Chapter 62 Receiving 12 million Red Guards 1966

Journalist: “Did you receive an audience of 11 million Red Guards?”

Mao: “Yes, I received the Red Guards three times. Zhou Enlai said it was already close to 3 million people. There were difficulties in terms of food, accommodation, and transportation. After each large gathering, we had to collect dozens of truckloads of shoes, hats, and quotation books left behind. Many children were injured in the process. I told them not to report casualties to me. Three million was not enough; we needed at least 10 million. We wanted to create chaos, shout loudly, and stir up the whole nation. We wanted to break the established framework. In extraordinary times, violence is necessary, a great upheaval. Zhou Enlai obediently agreed, saying, ‘Alright, 10 million.’ As a result, by the end of November, there were eight large gatherings with 12 million people. It was already winter, and I was tired. Otherwise, I would have wanted to reach 20 million!”

Journalist: “So, in 1966, you had eight gatherings and received 12 million Red Guards?”

Mao: “Yes, from August to November 1966, I received and reviewed 12 million Red Guards from across the country in Beijing. They traveled for free, causing major disruptions in transportation. They were provided with free food and accommodation. The Red Guards were like the sparks of my revolution, charging forward everywhere. It was said that the crowds were so tightly packed that shoes left behind formed piles and countless items such as watches and miscellaneous objects were scattered on the ground, including gold watches and bars that were looted from raided homes. During the eight large gatherings, there were hundreds and thousands of trampling deaths and injuries. I have always believed that in revolution, there will be casualties. The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution was also a revolution. Receiving 12 million people with a few hundred deaths is not a significant number. Reports of these deaths never reached my desk. People accuse me of being inhumane towards the Red Guards, but when it comes to revolution, humanitarian concerns should be set aside. 12 million fell short of my goal of 20 million, but winter came, and I was exhausted. There were immense pressures from various aspects, so I stopped there.”

Journalist: “Wow, so you initially aimed to receive 20 million? The crowds were so packed that hundreds were trampled?”

Mao: “Yes, I received and reviewed millions of Red Guards, and there were some complicated and dangerous situations that arose. On October 1, 1966, the vehicle I was traveling in was surrounded by tens of thousands of Red Guards on West Chang’an Street. We were trapped in the sea of people and couldn’t move. In this urgent moment, Lin Biao got off the car and shouted, ‘I am the Minister of National Defense. Let our vehicle pass.’ But the Red Guards paid no attention and continued to surge towards me. The encirclement grew tighter, and the situation became uncontrollable. In this critical moment, the commander of the 3rd Guard Division acted smartly and quickly deployed a mobile unit to forcefully open a passage for us, thus freeing us from the encirclement.”

Journalist: “Wow, you were surrounded by tens of thousands of people, and the Red Guards were surging towards you. It was only with the help of a mobile unit that a passage was opened to free you?”

Mao: “Yes, on November 26, 1966, during my final car reception at Diaoyutai and the West Suburban Airport, I received and reviewed 1.85 million Red Guards. When the event was over, the roads were blocked by a tide-like wave of Red Guards, and my car couldn’t return to Zhongnanhai. We had no choice but to drive towards YUquan Mountain. However, the car was again surrounded at the foot of YUquan Mountain. The guards had no option but to ask me to get out of the car and walk into YUquan Mountain for rest. The dispersal of the crowd was chaotic this time, with a small bridge collapsing under the weight, resulting in the death of several individuals and many others being trampled or injured.”

Journalist: “Wow, the Red Guards blocked your way, and you couldn’t return to Zhongnanhai?”