There is a book that tells the world that "there is another China"; there is a book that makes the true, objective, and three-dimensional image of the Communist jump on the paper. This book is Edgar Snow's "Red Star Shines on China", also known as "Journey to the West".
A few days ago, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and president of the people of the People's Republic of China, replied to the relatives of International Friends such as Snow, expressed his deep remembrance to the international friends who have made valuable contributions to China's revolution, construction and reform, and encouraged the relatives of these international friends to follow their relatives as an example, to enhance the friendship and cooperation between the Chinese people and the people of the world, and to contribute to promoting the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind.
After reading several times the different versions and languages of "Journey to the West" in my hand, combined with other party history and literary and historical information, it can be found that a number of people with considerable ties to Shanghai jointly contributed to Snow's trip to Yan'an and the publication of reports and books. It can be said that the cultural heritage of Shanghai's fusion of East and West, and the mixed environment of China and the Ocean in the special period, gave birth to the legend of "Red Star Shines on China".
"Surprising political situation""
In June 1936, Snow heard the news of a "surprising political situation" in northwest China, and the main force of the Red Army was concentrating from all over the country to northern Shaanxi and Gansu. So he came to Shanghai to seek help from Song Qingling.
In 1937, the Red Army in the base areas of northern Shaanxi was with the peasants.
Song Qingling and others communicated Snow's situation through secret connections with the Cpc Central Committee, which was guarding in northern Shaanxi. After receiving the report, Li Kenong, director of the Liaison Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, reported to Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai and received permission.
After receiving a letter of introduction from Mao Zedong, Soong Ching Ling contacted the underground party organization of the CPC to send Dong Jianwu, a secret party member, to Xi'an first to make a good station for Snow to go to northern Shaanxi. Dong Jianwu, who was in Shanghai, had friendships with all the forces at that time, and Zhang Xueliang and northern Shaanxi also knew him.
In addition to the joint code, Song Qingling also wrote two English poems on one of his business cards, stamped with riding seals, half to Dong Jianwu and half to Snow. In "Journey to the West", Snow vividly describes his meeting with Dong Jianwu in Xi'an.
After Dong Jianwu arrived in Xi'an, he lived in the Xijing Guest House as "Pastor Wang". He asked Snow in code: "Do you know M.S in Beiping?" Snow also replied in a predetermined code: "It's a good friend of mine." Then, the two sides showed Song Qingling's business card, spelled it correctly, and smoothly connected the relationship.
Dong Jianwu's generous demeanor, beautiful and pure English, broad and knowledgeable conversation, and incisive insight into the situation at home and abroad quickly impressed Snow. Snow made a warm evaluation of Dong Jianwu: I spent four or five hours a day listening to him chat, reminisce about the past, and listen to his more serious explanations of the evidence. He was a man I had completely no surprise to.
Snow presented Song Qingling with the title page of "Red Star Shines on China".
In June 1936, under the escort of Dong Jianwu, Snow and the American doctor Ma Haide arrived at the joint point, and Zhang Xueliang covered into northern Shaanxi security.
"A book of truth and circumstances""
In July 1936, Snow arrived in Yan'an without any danger, and then changed to a donkey and entered Anse Baijiaping, where he was warmly welcomed by Zhou Enlai. Zhou Enlai then arranged a 92-day visit schedule for him.
Snow (first from right) interviews in the revolutionary base area of northern Shaanxi.
After 3 days of hurrying, Snow reached the security guard. On the first night of the security guard, Mao Zedong came to visit him. In the following days, the two had many free conversations through the interpreter Wu Liangping in the cave.
According to Wu Liangping's recollection, he sat between Mao Zedong and Snow from July 16, translating their exchanges. After the publication of "Red Star Shines on China", Snow said with great emotion: "After the correction of Mr. Wu patiently, it will not be distorted." Mao Zedong also recommended that this be "a book that truly introduces our situation."
According to the data, Wu Liangping, together with Pan Hannian and others, did a lot of work to unite progressive intellectuals, promoted the establishment of progressive groups such as the Left-Wing Writers' Union and the Social Scientists' Union, and also spent three months translating the Anti-Dühring Theory. Because of his translation of this book, he was praised by Comrade Mao Zedong as "the merit is not under Yu".
In 1930, Wu Liangping was arrested and imprisoned, but still insisted on studying and propagating Marxism in prison. After his release from prison in 1932, he came to work in the Central Soviet Region, and in October 1934, he participated in the Long March with the Central Red Army.
"Journey to the West" has had a great impact on the world, and it is inseparable from Wu Liangping's hard work. Some Americans specially wrote a letter to Mao Zedong, and Mao Zedong instructed Wu Liangping to reply to the letter.
Snow was on the way to the interview.
"The Positive Image of the Red Army Goes Global"
In November 1936, Snow sent the full text of his conversation with Mao Zedong and a review of the Red Base Areas to the Miller's Review. After receiving the manuscript, Powell, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper, published it in full in two issues on November 14 and 21, under the title "Meeting with Communist Party Leader Mao Zedong."
This was the first time that Mao Zedong's life and conversation were introduced to the world, and it was also the first time that a photograph of Mao Zedong wearing a Red Army octagonal hat in front of a cave was published. Mao Zedong's long speech officially led to the positive image of the Chinese Communist Party and the Red Army going global.
In November 1936, the Miller's Review introduced Mao Zedong.
After the death of Shi Liangcai, the editor-in-chief of the "Declaration", the Miller's Review can be said to be the newspaper that reported the most authentic report on the struggle against Japan at that time. On August 21, 1937, the Miller's Review published a "wartime special edition" as quickly as possible to introduce the relevant situation after the Lugou Bridge Incident. A few months later, Powell planned to publish the book "China's Struggle:Memorabilia of Japan's Invasion of China," which used news records and live photos to document the struggle in Shanghai.
On December 6, 1941, a few hours before the fall of the "isolated island" in Shanghai, Powell organized forces to transport the last issue of the Miller's Review out of Shanghai before the Japanese invaded, and used secret radio stations to send information about the occupation of Shanghai to the world.
Column Editor-in-Chief: Gong Danyun Text Editor: Xia Bin Title Image Source: Xinhua News Agency
Source: Author: Shen Ping