[[File:Gang of Four.PNG|right|350px|thumb|The Gang of Four, Mao's lieutenants, were put on trial for corruption after Mao's death.]]After Mao's death in September 1976 Hua Guofeng was quickly confirmed as party chairman and premier. A month later, Hua, backed by the army, arrested Jiang Qing and other members of the "[[Gang of Four]]" that organized the Cultural Revolution.
In December 1978, the Third Plenum (of the 11th Party Congress Central Committee) adopted economic reform policies aimed at expanding rural income and incentives, encouraging experiments in enterprise autonomy, reducing central planning, and attracting foreign direct investment into China. Hua was forced to resign at this time, leaving Deng as top leader.