This article reflects the initial stage when feudalism replaced slavery, characterized by a continuous redistribution of property and power within the landlord class. This ongoing process is encapsulated in the saying, “The blessings of a noble person last only five generations.” We do not represent the exploiting classes; rather, we stand for the proletariat and the working people. However, if we fail to set strict standards for our children, they too may degenerate and even attempt a bourgeois restoration, thereby allowing the bourgeoisie to reclaim the proletariat’s wealth and power.

(Note: This important speech by the Chairman was conveyed by Comrade Jiang Qing at the Expanded Meeting of the Central Military Commission on April 12, 1967.)

Appendix: The Original Text of “Cuo Zhi Persuades Lady Zhao” (Strategies of the Warring States, Zhao Chapter IV)

Lady Zhao had just assumed power. The state of Qin launched a fierce attack. The Zhao clan appealed to Qi for aid. Qi replied, “You must send Prince Chang’an as a hostage before we will dispatch troops.” The lady refused, and her ministers strongly urged her to comply. In a stern tone, she declared to those around her, “Anyone who again suggests sending Prince Chang’an as a hostage—this old woman will spit in his face!”

The minister Cuo Zhi requested an audience with the lady. She received him in a towering rage. He entered slowly, approached with measured steps, and after reaching her side, humbly apologized, saying, “Your servant is afflicted with a foot ailment and cannot walk swiftly; it has been a long time since I last had the honor of seeing you. I beg your pardon. Fearing that Your Majesty might be unwell, I have come to pay my respects.” The lady replied, “I rely on a palanquin to get about.” Cuo Zhi asked, “Do you still enjoy your meals and drinks?” She answered, “Only congee.” He continued, “These days, I myself have little appetite. Yet I force myself to walk three or four li each day, gradually regaining my strength and finding some measure of comfort in it.” The lady remarked, “That is beyond me,” and her expression softened slightly.

The minister then said, “Among my sons, Shuqi is the youngest and least favored. Nevertheless, as I grow older, I feel a deep affection for him. I would like to request that he be assigned to guard the royal palace among the black-clad guards. Though I may die in the attempt, I wish to present this petition.” The lady agreed, saying, “Very well. How old is he?” Cuo Zhi replied, “Fifteen years old. Although young, I hope to secure his future before I am gone.” She asked, “Do men also cherish their youngest sons as much as women do?” He answered, “Indeed, more so than women.” The lady laughed and remarked, “How different women are!” Cuo Zhi went on to say, “In my humble opinion, your love for Princess Yan far surpasses your affection for Prince Chang’an.” She retorted, “You are mistaken. My regard for Chang’an is much stronger.” The minister persisted, “When parents truly love their children, they think long-term. Consider how you saw Princess Yan off: you walked alongside her carriage, wept bitterly at her departure, and expressed deep sorrow over her impending separation. Even after she left, you did not cease to worry—for every ancestral sacrifice, you prayed, ‘May she never return.’ Is this not a far-sighted plan, ensuring that future generations will continue to rule? ” The lady acknowledged, “You are right.” Cuo Zhi pressed further, “Looking back three generations to the very origins of the Zhao state, were there any heirs among the descendants of the earlier Zhao rulers whose lineage endured?” She answered, “None.” He followed up, “And across all the other states—not just Zhao—were there any such surviving heirs?” She replied, “I have never heard of any.” “Thus, while these rulers faced immediate danger themselves, their descendants faced an even greater threat. Does this mean that the offspring of monarchs are inherently wicked? They hold high office without merit, receive generous rewards without labor, yet wield immense power. Now, you elevate Prince Chang’an to a position of great honor, bestow upon him fertile lands, grant him numerous prestigious titles, yet he has yet to demonstrate any service to the state. Should calamity strike and the throne fall into chaos, how could Chang’an possibly sustain himself in Zhao? In my view, your care for Chang’an is short-sighted; hence, my belief that your affection for him does not equal your love for Princess Yan.” The lady concluded, “Very well. Act as you see fit.” Accordingly, arrangements were made to equip Prince Chang’an with a hundred chariots as a hostage, and Qi subsequently sent its troops.

Upon hearing this, Zi Yi commented, “Even the son of a ruler, a close relative by blood, cannot maintain an unearned title or undeserved honors while guarding treasures of gold and jade. How much less can an ordinary subject do so?”