A good thing to remember is Taiwan, culturally Chinese, but not communist and more successful. Study older Chinese history. I believe the linking of communism to national liberation is mainly a propaganda move from the CCP. It was the nationalists that defeated the warlords, launched the revolution and held on against imperial Japan, while the CCP just attacked with Russian backing after the nationalists were too weak. I'd say its best to think of communism as a non Chinese ideology that forced its way into power because the nationalists lost so much fighting the Japan. Honestly, if the nationalists won, communism and Mao would probably represent foreign influence, which it really was.