Ji Fang

1In the early morning of August 28th, 945, looking down from Liang Qingshan, I saw many people going down the mountain to the airport outside the East Gate. Our comrades in Liberation Daily got the news very early. When they saw Bo Gu coming and Ding Yi meeting at the foot of the mountain, they followed them, joined the crowd in the east and walked to the airport together.

People's mood is not calm. The development of the situation in these two weeks is really like the sky, changing rapidly; It shows the unique and complex relationship during the historical turning point. I remember that on the evening of 10, the translator of Xinhua News Agency shouted the news of Japan's surrender and ran past the door of our cave. Before dawn, the news spread throughout Yan 'an like a gust of wind. The next night, there was a spontaneous celebration in the new market outside the south gate. Farmers selling fruits threw baskets of bonus fruits into the air, shouting for people to eat "victory fruits". In some schools, students took cotton from their cotton-padded jackets, tied it to sticks, dipped it in kerosene, lit torches and marched on the road.

At that time, the enthusiasm of the masses for the victory of the Anti-Japanese War was not excessive. But after two days, outrageous news followed: Chiang Kai-shek ordered the Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army not to surrender, and Yan Xishan sent troops to attack Shangdang liberated areas ... Suddenly, a new civil war crisis was imminent! Chairman Mao made a report on August 13th (namely "The Current Situation after War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression's Victory and Our Policy"), pointing out that "the danger of civil war is very serious, because Chiang Kai-shek's policy has been decided".

These days, let alone people who burn cotton-padded jackets, they can't help but regret it. Many people are full of anger. Turning the joy of victory into anger against Chiang Kai-shek has long been mentally vigilant.

An American plane flew from Yan 'an airport the day before yesterday. It was American special envoy Hurley and Kuomintang government representative Zhang Zhizhong. Do what? "It's not a plan to slow down!" People talk like this in private. Last night, the branch suddenly conveyed the notice of the central government about peace talks with the Kuomintang government, and nothing could be turned around ideologically; Yes, Chairman Mao will go to Chongqing himself! At that time, my heart was like pressing a stone and lighting a fire. I feel heavy and anxious, and I can't sleep all night!

Perhaps many comrades in Yan 'an and many comrades in the liberated areas spent that night in a state of anxiety. Who doesn't know that Chiang Kai-shek is the most treacherous rogue? Who doesn't know that American imperialism is supporting Chiang Kai-shek's government to start a civil war in China? Although Hurley came to Yan 'an in disguise, it is hard to guarantee that this is not a trap set by a group of robbers!

Looking back on the situation at that time was really disturbing! Many comrades said with indignation: negotiations are naturally possible, which only shows that Chiang Kai-shek and American imperialism cannot but recognize the strength of the people led by the party; We cannot but acknowledge the strong desire of the people of China for peace; We have to admit that after the Soviet Union defeated fascism, the international situation was more conducive to peace and democracy. However, Chairman Mao can't go! If we want to negotiate, please ask him to come to Yan' an himself, and we promise to have exchanges like the "Xi incident". It doesn't matter if it doesn't work out. To fight depends on the level of the battlefield!

Many old comrades even said with deep feelings: Chairman Mao went to Jinggangshan and never left us again! During the five "encirclement and suppression" campaigns, the Long March and the eight-year Anti-Japanese War, Chairman Mao stayed with us, never leaving his own army or his own base. Now, I must go to Chongqing to negotiate with him in person!

However, the central government has decided; The notice also clearly stated: This is a struggle! At that time, the CPC Central Committee put forward three slogans of peace, democracy and unity, which met the requirements of the people of the whole country. If Chiang Kai-shek dares to despise the world, refuse peace talks and launch a civil war, it will be tantamount to self-destruction, and the revolutionary victory will come faster, which is proved by later history.

This is the only correct policy and selfless attitude adopted by our party at an important juncture in determining the fate of the country. Chairman Mao's personal trip to Chongqing was a brave act for the country and the nation, regardless of personal safety! This alone can greatly demonstrate the belief of the world revolution.

The people who saw me off went to the airport one after another. Out of Dongguan Street, turn a mountain pass, and the airport is not far away. A green military plane stopped at the airport. I remember that when the airport was built last year, many comrades in Yan 'an took part in labor, dragging flat stones down from the mountains and paving them in a straight line, steadily and steadily. Dozens of people pulled the stone around. Commander-in-Chief Zhu and many other leading comrades took part in the labor, singing and reciting poems with everyone. At that time, people were very excited and worked hard, thinking that the airport was built in Yan' an. That is to say, we will have a plane, the situation in War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression will be greatly changed, and victory is coming.

Yes, victory has come. The independent, free, peaceful and democratic life that the people hoped for and fought for with blood will be destroyed by Chiang Kai-shek and American imperialism again! In order to stop this disaster, defend people's rights and realize people's wishes, Chairman Mao will start from here now, from the airport built by comrades in Yan 'an, and go to the forefront of the struggle!

There were more and more people at the airport, and soon thousands of people gathered. However, no one spoke, and there was silence: the air in the whole airport was very serious, just like the moment when the front-line battle was about to start.

The motor of the car came clearly, and people turned to look at the road. A jeep drove out of the mountain pass and entered the airport. Comrade Zhou Enlai and Comrade Wang Ruofei jumped out of the car, followed by General Zhang Zhizhong, who was neatly dressed and wearing a dagger. According to the situation at that time, General Zhang Zhizhong could only be an awkward role in the eyes of Yan 'an people. Besides, it is unnatural for his Kuomintang generals to appear in standard uniforms at the airport. This kind of unnatural, he probably felt it himself, and stood in front of the car and hesitated. At this moment, Comrade Bo Gu stepped forward and shook hands with him, which seemed to make a joke and made him laugh.

Then a jeep came. An American jumped out of the car, wearing black-rimmed glasses and smoking a cigarette. His clothes are thin and short, which makes him look wider than his chest and his legs are twice as long as his upper body. This is the so-called "special envoy" Hurley of the United States.

People turned around and glared-of course not. Hurley clearly felt this. He stood in front of the jeep hesitantly, with one hand on the door and one hand on his waist, as if measuring the current situation. After waiting for a while, I saw that the crowd just looked at him quietly, so I waved, called "hello" to the crowd without taking down my cigarette, and then hurried to the plane.

Nobody paid attention to him, but people heard the motor sound of the car again: a medium-sized car with hood, which is familiar to Yan' an people, is turning the mountain mouth and heading for the airport. Immediately, the crowd rushed forward as a whole like a gust of wind on the calm water. Then, stop again; Just as the bus stopped and the door opened, thunderous applause broke out in the airport.

Chairman Mao stepped out of the car. Different from usual, I am wearing a blue cloth uniform, leather shoes and a dark gray helmet. The whole costume is completely like going out to be a guest. This immediately aroused people's deep anxiety and feelings of parting; Tears welled up in my eyes.

In Yan 'an people's memory, the chairman always wears a worn-out gray cloth uniform, cloth shoes and an octagonal gray cloth hat that is always wiped clean. His stalwart figure, clear forehead, gentle eyes and warm voice always appear in the meeting place, in the classroom, and at the edge of Yang Jialing's avenue walking down the hill. The chairman lives among the masses and comrades. The chairman's voice and smile, gestures, people are familiar with, understand, with unlimited trust and love, reunited with him, not a step away, not a step away! Now, the chairman is going to leave us disguised as a guest!

In an instant, people's hearts are like waves on the sea. Thousands of eyes, eagerly to the chairman. The chairman stood by the car, looking straight at all the people who saw him off, passing by everyone's face; He seemed to see all the people present. At this time, his eyes showed a kind and firm smile and nodded to people.

The responsible comrades of the Central Committee standing in front stepped forward. The chairman stretched out his broad palm and shook hands with everyone. The chairman's face is serious and calm, and his eyes are full of infinite concern and encouragement. Then, he stopped, looked at all the people who saw him off, raised his right hand, waved his hand and went straight to the plane parked in front.

The crowd stood quietly at the airport, and thousands of pairs of eyes followed the tall figure of the chairman in the crowd, watching him approach the plane step by step and step on the ramp of the plane.

What a long time! People held their breath and looked at the chairman's hands and feet motionless until he stopped at the door of the plane, turned around and turned to the crowd who saw him off.

Once again, the crowd swept across the water like a high wind and rushed to the plane. The chairman stood in the door of the plane, took off his hat and looked at the people who saw him off, as if to comfort or encourage him. People don't know how to express their feelings, but they just waved desperately together, just like a sudden gust of wind blowing from the airport. Thousands of arms waved from below and far away, reaching out to the chairman.

The chairman also raised his hand and raised his dark gray helmet; But it's slow, like lifting a heavy object. Little by little, little by little, lift it up, lift it up; When I lifted it above my head, I suddenly waved it hard and stopped in the air, motionless.

This action of the chairman left a deep impression on all the people present. It seems to express a process of thinking and decisive decision; It seems to concentrate the feelings of all the people present and all the revolutionary cadres, soldiers and the masses who are not present, and express them with this action. This is a concrete and historic action, which summarizes the close relationship, great determination and great courage among leaders, comrades, comrades-in-arms and the broad masses of revolutionary people at that great historical turning point.

Please thank our photographer for leaving this instant and permanent image for people. This is a vivid historical record! It was this little effort that showed the profound historical process and the great character of the chairman. May everyone know and appreciate the victory in War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression through this photo, our country is at a crossroads, at a serious moment when two fates and two futures decide the outcome, and the contribution made by our party and Chairman Mao to the country and people!

The engine of the plane rang and the propeller turned. With this sound, people's hearts beat violently, and people's eyes never left the plane that is about to take off; Let the propeller roll up the dust on the ground and cover people's eyes. How much this plane should weigh! It carries the hearts of the people in the Liberated Areas, the hopes of all the people in China and the destiny of our country!

The chairman's face appeared in the plane window, and people rushed forward and waved desperately. The chairman put his hand on the window pane and his fingers moved silently. Until the plane turned a corner, ran on the runway, rose into the air, circled overhead, and then flew south, people still looked up and looked at the top of Baota shan, looking at the southern sky for a long time.

After that, everyone knew Chairman Mao lived in Chongqing for forty-three days before finally signing the October 10th Agreement. From the notes of the article "About Chongqing Negotiations" in the four-volume Selected Works of Mao Zedong, we can see how principled concessions our Party made and how tit-for-tat struggles were carried out in order to take the overall situation into consideration and realize the peaceful and democratic life demanded by the people of the whole country. If the Shangdang campaign in September hadn't wiped out 35,000 people in Yen Hsi-shan, I'm afraid there wouldn't even be such a "Double Tenth Agreement"!

Now, rereading great historical documents such as The Current Situation After War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression's Victory and Our Policy, Notice of the Central Committee on Peace Talks with the Kuomintang, and Negotiations with Chongqing, I think of seeing Chairman Mao off at Yan 'an Airport at that time, which is really like a historical mirror, illuminating the past as well as today and the future. ...

After that, it was in the war. Chiang Kai-shek tore up the October 10th Agreement he signed and, with the support of American imperialism, launched a large-scale attack on the liberated areas. The war of liberation began in full swing. One night, at the front line of Chengde, I read that a comrade in the Military Adjustment Department of Peiping copied Chairman Mao's "Qinyuanchun?" Snow-this poem was first published in Chongqing, which shocked the people in the so-called "home front". They saw the real power that determines the historical destiny and heard the footsteps of the revolutionary process! And we, on the front line, in the sound of gunfire, watched the soldiers leap forward with guns in the shining firelight. The thoughts and emotions in this poem have completely become touchable images, and we are in the realm. As a result, every word of the poem burns like a torch. In a flash, the whole frontier seemed to be lit up! The artillery fire of the war of liberation is destroying all the dark forces in old China. The enemy at that time seemed very powerful; However, as written in the poem, it is not Qin Huang Hanwu and Tang Zongsong Zu who decide the historical destiny, but the people themselves, who are contemporary "romantic figures"!

I remember when I first arrived at the front line, comrades in the army told me that in the early morning of August 28th, the army conveyed the notice that Chairman Mao personally went to Chongqing to negotiate. At ten o'clock that day, all the soldiers looked west, looking for the plane taking off from Yan 'an in the sky and listening to the sound of the plane; Really, they seem to hear the heavy rumble of this plane! At that time, our soldiers with what kind of mood! They clenched their weapons and waited for the end of the matter. Nowadays, the weapons in the hands of soldiers are exerting their power. So, in the deafening gunfire, we couldn't help reading aloud-

……

It's all gone,

Count romantic figures,

Look at this!

The scene of seeing off at Yan' an airport appeared again: the figure of Chairman Wei An stood in the hatch of the plane; Firm eyes, looking at the crowd off; Wide palm, holding a dark gray helmet; Lift it slowly, lift it slowly, and then stop in the air with a wave of his hand. ...

In front of him, countless soldiers are marching bravely in the direction he guides.