Chapter 59 August meeting Lin Biao replacing Liu Shaoqi 1966

Journalist: “During the August Central Committee Plenum, did you have complete control?”

Mao: “In August 1966, during the first Central Committee meeting I attended after returning to Beijing, I wanted 50 representatives from the ‘revolutionary teachers and students’ faction, who were part of the rebel faction, to attend and create momentum. However, Liu Shaoqi disagreed, stating that some of them were not even party members, so how could they attend the Party Central Committee meeting? Nevertheless, I still had him preside over the meeting, using a feigned move with mysterious intentions. The rebel faction still attended the meeting and created momentum. The opening ceremony featured the performance of the song “Sailing the Great Sea Depends on the Helmsman,” replacing the previous national anthem. Zhou Enlai announced the meeting discipline, stating that no one was allowed to take leave or make private calls in the hotel where they were staying, and unauthorized communication was prohibited. The security was under the full authority of my First Squadron.”

Journalist: During the August meeting, did you and Liu Shaoqi clash? Did he say there are five things that he is not afraid of ‘Five Nos?’”

Mao: “Yes. From August 1st to 12th, 1966, the 11th Plenum of the 8th Central Committee was held in Beijing. There were 141 Central Committee members in attendance. I deliberately instructed the rebel faction to participate in the meeting and create pressure by demonstrating to the Central Committee members. This was an unprecedented practice within the Party. Prior to the meeting, I had already discussed it with Tao Zhu, Ye Jianying, and others. I referred to the Central Committee as a ‘two-headed snake’ with one head facing east and the other facing west. Before August, Liu Shaoqi was no longer allowed to distribute Central Committee documents, and it was changed to be done by Zhou Enlai. After August, when I returned to the frontline, the “two-headed snake” became a one-headed snake. The 11th Plenum was opened by Deng Xiaoping. Liu Shaoqi claimed responsibility for the work teams. I interrupted and criticized the work teams for suppressing the masses, stating that over 90% of the work teams had done more harm than good.

On August 4th, 1966, I chaired the meeting and stated that suppressing the students was a form of terror that originated from the central leadership. Liu Shaoqi interrupted and claimed that he was willing to take responsibility. I didn’t spare him and reproached him, saying, ‘You have been ruling in Beijing with an iron fist, and you’re good at it!’ Liu Shaoqi confronted me, saying, ‘It’s nothing more than stepping down. I’m not afraid to step down. I have the ‘Five Nos.’’ I responded, ‘There are demons and monsters among us, and they are present here.’”

Journalist: “Did you use student leaders to cause chaos?”

Mao: “Jiang Qing suggested that the five leaders from Beijing’s universities, including Nie Yuanzi and Kuai Dafu, should be utilized. I agreed and used them to cause chaos. I didn’t want the children of high-ranking officials to create disturbances.

Jiang Qing also proposed inviting dozens of revolutionary teachers and students to attend the Central Committee meeting and create pressure. I applauded and said, ‘Great! It’s amazing that she came up with this idea.’ Jiang Qing and I didn’t share personal matters, but we shared political matters. I trusted her, and it was good to have a political couple without others vying for her mother-in-law’s status, so she accepted it.”

Journalist: “Did you then publish the ‘Bombard the Headquarters’ big-character poster to target Liu Shaoqi?”

Mao: “Yes, on the evening of August 4th, 1966, the central leadership attending the plenum went to Tsinghua University to participate in a 20,000-person assembly to review the mistakes of the work teams and listen to speeches by nine students.

On August 5th, 1966, I wrote the “Bombard the Headquarters – My Big-Character Poster,” which allowed me to vent the resentment that had accumulated in my heart for many years. I had the staff members post it on the wall of the first cafeteria in Zhongnanhai. That evening, I told Jiang Qing, Wang Dongxing, and Zhang Yaoqi, ‘My big-character poster is a strategy, it’s a plot against the work teams, a plot against the ‘Three-In-One Combination’ and the ‘Three Selves and One Package.’ When I mentioned the ‘general backstage,’ they realized I was referring to Liu Shaoqi.”

Journalist: “Did your “Bombard the Headquarters” big-character poster cause an immediate uproar?”

Mao: “Yes, I convened a discussion with Kang Sheng, Jiang Qing, and seven others. I told them that there were two headquarters in Beijing, and we needed to use the Red Terror to defeat the White Terror. I wrote a letter to the Red Guards at Tsinghua University, instructing them to unleash their firepower. On August 5th, I personally posted my big-character poster, ‘Bombard the Headquarters,’ on the wall outside the high-ranking officials’ canteen in Zhongnanhai. The poster specifically targeted Liu Shaoqi. The news of the big-character poster spread to the meeting at the Western Suburb Guesthouse, causing a tremendous uproar. The following day, Chen Boda, Kang Sheng, Jiang Qing, Zhang Chunqiao, and others all posted their own big-character posters in support of mine. People attending the meeting no longer dared to greet Liu Shaoqi and Deng Xiaoping. On the same day, I summoned Lin Biao back to Beijing from Dalian. I wanted him to mobilize a massive campaign, with the backing of four million People’s Liberation Army soldiers. Who needs the Party Constitution? The Party Constitution is lifeless; it is the people who matter. Jiang Qing, who is not a member of the Central Committee, already wields more power than any member of the Politburo.”

Journalist: “Premier Zhou Enlai stood by your side. How did you arrange things?”

Mao: “On August 5th, 1966, I instructed Zhou Enlai to inform Liu Shaoqi not to meet with foreign dignitaries anymore and not to appear in public. On the same day, I released my big-character poster ‘Bombard the Headquarters’ to the entire plenum. After being attacked for the past two months, it was now my turn to strike back. I told Zhou Enlai, ‘Liu Shaoqi is no longer capable. I have observed him for 21 years and have become utterly disappointed. What should we do to remove Liu Shaoqi?’ Zhou responded, ‘Then there’s only Lin Biao.’ I nodded and said, ‘Good, bring Lin Biao to Beijing.’”

Journalist: So, you wanted Lin Biao to replace Liu Shaoqi in Beijing?

Mao: “Yes, Lin Biao was recuperating in Dalian. I instructed them to inform him about the contents of my big-character poster and insisted that he must come. On August 8th, 1966, Wu Faxian sent a plane to pick up Lin Biao. The plane landed at the Western Suburb Airport, where Zhou Enlai and Wang Dongxing boarded the plane and had a conversation with Lin Biao for over half an hour. Lin Biao came to see me, and I told him, ‘The situation is changing rapidly, and we have encountered such a significant problem that you must return to attend the meeting.’ He said his health was not good and he couldn’t handle the responsibility. I scolded him, saying, ‘Do you want to be like Emperor Jiajing of the Ming Dynasty, who believed in Taoism and ignored political affairs?’ That evening, Lin Biao met with the Central Cultural Revolution Group and expressed firm support for me, insisting on creating a massive uproar that would turn the world upside down.

On August 6th, 1966, Zhou Enlai approached me to discuss the list of leaders, and I finalized the appointment of eleven members of the Standing Committee. When Jiang Qing saw the ranking, she said, ‘Deng Xiaoping has made mistakes, so how can he still be ranked fourth?’ She also said that Tao Zhu was formidable and should be ranked higher. I agreed to her suggestions, and as a result, Tao Zhu was ranked fourth, Chen Boda fifth, and Deng Xiaoping sixth.”

Journalist: “Oh, so the lineup of the 11-member Standing Committee was decided by you and Jiang Qing?”

Mao: “Yes, on August 12, 1966, Lin Biao chaired the final meeting and conducted the election for the Standing Committee and the Political Bureau. Liu Shaoqi’s ranking dropped to eighth place. Lin Biao became the only Vice Chairman. Zhou Enlai and Ye Jianying praised Lin Biao in their speeches. After the 11th Plenum, Lin Biao resided in Maojiawan, and I instructed the Central Guard Regiment to reinforce the original Guard Bureau of the Military Commission for joint security. Lin Biao was sensitive and realized my concerns. After August, he tried to minimize his involvement and refrained from expressing his opinions. The day-to-day work of the central government was led by Zhou Enlai.”

Journalist: “So, Lin Biao became the sole Vice Chairman? Did Liu Shaoqi still hold the title of Standing Committee member in formality?”

Mao: “Yes. At the same time, I incited the Red Guards and the August storm swept in. On August 17, 1966, an art teacher from Beijing 101 Middle School was beaten to death, and over ten teachers were forced to crawl on a road covered in coal cinders.
On August 18, there was a million-strong rally at Tiananmen Square. It was the first time I wore a military uniform and reviewed hundreds of thousands of Red Guards. A female student from Beijing Normal University High School, Song Binbin, presented a Red Guard armband to me, and I instructed her to wear it on her left arm. I asked for her name, and she said it was ‘Bin’ from ‘Wen Zhi Bin Bin’ (gentle and refined). I told her to be more militant, so she changed her name to Song Yaowu (‘Yaowu’ means martial spirit). The high school also changed its name to ‘Red Yaowu High School.’ I became the ‘Red Commander’ of the Red Guards, and their violence escalated.”

Journalist: “Oh, so you openly advocated for militancy and instigated violence among the Red Guards?”

Mao: “Yes. On August 18, 1966, I invited five student leaders from Beijing: Nie Yuanzi from Peking University, Kuai Dafu from Tsinghua University, Wang Dabin from the University of Geosciences, Tan Houlan from Beijing Normal University, and Han Aijing from Beihang University, to the Tiananmen Gate Tower. I also arranged for 1,500 representatives of the Red Guards to be seated in the grandstand.

On August 22, 1966, I instructed the Ministry of Public Security to issue a notice prohibiting the police from interfering in the actions of the Red Guards.

On August 23, 1966, during a central meeting, I said, ‘Beijing is not chaotic enough; it’s too civilized.’”

Journalist: “Did you also manipulate Lin Biao?”

Mao: “Yes, I used him while remaining cautious and keeping a backup plan. I had Wang Dongxing send a security secretary to work at Maojiawan, but he was sent back. Wang then sought my guidance again, and I instructed that the security secretary should work on the top floor of the building across from Maojiawan to monitor Lin Biao’s activities. I also asked Zhou Enlai if he frequently visited Maojiawan.”

Journalist: “You want the tripod to be well manipulated?

Mao: “Yes, I want them to be three-legged, and I will control from the top. The three legs of the West Flower Hall, Maojiawan and Diaoyutai.
Jiang Qing also keeps my situation well manipulated, she asked Zhang Yufeng to record how many times a week I had sex, how long it lasted, to measure my physical condition, and to influence the political situation.”