Mao Tse-tung has dominated the Chinese domestic scene for well over four decades now. Ever since the 1935 Tsunyi Conference, he has been successful in asserting his leadership over the Chinese Communist Party and the People's Liberation Army-the two main loci of power within China. However, in the process, Mao has had to face many a challenge to his authority. At times, it appeared as if the reins of control over the Party and the PLA were slipping out of his hands and that. the country was relapsing into a period of warlordism, or head-ing towards army dictatorship or rule by a Party...