After careful consideration, it was decided to replace the host of Li Zongren's memorial service
** An outstanding leader in the history of our country, he was not only busy with national affairs, but also spent time concerned about the return of Li Zongren, an important figure in the former Kuomintang regime. Without ***'s care and support, Li Zongren may find it difficult to realize his desire to return to China.
On January 30, 1969, Li Zongren died of illness at the age of 78. According to the original arrangement, Fu Zuoyi should preside over Li Zongren's memorial service. However, after learning of this, ** decisively made a change and changed "Fu Zuoyi, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference" to "chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference". Such a modification attracted a lot of attention at the time. Who was the "chairman of the CPPCC" at that time? Why this change?
In the long river of history, Chiang Kai-shek's fate can be described as bumpy. In 1949, with the end of the Huaihai Campaign, the Kuomintang suffered heavy losses, and Nanjing and other places also faced the threat of the People's Liberation Army. Chiang Kai-shek was forced to announce his resignation and hand over power to the "deputy **" Li Zongren.
Although the Kuomintang was already facing defeat, Li Zongren did not give up and tried to hold peace talks with the Communist Party, secretly co-opting forces in an attempt to make a comeback. However, the Communist Party had already seen through his disguise and published a speech exposing the true face of the Kuomintang.
After the failure of the peace talks, ** ordered a full-scale offensive, and the PLA launched a general offensive to the south. Li Zongren is in a difficult situation and faces a difficult choice. At the suggestion of a friend, he chose to leave the mainland and go to Hong Kong, and then to the United States.
In 1956, he called on Taiwan compatriots to return to the motherland and realize the complete reunification of the country. This call deeply touched Li Zongren, who had settled in the United States, and he decided to return to China.
Li Zongren was active in the United States to mobilize patriotic people to support the appeal. **After learning about it, he was very welcome, and he thought that Li Zongren's awakening was a good thing for the country.
Unfortunately, due to various reasons, Li Zongren was unable to return to China immediately, but he never forgot his care and entrustment.
**Carefully plan for Li Zongren's return to China to ensure his safe return. In 1965, it was decided that Li Zongren's wish could finally come true. When Li Zongren learned the news, he was extremely excited, and even cried bitterly.
Li Zongren applied for a visa to travel abroad, and it was quickly processed. However, on the way back to China, he suddenly encountered an assassination crisis. After timely arrangements, Li Zongren and others returned to the motherland safely.
When Li Zongren and his entourage had just arrived, several police cars quickly picked them up and then sped away. In the car, our security personnel assured Li Zongren: "We are here to pick you up on the order of ***, you don't have to worry." It's very safe here, and the killers sent by Chiang Kai-shek can't get close to us! ”
Hearing this, Li Zongren held the other party's hand tightly and said continuously: "Thank you*** Thank you, thank you!" ”
On July 18, Li Zongren and his entourage arrived safely at Guangzhou Baiyun Airport. ***, who was far away in Shanghai, waited by ** until it was confirmed that Li Zongren's plane had safely entered China's airspace, and he breathed a sigh of relief and was ready to rest for a while.
At 11 a.m., Li Zongren's plane arrived at Shanghai Hongqiao Airport. As soon as he stepped off the plane, he saw a person with a radiant and official appearance waving to him, and looked at it fixedly: "Isn't this what I think about day and night?" He strode forward in surprise and hugged the other person.
** smiled and said: "Mr. Li, you are finally back, we warmly welcome!" At this time, a thousand words converged into one sentence: "Hello Prime Minister, Hello Prime Minister." As he spoke, he held ***'s hand tightly and sobbed ......silently
The memorial service originally presided over by Fu Zuoyi was later changed after contemplation. In August 1968, Li Zongren was hospitalized for excessive bleeding, and the result was rectal cancer. Under the arrangement of ***, a medical team of professional doctors formed a ** plan, and fortunately, the operation was very successful.
At the end of September, Li Zongren was discharged from the hospital. Despite the success of the operation, his heart had failed due to years of emphysema. ** once said to Cheng Siyuan: "I sent two invitations to Mr. Li at that time, one was to attend the banquet and the other was to go to Tiananmen Square. I suggested that he only show up on the tower of Tiananmen Square and go home to rest, but he chose to attend ...... banquetIf I had insisted a little longer, the outcome might have been very different. ”
In January 1969, Li Zongren fell ill with pneumonia again, and doctors were unable to save his life because his body became resistant to drugs. At the critical moment of illness, Li Zongren revealed to his wife Hu Yousong: "I may not have many days left, but I am already satisfied to be able to return to my own country." He continued: "I originally wanted to do something for the country and promote cross-strait reunification, but now it is too late to ......."Hu Yousong choked up and said, "Don't say that, don't say that......."Li Zongren pulled the corners of his mouth, wanting to laugh but couldn't laugh, he said helplessly: "Don't cry, I know my body." Okay, I'm going to tell you something......”
In the last moments of Li Zongren's life, he conveyed a letter to Prime Minister *** and ***, expressing his deep gratitude to them. In this letter, he said an impressive sentence:
I chose to return to China in 1965, this path is right, I can die in my homeland, there is no regret......I am proud and proud to be a Chinese! The only thing I care about is those compatriots who remain in Taiwan and overseas, and I hope that they can choose the same path as me and return to the embrace of the motherland. ”
On January 30, 1969, Li Zongren died of illness at the age of 78. Fortunately, he finally fulfilled his wish to return to his roots on the soil of his homeland.
Li Zongren's memorial service was originally scheduled to be presided over by Fu Zuoyi, then vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. However, when *** saw this arrangement, he was silent for a moment, and then crossed out Fu Zuoyi's name and changed it to "presided over by the chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference". And the chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference at that time was *** himself.
Such an arrangement is not without meaning. After all, Fu Zuoyi was a senior general of the Kuomintang. If he is asked to preside over Li Zongren's memorial service, it may give people a farewell scene of the KMT's top brass. And letting *** preside over it can dispel this doubt, and at the same time show the importance that our party attaches to Li Zongren. It can be said that ** this move is really clever.
** Care about cross-strait affairs and actively work for the reunification of the motherland; And Li Zongren resolutely decided to return to China after awakening. Although the past is gone, the dream has not been realized. The years go by, but the mountains and rivers are still the same; The sea and the sky are vast, and the fallen leaves return to the roots. Only by realizing the peaceful reunification of the motherland and building the Chinese dream together.