After Zhou Enlai suffered from bladder cancer, his health became worse and worse. Once, the chef made a bowl of braised shark's fin to provide the prime minister with nutrients. It took him half an hour to eat eight mouthfuls of rice with difficulty. In the end, he really had no energy to eat. He could only ask the staff member Gao Zhenpu and said: "Xiao Gao, feed me."
Premier Zhou Enlai was eating. In 2017, Premier Zhou had 13 major and minor surgeries, and his body was in ruins. At first he could eat by himself, but later he could no longer eat by himself and had to rely on nasal feeding to maintain his life. By early December 1975, he could no longer defecate normally, and had to rely on staff to install an artificial intestine to defecate.
Because of too many surgeries, Premier Zhou's abdomen became infected, inflamed and ulcerated, with pus and blood and ascites . Premier Zhou's body was covered with tubes and he was tortured by the pain. The Prime Minister at this time has reached the limit of his endurance.
After Zhou Enlai
After the last operation, Premier Zhou became emotional. He wanted to go home for a while. In the two years since he was hospitalized, he never returned to the West Flower Hall. He never saw the Begonia flowers in the yard. .
That night, Premier Zhou said to the security personnel and the attending doctor:
"I know my condition very well and it can no longer be cured. Don't bother the medical staff anymore. You should go back to where they are needed most..."
The medical staff was very sad after hearing this. How could the Prime Minister's illness not be treated? They didn't know how to reply. They could only say with tears: "Prime Minister, let's treat the illness first. After the condition improves a little, we will go home." !”
Deng Yingchao and Zhou Enlai
Prime Minister Zhou Enlai lost a lot of weight, lost more than 130 pounds to only 61 pounds.. What a heartbreaking scene, but he still kept working. He was so busy that he didn't even have time to eat, and the Prime Minister's stomach was starved.
In the 139 days before he was hospitalized, he worked 17 or 18 hours a day. Sometimes he stayed up late and worked for more than 20 or even 30 hours. In this case, he also had to receive foreign guests and host meetings.
Zhou Enlai
Zhou Enlai is not made of iron, he is also a human being, he also needs to eat and rest. If you continue like this, that person will be able to bear it. In an emergency, Premier Zhou Enlai's body will be exhausted.
After Zhou Enlai was hospitalized, he was still working and built a temporary office in the hospital. When he got better, he began to work selflessly again and seize the time to do things. He often said a sentence, which made people feel very distressed after hearing it: "I only have eight words, "I will do my best until I die."
Zhou Enlai
After Chairman Mao learned of Zhou Enlai's condition, he was very concerned and worried. He was in his 80s. The question that the elderly Chairman Mao asked the most during that time was: "How about the Prime Minister's catheterization?" ”, “Is he in pain? ", "Does the hospital have any treatment plan? ”
He urged conservative treatment, less surgery, prevention of spread, and attention to rest and nutrition. Premier Zhou Enlai’s illness was a very big blow to his friend Mao Zedong. In his later years, Mao Zedong was very lonely and sensitive. Not many people can understand him, but Zhou Enlai holds a very important position in his heart.
Zhou Enlai and Mao Zedong in a staff photo
Zhou Enlai and Mao Zedong met in the 1920s. After they met, they became lifelong friends. In November 1931, Mao Zedong was at the lowest point in his life. He was ostracized and was still ill. At this time, Zhou Enlai made a special trip to see him. Before leaving, he left eight big words for Mao Zedong: "Look after the overall situation and be patient for the party." ".Mao Zedong was deeply moved after seeing it.
In 1932, Mao Zedong was seized of command by Li De and Bogu. Zhou Enlai and Zhu De firmly stood on Mao Zedong's side and believed that Bogu was wrong. After the Zunyi Conference, Zhou Enlai was a strong supporter of Mao Zedong. He recognized Mao Zedong's military capabilities very much, and slowly handed over the military command to Mao Zedong.
Zhou Enlai and Mao Zedong in their youth
After that, Zhou Enlai assisted Mao Zedong willingly and without complaint. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the two became the best partners in the first generation of leadership. Chairman Mao was responsible for designing and conceiving large-scale national strategic policies, while Premier Zhou was responsible for implementing Chairman Mao's ideas in every detail.
In order to give Chairman Mao more time to think, Zhou Enlai took the initiative to take over a lot of work. He said to Chairman Mao:
"Don't worry about my workload. As long as it allows you to take more time to think about big problems, my workload is nothing!"
Zhou Enlai took a group photo with Mao Zedong and all the staff
1974 May On September 29, Zhou Enlai and Chairman Mao met with Malaysian Prime Minister Zarak. After the meeting, Premier Zhou Enlai stood at the door for a long time, unwilling to leave, looking at Chairman Mao with reluctance in his eyes. As Mao Zedong saw the guests off at the door, he happened to meet Zhou Enlai's eyes. The smile on his face disappeared in an instant, and he lowered his head slightly with sad eyes.
At this time, Zhou Enlai looked at his old friend who had walked together for half a century, and slowly stretched out his hand. Mao Zedong also extended his hand in tacit understanding, and the two giant hands that had gone through vicissitudes of life were tightly held. Together. This was the last handshake between the two great men. Zhou Enlai was hospitalized the next day and spent the last days of his life in the People's Liberation Army 305 Hospital.
Zhou Enlai and Mao Zedong shook hands for the last time
Zhou Enlai was tortured very painfully by cancer . He had a deep understanding of this. When he learned that the Yunnan tin mine worker had lung cancer, the Prime Minister was very sad. He had just completed the operation. , immediately asked Li Kenong’s daughter Li Bing to send people to Yunnan to find a way to relieve the pain of the patients.
Thinking that many people in the country were suffering from cancer, he asked the doctor:
You can dissect my body after I die. I believe that one day there will be a breakthrough in treating cancer! "
Zhou Enlai
At 11 o'clock in the middle of the night on January 7, 1976, Premier Zhou Enlai, who was critically ill, said to doctor Wu Jieping :
"I have nothing to do here. You should take care of other sick comrades, where are you more needed..."
At this time, the Prime Minister was still thinking about the common people in the world.
At 9:58 am on January 8, 1976, Premier Zhou's heart stopped beating , died at the age of 78 . Looking at Zhou Enlai's body, the doctors and staff in the ward couldn't help but burst into tears. Their hearts were full of reluctance for the Prime Minister.
Zhou Enlai had not left a son behind in his life. He didn’t leave even a penny in savings. His last words were:
Don’t keep ashes after death, scatter ashes in the rivers and land of the motherland; keep the funeral simple, don’t make it special, and don’t exceed the standards of anyone in the central government .
Deng Xiaoping’s voice was trembling when he read the memorial
After the staff read Zhou Enlai’s “Obituary” for Mao Zedong, Chairman Mao closed his eyes tightly and did not speak for a long time. Tears slowly flowed down his cheeks and onto Premier Zhou’s neck.
During the week after his death, the chairman always hid in tears and couldn't eat. He focused on reading every day and was unwilling to say a word. He personally reviewed Premier Zhou's funeral documents and will follow up. The time to drop the meeting was set on the afternoon of January 15th.
Mao Zedong and his staff took a group photo
On the afternoon of January 14, Meng Jinyun read a draft of Premier Zhou Enlai's eulogy for Chairman Mao:
"Today, with an extremely heavy heart, we mourn the outstanding members of the Communist Party of China and the great proletarian revolutionaries. Comrade Zhou Enlai, the outstanding communist fighter and the outstanding party and state leader of the Chinese people..."
Chairman Mao burst into tears after hearing the eulogy. At this moment, he could no longer bear the sadness and sorrow in his heart. He felt extremely missed for the passing of his old friend, and felt deeply worried about the fate of the party and the country.
In his later years, Mao Zedong already had inconveniences.
When Zhang Yufeng asked Chairman: "Are you going to attend the memorial service of Premier Zhou Enlai?" Chairman Mao looked sad and regretful. He patted his legs and said with difficulty: " Me too I can’t walk. ” The chairman was unable to walk because of his inconvenient legs, so he was unable to attend the Prime Minister’s memorial service in person.
At the memorial service, Chairman Mao sent a wreath to express all his memories of his friend Zhou Enlai. It's just that wreath, but it looks so lonely. When the radio played the mournful music from Zhou Enlai's memorial service, Chairman Mao, who was waiting anxiously, burst into tears again.
Comrade Zhou Enlai's memorial service
Zhu De and Zhou Enlai were old revolutionary comrades for decades. They met in Berlin, Germany. When they met for the first time, the two hit it off and chatted all night. After returned to China, they led the Nanchang Uprising together, fired the first shot against the Kuomintang reactionaries, and led the revolution together through countless difficult years.
After Zhou Enlai passed away, his family did not dare to tell Zhu De that on January 8, 1976, Zhu De went to meet foreign guests. After returning, Kang Keqing slowly told him: "The Prime Minister's condition has worsened."
After Zhu De heard this, he did not want to believe that there were so many good doctors in the hospital treating the Prime Minister, and his condition would not progress so fast. Until the news of Premier Zhou Enlai's death came, he burst into tears immediately.
Zhou Enlai and Zhu De
Zhu De learned that the Prime Minister’s last words were to scatter the ashes in the rivers and land of the motherland. He said solemnly:
In the past, people had to be buried in coffins in the ground after death. Later, progress was made, and cremation was carried out after death. This is a revolution. After the death of Engels, the great teacher of the proletariat, his ashes were in the sea, and the Prime Minister wanted to scatter the ashes on the land and rivers of the motherland. This is also a revolution. The Prime Minister dedicated his life to the party, the country, and the people until his death. He is a true and thorough revolutionary. "
Zhu De shed tears while talking to his family about the Prime Minister's revolutionary life, and fell into deep memories. When he went to attend the farewell ceremony for Premier Zhou Enlai's body, Zhu De shed tears all the way. In the car, he had to take off his hat to express his regret for the past. Respected by his comrades, he solemnly paid the last military salute to Premier Zhou in his life !
Zhu De's military salute
After returning home, Zhu De did not say a word or eat. Zhu De. He was originally going to attend the memorial service of Premier Zhou Enlai, but just before departure, the 90-year-old Zhu De couldn't stand up on his legs because he was too sad. He slumped on the chair helplessly and said: "Oh, go." If it doesn’t work, how can I show my kindness to you in the right way? " In the end, he failed to go.
Zhu De comforted Deng Yingchao
After the death of Premier Zhou Enlai, people across the country were grieved. The hospital where Premier Zhou stayed before his death was surrounded by people. Everyone wanted to see the last face of Premier Zhou's body, and they cried on the street After the farewell ceremony, Premier Zhou Enlai's body was moved to Babaoshan for cremation. Before the motorcade set off, the hearse walked through the back door of the hospital, deliberately avoiding the crowd, and drove towards Babaoshan in a very low-key manner.
The hearse carrying Zhou Enlai's body
Unexpectedly, people got the news that Premier Zhou Enlai's hearse would pass by.The ten-mile long street was already crowded with people. It was snowing in the sky. The people in Beijing were not afraid of the severe cold and were consciously aware of it. Standing on both sides of the road, there was no crowding or chaos. They watched the hearse drive by, but tears couldn't help flowing down their faces. They joined together and called out to Premier Zhou Enlai one after another, and burst into sobs.
Ten-mile long street to see off the Prime Minister
When the hearse arrived at Babaoshan, there were still dark crowds on both sides of the road. Some people had been standing in the cold wind for six or seven hours, directing traffic police, with tears on their faces. With trembling hands, we performed a military salute and watched the hearse pass by. Everyone rushed to Babao Mountain, hoping to see the Prime Minister off on his last journey.
The staff carried the glass coffin out of the hearse. Deng Yingchao, eyes full of sadness, said to Zhou Enlai's body: "Let the children see you for the last time."
The Prime Minister was reluctant to leave, and the people cried
At that time, many people strongly demanded that the Prime Minister should be retained. Deng Yingchao withstood the pressure and told the central leaders over and over again that Premier Zhou Enlai's wish was to be cremated. Even though she was reluctant to leave, she must complete the tasks assigned by her husband.
When the body was being cremated, the funeral workers in Babaoshan refused to press the button to start the cremation. However, because it was the Prime Minister's personal last words before his death, he could only press the button with tears in his eyes.
htmlOn November 12, the prime minister's ashes were temporarily placed at the Working People's Cultural Palace in Beijing for a three-day condolence event. According to statistics, the number of people who came to pay their respects in the three days exceeded one million, and officials and guests from abroad reached More than 2,000 people .
To see off Premier Zhou Enlai
All the black cloth in Beijing cloth shops was sold out Many people made small mourning halls at home to worship Premier Zhou Enlai. Because they could not buy a photo of Premier Zhou Enlai, they put the photo of Premier Zhou Enlai in the newspaper Cut out.
Ordinary people lined up from dawn to dusk. In the queue were nursing mothers, elderly people, school students, and sturdy young men, just to see the Prime Minister for the last time. The People's Heroes Monument was crowded with people. The mourning crowd, despite the cold wind and their faces turning red from the cold, refused to leave for a long time and spontaneously bid farewell to the Prime Minister.
The masses spontaneously mourned Premier Zhou Enlai
Three days after the condolence event, at the end of the condolence event, Deng Yingchao held up the urn of Premier Zhou Enlai and bowed to thank all the staff. She said gratefully:
"I hold Enlai's ashes and pay my respects to those present. To all the comrades who work, I would like to express my gratitude."
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone present cried.
Deng Yingchao cried sadly while holding Zhou Enlai's ashes
htmlOn November 15, at 8 o'clock in the evening, in accordance with Premier Zhou Enlai's last wish, the staff arrived at Tongxian Airport in the eastern suburbs of Beijing, carrying four packages of Premier Zhou Enlai's ashes, and walked with heavy steps. Got the plane.
scattered the Prime Minister’s first package of ashes in the sky over Beijing.
scatter the Prime Minister's second bag of ashes at Miyun Reservoir .
scattered the prime minister's third bag of ashes in Tianjin Haihe .
The Prime Minister’s fourth package of ashes was scattered at the estuary of the Yellow River.
At 45:45 in the morning on the 16th, the staff returned to the airport, which lasted 4 and a half hours without any stopover or any ceremony. Everything was carried out quietly without disturbing anyone.
Premier Zhou Enlai
Deng Yingchao waited for the staff to return in the West Flower Hall. After the children came back, she hugged Gao Zhenpu and Zhang Shuying tightly and kept saying:
"Thank you! Thank you! You two served Comrade Enlai and defended Comrade Enlai to the end. "
This document is dedicated to Premier Zhou Enlai. We should remember Zhou Enlai, a good prime minister who studied for the rise of China and the people.
