Letter to Li Jiehou of Shaoshan, Hunan!
(November 17, 1949)

Source: Luxingjia, 2 (Feb. 22, 1958), 3-5.

Dear Mr. Jiehou:”

I have respectfully read your letter and feel deeply grateful for the profound
concern that you have expressed. I met my dear friend Genghou’ once in
1928 at Ninggang xian on the Hunan-Jiangxi border. He then led his troops
back to south Hunan, and we never met again. I’ve heard that he gave his life
for the cause; this seems plausible, but there has been no way by which I
could ascertain the date or place [of his martyrdom]. I hear that your father is
well; this is something for me to be happy about, and I pray that you will convey my regards to him.

I am writing this letter in haste, but let me wish you,

Good health and progress.

Mao Zedong
November 17, 1949

Notes

1. Shaoshan Village, Xiangtan xian, Hunan, is Mao’s native village.

2. Jiehou is Li’s personal name and not his family name. It is customary in Chinese usage to
address correspondence to friends by their personal names rather than their family names as a sign
of intimacy. The salutation, usually xiansheng (Mr.), is nevertheless retained.

3. The brother of the recipient of this letter. The father mentioned in this letter was Li Shuqing,
whose two sons, Genghou and Gonghou, and grandson Deshen all died in the War of Liberation
as Communist troops. He was a schoolteacher and in his youth Mao often turned to him for
advice. The Li family is obviously also from Mao’s native village, Shaoshan. Li Shuqing died in
1957.


VI LAVIN — WL vaN zy of ver