In 1955, Zhongnanhai welcomed a special guest named Tan Shiying. He was not only Chairman Mao's best friend when he was a child, but his father Tan Yongchun was also Chairman Mao's mentor.

Tan Shiying came to Zhongnanhai to find Chairman Mao, and besides catching up with the past, the most important thing was to "complain" to the Chairman. It turned out that Tan Shiying's two sons were executed for making mistakes, but he was very dissatisfied with this result, so he wanted to ask Chairman Mao to make his own decisions.

So what will Chairman Mao do in the face of the teacher's son's request? What is the real situation of this matter?

one day in the autumn of 1911, 17-year-old Chairman Mao left his hometown Shaoshanchong with his luggage and his cousin Wen Yunchang, and came to attend the Dongshan Higher Primary School in Xiangxiang. Chairman Mao and Wen Yunchang crossed the small bridge and walked into the tall school gate. Soon, a group of students dressed in novel clothes gathered around and pointed at them.

"Look, look, you're still picking out your own luggage!" A student in a new student costume pointed to the luggage of Chairman Mao and Wen Yunchang. Chairman Mao frowned and said, "Everyone has two shoulders. Why can't we pick up luggage?"

another student holding a basketball heard that Chairman Mao was not a local accent and said, "Why is he from Xiangtan? This is a school run by our Xiangxiang people. How can we accept students from Xiangtan? "

Chairman Mao felt an inexplicable resentment: "Isn't Xiangtan in China?"

At this time, a middle-aged teacher surrounded the students separately, walked beside Chairman Mao and Wen Yunchang and said gently, "Are the two students from Xiangtan?" Chairman Mao nodded and said, "Yes."

The middle-aged teacher continued, "Come, I'll take you to the registration office." Chairman Mao said thank you, and Wen Yunchang followed the teacher to the registration office.

At the registration office, the teacher in charge of registration first looked at Chairman Mao and Wen Yunchang up and down, and then asked the middle-aged teacher, "Mr. Tan Yongchun, is this your relative?" A middle-aged teacher named Tan Yongchun said, "No."

The teacher in charge of registration said, "Then the two of them can't enter the school. Just now, a classmate came to the registration office and said that they are from Xiangtan. As you know, Mr. Tan, our school has regulations that foreigners are not accepted. "

Tan Yongchun said, "I know that foreigners are not accepted, but the school has not stipulated that foreigners should not take the entrance examination of our school!"

the gentleman in charge of registration didn't know how to answer for a moment: "I can't afford this responsibility!" " Tan Yongchun said: "I am responsible!" The gentleman in charge of registration had no choice but to add the names of Chairman Mao and Wen Yunchang to the registration book.

leaving the registration office, Chairman Mao said doubtfully, "Sir, why do you have to take this responsibility for us?" Tan Yongchun said with a smile: "A group of students surrounded you just now. What you did told me that I should take this responsibility."

Chairman Mao was even more puzzled and said, "Why?" Tan Yongchun took a look at Chairman Mao and said,

Chairman Mao replied, "Mao Zedong, the word is embellished." Tan Yongchun went on to say, "Mao Zedong, you can respond to the other side's provocation so nimbly and decisively in that situation, which proves that you are a different child. Therefore, I am willing to take this responsibility. "

The registration has passed, and then there is the exam. If the exam can also pass, then it is foolproof to enter Dongshan High School.

Chairman Mao and the students who took the exam sat stiffly in front of their desks. After the papers were handed out, I saw the topic "Words" appear at the front of the papers. Looking at this familiar topic, Chairman Mao's thoughts fluctuated and his heart surged.

He had a long talk with Mr. Li Shuqing at the fireside all night on the topic of Yan Zhi. On the topic of "Yan Zhi", he and his father had a heated debate on the hilltop ...

Before taking the exam in Dongshan High School, Chairman Mao, together with his teachers, relatives and friends, had another heated debate with his father. The key also lies in the word "Zhi". Finally, with his insistence and the persuasion of teachers, relatives and friends, my father finally agreed to his ambition: to go to Dongshan higher primary school.

Thinking about it, a magnificent and hit the floor article was formed in Chairman Mao's mind ...

After the exam, when Chairman Mao's article appeared in everyone's sight, an examiner sighed and said, "What a rare masterpiece!" Tan Yongchun was even more excited: "Yes, this is the best article I have read in the past ten years!" "

At this time, a white-haired examiner helped his eyes and said excitedly, "It's really rare for a student who applied for high school to write such a reasonable article. It's really rare!" All the marking teachers invariably put the highest score on Chairman Mao's paper.

Tan Yongchun walked out of the marking yard and quickly told Chairman Mao the good news. After hearing this, Chairman Mao rubbed his hands happily: I can finally enter this new school!

I thought that Chairman Mao could successfully enter Dongshan Higher Primary School, but I didn't expect that there was still a huge difficulty before him.

It turns out that the Dongshan Senior Primary School in Xiangxiang County is a well-known school. It was called "Dongshan Jingshe" and "Dongshan Academy" between 1915, and it was also a place established by landlords and gentry to train their children. Tuition and meals were quite subsidized.

Chairman Mao is not from Xiangxiang County, and there is no special "background" to support him, so many people don't agree to admit him.

Now Chairman Mao is really in a hurry. His hometown Shaoshanchong is a very secluded place. He used to study in a private school in Shaoshan, and he couldn't learn anything new at all. This time, I finally convinced my father, so do I have to give up halfway again?

So, can Chairman Mao enter Dongshan High School smoothly?

Although it's autumn, it's still very stuffy in the office, and the meeting called by Li Yuanfu, the headmaster of Dongshan High School, started here.

Li Yuanfu came straight to the point and said:

Tan Yongchun said with some excitement: "Teachers, the results of recruiting Mao Zedong students this time are very outstanding. His composition" Yan Zhi "is rigorous in structure and fluent in writing, which is also the best student composition that our party teachers have seen since they arrived. We can see from his article that he is a talented person who is of great use to the founding of the country, so I suggest that the school admit him. "

As soon as Tan Yongchun's voice fell, a teacher wearing a melon hat immediately stood up and objected: "I don't agree!" Tan Yongchun asked, "Why is this?"

The other party said, "Because Mao Zedong is not from Hunan, he is from Xiangtan! Our school has regulations that foreign students are not accepted! "

Tan Yongchun would not budge. He said, "Students from our country can study abroad, but why can't students from Xiangtan study in Xiangxiang?"

At this time, another school manager surnamed Zhang stood up and objected: "Dongshan Senior Primary School is a school for rich children. As far as I know, Mao Zedong's family is poor. How can he enter our famous school?"

Tan Wing-chun argued: "No matter how high or low you are, both the scholar and the champion are born, what's more, we are a new school!"

Manager Zhang still disagrees: "I am the manager of the school. In order to maintain the reputation of the school, I insist on not enrolling this Xiangtan farmer!"

Tan Yongchun was a little angry. He stood up and said, "Any school should take it as its duty to train talents for the country. If Mr. Zhang and others deliberately get in the way again and again, then I can only resign myself. "

President Li Yuanfu is a very open-minded person. After listening to Tan Yongchun's introduction to Chairman Mao, he specially asked a teacher to bring Chairman Mao's answer sheet and read it carefully. After reading it, Li Yuanfu praised: "After reading Mao Zedong's article, I totally agree with Mr. Tan Yongchun. This is a very rare talent and we should admit it!"

In this way, Tan Yongchun's opinion was passed at the meeting. When Tan Yongchun told Chairman Mao the good news, Chairman Mao shook Tan Yongchun's hand excitedly, not knowing what to say, but his eyes were already full of tears.

Chairman Mao studied eagerly after he entered school, but he was also laughed at by everyone because he was dressed out of place with other students. After Alan Tam knew about this, he let his son Tan Shiying live in the same dormitory with him, and in the long run, they also forged a deep friendship.

What Chairman Mao liked most at that time was Li Yuanfu's lecture on current affairs, and he also liked to listen to Mr. He Langang's Confucian Classics class which used new ideas to explain old scriptures. Since then, two seeds have been sown in Chairman Mao's mind: one is to contact the peasants' pain, and the other is to overthrow the great powers.

Every day after school, Chairman Mao always likes to read alone against the railing on the stone bridge and enjoy the reflection in the river while watching. Sometimes Chairman Mao will also discuss current events and the way to make China rich and strong with his classmates, and often tell them new ideas gained from books and newspapers.

During evening self-study, Chairman Mao often holds debates with his classmates. Everyone talks about their own opinions, views on the current situation, and their ideals and ambitions. Through exposure to new ideas and new knowledge, Chairman Mao also broadened his horizons.

At school, Chairman Mao was famous for his good composition. He not only liked Kang Youwei's and Liang Qichao's articles on reform and change, but also often imitated Liang Kangti's composition. Articles written by Chairman Mao, such as "On Saving the Country for Survival" and "On Song Xianggong", are widely praised by teachers and students.

Tan Yongchun read Song Xianggong written by Chairman Mao and was full of praise: "Mao Runzhi's article is not only progressive in thought, pungent in writing, but also far-reaching and convincing!" In addition, Tan Yongchun made an exception and gave this article a score of 115.

Chairman Mao's imitation of "Kang Liang Style" was also criticized by some teachers. In this case, teachers such as Li Yuanfu and Tan Yongchun were very supportive and appreciative. President Li Yuanfu once said publicly, "I have read Mao Runzhi's article, and it is very well written. In addition, the article of' Kangliangti' can also be learned! "

With the consent of the headmaster, Tan Yongchun openly talked about "Kang Liang Style" in class, and at one time the school spread the ideas of democracy, freedom and equality everywhere.

When studying in Dongshan School, Chairman Mao also paid great attention to physical exercise. It turned out that Chairman Mao had been ill before, and his high fever persisted. At that time, Tan Yongchun informed Chairman Mao's family to take him back to recuperate, but Shaoshanchong was more than 51 kilometers away from the school, and the traffic was inconvenient. When Chairman Mao's family arrived, his illness was also delayed.

Tan Yongchun looked at Chairman Mao with a red face and decided to send Chairman Mao to the hospital with Tan Shiying. When Chairman Mao's condition gradually improved, Tan Yongchun took him to his home to take care of him.

In order not to cause trouble to his teacher, Chairman Mao decided to take exercise. Besides attending the compulsory physical education courses at school, he often organized his classmates to go out for activities. Or climb mountains and swim, or sit still and meditate. In order to achieve the purpose of entertainment, physical and mental adjustment and physical fitness.

in a blink of an eye, a semester will be over in a hurry. Tan Yongchun looked at the student's excellent grades, and he was ambitious and strict with himself. In order to make him grow up better, he discussed a way with Li Yuanfu and others.

On a winter day, Tan Yongchun called Chairman Mao to his room and said to him, "You have reached the level of middle school in Chinese, history and geography, and you have done well in other subjects. After discussion, we think that you are not suitable to continue studying in primary school, and you should go to Changsha to study in middle school! "

Chairman Mao hesitated after listening to his teacher's words. He said, "I also want to study in Changsha, but because there is no acquaintance to introduce me and there is no extra money at home to support me to continue my studies ..." Tan Yongchun said, "It doesn't matter. After discussing with several gentlemen, I decided to recommend you to study in Xiangxiang Middle School in Hunan Province, and the tuition and lodging fees are free."

Chairman Mao was very happy when he heard the teacher's words, and repeatedly thanked the teacher. The next spring, Chairman Mao left Dongshan High School with his luggage case and came to Changsha City. When leaving, Tan Yongchun and Tan Shiying, as well as some teachers and students, said goodbye, and didn't stop until Lianhe Ferry in Xiangxiang. Chairman Mao stood on the boat and reluctantly left the teachers and friends in Dongshan.

Although Chairman Mao only studied in Dongshan for one semester, he wrote a colorful pen in his study experience, which he will never forget. Even after a few decades, Chairman Mao became the supreme leader of China, but he never forgot Dongshan Higher Primary School, where he had only studied for half a year, let alone teachers like Tan Yongchun.

After the liberation of Xiangxiang, Tan Shiying worked as a policeman in Shaoyang county government of Kuomintang, so his work problem has not been solved, and the local government also imposed control on him. Tan Shiying, who had a difficult life, tried to write a letter to Chairman Mao, and it was not long before he received a reply from Chairman Mao.

At the beginning of the New Year in 1951, the postman gave Tan Shiying a large envelope with "China People's Revolutionary Military Committee" printed on it. Tan Shiying took it apart and saw that it read:

The news that Tan Shiying received a letter from Chairman Mao was instantly known to everyone, and everyone said, "A letter from Chairman Mao!" "Chairman Mao wrote to Tan Laoguan!"

When Tan Shiying received a letter from Chairman Mao, he was also very excited. He especially looked forward to relying on this old classmate to get rid of the predicament at that time. Then Tan Shiying wrote a letter to Chairman Mao, telling about the difficulties encountered. Not long after, Chairman Mao wrote back a letter:

Chairman Mao, who is busy, wrote to Tan Shiying personally many times, which is enough to show how deep their feelings are.

However, on the issue of principle, Chairman Mao will never be selfish, and he also politely refused Tan Shiying's proposal of arranging work. However, out of classmates' affection, Chairman Mao sent money to Tan Shiying twice to help him, and invited Tan Shiying to get together in Beijing.

Shortly after receiving this letter, Tan Shiying went to Hankou to find Tan Zheng, vice chairman of the Central South Military and Political Committee, and asked him to help treat his eye diseases. Tan Shiying and Tan Zheng are close neighbors, and they are kin, but it is a great pity that Tan Zheng is not in Hankou at this time, so Tan Shiying has no choice but to go straight from Hankou to Beijing and ask for an audience with Chairman Mao.

In 1955, Chairman Mao met Tan Shiying in Zhongnanhai, and they deeply recalled the details of studying in Dongshan School in Xiangxiang. When they talked about Tan Yongchun, Chairman Mao said with deep affection, "Your father is an enthusiastic educator, and he cherishes talents very much!"

After this interview, Chairman Mao specially arranged for Tan Shiying to go to the hospital.