Chapter 68 Snow was deceived, helping Mao do propaganda 1936

Mao continued: “After reaching an agreement with Chiang Kai-shek, Stalin released Chiang Ching-kuo. On March 3, 1937, the Political Bureau of the Soviet Communist Party made a decision stating, ‘We do not oppose the return of Chiang Kai-shek’s son to China.’ On April 19, after being held as a hostage for ten years, Chiang Ching-kuo returned to China. Before leaving the Soviet Union, Stalin personally spoke to him. When he arrived in Harbin, he was taken to the local office of the KGB, where he expressed to Moscow, ‘I will strictly follow the Party’s discipline.’”

Journalist: “Chiang Kai-shek also got his son back?”

Mao: “Yes. In the spring of 1937, Kang Sheng just brought my 14-year-old son, Mao Anying, and 12-year-old son, Mao Anqing, from Paris to Moscow. My sons had been waiting in Paris for several months for their visas because the Soviet Union did not want Zhang Xueliang’s representatives to go. In order to expedite Chiang Ching-kuo’s return, Chiang Kai-shek continuously made concessions. In February 1937, he appointed Shao Lizi, a Red agent who accompanied Chiang Ching-kuo to the Soviet Union, as the Minister of Propaganda for the Kuomintang Central Committee. During Shao Lizi’s tenure as the Minister of Propaganda, he approved the publication of ‘The Autobiography of Mao Zedong,’ which was published on November 1, 1937, and became immensely popular. It created a favorable image of me, and public opinion towards the Communist Party improved.

‘The Autobiography of Mao Zedong’ was based on the interviews conducted by American journalist Edgar Snow during his visit to me in the summer of 1936. Based on our conversations and interviews with other leaders, Snow wrote ‘Red Star Over China,’ which was published in the West.”

Journalist: “Snow helped you with publicity, and Shao Lizi also worked hard for you. Did you become even more popular?”

Mao: “Yes. Snow was chosen by the Shanghai underground party to find a foreign journalist, along with a doctor. He sympathized with the Communist Party and came to Yan’an in July 1936, accompanied by American doctor Dr. Ma Haide (Dr. Hatem). Snow stayed for three months. I requested ‘security, confidentiality, liveliness, and grandeur.’ The Politburo prepared answers based on the list Snow provided. The stories I told Snow were a mix of truth and fiction, as I constructed them. Snow accepted everything wholeheartedly. He was very lovable and said that I and the Communist Party leaders were ‘straightforward, frank, and direct, not playing tricks.’ He believed that ‘during the 6,000-mile journey, Mao Zedong, except for a few weeks of illness, walked like an ordinary soldier.’ I concealed the Communist Party’s relationship with Moscow and claimed that I preferred friendship with the United States. Snow followed the script.”

Journalist: “Haha, you were really good at deceiving! Weren’t you lying on a stretcher being carried during the Long March? And didn’t you fabricate stories about your arrest before going to Jinggang Mountain to deceive Snow?”

Mao: “Yes. In September 1927, I was arrested by the Kuomintang’s militias in Hunan. In Yan’an in 1936, I fabricated stories to deceive American journalist Snow. I told him the following story:

When I was organizing troops to prepare for the Jinggang Mountain campaign, I was captured by the Kuomintang’s militias. They took me to their headquarters. I borrowed some money from a comrade with the intention of bribing the escort to let me go. However, the captain in charge of escorting me refused. So, I decided to escape. I had a chance to escape about 200 yards away from the militia headquarters. In that instant, I managed to break free from the rope and fled into the fields.

I continued, saying that soldiers pursued me and forced some peasants to assist in the search. They came close many times, and I nearly made contact with them once or twice. But in the end, I was not discovered. Although there were five or six times when I lost hope, thinking I would surely be recaptured, in the end, when it got dark, they gave up the search. I immediately climbed over the mountains and walked throughout the night. I didn’t have shoes, and my feet were severely injured. Along the way, I encountered a peasant who treated me kindly, providing me with accommodation, and later guiding me to a neighboring county. I had 7 yuan with me, which I used to buy a pair of shoes, an umbrella, and some food. When I finally arrived safely with the Red Army, I only had two copper coins left in my pocket.”

Journalist: “Your fabricated story is quite twisted and extraordinary! Did Snow really believe it?”

Mao: “Yes, that was the arrest story I fabricated for Snow. He believed it wholeheartedly and propagated it for me.”

Journalist: “What was the actual situation of your arrest?”

Mao: “In reality, it was before the Mid-Autumn Festival in August that year. I was passing through the town carrying a heavy load. I was acting suspiciously, looking around nervously, and the militias suspected that I was carrying a weapon. They arrested me, and upon searching, they found over 100 silver coins and some clothes and letters in the bundle. I lied, saying that I was a businessman. I was immediately taken to the militia headquarters for interrogation, where they discovered that I was a Communist Party leader. I revealed the names of several party members and was subsequently captured.

Because I was articulate, willing to cooperate with the government, and had made some contributions to the Kuomintang army, the militia leader valued talent and loyalty. Considering our hometown connection, he confiscated the silver coins but left me with a few yuan and allowed me to return home to teach. Little did he know that I would escape and make my way to Jinggang Mountain.”

Journalist: “The actual situation is completely different from what you fabricated, isn’t it?”

Mao: “Indeed, they are two different stories. If I can deceive, then I will. Snow’s writings went through my scrutiny and revisions. But Snow said, ‘Nothing of mine was edited.’ He praised me for being ‘sincere and honest.’”

Journalist: “Snow wrote ‘Red Star Over China’ for you. Isn’t that remarkable?”

Mao: “Snow had no idea about the massacre of the Anti-Banditry Campaign’s 100,000 people in Jiangxi Province, nor did he know that I was crueller and more ruthless than bandits. I concealed everything about Jiangxi when I arrived in Yan’an and presented myself as the savior of China.”

Journalist: “During the Long March, you took a detour and went uphill. Wasn’t that glorious?”

Mao: “Yes, I fabricated the claim that the Long March was a ‘declaration’ when it was actually an ‘escape.’ I presented it as a ‘seeding machine,’ but it was a means of survival. I was carried on a stretcher during the Long March. ‘Red Star Over China’ was published in English from 1937 to 1938, and it had a significant impact on the Western perception of me and the Communist Party. The Chinese translation, titled ‘An Account of the Westward Journey,’ gave the impression of an objective account. Snow’s book had a tremendous influence among radical youths and attracted many passionate young people to join Yan’an. I praised Snow enthusiastically, claiming that he had accomplished the ‘Achievements of f Yu the Great in Flood Control’ and appointed him as my senior propaganda minister.”

Journalist: “Haha, so Snow became your senior propaganda minister?”

Journalist: “You told Snow that you had a deep-seated hatred for your father. Was that true?”

Mao: “In reality, at that time, I did not have such deep-seated hatred for my father as I portrayed to Snow. It was only natural for me, as a leader of the Communist Party in Yan’an, to betray my landlord father. Even if I distorted history, it was for the needs of the revolution.

The ‘autobiography’ I shared with Snow was reviewed and supported by the Political Bureau. Even if I had to lie, I needed everyone’s support because it served the propaganda needs of the Communist Party.”

Journalist: “When you said you liked ‘Water Margin,’ what did you mean?”

Mao: “I liked ‘Water Margin’ because I loved rebellion, just like the characters in the novel.”

Journalist: “Snow helped promote you, and Shaoli Zi also worked hard for you. Did you become even more popular?”

Mao: “Yes. I asked the Shanghai underground party to find a foreign journalist and a doctor for me, and Snow was chosen. Snow sympathized with the CCP and came to Yan’an in July 1936. The American doctor, Dr.Hatem, accompanied him. Snow stayed for three months. I requested ‘safety, confidentiality, liveliness, and grandeur.’ The Politburo prepared answers based on the list Snow provided. The stories I told Snow contained both truth and falsehood, according to my imagination, and Snow fully accepted them. He was very likable, saying that I and the CCP leadership were ‘frank, straightforward, and without any tricks.’ He believed that ‘during the 6,000-mile journey, Mao Zedong, except for a few weeks of illness, walked just like an ordinary soldier.’ I concealed the CCP’s relationship with Moscow and claimed to be friendly with the United States. Snow faithfully propagated the information as instructed.”

Journalist: “Haha, you’re really good at deceiving! Weren’t you the one lying on a stretcher, being carried during the Long March?”

Mao: “If I can deceive, then let me deceive. Snow showed me everything he wrote, and I made changes to it. But Snow said, ‘There was absolutely no editing of anything I wrote.’ Snow praised me as being ‘sincere and honest.’

The English version of ‘Red Star Over China’ was published in 1937- 1938, which had a significant impact on the Western perception of me and the CCP. The Chinese version was translated by the CCP organization and given a neutral title, ‘A Record of the Westward Journey,’ making it appear objective. Snow’s book had a tremendous influence among radical youth, attracting many passionate young people to join Yan’an. I praised Snow enthusiastically, saying that he had accomplished the ‘great achievements of Yu the Great,’ and he became my Minister of Propaganda.”