In 1974, a controversy over agricultural management quietly unfolded in the vast land of the Great Northern Wilderness. As Vice Premier of the State Council, Chen Yonggui, with his successful experience in Dazhai Village, came to this black land with confidence to inspect the work. However, his arrival was not as warmly welcomed as expected. When Chen Yonggui pointed out the problems on the ground, the reaction of one local leader was unexpected.
"What does he know! He only has a few acres of land. This sentence spread inadvertently, causing people to think deeply about the way agriculture is managed. Can Chen Yonggui's Dazhai experience really be applied to a large-scale farm like the Great Northern Wilderness? Why is there such a sharp contradiction? What is the historical background and social reality behind this? Let's uncover this little-known history and explore the twists and turns and reflections on the road of China's agricultural development.
In the history of China's agricultural development, Chen Yonggui's name is like a lightning bolt, piercing the dim sky of rural China in the 60s of the 20th century. His rise not only changed the fate of Dazhai Village, but also became a microcosm of an era.
Dazhai Village is located in Xiyang County, Shanxi Province, in the Taihang Mountains, with harsh natural conditions. In the early 50s of the last century, it was still a poor and backward small mountain village. The land is barren, soil erosion is serious, and the villagers are hungry and cold all year round. At that time, Dazhai Village was like a microcosm of China's thousands of impoverished mountain villages, facing severe challenges to survive.
It was in such a difficult environment that Chen Yonggui began his life journey. In 1914, Chen Yonggui was born into a poor peasant family. During his childhood, he experienced unimaginable hardships. When he was 5 years old, his mother and sister were forced to sell, and when he was 7 years old, his father committed suicide, and the young Chen Yonggui became an orphan. This experience left a deep imprint on his young mind and cultivated his tenacity and perseverance.
In a difficult living environment, Chen Yonggui gradually grew up. He was hardworking, good at thinking, and gradually made a name for himself in the village. In 1952, 38-year-old Chen Yonggui was elected secretary of the party branch of Dazhai Village. This choice not only changed Chen Yonggui's fate, but also brought a turning point for the future of Dazhai Village.
From the very beginning of his tenure, Chen Yonggui faced enormous challenges. How to work miracles in this barren land? He led the villagers to begin an arduous struggle. They built terraces, built reservoirs, and improved the soil, turning barren mountains into fertile fields. Chen Yonggui often takes the lead in doing the hardest and most tiring work. His diligence and wisdom have won the trust and support of the villagers.
In 1963, a devastating flood struck the village, destroying the terraces and houses that the villagers had worked so hard to build. In the face of disaster, Chen Yonggui did not flinch. He led the villagers to rebuild their homes and put forward the slogan of "self-reliance and hard work". Under his leadership, Dazhai Village not only resumed production, but also made greater progress.
Chen Yonggui's efforts were quickly affirmed by his superiors. In 1964, Mao Zedong personally met with Chen Yonggui and praised him as an "agricultural expert". This meeting encouraged Chen Yonggui and made the reputation of Dazhai Village begin to spread throughout the country.
Subsequently, the "Agricultural Dazhai" movement was vigorously launched throughout the country. Dazhai Village has become a model for the whole country to learn from, and Chen Yonggui has also become a household name agricultural hero. His deeds were widely celebrated, and his image - his head wrapped in a white towel and dressed in coarse cloth - became the typical representative of the peasants of that era.
In 1973, Chen Yonggui was exceptionally promoted to vice premier of the State Council. This cadre, who was born as a peasant, has stepped onto the stage of a national leader with his unique experience and achievements. However, this did not change Chen Yonggui's simple nature. He still maintains the true character of a working person, and often goes to the grassroots level to participate in labor.
The rise of Chen Yonggui reflects the characteristics of that special era. His success is not only the result of personal efforts, but also the product of the times. His experience reflects the changes in China's countryside and the fate of farmers during that period. However, with the development of the times, Chen Yonggui and the Dazhai model will also face new challenges and tests.
As the fame of Chen Yonggui and Dazhai Village spread throughout the country, the "Agricultural Dazhai" movement was in full swing. This movement not only changed the face of rural China, but also profoundly affected the direction of the development of the entire country.
In February 1964, the People's Daily published an editorial entitled "The Fundamental Way Out of Agriculture Lies in Mechanization", which put forward the slogan of "Agricultural Dazhai" for the first time. The slogan quickly caused a strong response across the country. All localities have organized visiting groups to visit Dazhai Village for investigation and study, and the spirit of Dazhai has become the main theme of that era.
In this huge movement, Chen Yonggui has become the focus of attention. He is frequently invited to give presentations all over the country to share the successful experience of Dazhai Village. With his unpretentious language and personal experience, Chen Yonggui conveyed the spirit of self-reliance and arduous struggle to farmers across the country. His image - his head wrapped in a white towel and dressed in coarse cloth - became the typical representative of the peasants of that era and was widely publicized.
In 1966, the Cultural Revolution broke out. In this political movement, the Dazhai model was further promoted. In 1967, Mao Zedong issued a call for "Dazhai in Agriculture", and the spirit of Dazhai was elevated to a national policy. Various local governments have organized farmers to learn from the experience of Dazhai, setting off a vigorous upsurge of "agricultural Dazhai".
Against this backdrop, Chen Yonggui's political status has risen rapidly. In 1969, he was elected a member of the Ninth Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. In January 1973, Chen Yonggui was exceptionally promoted to vice premier of the State Council, responsible for agricultural work. This cadre, who came from the countryside, with his unique experience and achievements, stepped onto the stage of national leadership.
However, becoming the country's leader did not change Chen Yonggui's true colors. He still maintains the style of working people, and often goes to the grassroots level to participate in labor. At a State Council meeting, Chen Yonggui wore coarse cloth clothes and cloth shoes, in stark contrast to other leaders in suits and leather shoes. This scene was widely praised and became a microcosm of that era.
In the process of promoting the Dazhai model across the country, local governments have followed suit. They organized the peasants to level the land, build terraces, and build water conservancy. For a time, the slogan of "how bold the people are, how productive the land is" resounded throughout the country. In many places, regardless of the actual situation, they blindly pursue high yields, and even the phenomenon of large-scale "satellite fields" has emerged.
However, the promotion of the Dazhai model has not been smooth sailing. In some areas where the natural conditions are quite different from those of Dazhai Village, blind imitation has brought negative impacts. For example, in the water-rich southern region, some local governments have forcibly promoted Dazhai-style dry farming, resulting in wasted water resources and reduced agricultural productivity.
In addition, the Dazhai model overemphasizes collective labor and egalitarianism, which inhibits the peasants' enthusiasm for production to a certain extent. In some places, there is a phenomenon of "eating big pots", which leads to low agricultural production efficiency.
Despite this, the promotion of the Dazhai model has still promoted the development of China's agriculture to a certain extent. By learning from Dazhai's experience, many localities have improved their agricultural infrastructure and increased their grain production. Especially in some areas with harsh natural conditions, the spirit of Dazhai has inspired the courage of local farmers to fight the heavens and the earth, and has contributed to changing the face of poverty.
In 1975, Chen Yonggui made a report entitled "Developing Dazhai County and Building a New Socialist Countryside" at the National People's Congress. This report systematically summarizes the experience of the Dazhai model and further promotes the in-depth development of the "Agricultural Dazhai" campaign. However, with the development of the times and the change of agricultural production methods, the Dazhai model will also face new challenges and tests.
In this huge movement, Chen Yonggui gradually grew from an ordinary peasant to a national leader. His experience reflects the characteristics of that special era, and also reflects the changes in China's rural areas and the fate of farmers during that period. However, as Chen Yonggui's influence continues to expand, his views and methods will also face more doubts and challenges, especially when he is about to visit the Great Northern Wilderness.
In 1974, Chen Yonggui embarked on an inspection trip to the Great Northern Wilderness as vice premier of the State Council. This inspection is not only an ordinary work inspection, but also a direct collision of two different agricultural development concepts. The Great Northern Wilderness, a vast land located in Heilongjiang Province, has become a special battlefield to challenge the Dazhai model with its unique geographical environment and agricultural production model.
The Great Northern Wilderness was once an inaccessible wasteland. Since the 50s of the 20th century, a large number of intellectual youths and veterans have responded to the call of the country and come to this black land to open up and reclaim land. After more than 20 years of hard work, the Great Northern Wilderness has gradually become an important grain production base in China. The scale and mechanization of the farms here are in stark contrast to Dazhai Village.
The purpose of Chen Yonggui's trip is to popularize the experience of Dazhai and guide the agricultural production of the Great Northern Wilderness. However, he soon discovered that the situation in the Great Northern Wilderness was very different from the Dazhai Village he was familiar with. The farms here are often tens of thousands of acres, and large agricultural machinery shuttles back and forth in the fields, a scene of modern agriculture.
At a symposium, Chen Yonggui put forward his own views. He believes that the Great Northern Wilderness should learn the spirit of Dazhai, rely more on manpower, and reduce dependence on machinery. He said: "Dazhai only has a few hundred acres of land, but it can feed thousands of people. There is so much land in the Great Northern Wilderness, why do you need so many machines? "
The remarks elicited mixed reactions from those present. Some agreed, arguing that the principle of "putting people first" should be adhered to. But more people, especially the farm managers in the Great Northern Wilderness, disagree with this.
One of the farm directors questioned it on the spot. He said: "Vice Premier Chen, the situation in the Great Northern Wilderness is different from that in Dazhai. We have a vast and sparsely populated area, and if we don't use machinery, we can't do the farming task at all. Moreover, mechanization can greatly improve production efficiency and increase food production. "
Another farm technician also expressed his opinion: "The farming method of Dazhai is suitable for small plots of land in mountainous areas, but in the Great Plains such as the Great Northern Wilderness, mechanization is the only way to develop." "
In the face of these different opinions, Chen Yonggui insisted on his own views. He believes that over-reliance on machinery will lead to the loss of enthusiasm for labor and is not conducive to cultivating the spirit of hard work. He stressed: "We must learn the spirit of Dazhai and rely on the power of the masses, rather than relying entirely on machines. "
The controversy spread quickly. A local leader made that famous comment in private: "What does he know! He only has a few acres of land. Although this sentence is a bit sharp, it speaks to the hearts of many people.
In fact, there are huge differences between Beidahuang and Dazhai in terms of natural conditions, production scale, population density, etc. The Great Northern Wilderness is vast and sparsely populated, the climate is cold, and the growing period is short, so it is difficult to achieve large-scale grain production without mechanized farming. Dazhai Village, on the other hand, is located in a mountainous area with scattered land, which is more suitable for the small-scale farmer economic model of intensive farming.
Chen Yonggui's visit exposed the limitations of the Dazhai model in the process of promotion. It has also led to deep reflection on China's agricultural development path: should it adhere to the small-scale peasant economic model dominated by manpower, or should it move towards a mechanized and large-scale modern agricultural path?
The controversy did not lead to a definitive conclusion, but it became an important point in the history of China's agricultural development. It indicates that with the development of the times and the change of production conditions, a single agricultural development model can no longer adapt to the different situations in various parts of the country.
In the subsequent inspection, Chen Yonggui continued to insist on his own views, but he also had to admit the particularity of the Great Northern Wilderness. He mentioned in his summary report: "The situation of the Great Northern Wilderness is indeed special, but the essence of the Dazhai spirit - self-reliance and hard work - is still applicable. We must continue to explore in practice and find a development path suited to the actual conditions of various localities. "
This trip to the Great Northern Wilderness became a turning point in Chen Yonggui's political career. It not only challenges his long-term concept of agricultural development, but also indicates that the Dazhai model will face more doubts and challenges in the process of national promotion. However, this experience also made Chen Yonggui start to think: how to adapt to the actual situation in different regions while adhering to the spirit of Dazhai? This issue will continue to be mentioned and discussed in his future work.
With the advent of reform and opening up, the direction of China's rural development has undergone a huge change. As a product of the planned economy era, the Dazhai model has gradually revealed its limitations. During this period, both Chen Yonggui and the Dazhai model faced unprecedented challenges.
In December 1978, the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China was held, marking the official opening of the prelude to reform and opening up. The meeting established the basic line of centering on economic construction and stressed the need to emancipate the mind and seek truth from facts. This major turning point has brought new development opportunities to China's rural areas, but also made the Dazhai model face a severe test.
In 1980, 18 peasant households in Xiaogang Village, Fengyang County, Anhui Province, took the risk of signing a secret agreement on "lump sum to household", creating a precedent for the household responsibility system. This measure was quickly spread throughout the country, and greatly mobilized the peasants' enthusiasm for production. At the same time, the collective labor and egalitarianism emphasized by the Dazhai model began to be questioned.
Against this background, Chen Yonggui's situation has become awkward. As a representative of the Dazhai model, he has always adhered to the road of collectivization. However, the new policy of rural reform created a huge contradiction with the ideas he had long adhered to.
In the spring of 1980, Chen Yonggui attended an important meeting. At the meeting, he insisted on his own views and opposed the household responsibility system. He said: "Dazhai's experience proves that common prosperity can only be achieved by adhering to the road of collectivization. Guaranteeing production to households will lead to polarization, which is not conducive to socialist construction. However, his views were not shared by the majority of the participants.
In the autumn of the same year, Chen Yonggui returned to Dazhai Village to inspect. He found that even in Dazhai, some farmers began to privately discuss the possibility of package production to households. A fellow villager said to him: "Secretary Chen, now that there are contracting outside, should we also try?" Chen Yonggui resolutely objected, believing that this was a betrayal of the spirit of Dazhai.
However, the wave of reform is unstoppable. In 1982, the No. 1 Document of the Central Committee officially affirmed the household responsibility system. This document marked the full development of China's rural reform and the official end of the Dazhai model.
With the deepening of reform, the problems of Dazhai Village have gradually been exposed. For a long time, Dazhai Village has relied on its political advantages to obtain a large amount of resources, but its economic benefits are not ideal. When the policy dividends disappeared, the development of Dazhai Village fell into a predicament.
In 1983, the State Council sent an investigation team to conduct a comprehensive inspection of Dazhai. The results of the investigation are shocking: Dazhai Village has a long history of misreporting production and concealing problems. This discovery completely shattered the myth of Dazhai and dealt a fatal blow to Chen Yonggui's political career.
In June 1983, Chen Yonggui was dismissed from the post of vice premier of the State Council. His political career came to an end. This former peasant hero has faded away in the tide of the times.
However, Chen Yonggui's exit does not mean the complete demise of the Dazhai spirit. Although the Dazhai model has proven to be economically unsustainable, the spirit of hard work and self-reliance it advocates still has a profound impact on Chinese society.
In 1984, Deng Xiaoping visited Dazhai when he inspected Shanxi. In his speech, he affirmed the positive significance of the Dazhai spirit, and also pointed out the limitations of the Dazhai model. Deng Xiaoping said: "The spirit of Dazhai is always worth learning, but the specific methods must be determined according to the new situation. These words are not only an affirmation of Dazhai's past contributions, but also a guide to the future development direction.
With the deepening of reform and opening up, Dazhai Village has also begun its own transformation. In 1986, Dazhai Village began to try to develop township enterprises and explore a new development path. Although it started late, Dazhai Village has gradually embarked on a new development track with its popularity and policy support.
However, for Chen Yonggui, the wheels of the times have been ruthlessly run over. After his retirement, he returned to Dazhai Village and lived a peaceful life. Although he no longer holds any position, he is still concerned about the development of the countryside. In an interview with reporters, he said: "The times are changing, but the spirit of hard work cannot be lost. "
The decline of the Dazhai model marks a major turning point in China's rural development model. It is not only a change in the economic model, but also a change in the ideology of the entire society. In the process, countless characters like Chen Yonggui have experienced a twist of fate from the peak to the bottom, and their stories constitute one of the most moving chapters in China's modernization process.
With the withdrawal of the Dazhai model from the historical stage, China's rural areas have ushered in new development opportunities. The comprehensive popularization of the household responsibility system has greatly liberated the rural productive forces and laid the foundation for China's agricultural modernization. However, in this process of transformation, how to balance efficiency and fairness, and how to maintain social stability while pursuing economic development, are still issues that require in-depth consideration. These problems will also be continuously explored and resolved in the follow-up rural reform.
With the passage of time, Chen Yonggui and the Dazhai model gradually faded out of public view. However, the impact and enlightenment left by this period of history are still worthy of our in-depth reflection and reflection. In the context of China's rural reform, Chen Yonggui and the rise and fall of the Dazhai model provide us with a unique perspective on the course of China's rural development.
In 1986, a reporter came to Dazhai Village to interview Chen Yonggui, who had retired. This former peasant hero has returned to ordinary life by this time. In an interview, Chen Yonggui said: "The Dazhai model has its own background of the times, and the current rural development needs new ideas. However, the spirit of hard work and self-reliance will never go out of style. These words are both a summary of the past and a prospect for the future.
In the same year, the Rural Development Research Center of the State Council organized a seminar on China's rural development model. At the meeting, an agricultural economist analyzed: "The Dazhai model has played a positive role under specific historical conditions, but it ignores the enthusiasm of individual farmers, which is the fundamental reason for its ultimate failure." This view was widely shared by the participants.
In 1988, Shanxi Province organized a symposium on "Dazhai Experience Review and Prospects". At the meeting, a cadre who had worked in Dazhai recalled: "When we worked in Dazhai back then, we really felt the enthusiasm of the masses. But it now appears that this enthusiasm is driven more by political mobilization than by economic interests. This is one of the reasons why the Dazhai model is difficult to sustain. "
In the early 1990s, with the in-depth development of the market economy, Dazhai Village also began a new exploration. Several township enterprises were established in the village and began to try to diversify. One villager said in an interview: "We used to only farm the land, but now we have learned to do business. This is a new task given to us by the times. "
In 1992, after Deng Xiaoping's speech on his southern tour, reform and opening up entered a new stage. This year, a sociologist pointed out after inspecting Dazhai: "The failure of the Dazhai model is not only the failure of the economic model, but also the failure of a social organization mode. It ignores individual differences and creativity, which today seems unsustainable. "
In 1995, Chen Yonggui passed away. His funeral was simple and unpretentious, in keeping with his usual style. In his eulogy, an old colleague commented on him: "Comrade Yonggui has been working for the welfare of the peasants all his life, and although some of his practices now seem to be deviant, his original intention is worthy of recognition. "
After entering the 21st century, the reflection on the Dazhai model has entered a new stage. In 2003, a historian wrote in his book: "The rise and fall of the Dazhai model reflects the twists and turns of China's rural development path. It is not only a product of specific historical conditions, but also an important lesson in the process of exploring the path of rural development. "
In 2008, at a seminar to commemorate the 30th anniversary of reform and opening up, an agricultural official pointed out: "Although the Dazhai model has become a thing of the past, the spirit of hard work contained in it still has reference significance for today's new rural construction." We must innovate in inheritance and develop in innovation. "
In 2010, Dazhai Village ushered in new development opportunities. The village began to develop ecotourism, using its popularity to attract tourists. A village cadre said in an interview: "Our current development direction is to combine the spirit of Dazhai with the market economy. We want to let tourists see that Dazhai not only has the past, but also the future. "
In 2015, a sociologist published an article after a field trip to Dazhai, saying: "The failure of the Dazhai model has taught us that rural development cannot be divorced from the actual interests of farmers. Any development model must be premised on mobilizing the enthusiasm of peasants. "
In 2018, in the activities to commemorate the 40th anniversary of reform and opening up, Dazhai once again became the focus of attention. A policy researcher noted: "Looking back at the rise and fall of the Dazhai model, we can see the arduous process of China's rural reform. It reminds us that in the process of promoting rural development, we must respect the dominant position of peasants and conform to the trend of development of the times. "
In 2020, the outbreak of the new crown epidemic once again faced new challenges in China's rural areas. In this context, some scholars have re-examined the spirit of Dazhai. A rural policy expert pointed out: "The spirit of solidarity and cooperation in the spirit of Dazhai and overcoming difficulties together is still relevant today. But we need to interpret and practice this spirit in new ways. "
Today, when we look back at the history of Chen Yonggui and the Dazhai model, we see not only the story of one person and one village, but also a microcosm of China's rural development path. It records the transformation of China's rural areas from a planned economy to a market economy, and witnesses the struggle of Chinese farmers. This history tells us that there is no fixed model for rural development, and the key is to continue to explore and innovate according to the needs of the times and the wishes of farmers.