After the 1971 Lin Biao incident, the military attempted to improve Peng's living conditions, but the years of deprivation and torture from 1967–1970 had seriously weakened his physical health, and from late 1972 to his death, Peng was seriously ill probably from tuberculosis, thrombosis, or both. Peng was briefly hospitalized in 1973 before he was returned to prison, the first time that he had been outside of prison since 1967. Peng's niece, Peng Meikui, visited Peng in the hospital and convinced his jailers to allow an operation, but the nature and the results of this operation are unknown. Peng's medical condition deteriorated further in 1974, but because of direct orders from Mao not to treat him, he received no substantial medical aid. Peng died at 3:35 p.m. on November 29, 1974. His last wish was to see the sun and trees outside the windows of his hospital room (the windows were covered with newspaper), but that request was denied.