Episode 23 recap: Mao Zedong taught at the Peasant Movement Training Institute.
In June 1926, the villagers shouted and went to watch the opera. The content of the opera was about organizing peasant self-defense forces. It was specially designed by Mao Zedong. He found someone to teach Wang Shoudao and others Cantonese so that all the farmers could understand the opera. While they were singing, some people came and started a fight with them, criticizing the content of their performance.
Jiang Xianyun trained with the soldiers, and Mao Zedong noticed that the students really enjoyed Jiang Xianyun's classes. Jiang Xianyun reluctantly resigned from the Propaganda Department on behalf of Mao Zedong, but Mao Zedong believed that he was happier when dealing with farmers.
Jiang Xianyun told Mao Zedong about Jiang Jieshi's invitation, which was conditional on him leaving the Communist Party and joining the Kuomintang. Jiang Xianyun told Mao Zedong that he would never do such a thing, even if it meant losing his head or shedding blood. Mao Zedong wanted to cultivate the students from all over the country into organizers and leaders of the peasants. He believed that he needed to hold the gun in his own hands in order to stand tall.
They wanted Jiang Jieshi to appoint Jiang Xianyun as the Commander-in-Chief, but Jiang Jieshi declined. Zhang Jingjiang comforted him, saying that even Sun Yat-sen had faced misunderstandings and doubts during his thirty-year tenure. Only then did Jiang Jieshi agree to take up the position of Commander-in-Chief.
Mao Zedong taught the farmers in the countryside, telling them to overthrow the warlords and imperialist powers, rather than the local tyrants. Mao Zedong asked the students what the farmers' demands were, and they all said it was about food. Mao Zedong told them it was about land, as he believed that changing the fate of the farmers meant changing the fate of China. Mao Ze Tan came to find Mao Zedong and told him that she was going to marry Wen Nan. She would graduate from the women's college soon, and they planned to get married as soon as she arrived in Guangzhou.
Both Mao Zedong and Mao Ze Tan were in Guangzhou, and Mao Zedong was very worried about Mao Ze Min. He asked if Mao Ze Min had written a letter to Zeqin, but Zeqin told him no, as Ze Min was busy making money. Mao Zedong believed that there was nothing wrong with him earning money for the country. Mao Ze Min had already changed his name to Yang Jie, and his mission was to conceal his identity.
They tried to get to know as many bosses as possible and get money from them. Only when they had money could they publish their articles.
Mao Zedong played football with the students, and Yang Kaihui brought them refreshing soup to cool down. Mao Zedong believed that being with the farmers was the most relaxed and comfortable. Yang Kaihui told him that Jumeizi (referring to Song Qingling) had also sent a letter and that she was now organizing the peasant self-defense forces.
Mao Zedong and Yang Kaihui returned home to find Mao Anying and Mao Anqing still awake. The two children were acting with their grandmother, and Mao Zedong couldn't help but join them. As soon as the two children heard his voice, they turned off the lights and went to sleep. Jiang Jieshi sought out Song Qingling to consult her about the Northern Expedition.
Song Qingling told him that she was now the Commander-in-Chief, and Sun Yat-sen would surely be pleased. However, Sun Yat-sen advocated for cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, so the Northern Expedition also needed the support of the Communist Party. It was an important wish of Sun Yat-sen.
Jiang Jieshi approached Zhou Enlai, hoping that he could set aside past grievances and join him in the Northern Expedition. Zhou Enlai, Chen Duxiu, and Qu Qiubai discussed the Northern Expedition together. Chen Duxiu felt that the timing for the Northern Expedition was not yet ripe.
Zhou Enlai felt that Jiang Jieshi was different from before, and they discussed how they should view him if they were to participate in the Northern Expedition. Chen Duxiu did not give a direct answer to this question and made an excuse to leave, saying he needed to cook another bowl for Zhou Enlai.
Jiang Jieshi announced the beginning of the Northern Expedition, which was set to last for one year, with the goal of achieving peace throughout the country. Jiang Jieshi stopped Deng Yanda and asked for his advice. Deng Yanda thought it was great that Jiang Jieshi sought his help. He told Jiang Jieshi that he still supported Sun Yat-sen's legacy and believed that cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party should be valued.
Chen Yannian received a letter from Jiang Jieshi at the Peasant Movement Training Institute. After hearing the contents of the letter, Mao Zedong thought that Jiang Jieshi still valued talent. Jiang Xianyun believed that if he truly valued talent, he wouldn't have driven them away in the first place.
Jiang Jieshi wanted to have a talk with Mao Zedong and reminisced about their first meeting in Guangzhou. Jiang Jieshi believed that Mao Zedong's Peasant Movement Training Institute was a disorganized group, but Mao Zedong told him that everyone had their own aspirations.
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