Mao Zedong wrote this speech to commemorate the death of a PLA soldier, Zhang Side, a participant in the Long March who died in the collapse of a kiln. In the speech, he quoted a phrase written by the famous Han Dynasty historian Sima Qian: Though death befalls all men alike, it may be heavy as Mount Tai or light as a feather (人固有一死，或轻于鸿毛，或重于泰山). Mao continued: To die for the people is weightier than Mount Tai, but to work for the fascists and die for the exploiters and oppressors is lighter than a feather. Comrade Zhang Side died for the people, and his death is indeed weightier than Mount Tai.