Page "Cultural Revolution" Paragraph 15

Having ousted Luo and Yang, Mao returned his attention to Peng Zhen.

On February 12, 1966, the " Five Man Group " issued a report known as the February Outline ().

The Outline, sanctioned by the Party centre, defined Hai Rui as constructive academic discussion, and aimed to formally distance Peng Zhen from any political implications.

However, Jiang Qing and Yao Wenyuan continued their denunciation of Wu Han and Peng Zhen.

Meanwhile, Mao also sacked Propaganda Department director Lu Dingyi, a Peng Zhen ally.

Lu's removal gave Maoists unrestricted access to the press.

Mao would deliver his final blow to Peng Zhen at a high-profile Politburo meeting through loyalists Kang Sheng and Chen Boda.

They accused Peng Zhen of opposing Mao, labeled the February Outline " evidence of Peng Zhen's revisionism ", and grouped him with three other disgraced officials as part of the " Peng-Luo-Lu-Yang Anti-Party Clique ".

On May 16, the Politburo formalized the decisions by releasing an official document condemning Peng Zhen and his " anti-party allies " in the strongest terms, disbanding his " Five Man Group ", and replacing it with the Maoist Cultural Revolution Group ( CRG ).