In 1972, Wu Jieping was transferred from Zhou Enlai's health team leader to the medical team leader. The short two-character change in the title of
may indicate a reality that everyone is unwilling to face. And all this has to start with the routine physical examination on May 18.
Tribute to Premier Zhou Enlai of great powers
On that morning, health doctor Zhang Zuoliang performed a physical examination on Premier Zhou as usual, but he accidentally found red blood cells in his urine. He dared not delay, and quickly reported the situation to Doctor Wu Jieping.
After receiving the report, Wu Jieping's face became serious, and a bad premonition flooded his heart. He knows that the Prime Minister has worked hard for national affairs over the years, his health is deteriorating, and he has also suffered from heart disease, but this is the first time this has happened.
Wu Jieping didn't dare to care about it, and the prime minister's body shouldn't be lost. Thinking of this, he hurriedly contacted medical experts in Beijing, Shanghai and other places for consultation. After further pathological tests, the worst case occurred, and it was basically determined that it was bladder cancer and .
At that moment, Wu Jieping's brain went blank. It has been 16 years since working with the Prime Minister in 1957. He couldn't understand why fate had to tease this upright and selfless old man in this way.
He wants to yell at God's injustice, but the doctor's mission tells him that the top priority is to study how to treat this difficult condition.
was too late to grieve, Wu Jieping wrote a report to the central government, hoping to operate as soon as possible while there were no symptoms, so there is still great hope for a cure.
The founder of my country's urology department-Wu Jieping
However, considering Zhou Enlai's high age and high surgical risk, the central government decided to adopt conservative treatment, so the surgical treatment plan has not been approved for a long time.
Wu Jieping was anxious, every day the Prime Minister delayed, the hope of healing was diminished.
, even if he is anxious, Wu Jieping can hardly ignore the fact that the "patient" that needs urgent treatment in his eyes is also the "manager" of a country with a population of 700 million. At home and abroad, there are so many issues that the prime minister cannot be absent on any occasion.
That shouldn't be exhausted. In addition to conservative treatment, Wu Jieping tried his best to persuade the Prime Minister to drink more water. Because he had seen a study abroad before, drinking plenty of water had a supporting effect on the treatment of bladder cancer. What
never expected was that drinking plenty of water was a luxury for the Prime Minister. Because Prime Minister Zhou at the time was busy meeting foreign guests and meetings every day. The Prime Minister’s idea was simple. Drinking more water would necessitate more visits to the toilet. It is impolite to go to the toilet on diplomatic occasions.
In February 1972, Zhou Enlai greeted US President Nixon
at the airport. In a blink of an eye, the time came to January 1973, 8 months since Premier Zhou was diagnosed. In the early morning of
13, Wu Jieping received a message: Prime Minister had hematuria.
can't delay any longer this time, he took the test sheet and went to the central government for instructions. Soon, the approval came down, and the surgical treatment plan was agreed. From then on, Premier Zhou began treatment for three years until his death.
Everyone concealed the Prime Minister’s condition from the beginning. But in fact, Premier Zhou already knew it in his mind, so when Wu Jieping came to tell him about the surgical treatment plan and asked for cooperation, he was surprisingly calm.
" I will definitely cooperate with you" , this was the first sentence the Premier said to Wu Jieping after hearing the report. He paused, and quickly added: "But you have to cooperate with me".
The previous sentence is easy to understand. Premier Zhou respects science, respects medical staff, and trusts Wu Jieping's ability. But the latter sentence was beyond Wu Jieping's expectation. The implication is that you can treat me, but you can't delay my work.
Even if he is seriously ill, the prime minister's first thought is work. This sentence, this incident, became the driving force for Wu Jieping's life.
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In other words, at that time, Wu Jieping, who was young and without background, became the attending doctor most trusted by Premier Zhou. This has to be discussed from his personal experience.
In 1917, Wu Jieping was born in a well-to-do family in Changzhou, Jiangsu. His father, Wu Jingyi, was an open-minded and upright industrialist. In father'sUnder the influence, young Wu Jieping determined to devote himself to medicine and be a good doctor.
In 1937, when Wu Jieping was at Yenching University
In 1942, Wu Jieping graduated with honors from the Union Medical College and received a doctorate in medicine. Five years later, under the recommendation of Professor Xie Yuanfu, a well-known urology expert, he went to study in the United States.
The young Wu Jieping is very smart and willing to endure hardships. He is highly appreciated by his tutor Professor Harkins. He has repeatedly asked to stay in the United States, and promised favorable living and working conditions. But all this was declined by Wu Jieping, because he knew that the suffering motherland behind him needed him more.
Science knows no borders, but scientists have a motherland. This is Wu Jieping’s unchanging belief. His patriotism is an important reason for Premier Zhou to trust and reuse him.
Wu Jieping still remembers the first time he met Zhou Enlai. It was the early 1950s, and he had just returned from studying in the United States.
Premier Zhou's sincere and open-mindedness in dealing with others and his selflessness for the country and the people moved Wu Jieping deeply, and he also strengthened his determination to stay with the Premier. soon, he was appointed as the leader of the health care team, fully responsible for the health care of the national leaders.
In the 1960s, under Zhou Enlai’s arrangement, Wu Jieping went abroad to treat foreign leaders many times, including President Sukarno of Indonesia , President Marcos of the Philippines, President Ho Chi Minh of Vietnam, etc., winning a piece Praise.
In 1967, Wu Jieping (second from left in the back row) accompanied Premier Zhou to a meeting with Tanzanian foreign guests
, but Wu Jieping knew in his heart that a large part of the honors he had received was due to the prime minister. When Wu Jieping recalled this past in his later years, he told everyone the story behind it:
(medical team) every time before departure, the prime minister would call him and other members over and carefully explain the customs of the country he was going to. , What is the historical relationship with China, and what should be paid special attention to.
In Wu Jieping's heart, the prime minister's ardent concern is his greatest confidence besides medical skills.
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Since the beginning of 1973, under Wu Jieping’s meticulous treatment, the Premier’s condition has improved significantly. Although the person has lost weight, his spirit has improved.
In March 1973, under the arrangement of the central government, Premier Zhou went to Beijing Yuquan Mountain for recuperation and treatment. At this time, Wu Jieping did not forget to instruct the Prime Minister to take a good rest and let his work go.
Premier Zhou promised, and promised that all foreign guests would be gone, and that the meeting would not be attended, and that he should receive treatment. Can it be practical?
Taking the period from January to May 1974 as an example, the actual working hours of Premier Zhou exceeded 14 hours a day. In addition, he has participated in 21 meetings of the Central Committee, 54 foreign affairs activities, and 57 conversations.
In other words, during the period of cancer treatment, his work has not fallen a bit.
In May 1974, due to overwork, Premier Zhou’s cancer recurred and the bleeding was severe. Wu Jieping hoped to receive blood transfusion for him. The premier never doubted Wu Jieping's medical authority. But he made an extra request to Wu Jieping: every time
needs a blood transfusion, greet him in advance, so that it is easy to adjust the time and not delay work.
But is it useful to say hello in advance? Once Premier Zhou was undergoing a blood transfusion, he suddenly received news that the chairman had decided to meet with foreign guests temporarily. He quickly got up, had the needles removed, put on his clothes, and rushed to the meeting room in Zhongnanhai. Before leaving, I did not forget to tell the doctors on the spot not to tell me about my blood transfusion.
In his heart, the chairman meets with foreign guests. If he is not present, he can't justify his feelings or reason. Therefore, when reviewing Premier Zhou's work experience, we will find that accompany the chairman to meet with foreign guests is one of his important tasks.
But if you look closely, you will find a problem. In most of the photos of Chairman Mao and foreign guests taken by photographers, Premier Zhou is rarely seen. What is going on here?
It turned out that this was "deliberately" by Premier Zhou. Every time the chairman meets with foreign guests, Premier Zhou will take the initiative to introduce guests into the chairman’s study and play the role of "door boy".
to beAfter the guests entered the house, he stood silently away from the cameraman's lens and never "snatched the spotlight." Once the meeting was over, he always left the study first and waited for foreign guests at the door.
On May 29, 1974, Zhou Enlai and Chairman Mao shook hands for the last time to say goodbye to
. However, on May 29, 1974, when Chairman Mao met with Malaysian Prime Minister Razak, Premier Zhou was uncharacteristically. At the end of the
meeting, Premier Zhou did not leave the study room as usual, but stood there quietly, as if expecting something.
After Chairman Mao arrived at the door to send off the guests, he turned around for an instant and looked at Premier Zhou.
Seeing the old sick look on the chairman's face, Premier Zhou could no longer restrain his emotions. He slowly stretched out his hand, and the chairman also stretched it over.
As the photographer presses the shutter, history will always be fixed at this moment. On this day, the first prime minister and great leader of the Republic of Z10z and the great leader shook hands with the camera to say goodbye for the last time.
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On June 1, 1974, due to the recurrence of cancer, at the repeated request of the Party Central Committee, Premier Zhou was admitted to Beijing 305 Hospital and was diagnosed with cancer metastasis in August. Seeing a large group of doctors, nurses, guards and other staff serving him, he felt quite sorry.
found an opportunity, he went to visit everyone specially, and said something like this:
this time I was hospitalized due to illness, you all came to serve me, thank you everyone. I will be treated soon. If the operation is successful and the health is good, I will accompany you to eat a meal; if the operation is not successful, then this time I will say goodbye to everyone.
You must know that Premier Zhou was about to undergo surgery at the time, and his body was already exhausted. But everyone cannot refuse his visit, because they all understand that the Prime Minister feels deeply guilty about "trouble" everyone.
Zhou Enlai took a group photo with the medical staff
He didn't want to cause trouble to others. He was principled in everything. It was the character engraved in Premier Zhou's bones, , and these can be seen from the small details of his life. When
was hospitalized in the 305 hospital, he repeatedly reported to the central government that he was almost healed and that he didn't need so many people around him, so let everyone do their own affairs. Regarding the number of people waiting around, Premier Zhou was the first. As
was hospitalized for a long time and couldn't manage his hair, Premier Zhou looked especially haggard. In the past, Beijing Hotel employee Zhu Dianhua , who had been cutting hair for the prime minister, has repeatedly convinced people that he can come and take care of the prime minister.
After learning the news, Premier Zhou was afraid that Master Zhu would be too strenuous to come, so he politely declined him.
At that time, considering that Premier Zhou was hospitalized and weak, the central government specially arranged for him to send him high-end nutrition. In that era of lack of clothing and food, the value of these nutrients can be imagined. As the prime minister,
has the "brightness of the country", eats better and uses it well, no one will object.
In the end, Premier Zhou accepted these nutrients, but insisted on paying with his own salary. Z1z
Premier Zhou’s niece Zhou Bingde once recalled:
“He was very frugal. He only wore two pairs of leather shoes when he was the Prime Minister for 26 years. This pair of shoes wears that pair of shoes, and that pair of shoes. Shoes, it’s been saved so much. When eating, the soup at the bottom of the plate must be scraped off with steamed buns and eaten."
How can such a thrifty and principled person take these nutrients for nothing? "Come" innocently and "go" cleanly, how can this righteousness not make people move.
has one more little thing.
In the 1966 Xingtai earthquake, Premier Zhou gave a speech to the victims.
On March 8, 1966, Xingtai suffered an earthquake, Zhou Enlai rushed to the disaster area as soon as possible. In Baijiazhai Village, he held the hands of the people tightly and couldn't help but blamed himself: "Z10z folks, you have suffered, I am late."
Considering Zhou Enlai's physical weakness, the local county party committee specially built a leeward podium for him, so that he could avoid the wind. In this way, the masses will stand against the wind. Seeing this situation, his expression immediately became serious and demanded to change the layout and changeLeeward for the masses, facing the wind for yourself.
The prime minister of a country is nearly 68 years old, and coupled with the fatigue of the journey, is it wrong to "take care of" the place a little bit? Shouldn't it?
But Zhou Enlai didn't think so. In his opinion, the people in Xingtai were unfortunate enough to have suffered the earthquake, and they really couldn't bear to make the people feel wronged, even a little bit.
Zhou Enlai said in his later years:
put me on this stage of history, and I have to use all my energy to do a good job. Therefore, I have implemented such a leading idea all my life, and I have never considered myself.
governing officials is not private, but not profitable in public. Premier Zhou used his life to practice this almost harsh criterion of being a man.
In January 1973, Premier Zhou Enlai
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In May 1975, Premier Zhou, who had undergone several major operations, felt that his time was running out. He barely cheered up and said to the medical staff standing beside him:
You must tell me the truth about my condition at any time, because there is still a lot of work to explain.
Even if he was tortured endlessly by illness, Premier Zhou was not willing to let go of his work and concentrate on treatment. Because in his heart, it is filled with the interests of the party, the country, and the people. It survives without stopping, and this is the spiritual character of the prime ministers of major powers.
On June 16, Premier Zhou endured great pain and wrote the last letter of his life to Chairman Mao:
After my third operation, I recovered well in these eighty days, digestion is normal, no occult blood...I am now in body I can still bear it, weighing 61 kilograms. Everything is normal and can be assured. Please rest assured, the chairman... I implore the chairman to treat the eye disease as early as possible. It will definitely affect the sound, walking, swimming, writing, and reading documents. This is what I put forward after reading the data and research in March this year. It is just an anesthesia operation. After research, no matter whether it is effective or ineffective, I am not sure whether it is suitable for the chairman. This passage briefly expresses my heart and desire!
From this letter, we can draw two conclusions:
first, in order to prevent the chairman from worrying, Zhou Enlai reported the good and not the bad. Obviously suffering from postoperative complications and weighing only 61 catties, he said that everything is normal.
Second, search for information, hoping to find a practical method for the chairman's eye disease. There is nothing wrong with looking for information, but what you have to know is that he himself was also in the hospital. His information was collected during the interval between operations.
In the last days of his life, Zhou Enlai still thought about the safety of Chairman Mao. This sentiment is clear. And this also explains why Chairman Mao cried bitterly after hearing the news of Zhou Enlai's death.
Back then, loyalty was a reward for the country, so why was it afraid of being cut off? If it is popular today, who will guard the country?
The remains of the Prime Minister covered by the party flag
After writing the letter to the chairman, while still awake, Z11z Premier Zhou told his wife Deng Yingchao about his own affairs:
does not need a mortal farewell ceremony
11zz1 do not hold him a memorial service z1 The first two ashes
were rejected by the Party Central Committee after discussion, because even if they agreed, thousands of people who loved the Prime Minister would not agree. The last one complied with Premier Zhou's last wish.
In Xihua Hall, Zhongnanhai, August 8, 1950, the two took a photo for the 25th anniversary of their marriage.
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On the evening of January 7, 1976, Premier Zhou had been tortured by illness and could not speak.
At 11 o'clock in the evening, while he was still dead, he recognized Wu Jieping, who was guarding the hospital bed at any time, ready to rescue him. He opened his eyes laboriously, and whispered with weak strength:
, "I'm fine here, you should go take care of other sick comrades, you need you more there." Place.
In the decades that followed, Wu Jieping couldn't help crying whenever he recalled the words of the premier before his death. And in his tears, it was self-blame and admiration.
blames himself for studying medicine for decades and saving countless people, but he alone cannot save Zhou Enlai.; What I admire is that Zhou Enlai still thinks of others in his heart even when he is dead. Prime Minister, when can you think of yourself!
Wu Jieping said affectionately in his later years:
The greatest blessing in my life is to work next to Premier Zhou. His dedicated revolutionary spirit, his noble moral character, and his work style of excellence have silently inspired me and made me determined to be one. A good doctor who serves the people wholeheartedly.
Wu Jieping said and did the same. For the rest of his life, he devoted all of his life to the medical and health services of New China. If the prime minister is enlightened in the sky, he will surely be pleased to see this scene.
Mr. Wu Jieping in his later years
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At 9:57 on January 8, 1976, Premier Zhou’s heart stopped beating forever at the age of 78.
On the afternoon of January 15, 1976, Zhou Enlai's memorial service was held in the Great Hall of the People, and Deng Xiaoping read the eulogy. In the impression of outsiders, Deng Xiaoping had always been happy and angry, but his voice was trembling that day. Z1z
Zhou Enlai's memorial service
After trying to calm his mood, Deng Xiaoping slowly opened the paper with the eulogy:
Today, we are in a very sad mood to mourn the outstanding members of the Communist Party of China, the great proletarian revolutionaries, The outstanding communist fighter, the outstanding party and state leader of the Chinese people, Comrade Zhou Enlai...
Deng Nan, the daughter of Deng Xiaoping, once asked her father: was the person closest to you when you were working-study in France. who is it?
Deng Xiaoping thought about it for a moment, and slowly said: is still the prime minister, and I have always regarded him as the elder brother. The sentence
was still the prime minister, which evoked Deng Xiaoping's thoughts. He remembered the scene where the two met for the first time, when they were studying together in France. That year, Deng Xiaoping was 16 years old and Zhou Enlai was 22 years old.
At that time, he was bullied by the black-hearted factory owner, and the money he earned from working was not even enough for basic food and clothing. The help and encouragement given by Zhou Enlai gave him the courage to continue. Although the days were bitter, Zhou Enlai, like a big brother, gave him the warmth that he will never forget in his lifetime.
He remembered the "protection" of Premier Zhou for himself during the jailed years. In 1969, Deng Xiaoping and his wife were "arranged" to work in a tractor factory in Jiangxi. That year, he was 65 years old.
Although Premier Zhou was suffering from a heart attack at that time, he still personally called relevant comrades in Jiangxi Province, hoping that they would take proper care of Deng Xiaoping in life.
Deng Xiaoping and his wife Zhuo Lin
comb through the life of Premier Zhou, we will find that he rarely asks for help. But this time, he made an exception for Deng Xiaoping and his wife. Deng Xiaoping was not afraid of hardship, but he was worried about his wife Zhuo Lin, because her health had not been very good. Z1z
Premier Zhou’s call relieved Deng Xiaoping from worries. The two of them always remember this kindness.
Having said that, we also understand why when Premier Zhou was hospitalized, Deng Xiaoping rushed to go to the hospital on duty every time and stayed late every time. Because he wants to spend more time with his big brother, even if he doesn't speak, he can sit in front of the hospital bed.
Deng Xiaoping read Zhou Enlai's eulogy
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When the hearse that transported Zhou Enlai slowly drove through the straight Chang'an Avenue, the huge Beijing city was empty alleys, workers, farmers, and people from all walks of life spontaneously stood on both sides, wearing white flowers, in silent respect.
The masses of the people carried the portrait of Premier Zhou towards the Monument to the People’s Heroes
. There was no loud noise, some just weeping silently. Because everyone knows that the Prime Minister has worked his entire life for the country, and until this moment, he can truly enjoy this rare "purity."
And this painful "quietness", who has the heart to break it.
Ten Miles Long Street to send the Prime Minister
The people's hearts are like a mirror, and the public is forever.
would like to cherish the memory of Premier Zhou Enlai, Mr. Wu Jieping, and those immortal years.