Annotations and Marginalia on Wu Faxian’s Letter of Self-Criticism
(October 14, 1970)

This document [2] has been read. I would like to see the views of other propagandists.
Mao Zedong
October 14
Printed from the manuscript.

II
As a Communist Party member, why does he lack such an upright and forthright spirit?
A few individuals have launched an attack, attempting to deceive over two hundred members of the Central Committee—something unprecedented since the founding of our Party. [3]

These statements do not seem credible. [4]

He is a suspicious element. I exposed him at a Politburo meeting and also cautioned certain comrades about him. [5]
V
All comrades in the General Office [6] (with the exception of a few, such as Li Desheng [7]) have forgotten the Party Constitution adopted at the Ninth National Congress and Comrade Lin Biao’s report [8], yet they keep raising the so-called “genius question,” which is merely a pretext. [9]
VI
It is nothing more than an attempt to deceive you once again, in order to save himself. [10]
VII
What great modesty! When it comes to matters of principle, he has never shown the slightest courtesy. We must dare to go against the tide. Going against the tide is a fundamental principle of Marxism-Leninism. At Lushan, my own stance was precisely an act of going against the tide. [11]
VIII
There is nothing wrong with this statement: there has been serious struggle within the Central Committee. Struggle is a normal feature of life. [12]
IX
That is correct. [13]
+
To be read by Lin, Zhou, Kang [14], and other relevant comrades. After reading, file with the Central Office.
Printed from Mao Zedong’s manuscript.
Notes
[1] Wu Faxian was then a member of the CPC Central Political Bureau, deputy head of the CPC Central Military Commission General Office, and vice chief of staff of the People’s Liberation Army of China as well as commander of the Air Force. On September 29, 1970, he wrote a letter to Mao Zedong, offering a self-criticism of his conduct and remarks at the Second Plenary Session of the Ninth CPC Central Committee held earlier that month. Items I and X here are Mao Zedong’s annotations to Wu Faxian’s letter; items II through IX are marginal notes he made directly on the letter itself. During the Cultural Revolution, Wu Faxian actively participated in Lin Biao’s counter-revolutionary clique’s plot to seize power and stage a coup. In August 1973, the CPC Central Committee decided to expel Wu Faxian from the Party and remove him from all Party and non-Party posts. In January 1981, the Special Tribunal of the Supreme People’s Court of the People’s Republic of China confirmed Wu Faxian as a principal offender in Lin Biao’s counter-revolutionary clique and sentenced him to seventeen years’ imprisonment, with deprivation of political rights for five years.

[2] Refers to Wu Faxian’s letter of self-criticism to Mao Zedong dated September 29, 1970. In the letter, he stated: “At the Second Plenary Session of the Ninth CPC Central Committee, I committed a grave error by interfering with the Chairman and with the session itself, which the Chairman personally presided over.” He further noted, “I thereby undermined the Chairman’s instruction to conduct the session in a spirit of unity and victory.” He went on to describe the Chairman’s “My Own Views” as “a most incisive and brilliant Marxist-Leninist document,” adding, “It struck straight to the heart of Chen Boda’s reactionary nature. After studying it, I received a profound education that suddenly opened my eyes, enabling me to clearly see Chen Boda’s true character as an ambitious schemer, a hypocrite, and a fake Marxist—and to understand his wicked plot to launch a surprise attack, stir up trouble, split the Party, and seize power from Chairman Mao and the CPC Central Committee.” He concluded, “I realized that I had fallen victim to the treacherous Chen Boda.” The letter also contained additional revelations regarding Chen Boda’s anti-Party activities at Lushan. For information on Chen Boda, see note [2] on page 115 of this volume.

[3] In his letter, Wu Faxian explained that the material he cited concerning genius during his speech at the Second Plenary Session of the Ninth CPC Central Committee had been used “without verification or formal consultation with the other party, nor did I prepare a written text. Due to my erroneous understanding and improper emotional state, once I began speaking, I could not stop, leading to serious consequences.” He added, “To raise such a fundamental, overarching issue at the solemn Second Plenary Session without first seeking instructions from the Politburo or even reporting to the Chairman and Vice Chairman Lin constituted a grave breach of organization and discipline.” Mao Zedong drew a line beneath this sentence and wrote the accompanying annotation.

[4] Wu Faxian stated in his letter that his speech at the Second Plenary Session of the Ninth CPC Central Committee had been “not considered from a broad perspective, disregarding its impact and consequences—a highly irresponsible, extremely unserious, and imprudent attitude.” Mao Zedong drew a line beneath these words and penned the corresponding annotation.

[5] Wu Faxian wrote in his letter, “This Second Plenary Session of the Ninth CPC Central Committee has exposed the great ambitious schemer, the master plotter, the anti-Party element Chen Boda.” Mao Zedong drew a line beneath the phrase “great ambitious schemer, master plotter, anti-Party element” and appended the following annotation. The “certain comrades” mentioned in the annotation refer to Lin Biao.

[6] Refers to the CPC Central Military Commission General Office, then headed by Huang Yongsheng, with Wu Faxian serving as deputy head.
[7] Li Desheng was at the time an alternate member of the CPC Central Political Bureau, a member of the CPC Central Military Commission, a member of the CPC Central Military Commission General Office, and director of the General Political Department of the People’s Liberation Army of China.
[8] Refers to Lin Biao’s political report delivered at the Ninth National Congress of the CPC on April 1, 1969.
[9] Wu Faxian wrote in his letter that, at the Second Plenary Session of the Ninth CPC Central Committee, he had taken seven passages from Engels, Lenin, and Mao Zedong on the subject of genius—information Chen Boda had relayed to him over the phone—and “had them photocopied and distributed to several comrades in the General Office.” Mao Zedong drew a line beneath these words and wrote the accompanying annotation.
[10] Wu Faxian recounted in his letter that on August 26, 1970, Chen Boda had called him, saying that the Chairman wished to speak with him, Li Zuopeng, and Qiu Huizuo. During their conversation, Chen Boda claimed that the Chairman had criticized him and also said, “The Chairman has criticized you as well.” Wu Faxian continued, “We asked him what exactly the Chairman had criticized, but he refused to say.” He added, “At the time, Chen Boda appeared quite agitated and spoke incoherently.” Beneath these lines, Mao Zedong drew a line and placed a question mark beside them, writing the accompanying annotation.
[11] Wu Faxian mentioned in his letter that Chen Boda had once asked him whether “some people are taking advantage of the great humility of our great leader Chairman Mao to belittle Mao Zedong Thought.” Mao Zedong drew a line beneath the phrase “great humility” and wrote the corresponding annotation.
[12] Wu Faxian stated in his letter that on the evening of August 27, 1970, he had seen in Chen Boda’s speech draft a fabricated claim that “there is also struggle within the Central Committee.” Mao Zedong drew a line beneath this sentence and wrote the accompanying annotation.
[13] Wu Faxian wrote in his letter that on the evening of August 24, 1970, Chen Boda had telephoned him, instructing his secretary to convey the message: Chen Boda “wants to draw up a copy of his proposed amendments to the Constitution and submit it to the Chairman for review.” Wu Faxian told his secretary, “Do not respond to him.” Mao Zedong drew a line beneath the words “Do not respond to him” and wrote the corresponding annotation.

[14] Lin refers to Lin Biao. Zhou refers to Zhou Enlai. Kang refers to Kang Sheng, who at the time was a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Political Bureau.