Expel Zhangjingyao: Express Communique
(January 18,1920)4
To: Mr. Xiong Binsan, Mr. Fan Jingsheng, Mr. Guo Tongbo, and Mr. Liu Aitang
in Tianjin; Mr. Zhang Qiutong, Mr. Peng Yunyi,5 and Mr. Xu Fosu6 in Shanghai;
Mr. Tan Zu’an in Chenzhou; the Hunan Reconstruction Association of Shanghai;7 the
Hunan Fund-Raising Society of Beijing;8 the associations of Hunan students residing
in Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Hubei, Tianjin, and Guangdong; to the Union of All
Circles, to all societies of fellow provincials, and to all fellow Hunanese in all parts of
China, for their perusal.
Alas, our Hunan, ravaged by repeated wars for many years, presents a scene of
utter devastation. Since coming to Hunan last year, Zhang Jingyao has unleashed his
troops of hungry wolves, raping, burning, looting, and killing, and has given free rein to
his government, a fierce tiger that pillages, plunders, cheats, and exacts taxes. Public
lands, reclaimed paddies,9 mines, and textile
mills have been sold off, exhausting all the public property. Taxes have been raised
on rice, salt, paper, and land, wringing the people dry. By now, the rich have become
poor and the poor are dying, their stories of misery and destitution so bitter that one
cannot bear listening to them. The thieving Zhang brothers10 have each amassed tens
of millions, yet far from being satiated, they are now planning to seize for their private
4 Zhang Xiaomin, zi Shen’an, was editor-in-chief of the Changsha Minzhi ribao (People’s Rule
Daily). He later settled in America.
5 This date has been adopted instead of that given in the Mao Zedong ji (December 18, 1919),
because, as indicated in the Wengao (note 1, p. 657), many of the organizations referred to had not yet
been founded in December 1919. The Mao Zedong ji. Bujuan in fact prints it twice, once (Vol. 1, pp.
173–74) under December 18, 1919, and once (Vol. 9, pp. 89–90) under May 24, 1920, which is the date
it was reprinted in the Shanghai Minguo ribao (Republican Daily).
6 Peng Yunyi (1878–1943), zi Jingren, Hunanese educator, subsequently became minister of education in the Beijing government.
7 Xu Fosu (1879–1943), zi Yunkui, from Changsha, Hunan, studied in Japan. He was an early
associate of Liang Qichao, and an ardent advocate of constitutional government. While a political
councilor in the government of Yuan Shikai, he was instrumental in the overthrow of Yuan’s monarchical
movement. In September 1918 Xu was elected president of the New Parliament, and at this time was a
member of the northern delegation to the North-South Peace Conference. He retained ties with Hunan
and in 1920 was one of those who drafted the new Hunan provincial constitution which was adopted by
the Provisional Assembly. Subsequently, he devoted his energies to the promotion of a federal system
throughout the different provinces.
8 The Hunan Reconstruction Association (Hunan shanhouhui) of Shanghai was an anti-Zhang
organization set up by upper-class Hunanese in December 1918. It called for the removal of Zhang
Jingyao as a precondition for solving the problems of Hunan. It published the book A Brief Account of
Calamity in Hunan.
9 This Society was organized to raise funds for Hunan, and at this time its director was Xiong
Xiling.
10 Hutian, literally “lake paddies,” are low-lying rice paddies reclaimed from lakes, and surrounded
by dikes.

purses the only thing remaining, the public rice and salt fund. Last year, thief Zhang
instigated Li Mingjiu, a Hunan ruffian, and others to cable Beijing to inquire about
the fund, and in Changsha he set up a Rice and Salt Public Stock Inspection Office.
It is reported that he recently bribed Guo Renzhang11 and others, in the name of
the Association for Assisting Hunanese Travelers in Beijing,12 to inquire of Mr. Xiong
Binsan concerning this fund. There was no reason for this provocative action. Their
intention, as can be inferred, is none other than the seizure of all Hunan public property,
devouring the Hunan people in order to satisfy their avaricious greed. How can our
Hunan, which has suffered such terrible blows, and those who have survived this misery
be revived without this substantial amount of money? The public rice and salt fund
represents savings we 30 million people have put aside by enduring hunger and living
on simple food. It was not easy to come by, and will be very useful in many ways. Were
the money to be gobbled up, it would be very difficult to get it back. The thieving
Zhangs have long been ruthlessly and cruelly hurting us Hunanese. What is hard to
understand is why some people, who eat the same food grown from the same land with
us, would be so degenerate, would destroy the land of our parents, and serve as lackeys
to our hated foe. That a human being can fall so low! The citizens will never accept
this vicious conduct of Guo Renzhang and the others. In sum, until Bandit Zhang is
removed from office and the disturbances in Hunan resolved, there is no alternative
but to put this fund temporarily under the care of the Hunan gentry, where it must
not be touched. When social order is restored in Hunan, let the use of the money
be decided according to the will of the people of the whole province. If, during this
time, any shameless person should attempt to do otherwise, he shall be regarded as
a public enemy. All our people of Hunan must be conscious of defending ourselves;
relax our grip in the slightest and all is lost. Pray be vigilant! Respectfully submitted,
representatives of the citizens of Hunan: Luo Zonghan,13 Mao Zedong, Peng Huang,
Zhang Huai,14 He Shuheng,15 Kuang Rixiu;16 representatives of the teaching faculty
11 This is a reference to Zhang Jingyao and his brothers Jingshun, Jingyu, and Jingtang. The given
names of the brothers (Yao, Shun, Yu, and Tang) are those of the legendary sage kings of Chinese
antiquity. There was also an adopted son Jizhong; all were made officers in Zhang Jingyao’s army.
12 Guo Renzhang, zi Baosheng, was from Xiangtan, Hunan. While circuit intendant of Shanxi, he
had been dismissed on grounds of corruption. He was an influential member of the Hunan gentry who
had good connections with those in government and was once head of the Hunan Mining Bureau.
13 This Association was set up by Guo Renzhang and others in Beijing to protect Zhang Jingyao
and his position as governor of Hunan. It became known as the Protect-Zhang Clique (Bao Zhang tuan).
It was made up mostly of landlords in the pay of Zhang, and Anfu clique politicians.
14 Luo Zonghan (1896–1927), also known as Zhiyu, was born in Anhua, Hunan. He was a student
of Hunan First Normal School, and an active participant in the New People’s Study Society.
15 Zhang Huai (1896- ), also known as Boling, was a native of Changsha. He was a student of Hunan
First Normal School and an early member of the New People’s Study Society. In early 1920 he went to
Beijing as a member of the expel Zhang Jingyao delegation, and worked as a reporter for the People’s
News Agency. In May 1920 he went to France on the work-study program.
16 He Shuheng, also known as He Zhanggu. For details, see note to the text of February 19, 1920.