The old news caused by a portrait
In the spring of 1950, the first spring after the founding of the People's Republic of China, everything revived and the country was in a prosperous scene. The establishment of the New China brings hope to the people of the whole country. Walking on the street, you can see many people with smiles on their faces.
Moreover, portraits of Chairman Mao can be seen everywhere on the streets and alleys, and photos of Chairman Mao also appear in newspapers and magazines on the street. The people all at once curious and admiration for the first chairman of the new China.
Zhu Village, Tongshankou, Daye County, Hubei Province, a blacksmith hurriedly stepped out of the house and walked towards the blacksmith shop not far away. News in the village is blocked, unlike newspapers and magazines that can be seen everywhere in the city. But there was still a portrait of Chairman Mao on the exterior wall of a house in the village, and a couplet was added down-to-earth on both sides.
The blacksmith walked very fast, but he still saw this portrait with a flash of light. Of course he knew that this was Chairman Mao. As a person of that era, how could he not know Chairman Mao? But the blacksmith glanced at the sight and suddenly felt that the portrait looked familiar from a certain angle. He couldn't help but stop and carefully examined the portrait on the wall.
Blacksmith is named Zhu Qisheng. He has never been to school since he was a child. He worked as a soldier for a while when he was young. He followed his comrades to recognize a few words, but not many of them. The couplets on both sides of the portrait are very interesting, using the characters "dong" and "ze" in Mao Zedong's name.
's first couplet is "Help people livelihood and achieve success in the universe", and the second couplet is "The red sun in the east shines on the five continents". Zhu Qisheng actually didn't know the meaning of this couplet, but he knew that it was a compliment to Chairman Mao. He looked at Chairman Mao's portrait and couldn't help but think of a memory from many years ago.
Chairman Mao had a mole on his chin. Many years ago, a friend of his army also had a mole on his chin, and the positions and sizes of the two moles were very similar. Zhu Qisheng's friend's name is Mao Runzhi. Although Zhu Qisheng was a little confused, he still couldn't believe that his former little brother Mao Runzhi would become the President of the country.
Zhu Qisheng shook his head and threw out these strange thoughts in his mind. He looked at the old clothes on his body, and then at the shoes that were almost falling apart on his feet, thinking self-deprecatingly how could it be possible. How could a person like him who rolls in the soil have ever had an intersection with Chairman Mao?
This day, Zhu Qisheng was always confused and was absent-minded in his work. After returning home, he couldn't help but talk to his family about his doubts, saying that Chairman Mao might be his old friend, but no one believed him and just thought he was dreaming during the day.
Later, this incident was told to the villagers by his family as a joke. The villagers laughed at him and even complained about Zhu Qisheng: "Do you know Chairman Mao? Why are you still farming and making iron at home? Why didn't Chairman Mao invite you to Beijing to be an official?"
Zhu Qisheng felt very sad after hearing these ridicule. He just talked about his previous experience. If everyone doesn't believe it, forget it, why do they still laugh at him. Some people also saw Zhu Qisheng saying something with a slight and eye-catching voice, and he has always been honest and honest in the village, not like a person who can lie.
So several people gave him an idea and asked Zhu Qisheng to write a letter to Chairman Mao to confirm whether it was. Zhu Qisheng was very moved when he heard this. He really ran to Hankou Street and found a gentleman who knew his words to help him write a letter.
After writing the letter, Zhu Qisheng was in trouble again. He had no idea where the chairman lived. How should he send this letter? After thinking for a long time, Zhu Qisheng decided to send it to Beijing. Maybe he could send it to Chairman Mao when he arrived in Beijing.
However, Zhu Qisheng sent several letters, but they all fell into the sea and had no echo at all. He was extremely disappointed. But he firmly believed that the brother Run he knew would never forget his old friend! Zhu Qisheng comforted himself, maybe the letter had not been delivered, and Chairman Mao had never seen the letter at all, and the two would meet again if they had the chance in the future.
This opportunity came soon. In 1952, in order to make a living, Zhu Qisheng moved from the village to Hankou to live and work. He had no savings, so he rented an old house in the city, and walked around the streets and alleys with tools on his back to repair umbrellas for people.
During the period when he was working in Hankou, Zhu Qisheng met several fellow villagers on the street. When several people were chatting, Zhu Qisheng would occasionally talk to everyone about his past experiences and questions about Chairman Mao. The news of the city people was wider, and a fellow villager showed Zhu Qisheng a way out.
There is a female teacher named Meng Shuchun in Hankou Night School. Meng Shuchun knows Li Xiannian, Secretary of the Hubei Provincial Party Committee, and maybe she can try to send a letter to Chairman Mao through this female teacher. Zhu Qisheng was very moved when he heard this. This incident has been lingering in his heart. He must confirm whether Chairman Mao was his brother Run.
Li Xiannian
The next day, Zhu Qisheng went to the night school to find Teacher Meng with the recommendation of his fellow villager. Although it was the first time that the few people met, they felt like they had a hit on the spot and soon started chatting. Teacher Meng was rigorous and cautious. After hearing Zhu Qishen and others explain their intentions, he was not in a hurry to agree, but asked Zhu Qisheng in detail about his past experience.
When in the village, few people had the patience to listen to Zhu Qisheng's story, and Zhu Qisheng had nowhere to release his feelings. Now someone is willing to listen to this experience carefully, and Zhu Qisheng happily told the story of the past in detail.
Zhu Qisheng helped Chairman Mao a little favor
Zhu Qisheng is a native of Hubei. He was born in Yanshan Village, Liurenba Town, Daye County. His family has been farmers for generations and his life is very hard. His parents have given birth to 4 children in total, and the pressure of providing them to school and eating and drinking is very high.
Zhu Qisheng was sent to a private school at the age of 9. He went to school intermittently for a period of time. At the age of 12, he was sent to Hunan to learn to make irons and repair umbrellas with a local craftsman. At the age of 12, he was still a little diced carrot, but he had to stay away from his hometown to make a living alone, which allowed Zhu Qisheng to grow and mature quickly.
Being an apprentice was a chore in the old society. The master taught less, and Zhu Qisheng was basically regarded as a free labor force and assigned to do all kinds of work. When the master is in a bad mood, Zhu Qisheng is a punching bag, and it is common to be beaten and scolded. But in order to live, Zhu Qisheng had to endure such a life.
Traveled for 3 years, Zhu Qisheng grew up a little, and the teenager's appetite also increased. He couldn't eat enough every meal and lived a very frustrated life. Once, Zhu Qisheng took advantage of the master's trip and secretly cooked some rice. Unfortunately, the master discovered that the two started arguing.
Zhu Qisheng couldn't help but refute the master's words, and the master was furious and drove people away. So Zhu Qisheng no longer nostalgic and took his pitifully few clothes to leave the blacksmith shop and began his wandering life. He learned some skills, but he was penniless and had no hands-on tools, so he couldn't support himself.
A teenager lost his goal at once and begged to live in a daze every day. Zhu Qisheng begged all the way and decided to go to Changsha, the provincial capital of Hunan first to see if he could find a job as a blacksmith to support himself.
After many hardships, Zhu Qisheng finally arrived in Changsha. He did not find the job of making a blacksmith, but heard that the government was recruiting soldiers recently. He thought that as long as he could have enough food and anything he could do, he would sign up for the army. When I was registering, I met a fellow villager from Hubei. With the guarantee of the fellow villager, he successfully joined the government's army.
Zhu Qisheng has no advantages. The three years of training in the blacksmith shop apprenticeship made him feel a little strong. Moreover, some of the small gains he learned could also repair guns and parts for the team, which made Zhu Qisheng pay attention to in the army. He was soon promoted from a different soldier to a sergeant, eating enough and dressing warmly.
Although the training and marching in the army were hard, Zhu Qisheng was very satisfied. In 1911, Zhu Qisheng had been in the army for two years and was considered a veteran in their ranks. This year, Zhu Qisheng met the young Mao Zedong.
1911, Mao Zedong was studying in middle school in Changsha. A group of revolutionaries came to teach in Changsha. Mao Zedong was exposed to a lot of democratic ideas and listened to people telling real revolutionary stories such as Sun Yat-sen, Tongmenghui , and Huanghuagang. He was very excited.
In October, the Wuchang Uprising and Xinhai Revolution broke out one after another, and the situation across the country became tense.Changsha is not far from Wuchang , and it has also been greatly affected. Mao Zedong's middle school also invited revolutionaries to give speeches to everyone.
was encouraged and called by the speech, and Mao Zedong had the idea of joining the army, and the more he thought about it, the more he thought it was a good idea. The social environment was very chaotic at that time, and all kinds of news were flying everywhere, so it was difficult to tell whether it was true or false.
Mao Zedong heard that Hankou was recruiting new recruits and planned to join the army in Hankou. But the reality is not optimistic. Mao Zedong has no travel expenses. Although it is not far from Changsha to Hankou and can be taken by boat, the tickets are not cheap. Mao Zedong had to raise money everywhere. After working hard for several days, he only raised the money for the boat ticket.
But he still needs to have a meal, and it is rainy in Hunan and Hubei, so he still needs a pair of rain boots to join the army, and the money in his hand is too short. After thinking about it, Mao Zedong thought of several fellow villagers who participated in the Changsha New Army, so he decided to borrow a pair of rain boots from these fellow villagers first.
The new Changsha army was stationed outside the main city of Changsha. Mao Zedong walked out of Xiaowumen from Xiaowumen and headed towards the location where the army was. The drama is that when the Changsha New Army Uprising was encountered, the army marched into Changsha City in a mighty manner. Mao Zedong thought he would witness a melee, but the melee did not start and the new army was successfully put into the city.
. Mao Zedong did not find his fellow countrymen and did not borrow rain boots. He could only follow the Changsha New Army to return to the city. After the Changsha New Army entered the city, it actually began to recruit new recruits. Mao Zedong was very happy when he heard this and did not have to go to Hankou to join the army. Mao Zedong excitedly inquired about the registration office, but encountered setbacks when registering.
There is a condition for joining the new army, and there must be an acquaintance in the army to provide guarantees, but Mao Zedong could not find a fellow countryman who joined the army for a while. Mao Zedong tried to reason with the head of the registration office, but it was said that "a scholar met a soldier and could not explain it clearly." The two of them talked for a long time, but the superior just didn't understand Mao Zedong to join the new army.
Mao Zedong felt his mouth dry and he saw that his superiors were unwilling to be able to adapt. He had no choice but to go and find the fellow villagers who joined the army again. Just as Mao Zedong was about to leave the registration office first, he saw a tall man coming from the military camp. This man was Zhu Qisheng.
Zhu Qisheng followed the new army into the city and was sorting out the surrounding environment. When he turned his head, he just saw a little brother dressed in a student at the registration office arguing with a commander. Zhu Qisheng had not read for a few years and had a good impression of scholars. He was curious and came to see the situation.
Walking closer, Zhu Qisheng saw that Mao Zedong was full of books and was tall and his favorability doubled, so he took the initiative to ask Mao Zedong: "Brother, what happened to you?"
Mao Zedong saw someone asking, and he spoke up as he pleased, and a few simple words explained the whole story. Someone was willing to listen, and Mao Zedong's helplessness was relieved. Finally, he muttered to himself: "Isn't it okay to join the army and decide to revolution?"
Zhu Qisheng thought about it after hearing Mao Zedong say this, and decided to help the passionate young scholar in front of him. Zhu Qisheng told Mao Zedong that he was willing to help him with guarantees and asked about Mao Zedong's personal situation. Then he pulled Mao Zedong to find his deputy squad leader Peng Yousheng to explain the situation, so that the two of them would be enough to guarantee it.
Peng Yousheng also had a good impression of Mao Zedong. Moreover, the people of that era were simple and the people were getting along more enthusiastically and naturally. Especially those who make a living outside are mostly enthusiastic and cheerful, with the idea that there are brothers everywhere. Peng Yousheng also agreed to make a guarantee for Mao Zedong.
After some twists and turns, Mao Zedong joined the Changsha New Army and was incorporated into the team where Peng Yousheng and Zhu Qisheng were, and the friendship between the three people began. Because Peng Yousheng and Zhu Qisheng were a few years older than Mao Zedong and had served in the army for a few years, they took great care of Mao Zedong in the military camp, and Zhu Qisheng almost regarded Mao Zedong as his younger brother.
This is Mao Zedong's first true joining the army. All aspects of his life have changed a lot and it takes a certain amount of time to adapt.As soon as he joined the army, his clothes and bedding were not released so quickly, but the weather in Changsha in autumn and winter was very cold, so Zhu Qisheng gave Mao Zedong the cotton coat he sent and wore the old ones himself.
There were several times in the army tooth-beating sacrifice eating braised pork . Zhu Qisheng knew that Mao Zedong liked this dish and often gave more of his own to Mao Zedong. During the training of recruits, Zhu Qisheng would also carefully teach Mao Zedong some steps and skills. Mao Zedong's earliest understanding and understanding of guns was from Zhu Qisheng's studies.
Although the two met by chance, they were as warm and gentle as relatives when they got along. During his spare time in training, Mao Zedong would also teach Zhu Qisheng to recognize a few words, and would also tell you some stories from classical books, such as "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", "Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties", " Water Margin ", etc.
Zhu Qisheng was deeply impressed by Mao Zedong's teaching him to recognize words. In order to save money, the two of them did not use pens or paper, so they took branches to teach Zhu Qisheng to recognize words and write on the ground. Most of the words Zhu Qisheng knew were learned from Mao Zedong during this period.
There is a cultured person like Mao Zedong in the army. Many soldiers like to come to him to write letters to his home. Mao Zedong was also happy to help everyone and also helped Zhu Qisheng write letters to his family.
However, Zhu Qisheng and Mao Zedong spent not long in the army, nor had they experienced the baptism of serious wars, and were basically participating in recruit training. In February 1912, the Qing Dynasty was officially destroyed, and peace was negotiated between the north and the south, and the new army and others came to disband.
The new army decided to disband, everyone went their separate ways, Mao Zedong decided to return to campus to study and continue to explore and find the way to save the people. Zhu Qisheng used the money he saved to return to his hometown, Daye, Hubei, to help his father farm, and also worked part-time at the blacksmith shop.
Zhu Qisheng went to Beijing to find Chairman Mao to reminisce about the past
40 years have passed, and Zhu Qisheng told this long story in a casual manner. Teacher Meng listened with relish and believed Zhu Qisheng's words. But writing a letter to Chairman Mao is a big deal and it still needs to be done slowly. Meng Shuchun only asked Zhu Qisheng to go back first, and she arranged this matter slowly.
A few days later, Meng Shuchun asked Zhu Qisheng to ask about Mao Zedong's habits and characteristics, and asked Zhu Qisheng to prepare a few photos of himself. Afterwards, Teacher Meng helped Zhu Qisheng write a letter, attached a photo, stamped the official seal of the Wuhan Municipal Party Committee, handed it to Li Xiannian, and then handed it to Chairman Mao. After the letter
was sent out, Zhu Qisheng quietly waited for the reply, and he believed that he would receive the reply this time! Sure enough, a few days later, Zhu Qisheng received a message from Teacher Meng. Chairman Mao wrote a letter, with the envelope saying "Mr. Meng Shuchun, No. 2, Deshu Lane, Hanzheng Street, Hankou, passed by Mr. Zhu Qisheng for acceptance."
Zhu Qisheng was very excited, but he couldn't recognize many words. After opening the letter, he still asked Teacher Meng to read it out. It didn't last long, but the content was concise:
"Brother Qisheng: I was very happy to receive the letter. I sent RMB 2 million to assist Xiaobao Capital. Peng Yousheng is still in the world. There was a letter coming, and I had a note. I wish you a good idea. I wish you a happy thing. Mao Zedong, August 30, 1952."
Zhu Qisheng listened to the content of the letter, tears fell involuntarily. Teacher Meng finished his belief, and the room fell into silence. The two of them slowly digested the content of the letter. Zhu Qisheng stopped crying and choked and said, "Brother Runzhi has become such a high official, but he still has not forgotten me as an ordinary person." In addition to a piece of letter paper, there is also 200 yuan in the envelope. The 200 yuan was a huge sum at that time. Zhu Qisheng carefully put the letter and money back into the envelope and took it home and put it carefully. This letter finally answered Zhu Qisheng's doubts. His brother Run really became Chairman Mao, but this letter also touched Zhu Qisheng's longing.
In October 1952, Zhu Qisheng took Chairman Mao’s handwritten letter and boarded the train to Beijing. Zhu Qisheng felt even more timid when he was close to his hometown. The closer the train was to Beijing, the more nervous he felt.On the way, various thoughts kept flashing in his mind: How should we find him after going to Beijing? What should I say after meeting?
As he thought about it, Beijing arrived. Zhu Qisheng had no time to think about these things anymore. He began to find a way to find out where Chairman Mao lived. After a lot of hard work, Zhu Qisheng finally found out that Chairman Mao lives in Zhongnanhai .
Zhu Qisheng did not dare to run to Zhongnanhai rashly. He first found a guesthouse to rest for a night, and the next day he packed up and went to Zhongnanhai to be the side door. Where can ordinary people enter Zhongnanhai casually? Fortunately, Zhu Qisheng brought Chairman Mao’s handwritten letter. After some negotiations, Zhu Qisheng was taken to Zhongnanhai and lived there.
Three days later, Chairman Mao met Zhu Qisheng in Fengze Garden, Zhongnanhai. As soon as Zhu Qisheng stepped into the yard, Chairman Mao greeted him warmly: "Brother Qisheng, we met too late. Peng Yousheng also came to write to me last year. Why didn't you write to me earlier? I really want to meet old friends."
Chairman Mao's enthusiasm greatly relieved Zhu Qisheng's nervous mood. After a few greetings, the two quickly regained their familiar pattern of getting along. The two talked a lot and had supper together. Before parting, Chairman Mao asked Zhu Qisheng to stay in Beijing for a few more days and make a move to Beijing's attractions.
Zhu Qisheng visited Beijing as he said, and met Chairman Mao again a few days later. Chairman Mao asked him about his hometown in Hubei. Then Zhu Qisheng lived in Beijing for a few more days, and then said goodbye to Chairman Mao and returned home. Chairman Mao also gave Zhu Qisheng 500 yuan and said, "This is my royalty, which I gave to you in my personal name."
Zhu Qisheng refused, so he had to accept the money. After returning to his hometown, he decided to use the money to contribute to society and realize his life value. Zhu Qisheng used his old business to set up an umbrella factory. Zhu Qisheng often encouraged the workers in the factory: "We organized it with the support of Chairman Mao. We must not be unorganized or disciplined. We must run the factory well!"
With the efforts of a group of people, the umbrella factory became more and more prosperous. In 1954, Zhu Qisheng entered Beijing again and reported to Chairman Mao about the situation of the umbrella factory with the umbrella produced by his own factory and several photos of the factory.
This time Chairman Mao still warmly received Zhu Qisheng, and the two of them still talked a lot. When Zhu Qisheng returned, Chairman Mao was still a little reluctant and told him to come to Beijing more when he was free, and said, "I will not forget you. If you have any difficulties, you can write me any letter."
This is the last time the two met. In 1956, Zhu Qisheng suddenly died of illness in Hankou.
