>never purged deng
>protected him multiple times from the gang of four
>post lin biao incident
>supported purging lin bao connected generals or at least minimizing their power
>started supporting bringing back old officials like deng
>deng is brought back into the party
>immediately started supporting his promotion
>supported deng being mentored by zhou enlai, the premier of china
>supported dengs rise to vice chairman of cmc, head chair of party meetings, and first premier of the state council
>supported dengs consolidation campagins, where deng and his team enacted plans to purge cultural revolution rebels in steel, railways, coal and other economic centers. And then do other things to improve production
>supported wang hongwen ( a pro cultural revolution figure) losing his position and in exchange for deng to take his position (head chair of party meetings)
>sided with deng at least for a while against the gang of four. Criticized the gang for their disunity and shit
>supported deng to enact plans to slowly purge certain unqualified members from the party or at least prevent them from assuming leadership roles (these members being ones who benefited from the cultural revolution
>supported deng, at least in the beginning, to reform the academic system (chinese academy of science), economic planning system, and cultural systems away from the cultural revolution excesses. Gang of four seethes about it and feels like they are losing influence.
>Stops supporting deng when he goes to far (a certain university incident) but at that point the damage is done.
>Still protects deng and supports a moderate to become leader Hua Guofeng
Did mao shoot himself in the foot? It looks like mao created all the conditions for deng to rise to the top