, no one in the restaurant found Chairman Mao, and several people sat in the elegant seat with the chairman. After taking the seat, Gao Zhi ordered eight bowls of mutton soaking steamed buns to the boss. The mutton soaking steamed buns tasted very good and the chairman ate them very delicious.
Who knew that after everyone finished eating, Gao Zhi went to check out and found that he didn't bring enough money, and the few people didn't get enough. Gao Zhi had no choice but to tell the boss that he didn't bring enough money and would definitely deliver it tomorrow morning. The boss also saw that their identities were unusual and agreed. But when the Chairman finished eating and walked out of the elegant seat, he was immediately recognized. Applause rang out around him, and Chairman Mao waved to everyone with a smile.
The next day, Gao Zhi quickly delivered the money to the store owner's owner. Unexpectedly, the boss refused to accept it no matter how he said that. Gao Zhi had to put the money down and immediately rode his bike back to Zhongnanhai. Another time, the chairman was practicing calligraphy in the study. After writing, he found that he had written one word less and was about to throw away the paper. Gao Zhi, who was standing by, hurriedly stopped him: "Chairman, don't throw it away, just give this character to me."
After that, Gao Zhi hung this "lost poem" in his room. Later, he did not forget to take it home when he returned to his hometown in Shaanxi, which became Gao Zhi's most precious collection in his life. In addition to working as a confidential secretary, Gao Zhi later served as Chairman Mao’s operator. Most of the calls are answered by Gao Zhi. Sometimes if you receive a very urgent call, you must report to the Chairman immediately. After
Gao Zhi simply wrote the situation of each phone on the note and placed it on the table in the chairman's bedroom. Every time the chairman comes back, he can see it. Gao Zhi recalled that the staff around Chairman Mao were very clever. Sometimes, before the Chairman finished his words, the people around him understood them. Even if the chairman doesn't have to speak, they understand the chairman's meaning with just a gesture or an action.
As Chairman Mao’s confidential secretary, you must always remember not to disclose the content of the document, especially confidential documents, to anyone, and even your own family cannot mention it. The central chief often asks Gao Zhi about the Chairman's daily life and physical condition. For convenience, Gao Zhi keeps the Chairman's living time and physical condition on paper to facilitate the Chairman's understanding.
Once, the chairman saw Gao Zhi writing something, and after asking, he realized that his daily life was all recorded on paper.Chairman Mao said anxiously for the first time: "Don't remember it, burn the note!" Gao Zhi was still unclear, so he said: "What's wrong? Chairman."
Chairman explained: "If these things are leaked to the enemy, I don't know what will happen. Don't remember them again in the future." Gao Zhi then realized that the daily life and dietary records of a country leader are state secrets. If they are obtained by those who are interested, they will have unpredictable consequences.
1 One day in 1959, Chairman Mao told Gao Zhi that he would go to Hunan and Jiangxi to inspect and ask Gao Zhi to prepare. The two set off the next day. The summer in the south was very hot and the people on the train were sweating profusely. Gao Zhi asked the chairman to endure it first and then get off the train and stay in the hotel. Unexpectedly, the chairman said, "No, I'll go back to my hometown. You call Yang Shangkun and said I'm going to Shaoshan ."
At five o'clock in the afternoon, Chairman Mao, Gao Zhi and his group arrived in Shaoshan. Gao Zhi thought the Chairman would take a break first, but the first thing the Chairman did when he returned to Shaoshan was to go back to his parents' grave and bowed deeply to his parents' grave.
This is the first time the chairman has returned after he left. After that, they went to Chairman Mao’s former residence, which contains a photo of the chairman, his mother and two younger brothers. The chairman looked at the photo emotionally and said, "My mother died of lymphadenoma back then. If it were now, the disease would be cured. The child wanted to raise her but the parents were not here!"
Gao Zhi felt the chairman's deep nostalgia for his mother, and he couldn't help but evoke his longing for his parents far away in Shaanxi.
htmlOn the afternoon of June 30, they left Hunan and prepared to set off for Lushan, Jiangxi .
When we arrived at Jiujiang , it was already early in the morning. They originally planned to go to Lushan overnight, but Gao Zhi felt that it was not safe to go up the mountain at night. So he advised the Chairman to rest in Jiujiang at night and go up the mountain to ensure that everything is foolproof. The next day, they went to Mount Lu as scheduled, and the chairman praised Gao Zhi as a thoughtful person.
The parting of the two
1962, Ye Zilong and Li Yinqiao were transferred one after another. Gao Zhi knew that he was about to be called by the chairman for a conversation. Although he was very reluctant, he still made mental preparations early, and finally the organization decided to transfer him to Xi'an to work. Chairman Mao held Gao Zhi's hand tightly and said, "You have been by my side for ten years, and we have a deep relationship. I hope you can help me after you arrive in Xi'an. I want to ask you for help." Gao Zhi's tears almost fell: "Chairman, you said, I will do my best."
Chairman nodded and said, "When we crossed the east of Yellow River , my old horse was squeezed down the Yellow River. After you arrive in Shaanxi, you have to ride along the Yellow River. You can first hit the front station, and I will arrive later, and I will also go there."
"Chairman, I'll wait for you, you must come." Before Gao Zhi left, the chairman called him for a photo. Gao Zhi left Beijing but was always thinking about the Chairman.
In the same year, Gao Zhi went abroad to Indonesia . On the way to Beijing, Gao Zhi never forgot to record the terrain along the way: which section of the road is difficult to walk, what culverts are there, and what mountains are there... After arriving in Beijing, Gao Zhi met the Chairman three years later. The first sentence when Gao Zhi saw the Chairman was: "Chairman, I miss you so much!"
Looking at the Chairman's more gray hair, Gao Zhi shed tears. When the two talked for a long time, the Chairman said movedly: "You must come to see me often in the future." But what they didn't know was that this time would be a farewell forever. Because Gao Zhi was too busy with work, he never went to Beijing again, nor could he wait until Chairman Mao came to Xi'an to ride a horse around the Yellow River.
976 Chairman Mao passed away. When Gao Zhi learned the news, he fell and cried bitterly. I wanted to rush to Beijing immediately, but the approval was delayed. Until the Chairman's daughter Li Min called, an anxious voice came from the other end: "Why haven't you come yet?" He was able to rush to Beijing to attend the Chairman's memorial service.
Picture | Gao Zhi
At the memorial service, Gao Zhi burst into tears on the spot and cried in tears.When Gao Zhi was bedridden due to illness in his later years, Chairman Mao’s grandson Mao Xinyu also went to visit him with his wife and children. After retirement, Gao Zhi compiled "Selected Handwritings of Chairman Mao's Letters to Relatives and Staff Around the Chairman", and collected photos of the Chairman during his lifetime, and compiled them into "A Book of Chairman Mao's Photos of Relatives and Friends and Staff Around the Party", and the friendship between the two was sustainable.
In the early morning of September 9, 2016, Gao Zhi died of illness at the age of 88.
