Chapter 23 Second trip to Beijing 1919-1920

Journalist: “Did you go back to Beijing later?”

Mao: “Yes, I went back again. In December 1919, to drive out Zhang Jingyao, I went to Beijing with a petition group. I stayed at Mr. Yang Huaizhong’s house and spent time with Kaihui days and nights. In Beijing, I met some famous figures, such as the liberal thinker Hu Shih and the Marxist Li Dazhao. After successfully driving out Zhang Jingyao, in May 1920, I left Beijing and returned to Hunan, passing through Shanghai to meet Chen Duxiu. Mr. Chen was busy organizing a political party at that time. He is a thinker, very charismatic, and had a fiery temperament. From him, I learned that the representative of the International Communist Movement, Voitinsky, had arrived in China in April 1920 and established a base in Shanghai in May. He suggested to Chen that they support the establishment of a party, and Chen accepted it. They were preparing to secretly form a party. The Soviet Communist Party hoped to support a pro-communist and pro-Soviet government and promote revolution worldwide.

Voitinsky considered Chen as the General Secretary because Chen had prestige at that time. Chen, together with Li Hanjun, Li Da, Chen Wangdao, and Shao Lizi, made preparations and established contacts with various provinces. When I met Chen, it was confirmed that I would be the contact person for Hunan, but I wasn’t prominent and was not invited as one of the initiators. At that time, I didn’t have a profound understanding of Marxism either. I left Shanghai and returned to Changsha. In August, the Shanghai Party organization was established.”

Journalist: “Chen Duxiu formed the party. How did you view the Communist Party at that time?”

Mao: “At that time, I didn’t bother with revolutionary ideals or Moscow’s plans. He had his plans, and I had mine. I was practical, and practical interests came first. He wanted to use us, and I wanted to use his money. I didn’t come from Moscow’s Zhongshan University and didn’t learn all that theoretical stuff. I only knew practical interests. I didn’t care about the whole set of Marx’s Capital theory. I summed up Marx with just one sentence: Rebellion is justified. As long as the masses follow me and listen to my orders, that’s enough. All the other theories are just decorations.”

Journalist: “Oh, I understand. Your practical interests come first, and you don’t bother with all that theoretical stuff.”