Mao: The Unknown Story

21 Chen Yun message in Moscow: RGASPI, 495/18/1011, pp. 13–14 (Chen Report to Comintern, 15 Oct. 1935, as delivered) & RGASPI, 495/18/1013, p. 73 (with handwritten changes and deletions, apparently by Manuilsky); VKP vol. 4, pp. 915–17 (notes to ECCI Secretariat minutes, 15 Oct. 1935) and ibid., p. 877; Zhang Wentian 2000, p. 249.

22 No Nationalist troops at Dadu: Nationalist telegrams, in Sichuan Archive, pp. 142, 150–3, 160. 93–year-old: Interview by the Dadu Bridge, 1 Sept. 1997.

23 Dadu myth: Snow 1973, pp. 194–9, esp. p. 199.

24 Bridge did not burn: China Daily, 1 & 2 Aug. 1983, cited in Hanson 1986, p. 281. No battle casualties: Zhanshi (Soldier), Red Army Political Department pamphlet, no. 186, 3 June 1935; PLA Military Science Academy, p. 95. Chou bodyguard described: Wei Kouo-lou, p. 50.

25 Peng on Dadu: Payne 1947, p. 323 (Peng interview, 12 June 1946). Fell off: Kang Keqing, p. 153; interview with the 93–year-old, 1 Sept. 1997. Ferry crossing myth: visit to site and interviews with the locals, Sept. 1997.

26 Hardship: Braun 1982, p. 120; Guo Chen, p. 231. Mao climbing: Wu Jiqing, pp. 245–9.

27 Kung — Bogomolov: DVP vol. 18 (1935), p. 438. “matériel”: Braun 1982, p. 121; Mao cable, 16 June 1935, Mao 1993a, vol. 1, p. 358; (E: MRTP vol. 5, p. 16).

CHAPTER 14 Long March III: Monopolizing the Moscow Connection

1 Zhu De lamented: Zhang Guotao, vol. 3, pp. 221–2 (E: Chang Kuo-tao, vol. 2, p. 379). “as ambitious as Mao”: Braun 1982, p. 123.

2 “warlordism”: Xu Xiangqian, pp. 285–6. “How can such”: Kuo Hua-lun, vol. 3, p. 60 (E: Kuo, W., vol. 3, p. 82).

3 –157 Complain to Kuo-tao: Zhang Guotao, vol. 3, pp. 245–6 (E: Chang Kuo-tao, vol. 2, p. 402). “sedan-chairs”: ibid., p. 223; interview with a Long Marcher, 3 Sept. 1997. Difference between life and death: Guo Chen, pp. 71–3; Liu Ying, p. 74; Su Ping, pp. 94–5; Xu Xiangqian, p. 288.

4 –158 “fighting for food”: Li Yimang, p. 168; Xu Xiangqian, pp. 262–3. “foreign debt”: Snow 1973, pp. 203–4. “barbarian cavalry”: Museum of the Chinese Revolution, pp. 205–7. 18 July: Mao 1993b, vol. 1, p. 463. “close to the Soviet Union”: Mao, 6 Aug. 1935, in Ding Zhi, p. 19; Sheng, p. 24. Operation to move north: called “Operation Xiao-Tao,” in ZZ4, Long March Period, pp. 95–101.

5 Mao cable, 15 Aug.: ibid., p. 123. Kuo-tao reply: ibid., pp. 124–5.

6 Resolution: ZZ4, Long March Period, pp. 126–8. Mao had discovered: Yang Chengwu, pp. 214–17.

7 Into swamps on litter: interviews with historians who had done extensive research, Aug. & Sept. 1997. “huddled in the rain”: Lin Biao report, 21 Aug. 1935, Central Archive 1996, p. 297. Vivid description: Braun 1982, pp. 136–7. Another Long Marcher: Li Weihan, pp. 362–3.

8 Mrs. Lo Fu: Liu Ying, pp. 82–3.

9 –160 400 died: Zhou 1991, p. 290. Mao urging Kuo-tao: cables on 24 Aug. & 1 Sept. 1935, ZZ4, Long March Period, pp. 132–3, 138. On 2 Sept.: Central Archive 1996, p. 309.

10 –161 A day later: Central Archive 1996, p. 310. Stay put: Chang cables, 3 & 9 Sept. 1935, in ZZ4, Long March Period, pp. 139, 144. 8 Sept.: ibid., p. 141. “Get up”: Liu Ying, p. 83. Maps: Peng 1981, p. 203 (E: Peng, p. 377); Xu Xiangqian, p. 302. Peng sided with Mao: Peng 1981, p. 202 (E: Peng, p. 376).

11 Decamp that night: Li Weihan, p. 364.

12 Cable, 10 Sept. 1935, Central Archive 1996, p. 320; Saich 1996, pp. 685–6 (Resolution, 12 Sept. 1935); ZZ4, Long March Period, pp. 153–4; Dallin & Firsov, p. 97 (CCP cable to Wang Ming, 26 June 1936); RGASPI, 495/2/267, pp. 19–27 (CCP cable to Dimitrov, 27 May 1938, enclosing 19 Apr. 1938 report about expulsion of Chang Kuo-tao).

13 “Red Army must not”: Xu Xiangqian, p. 302.