Fu Zuoyi commanded several hundred thousand troops. In 1949 he reached a peace agreement with Mao, making a great contribution to the peaceful liberation of Beijing. After the founding of the People’s Republic, he served continuously as Minister of Water Resources. His cousin Fu Zuogong starved to death in a Rightist labor reform camp in 1960, and his daughter also died lonely in her later years. More than forty years after Mao’s death, whenever Mao thought of Fu in hell, he felt a trace of fear in his heart—afraid that Fu might speak ill of him before the Jade Emperor and prevent him from escaping the Eighteen Levels of Hell. So he asked the Jade Emperor to summon Fu Zuoyi to meet him.

Upon seeing Fu Zuoyi, Mao spoke bluntly: “In 1949 you resolutely signed the peace agreement and peacefully resolved the handover of Beijing, avoiding major casualties on both sides and rendering great service. Yet your younger cousin starved to death in a labor reform camp in 1960, and your daughter, who also made contributions to the peaceful resolution, ended her life in loneliness. My conscience feels guilty.” As he spoke, he pretended to wipe his eyes.

Fu said: “When my cousin Fu Zuogong starved to death, I was indeed deeply grieved. At the beginning, I should not have repeatedly persuaded him to return to China to participate in water conservancy construction in Gansu. In 1957 his remarks did not accord with the authorities’ wishes. He was labeled a Rightist, dismissed from public office, sent to labor reeducation, and dispatched to the Jiabiangou labor reform farm. In 1960 he starved to death there.

“At the end of 1960, I deliberately joined an inspection delegation led by Minister of Supervision Qian Ying to Lanzhou to investigate the starvation of Rightists. From Lanzhou we went to the Jiabiangou farm. While listening to the report at the headquarters, I interjected: ‘Is there a Fu Zuogong here?’

“A section chief surnamed Lü from the education office said, ‘He may already be dead.’ I asked again, ‘May I ask where he is buried?’ The farm director, Liu Zhenning, then changed his words and evaded the issue: ‘I heard he may have run away.’ I could not restrain myself and said, ‘Is this how the Communist Party conducts affairs? Even when someone died under the Nationalists, there had to be a clear account. You say he ran away—why did he run? Where did he run to?’ Later I learned that in fact the bodies had been buried collectively and haphazardly, impossible to identify, and there was no way to give an explanation.”

Mao said: “Such things happened often, but for it to occur among your relatives was truly inexcusable.”

Fu said: “I was saddened by this for a long time. The bond between brothers—I deeply regret it and feel profound guilt. I should not have asked him to go to Gansu. The regret is irreparable. I never imagined that he, devoted to public service, would be treated as an enemy, dismissed from office, sent to labor reform, and starved to death on the barren wasteland.”

Mao said: “Yes, it is a profound lesson. Your daughter Fu Dongju once made significant contributions to the peaceful liberation. How was her situation?”

Fu said: “Her three daughters all settled in the United States. Her husband passed away earlier. She lived alone in Beijing. Her living conditions were adequate, but no one really cared for her, and she died in loneliness. The merit of peacefully liberating Beijing fifty years ago has been forgotten by everyone.”

Mao said: “I still remember that your daughter helped the Communist Party and persuaded you to make the decision to sign the peace agreement. She rendered great service and should be commemorated.”

Mao and Fu also recalled the events of the 1960s and 1970s, when they established contacts with Taiwan and discussed plans for peaceful reunification. Although everyone made efforts, nothing substantial came of it.

Finally, Fu said: “The suffering of my own relatives is still a small matter. During your thirty years of rule, the country suffered great disasters, and tens of millions died. You should thoroughly repent and confess your crimes to the people.”

Mao said: “Yes, I am doing so. I beg you to speak kindly of me before the Jade Emperor and ask him to pardon me. In the Eighteen Levels of Hell, I am truly suffering!” As he spoke, he again wiped his eyes in front of Fu Zuoyi. His old eyes strained for a long time, yet not a single tear could be squeezed out.

NEXT: 67. Fu Lianzhang (1894–1968)