My Reminiscences of Zhou Enlai in Chongqing

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I was a journalist of Ta Kung Pao in Chongqing in the 1940s. From 1944 to 1946, I covered the activities of Zhou Enlai and therefore maintained a close work relationship with the CPC delegation in the war-time capital. The manuscripts of the news stories I wrote during these three years were all lost after I was arrested and my belongings were searched by the KMT government. The following are from my reminiscences of my journalistic work related to zhou enlai.

Prediction Came True

In 1944 I learned that Fang Xianjue had successfully escaped from a Japanese jail. The army commander was captivated after Hengyang his army was defending was seized the Japanese invaders. I did an exclusive interview with Fang and wrote a bit story. The editor in chief Wang Yunsheng penned an editorial to hail Fang’s heroic escape. Ta Kong Pao ran the exclusive story and the editorial. It caused a sensation in the Southwest under the rule of the national government.

Shortly afterwards, I met with Zhou Enlai. He talked with me about the event. He observed that journalistically my story reflected a successful interview and writing, but politically my report was inconsiderate. Zhou explained that he believed Fang’s successful escape might have had something to do with Japan’s attempt to talk to the national government about China’s surrender. He said that Japan might want to make offers face to face to Chiang Kai-shek through Fang. Zhou said I needed to take into account the political dimension more carefully in the future.

It turned out that Fang’s escape was indeed arranged by Japan and that he was indeed a Japanese messenger. The attempt failed after the radio from the liberated base under CPC exposed the truth.

A Great Drinker

On August 23, 1945, Mao Zedong arrived by plane in chongqing in a bid to achieve national peace and unity after Japan’s surrender. Mao’s arrival caused uproar in Chongqing. Many celebrities welcomed Mao at the airport. On September 2, a cocktail party was thrown by the Sino-Soviet cultural Association. Zhou accompanied Mao to attend the party. Many celebrities including some high-ranking KMT officials came to propose a toast to Mao. Zhou Enlai drank all the wine on behalf of Mao. I was there. Tears came to my eyes when I watched Zhou drink generously and calmly on this historical moment.

Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai also came to a dinner jointly hosted by Hu Zhengzhi, the general manager of Ta Kung Pao, and Wang Yunsheng. During the dinner, Wang tried to persuade Mao and the CPC to take part in the proposed coalition government. Wang used a metaphor: “Is there really a need to start another kitchen?” Mao grinned and replied: “We are not starting another kitchen. Some people are trying to starve us!”

In October, 1945, the people from all walks of life in Chongqing rallied in Jiaochengkou, Chongqing in celebration of the successful conclusion of the CPPCC. A large group of government plainclothes agents tried to break up the rally. They beat the participants including celebrities such as Guo Moruo, Li Gongpu, and Shi Fuliang. After learning the violence, Zhou Enlai rushed to the rally. His appearance finally made the special agents withdrew reluctantly. Zhou immediately went to the hospital to visit those who had been injured.

A Long Reportage about Zhou

Zhou Enlai was to leave Chongqing for Nanjing in May 1946, to continue to be a liaison official between the CPC and the national government. Zhou and I had been acquainted with each other for more than two years. Before his departure, Zhou and I talked twice. I wrote a long reportage entitled “Zhou Enlai and the Ten-Year Negotiation.”

He talked about his school years, about his literary preference in his teenage years, about his political ideas and choices, his stepmother’s care for his academic studies, about Liu Chongyou who got him out of prison after he was arrested for his involvement in a student movement.

Zhou Enlai also talked about the situation in China. He was to go to Nanjing because there was every reason to believe that the agreement reached in Chongqing Negotiation was to collapse. But he was highly confident of the Chinese Revolution. He said, “Chinese people are standing up. We may complete the arduous journey and score the final victory in our lifetime. But the last part presents greater difficulties and challenges that we must conquer.”