"Before the founding: Mao Zedong's stormy years in Xibaipo"

Author: Chen Yushu, Chen Lihua
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-11-01
Features: The Turbulent Years of Mao Zedong in Xibaipo, though merely eleven months in his life, was a glorious chapter. As a military strategist, he demonstrated his exceptional tactics in planning, seizing opportunities, meticulously strategizing, skillfully deploying battles, and orchestrating decisive battles of large armies. As a statesman and thinker, he showcased his vision in planning the founding of the nation, leading the formulation of major policies for the new state, and earnestly urging the entire party to remember the "Two Obligations." As an individual, he revealed his ability to turn adversity into advantage, masterfully employing the "Empty Fort Strategy," his empathy for the people, and his deep connection to the masses. The book primarily records the life and experiences of Mao Zedong from May 27, 1948, when he arrived in Xibaipo, to March 23, 1949, when he left Xibaipo for Beijing. These eleven months were not only a period of the Chinese revolution nearing victory but also a time when the Communist Party of China planned the founding of the nation, and a period when Mao Zedong's extraordinary talent and strategic vision were fully displayed. From the perspective of Party history, this book comprehensively and vividly reflects the turbulent years of Mao Zedong in Xibaipo. It can be summarized in two sentences: "Heart-stirring" and "Deeply moving." It holds significant importance today in promoting and upholding the "Spirit of Xibaipo," as well as in conducting patriotic education and revolutionary tradition education for the Chinese people. This book is rich in materials, engaging in plot, and objective in evaluation. It primarily relies on the chronology of Mao Zedong, his letters, and written works, supplemented by extensive historical and literary materials from various newspapers and magazines at the time, as well as a wealth of third-party materials beyond the scope of the Communist Party and the Kuomintang, to present Mao Zedong in his prime from the perspective of ordinary people. The book strictly adheres to the basic principles of personal biography, delving deeply into the character and various historical aspects, and presenting them to readers in a vivid, illustrated format, making it highly readable.