Stills of "Breaking Dawn in the East"

"In the original building of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce in Shanghai, there is a stone tablet inlaid on the marble wall, engraved with his father's handwriting 'Shanghai people build a new Shanghai for the people according to their own will', which was written when he was the first mayor of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government The inscription." Chen Haosu, the eldest son of Marshal Chen Yi, said that Chen Yi always thinks about the people, and always proceeds from the interests of the people. "More than 70 years have passed, if the TV series "Dawn of the East" can let today's audience understand that he did his best as mayor back then. Shanghai citizens have fulfilled their responsibilities for urban development and construction, I think he will be pleased."

Today is the 51st anniversary of the death of Marshal Chen Yi, a proletarian revolutionist, statesman, strategist and diplomat of the older generation. The TV series "Dawn of the East" with Chen Yi as the first protagonist is currently being aired on CCTV. On special days, Chen Haosu wrote a poem to remember his father and pay tribute to his ancestors——

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Chen Haosu, the eldest son of Marshal Chen Yi

In an exclusive interview with this newspaper, Chen Haosu said that he has been paying attention to the TV series "Dawn of the East" these days. "The liberation of Shanghai is a major milestone in China's revolutionary process. It was also a very important stage in his revolutionary career that his father was trusted by the Party Central Committee and the people to serve as the mayor of Shanghai. "Dawn of the East" can be seen in the creation process It is of great significance to receive the attention of the Propaganda Department of the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee and other aspects, and to broadcast it at the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023 when the sun is born. As future generations, we are very grateful and express our gratitude to all enthusiastic staff , The cast and crew expressed their gratitude.”

In Chen Haosu's view, just like the dedication and sacrifice of the ancestors who eulogized in the play, history has never gone far, and it is always related to today's life. Difficulties and great significance. The predecessors paid great sacrifices for the grand goal. The struggle and mission of each generation has its own struggles and missions. Although the road is difficult, everyone will follow the party unwaveringly to build our country and cities. The founding of the Republic For more than 70 years, the great cause of revitalization has continued to move forward, and the younger generations will lead the way, this is the educational significance this TV series gives people."

"I am always repeatedly moved by the bloody sacrifices of our ancestors"

In 1942, Chen Haosu was born in the anti-Japanese base area in northern Jiangsu. In August 1949, he came to Shanghai with the East China Nursery School. "We children were brought to Shanghai from the Liberated Areas. We were very proud to ride in army vehicles and sing victory songs along the way." Chen Haosu recalled that the teachers in the nursery school prepared food and food for everyone, and emphasized that Discipline, "The People's Liberation Army has strict political discipline when it enters Shanghai, and we children also have discipline. You can't run around, and you must keep it strictly confidential. You can't tell others where you are from, let alone your identity. Because although It has been liberated, but the order of the city is still very chaotic, and sometimes you will suddenly see a bunch of people rushing to buy..."

Victory, prosperity, discipline, chaos...these key words are Chen Haosu's fragmented impressions of 1949 in 2023. He said frankly that at the age of seven, he was still unable to understand the intricacies of the situation in the early days of Shanghai's liberation, and he may not have a clear understanding of what his parents were fighting for. Let the ignorant cognition of childhood become a clearer and more three-dimensional history: the hard work of parents, uncles and aunts is to contribute to the glorious future of the motherland and the future of urban development."

A group photo of Chen Yi and Zhang Qian when they liberated Shanghai

Watching "Dawn of the East", Chen Haosu is not only a witness to history, a descendant of a revolutionary, but also like countless viewers, an ordinary person living in today's exchange for the blood of the ancestors. He used Mao Zedong's poems to describe his feelings when watching the drama, "Xiongguan is as long as iron, and now it is overcoming from the beginning." "Building a new world", liberating Shanghai, stabilizing society, restoring economic production, and improving people's lives... The Communist Party of China "passed the test" and handed over the historical answer that the people are satisfied with. "I hope that after watching the drama, everyone can learn more about the hard-won victory of the Chinese revolution, China's development, and the advancement of socialism with Chinese characteristics. And I am always repeatedly moved by the bloody sacrifices of the ancestors."

In May 1949, the Third Field Army began its arduous "battle in Shanghai." Under the instructions of the Party Central Committee, strict military discipline is the first "meeting gift" that Chen Yi led the people's army to Shanghai citizens. Regulations such as no use of heavy weapons and no entry into private houses in urban areas have doubled Shanghai residents' favor for the Communists, and also let the international community see the first "Shanghai Communiqué" of Red China. The TV series filmed the victory of the people, and gave the hero a thick and colorful brushwork.

Stills of "Breaking Dawn in the East"

Chen Haosu said that he shed tears for the soldiers of the field army and was deeply moved by Li Bai's generous speech. "The chapters of the heroes are very touching, which is a highlight of the TV series." In order to return Great Shanghai to the people in good condition, the army led by the Communist Party did not use heavy artillery, and the soldiers gave their young and noble lives. Seeing the scene where the red flag was planted on the top of the Broadway Building and the soldiers saluted the red flag, Chen Haosu was so excited; seeing the martyr Li Bai calmly said to the Kuomintang reactionaries, "I can't see the day of liberation, as long as the people can see it." Here," he burst into tears. In the play, Chen Yi was filmed giving a speech at the martyrs' public sacrifice ceremony, and had a conversation with Xu Yide, Qiu Huiying and other martyrs. This line of paying tribute to the martyrs who died before dawn also made Chen Haosu Jiujiu difficult to calm down, "I think it is very touching and brilliant. Today's Shanghai is a great city where socialist China stands tall in the world. Such a glorious reality was paid for by countless ancestors with their blood, sweat and even their lives. We must not forget it.”

"Father was honored by the people"

The battle of Shanghai was completely won, and the first morning when the gunfire finally ceased 15 days later, the citizens opened their homes in panic, and they were extremely moved when they saw that the wet road was full of soldiers sleeping on both sides of the road. "Famous historical scenes are reproduced in TV dramas. The common people took to the streets to see the People's Liberation Army sleeping on the streets. Rong Yiren, Soong Ching Ling, etc. also took to the streets. I think this is an artistic process based on historical reality, and it is a very successful creation."

Stills of "Breaking Dawn in the East"

Chen Haosu still remembers the article written by Patriotic Journalist Cao Juren, "In modern history, many troops have entered Shanghai, but none of them can be as disciplined as the People's Liberation Army." He said that the Kuomintang troops returned to Shanghai after the Anti-Japanese War, known as the "five sons entrusted to the imperial examination", and they robbed houses, cars, silver, tickets, etc., which was later described as "robbing". The People's Army under the leadership of the Communist Party has won the hearts of the people in Shanghai with its first-class military discipline, leading Shanghai to a new era.

In fact, "people first" runs through the narrative of the TV series "Dawn of the East". "Father has always been thinking about feeding and clothing the people as soon as possible. When formulating policies, he considered what the people would think and what gains and losses they would have." The TV series faithfully restored Chen Yi's people's feelings and political wisdom during the financial struggle stage.

In the play, when discussing monetary policy with Ji Nanyin, an economic expert sent by the Party Central Committee, Chen Yi said: "Recognizing the gold yuan coupons is not to clean up the mess for the Kuomintang reactionaries, but to recognize the labor of the people, so that the people will not lose their security in the new society." sense.” His starting point for cracking down on silver dollar speculation is still to protect the labor income of ordinary people. These detailed lines and details have been approved by Chen Haosu, "Just like his father's inscription, he always hopes that the people of Shanghai will be the masters of their own to build a new Shanghai for the people. The interests of the capitalists and even the old government employees are the starting point for my father to consider, and TV dramas are relatively successful in this regard.”

Chen Yi and his family, the first on the left is Chen Haosu

If measured by absolute time, Chen Yi's family's time in Shanghai is not long. But in 1979, when Chen Haosu walked into Shanghai again after more than 20 years, he was middle-aged and had a deeper understanding of his father's revolutionary career in Shanghai. "I met many old comrades that time, and when they saw me, they said, 'Chen Yi is our old mayor, he has done a lot of good things for the people of Shanghai'. I feel that being his descendant is something to be proud of. The communist, who also devoted himself to the revolutionary cause, said that he sometimes thought, "If we can be remembered by the people like this when we leave this world, it will be the greatest honor. I think my father has received what the people gave him. Glorious. I thank the people of Shanghai".

"I hope the audience can get to know a refined Chen Yi"

Before May 27, 1949, Shanghai citizens' knowledge of Chen Yi was limited to the fact that he was a powerful general in Huaihai. They couldn't imagine what kind of mayor or person Chen Yi would be. For many young audiences today, the curiosity about Chen Yi is somewhat similar to that of Shanghai citizens in those days—Chen Yi is a military strategist in history textbooks, fighting on the battlefield of the Chinese revolution; The international stage is all-powerful; he is also a poet, who can write freely while riding on a horse, and can write poems when he is on a horse. From the text in textbooks to the flesh and blood characters, the role creation of film and television dramas is quite important.

Chen Haosu thinks there are bright spots in the portrayal of Chen Yi in "Dawn of the East". "At the beginning, I didn't get used to Zhang Jiayi's performance. I didn't feel like it. Now I feel like I'm in a good place. He is an excellent actor. He took the risk of a big image difference to play the role of Chen Yi and made great efforts. I am very grateful." Looking forward, the follow-up plot will allow the audience to know more about a refined Chen Yi.

"The real Chen Yi is a Confucian general. He will never lose his temper with the staff around him, and he is by no means a rough-and-tumble character. Maybe a long period of time has formed a stereotype in film and television works, which seems to be informal It’s Chen Yi’s personality traits outside of the battlefield, but in fact, he is even more talented, sincere, and full of romantic spirit.”

Chen Haosu told the reporter that Zhao Puchu once told a story about his father. It was a report made by Chen Yi to people from all walks of life when he was the mayor of Shanghai. When talking about the many difficulties facing Shanghai's work, Chen Yi quoted a poem by Li Bai, a great poet of the Tang Dynasty, "The sound of apes on both sides of the strait can't stop, and a light boat has passed ten thousand mountains." "Mr. Zhao Pu was deeply moved. He thought that Mayor Chen Yi's speech was profound and innovative. He used a well-known ancient poem to express his pride and inspire people's hearts. My father gave speeches and reports on many occasions, often citing classics and classics, and he was very talented. It is also a reason why people from all walks of life will be fascinated by him.”

Stills of "Breaking Dawn in the East"

In the plot of "Dawn of the East", Chen Yi's love for classical poetry is shown sideways: Before the opening ceremony of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government, Chen Yi called representatives from all walks of life for a discussion. At the meeting, Mei Lanfang proposed to hold a charity performance to celebrate the liberation of Shanghai, and asked Chen Yi for suggestions on charity performances. The answer was "I think of a good drama that can 'kill three birds with one stone'". One is Mei Lanfang's good show, the other is very consistent with the current situation, and the third is in response to a poem by Chairman Mao "It is better to chase the poor with the remaining bravery, not to be famous and learn from the overlord." When the masters of Peking Opera heard the words, they immediately understood - "Farewell My Concubine". The play also uses artistic techniques to express Chen Yi's love and tolerance for the world's outstanding art.

It is still the plot of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government's listing ceremony. Chen Yi specially asked Ji Nanyin and Lu Xiuwen to find the record of Beethoven's Third Symphony. People from all walks of life in Shanghai, an international city, feel cordial. In Chen Haosu's view, these artistic fictions can find the support of historical truth. For example, the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra was retained under Chen Yi's proposition, "My father said that the symphony is the common artistic wealth of the world, and a city as big as Shanghai should have its own orchestra."

In Chen Haosu's memories, Chen Yi's preference for poetry occupies an important position. He wrote poems like self-portraits - the heavy snow presses the green pines, and the green pines are straight and straight. You must know that the pine is high and clean, until the snow melts. He has expressed the agitation of fighting on the battlefield-what does it mean to cut off your head today? Entrepreneurship is difficult. This time, I went to Quantai to recruit the old department, and killed Yan Luo with a hundred thousand flags.

"He loves poetry, he has a righteous spirit in his chest, and he has great power in his writing." But such a Confucian general who "chants a lot when he has time to spare" did not leave any poems during his tenure in Shanghai. On the basis of the Anthology of Chen Yi's Poems compiled by his mother Zhang Qian, Chen Haosu once further improved the compilation, "I read it carefully, but unfortunately, I couldn't find his poems when he was working in Shanghai. For more than a year, he did communicate with the people of Shanghai. Together, they went through many obstacles and had no time to write poems. Until 1964, when he passed by Shanghai, he visited Dianshan Lake and left a poem related to Shanghai. One of the lines is "this lake is the closest to Shanghai, so can it be more prosperous?" Perhaps it can be said that this sentence carries a thousand words.”

In 2021, Chen Haosu at Chen Yi Square on the Bund, Shanghai

Today's Shanghai has developed into an international metropolis, and it is a place that young talents yearn for. In Chen Yi Square on the Bund, the statue of the old mayor stands quietly, gazing at the people of this city, and reminding us not to forget the ardent hopes of the revolutionary ancestors, which are the chapters they wrote with their lives.

This article was originally published in the fifth edition of Wen Wei Po on January 6, 2023