Casting a Net over Zhongnanhai—How Many "Scum of the Red Dynasty" Can You Haul In?

Bo Xilai's family of three—Gu Kailai (left), Bo Guagua (centre), and Bo Xilai—all have unfriendly expressions. (People News composite image)

[People News] "Scum" is a Chinese term referring to the dregs of human society—those with depraved morals, vile behaviour, and who act against ethical norms and social decency.

One cannot help but think of three idioms: “Turning suddenly to look back,” “Eyes fixed unblinkingly,” and “Like a starving man craving food.” One wonders, just how lustful and audacious was old Jiang? How many years of indulgent womanising must he have gone through to reach such a shameless level? And all this at the Great Hall of the People, where journalists from around the world gather! But then again, compared to Jiang Zemin’s widely known mistresses—Song, Li, Huang, and Chen—these images are just gossip fodder.

When it comes to the promiscuity of CCP General Secretaries, Jiang Zemin wasn’t the first. Veteran Party Secretary Xiang Zhongfa, after separating from his wife, lived in a Western-style house and used party funds to hire prostitutes as mistresses. After being captured in 1931, Xiang defected and was ridiculed as being “less than a prostitute.” Mao Zedong’s sexual indulgence was even more extreme than Xiang’s, but during those extraordinary times, it didn’t yet corrupt others on a large scale. Jiang Zemin, unlike Mao and Xiang, not only lived a debauched life himself but also packed the CCP Politburo with other lecherous individuals. For people like Li Lanqing, Chen Liangyu, and Chen Xitong, their sex scandals aren’t even notable. Zhongnanhai became a brothel of sorts. As a result, a wave of “scum of the Red Dynasty” emerged. Today, let’s focus on the big names.

Zhou Yongkang: Former Politburo Standing Committee Member, Former Secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission

During his 13 years in the petroleum system (1985–1998), Zhou Yongkang was a frequent patron of nightlife venues and earned the nickname “King of a Hundred Chickens.” This was also the period of peak corruption within the China National Petroleum Corporation.

While serving as Party Secretary of Sichuan, he often “worked overtime” at government guesthouses (as he told his wife). It was common knowledge within the Sichuan provincial compound that Secretary Zhou had a certain “taste.” According to a close aide: “Zhou’s biggest takeaway is that once you've climbed this high in office, you can do whatever you want.”

Reportedly, during his tenure in Sichuan, his then-mistress (now wife) Jia Xiaoye claimed to be pregnant and pressured him into a divorce. To marry his new flame, Zhou allegedly orchestrated a car accident to kill his wife.

Overseas Chinese media revealed that Gu Kailai, wife of Bo Xilai, confessed to being the go-between for Zhou and Bo’s attempted coup. She reportedly cursed Zhou as a “scumbag” who “took advantage of her.”

Other overseas reports claim that Zhou Yongkang accepted a steady stream of women from Bo Xilai and Wang Lijun—28 women have been confirmed. They included singers, actresses, and university students. One famous singer, after being repeatedly used by Bo, was gifted to Zhou for "sharing." To facilitate his pleasure, Zhou maintained six private residences.

Zeng Qinghong: Former Politburo Standing Committee Member

Zeng Qinghong was considered Jiang Zemin’s “chief strategist” and “imperial steward.” He was nicknamed “China’s most magnificent” because, at the age of 67, he was reportedly caught naked in the northeast bragging to a sex worker: “Mine is the most magnificent in China!” The incident was secretly filmed.

The owner of the video said Zeng only achieved this “magnificence” after taking imported Viagra. An official witnessed his aides delivering foreign-brand Viagra to Zeng, who grinned so widely his squinty eyes became slits.

Zhongnanhai’s top procurer was Zeng’s brother, Zeng Qinghuai. Before Song Zuying became Jiang Zemin’s lover, she was reportedly Zeng Qinghong’s mistress, arranged by his brother. After Song switched allegiance to Jiang, Zeng continued to interfere under the guise of helping her with overseas promotions. To win Jiang’s affections, Song reportedly stoked his intense jealousy, which worked—Jiang grew suspicious and bore a lasting grudge against Zeng.

Dongguan is often called the “sex capital of China.” According to reports, Zeng Qinghong was “trapped by Dongguan’s allure and couldn’t be bothered with Beijing.” After retiring, he reportedly spent at least 10 months a year “peacefully residing deep within the lush villas of the sex capital,” enjoying the services arranged by local cronies.

The Paper (澎湃新闻网) once ran a feature that specifically referenced the debauchery and corruption of Prince Qing (Yikuang) from the late Qing dynasty. Many interpreted that the modern “Prince Qing” is none other than Zeng Qinghong.

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Bo Xilai: Former Member of the CCP Politburo

Bo Xilai, son of senior CCP veteran Bo Yibo, had limited experience but a powerful background. Add to that his hyperactive, attention-seeking nature, and he quickly gained notoriety. Particularly shocking was the claim that he bit off a woman’s nipple during sex—a scandal that made him infamous among Chinese netizens, who ranked him as the top “scumbag.”

Bo Xilai’s debauchery has roots in his family. His father, Bo Yibo, rose to the position of Vice Premier of the State Council. He had an affair with his secretary, Hu Ming—Bo Xilai’s biological mother—causing her to suffer three miscarriages. Bo Yibo’s legal wife, who had once saved his life, was eventually forced to step aside in silence, paving the way for Hu Ming. After Hu became the Vice Premier’s wife, Bo Yibo moved on to a new secretary. According to guards, he would often be found passionately embracing her.

Bo Xilai, despite already having a wife and child, got Gu Kailai pregnant. When the baby was born, Bo Guagua—Bo divorced his wife. The child was awarded to the mother, but Bo refused to pay any child support as mandated by the court.

While serving as mayor of Dalian, Bo was implicated in a scandal involving a female model surnamed Yu, whose nipple he allegedly bit off. Yu’s husband, a mafia boss, was in prison at the time.

As a rising star within Jiang Zemin’s faction, Bo was parachuted into Chongqing in 2007, where he launched his high-profile “sing red, strike black” campaign. He acted like a local despot, surrounded by women. Despite having moved to Chongqing, he maintained five personal residences in Dalian for his convenience. After his fall from power, it was revealed that he had 170 mistresses, including 11 underage girls (under 16), as well as famous actresses and singers.

Xu Caihou: Former Member of the CCP Politburo

On March 15, 2015, former Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Xu Caihou died of multiple organ failure due to bladder and urinary tract cancer. However, internal sources claim he actually died from AIDS-related complications—providing insight into his highly promiscuous lifestyle.

General Liu Yazhou once gave a speech at the National Defence University, saying: “Gu Junshan gave Xu Caihou female singers, actresses, and waitresses. That’s not even the worst—he even gave his own daughter to Xu Caihou. What truly ‘impressed’ me was that while Xu was sleeping with Gu’s daughter in one room, Gu was calmly sitting in the next room.”

The disgraced military tiger Xu Caihou had over a ton of cash stored at home, with a hidden vault beneath the August 1st Building guarded by his secretary and a female soldier. He also coerced that same female soldier into sex, promising promotions he never delivered. After his retirement, the woman lost hope.

One day, she drove a van from her hometown in Shandong, loaded all the hidden cash, and disappeared—never to be seen again.

Internal reports state that from 2000 to 2012, Xu fast-tracked the promotion of more than 80 women to military or defence roles, many of whom he later favoured. Between 2012 and 2013, he gifted over 220 million yuan in cash and property to 15 women with whom he had had sexual relations and made promises.

Right before the 2015 “Two Sessions,” a letter allegedly from the PLA Television Centre accused a prominent female military anchor, Feng Lin (known as “No. 1 Sister of Military News”), of sexual misconduct with Xu. She was investigated, forced to resign from the National Committee of the CPPCC, and stripped of her military title.

According to leaked documents, a list of seized items from Xu’s family home included: 1,755 pornographic videos and tapes. 422 foreign porn magazines and publications.

Guo Boxiong: Former Member of the CCP Politburo

As “Northeast Tiger” Xu Caihou lay on his deathbed, he reportedly said two things: 1. “Guo Boxiong’s problems are far worse than mine.” 2. “Of all the top military generals, only two didn’t bribe me.”

So, what about the “Northwest Wolf,” Guo Boxiong? Reports indicate that even in his old age, Guo remained highly lustful and predatory. Anti-corruption investigators found over 500 pornographic DVDs and 120 adult magazines in his residences in Beijing, Xi’an, Jinan, and Zhuhai.

Guo was reported three times for extramarital affairs and was twice reprimanded by the military. One time, he received a serious demerit. Sources claim he kept over a dozen mistresses. Those he liked were arranged by Xu Caihou into military performance troupes such as the PLA Song and Dance Ensemble, which Guo then had exclusive access to.

Xu and Guo allegedly used their power to orchestrate numerous sex scandals in the military. Together, they recruited dozens of senior military and political officials through such means.

Luo Gan: Former Politburo Standing Committee Member, Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission

Everyone in the bureaucracy knew that Luo Gan was ruthless and devious. When he controlled the judiciary and security forces, anyone who crossed him—intentionally or not—would often end up in prison, and Luo himself would never leave a trace.

His cruelty extended beyond political revenge to sexual exploitation. Those who wanted favours from him knew that money wouldn’t work—he wanted women. Sending mistresses or hired escorts wasn’t enough; if Luo sensed a lack of sincerity, he would sleep with the woman but do nothing in return. Eventually, people figured out that he wanted legitimate wives. Some, despite cursing him out, had no choice but to send their actual wives to him for “special favours.”

Lin Mu, former secretary to Hu Yaobang, once said: “Luo Gan was inherently a fascist. All the terrible things done by the political and legal apparatus were orchestrated by him. Any major scandal has his fingerprints. He’s pure evil—not even qualified to be called human, more like a wolf or a tiger.”

Conclusion

Putting Jiang Zemin and six other senior Politburo members' sex scandals under the spotlight—if one had to sum them up with a popular phrase—it would be: “Respectable by day, depraved by night.”

During the day, they wore the façade of high officials. At night, they engaged in despicable behaviour. Jiang Zemin openly flirted with women on the world stage. Zhou Yongkang allegedly murdered his wife to marry a mistress. Bo Xilai reportedly bit a woman’s nipple during sex. Zeng Qinghong claimed to be “the most magnificent” in bed. Xu Caihou exploited women and denied all promises afterwards. Guo Boxiong, old as he was, remained a predatory wolf. Luo Gan only wanted other men’s legal wives. Based on the definition of “human scum” introduced at the beginning, do they qualify? They don’t just qualify—they’re the elite of the Red Dynasty’s scum.

When the top rots, the rest follows. When leaders are corrupt, their subordinates go astray. If we ever wondered why in China’s officialdom “male officials think of lust to rise, female officials rise through lust,” this essay clears up the confusion in an instant.

(Originally published by People News) △