What happened in the Wuhan Incident during the Cultural Revolution?

The Wuhan Incident was a significant turning point during the Cultural Revolution that occurred in the summer of 1967. Amidst widespread disorder and armed clashes between rival Red Guard factions, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) had been called upon by Mao Zedong to intervene and support the radical youth.123

However, this directive caused deep divisions within the military rather than unified support. The tensions culminated in Wuhan when Chen Zaidao, a local military commander, arrested two prominent radical leaders associated with the central government.123

This act of defiance against the central leadership highlighted the potential for widespread revolt among regional military commanders. Faced with this challenge to his authority and the threat of further instability, Mao shifted his strategy toward reestablishing order. This incident served as a catalyst for Mao to eventually move away from relying on the Red Guards, leading him to dispatch the military to take control of schools, factories, and government agencies in 1968 to restore central control.123