彭真在「文革」前的中共政治中地位重要而特殊。他一方面是參與決 策、職司執行的中央領導人；另一方面，又負責管理首都北京市，作為最有 力的地方領導人之一。彭真長期主管北京市，反映中共中央對他的政治信任 和器重，以及對其稱職表現的欣賞。彭真管理北京市的理念是：信從緊跟中 央、工作力爭楷模，以及營造首都格局。在實際管理上，彭真主要掌握首都 的重要事務，其他具體工作則由副手劉仁、鄭天翔等人處置。如此使之既可 管控首都發展方向，又能節省心力處理中央事務。彭真的政治能力和前景， 以及對地方利益和人事的關照，令之在當地享有高度的領導威信。彭真在相 關職位上的積極有為，也讓之在政治上增加不少的見光度、發言權和影響 力。「文革」前夕，北京市在密集配合中央的政策實驗、摸索的過程中，彭 真與人多有衝突，招致經營「獨立王國」的指控和批判，更進而損及他在中 央的政治地位和安全。 彭真在「文革」前長年執掌北京市，讓其在「改革開放」時期仍可對該 地施加影響；更重要的是，此一任職經歷讓彭真累積、擁有了一筆重要的人 脈資產，並成為他在1980 年代領導中共法制工作時所倚重使用的幹部隊伍。

As one of the most influential central leaders of the People’s Republic of China, Peng Zhen concurrently served as the top leader of the capital, Beijing Municipality, from late 1948 to early 1966. Peng governed the capital for such a long time because the Party Center led by Mao Zedong appreciated his loyalty and ability demonstrated in leading the important city. In fact, Peng spared no effort to toe the Party Center’s line at any cost and cement the capital’s role as the nation’s model. Regarding capital governance, in order to save more time and energy to deal with central affairs, Peng usually focused only on major and crucial issues, and assigned follow-up management and implementation to his trusted deputies and efficient officials. Due to Peng’s outstanding leadership, bright career future and his strong inclination to take care of subordinates and local interests, he successfully enjoyed a high prestige in Beijing, and eventually cultivated a strong personal network there. On the one hand, Peng’s effective rule in Beijing strengthened his political status and influence in the central politics, and on the other hand, it unfortunately incurred suspicion and hostility of other Party politicians. Against the background, Mao in 1966 harshly criticized Peng for making Beijing his own “independent kingdom,” and removed him from his post as a Party boss of the capital. After the end of the Cultural Revolution, Peng did not return to his old task. However, he still exerted great influences over local politics in Beijing. More importantly, while leading the PRC’s legal system in the “Reform and Opening-up” period, apparently, Peng relied heavily on his old subordinates in Beijing from the pre-Cultural Revolution period.