Episode 5 recap: The workers' strike in Anyuan was successful.
Mao Zedong held a meeting with all comrades and told them to understand the significance of this strike. He emphasized the importance of unity within their ranks and making it clear that the strike was not a riot. He assigned Jiang Xianyun to carry out this task, instructing him to gain as much agreement and sympathy from others as possible to attract more people to join them.
He told everyone that it was not about seeking personal revenge but about serving the public interest. While Mao Ziyun was speaking, he brought news to Mao Zedong. Upon hearing the news, Mao Zedong quickly returned to Changsha and informed everyone that the workers' strike in Anyuan was starting ahead of schedule.
Yang Kaihui wrote a letter in support of the strike, expressing her intention to participate if she weren't pregnant. Mao Zedong sent He Shuheng to Wuhan, instructing him to set the railway line on fire. Mao Zedong led a large group of people to stop the trains. Zhao Hengti learned that the Beiyang warlords were already approaching Hengyang, realizing the danger it posed to Changsha.
Wu Peifu called Zhao Hengti and assured him that he would send reinforcements as long as Zhao Hengti cooperated with him. Xiao Yaonan used force to suppress Mao Zedong and his comrades. Mao Zedong held a meeting to boost their morale and urged them not to retreat.
Shi Chengjin from the Police Department and Zeng Junpin from the railway listened to Mao Zedong's speech. Mao Zedong made it clear that they would not interfere with the strike. He told everyone that they were fighting for justice and that they would succeed if they persisted.
Mao Zedong sent Liu Shaoqi to Anyuan to lead the strike and create chaos externally. Mao Zedong advised him to maintain a humble posture and strive to gain all the support and sympathy they could to sway public opinion. Li Lisan asked Hong Die to agree to three conditions during the strike: the closure of all brothels, gambling houses, and entertainment venues, as well as a commitment from Hong Die's men not to cause trouble during the strike.
Hong Die believed that he could agree to these conditions as long as they were for the well-being of the workers in their mine.
Jiang Xianyun was registering the demands put forward by the workers during the strike. They hoped that after the strike, they would not be dismissed and that there would be clear regulations regarding sick leave deductions from wages. Liu Shaoqi and Li Lisan led the discussions with the workers at the mine to finalize the specific demands of the strike. After everything was arranged properly, they proposed that the declaration of this strike should be "Long live the Communist Party."
Liu Shaoqi urged them to remain calm and not be hasty in their planning. He asked them about the reasons for the strike. They all felt that their previous lives were miserable and now they wanted to bring about a change. Liu Shaoqi suggested the slogan for this strike to be "In the past, we were treated like animals, but now we want to be treated as human beings." The workers found this slogan to be very good.
On September 14, 1922, under the leadership of Li Lisan, Liu Shaoqi, and Jiang Xianyun, with Mao Zedong guiding them, more than 17,000 workers from the entire Anyuan mine went on a large-scale strike through the leadership of the Workers' Club.
Li Hongcheng asked Mine Superintendent Niu if anyone had started working when the workers were offered triple wages. Mine Superintendent Niu told him it was ineffective and they had to quickly suppress the strike, or else the losses would be even greater. Li Hongcheng agreed to meet Liu Shaoqi. After waiting for ten minutes and not seeing Liu Shaoqi coming out, the workers shouted at the door, demanding to see Liu Shaoqi. Liu Shaoqi came out and told them that he was fine.
The workers insisted on seeing Liu Shaoqi every ten minutes so that he wouldn't play any tricks. Mao Zedong in Changsha was very concerned about the situation of the strike in Anyuan. Someone came to him with the good news that the strike in Anyuan was successful. Chen Duxiu also received this news and was thrilled, instructing Marin to inform Lenin about this good news.
Sun Yat-sen left Guangdong for Shanghai due to Chen Jiongming's betrayal. Li Dazhao, appointed by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, came to Shanghai to meet Sun Yat-sen and discuss the cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party. The two quickly developed a close relationship and regretted not meeting earlier. Sun Yat-sen hoped that Li Dazhao could help him as many people wanted him to step down. Actually, it didn't matter if he stepped down, but he wanted to save one more person, to save China.
When Yang Kaihui arrived at the hospital for delivery, Mao Zedong was still leading the workers in the strike and had not yet arrived at the hospital.
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