Before the beginning of the special period of ten years, Wang Hongwen was just a security officer at Shanghai Guomang No. 17 Factory. After the special period of ten years, Wang Hongwen kept postings at Guomang No. 17 Factory, criticizing the leaders of the factory and gradually started his business by rebellion. In November 1966, Wang Hongwen initiated the establishment of the "General Office of Industry and Engineering". After the "January Storm", he was appointed as the deputy director of the Shanghai Revolutionary Committee and became a senior local cadre.
In September 1972, Wang Hongwen was transferred to Beijing and became a national-level cadre after a period of time. However, after he was in a high position, he lost himself and formed a "Gang of Four" with Zhang Chunqiao, Yao Wenyuan and Jiang Qing, doing many bad things that harmed the country and the people. On October 6, 1976, Hua Guofeng, Ye Jianying and Wang Dongxing commanded the 8341 unit and to crush the "Gang of Four" and also arrested Wang Hongwen.
After being arrested, Wang Hongwen was first detained in the underground project of Zhongnanhai in for review. After collecting evidence of his crime, he was transferred to Qincheng Prison in April 1977 and continued to be detained. In 1980, the central government decided to review the "two cases". So, what happened during the interrogation of Wang Hongwen?
Before the arraignment of Wang Hongwen, the Ministry of Public Security specially established a pre-examination group to pre-examination Wang Hongwen. Although Wang Hongwen is the highest-ranking member of the "Gang of Four", he is also the least experienced, and it is also the easiest to open a breakthrough from him. On November 20, 1980, the Special Procuratorate of the Supreme People's Procuratorate issued a special indictment prosecuting Wang Hongwen for his crimes. At the same time, Wang Hongwen was also told that he could find a defense lawyer to defend himself. However, Wang Hongwen refused to find a defense lawyer. At the arraignment site, he recognized all the crimes alleged in the court and said in court, "I am guilty and I want to plead guilty to the people of the whole country."
The first time Wang Hongwen was interrogated was on the morning of December 6, 1980, and the First Trial Court has interrogated Wang Hongwen several times since then. It is worth mentioning that during the interrogation of Wang Hongwen, he performed very well, cooperated with the questioning, and tried his best to draw a clear line with other members of the "Gang of Four".
Wang Hongwen also explained two very valuable issues, the two important issues are: First, at the end of 1974, during the preparation stage of the Fourth People's Congress, Premier Zhou was in charge of personnel arrangements. The main members of the "Gang of Four" including Wang Hongwen regarded this meeting as an opportunity to seize power. In order to arrange his own personnel, the "Gang of Four" sent Wang Hongwen to Changsha twice after conspiring. However, during these two complaints, Wang Hongwen was criticized by Chairman Mao, and Chairman Mao even told him not to start the "Gang of Four".
The second important issue is that on September 17, 1976, Wang Hongwen secretly flew back to Shanghai and stepped up the supervision of the "Second Armed Forces", firing 74,220 guns, 300 artillery pieces, and more than 10 million ammunitions for the militia, waiting for an opportunity to establish an armed force, prepare for the implementation of conspiracy activities, and launch an armed rebellion.
These two important issues explained by Wang Hongwen played an important role in collecting evidence of the crime of the "Gang of Four" and greatly promoted the public trial of the "Gang of Four". After a series of arraignment, on January 25, 1981, the Special Court of the Supreme People's Court sentenced Wang Hongwen to life imprisonment and deprived of political power for life. This person who made a huge mistake in a special period of ten years was severely punished by law.
Wang Hongwen did not leave prison for the rest of his life, nor did he receive medical parole. In 1985, during a routine physical examination, he was diagnosed with severe liver disease. After that, Wang Hongwen was transferred to Fuxing Hospital of the Ministry of Public Security for treatment. In 1992, Wang Hongwen died of illness at the age of 57. It is worth mentioning that Wang Hongwen was not buried after he died of illness. His ashes were brought back to his home in Shanghai by his wife. Wang Hongwen's daughter once revealed that he would bury his father if he had the right opportunity in the future.
