Chapter 27 The Peng Huang Murder Case 1921 (28 years old)

Mao: “In the autumn of 1921, the ‘Peng Huang Incident’ occurred in Changsha, and I was regarded as the prime suspect by the outside world.”

Journalist: “How did Peng Huang die? Why were you considered the prime suspect?”

Mao: “Peng Huang (1896-1921), a native of Xiangxiang, Hunan, was a fellow comrade involved in revolutionary activities with me in his early years. In May 1919, after the May Fourth Movement, he became the president of the Hunan Student Union. In June 1920, Xiang Jingyu send him and me a letter, his name is in the front. At January 1921, I sent him a long letter referring to him as ‘Senior Brother Bai’ at the beginning and stating, ‘I hereby inform you.’ From these expressions, it can be inferred that we were colleagues, but he held a higher position than me, although he was three years younger.

In the spring of 1919, Peng Huang and I went to Shanghai from Beijing with an introduction letter from Teacher Yang Changji to visit the prominent lawyer Zhang Shizhao, seeking financial support for our plans to work and study in France. Zhang Shizhao contacted the Hunan Governor, Tan Yankai, who donated 20,000 silver dollars, which were handed over to Peng Huang and me. Some of the money was given to students studying in France, while the rest remained in my possession without any further explanation.”

Journalist: “Oh, so you and Peng Huang received 20,000 silver dollars together?”

Mao: “Yes. In the autumn of 1921, Peng Huang became mentally unstable and suffered from exhaustion due to the efforts to raise funds for studying and working in France. I immediately made appointment with Yi Lirong, arranged him to receive medical treatment at Xiangya Hospital with proper decorum. However, he disappeared after just one day in the hospital. Since then, his whereabouts became unknown, and all attempts to find him were in vain. He vanished without a trace, neither alive nor dead, at the age of 25. According to speculations from the outside world, it was unlikely that Peng committed suicide because there would have been a body. It is highly probable that he was ‘silenced’ by someone, either through a hired killer or some other means. However, there were no specific clues of personal or public grudges against Peng. The only major suspect was me, suspected of hiring someone to kill him in order to keep the majority of the 20,000 silver dollars for myself and conceal the expenditure. It should be noted that 20,000 silver dollars was a substantial sum. At the time, I was working as a clerk in the Peking University Library, earning a monthly salary of only 8 yuan. Peng Huang was the president of the Provincial Student Union, ranking higher than me. I couldn’t tolerate someone surpassing me.”

Journalist: “It makes sense. That’s why you became the prime suspect.”

Mao: “Yes, that’s how it was. Peng Huang was one of the earliest members of the Communist Group in Changsha. After the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, Peng Huang was posthumously recognized as a revolutionary martyr. The Party fabricated propaganda stating that ‘Peng Huang disappeared into the Xiang River after the failed assassination of Zhao Hengxi,’ in order to absolve me of suspicion.

After leaving this world, I have confessed before God, ‘I caused the death of Peng Huang.’”