Chapter 99 I have a strange and terminal decease 1974

Journalist: “What illness did you have in your later years?”

Mao: “In 1974, several authoritative doctors conducted a consultation and diagnosed me with an extremely rare ‘movement and cerebral nerve’ disease. The doctors said that this disease only occurs in individuals who excessively use their nerves and have been under extreme tension for a prolonged period. It is an incurable disease, and the medical consensus was that I had at most two years to live. They didn’t inform me about the two-year time frame, but I already sensed the seriousness of my condition. For decades, I exhausted my brain, constantly thinking and struggling against others, with my nerves never getting a moment’s relaxation. I suffered from severe insomnia, relying on high doses of powerful sleeping pills to fall asleep, which further damaged my nerves. This peculiar disease I contracted was retribution from heaven. Heaven told me that my time had come, and I was nearing the end.”

Journalist: “What were the symptoms of your body in the last two years?”

Mao: “My eyesight was partially lost, almost blind. I couldn’t read documents; someone had to read them to me. I had a brief period of surgery that restored my vision. My speech became impaired; I spoke intermittently, unclearly, and others couldn’t understand me. Only Zhang Yufeng could guess my meaning and connect the dots, serving as my highest directive. My hands trembled, and I couldn’t write or hold chopsticks to eat; I had to open my mouth and have someone feed me.”

Journalist: “Your body was in a critical condition, unable to control itself, yet you still controlled a population of 800 million. You were trembling but firmly held the reins of the country. Have you ever considered handing over power? Wouldn’t it be good to relax and rest after passing the baton?”

Mao: “I have never had the thought of handing over power. I am resolute in my belief that as long as I am alive and have breath, I will continue to hold power. While I am alive, I will never hand over power to anyone. I only trust myself and no one else. Only when I die, when I am powerless, will I have no choice but to let go of politics.”