Chapter 36 The 7,000 people assembly called two hail 1962

Journalist: “Why did you delay not to open the 9th Congress?”

Mao: “At the beginning of 1961, Liu Deng reminded me that it was time to open the ‘9th Congress,’ the ‘8th Congress’ in 1956, according to the party’s constitution once every five years, expired early, September 1961, should be opened In September 1961, the ‘9th Congress’ should be held. I did not deny it, thinking that at this time to open the ‘9th Congress,’ to my disadvantage, voting even if not to elect me down, will also make a fool of me. I want to postpone it. But in the face of the current plight of a large number of starving people, we must meet to unify the mind and stabilize the situation, so we decided to hold a meeting of seven thousand cadres at the fourth level in early 1962.”

Journalist: “In the face of the famine, what do you do? Must open a conference to unify ideas?”

Mao: “Yes, but there are difficulties in opening a conference. in January 1961, Anhui Province, the fifth cadres will be held, more than 90% of the speakers at the meeting have died in their families, turned into a meeting to complain about the suffering, we all shed tears of grief.

Zhongnanhai staff also do not have enough to eat, the garden lawn, converted to planting vegetable fields, hunger Russia makes cadres are eager to change the policy. I, however, put the blame on the grassroots, saying: bad people are in power, beating people to death, so that food production is reduced and there is not enough to eat. To arouse good feelings toward me, I announced that I would not eat meat, but I ate more fish and ate newly made Western food with richer ingredients than before. Daughter Li Na in college to live in school, weekend to Zhongnanhai eat well, back to school also bring some, was found by me to shoot the table, the impact is not good, to the outside impression, to share the trouble. Li Na also got floating in college, and later took a break from school to stay in Zhongnanhai. I also know the sound of curses passed to me: how he does not die? He died so that others can work. In the past, when the emperor encountered an artificial famine, he had already issued an edict to take the blame.”

Journalist: “You already know that the following want you to die early, so that others can do something?”

Mao: “Yes, I have felt the crisis, but I have to resist to protect themselves. in October 1961, I allowed Peng Dehuai to return to the countryside once, he was welcomed like a hero, a couple of thousand people went to see him, some dragged themselves more than 100 miles to come, the peasants complained to him endlessly.

On January 11, 1962, open seven thousand people conference, I have no intention to change the policy, nor do I want to reveal more problems to solve, but want to press my meaning, unified thinking, stabilize everyone, and then leap forward. I set the tone of the situation is very good, the most difficult has passed, forward to the new big development, shortcomings and mistakes vague past, we can only say that their own responsibility, can not be chased upward, only downward push. The General Assembly opened half a month, we feel flat, to say the words, did not say. I asked Liu Shaoqi according to the ‘written report’ to summarize, he let go of a speech, the meeting is almost done.”

Journalist: “In February 1962, the 7,000 people conference, you want to vague pass?

Mao: “Yes, seven thousand people conference, I do not want to reveal, want to follow my meaning, by a thought, stabilize everyone, and then to leap forward, and then raise the three red flags, instead of opening the ‘9th Congress,’ no election, no summary, the situation is good, the difficulties passed.”

Journalist: “Open the General Assembly, you want to go through the motions, perfunctory past, unified to your thinking?”

Mao: “Yes. But on January 27, 1962, Liu Shaoqi spoke, to my surprise, he left the ‘written report’ and spoke freely for three hours, saying that the situation was bad, the people did not eat enough food, not enough food, not enough meat and oil, not enough clothing, not enough, not enough, the Great Leap Forward did not go forward, but a lot of retreat. The reasons for the difficulties were 3 points of natural disasters, 7 points of man-made disasters, 3 red flags, 5 or 10 more years, and then sum up the experience. I heard him talk about the relationship between 1 finger and 9 fingers, not to be messed up everywhere, I immediately interjected: 1 finger and 9 fingers, there are many such areas. He retorted: the country in total up to speak, shortcomings and achievements, can not say 1 finger and 9 fingers of the relationship, you do not admit, people are not convinced.

I never dreamed that he dared to speak so recklessly, I suppressed my anger, the situation now, can not be hard with him.

I had to go along, pretending that there is no major disagreement with Liu Shaoqi, announced that the General Assembly extended, so that everyone out of anger, daytime anger, the night to watch the show. Behind the scenes I said ‘complete nonsense.’”

Journalist: “Liu Shaoqi released the gun, you can not stand, temporarily had to hold back?”

Mao: “Liu Shaoqi’s speech, like a flood opened the floodgates, aroused strong resonance, the provincial group discussions, the first to speak against the Great Leap Forward policy continued.

Liu Shaoqi said ‘30% of natural disasters, 70% of man-made disasters’, is 30 million lives forced out, is also his 44 days of investigation, came out. In fact, it is still narrowed. The so-called 3-year difficult period, in fact, is a normal year, there is no special natural disasters, local area sporadic disasters, a little bit every year, not related to the big picture. To say that natural disasters caused by natural disasters is completely fabricated, in fact, completely man-made disasters. Back in March 1959, I saw a briefing, someone in Shanxi said: ‘you have 10 fingers rotten, and still say 9 are good.’ Someone else said: ‘The Japanese are the three light policy, and communalization is the five light policy.’ I also saw a platoon leader in the Guangzhou military district say: ‘Communal labor is better than working for the landlord, and working for the landlord gets you food and money, and in May 1959, a student at the Party School in Jiangxi said: ‘The Great Leap Forward was blown up, and the communist wind was blown up from above. What a shot in the dark.’

Journalist: “You also know that Liu Shaoqi said 7 points of human misfortune, is narrowed. The following said you 10 fingers are rotten?”

Mao: “I will stand firm. I want Lin Biao to come out and speak. On January 29th, he delivered a speech at the conference, coming forward to support and fulfill my expectations. He emphasized that Mao Zedong Thought is always correct and that the difficulties arose because his instructions were not followed. He also talked about the occurrence of shortcomings as a form of tuition payment. He defended me, and I was the first to applaud, saying, ‘Comrade Lin Biao gave a very good speech.’ He saved me from danger, and I felt a great weight lifted off my shoulders.”

Journalist: “Did Lin Biao save you?”

Mao: “Yes. On January 30, I spoke for more than an hour, and also did some self-criticism, taking responsibility in a high profile, because I was the party chairman and had a part in everything. People sounded, bad things are done below, I vainly take a stand and take responsibility.

Chen Yun, I want him to speak at the General Assembly, he did not speak, I know he gave me face, do not want to speak and Liu Shaoqi words, in fact, he is with Liu Shaoqi all the way to the meaning. And do not want to speak against their will and Lin Biao’s live. He is to leave himself a way back.”

Journalist: “Lin Biao and you have spoken, how about the following?”

Mao: “After Lin Biao’s speech, a slogan ‘Overthrow Mao!’ was found at the venue. I got a report that the Hunan girl went to Beijing more than a year ago to write ‘Overthrow Mao!’ I could smell the smell of gunpowder from below. The following is on fire, I want to temporarily back off a little, to calm things down, not to pursue, strictly forbidden to spread, quietly end the matter.

Yang Dengguo, secretary of the county party committee in Henan Lushan, said: Lin Biao defended Chairman Mao, what to pay tuition, a lot of wrong things, all proposed by Chairman Mao. Lin Biao speaks in a frenzied manner and does not seek truth from facts. He such statements, representing the views of many people.”

Journalist: “The venue boldly appeared to knock down your slogan, you feel the atmosphere is serious?”

Mao: “Yes. Fortunately, on February 7, Zhou Enlai spoke a large, he helped me, saying that the more difficult it is, the more to the top of the helm, he this last speech, I the general situation stabilized, the meeting was adjourned. Near the end of the meeting, I deliberately took the initiative to the Secretariat, arranged to shout two hail, to test the attitude of each person to me. The end of the meeting really call two slogans: ‘Long live Chairman Mao!’, ‘Long live Chairman Liu!’ I noticed that shouting long live Chairman Liu was much more enthusiastic than shouting long live me. Shouting two long live is to show the unity of the party, both to appease the trauma of the ‘down with Mao’ slogan, and Liu Shaoqi prestige. I understand in my heart, the majority of the Secretariat agreed to Liu Shaoqi up, Liu himself does not deny shouting two long live, that is, agreed that everyone raised him up. Of course I do not like two long live, but the situation, had to temporarily endure, I only pretend to high posture, with a smile on his face, smiling, pulling Liu Shaoqi’s hand, to him wear a high hat said: I am 3 days without study, can not catch up with Liu Shaoqi, in short, the error in me, regardless of the direct indirect, and again, Shaoqi ah, you hear? Now it is two chairmen, two long live, very good, long live the heavy responsibility, you have picked up! I am sour and cannot help but stab him.

I this piece of play, and sour and spicy and flesh, words do not mean, helpless statement, I do not know what Liu Shaoqi listened to what feeling.”

Journalist: “The General Assembly shouted out two long live, you know your position is difficult to protect?”

Mao: “Yes, Deng Yingchao’s diary recorded the 7,000 People’s Assembly where many people suggested that I step down. Jiang Qing later revealed to others that I was filled with anger during the 7,000 People’s Assembly. The slogan incident left a deep impression on me. There was a strong undercurrent calling for my resignation. But I made it through without being ousted from the stage by the end of the assembly. I allowed them to focus on restoring production, but I couldn’t sit idle and wait for the difficulties to pass. Once the hardships were over, I would launch a counterattack.

After the General Assembly, February 12, 1962, I was in the Standing Committee, testing the attitudes of various people, deliberately proposed willing to obey the decision of the meeting, resignation of the President retired to conduct social surveys. Zhu De, Chen Yun, Deng Xiaoping honestly welcomed my resignation chairman, Zhou Enlai cunningly said: ‘the chairman temporarily retired from the Second Front, the chairman is still the chairman.’ Liu Shaoqi face a difficult look, but he agreed with Zhou’s opinion, which is the result of my pre-estimation. If Liu Zhou really dare to lopsidedly want me to step down, may give me the title of honorary chairman, I am not afraid, I still have considerable influence, I am ready to conspire with Lin Biao, in the army activities, waiting for the opportunity to launch a coup d’état to reclaim power.”

Journalist: “Zhou Enlai key vote to keep your chairman over the border to protect the position?”

Mao: “Yes.”

Journalist: “You caused more than 50 million people starved to death catastrophe, why not step down?

Mao: “The key is Liu Shaoqi and Zhou Enlai disagreement, no one to hang the command, that is, no one dares to oppose me. 3 years of famine, 1962 7,000 people conference, the participants posted ‘Down with Mao Zedong’ slogan, the conference closed shouting ‘long live Liu Shaoqi,’ is the only good opportunity to force me to step down, but Liu Shaoqi is a gentleman, not a rogue, he does not have the courage to get me down. Zhou Enlai also does not cooperate, Zhou protect me, let me retire to the Second Front to protect the position. ‘The chairman is still the chairman.’ I refused to vindicate Peng Dehuai, Liu Shaoqi also said, ‘Save people first, slow down some more.’ Liu is the cultivation method, the righteous gentleman can not fight the rogue, the rogue can fight the rogue, the rogue most important to grasp the military power, the gentleman grasp the party, the party is false, the army is the real. The key moment gun command party, I can order the soldier gangster to arrest the party officials, the gun said. I most like Liu Shaoqi does not touch the army, his military commission paid chairman is false, nerd, I grasp the army, grasp Lin Biao, the real power in my hands.

In 1961 my special train (mobile palace) stopped in Changsha, inadvertently found my special train bedroom is equipped with a bug, the transmission of my female escort to me: ‘Put on your pants, hurry up!’ Chased to Yang Shangkun, Liu Shaoqi, they review, and apologize.

1962.1. 7,000 people in the General Assembly, starving tens of millions of people, I said ‘share the blame,’ from top to bottom, everyone a share, Liu Shaoqi said ‘establish a monument,’ blood lessons, carved into inscriptions, erected in front of the gate of each county, up to Zhongnanhai gate. Liu, Deng, Zhu and Chen were afraid of my agents’ intelligence and did not dare to form an alliance; Zhou Enlai was ambiguous, and Lin Biao and I had military power.”

Journalist: “Why did Liu and Zhou disagree? Why not raise the flag before the great righteousness?”

Mao: “Liu – Zhou disagreement has a historical origin, on the qualifications, party merit, Zhou than Liu veteran, Liu is to promote me, I was raised to the number 2 person, in fact, Zhou ability qualifications than Liu, Liu, if Liu from the number 2 to the number 1, Zhou is not convinced, and Zhou Liu ‘cultivation’ confidence is not enough, Zhou prefer to follow my safety, not toss, Liu Zhou The other Zhu De, Chen Yun, Deng Xiaoping can not move, the lack of Peng Dehuai upright backbone no one dares to voice, so it can not shake my position of power.

Zhou does not have Liu’s people’s nature, he is the party above the people, tens of millions of lives can not shake his party, he does not have Peng Dehuai’s righteous backbone, he is a wall-riding faction, look at the winds of power to act, but he does not want to bend to Liu’s men, so Liu – Zhou can not make things happen. Look at the 7,000 people conference, Zhou spoke in the face of starvation tens of millions of people, he did not say a word of criticism me, but said “the more difficult, the more to rely on the top of the helm! He said at the critical moment whether to ask me to retire: ‘President is still the chairman, temporarily in the Second Front.’”

Journalist: “The summer of 1962 Chang Guan Lou incident Deng Tuo because of opposition to your suicide?

Mao: “In the summer of 1962, Beijing Municipal Committee Peng Zhen planning, led by Deng Tuo a spot of show, finishing my black material, ‘three red flags are black flags, Peng Dehuai not vindicated, the sky is not justified. ‘Not to stop the first word of the sky crazy, tragedy will repeat’ they engaged in the Beijing Zoo Changguan Building for two months, was Kang Sheng, Xie Fuzhi agent ears found, who dare to dare? In order to avoid leaking bad things, forced to retreat, all the documents collated destroyed, and it was over. Is the famous “’hang Guan Lou incident.’ Deng Tuo to the start of the Cultural Revolution in 1966, the first to die by suicide.

The Journalist: “starve to death tens of millions of people, but you repair the palace?

Mao: “Yes. 3 years of hard times, the provinces are to curry favor with me, in my indication of preference, for me to build a palace villa. June 1959 I returned to Shaoshan, said to Zhou Xiaozhou, secretary of the provincial party committee, for me to build “a few thatched huts” in Dishui Cave, Hunan within a few years, against the odds, completed at the end of 1962, the main building 3600 square meters, costing 120 million yuan. The main building was 3,600 square meters, costing 120 million yuan. 1 building was for me and my personal attendants to live, 2 building 24 rooms for the secretary and office staff, 3 building for the guard and reception office. In addition, we repaired the underground command headquarters which is earthquake proof, poison proof and atomic proof. After the completion of more than 100 people to guard and maintain, I came to live for the first time until June 1966, only a few days, I was very satisfied.

In Hunan, 2.5 million people died of starvation during 3 years of hardship. If I instructed to slow down the construction, put 120 million yuan to buy food account disaster, 2.5 million people will not starve to death. But I always do not care how many people died. More dead, there are still a lot left, so cover as usual.”

Journalist: “Famine, Liu Shaoqi and they are anxious to jump, but you seem to be in a state of shock, as stable as a mountain, as usual, special trains everywhere to play, as if nothing happened, and everywhere to repair the palace, spending unlimited.

Mao: “Yes, the most fundamental one is that I do not take the starvation of a few people seriously, from my mouth, is ‘a few people dead,’ never more than 10, starving tens of millions of people I know, my intelligence is very well informed, but I only say ‘a few people dead,’ in my eyes, the Tens of millions of people died, just a few people, there are a lot of Chinese people, at that time 600-700 million people, tens of millions of deaths, just a fraction, tens of millions of mouths gone, food consumption is less, not so nervous, so Liu Shaoqi they like to rescue disaster relief, save people first, I’ll drop the hand to let them go toss it, I’m happy to get away regardless of things, the country to play in the mountains to play women upgrade. As long as the military power in my hand, I have the power, nothing is afraid. If I take starving people seriously, 1959 will not be whole off Peng Dehuai, when starving people just started it.”

Journalist: “You are the more starving people, the more build a palace?”

Mao: “Yes, Shanghai Ke Qingshi for me to build the western suburbs of the hotel, known as the 414 project, even the garden covers an area of more than 1000 acres, the project is huge and luxurious, I went to live in 1962 for a few days, after more than 100 people guarded all year round.

There are more than 50 villas and palaces built for me throughout the country, all of which are more or less the same, and some of which I have not had time to live in. Only the symbolic meaning of offering to the emperor.

From the repair of the palace tide, my prestige has not decreased in the slightest, I am confident that I can turn over 7,000 people Assembly.”

Journalist: “3 years starvation 40 million dead, while you built 50 halls?”

Mao: “Yes, at the same time.”