Thoughts Collection (In Memory of Hu Shengwen)

Author: Zheng Huiyao Hong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-11-01
Features: Hu Sheng and I first met in 1942, that was in the heart of the Guomindan-controlled area—Chongqing. Now, nearly 60 years have passed. After the outbreak of the Pacific War, the Japanese occupied Hong Kong, and he returned to Chongqing via the Dongjiang guerrilla zone, serving as a member of the Southern Bureau of the Central Committee of the CCP and concurrently as a member of the editorial board of Xinhua Daily. He also edited Reading Monthly for the Life Publishing House. At the time, I was working at the reading hall of the Reading Publishing House. The characteristic of the cultural front was that no matter what books, periodicals, or news were involved, no one could bypass the Anti-Japanese National United Front. At that time, our party proposed that, except for traitors, everyone else was a target of unity and struggle, and it was essential to analyze the situation based on specific circumstances. Our publicity materials were meticulous and precise, measured in tone, patiently persuasive, and aimed at building broad connections. Here, one could not blindly copy or impose one's authority; instead, one had to carefully consider every word and be extremely cautious, otherwise, even a slight error could lead to a vast deviation. Especially in theory, he was both principled and. As far as I know, in this regard, Hu Sheng was an outstanding example, never making any mistakes. People universally recognized him as a relentless fighter who never ceased to strive forward and also a mentor deeply respected and admired by the youth. He was like this not only in the Guomindan-controlled areas but also in the more than 50 years after the founding of the PRC. He made significant contributions to the propagation and elaboration of Marxism, Mao Zedong Thought, and Deng Xiaoping Theory.
Two Major Contributions to the People's Publishing Industry
Life, Reading, and New Knowledge were progressive bookstores in the Guomindan-controlled areas during the 1940s, which were actually directly led by the Southern Bureau of the Central Committee of the CCP. Zhou Enlai often met with the leaders of these three bookstores in person and helped them solve difficulties. The leaders of the Cultural Committee were responsible for maintaining regular contact with the bookstores. During the Liberation War, the three bookstores gradually merged into one—Sanlian Bookstore—and its headquarters moved from Chongqing to Shanghai and then to Hong Kong. Hu Sheng served as an editor and later the chief editor of Life Publishing House. In 1948, Sanlian Bookstore was officially established in Hong Kong, and he became one of its most important leaders. At my farewell ceremony in Shanghai, I met Fang Xuewu, Yue Zhongjun, Ding Zhixiang, and others. Over the past few days, I have interacted with many elderly "Sanlian people," all of whom were old comrades-in-arms who had fought alongside Hu Sheng. Everyone sighed deeply and agreed that we had not only lost an fearless and brave comrade but also a theoretical mentor whose wisdom was forged through practical struggles. He provided the youth with the sharp weapon of Marxism and the correct direction. The friendships we forged in the trials of the white terror were filled with unforgettable memories and longing. We all remember Hu Sheng's deep bond with Tao Feng. After the Southern Anhui Incident, the secret police went wild, brutally suppressing communists and progressive figures, some of whom were assassinated, and others were imprisoned. Xinhua Daily and the three progressive bookstores were the first to suffer, and Tao Feng resigned from his position as a member of the National Consultative Assembly and secretly left Chongqing, with Hu Sheng accompanying him, in reality to escort him. They reached Guiyang and then separated, with Tao Feng eventually making his way to Hong Kong. When the Pacific War intensified, the Southern Bureau ordered a large number of cultural figures to evacuate Hong Kong, and Tao Feng, along with Hu Sheng, was rescued by the Dongjiang guerrillas and returned to the mainland. Hu Sheng was still the one who accompanied Tao Feng through the hardships and joys of life. I have read all the articles he wrote about Tao Feng. Some were long, and some were short.