Ding Ling was a renowned modern Chinese woman writer. She became famous in the 1920s for Miss Sophie’s Diary. In the 1930s she went to Yan’an and became Mao’s confidante. Mao personally wrote poems for her, and they spoke about everything. In 1951 Mao recommended that she write the long novel The Sun Shines over the Sanggan River about rural land reform; it won the Stalin Prize. In 1956, out of political necessity, Mao labeled Ding Ling anti-Party and a Rightist, subjecting her to wrongful imprisonment and twenty years of exile. After Mao’s death, whenever he thought of Ding Ling, he still felt guilty and wished to apologize to her in person. The Jade Emperor approved and arranged their meeting. They met, shook hands, and exchanged greetings.

Mao said to Ding Ling, “In 1956 I labeled you anti-Party and a Rightist, caused you to suffer wrongful imprisonment and twenty years of exile. You endured great hardship. Thinking of it now, I feel deeply guilty. Zhou Yang took the lead in dealing with you, but the directive came from me.”

Ding replied, “I understand you very well. I have seen through you. Circumstances changed. I was no longer the Ding Ling of Yan’an, when you called me your ‘imperial concubine’ and treated me as a confidante. I was already in my fifties. You had political needs. You had to completely destroy the early image of me as free and independent in readers’ minds, to discredit me, even to label me anti-Party and imprison me. I could only silently endure the torment. My second half of life was finished. I joined the revolution with passion. People later commented that the revolution devours its own children—I was devoured like that.”

Mao said, “I recommended The Sun Shines over the Sanggan River for the Stalin Prize. That was the highest honor and greatest reward for you.”

Ding said, “Of course I thank you. I wrote that novel in accordance with your instructions. It was a commissioned work, following your literary line, praising the rural revolution. Though it won the Stalin Prize, it could not compare with the emotional power of Miss Sophie’s Diary, nor could it leave as deep an impression on readers.”

Mao said, “Yes, it was written on command. When you first arrived in Yan’an, I invited you to dinner. Your revolutionary enthusiasm and literary grace moved me deeply. I personally wrote a poem for you. Before the founding of the state, you were the only woman outside my marriage to whom I dedicated a poem.”

Ding replied, “I am grateful. You sent that poem by telegram, but I did not receive it. When I returned to Yan’an, you rewrote it for me. Your poem is still circulated.”

Mao said, “You often came to my cave dwelling in Yan’an. We talked about everything.”

Ding answered, “Yes, I remember often going to your residence. Each time you would copy your own poems, or poems you admired, in brush calligraphy for me. Once you suddenly asked me, ‘Ding Ling, don’t you think our Yan’an now resembles a small court in a corner of the country?’ I knew you were joking and replied, ‘I don’t think so—we don’t have civil and military officials!’ You said, ‘That’s easy enough!’ You pushed brush and paper toward me and said, ‘Come, make a list. I’ll appoint the officials.’ I didn’t make a list, only named people casually. You wrote their names and assigned them titles—Grand Censor, Minister of Personnel, Minister of War, Chancellor, Grand Tutor, and so on. After that, you suddenly said, ‘Now that we have civil and military officials, since it’s a court, large or small, we must also have the Three Palaces and Six Courtyards! Come, name some more, and I’ll confer titles.’ When I heard that, I understood what you were thinking. I knew you were the Party leader, but also a man. I stood up immediately and said, ‘I wouldn’t dare! If Sister He Zizhen found out, she would surely beat me.’”

Mao said, “Talking about the Three Palaces and Six Courtyards in a Yan’an cave was indeed rustic. In Beijing it became reality. Though not formally structured, all the art troupes were at call—more flexible and free. Jiang Qing was set aside so she wouldn’t be jealous. That’s called ‘the red flag at home never falls, while colored flags flutter outside.’”

Ding said, “Yes, in Beijing you had living Three Palaces and Six Courtyards. When I met you in Yan’an, a fellow from my home province, I was especially excited. Your appreciation moved me deeply.”

Mao said, “I liked you as a fellow provincial. Yan’an also needed you to enhance its reputation. You wanted to be a Red Army member; I gave you a high military post.”

Ding replied, “Becoming a Red Army member was my revolutionary passion and romantic sentiment. Deep down, I still wanted to write.”

Mao said, “I know you could have stayed in Shanghai or Beijing, writing and living comfortably. Coming to Yan’an made you suffer. I respected you greatly. When I married Jiang Qing in 1938, I specially invited you to the banquet.”

Ding said, “Unfortunately I didn’t receive the invitation. Outsiders said I resisted Jiang Qing, but in fact I respected your decision.”

Mao said, “I know you respected me. After the founding of the state, I even visited you at the Summer Palace. You were writing there, and we rowed together on Kunming Lake.”

Ding said, “I knew you still thought of me. I was moved.”

Mao continued, “But in 1956, after dealing with Hu Feng, in order to further strike at free and independent intellectuals, I decided to deal with you as well. Your influence was great. Miss Sophie’s Diary and ‘Thoughts on March 8’ could not be uprooted; they would leave endless trouble. I knew in your bones you could not become a docile tool, which did not suit my political needs. So I had to cast you out and discredit you. That way the intellectuals would submit to me.”

Ding said, “I had already surrendered to you and agreed to make further self-criticisms, but you still would not spare me.”

Mao said, “When I judge people and history, I look at the root. In Yan’an and the early years of the state, you could be used temporarily. After that, you were obsolete. I had to move forward and could not cling to the past. I had no choice but to abandon you.”

Ding said, “After your death, in 1977, I was released and returned to Beijing. In my heart your tiger-like authority still lingered. I could only say: no matter how you treated me, my feelings for you remained deep. You skimmed the water like a dragonfly and then forgot me. I could not detach myself. I still remember your poem to me, ‘Linjiang Immortal’:

‘On the wall red flags glow in the setting sun,
The west wind sweeps the lonely town.
Baoyuan’s figures are newly gathered.
In the cave a banquet opens
To welcome one released from prison.
With slender brush who can compare?
Three thousand Mauser troops.
Battle arrays spread toward Long Mountain.
Yesterday Miss Wen,
Today a general.’”

Mao said, “That was the only poem I wrote for a writer. Rare that you still keep it in your heart.” He moved closer, hoping to revive old feelings. Seeing no response from Ding Ling, he added, “After you came out, already over seventy, did you still write?”

Ding replied, “I was tormented for twenty years. Fortunately I did not nearly collapse mentally like Hu Feng, but I lost my sharpness and intellectual brilliance. Though I wrote a little in fragments, I no longer had influence. I had been remolded by you—no trace of the old Ding Ling remained. I could no longer move people or give readers new excitement. The former Sophie was already dead.”

Mao said, “I intended for Sophie to die completely—to eliminate free and independent individuality. Sophie was incompatible with communism. Your ‘Thoughts on March 8,’ lamenting that young and beautiful revolutionary women became mere vases for leaders, was also incompatible with my imperial autocracy. It had to be eradicated.”

Ding said, “You crushed me. I sacrificed myself for your imperial dream. Yet I remain magnanimous—without resentment or regret.”

Mao asked, “Do you still have any regrets now?”

Ding replied, “My regret is that you have not publicly repented. Your successors still follow your methods. But I am glad that after your death China has been changing; individuals are moving toward freedom and independence. Miss Sophie’s Diary and ‘Thoughts on March 8’ still retain historical significance.”

Mao perfunctorily said, “I am continuing to reflect and repent. I hope that before long I will receive the Jade Emperor’s forgiveness. My apology to you today will be part of my future repentance. I hope you will not bear grudges, nor speak ill of me before the Jade Emperor’s judgment seat.”

Ding said, “I will watch your actions and see how you publicly repent.”

Mao felt that their reminiscence had been frank and sufficient. He rose to take his leave and bade Ding Ling farewell.

NEXT: 71. Xiao Zisheng (1894–1976)