Chapter 37 Recapturing the Class Struggle 1962

Journalist: “you again blow class struggle, counterattack Liu Shaoqi?

Mao: “September 1962 Beidaihe meeting, scheduled to discuss economic restructuring and recovery, I launched a surprise attack alone, talking about class struggle, completely reversed the direction of the meeting, a large number of Deng Zihui, Xi Zhongxun right-leaning opportunism (Liu Zhidan novel), Liu Shaoqi they do not argue with me, led by my nose. From seven thousand people from the General Assembly but six months, I will be a major counter-attack to gain momentum, from then on I do not talk about the three red flags, that is to talk about the economy, the Great Leap Forward, now I talk about politics, class struggle, Marx and Lenin big hat on the cover, no one dares to argue.

I could see that Liu Shaoqi and the others had the heart to oppose me, but not the guts to oppose me, and they could only sacrifice their subordinates to protect themselves and bend down and do as they were told.

In 1963, Lin Biao saw that it would be good for him to mention me as his successor (second in command), so he talked about learning from Mao, making up small quotations, and being a good student of Mao, so that Mao and Lin would both benefit.”

Journalist: “August 1962 Beidaihe meeting, how dare you launch a counter-attack?”

Mao: “I observed Liu Shaoqi they have nothing to do with me, during the famine even around the big repair my palace are not opposed, not to stop, I expect they dare not say ‘no’ to me, I estimate that the counter-attack will win, so I will split the head to launch a surprise attack, completely change the direction of the meeting, first Deng Zihui, Xi Zhongxun open knife to fight down, and indeed no one dare to say said ‘no.’”

Journalist: “You launched a surprise attack at the Beidaihe meeting in August 1962?”

Mao: “Yes, at the beginning of the call for the vindication of Peng Dehuai is very high, Peng wrote a complaint of 80,000 words, righteous. The three-year famine killed tens of millions of people, indicating that the Great Leap Forward, the three red flags were indeed wrong. I faced the calls for reversal and vindication, single-handedly, in a surprise attack, reintroducing the old class struggle tune, starting with the fight against Deng Zihui and Xi Zhongxun, to suppress the calls for vindication of Peng Dehuai, completely reversing the direction of the meeting.

The novel ‘Liu Zhidan’ was denounced by me as anti-party and anti-me. The ‘East is Red’ was first sung in praise of Liu Zhidan, not me. I was most disgusted by Liu Zhidan, who was actually killed by me in 1939.”

Journalist: “You launched a surprise attack at the Beidaihe Conference, talking about class struggle, how did it happen?”

Mao: “July 25 to August 24, 1962 Beidaihe meeting, the central leadership and the provinces in charge of 167 people attended the meeting, the meeting was held for a month, no summary. Transferred to Beijing to open the 8th Plenary Session of the 10th Central Committee, held from August 26 to September 27, 1962, three to four hundred people attended, continuing the agenda of the Beidaihe Conference. The two meetings were held for a total of two months. It was only six months after the 7,000-member conference in early 1962.

The North Sea Conference was extremely important, serving as a milestone and a turning point for my counteroffensive against the 7,000 People’s Assembly. The original theme of the conference was to address economic adjustments. However, during the meeting, I suddenly emphasized class struggle, launching a surprise attack and deviating from the main topic to focus on political matters. I harshly criticized the ‘dark wind,’ ‘individualistic tendencies,’ and the ‘reversal of verdict trend,’ completely altering the course of the conference.

Journalist: “You’re really fast! Half a year on the counter-attack, the economy is not talking about, empty-headed big talk about class struggle?”

Mao: “I said that in these two years, only talk about darkness, not light, talk about darkness is legal, talk about light is not legal. I scolded those “moderates”, lost the way, lost faith, you oppressed me for two and a half years, I also oppress you back. I want to take control of the whole situation again. I said there is still class struggle in 10,000 years, I deliberately tighten the atmosphere, creating class enemies. I said the package single, the peasants if too picky, the revolution is necessary to revolutionize him, I do not hesitate to make enemies with the people, the capitalist evil wind, is to fight down, the Communist Party to share the land? Chen Yun said what international song, all by themselves, is to do it alone. Deng Xiaoping said yellow cat black cat, catch the mouse is a good cat, is not engaged in capitalism? Can not listen to the peasants, the package to the household just can not listen. Yugoslavia has deteriorated, the Soviet Union has degenerated, China also engaged in revisionism? I say, the class struggle should be talked about year after year, month after month, every day, at meetings.”

Journalist: “You take the class struggle to press everyone, Marxist-Leninist phase good god?”

Mao: “Yes, in a fiery and forceful manner, with my speech and criticism, the situation swiftly changed, and no one dared to resist. After my speech, Shanghai’s Ke Qingshi specifically criticized Tao Zhu for implementing the Household Responsibility System, but Zhou Enlai defended Tao Zhu, stating that the system implemented by Tao Zhu was different from the one advocated by Deng Zihui. I immediately removed Deng Zihui from his position, even dismantling his right-leaning clique within the Ministry of Rural Work. Chen Yun, Deng Zihui, and Tian Jiaying all began self-criticisms. Deng Xiaoping hurriedly called the Beijing newspaper to retract his ‘whether the cat is black or yellow’ statement.”

Journalist: “When you waved that big Marxist-Leninist stick, no one bowed down?”

Mao: “Yes, I took advantage of the momentum to criticize Peng Dehuai reversal of the wind, he sent 80,000 words of representation. I also criticized the novel ‘Liu Zhidan’ for Gao Gang’s case, Xi Zhongxun, Jia Tuofu, etc. as ‘anti-party group.’ I flattened the hills in the northwest.

I failed in the economic Great Leap Forward and wanted to win back politically. I no longer emphasized the general line, the Great Leap Forward, but the ‘basic line’ of class struggle. This basic line was even more powerful than the general line, politically and generally, it covered the whole situation and prevented the restoration of capitalism. From then on, I put the 7,000 people conference in the back of my mind, and turned to the defensive. Liu Shaoqi and the others could only be passive and at my mercy. They only weak table allegiance, more increase my hunting fighting spirit, I am like a beast of prey tracking.”

Journalist: “Your class struggle, more powerful than the three red flags, the three red flags are economic, now it is political, overwhelming?”

Mao: “Yes, a big grasp of the class struggle, I want to release the wolf dog out of the scene, Jiang Qing at the end of September 1962, officially entered the political circle, in charge of the cultural sector. Her unconditional allegiance to me, to retain the status of the wife of the President.

In the midst of the fishy class struggle, at the end of 1962, I got Zhang Yufeng on a special train, she was 18 years old, I especially liked her, she melted my 70-year-old heart.”

Journalist: “Why did you send troops to fight India in October 1962?”

Mao: “I launched a limited attack against India and then withdrew in order to enhance my prestige. In the 1962, a 7,000 People’s Assembly, I was humiliated and almost completely marginalized. I was forced to step back from the forefront. I went into seclusion for half a year and then focused on emphasizing and intensifying class struggle internally. Externally, I engaged in the conflict with India to elevate my position and restore my reputation, without concerning myself with the gains or losses on the battlefield.”