Preface: Mao Zedong and His Era Four gunshots and the fate of China From "Old China" to "New China" Why did he become the soul of the era? Before the mission of the times Roads, dreams, and legends Chapter One Historical Questions and Answers "Grand unity is great strength" "Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun" "It takes a great party to guide a great revolution" The will of the people trumps everything Chapter Two What Was "New" About New China? New image of national independence New look of people's liberation New situation of national unity Chapter Three Entering Socialism It is only a matter of time before we build socialism Why set the clock forward? A road of peaceful transformation Chapter Four Breakthroughs in the Cold War Context Siding with the Soviet Union Strike first to spare being stricken a hundred times Tearing apart the trade blockade Two international conferences, one Chinese approach Chapter Five Top-Level Design Why 1956? Clarifying the "Ten Major Relationships" A grand meeting and a new route Judgments and choices during an "eventful year" Chapter Six Periods of Planning How was the economic plan compiled? Food, clothing and daily necessities for the people "Do not rush the construction of socialism" From development strategy to economic layout Chapter Seven Policy Toward Intellectuals Originally "intellectuals" Solidarity, education and transformation Let a hundred flowers bloom, let a hundred schools of thought contend Winning the battle of science and technology Chapter Eight Transforming Social Traditions Removing "malignant tumors" and old customs The new social customs A dualistic structure of rural and urban areas The spirit of the times Chapter Nine National Governance Break the "cycle of history" How were the "nation's leaders" tempered? "A game of chess, and a bamboo pole" On the Cultural Revolution Chapter Ten New Role in the International Arena Deterioration of Sine-Soviet relations Friends in the "intermediate zones" A handshake across the Pacific Back to the UN Postscript