Shi Yunfeng was a worker in Changchun. During the Cultural Revolution, in 1974, he posted big-character posters and distributed leaflets defending Liu Shaoqi, criticizing Jiang Qing and Wang Hongwen. He was arrested, imprisoned, and in 1976 sentenced to death by shooting. His mouth was stuffed with gauze and sewn shut; he was twenty-seven years old.

Upon hearing that the Jade Emperor was collecting evidence of Mao Zedong’s crimes to conduct a heavenly trial, Shi Yunfeng’s spirit immediately sought him out.

The Jade Emperor asked: “Who are you? What grievance brings you here?”

Shi Yunfeng said: “My name is Shi Yunfeng. I am innocent. I was killed by those enforcing Mao’s line. I am a wronged soul.”

The Jade Emperor asked: “Can you tell me the details?”

Shi Yunfeng said: “My birth name was Shi Zhengbao. From a young age, I read many revolutionary stories and books about martyrs. I admired Xu Yunfeng from Red Crag. In high school, I requested to change my name to Shi Yunfeng, wanting to live like a revolutionary martyr.”

The Jade Emperor said: “Your name shows you were resolute and stubborn. What happened after you graduated from high school?”

Yunfeng said: “In 1968, at eighteen, I was sent to the countryside to work. In 1970, I became a factory worker. The Cultural Revolution caused many chaotic events, which troubled me. I held my thoughts for a long time, then in 1974, I posted big-character posters and leaflets opposing the mistakes of the Cultural Revolution.”

The Jade Emperor asked: “Specifically, what did you oppose?”

Yunfeng said: “Here are some of my slogans: Liu Shaoqi’s reputation must be restored! Overthrow the violation of Party rules and the law against Chairman Liu Shaoqi! Broad cadres, party members, and workers mourn Chairman Liu! The Cultural Revolution is a wave of extreme-left excess!”

The Jade Emperor said: “Liu Shaoqi’s removal was decided at the 1969 Ninth Congress. How could you oppose it?”

Yunfeng said: “The Ninth Congress followed the tone of Mao’s 1966 ‘Bombard the Headquarters’ directive. Mao decided who would fall. Another slogan I wrote: Comrade Liu Shaoqi was schemed against by extreme-left forces and removed illegally. A historical injustice! Overthrowing Liu Shaoqi against Party rules and law was a conspiracy—first labeling, then toppling!”

The Jade Emperor said: “You correctly revealed that Mao dictated everything. Any other positions?”

Yunfeng said: “Two more slogans: Cadres illegally punished or removed on false charges must be restored. The Cultural Revolution paralyzed Party organizations, leaving them sidelined, punished, and persecuted. This was a severe anti-Party event—a coup and rebellion, putting villains in power and ruining the Party and the nation!”

The Jade Emperor said: “You accurately pointed out the disorder caused by Mao to remove Liu Shaoqi and promote rebels. Who else did you oppose?”

Yunfeng said: “I also opposed Jiang Qing. One slogan: Jiang Qing! Return the literary life of eight hundred million people, our national and traditional culture must be restored! One cannot deny seventeen years of cultural achievements!”

The Jade Emperor said: “Correct. Jiang Qing should not dominate only the model operas. She used them to consolidate her power. Did you oppose Mao?”

Yunfeng said: “I did not explicitly oppose Mao, but implied it. One slogan: The Party leader is still an ordinary member. Oppose personality cult! Oppose personal worship! The Communist Party should not have an emperor!”

The Jade Emperor said: “Your slogans revealed the truth: Mao acted as a ‘Party emperor.’ Who did you support?”

Yunfeng said: “I supported Zhou Enlai and Deng Xiaoping. One slogan: We trust Comrade Zhou Enlai! Wishing good health to Comrades Zhou Enlai and Deng Xiaoping!”

The Jade Emperor said: “You voiced the sentiments of the majority. What is your general view of the Cultural Revolution?”

Yunfeng said: “It was a reversal of progress, total chaos, production declined, elders suffered each year, yet Mao planned another movement eight years later. One slogan: An eight-year cycle of movements is a path to destroy the Party and the nation!”

The Jade Emperor said: “Your views are reasonable. Did you come to them yourself?”

Yunfeng said: “Many thought similarly inside and outside the Party. I merely had the courage to express it. My slogans and leaflets reflected public sentiment and the weariness of cadres with the Cultural Revolution.”

The Jade Emperor said: “Your writings were representative and influential. From the Party’s perspective, your death sentence was inevitable. You did not appeal?”

Yunfeng said: “When the verdict was read, I immediately opposed it and refused to sign, but two wardens forced me to sign. That night I dictated an appeal to fellow inmates, but it was ignored by the higher court. My mother also appealed, but only faced cold responses from officials.”

The Jade Emperor said: “Then you were executed with your mouth sealed?”

Yunfeng said: “Yes. They feared I would call out. They stuffed gauze in my mouth, anesthetized me, stitched my lips, tied me, immobilized me. I could not move or speak.”

The Jade Emperor said: “Truly cruel.”

Yunfeng said: “I left a few lines of poetry: Three mountains and five peaks bear witness, rivers and lakes observe, let Marx’s spirit in heaven see my heart!”

The Jade Emperor asked: “Were you eventually vindicated?”

Yunfeng said: “Yes, in 1980, fully vindicated. I was posthumously recognized as a Party member and revolutionary martyr, with calls for the province to study my example.”

The Jade Emperor said: “You truly became a revolutionary martyr like Xu Yunfeng wished. Any remaining grievances?”

Yunfeng said: “Basically none. Jiang Qing fell, but the personality cult, the ‘Party emperor,’ is unresolved. I supported Liu Shaoqi, opposed Mao, yet Liu remains unknown while Mao’s statues still stand in Tiananmen. Mao never confessed; his successors have not acknowledged guilt. Many cases remain unresolved. Victims cannot rest. This is not personal, it is national. Now, I await your judgment, Jade Emperor.”

The Jade Emperor said: “In the end, Mao is the culprit. I will deliver a just judgment.”

Shi Yunfeng received the Jade Emperor’s promise, said no more, and quietly took his leave.

NEXT: 112. Wang Shiwei (1906–1947)