Chapter 90 Create an air crash to assassinate Zhou Enlai 1970

Journalist: “Was the assassination attempt on Zhou Enlai orchestrated by Jiang Qing?”

Mao: “In mid-December 1970, I sent Zhou Enlai to Hanoi to sign the Sino-Vietnamese Agreement on the War against America and Aid to Vietnam. While flying to Vietnam on three Trident aircraft, Zhou’s plane was forced to make an emergency landing in Kunming. Upon recognizing Zhou Enlai, Tan Furen immediately kneeled down. It turned out that Kunming had received orders from the Military Commission’s Security Department to shoot down any unidentified aircraft. Tan Furen, being observant, opted for an emergency landing, just in case they shot down the wrong plane.

Zhou Enlai endured silently, and after a while, he took off again for Hanoi to complete the agreement with Vietnam. The next day, he flew directly to Hangzhou to see me. While we were in the middle of our conversation, a telegram arrived: Tan Furen had been stabbed to death. Soon after, the head of Kunming Military District’s Security Department was found hanged. Zhou said that the airplane incident was targeted at him, and Tan Furen spared his life. It was evident that the Security Department in Kunming had carried out the orders of the Military Commission’s Security Department. The question was, who instructed the Military Commission’s Security Department? Obviously, it was Jiang Qing’s directive. Apart from her and me, no one could give orders to the Security Department. Jiang Qing and Zhang Chunqiao saw that Lin Biao would fall within a year or two, but Zhou Enlai was an obstacle for them. They took advantage of the situation to act prematurely and create an air crash. However, I still needed Zhou Enlai.

I couldn’t be completely one-sided. Zhou, understanding the situation, suggested that Ye Jianying be put in charge of the Military Commission’s Security Department to prevent further assassination attempts. I agreed with Zhou’s proposal. Ye Jianying was relatively trustworthy. Otherwise, even I would be anxious. Should I wear a bulletproof vest to sleep? I have experienced assassination attempts in 1937 against Liu Zhidan, and during the Yan’an period, there was even a poisoning attempt against Wang Ming. But afterward, we didn’t employ such methods anymore. It would create an atmosphere of insecurity for everyone, and it wouldn’t be effective. The perpetrator who shot Tan Furen has also been found. He was the deputy director of the Security Department in the military region. With no way out, he also shot himself.”

Journalist: “Was eliminating Tan Furen a case of killing to silence him? Were you also afraid that assassination attempts would target you?”

Mao: “Yes, I said to Jiang Qing, ‘The 10th round of the ideological struggle will reach its climax in 1971. At that time, we will promote you, Zhang Chunqiao, and Wang Hongwen as vice-chairmen. With a relative advantage, we can engage in the struggle. It will be more difficult than the struggle against Liu Shaoqi, as he doesn’t have a gun, but this time our opponents will be armed. However, we strictly forbid any further assassinations. Otherwise, it will backfire on us. They have guns and power. Regarding the incident in Kunming, we will let it pass this time as a minor matter, but it should not set a precedent. The gangsters within the Party will eventually bring trouble to themselves.’ However, my people must infiltrate Maogangwan, including Suzhou, Beidaihe, and closely monitor their activities, reporting to me regularly. The focus should be on Ye Qun and that tiger.”

Journalist: “Was the assassination of Tan Furen an attempt to cover up Jiang Qing’s behind-the-scenes instructions?”

Mao: “Li Zhen, the Minister of Public Security dispatched to Kunming to investigate Tan Furen’s death, told Zhou Enlai, ‘The case cannot be further investigated. Following the opinion of Zhou Xing, the Party Secretary of Kunming Military Region, we will conclude that the deaths of Tan Furen and the Security Department personnel resulted from personal grievances, a crime of passion. Let it go.’ The heads of the task force were afraid. If they continued the investigation, Li Zhen and the task force leaders feared that their own heads would roll. Lin Ligu and others also wanted to emulate the assassination of Tan Furen and eliminate me. He planned to fly a helicopter straight into my residence in the middle of the night. Alternatively, they would spread rumors that someone intended to harm me, and they would send troops to protect me. With superior forces, they would annihilate my security squadron and kill me in the chaos.”