We've already been instructed by Yang Kunru's public notice, and there is also a
telegram which is a little different from the above, from Liu Zhilu et al. to a
number of people: "Chief Executive Duan³ and all ministers and vice-ministers
in Beijing, Fengtian Inspector General Zhang Zuolin,⁴ Hunan Governor Zhao,
Wuhan Inspector General Xiao,⁵ Jiangxi Commander Fang,⁶ Fujian Commander
Zhou,⁷ Mr. Cen Xilin,⁸ Mr. Wu Ziyu,⁹ Mr. Kang Nanhai,¹⁰ and Mr. Liang
Rengong."¹¹ In discussing "their seventh crime," the telegram states: "The society of our country has always been known for emphasizing agriculture. Landlord
and tenant have always shared equally in the proceeds, in a spirit of mutual
assistance and natural harmony. Today, seduced by the theory of equal land
distribution, chaos is brought to the orderly system of mutual benefit." This
would seem to conflict with the statement of Yang Kunru. According to Yang
Kunru, "Three parts for the landlord, three for the state, three for oneself, and
one for public use." Everyone gets a little something, so this might be called
"mutual benefit." Liu Zhilu speaks, however, of "equal land distribution," meaning that the Guangzhou government has instructed the peasants to seize the land
from the landlords and distribute it equally, after which the landlords would
receive no rents, so that the "order based on mutual benefit is disrupted." One
says that the landlord receives three parts, the other says he receives nothing. I
wonder which of these two versions our friends in Beijing and elsewhere really
believe.

This text appeared in Zhengzhi zhoubao, No. 1, December 5, 1925. Our source is Mao
Zedong ji, Vol. 1, p. 115.
1. See the previous text.
2. Liu Zhilu, a military man born in Guangdong, had thrown in his lot with Chen
Jiongming. When Chen was defeated in 1925, he went north, and rallied to Wu Peifu.
3. Duan Qirui had become provisional chief executive of the Beijing government on
November 24, 1924, following the defeat of Wu Peifu and the removal of Cao Kun from
the presidency.
4. Zhang Zuolin had been appointed inspector general of the Three Eastern Provinces by Duan Qirui in September 1918.
5. Xiao Yaonan.
6. Fang Benren.
7. Zhou Yinren.
8. Cen Chunxuan (1861-1933), zi Yunjie, is here called Xilin after his native district
in Guangxi. A former high imperial official and rival of Yuan Shikai, he had become a
member of the directorate of Sun Yatsen's military government in Guangzhou in 1918
and succeeded Sun as its head. On the collapse of this régime in 1920, he retired from
public life.
9. Wu Peifu.
10. Kang Youwei.
11. Liang Qichao.