Preface
In January 1958, Shanghai, which had not snowed for many years, suddenly snow fell all over the city. Everyone was dressed thickly and came out to play with the snow and enjoy the snow. Zhou Gucheng sways on the campus of Fudan University. Most of the students have returned to the dormitory after class. The path is a bit deserted. There is a lot of snow falling on the pine, cypress and plum trees on the side of the road. The scenery is excellent.
Zhougucheng saw the beautiful scenery and enjoyed this environment for a while. He walked very slowly. When he got home, he was already "the moon was on the willows". When I got home, I leaned against the window and watched the moonlight. Unfortunately, I am alone and can't have a chat.
A phone ring pulled Zhou Gucheng out of his thoughts. When he answered the phone, he actually informed him to go to the East Lake Hotel on the banks of Xizi Lake in Hangzhou at this time. It was very short and did not explain the reason. Donghu Hotel is not an ordinary place, and only leaders live here. Zhou Gucheng packs up and takes a bus to the airport.
Zhougucheng
When he arrived at the airport, he saw a team of people already at the door. Although he was confused, he could only get off the car and walk towards the gate first. A little closer, I saw a familiar face among the team, Huang Zhibo, director of , , Shanghai Public Security Bureau.
As soon as we met, Huang Zhibo came up and said, "Professor Zhou, the Chairman is waiting for you to enjoy the moon on the Xizi Lake !"
Zhou Gucheng was stunned by this sentence, and after a while he realized, he was happy in his heart. It turned out that the Chairman was looking for someone. He just sighed that no one appreciated the moonlight together, but they thought of it together. Huang Zhibola took a special plane to Hangzhou last week.
Shanghai and Hangzhou are not far away, but after a lot of trouble, it was already midnight when Zhou Gucheng reached Donghu Hotel. Zhou Gucheng first greeted Mao Zedong. Seeing that there were Liu Yazi, Zhou Shizhao, Guo Moruo and others around him, he also greeted each other.
Mao Zedong sat on the sofa, looking very energetic, and greeted Zhou Gucheng with a smile: "Just wait for you!" It turned out that this was a gathering of old friends organized by Mao Zedong. All the people present were the leaders in the academic world, and it was the most suitable to enjoy the moon and taste tea together.
However, everyone hasn't seen each other for many years, and suddenly gathered here late at night. For a moment, I was a little restrained and no one spoke first. Mao Zedong was the organizer. He was the first to raise the topic and asked everyone: "Do you know what the surname of public relations?" The question of
was thrown out, and everyone here looked at each other, and it was a little confused. Isn't Guan Gong a surname Guan? Otherwise, what else can you have a surname? Zhou Gucheng and Mao Zedong were most familiar with each other. They looked at him and asked, "Don't Guan Gong, isn't the surname Guan?"
Mao Zedong replied, "No," and then laughed out loud. I will explain to you after laughing. There are many statements about Guan Gong’s surname in history, but there is no official statement.
More people agree with the statement that Guan Gong’s surname is Feng. When he was in his hometown, Guan Gong hated evil and was wanted for killing a local bully. Guan Gong could only leave his hometown and flee all the way to Tongguan . On the way, he changed his name and surname to Guan Gong.
After listening to Mao Zedong, everyone started to discuss it with each word, and the previously reserved atmosphere was swept away. Zhou Gucheng can't remember the specific content of the chat, but only remembers that he had talked with the Chairman a lot of past years. After a free conversation, he felt very happy. It seemed that he hadn't been so happy with his old friend for a long time.
The origin of Zhou Gucheng and Mao Zedong: The two have three common teachers,
first place, Yuan Jiliu
Zhou Gucheng and Mao Zedong are fellow villagers, both from Hunan. In 1913, Zhou Gucheng was admitted to the No. 1 Middle School in Changsha, Hunan. Before, Zhou Gucheng studied very carefully in a family private school, and he studied ancient literature very well and read a lot of ancient books.
After entering middle school, his excellent ancient Chinese scores received the attention of his teacher Yuan Jiliu. Yuan Jiliu was a Jinshi of the former Qing Dynasty. He had a profound attainment in ancient Chinese and had taught many students, including those with talent.
But he once lamented that among the many students, Mao Zedong and Zhou Gucheng had the best ancient literature, but unfortunately they were not in the same class, otherwise there would definitely be many common languages. But I knew that Mao Zedong and Zhou Gucheng really became friends later.
The two are 5 years apart. Yuan Jiliu was Mao Zedong's teacher when he was studying in Hunan No. 1 Normal School, and when he was teaching Zhou Gucheng, he taught at Changsha Provincial No. 1 Middle School in Hunan.
second place, Yang Changji
Yang Changji is a teacher at Hunan No. 1 Normal School. He taught in Hunan between 1913 and 1918, and later he taught in Peking University for 2 years. Moreover, Yang Changji was not only Mao Zedong's teacher, but also Mao Zedong's father-in-law.
Yang Changji
third digit, character set one
character set one is Hunan Provincial No. 1 Middle School and Hunan Normal School schools, and they have also taught Mao Zedong and Zhou Gucheng.
However, Zhou Gucheng and Mao Zedong did not meet in their student days. The first time they met was in 1921. Mao Zedong was the head teacher at the primary school affiliated to the First Division. Zhou Gucheng had just returned to Changsha and taught at the first normal school in , and the two became colleagues.
可以正
As expected, the two of them were like what Yuan Jiliu expected, with similar interests, chatting very well, and soon became familiar with each other. After dinner, Mao Zedong often walked to Zhou Gucheng's residence and chatted together. Once, when I saw the English version of " Capital " on the bookshelf, I asked Zhou Gucheng with interest: "You see this, aren't you afraid of causing trouble?"
Zhou Gucheng did not think it was a trouble to read this book, so Mao Zedong thought that Zhou Gucheng was a friend, and the two occasionally began to discuss some class and revolutionary concepts.
8 In August, Mao Zedong and He Shuheng and other progressive people jointly organized Hunan Self-Study University , sending a sincere invitation to Zhou Gucheng, hoping that he could come to teach. Zhou Gucheng came to help with teaching without saying a word. In addition to teaching and educating people, Zhou Gucheng also has a pursuit and hobby, writing books and making lectures.
He often talks with Mao Zedong about history, Chinese history, and world history. He believes that if you want to understand the world, you must first understand world history. Unfortunately, there are few books on world history in China. He once discussed with Mao Zedong: "History cannot be written by foreigners, we Chinese should also have our own worldview."
Mao Zedong agreed with this and encouraged Zhou Gucheng: "This is a major event that shapes the cultural confidence of the Chinese people. You can do it!" Writing history is a complex and tedious task, and it requires reviewing and sorting out a large number of historical books and materials. Zhou Gucheng studied world history while teaching.
Unfortunately, in the country, there were chaotic times and warlords were fighting each other. Less than two years after Hunan Self-Study University was established, it was ordered to be sealed by local warlord Zhao Hengti of Hunan on the grounds that it promoted revolutionary ideas and disrupted the hearts of the people.
This university has embodied a lot of Mao Zedong's efforts. Zhou Gucheng wanted to comfort Mao Zedong, but saw Mao Zedong looking at the seal on the door and encouraging himself: "As long as the person is still there and the ideal is still there, the school can still be built if it is gone."
said, then turned to Zhou Gucheng, what are the plans behind it. Zhou Gucheng thought about it carefully and said that he wanted to write a book. Mao Zedong concluded: "I want to organize the workers' movement and continue the revolution. You want to study history and transform your thoughts!"
"The same journey is the same!" The two said these four words tacitly and smiled at each other.
Zhougucheng
Break and reunited and ran around, but the revolutionary heart is unswerving
0 The two of them separated for two years. In the spring of 1925, they reunited in Guangzhou. Zhou Gucheng had already returned to Hunan No. 1 Normal School to teach at this time, and came to Guangzhou to understand the new situation of the National Revolution. Mao Zedong happened to be responsible for the propaganda work of the National Revolution during this period, and also held a peasant movement workshop.
Old friends reunite, of course there is endless things to say, and Mao Zedong immediately invited Zhou Gucheng to stay and teach at the Farmers' Training Institute. However, Zhou Gucheng already has teaching tasks in Hunan Normal University, and only explained to Mao Zedong: "I want to go back. Hunan Normal University has not yet resigned."
Although Zhou Gucheng did not stay this time, after returning to Hunan, under the guidance of Mao Zedong, he participated in the Hunan Farmers Association, became a consultant, and taught at the Chuanshan Society, a newly established self-study university founded by Mao Zedong. While teaching, we also work hard for the revolutionary cause.
didn’t meet much with Mao Zedong during the period, but he had a lot of exchanges with letters.In 1926, Mao Zedong returned to Hunan to lead the peasant movement, and the two met again. At this time, the peasant association in Hunan Province had grown to more than 1.3 million people, and its influence in the country was growing.
Mao Zedong sighed: "A spark can start a prairie fire."
Zhou Gucheng was also very excited: "Yes, this is just a small step, and it should be a big step in the future."
In the spring of 1927, Zhou Gucheng and Mao Zedong met again in Wuhan. Zhou Gucheng was not in good health during this period and had hemorrhoids, and was in a semi-rest and recuperating state. Mao Zedong went to visit his old friends in person and invited Zhou Gucheng to work at the National Farmers Association. Zhou Gucheng, who was planning to recuperate, readily agreed upon receiving the invitation from Mao Zedong.
Later, Chiang Kai-shek launched a coup, persecuting Communist Party members and advanced intellectuals, and Wuhan became a "dead city". Mao Zedong went south to lead the Autumn Harvest Uprising, and Zhou Gucheng went to Shanghai to avoid the limelight.
This time, the two separated for eighteen years. When we parted, we still looked like a young man, and when we met again, we were all middle-aged. In 1945, Mao Zedong was going to Chongqing to negotiate the peaceful establishment of the Kuomintang and the Republic of China. Zhou Gucheng saw the news on the " Grand Gazette " and hurried to the Sino-Soviet Cultural Association to inquire about the news.
Association President Sun Ke is preparing to hold a tea party to welcome Mao Zedong and reminded Zhou Gucheng to attend on time. After getting the exact news, Zhou Gucheng was very excited after returning home and prepared the clothes he needed for the tea party on the day.
On the day of the tea party, Zhou Gucheng cleaned up early and waited for Mao Zedong and other CCP leaders to arrive. Mao Zedong walked over in simple worker outfits. Zhou Gucheng took two steps forward and shook hands with Mao Zedong. He was so excited that he couldn't speak. Mao Zedong asked cheerfully: "Are you Mr. Zhou Gucheng?"
Zhou Gucheng replied: "Yes."
Mao Zedong's eyes were a little tears and said: "It's been 18 years."
Zhou Gucheng didn't expect Mao Zedong to remember so clearly. He was moved and spoke again, and his voice was filled with a bit of tremolo: "Have you cured your stomach bleeding problem in the past?"
Mao Zedong replied humorously: "I am a very cheap person. I have food to eat at home and will get sick. I pick up a gun and become a 'bandit' and the disease will be gone."
sing a few simple greetings, and everyone walked to the venue. Zhou Gucheng and Mao Zedong had no chance to talk too much. Later, Zhou Gucheng and several democrats visited Mao Zedong specifically, and everyone talked about the years they had experienced together. From the conversation, Zhou Gucheng felt that Mao Zedong was very nostalgic and cared about these old friends.
In 1946, Zhou Gucheng returned to Shanghai from Chongqing and served as the director of the History Department at Fudan University. While working, he also formed a "big education alliance" with many democratic teachers in Shanghai to promote progressive ideas. Because of this incident, he was on the blacklist of the Kuomintang Shanghai Guard Command and could only stay honestly in Shanghai to teach.
In fact, for many years, Zhou Gucheng has not given up on his ambition to write books. However, because I have lived in a long time without a fixed place and wandered around, the progress of writing books is relatively slow. I have more time and energy these days. In 1949, Zhou Gucheng completed the three-volume "General History of the World".
This book has had a great impact on Chinese historical research and history teaching, and has also broken the world history framework with Europe as the world center.
It was not until Shanghai was liberated that Zhou Gucheng broke away from the surveillance of the Kuomintang and was appointed as the first provost of Fudan University.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Mao Zedong invited Zhou Gucheng to gather many times
Mao Zedong was indeed a nostalgic person. Whether he went to Shanghai to work or Zhou Gucheng came to Beijing for a meeting, as long as he had the chance, the two would gather together and sit together to have dinner and chat.
At the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Mao Zedong visited Shanghai. Shanghai Mayor Chen Yi entertained Mao Zedong at Jinjiang Hotel , and Zhou Gucheng was also invited to attend. After dinner, we went to the auditorium to watch the historical drama.
In order to enjoy the show, two super large sofas were prepared in front of the stage of the small auditorium, which were obviously prepared for Mao Zedong and other leaders.But Mao Zedong did not sit on the sofa, but sat with Zhou Gucheng, which was a row of small chairs in a small auditorium. Mao Zedong also joked with Zhou Gucheng: "We are willing to travel in the middle."
1956, Zhou Gucheng came to Beijing for a meeting, and Mao Zedong invited people to the open-air swimming pool in Zhongnanhai to talk. As soon as Zhou Gucheng came over, Mao Zedong asked, "Can you swim?"
Zhou Gucheng hesitated: "When I was a child, I played in the small rivers and ponds in my hometown. I could float for dozens of yards. I wonder if it is okay now."
Mao Zedong encouraged: "Try it."
As the two of them changed their swimsuits and went into the water together. Mao Zedong just entered the sea and swam freely in the swimming pool. Zhou Gucheng is not used to it and only moves in shallow water areas. Mao Zedong called out, "Come on."
Zhou Gucheng smiled and said, "I can't go into the easy-to-understand, nor can I go from shallow to deep."
swam for a while, and the two of them went ashore. Zhou Gucheng changed his clothes, and Mao Zedong put on a pajamas, sat down on the recliner by the pool, picked up a book " Hanshu " to read. The two talked about the ancient military farming.
Mao Zedong and Zhou Gucheng said: "At the beginning, only one or two people agreed on the farming matter, but eight or nine out of ten people agreed on it later. It can be seen that the truth needs to be accepted by people, and there must be a process, whether it is history or present, but it must be persisted."
There are many heart-to-heart talks like Mao Zedong and Zhou Gucheng.
In the autumn of 1958, Mao Zedong visited Shanghai again, and several marshals including Ye Jianying, Liu Bocheng, He Long were there. During dinner, Mao Zedong specially called Zhou Gucheng over.
Zhou Gucheng published an article in the newspaper "New Construction" some time ago, opposing some works on logic in the Soviet Union, but were criticized by many people. Mao Zedong happened to hear about this, so he called Zhou Gucheng and talked about it.
Mao Zedong took out the New Construction newspaper and said, "You have the most clear statement about logic."
Zhou Gucheng was quite angry when talking about this: "It's amazing, rocket launcher -like comments rushed over, I can't stand it!"
Mao Zedong knew that Zhou Gucheng was very serious and persistent when talking about academic content, and comforted him: "What can't stand it? Debate is just something."
Zhou Gucheng: "Seldom people agree with my opinion, I have become the target of public criticism."
Mao Zedong: "Someone agrees with your opinion, but it is not isolated. A publication in Renmin University of seems to be in " Teaching and Research ". Someone wrote an article to quote your opinion."
Zhou Gucheng: "I didn't see it."
Mao Zedong: "I can ask someone to send it to you."
After a few days, Mao Zedong indeed asked someone to send some publications to Zhou Gucheng, and the few pages on it were folded, and some words from Zhou Gucheng were quoted. Zhou Gucheng was very happy to see him, and even sighed at Mao Zedong's intentions, and he would pay attention to these small things.
1961 Labor Day, Mao Zedong came to Shanghai to work in business again. After finishing his business, he invited many academic talents from Shanghai to dinner. In addition to Zhou Gucheng, there were Chen Wangdao, Shen Kefei, Zhou Xinfang and others. At the dinner table, he didn't talk about political affairs, but only talked about literary works and trivial matters in life. Mao Zedong liked to listen to these things and talked about it very well.
Zhou Gucheng returned home to rest in the evening, but was disturbed by a phone call. The newspaper reporter hoped that he could write a poem and a poem to publish it in the Liberation Daily to welcome Mao Zedong. Zhou Gucheng refused and said he couldn't write it, but he was beaten by the reporter for a long time and barely wrote a poem.
Mao Zedong read the newspaper and called Zhou Gucheng. As soon as he met, Mao Zedong said, "I saw one lyrics, I'm afraid there is more than one lyrics?" (Mao Zedong praised Zhou Gucheng for his good lyrics, and he must often write poetry.)
Zhou Gucheng: "There is only one lyrics. I have never published poetry in the newspaper. This is indeed the first one."
Zhou Gucheng said about the previous reporter and said, "Often, I also occasionally write a few sentences, which is art of elegance."
Mao Zedong: "What are the disadvantages of art of elegance?"
Zhou Gucheng: "People with art of elegance are nothing more than complaining.”
Mao Zedong: “What’s wrong with complaining? Will you live without complaining? "
Zhou Gucheng smiled: "The Chairman told us to be funny when speaking, and we should pay attention. "
Mao Zedong: "Yes, it's so dry, what's the point? "
Zhou Gucheng finally concluded: "When the command exceeds the need, humor and wit come true. ”
1965, Mao Zedong met Zhou Gucheng in an old villa in the western suburbs of Shanghai again. The two talked about life, history and culture again, as natural and comfortable as old friends met. This was their last meeting.
Mao Zedong always remembered Zhou Gucheng's "General History of the World", hoping that he could continue to write. Zhou Gucheng later not only wrote "General History of the World", but also "General History of China", and devoted himself to education and historical research all his life.
