The Chinese Cultural Revolution by Zhang Mu. Chapter 3.2-2

 (1) Poster “Warmly cheer Mao Zedong Though’s Another Great victory – Birth of Shanghai People's commune”. (2) “Shanghai People's Commune”, publication of Shanghai People's Commune. (3) “Long live Shanghai People's Commune”, Red Guards Shanghai Headquarters’ newspaper “Red Guards Combat Report”, February 6, 1967. (3) Shanghai’s rebellers (Wang Hongwen was the head) seized power to set up “Shanghai People's Commune” which only had existed for 18 days, Mao changed its name as “Shanghai Revolutionary committee” on February 14, Zhang Chunqiao was director, Yao Wenyuan and Wang Hongwen were assistant director.

 (1) On February 6, 1967, Shanghai Revolutionized Rebellion General Headquarters Commander Wang Hongwen issued that the “Shanghai People's Commune” took over “Xin Min Evening News”, printed "Worker RebellionNewspaper”. (2,3) Poster "Wormly cheer Shanghai Revolutionary Committee established”, “All Authorities Turned over to Shanghai Revolutionary Committee”. (4) Long live the January Revolution Victory!” Red Guard Shanghai Headquarters’ newspaper “Red Guards Combat Report”, February 13, 1967.

 (1) Poster “Long live the great January Revolution”. (2) On January 12, 1967, rebellers attacked the Shanxi provincial CCP committee and seized power. Photo by Ge Xinde. (3) Jilin Province rebells seized the power of “Jilin Daily", changed the newspaper’s name for “Xinhua Telecommunication”, January 15, 1967. (4) Changchun rebellers seized the power of  "Changchun Daily" and changed its name for “Red Telecommunication”. (5) In January, 1967, “Guangxi Daily” was seized power by the rebellers, changed to be “ News Reportage”. In addition throughout the land the newspaper office were seized power, for example on January 3, 1967, Jiangxi Daily was seized power and changed to be “Xinhua News Agency Telecommunication”.

 (1) on January 22, 1967, Guangzhou partial rebels organized established “Guangdong Province revolution rebellion Joint committee” to seize power of the Guangdong Provincial CCP committee, provincial public security department, Guangzhou Newspaper office, declared that “all authorities belonged to the revolutionary rebellers”. But another factions organization intensely opposited and on February 19 convened a “True great union to seize power pledge assembly” in Yue Xiushang stadium; so Guangzhou got turmoil. (2) On January 22 Guangzhou “Nanfang Daily" published “Seize power Circular” and “General Order" of Guangdong Province Revolutio Rebellion Joint Committee. (3) Different factions seized power and attacked mutually, cause the city very chaotic. In order to maintenance economy and life order, on February 26, 1967, Guangzhou partial public organizations held “Pledge assembly of Guangdong Province revolution rebellers ‘To make revolution, promote production '”.

 (1) On January 23, 1967, Hainan “the proletariat revolution rebels Joint committee” seized the Hainan District CCP committee’s power. Yang Zejiang, secretary of the District CCP committee, handed the power seal to the rebellers. Photo by Wu Qiuguang. (2,3) On January 26, 1967, Kunming rebellers seized Yunnan provincial CCP committee and Kunming municipal CCP committee's power, more than 100,000 persons held “seize power pledge assembly”; Then Yunnan Province’s various counties Party and government organizations, various trade factories, schols and so on, seized power one after another.

(1) Zhengzhou University Attached middle school revolutionary committee’s newspaper “Red Flag”, January 18, 1968: “Historical wheel can not be stoped--Records about the school’s seizing power struggle's days and nights". (2) Zhengzhou University Attached middle school revolutionary committee manifesto. (3) on February 14, 1967,Henan Luoyang Bearing Factory’s rebellers organized to seize power jointly in this factory, wrote the “seizing power order”.

 (3) seizing power and anti-seizing power, lay down the seeds of future factions resorting to violence disaster

(1) Slogan on the wall “Seizing power is a big plot”. After one faction seized power, another faction attacked them, must seize power again. Beijing had in the same day three factions to seize power successively. Mao launched rebelerls union seized power and established “Revolutionary committee”, superficial lively celebration, different factions struggled, lay down seeds for later “violence faction fight” disaster. (2) On February 10, 1967, Beijing one faction rebellers circular: “February 8 seizing power events is bourgeoisie reactionary route's new counter-attacking”. (3) e Henan Province Mao Zedong Thought Red Guards Headquarters’s newspaper, “Red Guards”, February 1, 1967, “Revolutionary seize power is very good".

 (1) On January 26, 1967 Anhui Hefei some rebellion faction seized provincial’s power, they sent out the circular “January 26 seizing power is very good”, later this faction was called the “good faction”. (2) Anhui Hefei, other faction of the rebellers opposed it want them selve to seized power and wrote the slogan “January.26 seizing power is ass”, so this faction later was called “ass faction”. The “good faction” and the “ass faction” mutually used guns to violence fight. The CCP Central committee issed several documents to treat Anhui’s problem, still difficulty to alleviate thr two factions contradiction (3) Anhui Hefei “ass faction” rebellers composed a song “Anti-January 26 Combat Song”. (4) “Bengbu January 27 seizing power and anti- seizing power struggle records”. Anhui Bengbu’s rebellers action was later one day than Hefei.

(1) "Red Guards Association Internal Two Political Lines Struggle Chronicle". The Red Guards third Headquarters, Finance and Trade System Rebellion Worker Union, May 22, 1967. (2) Guizhou Jianhe county rebellers celebrated parade for their armed seizing power victory. (3) On January 19, 1967, the commemoration of Beijing Chemical Plant proletariat revolution faction seized power.

10. A group of CCP senior statesmen resisted the Cultural Revolution, Mao denounced them as "February Adverse Current"（1967.2-1968）

From January to February 1967, Tan Zhenlin, Chen Yi, Ye Jianying, Li Xiannian, Xu Xiangqian and so on the “veteran revolutionary” in the different meeting expressed their intense disaffection to Mao’s Cultural Revolution. Kang Sheng and so on reported to Mao, on February 18, Mao held the emergency meeting, Mao said: “The Central Cultural Revolution Group was carried on the spirits of the 11th Plenary Session of the 8th CCP Committee, the mistake is only one to three percent, 97% are correct. Who opposes the Central Cultural Revolution Group, I will firmly oppose who! You must deny the Great Cultural Revolution, cannot accomplish! Comrade Ye Qun you tell Lin Biao, his status is not safe! Some people want seize his power, let him prepare, if this Great Cultural Revolution has been defeated, I and him withdraw from Beijing, go on Jinggang Mountain to engage guerrilla warfare again. You said that Jiang Qing and Chen Boda are not good, then let your Chen Yi work as Central Cultural Revolution Group leader, Chen Boda and Jiang Qing are arrests, shoots! Let Kang Sheng be sent to frontier service! I also leave office, please Wang Ming come back to work as president! You, Chen Yi want to turn Yan’an’s rectification case, the Party does not comply! You, Tan Zhenlin, are also the senior party member, why stand in the bourgeoisie route to speaks?” Mao launched the Central Cultural Revolution Group and the rebellers to carry on the brutal attack to these CCP senior statesmen, slandered their resistance to be the “February Countercurrent”.

 (1) On August 19, 1967, Jiang Qing planed, “Congress of thoroughly combat Tan Zhenlin counter-revolutionary restoration adverse current” was hed in the People’s Great Hall. This time Tan Zhenlin was State Council vice-premier. (2) On April 13, 1967, the CCP Central Committee issued “Decision about deals with the Inner Mongolian problem", accused Ulanhu and other Inner Mongolian CCP committee leaders, also had made a “Inner Mongolia February Countercurrent case”. The Inner Mongolian held a public congress to criticize capitalism and counter-revolutionary restoration adverse current. (3) “Overthrew Xu Xiangqian”. “New Wuhan” newspaper. August, 1967.

(1) Jiang Qing gave seditious speech about counter-attack“February Countercurrent” in assembly of Red Guards Representatives of Beijing universities and colleges. (2) In 1967, all the nation frequently transmitted Jiang Qing and Lin Biao’s speech recording tapes. (3) The CCP Central sent out “Comrade Jiang Qing’s Speech”, edited by the Central Cultural Revolution Group, People's Publishing House, 1967. (4) “Comrade Jiang Qing talks the ‘February Countercurrent’”. Red Guards newspaper. (5) "Counter-restoration--Criticize Tan Zhenlin special edition”, 1967.

(1,2) Street mass demonstration and assembly, counter-attack “February Countercurrent”. (3) Beijing Normal University's students were writing the big-character posters to counter-attack the “February Countercurrent”. (4) “Overthrow the vanguard of bourgeoisie --Tan Zhenlin”. New Beijing University Editorial Department.

 (1) "Tan Zhenlin's Biography". Beijing Agricultural University Revolutionary Committee. 1967. (2) In April, 1968 all city and countryside greatly did “counter-attack the February Countercurrent”. (3) Sichuan Fushun County paraded to criticize “February Countercurrent”. (4) Kang Sheng and Xie Fuzhi make the “Inner Mongolian Popular Party”, “Ulanhu counter-party treason group” and “Inner Mongolia February Countercurrent” three cases, 346,000 people for no reason were implicated and false charged, 11,600 were persecuted to die. In 1979, Inner Mongolia convened “Rehabiliation congress for ‘Ulanhu counter-party treason group’ and ‘Inner Mongolia February Countercurrent’”.

 (1) “Overthrow Tan Zhenlin”. Beijing Agricultural University East Is Red Commune compiled , May, 1967. (2) “Criticizing Tan Zhenlin Memoir”. Beijing University Cultural Revolution Committee’s newspaper “New Beijing University”, March 14, 1967. (3) Red Guards and rebelles held meeting “thorough criticize February Countercurrent”. (4) “Overthrows three anti-elements Tan Zhenlin” the slogan was on wall of the gate of “The Red Guards Revolution Rebellion Exhibition”.

11．All the country set up the "Revolutionary Committee"（1967.7-1968.9）

Under Mao’s agitation, everywhere in the country rebellers deprived the power of the Party committees and governments, the rebellers thought that they “have great power”, so, according to the election principle of “Paris commune”, set up the “Shanghai Commune”, “Harbin Commune” and so on, and used the slogan “all authorities turn over to the  commune” (Mao in 1927 promoted “all authorities turned over to the peasant association”). But Mao never tolerated the election principle, he already did not use the rebellers any more, prepared to end “the Great Cultural Revolution”. The right of “people populace organizing and self-liberation” which was entrusted in the “Cultural Revolution 16 Items”, was eliminated by Mao. Mao said “if all matter managed by the commune, then put the CCP to where? ......Must have a party, have a core.”. The Shanghai Commune changed to be “Shanghai Revolutionary Committee”, and everywere set up the Revolutionary committees, the leaders of the Revolutionary Committee were appointed, there was not any election principle. Afterward presented the “resort to violence” and all-out civil war.

The date of the Revolutionary committee establishing of various provinces and cities
1967-1-31	Heilongjiang	1967-12-6	Tianjin	1968-3-23	Jiangsu	1968-8-13	Yunnan
1967-2-7	Shandong	1968-1-5	Jiangxi	1968-3-24	Zejiang	1968-8-19	Fujian
1967-2-5	Shanghai	1968-1-24	Gansu	1968-4-8	Hunan	1968-8-26	Guangxi
1967-2-13	Guizhou	1968-1-27	Henan	1968-4-10	Ningxia	1968-9-5	Xuzhang
1967-3-18	Shanxi	1968-2-3	Hebei	1968-4-18	Anhui	1968-9-5	Xinjiang
1967-4-20	Beijing	1968-2-5	Hubei	1968-5-1	Shaanxi
1967-8-12	Qinghai	1968-2-21	Guangdong	1968-5-10	Liaoning
1967-11-1	Inner Mongolia	1968-3-6	Jilin	1968-5-31	Sichuan

(1,2) On January 16, 1967, 700,000 people convened “Songress of seizing power for Heilongjiang Province and Harbin City”, set up the “Harbin People's Commune”,and issued their “Commune Manifestos” ; on 26th, the Commune changed to be the “Harbin Red Rebel Revolutionary Committee”; on April 11 it changed to two and separately renamed to be the provincial and  the city “revolutionary committee”. (3) Liaoning Siping rebellers seized power and established “Siping Commune”, issued " Siping Commune Manifestos". (4) “The basic experience of Heilongjiang Province Red Rebeller Seizeing Power Struggle”, on February 7, 1967, published on the Central Cultural Revolution Group’s “Cultural Revolution Bulletin”, on February 9 , Mao instructed Chen Boda to be broadcasted and publish on People's Daily on February 10, then People's Publishing House massively printed.

 (1) People's Daily on January 25, 1967, reported Shanxi province revolutionary rebellers seizing power victory. (2) People's Daily on February 1, 1967, reported Guizhou province revolutionary rebellers seizing power victory. (3) People's Daily on February 2, 1967, reported Heilongjiang province temporary highest authority organization birth. (4,5) At that time many places named the temporary authority to be “Mao Zedong Thought XX Revolutionary Committee”, such as the “Mao Zedong Thought Guizhou Province Guiyang Revolutionary Committee” and “Mao Zedong Thought Pingtang County Revolutionary Committee”. On February 20, 1967, Mao wrote “Comrade Chen Boda and comrade Wang Li: the name is called the revolutionary committee to be good”.

 (1) On February 14, 1967, Shandong Province Revolutionary Committee was founded. (2,3) On April 20, 1967, Beijing Revolutionary Committee was founded, Xie Fuzhi (Ministry of Public Security Minister) was appointed the director of the committee. (4) On March 25, 1967, more than 6000 people celebrated Guangzhou Railroad Sub-bureau Revolutionary committee established in Guanzhou Zhong Shan Memorial Hall.

Each province, city and county when set up the revolutionary Committee had sent a long greeting telegram to Mao reporting success. (1) Rebellers seized power of Guizhou Daily,the newspaper was renamed as “New Guizhou Daily", bu it on January 30, 1967 published “Qingdao Revolutionary Rebellion Committee’s Greeting Telegram To Mao”. (2) People's Daily, September 6, 1968, published the establishment of the Revolutionary Committee of Xinjiang, “Greeting Telegram To Mao”. (3) Panxian Mining Bureau in Guizhou Province Revolutionary Committee, “Greeting Telegram To Mao”. (4) Ministry of Geology established the Revolutionary Committee, issued a very long “Greeting Telegram To Mao”.

 (1,2) 0n February 3, 1968, Hebei Province Revolutionary Committee was founded. (3) On May 10, 1968, Shenyang celebrated Liaoning Revolutionary committee to be established, 27 year-old Mao Yuanxin was the assistant director.

(1,2) In April, 1968, Hunan Revolutionary committee was founded, Photo by Tang Dabai. People's Daily published editorial for it. (3,4) In August, 1968 ,Yunnan Province Revolutionary Committee was founded.

 (1,2) On September 5, 1968, Tibet Autonomous Region Revolutionary Committee was founded. (3,4) In 1968, Yunnan Luxi County Revolutionary committee established, the commemoration.

(1) In 1967 Shanghai Chuansha County Revolutionary Committee was founded. Photo by Ru Suichu. (2)On February 21, 1968, 600,000 soldiers and civilians celebrated the establishment of Guangdong Province Revolutionary Committee and Guangzhou Revolutionary Committee, in Guangzhou Yue Xiushang stadium. (3) Some youths take a souvenir photo before the people's commune Revolutionary Committee. (4) Sichuan Foreign Language College Chongqing Foreign Language School Revolutionary Committee was founded.

 (1,2) Jilin Province Huadian County Revolutionary Committee was founded. (3) The inauguration meeting of celebration Revolutionary Committee establidhment.

On March 18, 1967, Zhou Village in Zibo city, Shandong Province, held a congress of seizing power, and paraded.

 (1,2) Celebrates the establishment of Zhou Village People's commune Revolutionary Committee, Zibo, Shandong Province. The PLA representative gave a speech to support the village revolutionary committee. (3) In 1968, Shenyang Agriculture College Revolutionary Committee was founded. Phoyo by Jiang Shaowu absorbs. (4) Jiangsu Cahngshu County Revolutionary Committee was founded.

 (1) Anhui She County Revolutionary Committee was founded, issued a celebration meeting memoir. (2) People's Daily and People's Liberation Army Daily would jointly published a congratulation editorial for each province revolutionary committee establishment, e.g. on April 20, 1968 cheered establishment of Anhui Province Revolutionary Committee. (3) On March 10, 1968, editorial cheered establishment of Jilin Province Revolutionary committee. (4) On April 10, 1968, editorial cheered the establishment of Ningxia Revolutionary committee.

 (1) On June 2,1968, People's Daily and People's Liberation Army Daily, cheered establishment of Sichuan Province Revolutionary Committee. (2) People's Daily cheered establishment of Chongqing City Revolutionary Committee. (3) Liberation Daily reported Wuxi City Revolutionary Committee birth. (4) People's Daily and People's Liberation Army Daily cheered establishment of Jiangsu Province Revolutionary Committee.

 (1) Poster ot the large-scale colored record movie " Warmly cheer Beijing Revolutionary Committee Birth”. (2) “Warmly Cheer Zhejiang Hangzhou Foreign Language School Revolutionary Committee Birth”. (3) “Revolutionary Committee Is Good”.

In 1968, Henan “Feb 7 Commune Xinyang Branche” newspaper “South Henan Red Flag”, reported that they seized power successfully and the Xinyang Revolutionary Committee glory birth, “Greeting Telegram To Mao”

（1，2）On Feb 25 ,1968, Henan “Feb 7 Commune Sangqiu Branche” newspaper “Red Rebellers Report”, reported the Shangqiu Revolutionary Committee glory birth and its “Greeting Telegram To Mao”. (3) “New Central China Industry College Revolutionary Committee is founded”. Wuhan .(4) Kunming Changchun Print Factory Revolutionary Committee established and issued a greeting telegram. to Chairman Mao.

 (1,2) Newspaper “Jinggang Mountain”: Beijing Normal University Revolutionary Committee was founded; Vice-Premier Xie Fuzhi received all committee members. (3) “Sichuan Dail”: Zigong City Revolutionary Committee victory birth. (4) Zhejiang Province Revolutionary Rebellers Union Headquarters’ newspaper “Red Storm” reprinted the People's Daily and Liberation Army Daily on March 28, 1968 the editorial -Celebrate the Zhejiang Province Revolutionary Committee birth".

(1) " Warmly cheer establishment of Yunnan Province Revolutionary Committee”. People's Daily and Liberation Army Daily editorial, People's Publishing House. (2) Poster of Guangdong Province Revolutionary committee establishment. (3,4,5,6) “Revolutionary Committee is Good”. propaganda books and picture poster.

 (1) Poster of Guizhou Congjiang County Revolutionary Committee. (2) Henan Agriculture College celebrated its Revolutionary Committee’s first anniversary. (3,4) Numerous Badges of Mao’s image, each Revolutionary committee (even in a village or a school and so on) had to celebrated its establishment, often made its special Badges of Mao’s image.

 (1,2) in September, 1968, the nation besides Taiwan, all the provinces and cities had established Revolutionary Committee, it was called “National mountains and rivers are red”. Beijing grand assembly warmly cheered national red. (3) China’s most precious postage stamp “National mountains and rivers are red”, now the market price each is 10,000,000 Yuan (Renminbi) above.

(1) People's Daily on September 8, 1968, “Trillion soldiers and civilians warmestly cheer national mountains and rivers to be red", all provinces and cities had established revolutionary committee. (2) Poster and books “National Mountains and Rivers Are Red”.

China's Great Wall of Silence

In memory of Teacher Bian Zhongyun, "the first casualty of the Cultural Revolution," murdered this day in 1966 by her female students at the High School for Girls attached to Beijing Normal University.

Anyone with information on the identity of the perpetrators please email publocc@gmail.com

在教师边中云的记忆“，”文化大革命“的第一个受害者，”谋杀的这一天，她的女学生在1966年在北京师范大学的女孩的高中。

肇事者的身份信息的人，请电邮publocc@gmail.com

The Soul of China

Corruption is a big problem in China; corruption is a problem in every society but especially for governments like the PRC that are not as accountable as democratic governments. Then, corruption is a two-fold problem: the corruption itself and the further illegitimacy that it causes the government in the eyes of the people. Throughout history corruption has been a big problem in China because throughout history China has never had an accountable government.

Mr. Wang Yi, who has contributed so much to this site and helped me so much in my continuing education on China, sent me the following which he translated himself. I reprint also Mr. Yi’s email accompanying the translation. In the email Mr. Yi discusses China’s historical technological achievements and how these achievements were not followed up on. He is right that it is mystifying to Western historians (and Western bloggers). China’s historical lack of exploration of the world is, to me, one of the seminal facts about the civilization. There is a sense in which China just stopped at a certain point: in exploring, in following up on technological advances; it just stopped and retreated behind its walls, physical and psychological. When Lord Macartney “knocked on China’s door” representing King George III  in 1793 and proposed  trade with the Celestial Kingdom, his Celestial Majesty, the Emperor Qianlong replied by letter “As your Ambassador can see for himself, we possess all things. I set no value on objects strange or ingenious, and have no use for your country's manufactures” (George III had a bad quarter century). That of course was the beginning of the end of traditional China. Among other things England and the Europeans possessed modern gunships and they would not take no for an answer.

 Hi, Ben:

Recently someone has "unearthed" a historical story and it has been circulated
online. It drives home the issue of today's corruption in China. I translated it
for you to read. See attachment.


Also I have read an article discussing metal engineering in ancient China.
It mentioned that even in 221 BC, China's metal engineering reached a shockingly
high level. However, since the Han Dynasty in which Confucianism was officially
established as the only acceptable ideology, its conservative nature has hampered
Chinese creativity so much that as a society, China's level of metal use has
stayed the same over around 2,000 years till Europeans came to knock on China's
door in 1840 with their gunships. Maybe that why to Western historians it is
inexplicable why so many innovative discoveries and inventions in China's
history have never pushed it into industrialization and scientific development.
Maybe Confucianism was a God's gift to Europeans. Otherwise, China would have
been too advanced to overthrow its world domination in history.

On Corrupted Officials

A Conversation Between An Emperor and His Right-Hand Man

In the 6th century there was a usurper named Yü Wentai who eventually founded the short-lived North Zhou Dynasty (557-581 AD) with Xi’an as its capital. Before he took over the power, Yü asked Su Cuo, who later became his prime minister, how his future kingdom should be run. They talked for three days and nights. The following is a synopsis of their conversation:

Yü:          How should I run my kingdom?

Su:          You have to rely on officials.

Yü:          How should I handle my officials?

Su:          You have to rely on corrupted officials and then punish them.

Yü:          How could I rely on corrupted officials?

Su:          To an emperor, the most important thing is the loyalty of your officials. When they are

               loyal to you, you are safe and, of course, the kingdom will be safe, too. However,

              officials will not be loyal if they can’t make money. Since you don’t have enough

              money for so many officials, you know you have a problem?

Yü:          Truly. Please tell me, what can I do?

Su:          If you give them power with which they are allowed to get rich, officials will be happy.

Yü:          I believe they would be happy when they get rich, but what do I get?

Su:          Officials’ wealth comes from the power in their hands. Since wealth and power go hand

               in hand, they would have to be loyal to you. There are numerous people with their eyes

               on your throne. Your kingdom is safe only when officials work conscientiously for you.

Yü:          (with a sigh) That’s good! However, if corrupted officials are so useful, why should I

                punish them?

Su:          You must use corrupted officials and then punish them. That is the trick of

                politics.

Yü:          (moving a little closer to Su and asking humbly) Please explain, master!

Su:          (laughing) First of all, there are no officials who could resist corruption. Actually it is

              nothing to fear. What you should fear is betrayal. He who is not loyal to you is your

              enemy. So if you punish him in name of clearing corruption, you could sleep peacefully.

              Besides, you earn a good reputation among your subjects. Why not? Secondly, when an

              official is corrupted, you are sure to know. When he knows you know, he has concerns.

              His concerns will force him to be loyal to you. Keep punishing the corrupted officials is

              the key to handling your officials. If there is no corruption, where can you find corrupted

              officials to punish? That is why I said you need to use them and then punish them. If

              there is no corruption, the people will be happy, but you would be in danger.

Yü:          Why?

Su:          Because incorruptible officials are, most probably, strongly opinionated. They would

               bluntly insist on their ideas believing they are honest. If you want to get rid of them,

               what kind of excuses could you have? If you punish honest officials, the people won’t be

               happy. If they are not happy, they complain. Then your kingdom will be in danger. That

               is why you can’t afford to have too many honest officials.

…

Su:          (sternly) Any more questions, Your Highness?

Yü:          (shocked) What other questions could I have?

Su:          (sternly again) If you use too many corrupted officials and the people are as angry as

              boiling water, what are you going to do?

Yü felt at a loss. He moved up and bowed to Su in request for an answer.

Su:          (laughing) You castigate them for being corrupted and call them a big disappointment

              for the chaos they have caused so that all your subjects know that you are a good ruler

              and that the corrupted officials are the ones who have messed up the government. It’s

              not your fault and it is those bad apples who are to blame. Therefore, you let the

              people vent their anger.

Yü:          If the corruption is so serious that the people become intolerably furious, then what?

Su:          You kill the corrupted officials. Search their houses and confiscate their properties, the

               people’s frustration will subside. Won’t it be nice that you are able to pocket their

               wealth and are, at the same time, hailed as a hero? (Su continued to explain) You first

               help yourself to the loyalty of the corrupted officials. Then you punish them to shut the

               mouth of your enemy. Finally you kill them to smooth out people’s anger by

               confiscating their wealth for your own use. That is the trick of all the kings and

               emperors in history.