My father and his friends were subjected to relentless criticisms and obliged to undertake selfcriticisms at intensive meetings for months. They were told that they had caused chaos in Yan’an and weakened the Party’s unity and discipline, which could damage the great cause of saving China from the Japanese—and from poverty and injustice. Over and over again, the Party leaders inculcated into them the absolute necessity for complete submission to the Party, for the good of the cause.
