ABSTRACT
Deng stayed in Beijing throughout 1976 and was never in Guangdong under the confidential protection of Xu Shiyou or Wei Guoqing. On October 10, 1976, shortly after being informed of the downfall of the “Gang of Four,” Deng sent a letter to Hua Guofeng, the new boss of the Chinese Communist Party Center, as he had done with Mao Zedong in 1971. The Third Plenum of the Tenth Congress, was held in Beijing from July 16 to 21, 1977. The plenum decided on a full restoration of Deng’s former positions as deputy chairman of the Party Center, first deputy premier of the State Council, deputy chairman of the Military Council, and chief of staff of the People’s Liberation Army. With Hua remaining as the topmost leader in the Party Center and on the State Council, there appeared a triumvirate of Hua, Ye, and Deng, sharing supreme power for the time being.
