我的學長胡錦濤
◎ 萬潤南

● 編者按：六四後流亡海外的原北京四通總裁萬潤南與中共總書記胡錦濤曾在清華大學有學友關係。本文回憶二人同學相知後來分道揚鑣的往事，是一份珍貴的史料。

● 1987 年作者（右）赴貴陽開會，約見任省委書記的胡錦濤（中）。（作者提供）

胡錦濤是我的學長。四十年前，我們同在清華文藝社團，作為集中隊員，我們吃在同一個食堂、住在同一棟宿舍、組織生活在同一個支部，有過一段相當親密的接觸。聽到他在耶魯演講開篇的一段話，別有一番感慨在心頭。他說：

「進入耶魯大學的校園，看到莘莘學子青春洋溢的臉龐，呼吸著書香與空氣，我不禁想起四十年前在北京清華大學度過的美好時光，學生時代對於人的一生都會產生重要影響。當年，老師們對我的教誨，同學們給我的啟發，我至今仍受用不盡。」

文藝社四名政治輔導員中的大帥
老師們的教誨，首先是蔣南翔校長的教誨。我們剛進學校，在迎新會上，蔣校長就教誨我們：「清華培養的學生，要在二十年後的國家政治生活中起骨幹作用。」當時我們很不理解，現在我們有點明白了。耶魯三百多年來培養出了包括五名總統在內的許多英才，清華二十年內培養出了包括胡錦濤在內同時上崗的四名政治局常委，就單位時間的產出而言，清華還更勝一籌。

蔣校長是如何做到這些的？主要是在培養學生幹部時採用「政治輔導員」制度。當年文藝社團有四名輔導員：印甫盛、胡錦濤、李桂秋、任麗翰。他們當中，印和李冷峻、胡和任溫柔，他們的共同特點是：聽話、出活。他們的暱稱很有意思：那三位同他們的姓名有關，分別叫老印、李桂、小翰，只有胡錦濤，大家叫他「大帥」。為什麼稱他「大帥」？我曾請教過老印，他也說不清楚。看來這個名字叫對了。從文藝社團的「大帥」，到共青團的「大帥」、貴州省的「大帥」、西藏自治區的「大帥」，一直到全國的「大帥」。

但從當時文藝社團的四位輔導員來看，表面上老印更像「大帥」。他們四人當中，老印是支部書記，一把手；胡是團長，二把手。他們配合得很好。老印這個人很強勢，說一不二；胡卻謙虛隨和、善解人意。開會的時候，定調做總結的，是老印；補充說明、完善細節、思路縝密的，是胡錦濤。

文革初期，他們四位輔導員聯名寫了一張保衛校黨委的大字報，題目是「清華黨委是延安、不是西安」。也是由印來主導，胡只是在上面簽名。後來清華文革中的一些重大事件，老印都有所涉及；胡卻非常低調，不再參與。老印的支持者和反對者壁壘分明；胡卻基本上沒有反對他的人，謙遜、平和、與人為善，使他廣結人緣。論長相，老印與胡錦濤一個黝黑英俊、目光銳利；一個白淨端正、溫文爾雅。剛者易折，柔能克剛，所以最後胡錦濤一路過關斬將，成就了真正的「大帥」。

同胡錦濤南下串聯沿江而下
但在當時，做事情，我更願意跟著老印；業餘活動，我更願意跟著胡。文革期間，寫大字報、搞戰鬥組，我都跟老印在一起；外出串聯、遊山玩水，我就同胡在一起。我一共串聯過兩次，一次是獨來獨往，從北京 －－ 廣州 －－ 海南島 －－ 湛江 －－ 南寧 －－ 桂林 －－ 上海；另一次是同胡錦濤，我們兩個人一起從北京 －－ 西安 －－ 成都 －－ 重慶，然後一起乘船從重慶沿江而下。一路上我們很少談文革，而是沉迷在沿途的景觀：西安的古樸；成都的繁華、重慶的山城、三峽的險峻、大江的遼闊 ...... 他在南京下船，應該是回了泰州老家；我則是在上海下船，也是回家看看。一路上，都是他照顧我。他出面安排一切，又讓你感覺受到了尊重，很細心也很周到，處處讓你覺得舒服。

胡錦濤是水利系五字班的，應該在一九六五年畢業。因為當政治輔導員，按規定延後一年畢業。這一延就到了文革，所以一直拖到一九六八年才離校。記得他是分配到甘肅劉家峽。離京前，他請老印和我吃了頓飯。老印說要敲他一下，點了晉陽飯莊。我是第一次進北京的大飯店。晉陽飯莊的店址原來是紀曉嵐的書齋「閱微草堂」。院宇幽靜深邃，樑柱雕漆描畫，號稱正宗山西味、京都第一家。我很喜歡紀曉嵐的《閱微草堂筆記》，所以在這裡吃飯，還能感到一種書香。記得那天還喝了點小酒，三人不勝唏噓，因為今日一別，就是「明日隔山嶽，世事兩茫茫」了。

這一別，就是十四年。一九八二年，他從甘肅省建委的任上調中央黨校學習，我當時已在中科院計算中心上班。他從火車站乘公共汽車到黨校報到。途經三三二路黃莊車站，他特地下車和我匆匆會了一面。後來他到團中央工作，各方反映和口碑都不錯，我也莫名奇妙地覺得與有榮焉。

再一晃又是五年。一九八七年民辦科技實業家協會在貴陽開會，我創辦的「四通」已小有名氣。他正在貴州省當書記，約了時間去拜訪他。會客室溫馨而簡樸，比我那個已經十分簡樸的總裁辦公室還要簡樸。他還是那樣謙和謹慎，談話中能感到他同省裡方方面面的關係都相處得不錯，這是他的強項。省科委的人在邊上作陪，聊了一些科技發展規劃和科技企業的事情。臨走時，特地讓我帶走兩瓶茅台。我相信，這兩瓶一定是真貨。

八九之後人生軌跡趨於兩極
然後就是一九八九年的政治風波，從此我們的人生軌跡趨於兩極。但在我內心深處，還是默默地祝福他。先是祝福他能順利接班，然後是祝福他能有所作為。當有消息說他曾派人去歐洲瞭解社會民主黨的發展情況、剛上台組織政治局學憲法、面對 SARS 的施虐公開出來講話，力排眾議紀念胡耀邦，都讓人對他燃起某種希望。然而，關於學古巴、北朝鮮的講話，又讓人極度失望。

其實希望和失望，都是我自身的問題，同他並沒有什麼關係。佛家禪宗有言，是心動，而不是旗動。他還是那個在共產黨體系裡「聽話、出活」的胡錦濤。我畢竟還是凡心未泯，最近一連寫了三篇文章：《和共產黨分道揚鑣》、《為什麼共產黨氣數未盡》和《山坳上的共產黨》，一是對已逝的長者的悼念，二是對自身思路的梳理，三也是對在朝在野雙方的建言。至於別人是否聽得進去，那就不是我能關心的問題了。

今後我大概不會再寫此類文章。那麼多人在寫，並不缺我這一個。我想寫點自己想寫、也只有我能寫的東西：說我自己的故事。我計劃寫大約一百篇《清華歲月》、一百篇《四通故事》、一百篇《流亡生涯》。算是對自己的一生有一個交代。

有人讀了我最近的文章，說：「萬潤南，你大概是不想回去了？」是的，除了我年過八十的老父老母，那邊已沒有什麼是我可牽掛的了。前一段，母親急性肺炎連續發高燒攝氏三十九度六，醫院發了病危通知。許多至誠的朋友幫忙安排我回去。我也說得很明白：違心的話，我是不會講的。這個年齡了，我也不想委屈自己了。雖然沒有結果，但是朋友的情誼，我是點點滴滴，都在這裡心領了。

 

My College Upper Classman , Hu Jintao
By Wan Runnan

 

Editor's Note: The author was personally acquainted with Hu Jintao, the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, when both were students at Beijing 's Tsinghua University . Mr. Wan later became president of Beijing-based Stone Corp. before fleeing into exile after the “June 4 th” incident of 1989. Here he writes of his friendship with Hu during their college years before each eventually went his own way. This is a valuable historical piece for the study of the fourth generation of Chinese communist leaders.

Hu Jintao was my upper classman when we were both students at Tsinghua University . Forty years ago, we belonged to the same culture and arts group on campus, and as such dined in the same cafeteria, lived in the same dormitory, and took part in activities of the same branch of the Communist Youth League. We were quite close during that period. So listening to the speech he gave at Yale University recently raised some peculiar emotions in me.

Hu said: “Coming to the Yale campus, with its distinctive academic flavor, and looking at the eager young faces in the audience, I cannot but recall my great experience studying at Tsinghua University in Beijing 40 years ago. Indeed, what happens during one's school year will influence his whole life. I still benefit greatly from the instruction and my interaction with other students.”

The Top Political Counselor of the Cultural and Arts Group
Among the teachings of our professors, most important were those of university president Jiang Nanxiang. In the welcoming party for freshmen, president Jiang told us, “Students educated at Tsinghua will play an important role in the political life of our country 20 years later.” I did not understand what he meant then, but I have come to understand it better now.

In her 300 years of history, Yale has produced many members of the elite, among them five presidents of the United States . But in 20 years, Tsinghua produced four members of the current Standing Committee of the Politburo, including Hu Jintao. From the standpoint of timing, Tsinghua exhibits a better efficiency.

How did president Jiang Nanxiang achieve this? Mainly by using a system of “political counselors” to train student cadres. At the time I was there, the student cultural and arts group had four counselors: Yin Fusheng, Hu Jintao, Li Guiqiu and Ren Lihan. Among them, Yin and Li were cold and remote, and Hu and Ren more personable. But they all had something in common: obedience and efficiency. Their nicknames were indicative of their roles and characters: Three were given a nickname based on their names: Lao Yin (meaning Old Yin), Li Gui, and Xiao Han (meaning Little Han). Only Hu Jintao was called “Commander.” Why was he addressed this way? I once asked Lao Yin. He said he had no idea. But it now seems this nickname was accurate. Hu rose from “Commander” of the student cultural and arts group to “Commander” of the Youth League of the communist party, then to Commander of Guizhou Province and the Tibetan Autonomous Region, and now of the whole country.

But among the four counselors of the cultural and arts group at the time, Lao Yin had the most superficial resemblance to a “Commander.” Among the four, Lao Yin was the branch secretary, or top leader. Hu was the group leader, that is, second in command. The two of them worked together very well. Lao Yin was a strong and single-minded leader, while Hu was modest and easy-going, understanding and considerate. When they conducted meetings, it was Lao Yin who drew the line and summed things up, while Hu filled in the blanks and meticulously finalized the details.

During the early days of the Cultural Revolution, the four counselors jointly issued a big character poster in defense of the university Party committee with the title “The Party Committee of Tsinghua is Yan'an, not Xi'an .” This move was led by Yin, and Hu just signed his name. Later on in the Cultural Revolution, Lao Yin was involved in all the important events on the campus, but Hu stayed very low key, never actively participating again. There was a clear division among the supporters and opponents of Lao Yin, but Hu had practically no opponents. Being modest, easygoing and good-natured, he won the friendship of everyone. As for looks, Lao Yin was dark and handsome, with penetrating eyes, while Hu Jintao had a fair complexion and regular features that contributed to his gentle and courteous image. As Chinese say, hard and rigid things break easily, while soft and flexible things can weather through. Likewise, Hu Jintao was able to overcome hurdles and opponents on his way and finally became the ultimate “Commander.”

Travels with Hu
During that period, to get things done I would rather follow Lao Yin, but for leisure activities I would rather follow Hu. During the Cultural Revolution, while writing big character posters and organizing struggle groups, I always stuck with Lao Yin; for traveling outside the campus to establish ties with other groups or taking sight-seeing trips, I would stick with Hu. I took two of these tie-establishing trips, one on my own, traveling from Beijing to Guangzhou and subsequently to Hainan Island , Zhanjiang , Nanning , Guilin and Shanghai ; and the other one with Hu.

The two of us started from Beijing , traveling to Xi'an , Chengdu and Chongqing , and then in Chongqing took a boat heading east along the Yangtze River . We rarely mentioned the Cultural Revolution on the trip, but rather immersed ourselves in the scenery: the simple classical atmosphere of Xi'an , the bustling prosperity of Chengdu , the rolling hills of Chongqing , the precipitous Three Gorges, the vast expanse of the Yangtze. Hu disembarked in Nanjing , presumably returning to his native place of Taizhou; I took off in Shanghai , also paying a visit to my home. Along the way, it was Hu who looked after me. He took the initiative in making all the arrangements, while making me feel respected, and with an attentiveness and thoroughness that made me feel comfortable all the way.

Hu Jintao was in the fifth class of the hydraulics department, and he should have graduated in 1965. As a political counselor, he would normally have graduated a year later than his classmates, but in his case the postponement brought him right into the Cultural Revolution period, and he did not leave Tsinghua until 1968. I remember that he was deployed to Liujiaxia , Gansu Province. Before leaving Beijing , he treated Lao Yin and me to dinner. Saying that we had to fleece him, Lao Yin picked the Jinyang Restaurant. It was the first time I had gone to a big restaurant in Beijing .

Jinyang had once been the library of Yuewei Cottage, home of the renowned Qing Dynasty scholar Ji Xiaolan, whose Yuewei Cottage Sketchbook I admired. The courtyard was quiet, deep and wide, with carved wooden pillars, and was considered to reflect a genuine flavor of Shanxi Province , the first such restaurant in Beijing . Here one dined among the fragrance of books. As I recall, we had a few drinks that day. The three of us could not help but sigh over the knowledge that our farewell would correspond with the Chinese saying,

“Tomorrow we will be separated by mountains and the vastness of world events.”

Indeed, this parting ultimately lasted 14 years. In 1982, while serving as a member of the Gansu Province Construction Committee, Hu was dispatched to Beijing to study in the Central Party School . At that time I was working in the computer center of Academia Sinica in Beijing . To report to the Party School , Hu took a bus from the train station. When the bus reached Huangzhuang Station, Hu made a point of stopping off to see me briefly. Later on he was assigned to work in the central office of the Youth League, and the reports and word of mouth from various circles were pretty good. For some reason, I felt personally honored.

Another five years passed. In 1987, private entrepreneurs in the technology industry held a meeting in Guiyang City . Stone Corp., the computer company I founded, had already won a reputation. Hu was then the Party secretary of Guizhou Province , and I made an appointment to pay him a visit at his office. The reception room was warm and simple, even more so than my office, which was already very simple for a corporate president. Hu was still modest and cautious. From our conversation, I gathered that he was on good terms with the various circles of influence in his province. This had always been his strength. Officials from the provincial science committee accompanied me during the meeting. We chatted about the planning of science and technology development and also science enterprises. When I departed, Hu insisted I take two bottles of Maotai. I had no doubt that they were the genuine stuff.

The Parting of Ways
Then came the political disturbances of 1989. After that, the trajectories of our lives spun off in two extremes, but deep in my heart, I have continued to wish him well. First I wished him a smooth power succession, and then that he could make a genuine contribution. When news broke out that he had sent people to Europe to study the development of social democracy, and that he made arrangements for the Politburo to study constitutional law when he first made it to the top, that he spoke publicly about the havoc wreaked by SARS, that he brushed aside objections to memorial activities for Hu Yaobang, he ignited a certain hope. However, his speech on the need to learn from Cuba and North Korea was extremely disappointing.

But these hopes and disappointments are my own problem, and nothing to do with Hu. As Zen Buddhists say, “What matters is what moves the heart, not what moves the flag.” He is still the “obedient and efficient” Hu Jintao within the Communist system.

Still immersed in my worldly dreams, I recently wrote three essays: “Parting with the Communist,” “Why the Communist Party is Not Yet Finished” and “Communist on the High Planes.” The first was to mourn the passing of an elder, the second to sort out my own thoughts, and the third as suggestions to those both in and out of office. Whether anyone will take any notice of them is not something that I can allow to concern me.

I will probably stop writing this kind of essay from now on. So many people are writing that no one will notice my absence. I would like to write about things that I want to and things that only I can write; to tell my own story. I plan to write 100 pieces regarding “My Years in Tsinghua,” 100 pieces on “The Stone Corp. Story” and 100 pieces on “Life in Exile,” just to give an account of my life.

After reading what I wrote recently, someone said, “Wan Runnan, it seems you have no intention to go back (to China ).” True, except for my parents who are now in their eighties, I don't have much that concerns me there. Some time ago, my mother came down with acute pneumonia, running a fever of 39.6 ℃ . The hospital said she was in critical condition, and some faithful friends tried to arrange for my return. But I made it very clear: I would not say anything against my conscience. At this age, I want to remain true to myself. Although it ultimately did not work out, I am most grateful for the kindness of my friends, to the bottom of my heart.