Episode 6 recap: Mao Zedong planned to establish the Workers and Peasants Association.
Chen Duxiu went to Moscow to meet Zhai Qiu Bai. Zhai Qiu Bai bid farewell to his students and informed them that he was returning to China, urging them to come back after completing their studies. Zhai Qiu Bai gave his classmates a poem he had just written upon arriving in Soviet Russia, telling them to reunite in China. Zhai Qiu Bai and Chen Duxiu boarded the carriage back to China, with his students waving goodbye to him.
Chen Duxiu asked Zhai Qiu Bai why he agreed to return with him. Zhai Qiu Bai replied that Chen Duxiu had also traveled to Japan three times before returning to their homeland. He understood that no matter where they were, their hearts were the same. The Great Wall is their home, and their hearts are devoted to their country. Zhai Qiu Bai pointed towards the sunrise, telling Chen Duxiu that it was the direction of their homeland's east.
Sun Yat-sen and his comrades held a meeting, considering party affairs to be of great importance and discussing them together. Jiang Jieshi (Chiang Kai-shek) shared his opinions with Sun Yat-sen, stating that the Russian Empire was merely a second-rate ideological country currently experiencing famine, questioning how much they could help.
Sun Yat-sen felt that after dedicating so many years to the revolution and facing perilous situations, he found this particular incident disheartening—being bombarded in Guangzhou. Chen Duxiu brought Zhai Qiu Bai to his house and cooked him a bowl of steamed meat noodles, as Zhai Qiu Bai had been longing for the hometown delicacy during his time abroad.
As Chen Duxiu spoke about an independent and self-reliant China that would not be defeated, Cai Hesen's eyes filled with hope. Chen Duxiu believed that the climax of the Chinese labor movement was about to come, and Cai Hesen informed them that there had been ten strikes, with nine and a half of them resulting in victories or partial victories.
After reviewing Mao Zedong's military achievements, Zhai Qiu Bai regarded him as an extraordinarily talented and remarkable individual. He expressed his desire to meet Mao Zedong, and Chen Duxiu assured him that it would be arranged. Zhai Qiu Bai was going to participate in the editing work of the New Youth magazine, and Chen Duxiu asked Cai Hesen to help him get acquainted with the job.
Jiang Xianyun returned to Changsha, where Mao Zedong came to greet them. There was an argument between Li Da and others regarding his decision to join the Kuomintang (Nationalist Party) as an individual. Li Da disagreed with this course of action.
He Baozhen reported the situation in Anyuan to Mao Zedong, mentioning that she has now joined the party.
Mao Zedong asked her if Liu Shaoqi was her sponsor, but He Baozhen felt embarrassed and didn't respond. Jiang Xianyun expressed his desire to take Mao Zetan to Anyuan, and Mao Zedong understood that the two of them had likely been discussing a conspiracy. Mao Zedong asked Mao Zetan if he had made up his mind, and Mao Zetan confirmed that he had.
Mao Zedong agreed, and Mao Zetan was thrilled to be able to work together with Jiang Xianyun. Geng Yazhi proposed that workers should organize to demand higher wages, while farmers should organize to reduce interest rates and rent. Mao Zedong agreed with Geng Yazhi's suggestion and fell into thought without saying a word, even unaware when a child urinated.
Yang Kaihui reminded him, bringing him back to his senses. Mao Zedong looked at the population statistics of China during the night and came up with an idea. He realized that China had over forty thousand compatriots, with farmers making up nearly ninety percent. The Chinese revolution needed strength and a broad mass base, a grand alliance of the people.
Among so many farmers, many of them were oppressed by landlords, just as capitalists oppressed workers. However, their numbers were double that of the workers. Yang Kaihui understood that Mao Zedong intended to mobilize the farmers, and Mao Zedong thought, "If there can be industry and commerce, why not have a Workers and Peasants Association?"
Geng Wazi, Jiang Xianyun, and Mao Zetan returned to Anyuan, where Mao Zedong instructed them to work on establishing the Workers and Peasants Association. He stated that whether or not a path could be paved in Anyuan depended on their efforts. Jumeizi asked Yang Kaihui to cut her hair short, and Yang Kaihui questioned why she would do so when she was fine. Jumeizi told her that she wanted to participate in the revolution.
She saw that Fifth Brother (Mao Zetan) was already involved, and she wanted to do the same, but she was afraid to talk to Third Brother (Mao Zedong) about it. Yang Kaihui felt that she was still too young and suggested waiting until she was older. Mao Zedong disagreed, and Yang Kaihui offered to speak up for her. Fourth Brother (Mao Zedong's younger brother) told Mao Zedong that he also wanted to contribute to the revolution.
Mao Zedong decided to wait until his wife Shulan gave birth before sending both of them to work at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.
Comments(Episode 6)