On October 6, 1976, Hua Guofeng and Ye Jianying took personal command at Huairentang, Zhongnanhai, and crushed the "Gang of Four" in just half an hour. This arrest operation used Unit 8341. Before the operation, Wang Dongxing repeatedly emphasized the need for absolute confidentiality, so the entire arrest operation was carried out in extreme secrecy. Although a lot of confidentiality work has been done and relevant information has been blocked, the best friends of the "Gang of Four" in Shanghai still got the news on October 8. They immediately conspired and negotiated in an attempt to launch a rebellion.
So how did the news of the secret arrest of the "Gang of Four" leak out? Wang Hongwen placed a deputy ministerial-level undercover agent in the Ministry of Public Security. Among the "Gang of Four", Wang Hongwen had the least qualifications and a relatively low level of education. He made his fortune entirely by "rebellion". Therefore, both Zhang Chunqiao and Yao Wenyuan looked down upon him, thinking that he only knew how to fight and kill and was a reckless man. But in fact Wang Hongwen is also very powerful. Wang Hongwen's parents were farmers who made a living by farming and had many children. In addition, Changchun was already controlled by the Japanese invaders at that time, so life was very difficult.
Because his family was poor, Wang Hongwen had no way to study. In order to have enough to eat, he had to herd pigs for his uncle's family. During this period, he was ridiculed many times by his cousins. After the outbreak of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, he joined the army and became a communications soldier in the 27th Army. After returning to China, Wang Hongwen was assigned to Shanghai National Cotton No. 17 Factory as a security officer. After the "Cultural Revolution" began, many "rebels" emerged in Shanghai. Wang Hongwen sensed an opportunity, established the "General Department of Industry", and planned the "Anting Incident". He became famous in one fell swoop and became the representative of Shanghai's "rebels".
In 1972, Wang Hongwen came to Beijing to take up a post. Soon after, he, Zhang Chunqiao, Yao Wenyuan, and Jiang Qing formed the "Gang of Four". Wang Hongwen had served as a soldier and was well aware of the importance of the army. After he became successful, in addition to setting up the Shanghai militia, he also used the method of appointing officials and making wishes to win over the main leaders of the Shanghai Garrison District. He eventually won two deputy commanders, a deputy political commissar and a division commander to his side. In addition, Wang Hongwen also transferred his "little brother" Zhu Jiayao from Shanghai to Beijing in 1973 to serve as deputy minister of the Ministry of Public Security.
Zhu Jiayao is from Hangzhou, Zhejiang, and is two years younger than Wang Hongwen. At the age of 18, he joined the army and became a soldier of the People's Liberation Army. After four years in the army, Zhu Jiayao was demobilized and joined Shanghai 5703 Factory as a worker. After the "Cultural Revolution" began, a "rebel group" was also established in Factory 5703. Zhu Jiayao had been a soldier and had some experience. He thought that the "rebel" in his factory would not become a popular force, so he did not join. Soon after, Wang Hongwen became famous with the "Anting Incident". Zhu Jiayao thought Wang Hongwen was courageous and knowledgeable, and admired him very much, so he joined the "General Department of Industry" and became Wang Hongwen's "little brother".
Zhu Jiayao also served as a soldier, so he had a lot in common with Wang Hongwen. In addition, he was good at observing people and had certain abilities, so he was quickly appreciated and reused by Wang Hongwen. During his tenure in Shanghai, Wang Hongwen successively handed over the industrial communication group and the organizational group of the "General Industry Department" to Zhu Jiayao. Later, Wang Hongwen entered Beijing and served as Vice Chairman of the Central Committee. He further promoted Zhu Jiayao, first recommending him to become a member of the Central Committee, and soon transferred him to the Ministry of Public Security as deputy minister. Zhu Jiayao was therefore grateful to Wang Hongwen and followed him wholeheartedly.
The day after the "Gang of Four" was secretly arrested, their "big housekeeper" in Shanghai, Ma Tianshui, was called to Beijing for a meeting by the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. Since he was accompanied by Zhou Chunlin, the commander of the Shanghai Security Area, Xu Jingxian, Wang Xiuzhen and others of the "Gang of Four"'s best friends in Shanghai did not raise suspicions. On the morning of October 8, Zhang Chunqiao’s wife Wenjing came to Xu Jingxian and said that Zhang Chunqiao’s phone number had not been connected, and Xu Jingxian felt a little bad. Several secretaries of Zhang Chunqiao and Wang Hongwen happened to be in Shanghai at that time, so Xu Jingxian found them all and asked them to call Zhang Chunqiao and Wang Hongwen through various means, but they couldn't get through.
Now Xu Jingxian, Wang Xiuzhen and others were panicking, thinking that something might have happened to Zhang Chunqiao and Wang Hongwen, but there was no definite news and they didn't know what to do next. At this time, Zhu Jiayao had already found out the news that Wang Hongwen and others had been arrested. He knew that it would be his turn soon, so he hurriedly called Xu Jingxian and told him anxiously: "The 'four leaders' are under control and cannot be moved. You must find a way quickly." Xu Jingxian and Wang Xiuzhen thus confirmed the news that Wang Hongwen and others had been secretly arrested. They hurriedly negotiated and attempted to launch a rebellion, which was eventually crushed. Zhu Jiayao was also subject to quarantine inspection, expelled from the party, and sent to work in Factory 5703. In 1994, Zhu Jiayao went to the United States to settle down. He is 85 years old this year.
