In 1956 Mao he initiated the Hundred Flowers Campaign, in which he invited criticism: “Let a hundred flowers bloom,” Mao insisted. Mao either soured on hearing people’s opinions or used the campaign to expose opponents, launching another round of repression, the Anti‐Rightist Movement. Millions more were killed or imprisoned.
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In 1956 Mao he initiated the Hundred Flowers Campaign, in which he invited criticism: “Let a hundred flowers bloom and a hundred schools of thought contend," Mao insisted. Having offered various constructive suggestions, critics soon found that what Mao really wanted to do was to expose opponents, to "draw the snakes out of their lairs". Mao launched another round of repression, the Anti‐Rightist Movement. Millions more were killed or imprisoned.