Malan Village

Malan Village

Malan Village, situated 30 kilometers southwest of Fuping County, has over 100 households and is surrounded by picturesque mountain and water views. During the War of Resistance against Japan, the Jin-Cha-Ji Daily, under the leadership of People's News figure Deng Tuo, was stationed here for a long time. Deng Tuo and other journalists attended village Party branch meetings, taught farmers how to read, and the story of Deng Tuo personally leading the horse and lowering the bridal stool for the groom of a wedding in the village has been widely passed down to this day. In July 1944, on the occasion of the "July 1st" anniversary, the newspaper printed and published the Selected Works of Mao Zedong, edited by Deng Tuo, in the Poshan Natural Village of Malan. It was the first edition of the Selected Works of Mao Zedong ever published in China. The site of the printing house still remains today.

In February 1912, Deng Tuo was born into a poor intellectual family in Fuzhou. At the age of 18, he joined the Chinese Communist Party. Later, he was imprisoned three times by the enemy, endured the torment of prison life, brutal torture, yet his resolve grew stronger as the flames burned hotter. He diligently studied Marxism-Leninism, and showed even more dedication in researching and enthusiastically propagating Mao Zedong Thought—the Sinicized version of Marxism-Leninism. He cherished Mao Zedong’s poetry, collecting nearly every piece and being able to recite every line. He also gathered even the smallest fragments of Mao’s writings. In the autumn of 1937, after arriving in the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Border Region, Deng Tuo became even more proactive in promoting Mao Zedong Thought. No matter how perilous the environment, he spared no effort to collect and preserve Mao’s speeches and works. In April 1938, after becoming the director of the Resistance Against Japan Daily, Deng Tuo ensured that every new work by Mao was published in the newspaper as quickly as possible, and afterwards had them issued as individual pamphlets. Between May and June 1938, when On Protracted War arrived, Deng Tuo took the manuscript to Zhou Ming, the head of the printing house, and said: “On Protracted War is written so brilliantly—practical, eloquent, and highly logical. The whole piece is suffused with dialectics. It is the theoretical weapon guiding the War of Resistance. We must ensure that all cadres and people in the border region can read it soon. The newspaper should not only publish but also produce books and establish a publishing house. With the first anniversary of the war approaching, let’s print this book under the name ‘July 7th Publishing House’!” The booklet of On Protracted War carried the truth that “the people will triumph, and the Japanese invaders will perish,” like a bright lamp dispelling the fog in people’s hearts and illuminating the path forward.

In February 1940, Mao Zedong’s article On New Democracy was published. On the carbon copy, Mao personally wrote: “Send to Wutai Mountain via Northwest Shanxi for Comrade — to review.” — handed it to Deng Tuo and asked him to publish it. After receiving the manuscript, Deng Tuo read it over and over again. When he read the poetic line “Raise your hands, the new China is ours,” he couldn’t help but applaud in admiration, and the book was quickly printed. From 1938 to 1942 alone, within five years, the newspaper published over 180 types of books and periodicals, totaling more than 1.1 million copies. Even before the first edition of the Selected Works of Mao Zedong was published, Deng Tuo and his comrades had already continuously published various individual pamphlets of Mao’s works, laying the groundwork for the official publication of the Selected Works. At the time, the enemy-occupied areas prohibited the publication of any progressive literature, and reading Marxist or Maoist books could result in execution. To deceive the enemy, Deng Tuo and his comrades used covers such as Women’s Issues or Dream of the Red Chamber to package and distribute Mao’s works like On Protracted War, On New Democracy, and the Ten-Point Program of Resisting Japan and Saving the Nation within the base areas. These were distributed to Beijing, Tianjin, Shijiazhuang, Taiyuan, and Zhangjiakou through the Urban Work Department led by Liu Ren, and to Shenyang and Dalian via the Northeast Working Committee led by Han Guang, ensuring that people in enemy-occupied areas could promptly understand the Party’s anti-Japanese stance and strengthen their belief in victory.

On July 1, 1942, the front page of the Jin-Cha-Ji Daily featured a prominent editorial titled “Commemorating July 1st: The Whole Party Must Study and Master Mao Zedongism,” meticulously written by Editor-in-Chief Deng Tuo. The editorial stated: “The reason why the Chinese Communist Party has been able to lead the great revolutionary struggles for national and social liberation in 20th-century China, and has become a strong and powerful Bolshevik party that is politically, organizationally, and ideologically solid and broadly mass-based, is because of Mao Zedongism.” The editorial called on: “Deeply study and master Mao Zedongism, and truly apply its theories and strategies flexibly to every specific issue at any given time and place.” At the time, figures like Chen Yi had proposed studying the “ideological system of Mao Zedong” or the “thought of Comrade Mao Zedong,” but Mao himself felt his ideas were not yet mature enough to be equated with Marxism or Leninism. Later, following Wang Jiaxiang’s article and —’s report at the 7th National Congress, terms like “Mao Zedongism” were replaced by “Mao Zedong Thought,” which has been used ever since. Deng Tuo’s use of an editorial to advocate for the study of Mao Zedong Thought was the first of its kind across all revolutionary base areas in China.

Deng Tuo, along with —, Nie Rongzhen, Liu Lantao, and other key leaders of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Base Area, consistently emphasized that studying Mao Zedong Thought meant studying Mao’s stance, viewpoint, and methodology. However, Zhang Chunqiao, who came to Fuping in the spring of 1943 to serve as deputy editor of the Jin-Cha-Ji Daily, proposed his own “picking quotes out of context” method of study. He claimed that “in times of battle, everyone is busy with war, so the best shortcut to learning Marxism-Leninism is to pick quotes out of context.” He said, “The essence of Marxism-Leninism lies in the striking sentences in each article. Picking quotes out of context means extracting the striking phrases from Marxism-Leninism, memorizing them, and using them. This is the most time-saving and efficient method.” Zhang even cited his own experience: “That’s how I study Marxism-Leninism. My articles often quote striking phrases from it—these are just ‘picked’ this way...” Hearing Zhang’s approach, Deng Tuo furrowed his brow. Later, Zhang tried to publish an article promoting this method in the Jin-Cha-Ji Daily. Deng Tuo suppressed the article and refused to publish it. Zhang then wrote a complaint letter to the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Border Region Party Committee, demanding disciplinary action against Deng Tuo. Thanks to the committee leaders’ familiarity with Deng Tuo, he was not dismissed. But he became even more convinced of the necessity of systematically publishing Mao’s works.

In early 1944, to systematically study and promote Mao Zedong Thought, the Central Bureau of the CCP in the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Border Region, with approval from the CCP Central Propaganda Committee chaired by Mao Zedong and vice-chaired by Wang Jiaxiang, decided to publish the Selected Works of Mao Zedong, entrusting this important task to Deng Tuo, the editor-in-chief and president of the Jin-Cha-Ji Daily.

One day in April that year, Deng Tuo, who was staying in Leibao Village with the newspaper’s editorial staff, summoned Zhou Ming, the head of the newspaper’s second printing factory, from its base in Poshan Natural Village of Malan Village, which had only a few dozen households. As soon as Zhou Ming dismounted, Deng Tuo shared the joyful news that the CCP Central Northern Bureau had decided to publish the Selected Works of Mao Zedong: “The manuscripts have been compiled. Which pieces to include and which not were decided by the bureau and approved by the central leadership.” Deputy Editor Zhang Chunqiao also participated in the selection process, while newly appointed Commissar Zhai Laiqing and others ensured the supply of raw materials. Deng Tuo handed over both the manuscripts and the editorial note personally written by him and revised by bureau leaders to Zhou Ming, saying: “It’s a pity that some of Chairman Mao’s articles haven’t been publicly released yet and thus couldn’t be included this time... Ensuring that all Party members and cadres across the border region can systematically read Mao’s works, unifying everyone under the banner of Mao, is a tremendous political task. You must typeset and print the book well, race against time, and avoid errors.”

Zhou Ming rushed back to Poshan Village from Leibao on horseback and conveyed the task assigned by President Deng to all factory workers, who were delighted. Each production phase developed plans to accomplish the task. At the time, it was shortly after the autumn large-scale “mopping-up” campaign by Japanese invaders in 1943, and conditions were difficult. The kitchen staff insisted on preparing good meals to ensure everyone had ample energy to print the Selected Works. Proofreaders Zhai Zhizhen and Zhang Shou’en worked with extreme diligence, carefully checking word-by-word during the first and second proofreading stages. During the third proofreading, one person read the manuscript while another checked the proofs. The reader articulated each word clearly and with proper intonation, striving to convey the meaning, while the proofer listened and read closely, not letting a single mistake slip by—even rechecking some parts four or more times. Every step of the process achieved the highest standards of the time.

The first edition of the Selected Works of Mao Zedong featured dignified and elegant layout. Upon opening the cover, readers saw a finely crafted copperplate portrait of Mao Zedong, beneath which was boldly inscribed “Comrade Mao Zedong, Leader of the Chinese People.” The copperplate was produced with assistance from the Jin-Cha-Ji Pictorial. Behind the portrait were the title page, copyright page, editorial note, and general table of contents. Each of the five volumes had its own detailed table of contents, and the title of each work in the main text occupied a full page for easy reference. The collection included 29 articles spanning over 800 pages and more than 460,000 words. In addition to 25 works by Mao published around the outbreak of the War of Resistance up to 1944, it also featured the Report on an Investigation of the Peasant Movement in Hunan, the Resolution of the Ninth Congress of the Fourth Red Army, and reports and conclusions from the National Representative Conference held in Yan’an in May 1937. The hardcover edition had a red or blue satin cover embossed with the five golden characters “Selected Works of Mao Zedong,” making it exquisitely bound and universally loved. When the books were delivered to the bureau office, a crowd quickly gathered. Comrade Liu Lantao praised the book endlessly, unable to put it down. Unfortunately, due to the harsh conditions, far fewer than the planned 2,500 copies were printed, and even fewer hardcovers were produced—they were reserved for leaders. Even the paperback editions weren’t enough for every cadre in the border region. Thus, everyone tried every means to “plead” with Deng Tuo for a copy. For a time, the Selected Works became a treasured gift sought after by everyone in the border region, marking a major event that caused a sensation across the region and other bases. Later, this edition underwent four additional revisions and reprints. First, in March 1945, two new articles were added: The Tasks for 1945 and Learning Economic Work Thoroughly Within Two or Three Years. Then, between 1945 and 1947, seven more articles were included: three rural surveys from Xingguo, Changgangfeng, and Caixi Township, On Coalition Government, Response to Reuters Reporter Gamble, Statement on the U.S. Aid to China Bill, and Guidelines for the Cultural and Educational United Front. The total number of articles increased to 38, with over 600,000 words, expanding from five to six volumes. Initially overseen by Hu Xikui, Minister of Propaganda for the CCP Central Bureau of Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei, the project continued under Deng Tuo after Hu’s transfer, with proofreading and editing by Yang Xianzhen, —, Xiao San, Ding Ling, and Sha Kefu, and cover design by Cai Ruohong. In October 1946, when the Kuomintang reactionary forces launched a major offensive on Zhangjiakou, the newspaper relocated back to Fuping. In March 1947, the 1947 edition of the Selected Works was printed and published again in Malan Poshan Village. In addition to domestic distribution, it spread abroad and was translated into a Russian edition in the Northeast Liberated Area.

Marshal Nie Rongzhen once praised: “The Jin-Cha-Ji Daily consistently and tirelessly promoted Mao Zedong Thought, not only in its newspapers but also in the books and periodicals it published, frequently featuring articles by Comrade Mao and accounts of Mao Zedong Thought. In May 1944, it edited and published the first Selected Works of Mao Zedong (five volumes) in the country.” (Preface by Nie Rongzhen for the History of the Jin-Cha-Ji Daily, published by People’s Publishing House in April 1993) This assessment has been widely recognized by experts in Party history and literature. Many historians consider this edition of the Selected Works of Mao Zedong as the “first systematic version” and “the earliest and most widely circulated edition.” (See Gong Yuzhi’s “Conversation with Professor Schram on the Edition Issue”)

During the large-scale “mopping-up” campaign in the autumn of 1943, seven staff members of the Jin-Cha-Ji Daily—Hu Wei, Huang Qingtao, Gong Chunfang, Hou Chunnü—sacrificed their lives in Xiaoshuiyugou, Xiazhuang Township, Fuping County. Zheng Leijun, An Qingxue, and Cao Dodd also died in Beiyng Village, Lingshou County. After the campaign, the newspaper and the villagers of Malan Village buried the seven martyrs by the riverbank of a tributary of the Yanzi River in Malan Village—at a hill resembling an eagle’s shape, personally chosen by Deng Tuo. In 1945, Deng Tuo composed a poem for the “Malan Martyrs’ Cemetery”:

My hometown seems drunk in the distance, as dusk falls, I linger.

Shedding blood for the Party and nation, the legacy waters dreams and thoughts.

A cliff of earth, by the river stands a monument for seven.

From this day forth on the Malan road, the martyrs dwell for a thousand autumns.

In the autumn of 1980, former staff of the Jin-Cha-Ji Daily, including Deng Tuo’s wife Ding Yilan, along with local government, renovated the Malan Martyrs’ Cemetery, erecting a white marble stele inscribed with Deng Tuo’s poem. Every year during Tomb-Sweeping Day or other holidays, villagers and students often come to pay respects. In the summer of 1997, Deng Tuo’s daughters Deng Xiaolan and Deng Xiaohong, entrusted by their mother Ding Yilan, visited the Malan Martyrs’ Cemetery again.

Appendix: Two Poems by Deng Tuo from His Time in Malan

(I) Remembering Ribu

I recall the bonfire blazing red last night, war songs and poetic thoughts surged in haste.

Leaning on my rifle in a thatched hut, I dozed and woke at midnight.

[Note]: Ribu is a remote, desolate small mountain village in Chahahe, Fuping, over 2,000 meters above sea level, with only two or three households. During the autumn “anti-mopping-up” campaign in 1943, Deng Tuo led the Jin-Cha-Ji Daily to set up “thatched huts” (i.e., straw sheds) here, surrounded by enemies, staying for half a month, and resolutely published 12 issues of the newspaper.

(II) Facing the Flowers

White pear blossoms by the mirror and window, seen in the pillow, laughing without restraint.

Spring scenery wanes, and people grow lazy, heart stirred yet hopes stretch afar.

The high mountains and long roads echo complaints, the courtyard quiet, the slanting sun daily descends.

If only I could grow swallow wings, lightly gliding into your home.

[Author’s Note]: Malan has Ironguan (a mountain and village name), where I stayed amidst blooming pear blossoms, inspiring this poem. Malan, a mountain village in the former Chahahe Township of Fuping County (now Chengnan Zhuang Town), was a regular base for the Jin-Cha-Ji Daily. After the founding of the People’s Republic, Deng Tuo, in memory of the locals, adopted the pen name Ma Nan?, a homophone for Malan Village.