Liu Shaoqi
After becoming convinced that Hai Rui was an allegory for Peng Dehuai, in 1965 Mao devised a long-term scheme to eliminate his chief rival within the Party, Chinese President Liu Shaoqi, by criticizing the writer of the play, Wu Han. By criticizing and removing Wu Han, Mao planned to criticize and remove his superior in Beijing, Peng Zhen, who was one of Liu Shaoqi's closest supporters, with the ultimate intention of criticizing and eliminating President Liu Shaoqi.