To Li Jinxi

(March 12, 1920)

Mr. Shaoxi:

I am sending you two copies of the “Conditions for the Reconstruction of Hunan.” There are many points that still require considerable deliberation. I do not really understand how our Hunan should ultimately be reformed. Moreover, Hunan is a province within China, and unless the overall situation changes in the future — its status becoming like an American “state” or a German “Land” — it will not be easy for it to have independent initiatives. Furthermore, judging from China’s present overall situation, anyone with a modicum of awareness should proceed, just as you have said, from a “fundamental solution,” and can simply turn a deaf ear and a blind eye to the good or evil of the current state of affairs, leaving them to live or die on their own. To go begging for scraps of lean meat from the tiger’s mouth in such a piecemeal fashion — even if one could assert that it “can be done,” when it comes to the benefit gained, it is, after all, never of any great magnitude. — However, this time we have already mounted the tiger’s back; if we were to refuse even this single measure — a “second-rate goods” that is actually “first-rate goods” within China’s present situation — it would feel too mortifying.

You, sir, are one who understands Hunan’s affairs very clearly. I respectfully request that you weigh and consider each article, or make additions, deletions, and amendments, and enlighten me so that I may bring them to Shanghai to proceed with action. I would be immensely grateful.

Your fellow countryman, Mao Zedong

March 12, 1920

[1] Shaoxi, namely Li Jinxi.

Attachment: Deliberations on the Conditions for the Reconstruction of Hunan [1]

(I) Military Administration

(1) Abolish the “Military Governor” and establish an office of “Military Affairs Superintendent” stationed in Yueyang.

(2) The army shall be capped at one division, stationed separately in Yueyang, Changde, and Hengyang. Public security in the provincial capital shall be maintained by the police subordinate to the Provincial Governor, with absolutely no troops stationed there. Public security in each county shall be maintained by the police subordinate to the County Magistrate, abolishing the titles of Peace Preservation Corps and Garrison Commander.

(3) The total amount of military expenditure shall at most not exceed one-twelfth of the total provincial revenue.

(II) Finance

(1) Banks shall be run by the people. The reserve funds for banknotes issued by banks shall be held under the supervision of the Provincial Assembly. The ratio between the amount of reserve funds and the amount of banknotes issued shall be determined by the Provincial Assembly.

(2) Introduce inheritance tax, income tax, and business tax. Reduce the salt tax. Abolish the various harsh new taxes added in the past two years.

(3) The “Hunan No. 1 Textile Mill” shall be run by the people.

(III) Educational Funds

(1) Restore the original amount of educational funds from the 2nd year of the Republic [1913], with timely increases thereafter.

(2) Identify the source of funding.

(3) Custody shall belong to the “Educational Funds Custody Office” organized by the various provincial-level schools.

(IV) Self-Governance

(1) Restore and establish autonomous organs in counties, towns, and villages.

(2) Establish and recognize workers’ unions in counties, towns, and villages.

[1] The attachment comprises 2 pages. At the upper left of page 2, the comment marked and circled in the margin — “Points of doubt, or perhaps I shall visit your esteemed residence the evening of the day after tomorrow to seek your advice” — is in Mao Zedong’s handwriting. The small black dots and horizontal lines in the text were also added by Mao. “Deliberations on the Conditions for the Reconstruction of Hunan” was published in the Shanghai newspaper Shen Bao on June 14, 1920.

(3) Establish and recognize farmers’ associations in counties, towns, and villages.

(V) Fully guarantee the freedom of assembly, association, speech, and the press for the people.

(VI) Promote the swiftest possible completion of the Hunan section of the Guangzhou–Hankou Railway.

Submitted by the Hunan Reconstruction Promotion Association.

Correspondence Address: Peng Huang, c/o the All-China Federation of All Circles, Yongle Li, Ba Xian Qiao, Shanghai French Concession.

Points of doubt, or perhaps I shall visit your esteemed residence the evening of the day after tomorrow to seek your advice.