Chapter 42 Build Mao’s Mansion, new favorite of He Zizhen 1928

Journalist: “I heard that you have a mansion called the Octagonal Building, blending Chinese and Western styles, in Jinggang Mountain?”

Mao: “Yes, that’s correct. My mountain stronghold was an ideal base.

The plains around it produced abundant rice and tea oil, providing food for three years of cultivation. The mountain was covered in dense fir and bamboo forests, shrouded in thick fog throughout the year. Monkeys, wild boars, and even tigers would come and go. Jinggang Mountain’s highest peak reached 995 meters, with steep cliffs and dense bushes concealing only the paths trodden by hunters. It was easy to defend and difficult to attack, and in case of defeat, it provided an escape route.

I was constantly concerned about my safety and gradually improved security measures. I had over 100 guards. I had several houses in different locations, carefully chosen from a safety perspective. The houses had rear windows and holes in the back walls, with small paths leading into the mountains, allowing for easy escape and providing secure exits.

One of my main mansions in Jinggang Mountain was located in Maoping, at the entrance to the mountain. It had convenient transportation, and in case of emergencies, we could retreat into the mountains at any time. It was an octagonal building, resembling a tall, three-story wooden pagoda with bright roof tiles on the top. This grand mansion originally belonged to a local doctor. Another mansion, also belonging to a doctor, was called Liu Desheng Pharmacy and located in the bustling town of Bishi at the foot of the mountain. This mansion was a peculiar beauty, with one half in the style of a European church, featuring a row of Romanesque arcades, and the other half in Chinese architectural style. The two parts were connected by an octagonal gateway.”

Journalist: “Where is your headquarters located?”

Mao: “My headquarters is also in Bishi, originally a school with a 2,000- square-meter garden, serving as the highest educational institution in the three surrounding counties. The upper floor was completely open on three sides, offering a panoramic view of the sky, earth, clouds, and water. During the summer, students would come here to enjoy the breeze. Wherever I went, schools closed down, doctors were relocated, ancestral halls and churches were requisitioned. Communist Party activities required spacious venues.”

Journalist: “Wow, so you drove out schools to use them as your headquarters?”

Mao: “Yes. I’m not here to educate the nation, so what do I need schools for? I wanted students to join my ranks, to strengthen my forces. The younger ones would be my little red devils. I stayed in the Jinggang Mountain area for 15 months, but I only went up the mountain three times, totaling less than a month. By this time, my way of life had taken shape. I had numerous servants, referred to as ‘attendants’ or ‘staff.’ This included the steward, cooks, water carriers, stable hands taking care of my little yellow horse, specialized couriers for delivering messages, and a special agent with two main tasks: buying cigarettes and collecting books and newspapers. I couldn’t do without the news.”

Journalist: “Wow, your little court has started to take shape. Must be quite enjoyable! You fought against the landlords and became a landlord yourself?”

Mao: “Yes, I’m a combination of local and foreign, a local landlord.

Why did we have a revolution? First and foremost, to enjoy for ourselves! Shortly after arriving in Jinggang Mountain, I found a new love interest: He Zizhen. She had just turned 18 that year, with a melon seed face, almond-shaped eyes, and a slender figure. She was born in the prosperous Yongxin County. Her father belonged to a prominent family in Yongxin, with substantial assets. He was a juren, once served as the county magistrate, but later faced a decline in family fortune and ran a teahouse. Zizhen’s original name was Guiyuan. She was born on an autumn night, under a round moon, amidst blooming osmanthus flowers. She attended a church school, but she disliked studying the Bible and engaging in prayers. She also didn’t enjoy a conformist lifestyle. She had a passionate and restless nature, as if a fire was burning within her. When the Northern Expeditionary Army entered Yongxin County, breaking the tranquil surface of the small town, she became fascinated by the heated atmosphere and joined the Communist Party. She became the captain of the cheerleading squad, welcoming the Northern Expeditionary Army, and gave speeches in public. At the age of 16, she became the county director of the Women’s Department. She even took the lead in cutting off her long hair, as it symbolized the revolution.”
Journalist: “So, He Zizhen was a beautiful heroine?”

Mao: “Yes, her father, brother, and she had joined the peasant self- defense forces led by the Communist Party before I went to Jinggang Mountain. She had bright eyes, a slim figure, a lively personality, and was loved by everyone. At the age of 15, she served as the head of the Communist Youth League branch in her middle school. At 16, she joined the Communist Party. She was skilled at delivering persuasive and provocative speeches. Shortly after the ‘April 12 Incident’ in Shanghai in 1927, when she was only 17, she collaborated with Communist Party members from Yongxin County and established contact with bandit leader Wang Zuo. Together with Yuan Wencai, they initiated the ‘Yongxin Uprising’ and temporarily occupied Yongxin County. Everyone called her the “Female Commander.” She arrived at Jinggang Mountain more than three months before me.

Journalist: “When did you start a relationship with He Zizhen?

Mao: “At the end of 1927, I took a company of soldiers to Yongxin County and met her. We had meals together, talked until late at night, and within two days, I initiated a romantic relationship with her. We became intimate, even though she was only 17 years old at that time, and I was 34.
Journalist: “Wow, He Zizhen was truly a fashionable goddess. How could you not be attracted to her?”

Mao: “Yes, I was fascinated by her. After Chiang Kai-shek purged the Communists, local Communist Party members and activists began to flee. Her parents and younger sister escaped, while her brother was imprisoned. Yuan Wencai, a friend of her brother known as Mountain King, staged a prison raid and rescued him. Zizhen and her brother joined Yuan Wencai and went to Jinggang Mountain. She became friends with Yuan’s wife, and Wang Zuo gave her a Mauser pistol.

When I arrived, I was immediately attracted to her. Yuan Wencai made every effort to bring us together and appointed her as my translator. I couldn’t speak the local Jiangxi dialect, so she translated for me. In early 1928, Zizhen and I got married. There wasn’t much ceremony, but Mrs. Yuan hosted a lavish feast for us. At that time, I had been separated from Yang Kaihui and our three sons for four months. After our separation, I only wrote one letter to Kaihui, saying that I had a foot ailment. Now, I can’t worry about so much anymore and prioritize enjoying the present life.

Journalist: “So, you abandoned Yang Kaihui and your three children?”

Mao: “Yes, I had already planned to abandon her before going to the mountains. I thought to myself that as long as I had power, there would be no shortage of women.

I have long formed my rogue ideas about women. I want to rebel and be the king, women, no matter who, are all my tools, to be used by me, disposable at will. As long as I have power, there are plenty of women. I don’t talk about human feelings, so-called love is all empty.”

Yang Kaihui had a passionate love for me, while He Zizhen reluctantly married me. As a young and attractive woman, she naturally had many admirers among countless men. Zizhen believed that at 35 years old, I was too old for her, and she felt like a flower inserted into manure. My handsome and lively younger brother, Zetan, was one of her pursuers, and he said to her, ‘My brother already has a wife, so be with me instead.’ Zizhen later admitted that she chose me because in that environment, a young girl needed a certain political protection and wanted to climb the ladder of power.

My relationship with He Zizhen caused quite a stir in the male- dominated world, leading to many idle talk. I was cautious and tried to avoid appearing in public with Zizhen. When passing by the area where wounded soldiers were hospitalized, I specifically walked apart from her.

Less than a year after our marriage, Zizhen wanted to leave me. She told her friends that marrying me was very unfortunate and a great sacrifice. In January 1929, I had to leave Jinggang Mountain and go to a distant place. Zizhen saw this as an opportunity to stay behind. Her close friend Zeng Zhi said, ‘He Zizhen refused to leave Jinggang Mountain even if it meant death. She didn’t want to go. When the rest of us were ready to depart, she refused to leave. She was stubborn and wouldn’t budge.’ Zizhen wanted to escape from the life with me, even disregarding the danger of being captured by the Kuomintang. I ordered that she must be taken along no matter what, and she was forcefully dragged away. Zeng Zhi said, ‘She cried while walking and always fell behind. When she couldn’t keep up, I sent a groom back to pick her up.’”

Journalist: “So you forcibly took He Zizhen with you?”

Mao: “Yes, I had power and troops, and she had no choice but to go.”