In 1957, Li Zongren, in the United States, wrote a letter to Cheng Siyuan, saying that he now preserves a batch of cultural relics and hopes to donate them to the motherland.
Cheng Siyuan could feel that every word and sentence of Li Zongren was homesick, and he also tactfully expressed his wish to "return to his roots".
In October 1959, Cheng Siyuan conveyed Li Zongren's wish to Zhou Enlai. Zhou Enlai highly praised Li Zongren for his collection of cultural relics to the motherland. Cheng Siyuan conveyed Zhou Enlai's words to Li Zongren. Li Zongren was immediately inspired. Under Zhou Enlai's arrangement, the batch of cultural relics was delivered to Beijing.
Li Zongren told Cheng Siyuan that the purchase of this batch of cultural relics cost more than 110,000 US dollars, but after identification, the Forbidden City experts found that most of the cultural relics were fakes. According to the market conditions at that time, it was worth up to 3,000 US dollars. Zhou Enlai was surprised and decided to give Li Zongren 30,000 US dollars.
Under the circumstances at that time, 30,000 US dollars was already a huge sum of money, but after Mao Zedong found out about this, Mao Zedong laughed and said to Zhou En: " Enlai, our united front work must be strategic. He said that more than 110,000 yuan, so we will give him 120,000 yuan. This is 'treating the way'!"
Mao Zedong asked Minister of Finance Li Xiannian to offer 120,000 US dollars of cash from the treasury and give it to Li Zongren.
The 120,000 yuan is said to be "buying" Li Zongren's collections, but in fact it is to encourage Li Zongren's patriotic enthusiasm. The People's Government wants to send this money to travel to Europe to enhance his love.
Li Zongren was very happy when he learned about it and praised Communist for not being simple, but for being aware of the goods.
This incident changed Li Zongren's concept a lot. In 1964, China successfully exploded the first atomic bomb . Li Zongren, who had been in the United States for 15 years, burst into tears. Looking back on the years of stumble in the United States, he missed his hometown even more...
In early 1949, Chiang Kai-shek retired in embarrassment, and Li Zongren became acting president. Li Zongren once called Mao Zedong, demanding that the People's Liberation Army stop crossing the river and hold peaceful negotiations.
What Mao Zedong considered at the time was to seize the time to instigate Li Zongren and Bai Chongxi . He once entrusted Shanghai democratic figures Zhang Shizhao and Yan Huiqing to tell Li Zongren, hoping that the most suitable representatives could be sent between the Communist Party of China and the Guangxi clique to secretly negotiate.
On the one hand, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China wants Bai Chongxi to give up the fantasy of "trying to rule with the CCP with the support of the United States and maintain half of the south of the Yangtze River". On the other hand, the People's Liberation Army is also preparing to give Bai Chongxi a greater military concession. As long as Bai Chongxi agrees, he can not move in Wuhan for the first time, we can walk around.
Mao Zedong also pointed out that if Bai Chongxi wants to retreat, we can not pursue. If he retreats to Guangxi, we can also not attack Guangxi for three years.
"Mr. Bai likes to lead troops. The Ministry of National Defense will be established in the future. I will lead you 500,000 or 600,000 people. Is it good to be a commander?" Mao Zedong's promise to Bai Chongxi was very sincere.
For Li Zongren, Mao Zedong also left room for choice and reminded him not to leave Nanjing after the People's Liberation Army crossed the river. If he thought Nanjing was not safe enough, he could fly to Peking . The CCP will definitely treat him as a VIP and can continue peace talks at that time.
Zhou Enlai also told Li Zongren through democrat , asking him to withdraw the Kuomintang army in Wuhan to Hankou first and give up Anqing . In view of Li Zongren's security issues, he agreed to transfer a division of the Guangxi division to station in Nanjing for protection.
But for various reasons, neither Li Zongren nor Bai Chongxi stayed...
Li Zongren saw through Chiang Kai-shek that he would not really give up his real power. In the end, he was still on the pretext that he was ill and left the United States. Five years later, he was removed from his position as "Vice President" by Chiang Kai-shek.
Li Zongren became a civilian who had been wandering in foreign lands.
, and Bai Chongxi had a hard time after going to Taiwan. He was under Chiang Kai-shek's surveillance every day and was marginalized in Taiwan.
Bai Chongxi would be investigated when he contacted anyone. In his later years, he was imprisoned innocently just because he got closer to a hunting person and that person was imprisoned until Bai Chongxi died.
Kuomintang spies have assassinated Bai Chongxi many times but failed. After Bai Chongxi's death, Chiang Kai-shek was the first to come to pay his respects. After returning, he still wrote in his diary, "It is lucky that Bai Chongxi can start and end well."
Bai Chongxi's various experiences in Taiwan made Li Zongren very scared and realized that his choice was very correct.
Li Zongren, who lives overseas, is lonely and lonely. He misses his motherland very much, looks forward to reunification, and looks forward to returning to China early.
The return of Li Zongren from 1955 to 1965, and there were ten twists and turns, and Mao Zedong always supported him strongly.
There is also one of the heroes of this who is Cheng Siyuan.
Cheng Siyuan was originally Li Zongren's confidential secretary. Since 1930, he has followed Li Zongren and planned "anti-Chiang" activities.
Li Zongren sent Cheng Siyuan to Italy to study and was grateful to Cheng Siyuan. Cheng Siyuan obtained a doctorate in political science with excellent results and also had different opinions on the domestic situation.
Although he is in the Kuomintang, he does not like Chiang Kai-shek's policies very much. He can also see from a long-term perspective that the Kuomintang's policies are not in line with the actual situation in the country and have begun to favor the Communist Party.
Cheng Siyuan
1949 After the failed peace talks, Li Zongren's Guangxi troops were also annihilated. Li Zongren didn't know where to go, and under Cheng Siyuan's arrangement, he went to the United States for 16 years.
After the liberation, Premier Zhou inquired from many sources and contacted Cheng Siyuan, inviting Cheng Siyuan to visit Beijing, and hoped that he could contact Li Zongren.
After hearing what Premier Zhou said, Cheng Siyuan immediately expressed his willingness to help accomplish this. Later, Cheng Siyuan came to Shandong, China to visit and saw that the once-occupied area is now booming. He was very excited. He also realized that everything was attributed to the leadership of the Communist Party.
Cheng Siyuan told Li Zongren everything he saw and heard in the mainland. Li Zongren was quite moved and missed his hometown even more.
After contacting Zhou Enlai twice, Cheng Siyuan has realized that Li Zongren’s return to China to adapt to changes in the domestic situation is beneficial to Li Zongren, and he cannot miss this opportunity again.
Since the donation of cultural relics, Mao Zedong has been paying close attention to Li Zongren's return to China. Not long after, Zhou Enlai conveyed to Mao Zedong that Li Zongren wanted to return to his country, worried that he would no longer be used to living in the country.
Mao Zedong said frankly: "He is willing to come back, so we welcome him back. If you are not used to living, you can go back again. You can go back and go freely!"
Mao Zedong's sentence "Free come and go" is very suitable for Li Zongren's special situation. Based on Mao Zedong's this, Zhou Enlai specifically proposed the "four possibilities" for Li Zongren's return to China. After returning, he can go back to the motherland and go out again. If he is still willing to come back, he can come back. In addition, there are also "four musts", which means not interfering in Taiwan's issue, not getting involved with the third force, not interfering in Sino-US relations, and not interfering in the relationship between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party.
In 1963, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China certified and analyzed the domestic and international situation and felt that the time for Li Zongren to return to China was ripe. Cheng Siyuan went to Switzerland to meet Li Zongren. Before leaving, Zhou Enlai personally asked him to explain the mission and the spirit of the policy.
Cheng Siyuan came to Zurich before Christmas. After meeting with Li Zongren, he introduced the "four possibilities" and "four possibilities". After hearing this, Li Zongren said on the spot: "I just need 'one possibilities', I want to go back to my motherland to settle down and spend my old age in peace."
But not long after, in February 1964, Li Zongren suddenly published an article in the "New York Herald Tribune", which had various misunderstandings about the foreign policy of New China.
Li Zongren's article published is obviously inconsistent with the "get rid of the four relationships" that Zhou Enlai asked. After this article was reported, it had a very bad response, which naturally delayed the process of Li Zongren's return to the motherland.
Li Zongren and his wife Guo Dejie
In 1964, two things happened that made Li Zongren miss his motherland even more, and also made him realize that his previous understanding was particularly wrong.
One thing is that the French Charles de Gaulle government recognized the People's Republic of China and China and France officially established diplomatic relations; the second thing is that this year, the first atomic bomb in China successfully exploded.
Li Zongren has to admit that under the leadership of the first generation of leaders of the people's government, my country's hike in science and technology has developed leapfrogged in its level, and its national strength has been unprecedentedly strengthened.
This was originally a dream for veteran generals like Li Zongren who had experienced bloody storms and had seen too many sufferings of the people.
He wants to go home and never want to stay in the United States again, and live such a life that is dependent on others!
Li Zongren and Zhou Enlai
Li Zongren's intention to leave the United States is settled. He wants to take advantage of his real estate and log in to the sales advertisement. He expressed deep guilt for the article he published before and regretted it. He told his close friend Liao Xingjian about this, hoping that he could bring his words to the mainland.
In February 1965, the Investigation Department of the CPC Central Committee submitted a report on Li Zongren to Mao Zedong. Mao Zedong immediately stated that he could now prepare to welcome Li Zongren back to China. As for the article he wrote before, it has nothing to do with the overall situation. Besides, Li Zongren has admitted his mistake and can leave it alone.
In 1965, Cheng Siyuan once again came to Switzerland with Prime Minister Zhou Enlai's instructions. This time his mission was to escort Li Zongren back to China successfully.
June 28, while chatting with Li Zongren, Li Zongren said to him affectionately: "Siyuan, the tree is thousands of feet high, the leaves fall back to their roots. The more you reach old age, the more you miss the motherland!"
Central Investigation Department suggested that Li Zongren should not hold press conferences in Europe before returning to China, nor should he make a written statement. Everything is for his safety. Li Zongren agreed.
As for the matter of the statement, there were two plans at that time. First, Li Zongren did not rush to issue a statement after returning to China and discussed it before discussing it; second, Li Zongren issued a statement at the airport as soon as he entered the national gate and met with reporters. He must discuss it with the country before the finalization of the statement.
Mao Zedong personally finalized the instructions and called Zhou Enlai to suggest a second plan.
On the evening of July 17, Li Zongren and his group took off from Karachi, passed through the southwest border of the motherland and entered the border. They flew to Guangzhou in the early morning of the 18th. At noon, Li Zongren and his group finally arrived in Shanghai. On July 20, Li Zongren and his wife came to Beijing accompanied by Cheng Siyuan.
Zhou Enlai carefully arranged a grand welcome ceremony. The welcome team had more than 100 people, including party and state leaders, people from various democratic parties and the Kuomintang’s uprising generals...
Li Zongren returned to China
At the moment when he saw Premier Zhou, Li Zongren was very excited and said repeatedly: "I'm back, I'm back. Hello Prime Minister, Hello Prime Minister."
In the hall of Beijing Airport, Li Zongren read out his statement in the face of the enthusiastic welcome crowd:
16, I have been guilty of overseas crimes and felt that under the wise leadership of the people of the whole country, under the wise leadership of the Communist Party of China and Chairman Mao, held high the red flag of the general socialist construction line, resolutely fought to make the country flourish, and have recently successfully exploded two atomic bombs. These are the result of our country's self-reliance and hard work. All Chinese overseas, except for a few diehards, feel deeply honored by this. I am particularly excited and resolutely returned to China from overseas, hoping to follow the people of our country, participate in the construction of socialism in and work on all anti-imperialist and patriotic causes. In the future, I will be the year of serving the motherland. I will be happy to be in my heart, and the sun can be expressed...
Then, surrounded by everyone, Li Zongren and his group went to Jinjiang Hotel .
On the way, Luo Qingchang told Cheng Siyuan that Premier Zhou was worried about Li Zongren's safety and did not sleep all night last night until the plane entered Yunnan Province. He relaxed and went to rest.
Li Zongren and Mao Zedong met, which was a very meaningful thing in history.
On July 26, 1964, it has been more than a week since Li Zongren returned to his motherland. Li Zongren and his wife were visiting a textile factory and suddenly received a notice saying that Mao Zedong wanted to meet them in Zhongnanhai .
Li Zongren was excited and nervous. At around 11 o'clock, Li Zongren came to Zhongnanhai accompanied by Cheng Siyuan.
When Li Zongren came, he saw about 200 cadres in the agency swimming, while Mao Zedong was in the water, leisurely and leisurely, holding a cigarette in his hand, as if he was lying on the water.
Li Zongren was surprised: "Ah! I didn't expect that the Chairman's swimming skills were so good!"
The moment he saw Li Zongren, Mao Zedong left the swimming pool, wiped the water droplets on his body, put on his clothes, and warmly welcomed him.
He shook hands cordially with Li Zongren and his wife Guo Dejie. It can be seen that Chairman Mao was in a particularly good mood today and said happily: "You are back, very good, welcome you!"
When the guests sat down, Mao Zedong joked with Li Zongren: " Haha, Mr. Delin, you were fooled! This time you returned, you were mistakenly on the pirate ship!"
Li Zongren was not sure. Mao Zedong continued: "Cheng Kai-shek called us 'bandits' and also called the mainland of the motherland a 'bandit area'. Didn't you just mistakenly get on the pirate ship when you came back this time?"
Li Zongren then realized what Mao Zedong's humorous words meant. Cheng Siyuan mentioned: "Chairman, we boarded the Cihang boat and boarded the other side!"
Mao Zedong's conversation and laughter made the originally slightly awkward meeting liven up. This is Mao Zedong's affirmation and appreciation of Li Zongren's choice of the bright path, and it is also his pride in the victory of the revolution led by the Communist Party of China and the achievements of socialist construction.
This sentence made everyone laugh. Li Zongren also relaxed a lot because of Mao Zedong's humorous opening remarks. He said to Mao Zedong: "This time I returned to the embrace of the motherland and felt the warm welcome from the government and the people. First of all, I expressed my sincere gratitude to the Chairman. We feel that the motherland is becoming stronger overseas and I am very happy."
Mao Zedong suggested that Li Zongren continue to visit all over the country, and should take a walk and take a look. Later, Mao Zedong also held a banquet in Fengze Garden to entertain Li Zongren and his party.
During the conversation with Li Zongren, Mao Zedong would naturally mention Bai Chongxi.
At this time, Bai Chongxi was in Taiwan. Under Chiang Kai-shek's control, Chiang Kai-shek was so angry that he stamped his feet when Li Zongren returned to China, but he had no choice but to Li Zongren. Bai Chongxi exclaimed his anger. Bai Chongxi scolded Li Zongren under Chiang Kai-shek's instructions.
Mao Zedong analyzed: "Bai Chongxi scolds you, one is that there is no way; but that it is helpless; the third is to express regret. You have also opened a way for them when you come back."
mentioned that Bai Chongxi and Li Zongren were obviously much more depressed, and he said slowly: "He has something to hide."
The elderly Li Zongren finally met Chairman Mao. He was very happy and seemed a little restrained. The weather in Beijing was also quite hot. Not long after, Li Zongren's forehead was covered with sweat beads. He took out a handkerchief and wiped it on his forehead.
Mao Zedong said to Li Zongren peacefully: "Taiwan prevented you from coming back through the United States, but he did not understand how you came back."
Chairman Mao met with Li Zongren and his wife and Cheng Siyuan
Li Zongren told Mao Zedong that now many people overseas miss the motherland. They long to return to the motherland, but in fact their hearts are still towards the motherland.
Although Taiwan attacked Li Zongren in various ways this time, Mao Zedong did not recommend that Li Zongren scold Chiang Kai-shek. Chairman Mao looked at Li Zongren and sighed: "Cheng Kai-shek is one level higher than you. You are his subordinate. We are more welcome when he comes back."
Li Zongren couldn't help but nodded.
Then Li Zongren was heart-warming with Mao Zedong and talked about the current Taiwan issue. Mao Zedong looked very calm. Seeing that Li Zongren had deep concerns after raising the Taiwan issue, he comforted him and said: "Mr. Delin, don't worry, Taiwan will come back to the motherland one day. This is an irreversible historical trend."
Li Zongren nodded sincerely.
This meeting, Mao Zedong also took a photo with Li Zongren.
htmlNational Day after 2002 is the anniversary of the founding of New China. Li Zongren, who has returned to China to settle down for more than a year, is recuperating at 301 Hospital in Beijing. He was notified that he would go to Tiananmen to participate in the celebration of National Day.Li Zongren seemed very excited. He came to the Tiananmen lounge early on the National Day. Li Zongren sat with many comrades from the CPPCC. After the celebration, Li Zongren and Mao Zedong met again. Chairman Mao took the initiative to come to him and shook hands with him enthusiastically. Li Zongren was very happy: "Hello, Chairman!"
Mao Zedong instructed him: "You must take good care of your health, the Communist Party will not forget you."
Li Zongren and Chairman Mao were together
This sentence moved Li Zongren for a long time and couldn't speak. Mao Zedong pulled him to the lounge and led him to dinner like an old friend.
In the lounge, Chairman Mao asked Li Zongren to sit on the seat, but Li Zongren refused. Mao Zedong advised him: You are older, you should be the first seat, and the two sat down with laughter.
On January 30, 1969, Li Zongren died of illness in Beijing at the age of 78.
When he was dying, Li Zongren was still very grateful for the New China's care for his life after returning to China.
Li Zongren, who was originally standing opposite to the Communist Party of China, finally realized under Mao Zedong's sincerity and concern. He finally realized that after foreign invasion and civil war, the Chinese people chose a path that suits them the most.
How lucky is Li Zongren. He doesn’t have to endure the suffering of wandering overseas in his later years, nor does he have to live under the roof of others in Taiwan like Bai Chongxi. He was suspicious and disliked by Chiang Kai-shek. In the limited years after his return to China, he searched everywhere and saw the increasingly prosperous motherland. As Mao Zedong said, the Communist Party of China is still fulfilling Mr. Sun Yat-sen’s wish. China can achieve independence and prosperity and catch up with the world’s powers!
