So it seems that between 1950-54 Gao Gang tried to usurp Zhou Enlai and Rao Rishi tried to usurp Liu Shaoqi.
But Mao ultimately came down in favor of Enlai and Shaoqi and put this conspiracy down. On the other hand, he complained of the former to Gang, which he misread as a go-ahead. Would Mao ever actually greenlight this? What would it take? what are the ramifications?
How competent would Gang have been in Zhou's position? What direction would the economy go? Foreign affairs?