Rebirth: I am in Jin-Cha-Ji

After all, in 1951, the number of live pigs decreased by more than 2000 million in one year.

The final investigation results showed that there were problems with the unified purchase and marketing and the cooperatives.

These two major central government policies have resulted in a sharp decline in rural pig populations. This indicates that there are problems in rural work. Another issue is that Guangdong is currently experiencing increasing prosperity, with collaboration not only with Chinese merchants but also with British ones. However, the effectiveness of this cooperation, its consequences, and whether it will affect socialist development are all issues that the Chairman needs to consider.

These factors contributed to the Chairman's desire to move south.

However, the Chairman ultimately decided that the armistice agreement had been officially signed, ending the Korean War. With the Korean War over, there were no more important domestic issues. Therefore, the Chairman made the impromptu decision to travel south for research.

It was a rather hasty decision.

Therefore, this time when the Chairman convened the Politburo meeting, he did not think too much about it, he just went through the organizational procedures.

The Chairman thought this Politburo meeting would be simple.

Because this had always been a common practice, and the Chairman was accustomed to such an arrangement, he assumed that everyone would tacitly accept Comrade Xiuyang as responsible for Central Committee work and that the decision would be easily approved. However, just as the Chairman had proposed his trip south and asked the Politburo to discuss and recommend a Central Committee leader to oversee the day-to-day work of the Central Committee, Gao Gang suddenly jumped in, proposing that the six Vice Chairmen of the Central Committee take turns handling the day-to-day work of the Central Committee.

Gao Gang actually put the Chairman in a difficult position by doing this.

After all, it was the Chairman who called the meeting. It was the Chairman who announced his upcoming trip south to conduct research and requested the Politburo to recommend a central leader to oversee central affairs. Gao Gang was a member of the Politburo Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of the Central Committee, and General Secretary of the Central Committee, presiding over the Secretariat. He was the seventh-highest-ranking official in the Party.

He is fully qualified to express his opinion.

Is Gao Gang wrong?

What was wrong? Gao Gang did not defy organizational orders or violate organizational procedures. He simply followed organizational procedures and expressed his opinions. It is perfectly normal for a Politburo Standing Committee member to express his opinions at a Politburo meeting.

The Politburo meeting instantly fell into an unusual silence. Wei Hongjun didn't know how to describe the situation. It had been a simple, routine Politburo meeting, with no one taking it seriously. But Gao Gang's words immediately changed things. Everyone was at a loss for words.

Because although Gao Gang said that the six vice-chairmen of the Central Committee would take turns handling the central work, it was actually very obvious that he was against Comrade Xiu Yang taking charge of the central work.

What can others say at this time?

After a while, Peng Zhen said, "I don't think this is appropriate. How can we rotate the leadership of the Central Committee's daily work? If someone takes charge of the Central Committee's work every day, wouldn't it be a mess? This will cause confusion for many cadres. How will the various departments submit their reports then?"

Peng Zhen knew that Gao Gang had always wanted to use the Secretariat to take charge of party affairs, so he had always been at odds with Comrade Xiuyang, who was in charge of central party affairs.

But Peng Zhen really didn't expect Gao Gang to make such a suggestion.

What does taking turns mean?

joke.

Managing central government work is not like children fighting over toys. You play one day today, and I play one day tomorrow.

That's not playing house.

And Peng Zhen also understood what Gao Gang meant.

Comrade Xiuyang was in an awkward position at this point, and no matter what he said, it would be awkward. So Peng Zhen stood up and opposed Gao Gang's statement.

"How can rotating officials cause chaos? What's there to be confused about among cadres? All departments need to submit their reports according to procedures. Once the reports reach the Central Committee, the comrade in charge of the Central Committee's work will be responsible for handling them. Our Party is not a makeshift organization. Whether it's the State Council, the Secretariat, or the Central Committee, we all have our own rules and regulations. How could there be chaos? I believe the problems Comrade Peng Zhen is worried about are completely non-existent."

"Actually, all central government departments are now responsible for their own duties and have their own heads. There aren't any major matters that require a final decision. They usually just handle trivial daily tasks. Such work doesn't require a leader specifically in charge of central government work. I think it's perfectly fine for the vice chairmen of the Central Committee to take turns handling it. If there's something truly important, the chairman can be notified for his approval. It's not like he's unreachable."

Gao Gang insisted on his point of view.

Gao Gang didn't really want everyone to take turns handling central work.

Currently, the Premier, Chen Yun, and Marshal Nie all primarily work within the State Council, while the Commander-in-Chief oversees the Discipline Inspection Commission and the CPPCC Committee. Only Comrade Xiu Yang and Gao Gang are responsible for Party affairs, which hinders Gao Gang's career. In fact, after the Chairman's departure, Gao Gang's position within the Central Committee will rise significantly. With Gao Gang in charge of the Secretariat, the Secretariat can handle most of the Party's daily work. Many matters no longer require the Central Committee.

Therefore, as long as there was no cadre in charge of the central work, Gao Gang would definitely hold great power among the Standing Committee members in handling party affairs.

Furthermore, Gao Gang wanted to break the previous situation where Comrade Xiuyang was responsible for the daily work of the Central Committee when the Chairman was absent. If this situation was not broken, everyone would tacitly assume that Comrade Xiuyang would be in charge of the Central Committee's work whenever the Chairman was absent. This would naturally lead the entire Party to consider Comrade Xiuyang as the first choice to replace the Chairman.

This is something Gao Gang cannot accept.

If Gao Gang wanted to truly take control of the central party affairs, he must not allow Comrade Xiuyang to continue to be in charge of party affairs.

The chairman originally wanted to reprimand Gao Gang.

But I still held back.

Because Gao Gang is no longer a young local cadre, but a member of the central leadership. In a meeting like this, in front of so many comrades, Comrade Gao Gang should be given sufficient respect. Another point is that although Gao Gang distorted the direction of the Politburo meeting, he did not truly violate organizational procedures.

So the Chairman said gently: "Comrade Gao Gang, when I left the Central Committee, it was customary to choose a comrade to take charge of the Central Committee's work. Don't you agree?"

The Chairman's meaning is very clear.

But Gao Gang did not retreat.

He continued, "Chairman, I think that with the advancement of communication technology these days, you can handle important tasks even when you're away. Why would you need to designate someone to handle central tasks?"

Gao Gang even refuted the chairman's words.

Seeing Gao Gang so persistent, what can others say?

The meeting fell silent again. The Premier spoke up, "I think everyone's opinions make sense. Comrade Peng Zhen's point is also quite valid. How can we rotate central government work? But what Comrade Gao Gang said is also quite reasonable. Currently, each central government department is performing its duties. Even if there are any important matters, the Chairman can be contacted. So, my suggestion is that everyone handle their own responsibilities on a regular basis. If something cannot be handled, convene a meeting of the Central Committee or the Politburo to discuss it. Then, promptly report the results of the discussion to the Chairman."

It is normal for the Chairman to go south for research.

The Premier didn't want anything to happen at the Politburo meeting at this time. All work in New China was proceeding smoothly, and the economy was developing rapidly. Nothing could happen.

Comrade Xiuyang and Gao Gang are both giants in the party, so it would be best if they did not fight with each other.

Comrade Xiuyang had been in charge of the Northern Bureau for many years, and Gao Gang, a cadre from northern Shaanxi, had spent several years in the Northeast. Neither of them worked alone, and if a problem arose, it would affect a large number of cadres.

The Prime Minister lowered his tone as soon as he spoke.

Marshal Nie echoed, "I agree with the Prime Minister. Our Party has always been a system of democratic centralism, led by the Party committee. Each central agency is now handling its own affairs. If there is anything that requires coordination, the Secretariat and the State Council can handle it. If there are still important matters to be handled, we can convene a meeting of the Central Committee and the Politburo. And we can always contact the Chairman."

Gao Gang became excited at this time.

Lian Lian replied, "Yes, that's exactly what I meant. We now have a complete working mechanism, and communication with the Chairman is uninterrupted. Why must we designate one person to handle the day-to-day work of the Central Committee? What I said about rotating presiding over the work was a bit inappropriate. What I meant was that we should carry forward the advantages of democratic centralism."

Gao Gang simply didn't want to have a cadre among the central leadership who was obviously superior to others, except for the chairman.

We are all members of the Politburo Standing Committee.

Except for the chairman, everyone should be the same size, which is the fairest.

After the Premier and Marshal Nie said this, Chen Yun nodded in support. Several members of the Politburo Standing Committee had already said this, not to mention the lower-level Politburo members. They had already seen it.

Gao Gang's various excuses actually mean that he just doesn't want Comrade Xiuyang to be responsible for the daily work of the Central Committee.

This is a matter between two members of the Standing Committee.

No one wanted to get involved in muddy waters. The Premier's proposed solution, while somewhat conciliatory, was just the right measure. So the other Politburo members nodded in support of the Premier's plan.

This is the general trend and the Chairman cannot object.

But the Chairman was very surprised at that moment. He had already seen that it would be very difficult for Comrade Xiuyang to handle the daily work of the Central Committee in the future.

Although it was Gao Gang who fired the first shot.

But most of these Politburo members supported Gao Gang, but they didn't say it as blatantly as Gao Gang did.

The Chairman couldn't tell whether these central leaders disliked Comrade Xiuyang or simply didn't want someone to dominate them. Regardless, it was the first time the Chairman realized that Comrade Xiuyang's prestige within the Central Committee was questionable. Or rather, it had declined significantly compared to the period since the Seventh National Congress.

When Chairman Mao went to Chongqing for negotiations and to the Soviet Union in 1948, it was natural for Comrade Xiuyang to handle the day-to-day work of the Central Committee. No one at the Central Committee raised any objections, and everyone within the Party agreed that there was no problem. However, at this Politburo meeting, Chairman Mao discovered that everyone was reluctant to allow Comrade Xiuyang to take charge of day-to-day work.

But the chairman couldn't solve this problem either.

When Comrade Xiuyang rose to become one of the five secretaries of the Communist Party of China, many people, both inside and outside the party, were surprised. Even some people in the Kuomintang (KMT) were asking, "Who is Comrade Xiuyang? How did he become one of the five secretaries of the Communist Party of China?"

In fact, this is a manifestation of the lack of foundation in comrade cultivation.

So the Chairman said, "Then follow everyone's wishes. Everyone should perform their duties. If anything comes up, the members of the Political Bureau Standing Committee can request a meeting of the Central Committee or the Political Bureau. If anything comes up, please keep in touch with me."

No one could have imagined that a seemingly ordinary Politburo meeting would usher in a new chapter in history. From that point on, whenever the Chairman was absent from the Central Committee, the Central Committee would naturally assume primary responsibility, and no single leader would be designated to oversee the day-to-day work of the Central Committee.

However, this was a huge blow to Comrade Xiuyang's prestige. After all, Comrade Xiuyang had previously handled the daily work of the Central Committee, but this time, all members of the Politburo Standing Committee were jointly responsible for handling the work of the Central Committee.

Of course, no one knows what will happen in the future.

After deciding these matters, the Chairman said, "My main purpose in going south this time is to observe the situation in the countryside and to meet with overseas Chinese and Chinese businessmen in Guangdong. Comrades Wei Hongjun, Yang Shangkun, and Du Liqing will accompany me south."

Wei Hongjun didn't expect the Chairman to call his name.

However, Wei Hongjun did not hesitate and immediately said, "Okay, Chairman."

904 Cooperative Advantages and Disadvantages

On May 1952, 5, Wei Hongjun accompanied Chairman Mao on a special train.

In addition to Wei Hongjun, the Chairman was accompanied on his southern inspection tour by Yang Shangkun, Deputy Secretary-General of the CPC Central Committee, Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, and Alternate Secretary of the Secretariat, as well as Du Liqing, Minister of Public Security.

In addition to these people, there are some other cadres.

Hu Qiaomu, Chairman Mao's political secretary, and Tian Jiaying, Chairman Mao's close penman, both accompanied him south on this trip. Wei Hongjun brought Luo Weilin, Director of the Policy Research Office, from the Rural Work Committee. This trip was primarily focused on rural issues. Luo Weilin was well-versed in rural work, particularly in the Policy Research Office, where he regularly researched the development of rural cooperatives. With him, Wei Hongjun could conduct research while also explaining his ideas for cooperatives to Chairman Mao.

When passing through Shijiazhuang, the Chairman discussed the current situation of industry and agriculture with leaders of the Hebei Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government.

Listen to the current development report of industry and agriculture in Hebei Province.

The current capital of Hebei Province is Baoding, but both the central government and the Hebei Provincial Party Committee are planning to move the provincial capital to Shijiazhuang. The reason it hasn't moved yet is due to financial issues.

The central government told the Hebei Provincial Party Committee and Government that they had no money. They wanted to move the project to Shijiazhuang, but they were expected to cover all expenses themselves. However, Hebei's finances were still tight, so they were unable to truly change the provincial government.

Both the Central Committee and the Hebei Provincial Committee wanted to move to Shijiazhuang, mainly because Shijiazhuang had become a key national development city since liberation.

Shijiazhuang has many advantages, the most significant being its status as a transportation hub and abundant water resources. More importantly, Shijiazhuang is a young city, leaving ample room for development. When the People's Republic of China was first established, Shijiazhuang State-owned Cotton Mill No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, and a printing and dyeing factory were established. This is because the area surrounding Shijiazhuang has long been a cotton-producing region.

Many Soviet aid projects were implemented in Shijiazhuang.

The North China Pharmaceutical Factory, the Starch Factory, the Shijiazhuang Thermal Power Plant No. 1 and No. 2, as well as the construction of a pesticide factory and a large auto repair shop, will be built in Shijiazhuang. Following this round of negotiations with the United States, the Shijiazhuang Glass Factory, the Bicycle Factory, the Printing Factory, and the Paper Mill will be established in Shijiazhuang.

After liberation, the fiscal investment in Shijiazhuang's industry alone reached 4.7 million yuan.

Shijiazhuang has experienced rapid development in all areas, easily surpassing Baoding. Although the Hebei Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial Government cannot be fully relocated to Shijiazhuang, important departments of the Hebei Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial Government have already begun to operate in Shijiazhuang.

After listening to their report, the Chairman instructed them to plan Shijiazhuang's development. China lacked experience in large-scale modern urban development, so he instructed the leaders of the Hebei Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government to humbly learn from Soviet experts about urban development.

Then continue south by train.

When they arrived in Youdan, the Chairman suddenly stopped the car. He wanted to listen to a report on the rural cooperatives in Youdan.

The Chairman's research is so casual.

Although he had already planned which places to visit before going south, the Chairman would change his itinerary at any time. This time, he suddenly decided to stop in Handan to listen to the report of the leaders there.

Wei Hongjun strongly supports this decision.

Research, research, everything is ready, what is there to research?

Only through such sudden investigations can we see and hear some actual situations.

The Chairman's special train suddenly stopped in Handan, shocking everyone there. They suspected something had happened. The Chairman quickly sent for the Secretary of the Handan Prefectural Committee and the Commissioner of the Handan Special District Office, requesting a meeting. Wang Fawu, First Secretary of the Handan Prefectural Committee, and Zhang Qiuping, Commissioner of the Special District Office, boarded the train.