Dong Shijin was an agricultural economist from Sichuan. In 1924 he earned a Ph.D. in agricultural economics in the United States. He returned to China in 1925 and served as professor and dean at Peking University and Sichuan University, edited Modern Agriculture, and founded Daxin Farm. In the 1940s he helped initiate the founding of the China Democratic League and established the Chinese Peasants’ Party.

In December 1949 he wrote to Mao Zedong, urging him to stop land reform. Mao responded by launching criticism against him. In 1950 Dong fled to Hong Kong, and in 1957 went to the United States. After Mao’s death, he returned to China three times after 1979 to visit relatives and friends. He died of illness in the United States in 1984.

Dong Shijin was the only scholar in early New China who openly dared to oppose land reform. Liang Shuming spoke out for the suffering of peasants but did not oppose land reform. Mao had met Liang Shuming, and he also wished to meet Dong Shijin to question him about why he opposed it.

As Mao was thinking of Dong, Dong suddenly appeared before him.

Mao hurried forward to greet him and asked, “Who are you?”

Dong replied, “I am Dong Shijin, the one you wished to see.”

Mao asked, “Back then, how did you have such boldness to tell me to stop land reform?”

Dong said, “I acted out of public spirit. Based on more than twenty years of research on Chinese agriculture and land, I explained to you the harms of land reform and urged you to consider the nation’s interests and stop it immediately.”

Mao said, “I promoted land reform because landlords had acquired land through exploitation; it was a remnant of feudalism.”

Dong replied, “Farmland was often purchased by landlords through hard-earned savings. Even rickshaw pullers and maids saved money to buy land. It was not all acquired through exploitation.”

Mao said, “I deliberately created the theory of exploitation and hatred toward landlords so I could overthrow them. I wanted to eliminate the rural gentry and let the poorest peasants take power. Even hooligans and drifters were fine, as long as they obeyed me. That way I could rule.”

Dong said, “At the time I could not see your scheme. I was a bookish man speaking to you in good faith, explaining that such land redistribution would not help increase production or improve agriculture.”

Mao said, “I approached it from politics. First distribute land to poor peasants; soon after, collectivize it again, establish people’s communes, impose control, and pursue my communism.”

Dong said, “I knew it was a great risk to write to you. In 1949 you invited me to Beijing. I went in May and proposed to Zhou Enlai that my Peasants’ Party join the new Political Consultative Conference. Zhou ignored me and had Li Weihan criticize me as anti-Communist and anti–land reform, slandering the Peasants’ Party as a landlords’ party. I was forced to declare the cessation of its activities.”

Mao said, “Under such circumstances, you still dared to write to me against land reform?”

Dong replied, “Yes. I had nothing to hide. I printed several hundred copies and sent them to your central leaders, party heads, and academic institutions.”

Mao said, “It was useless to send hundreds of copies. I alone had the final say. At that time I was in Moscow meeting Stalin and discussing major affairs. I had no time to read your letter.”

Dong replied, “I understood. But I hoped others would persuade you. After you returned, in February and March 1950, you publicly criticized me. I felt a grave threat and fled quickly to Hong Kong. Fortunately I left in time. One step later, you would have closed the border and caught me.”

Mao said, “Yes, you were lucky to escape. Do you still have relatives in China?”

Dong replied, “Yes. My younger brother, Dong Shiguang, did not escape. In 1957 he was labeled a Rightist and in 1961 was persecuted to death. Had I not fled, my fate would have been the same.”

Mao said, “Yes, you were fortunate. Was life in America good?”

Dong replied, “Yes. I served as a professor of agriculture and continued to care about my homeland.”

Mao asked, “Did you later return to China?”

Dong said, “After your death, I returned in 1979 to visit relatives and friends. I was eighty years old then. I saw old friends Lu Dingyi and Hu Ziang. I returned again in 1981 and 1983, went back to my hometown in Sichuan, and visited farm workers.”

Mao said, “Your attachment to your homeland has not diminished. What do you think of China’s rural agriculture today?”

Dong replied, “The biggest problem is that peasants still do not truly own the land they till. The largest landlord remains the Communist Party. Farmers only contract the land; Party officials hold decision-making power. Local land finance is still controlled by the Party. Calling it public ownership still deceives the peasants.”

Mao said, “Yes. If the Communist system does not change, peasants remain slaves, and the slave master is the Party. You were China’s first expert on the ‘three rural issues.’ You saw through it all.”

Dong said, “You are the Communist Party’s greatest criminal. The peasants suffered terribly because of you—tens of millions died. Have you repented?”

Mao replied, “I am reflecting. Whether I am guilty awaits the judgment of the Jade Emperor.”

Dong said, “I will wait to see you publicly confess your crimes.”

With that, he turned and walked away.

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