If I understood you correctly - you think that great man theory applies to china, but in the empire mode of production just does that?

Why do you think people who invented mass line were cool with somone singlehandedly making decisions? (I mean I know exactly why, as every accusation is a confession, but ffs have some dignity)

In almost every place on the planet at the time, give people power and you get 4 pests campaign equivalent. Unless you think that feudal peasants somehow possesed modern understanding of agriculture? And in the same vein, give people power and they'll end poverty and homlessness. (Not)Suprisingly in the west, despite material obundance, that doesn't have happened yet.

Maybe "all evils of capitalism and colonialism" are the consequence of "bone headed incompetence" of western elites? And that mistakes of great leap forward were made by collective decisions made in the face of war, famine, siege and 100 years under foreign boot?