Author Wang Shu
When people get old, they often reminisce about the past, especially the most impressive things in the most unforgettable years. 1972 was an unusual year for me. I was received by Chairman Mao and listened to his discussion of the domestic and international situations. Of course, this happened many years ago, but as the time gap increases, every time I think back, I seem to see these things deeper and experience them more.
Premier Zhou said, you don’t want him, I want him
I have to start from the beginning. On the evening of July 20, 1972, after receiving an urgent telegram from China asking me to return home immediately, I returned to Beijing from Bonn, West Germany, via Paris, Karachi, and Shanghai. I was a reporter from the Xinhua News Agency in Bonn. At that time, the two countries had not yet established diplomatic relations, and our country had only one news unit, the Xinhua Branch in Bonn. When comrades from the Foreign Affairs Department of Xinhua News Agency picked me up at the airport, they told me not to go out after returning home because Premier Zhou might want to see me at any time. Early the next morning, comrades from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed me to go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately. Foreign Minister Ji Pengfei wanted to see me. Foreign Minister Ji gave me a lot of encouragement for my work in Bonn for more than two years, and asked me to wait at home. The Prime Minister might meet with me soon.
That afternoon, I received a notice that the Prime Minister would receive me at the Great Hall of the People at 7 p.m. This incident confirmed a feeling that had been lingering in my mind for months. It was early 1972. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a special telegram to our branch, praising some reports I had sent to China on the situation in West Germany and Europe, which I thought were of reference value. A few months later, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent another telegram to the branch, praising other reports I wrote. It is extremely rare for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to send such telegrams twice in a row. I guess it was probably because Premier Zhou or even Chairman Mao gave instructions after reading my report that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent such a telegram. Later, I heard that the Prime Minister repeatedly mentioned some of the reports I wrote when meeting with some overseas delegations.
That night, I walked into the East Hall of the Great Hall of the People a little earlier than the stipulated time. There was no one in the living room yet, and the lights were not fully turned on. I sat on a wicker chair and waited, feeling very excited. I went to work in Bonn in December 1969, the third year of the "Cultural Revolution", and I was the first among the veteran journalists to be sent abroad. It was entirely based on Premier Zhou's instructions to restore Xinhua bureaus abroad. Before the Cultural Revolution, I spent most of my time working in overseas bureaus. In mid-1964, I returned to China and worked as a publishing assistant in the International Department of the head office. At the beginning of the "Cultural Revolution", he became a "three-anti element" and worked in the labor reform team for two years. Later, the cadres were liberated and resumed their original duties. After the Ninth National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Prime Minister asked the leader of the Xinhua News Agency’s military control team at a meeting about foreign branches. The answer was that the vast majority of foreign correspondents had already returned to China to participate in the "Cultural Revolution", and most branches were empty, and some branches were left with individual people to look after them. The Prime Minister was very angry and asked why he did not ask for instructions or report. He also ordered the leaders of Xinhua News Agency to immediately send reporters and restore overseas branches. So Xinhua News Agency set up a team and started to resume work. However, due to the serious ultra-left trend at that time, it was extremely difficult to select reporters, especially veteran reporters. After more than half a year of review and repeated discussions, I finally got the approval. There was also a leader in the International Department who said that such bourgeois intellectuals should first go to the mountains and countryside for three years before going abroad. Another old editor wrote to the military control group, saying that such "three antis" should not be sent abroad.
After a while, Premier Zhou walked in alone. When he saw me, he asked, are you Wang Shu? I have met the Prime Minister in the past, but I never saw him again after the Cultural Revolution. He looked a little older and thinner, and the white hair on his temples had also increased a lot, but his eyes were still piercing, making people feel majestic and trustworthy. He looked at my outfit, old uniform and cloth shoes with a stern look, and asked me what I was wearing in Bonn. I said I wore a suit in Bonn and changed it when I came back. He said, "Why don't you wear it and show us? Is there anything we can't wear?"I feel that the Prime Minister's words were not only meant for the situation when people wore gray and yellow clothes during the "Cultural Revolution", but also for the situation where comrades working abroad at that time also changed into cloth uniforms and cloth shoes. The Prime Minister asked me to sit next to him and asked me where I went to school, when I joined the revolution, what work experience I had, etc. He said to me, "When Schroeder visited China, you should have accompanied him back to China. At that time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was negligent and did not notify you in time, so you came back a few days late." He added, "I met with Schroeder the day before yesterday and we had a good conversation. He said that we must be really safe and really peaceful. Ping, I admire his view." Schröder was the first senior politician from West Germany to visit China. He was the vice-chairman of the Christian Democratic Union, the opposition party in West Germany, and the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Federal Parliament. After the war, he served as foreign minister and defense minister during his party's long period of power. After he publicly expressed his willingness to visit China twice, I interviewed him specifically. When I reported to the country, I suggested inviting him to visit China. Premier Zhou ordered the Institute of Foreign Affairs to invite him to visit China for two weeks in mid-July 1972, which attracted great attention in West Germany and Europe. Then, Premier Zhou began to "examine" me, asking me how many people West Germany has, how big its area is, how many states it has, where its capital is, etc. I finally answered them all. He also asked about the situation of West Germany's economy and industrial and agricultural production. I could answer some questions, but I couldn't answer some questions. The Prime Minister often conducts such "examinations" for foreign affairs staff, especially diplomats. The questions are often about basic situations, but those who take the "examination" often fail to answer them.
While they were talking, Foreign Minister Ji Pengfei, Vice Foreign Minister Qiao Guanhua, and Comrades Wang Hairong and Tang Wensheng entered the living room one after another. The Prime Minister got to the point and said to me, "I have read some of the reports and materials you wrote on the Soviet strategy and Sino-German relations, and Chairman Mao has also read it. You have done a good job in research, and the focus of the competition between the two hegemons you proposed is in Europe. The Soviet Union's strategy is still to go west to compete with the United States for Europe, rather than to go east and turn to China. This is a good view." He added, "You have done a good job, but you must also pay attention to it. Be modest and prudent. When Schroeder left, he said that he would work hard to develop relations between the two countries after his return to China. You should go back early to understand the reactions of all parties after his return to China and do a good job in the follow-up work. "I was very excited after hearing these words, especially because the news from the headquarters in the past few months has put more and more pressure on me. First, someone reported that I was a "May 16th" member and provided a lot of "material." Others thought that I did too much foreign affairs work, sent back too few public reports, and was "not doing my job properly" in Bonn, and asked that I be transferred back to Beijing. After Premier Zhou heard these words, he was very angry. Later, at a meeting attended by various foreign affairs departments, he asked the comrades of the Xinhua News Agency's military control team, "Have you read the telegram sent by Wang Shu, and have you seen the importance of the questions he raised? If you don't want him, I want him."
Chairman Mao said, don't cry, I'll treat you to a cigarette
After meeting the Prime Minister, I was ready to go back to Bonn. I often go out to visit relatives and friends in the evening. At 9:30 pm on July 24, I took the bus back to my dormitory. As soon as I got off the bus, several comrades from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held my hand and said ecstatically, "It's really hard to find you." It turned out that they received a phone call at about 7 pm, saying that there was something important, and they asked me to arrive at the entrance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at 9 pm and then take the bus together. They immediately went to the Xinhua News Agency dormitory to look for me. When they saw that there was no one in my house, they went to the houses of several comrades I might go to. Then they searched and shouted in the dormitory area for more than an hour. Finally, they decided to divide a few people into waiting at the bus stop, and then they made me wait. It was nearly 10 o'clock when I arrived at the entrance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by bus. Comrade Tang Wensheng had been waiting for me for a long time. Only when I got on the bus did I know that Chairman Mao wanted to meet me. When I arrived at Chairman Mao's apartment in Zhongnanhai , I was introduced to Chairman Mao's study.
This place is familiar to us from movies and TV shows where Chairman Mao meets with foreign guests. In the middle, there is a circle of sofas and coffee tables for receiving guests. Since it is summer, they have been replaced with rattan chairs covered with mats. Behind the chairs are several tall floor lamps with large white lampshades. There are several bookshelves filled with thread-bound books against the wall on the right.
When I walked in, Chairman Mao was sitting on the big wicker chair on the left where he was accustomed to sit, and was talking with Premier Zhou, Qiao Guanhua, and Wang Hairong. I shook hands with Chairman Mao, and Premier Zhou introduced to me that he studied English at Fudan University and had been working as a reporter abroad for a long time. Chairman Mao smiled and said, "I have also been a reporter, and we are colleagues." I was very excited, and when I thought about being criticized as a "three-anti element" during the "Cultural Revolution", and now being suspected of being a "May 16th", my emotions became even more ups and downs, and I suddenly started crying. Chairman Mao picked up a cigarette from the coffee table and said, "Don't cry. I'll treat you to a cigarette." I walked over and took the cigarette. It was a special small cigar that reduced nicotine to a minimum. I put it on the coffee table next to me and wanted to take it home as a souvenir. But after more than an hour, I saw that the cigarette was gone. It turned out that Comrade Qiao Guanhua, who was a heavy smoker, had taken it and smoked it. Since I had been working abroad for a long time after liberation, this was the first time I saw Chairman Mao. He was older and fatter than those seen on TV and movies since the Cultural Revolution. His hair was gray and sparse. He was wearing a set of loose white silk clothes, but he was in good spirits. He suffered a serious illness in early 1972. Fortunately, he recovered when Nixon visited in February, but his legs had not fully recovered. This, Nixon had discovered, said in his memoirs that the Chairman was not in good health.
Chairman Mao talked very intensely, from the international situation to domestic issues, from 10 pm to 1 am, a total of 3 hours. At that time, after the conflict between China and the Soviet Union in the area of Zhenbao Island in March 1969, both sides increased their border forces and the border situation was very tense. Domestically, the "Cultural Revolution" has been going on for six years, and serious difficulties have occurred both politically and economically. Production declined, supplies were difficult, civil wars between various factions continued, and people's hearts were in turmoil, creating a very chaotic situation. Since the Zhenbao Island border conflict, there has been an argument in the West that the Soviet Union's strategy will move eastward and turn towards China. There is a similar view in our country. When I went to Bonn, West Germany, in December 1969, some comrades from Xinhua News Agency and other domestic departments asked me to pay attention to studying the strategic issues of the Soviet Union, whether to go west or east. After arriving in Bonn, I had extensive contacts with people from all walks of life in West Germany, and collected statistics on the comments in West German newspapers. I found that the vast majority of people believed that the Soviet strategy had not changed and could not change. Europe is the focus of competition between the United States and the Soviet Union, and the Soviet Union's fundamental interests lie in Europe. If the Soviet Union really wanted to move its strategy eastward, not only would it be unable to deal with China, but it would also lose Europe. The Soviet Union would not do such a stupid thing. Only a handful of people believe that the Soviet strategy will move eastward, and some of them gloat and imagine that the Soviet Union can point its finger at China. I also feel that West Germany should not be regarded as a militaristic and revanchist country, but should establish normal relations with it like other Western countries. Later, I wrote many reports on these views and sent them back to China one after another, asking relevant comrades to consider them.
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Therefore, Chairman Mao talked about the Soviet strategy at the beginning of the conversation. He said that many people in the West are discussing whether the Soviet Union's strategy is to go west or east, or whether it should attack the east and attack the west. Some people also fantasize about pushing the Soviet Union to the East. Europe is a piece of fat meat that everyone wants to eat, but we are not qualified. The focus of the competition between the United States and the Soviet Union is Europe. For this reason, both sides have been placing heavy troops in Europe, and no one is willing to give up this piece of fat. After accurately enumerating the military strength figures of the United States and the Soviet Union in Europe, he said, "I think the Soviet Union is trying to paralyze the West by attacking in the east." Western Europe There are too many countries, too scattered, and too weak to rely on the United States alone. They should unite to deal with the threat of the Soviet Union.
Then, he talked about the experience of the two world wars , saying Germany Emperor Wilhelm and Hitler were ultimately defeated in the world wars. The main reason was that they suffered the losses of attacking from both sides. In 1914, Emperor William was still in a confrontation with the French and British troops on the Western Front. The next year, he transferred a large number of troops from the Western Front to the Eastern Front to attack Russia. He imagined that he would defeat the Russian army first, force the Russian Czar to sign a peace treaty and withdraw from the war, and then deal with France and Britain. This goal was not achieved, and a large number of troops were transferred back to the Western Front in the third year.But the situation has changed, the French and British armies have been strengthened, and the United States is about to join the war. In the end, he suffered a defeat and had to sign a peace treaty. Hitler was the same. He was dazzled by his initial victory. Before the Western Front was fully resolved, he launched an attack on the Soviet Union in June 1941. As a result, he also fell into a situation where he was attacked from two sides. In the end, he also suffered a defeat and even Berlin was lost. There are many such lessons in Chinese and foreign history.
Chairman Mao quoted these lessons from history to explain his consistent thinking, which is to concentrate our forces to attack the main enemy and not to disperse our forces and make the mistake of attacking on all sides. I feel that Chairman Mao's words are of course referring to the Soviet Union, which shows that the Soviet Union's fundamental interests are in Europe, and it wants to compete with the United States for this piece of fat, and it is impossible to move its strategy eastward. If it really dares to invade China, it will give Europe to the United States. In the end, it will be attacked from two sides and end up like Emperor William and Hitler. But on the other hand, it also reminds us that we must remember these experiences and lessons in history. At that time, after Nixon came to power, he saw the deterioration of Sino-Soviet relations and the tense border situation, and repeatedly extended his tentacles to us. Chairman Mao adopted major diplomatic strategic arrangements, such as the "ping pong diplomacy" between China and the United States in April 1971, Kissinger's secret visit to China in July, and and Nixon's visit to China in February 1972. Thus, a situation emerged in the international arena in which the United States and China jointly dealt with the Soviet Union. Chairman Mao then quoted the first half of the poem "Reminiscences of the Past in Xisai Mountain" by Tang Dynasty poet Liu Yuxi : " Wang Jun Floor Ship Yizhou , the king of Jinling lost his energy sadly. Qianxun's iron lock sank. At the bottom of the river, a falling flag emerges from the stone. " reminds us not to think that there is a Qianxun Iron Lock on the Yangtze River and sit back and relax. If we relax our vigilance, the enemy's building ships will go straight to Jinling , and in the end we can only raise a falling flag like the King of Wu at that time.
Chairman Mao said, I just like the rightists. You can invite them, and I can also talk to them.
After the improvement of Sino-US relations, Chairman Mao and Premier Zhou were most concerned about our country's relations with Japan and West Germany, the two economic giants in the east and west. Premier Zhou reported to Chairman Mao the recent visit to China by the West German politician Schroeder. He said that Schroeder's visit was a good one and that he would work hard to establish diplomatic relations between the two countries at an early date after returning to China. Japanese Prime Minister Tadaka wants to visit, but is still not determined to establish diplomatic relations. If negotiations with West Germany are successful, it will also be a pressure on him. He also said that Wang Shu did a good job there, made many important friends in the political and economic circles, and learned a lot about the situation. After Nixon's visit to China, many right-wing politicians in West Germany, including Strauss of the Christian Social Union, wanted to visit Beijing. Chairman Mao said, I just like the rightists, so I can invite them and I can talk to them. When Nixon came, I had a conversation with him in this room, and we had a pretty good conversation. You can also send more people out, make some friends, and listen to their opinions.
Later, Chairman Mao turned to domestic issues. It seems that what he is most concerned about is to rebuild the governments and party institutions at all levels that were destroyed during the "Cultural Revolution", to overcome the domestic chaos and restore normal order. He focused on the issue of cultivating successors and told the Prime Minister that you have to go all over the country and search among workers, peasants and soldiers to find some people to serve as vice chairman of our Party Central Committee, members of the Political Bureau, deputy prime ministers and deputy ministers in the government, and vice chairman of the National People's Congress. We must go as soon as possible to find some representative and younger people among the workers, peasants and soldiers. Of course, we must also take the overall situation into consideration. You need to search carefully to find such people.
Two days later, Premier Zhou summoned us and leading comrades from certain departments to study Chairman Mao's speech. When talking about the problem of finding people from workers, peasants and soldiers, the Prime Minister mentioned the names of some representatives of workers, peasants and soldiers at that time, saying that these people had some prestige among the masses, but their educational level was too low, and it would be difficult for them to assume leadership positions in the party and the country. Maybe we should hold a study class to let them learn some theory, learn some cultural knowledge, and summarize some experiences and lessons. Later, with Chairman Mao's consent, Premier Zhou held several central reading classes and brought in some representatives of workers, peasants and soldiers to participate, but also mixed in some rebels.The reading class has not been held for a long time. At the 10th National Congress of the Communist Party of China held in August 1973 and the Fourth National People's Congress held in January 1975, some people who participated in the reading class took up leadership positions in the party and the country. Wang Hongwen actually became the Vice Chairman of the Party Central Committee, ranking only behind Premier Zhou. Others from the "Gang of Four" also sneaked into the Political Bureau of the Central Committee. Zhang Chunqiao also became the Deputy Prime Minister, ranking only behind Comrade Deng Xiaoping.
Chairman Mao also repeatedly talked about the issue of stabilizing the lives of the masses. At that time, some wages had just been increased for employees. He said that there has been no increase in wages for many years. Of course, only a small amount can be added, but everyone is happy. Some young people in my office said that they could not imagine what they would buy now that their salary had been increased. It can be seen that wages need to be increased, but they cannot be increased by much yet. He also said that attention should be paid to the food supply of the masses. Although the food supply is not very good now, it should be improved. In recent years, fewer or no houses have been built, and many people live in overcrowded conditions. It is necessary to build some low-cost houses so that everyone can have a house to live in first.
It was one o'clock in the morning. Premier Zhou first said that it was getting late. Chairman, please take a rest early. After saying goodbye, the Prime Minister talked with us for a while in the small reception room outside. He said that Chairman Mao had approved the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' request for instructions on negotiating the establishment of diplomatic relations with West Germany and that it should be done as soon as possible. He asked me to return to Bonn immediately to understand the reaction of all parties in West Germany, especially the government, to Schroeder's visit to China, and to report back to the country quickly. If possible, starting negotiations on establishing diplomatic relations with West Germany at an early date will put pressure on Japan. Of course, if Japan agrees to establish diplomatic relations with my country, it will also be a boost to West Germany. As a result, as Premier Zhou expected, on September 29, 1972, Premier Zhou and Prime Minister Tian Zhong signed a joint communique on the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in Beijing. On the same day, negotiators from China and West Germany also initialed a joint communique in Bonn on the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. At the invitation of the Chinese government, Foreign Minister Scheer of West Germany will visit Beijing to formally sign this joint communique with Chinese Foreign Minister Ji Pengfei. These two pieces of news were simultaneously published on the first page of " People's Daily " on September 30. Chairman Mao and Premier Zhou were very happy to establish diplomatic relations with Japan and West Germany at the same time. This fully realized Chairman Mao's major strategic deployment in diplomacy, created a new situation in the world, and also had a great impact on our domestic situation. Based on Premier Zhou's advice, I myself left my post as a reporter and transferred to the newly established Chinese Embassy in West Germany.
Chairman Mao talked about the Soviet strategy at the beginning of his conversation. He said that many people in the West are discussing whether the Soviet Union's strategy is to go west or east, or whether it should attack the east and attack the west. Some people also fantasize about pushing the Soviet Union to the East. Europe is a piece of fat meat that everyone wants to eat, but we are not qualified. The focus of the competition between the United States and the Soviet Union is Europe. For this reason, both sides have been placing heavy troops in Europe, and no one is willing to give up this piece of fat.
source "Century Tide"
