The Story of Meng Yongqian Offers a Warning: Making the Right Choice Is Critical

(Minghui.org) A recent article published in the “Insights from History” column of the Minghui periodical “Heaven and Earth’s Living Beings” (Issue No. 309) caught readers’ attention. Two readers share their reflections below, reminding others of the huge importance of making the right choice at critical moments.

Learning from the Past to Understand the Future

To provide some context, “Insights from History” is a column deeply rooted in history and culture, dedicated to distilling truth from the vast expanse of history and uncovering facts and objective patterns. Its topics range from sweeping histories spanning five millennia across vast territories to the events of modern time and place. It draws lessons from the past to understand the future, to discern truth from falsehood, and to provide insight into the underlying nature of events.

An article in Issue No. 309 struck a chord with many readers. It was titled, “Misfortune Befalls Those Who Trust the Chinese Communist Party (CCP): The Story of Meng Yongqian,” and it exposed the true nature of the CCP, its falsehoods, malice, and struggle.

“Misfortune Befalls Those Who Trust the CCP” is a well-known warning repeated by many who understood the CCP’s history or fell victim to its system. Meng Yongqian’s story is a tragic example that illustrates the truth of this warning. Meng graduated from the Department of Economics at Yenching University in 1924, and served as Deputy Director of the All-China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives after the CCP took power. He was singled out for criticism by Mao for opposing the “unified purchase and marketing” policy. He later headed the Institute of International Relations under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Meng was imprisoned for 11 years in Qincheng Prison after Mao launched the Cultural Revolution to topple former president Liu Shaoqi.

Meng Yongqian joined the CCP in his youth, driven by the ideal of enriching the nation and strengthening its people. He was one of a rare few intellectuals who worked under the direct orders of the Party’s top leadership (Zhu, Mao, and Zhou), risking his life in the CCP’s rise to power. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Meng was dismissed from his job because his views on economic development differed from Mao’s and he spoke his mind candidly. Meng later became a casualty of the CCP when Mao Zedong fabricated charges of treason against Liu Shaoqi in a bid to bring him down.

Unfortunately, Meng Yongqian’s fate was not an isolated case. When the CCP rose to power in 1949, many intellectuals and members of the social elite were misled by the CCP’s propaganda promising “democracy, freedom, and a coalition government.” They resolutely refused to retreat to Taiwan with the Nationalist government, choosing to remain on the mainland to “serve the country.” Ultimately, after enduring the Anti-Rightist Campaign and the Cultural Revolution, many of these elites suffered severe persecution and met tragic fates.

Reflections from Mr. Cheng, a Business Owner

Meng Yongqian’s story prompted several reflections from Mr. Cheng, a business owner born in Taiwan. Mr. Cheng was raised in a military dependants’ village—his parents were among the military personnel and their families who retreated to Taiwan with the Nationalist government in 1949, a time of great upheaval. Having heard many stories from his parents and elders, he is well-versed in the ways of the CCP, so the story of Meng Yongqian deeply resonated with him.

Mr. Cheng’s view is that the CCP’s rise to power was really quite simple. It relied on a group of elite intellectuals who, in turn, mobilized students. China at the time was plagued by prolonged turmoil, spanning the revolution, the warlord era, and the establishment of the Republic of China, leaving the people increasingly impoverished. Driven by noble sentiments and a desire to save the nation and its people, these intellectuals were used by the CCP to rally the student body. The goals put forward at the time appeared lofty, yet in reality, they were merely temporary measures.

Mr. Cheng said that after the CCP utilized these intellectuals to achieve its political goals, it then proceeded to purge and persecute many of them. This was because the CCP wanted sycophants rather than true talent. Capable individuals posed a threat to its grip on power. Under this system, the CCP relied on “struggle” tactics to accomplish its objectives. The redistribution of land and property back then employed the same playbook. The poor always make up the majority, while the wealthy are a small minority. The CCP’s standard methods are hardly surprising: the practice of “discarding the donkey once the millstone work is done,” casting aside those who have outlived their usefulness, is commonplace under the Communist system and has proven consistently effective.

Mr. Li Urges Heightened Vigilance

Another reader, Mr. Li, now in his 80s, noted that according to the historical narrative, the CCP’s ultimate defeat of the Kuomintang and seizure of power owed much to the contributions of Meng Yongqian and Liu Shaoqi. Yet, during the Cultural Revolution, Meng was subjected to prolonged imprisonment and brutal torture that left him physically and mentally shattered, while Liu Shaoqi was sentenced and met a tragic end—a pattern typical of communist autocracy. This would not occur in democratic nations that cherish freedom.

In ancient times, those living in remote areas might have complacently asked themselves, “What does the Emperor’s power have to do with me?” Yet, looking at China today, the CCP’s one-party rule is characterized by aggressive militarism. Ordinary people work hard to earn money and pay taxes that fund the state’s weapons procurement, while the wealthy scramble to emigrate and get foreign citizenship. Mr. Li cannot understand why certain Taiwanese politicians have forgotten the lessons learned from being deceived by the CCP and still seek to cozy up to it. Do they really want to be ruled by the CCP?

Taiwanese society has been heavily infiltrated by the CCP. Mr. Li urges his fellow citizens to remain vigilant, remembering that “Communist spies are right in your midst.” He calls upon non-commissioned officers in the military to avoid the temptation of petty gains that could lead to prison sentences for selling state secrets. He urges them instead to choose the system of freedom and democracy, so they can live their lives at ease.

Mr. Li, who has lived in Taiwan for over 80 years, implored earnestly, “When faced with the temptations of various interests, it’s crucial to make the right choice.”