Xi Jinping is Regarded With Disdain by the 'Red Second Generation'; He and Liu Yuan Share a Family Blood Feud

The Second-Generation Red Nobility Stages a Coup, Xi is Panicked. (People News Illustration)

[People News] What caused the relationship between Zhang Youxia and Xi Jinping, who were once allies, to completely collapse in just a few years? There are numerous interpretations circulating in society. For a long time, a heartwarming story has been told: Xi Jinping and Zhang Youxia's families are 'old friends' because their fathers, Zhang Zongxun and Xi Zhongxun, fought together on the northwestern battlefield. Many believed that Zhang Youxia's ability to remain in office at the age of 72 during the 20th National Congress was due to this deep familial connection. However, Ms Li Nanyang dispelled this myth in an exclusive interview with Tuitui Media, stating, 'There is no old friend myth.' Li Nanyang is the daughter of Li Rui, who served as secretary to Mao Zedong, the founding leader of the Communist Party of China.

Zhang Youxia is a genuine professional soldier; he participated in the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War and served on the front lines in Laoshan in 1984, making him one of the few generals in the military with actual combat experience. Xi Jinping's decision to retain him during the 20th National Congress was not based on personal ties, but rather because Xi needed a 'reliable' professional soldier to maintain military morale at that time.

However, this 'need' is not indefinite. As Zhang Youxia's influence within the military increased, he shifted from being Xi Jinping's 'ally' to a potential 'threat.' As a result, past issues from Zhang Youxia's tenure in the Equipment Development Department were revisited.

To comprehend Zhang Youxia's downfall, we must first return to the heavily fortified 'Red Courtyard' in Beijing.

In this context, the rules governing children's play are entirely different from those in the outside world. At gatherings of the 'red second generation', seating arrangements are not arbitrary. Ms Li Nanyang describes a scene where, around a round table, seating is determined by the rank of the fathers. The child whose father holds the highest position sits at the centre of the main table. This is something that many outsiders may not be aware of.

Within this cultural framework, this group tends to harbour a mindset that they 'look down on' Xi Jinping. Scholar Bi Ruxie noted that for those whose fathers are also founding figures, Xi Jinping's personal qualities and background do not stand out; they believe that he merely 'hit the political jackpot with the number one ticket'.

In the narrative of Xi Jinping, Zhang Youxia is neither the first nor will he be the last red second-generation figure to face purging. According to Li Nanyang, there were three names that loomed like mountains in front of Xi Jinping on his ascent to power.

The first mountain is Bo Xilai. He is known for his arrogance and talent, and he also has a powerful family backing. Had it not been for the unexpected Wang Lijun incident, Xi Jinping might not have been able to eliminate this formidable rival so smoothly.

The second mountain is Ye Xuanning. As the son of Ye Jianying, he is regarded as the 'spiritual leader' of the Red Second Generation. He wields deep and complex connections and business interests. Although he chose to 'watch the show' rather than directly confront Xi, his influence within the red second generation circle has kept Xi Jinping in a state of unease.

The third figure is Liu Yuan. Liu Yuan's story presents a significant dilemma for Xi Jinping. Liu Yuan's father, Liu Shaoqi, was a former president whose position far surpassed that of Xi Jinping's father, Xi Zhongxun. During the early days of Xi Jinping's leadership, Liu Yuan played a crucial role in the anti-corruption campaign, successfully taking down Gu Junshan and earning Xi Jinping's gratitude.

The narrative surrounding Xi Jinping and Liu Yuan is intertwined with a deep-seated family feud. In 1962, it was the collaboration between Liu Shaoqi and Mao Zedong that led to the political downfall of Xi Zhongxun. According to Li Nanyang, Xi Jinping is not known for his open-mindedness, and this historical 'grievance' has made it impossible for Liu Yuan to gain genuine trust and support from him. Ultimately, Liu Yuan, who was capable, personable, and came from a prominent family, was sidelined and quietly retired, vanishing from the inner circle of power.

What fuels Xi Jinping's apprehension towards this group of second-generation red elites?

Li Nanyang suggests that the answers lie in the details. Xi Zhongxun was notably strict in his parenting style, which some might describe as somewhat old-fashioned: he required Xi Jinping to wash the bathwater he had used and to eat the bones he had discarded. While this approach was undeniably strict, it sharply contrasted with the more intellectual upbringing that Liu Yuan received from his mother, Wang Guangmei.

There are even rumours that Xi Jinping's divorce from his first wife was partly due to her family's disdain for their 'rustic' background. This feeling of inferiority, which is derisively referred to as 'country bumpkin' within the second-generation red elite circles, morphed into a strong desire for control once Xi Jinping attained absolute power.

He began to distrust the self-important offspring of influential families and instead chose to elevate the children of commoners. In Xi Jinping's view, these individuals had shallow backgrounds and were overly cautious around him, much like the 'Hutong kids' who once flattered the children of the elite.

Following the ousting of Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, Xi Jinping may have finally realised his long-cherished goal of absolute power. The current Central Military Commission is now comprised of just two individuals: Xi Jinping and Zhang Shengmin, who is in charge of detaining people. This situation has been sarcastically dubbed 'one emperor and one supervisor' by observers. It is expected that this arrangement will be upended once more due to the supreme leader's growing suspicions. △