Chapter 43 The Military Assembly of Zhu De and Mao Zedong at Jinggang Mountain 1928

Journalist: “Wasn’t Zhu De ordered to instigate an uprising in Southern Hunan? What happened to Zhu De?”

Mao: “In April 1928, when I was still at Jinggang Mountain, survivors of the Nanchang Uprising, who had nowhere else to go, sought refuge at Jinggang Mountain. Those who remained after being dispersed gathered under Zhu De’s leadership. At 41 years old, Zhu De was the elder, with a good temperament, loyalty, kindness, and simplicity. He wore straw sandals like the soldiers, carried a bamboo hat, ate together, marched together, shouldered rifles, and carried backpacks. During battles, he always took the lead, and the officers and soldiers held great respect for him. At that time, Zhu De had been ordered by the Party to organize an uprising in Southern Hunan, but it ended up in complete failure. The instructions from Moscow were not only brutal but also self-destructive. The slogan of the uprising at that time was ‘Burn! Burn! Burn! Kill! Kill! Kill!’

Under the command of Soviet advisers, Zhu De’s forces also engaged in indiscriminate burning and killing, reducing the cities of Chenzhou and Leiyang to ashes. As a result, the peasants truly rose up in revolt, opposing the Communist Party’s uprising. During a mass meeting where the Communist Party mobilized the peasants to burn down houses within a five-li radius, several thousands of armed peasants attending the meeting reacted negatively upon hearing the order. They turned against the party leader from Chen County, killing him and causing most of the areas in Chen County to turn against the Communists. The peasants in Yongxing and Leiyang also rose up in rebellion. Later, the Red Army was called in to suppress them, which managed to bring the situation under control. The death toll was over a thousand. The peasants tore off the red armbands and red neckerchiefs they were wearing, raising the white flag.”

Journalist: “Zhu De followed the commands of Soviet advisers and suffered a terrible defeat.”

Mao: “Yes, when the Kuomintang Army attacked, Zhu De’s forces had no choice but to retreat. Those peasants who had been involved in the killings and arson, along with their families, had no other option but to follow the Communist Party, as they had burnt down their own homes. This was Moscow’s policy, cutting off the peasants’ retreat and forcing them to take to the hills.
Zhu De arrived, and at that time, I did not hold any position in the party.

On May 2nd, I wrote another letter to the Central Committee, requesting the establishment of a Special Committee. Without waiting for a response from the Central Committee, I designated representatives and convened a ‘Representative Assembly,’ where I became the secretary.

I was eager to have an official position in the party because Zhu De brought 4,000 people with him to the mountains, while I only had 1,000 soldiers. In order to effectively manage the larger force of Zhu De’s troops, I needed the party’s authority. This army soon became known as the ‘Zhu Mao Red Army.’

While waiting for authorization, party inspectors arrived, and the party organization began functioning properly.”

Journalist: “Zhu De has 4,000 people, and you have 1,000. How do you manage them?”

Mao: “I manage them in the name of the party. The 6th Congress was held in Moscow in June 1928, and they wanted me to attend the meeting, but I refused. Unless absolutely necessary, I would never leave my territory.”

Journalist: “Are you afraid of being criticized in Moscow?”

Mao: “Yes, I am free and unrestrained in Jiangxi. Nobody can control me here. Once I leave my territory, it becomes uncertain. What I fear the most is not having a security guard by my side. In the military report at the 6th Congress, Zhou Enlai, who played a leading role, said that my forces had “some bandit-like characteristics,” implying that I did not always follow orders. The Soviets were suspicious of me, but they also valued me greatly, considering me as one of the main leaders of the armed Communist Party.”