Tan Zhenlin Li Fuchun Li Xiannian Chen Yi Ye Jianying Xu Xiangqian Nie Rongzhen Kang Sheng Chen Boda Jiang Qing Zhang Chunqiao Xie Fuzhi The February Countercurrent (Chinese: 二月逆流; pinyin: Èryuè nìliú), also known as the February Adverse Current,[1] refers to the joint efforts by a group of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) veterans to oppose the radicalism at the beginning of the Cultural Revolution.

[3]: 154  The conflict pitted Communist revolutionary generals Tan Zhenlin (the vice Premier), Marshal Chen Yi, Li Xiannian, Yu Qiuli, and others against Maoist radicals[3]: 154  led by Lin Biao, Kang Sheng, Jiang Qing, and Zhang Chunqiao.

[4] Mao called a meeting on February 18 including Zhou Enlai, Ye Jianying, Ye Qun, Kang Sheng and others to express his support for Lin Biao and the radical Red Guards, saying "If someone opposes the Central Cultural Revolution Group I will resolutely oppose him," "The Central Cultural Revolution Group [...] errors amount to one, two, maybe three percent, while it's been correct up to ninety-seven percent", "If this Great Cultural Revolution fails, Comrade Lin Biao and I will withdraw from Beijing and go back to Well Ridge Mountain to fight a guerrilla war", and even taunted that Chen Yi's faction could take a try to bring Wang Ming, Zhang Guotao and even the United States and the Soviet Union to support them.

"[3]: 154 In March 1968, Lin Biao and the Gang of Four accused Yang Chengwu, Yu Lijian (second secretary of the Party Committee of the Air Force), and Fu Chongbi (commander of the Beijing garrison) of "overturning the case of the February Countercurrent.

"[8]: 76  The Central Committee resolved that the accusations were slanderous, officially restored the reputations of those targeted in the incident, and paid compensation for those who were injured or killed as a result.