The story of the gallows that were used to execute Li Dazhao, one of the founders of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), became the most searched topic on China’s internet on June 18, shortly after the authorities launched a documentary series, which included Li’s story. Chinese netizens seem to be interested in finding out why the CCP included Li’s story when celebrating its 100th anniversary, an extremely inauspicious sign for the Party. Li was arrested and then executed by the warlord Zhang Zuolin in Beijing in 1927. The very gallows that hung Li are still on display in the exhibition hall of the National Museum of China. However, the museum does not provide any explanation for the intriguing history behind it. Chinese scholar Lin Hui recounted Li’s last days in his article series “Restoring China’s True Contemporary History.” Lin revealed that the gallows were imported specifically for Li at his …