Chairman Mao was strong throughout his life and rarely shed tears in front of others. But in his later years, his secretary Zhang Yufeng saw him shed tears several times.
Zhang Yufeng and Chairman Mao
Zhang Yufeng is Chairman Mao’s confidential secretary and personal secretary. It is a special fate that she can work beside Chairman Mao.
Zhang Yufeng was born in Mudanjiang City, Heilongjiang Province. He was originally a worker at the Mudanjiang Railway Bureau, and later became a waiter and announcer on the train.
In the early 1960s, Zhang Yufeng was transferred to the Special Transport Department of the Ministry of Railways. This department was responsible for connecting the central leaders and foreign heads of state with special train services.
Later, Zhang Yufeng was transferred to Chairman Mao's special train as a waiter and became an ordinary member of the many staff members on the special train.
However, according to regulations, Zhang Yufeng could only stay in the entourage's carriage and could not see Chairman Mao.
It was not until one time when the special train was returning from Guangzhou that Zhang Yufeng and all the entourage met Chairman Mao.
When they met, Chairman Mao also asked with great interest the names of all the entourage. When asked about Zhang Yufeng, Chairman Mao smiled: "That's a good name!"
At this time, Zhang Yufeng did not know that she would be able to work beside Chairman Mao in the future.
After Chairman Mao returned, he wrote Zhang Yufeng's name several times on the paper.
Wang Dongxing saw this from the side and suggested to Chairman Mao: "Should Zhang Yufeng be transferred to work beside you?"
Chairman Mao did not answer, but just nodded, which was regarded as agreement.
One day in July 1970, Zhang Yufeng was cleaning on the train. Suddenly the conductor called her and asked her to go to Zhongnanhai . Someone sent a car to pick her up.
Zhang Yufeng, who didn't know anything about it, got into the car and made a circuitous trip to Zhongnanhai. Only then did she realize that Chairman Mao was short of manpower and she would have to work beside Chairman Mao in the future..
Before Zhang Yufeng had time to be happy, the head of the Central Guard Corps told her:
" Chairman Mao's health is not as good as before, he is a little weak, and he needs special care and attention. Now the organization trusts I entrust you with the task of taking care of Chairman Mao, and you must not let down the trust of the organization!"
Zhang Yufeng nodded and said, "Please rest assured, leader, and promise to complete the task!"
In this way, Zhang Yufeng became Chairman Mao's life secretary this year.
Chairman Mao is 77 years old this year. He has been in his seventies for a long time and is already an absolute senior citizen. As we all know, once a person gets older, his health will deteriorate and diseases will follow. This is the case with Chairman Mao.
Because he had to deal with busy official duties every day and could not get a good rest, Chairman Mao's health deteriorated. Coupled with Beijing's high latitude and cold winters and springs, Chairman Mao often fell ill during this period.
In the middle is Zhang Yufeng
In the winter of 1970, Chairman Mao caught a cold and caused bronchitis.
Due to the lack of good rest and Chairman Mao's smoking habit, bronchitis soon led to lobar pneumonia.
Zhang Yufeng clearly remembers that during that time, Chairman Mao often coughed all night long and could not sleep at all, so he could only sit on the sofa to rest.
During this period, thanks to Zhang Yufeng's caring care, Chairman Mao's condition gradually improved.
For Zhang Yufeng, Chairman Mao was like her father, and she tried her best to give Chairman Mao the greatest patience and consideration.
Chairman Mao was very addicted to smoking. Especially when he encountered important things or when he was thinking about problems, he would never leave his hand and smoke one cigarette after another.
Zhang Yufeng saw it in her eyes and was anxious in her heart. She often discouraged Chairman Mao not to smoke and to smoke less.
Chairman Mao would sometimes listen to her advice and stop smoking, but sometimes he would not listen to Zhang Yufeng's advice. At this time, Zhang Yufeng would quietly confiscate Chairman Mao's cigarette case. Even Chairman Mao was helpless with her move.
On the left is Zhang Yufeng
In this way, with the efforts of Zhang Yufeng and other staff, Chairman Mao began to give up his smoking habit for many years.
Chairman Mao’s confidential secretary at the beginning was not Zhang Yufeng, but an old Red Army man named Xu Yefu.
Xu Yefu's qualifications are quite old. As early as 1936, on the recommendation of Xu Haidong , he joined the Central Military Commission's Confidential Section.
Since then, he has been following Chairman Mao for more than thirty years.
In 1968, Xu Yefu left Chairman Mao's side and went to work because of his participation in the "three branches" and "two armies".
Chairman Mao
It was not until 1972 that Xu Yefu returned to Zhongnanhai and resumed his role as Chairman Mao's confidential secretary.
Originally, Xu Yefu had worked beside Chairman Mao for many years and was very comfortable with confidential work , and Chairman Mao was also very satisfied.
Moreover, Xu Yefu also likes smoking and has the same hobby as Chairman Mao.
Unfortunately, in March 1973, Xu Yefu was hospitalized due to illness. His condition was serious and he was bedridden.
As a result, the position of confidential secretary around Chairman Mao became vacant.
Chairman Mao felt that Zhang Yufeng was attentive enough and suggested that Zhang Yufeng act as confidential secretary first. So, with the approval of the central government, Zhang Yufeng became Chairman Mao's acting confidential secretary.
At first, Zhang Yufeng felt that her cultural level was not enough to hold such an important position, mainly because she was afraid of delaying important events.
But Chairman Mao gave her confidence. Chairman Mao said to her: "Any job cannot be mastered at the beginning. You have to study hard and be careful enough to make no mistakes! You are good, I believe in you!"
With Chairman Mao's comfort and encouragement, Zhang Yufeng settled down and tried her best to do this job well. Soon, she was able to stand alone.
On June 7, 1974, Xu Yefu died of serious illness and died in Beijing.
Zhang Yufeng officially served as Chairman Mao's confidential secretary and life secretary. He held two positions in one person, which is enough to show that Zhang Yufeng's ability to do things has been recognized by the organization!
Zhang Yufeng, who was effective in doing things, not only gained the trust of the organization, but also the trust of Chairman Mao. Chairman Mao even gave Zhang Yufeng the key to his personal safe for safekeeping, which is enough to show Chairman Mao's trust in her.
In his later years, Chairman Mao was actually very lonely. His family and children were not around, and he only had staff to accompany him in his huge residence.
On January 8, 1976, Premier Zhou Enlai passed away. When Zhang Yaoci hurriedly came to tell Chairman Mao the news, Chairman Mao did not speak and just sat blankly.
After a long time, Chairman Mao nodded, and two lines of tears fell from the corners of his eyes. In fact, Chairman Mao had already anticipated this day.
Zhang Yufeng quickly wiped Chairman Mao's tears.
On January 14, after the relevant departments sent the report and eulogy for Premier Zhou Enlai’s memorial service to Zhongnanhai, Chairman Mao could no longer control his emotions and burst into tears, crying for the death of his old comrade.
On July 28, 1976, a major earthquake occurred in Tangshan , and Beijing was also affected.
At this time, Chairman Mao often fell into coma due to his worsening condition.
But every time when he woke up, he would ask about the situation in Tangshan, especially the situation of the people affected by the disaster. Chairman Mao was always thinking about the people!
A few days later, a report on the disaster situation in Tangshan was sent to Chairman Mao. After seeing the tragic conditions caused by the earthquake, Chairman Mao could no longer control his emotions and burst into tears.
According to the memory of Chairman Mao's health doctor Wang Xinde:
"This is the first time I saw Chairman Mao crying."
On September 9, 1976, the great Chairman Mao passed away.
Chairman Mao himself has always taken the issue of life and death very lightly, and has discussed this issue with people around him many times.
Zhang Yufeng said:
" Chairman Mao told me during his lifetime that I hope that after his death, I can visit his grave every year."
Chairman Mao also said these words to other staff members, and they all kept their promise and went to mourn Chairman Mao every year.
In 1999, Zhang Yufeng went to Shaoshan, Hunan to visit the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall.
When she saw Chairman Mao's relics in the memorial hall, the great man's voice and smile came to mind again, and tears inadvertently moistened the corners of her eyes.
During this visit, Zhang Yufeng discovered that probably due to the humid climate in the south, the clothes of Chairman Mao collected in the memorial hall had mildew spots, which made Zhang Yufeng very heartbroken.
In order to protect these precious cultural relics, Zhang Yufeng decided to donate money to fund the memorial hall to purchase constant temperature and moisture-proof equipment.
However, these equipments require a lot of money, and Zhang Yufeng adheres to Chairman Mao's teachings and has no wealth, so she cannot afford so much money at once.
Fortunately, Zhang Yufeng was participating in the compilation and publication of "Mao Zedong Collection" at this time, so she discussed with the publishing house and advanced the manuscript fee in advance. After adding her own savings, she collected 100,000 yuan and donated it to the memorial hall.
With this donation, Chairman Mao Memorial Hall quickly purchased equipment, improved storage measures, and the work of the Memorial Hall has also been carried out better.
From then on, no matter where Zhang Yufeng went, she would pay special attention to matters commemorating Chairman Mao.
Over the years, one of the things that makes Zhang Yufeng happiest is that she spent several years and did a lot of work to finally compile the 24-volume "Mao Zedong Collection" with a total of 50 million words.
Zhang Yufeng felt that she had done something for Chairman Mao and at the same time fulfilled one of her own wishes.
Zhang Yufeng’s husband is Liu Aimin, who works in the railway department. They married in 1968 and have two daughters.
Zhang Yufeng's family portrait
After Chairman Mao's death, Zhang Yufeng was first transferred to China's First Historical Archives to work. Later, at her own request, she was transferred back to the railway department.
Over the years, Zhang Yufeng's family life has always been harmonious, and her youngest daughter is still a doctor in a hospital in Beijing.
In Zhang Yufeng's heart, she always keeps in mind Chairman Mao's teachings: "Be a good Communist Party member!"
Reference:
Revealing Zhang Yufeng: The only woman who dared to scold Mao Zedong in person (picture) (2) · CPPCC News Network
Zhang Yufeng: A servant and a family member (1) · Sing Tao Global Network ·
