() Minutes of the First Congress: The Fifth Congress of the Fourth Army was held in Xincheng, Ninggang, last May.
Since then, six months of arduous struggle have passed.
The Sixth Congress convened its preparatory meeting on November 13, held its formal session on the 14th, and adjourned on the 15th.
A total of seventy-nine delegates attended.
With the exception of the First Battalion of the 311th Regiment, which was stationed far away in Yongxin and could not send a representative in time, every party branch throughout the entire Fourth Army was represented.
The delegates brought forward more than thirty proposals, which were subsequently consolidated into seventeen after grouping together those expressing similar views.
During the congress, important issues concerning politics, military affairs, and Party work were discussed.
Of particular note was the lengthy debate over the nature of the Chinese revolution, a defining feature of this Sixth Congress.
Due to the heavy responsibilities borne by the delegates, who urgently needed to return to their units to resume their duties, it proved impossible to deliberate on each proposal individually.
It was therefore decided to refer all proposals to the newly elected Military Commission for consideration and implementation.
The initial list of forty-nine candidates for the new Military Commission was proposed by the presidium of the congress.
Following deliberation, seventeen members were selected to form the Sixth Military Commission, which then established an executive committee to carry out all necessary tasks.
The congress concluded on the 15th.
All decisions made at this gathering bear immense significance for the future of the Red Army and for the development of the border regions; hence, a brief summary is recorded here.
Compiled in Xincheng, November 19, 1918

(1) Resolution on Political Issues: On the Nature of the Chinese Revolution In accordance with the International’s February resolution on the Chinese revolution, it was affirmed that the Chinese revolution remains at the stage of a bourgeois democratic revolution.
The leadership of this revolution belongs to the proletariat, and its core objectives are to overthrow the warlords, complete the land revolution, abolish feudal relations of exploitation, and secure civil rights and freedoms for the oppressed masses of China.
Only in this way can the socialist prospects of the Chinese revolution be nurtured.
To deny this democratic revolutionary stage and claim that China has already entered the period of socialist revolution would be a grave misinterpretation, highly detrimental to the Chinese revolution.
Our past struggles have confirmed the validity of the International’s position.
Since the Guangzhou Uprising, the widespread massacres and destruction across various regions have stemmed from a fundamental misunderstanding of the true nature of the Chinese revolution.
Drawing upon the bitter experiences of the Fourth Red Army, we resolve that our future course of action shall be to lead the workers, peasants, soldiers, and the petty bourgeoisie, expand the democratic revolutionary movement, deepen the land revolution, and overthrow the most reactionary forces currently in power.
Furthermore, the Red Army must adopt a concrete urban program and abandon its previous policy of unrestricted requisitioning of military supplies.

International Situation: The resurgence of capitalism in Germany and Austria, the Anglo-French naval agreement, the U.S. arms treaties, Italy’s contention for dominance in the Mediterranean, Japan’s military intervention in China, and the separate treaty concluded between the United States and China—all these developments demonstrate that conflicts among imperialist powers are intensifying.
This presents a favorable opportunity for the advancement of the international revolution.

Domestic Situation: Recently, various factions of the Nationalist Party and different warlord cliques have formed a united government.
While outwardly promoting lasting peace and prosperity, in reality, Chiang Kai-shek’s faction is consolidating its dictatorial rule through opportunistic alliances aimed at maintaining temporary stability.
Deep-seated fissures exist within the Nationalist Party itself across the military, financial, and organizational spheres.
Notably, the rampant banditry in the north and the uprisings of workers, peasants, and soldiers in the south clearly reveal the weakness of this so-called “unified government.”
China remains a semi-colony, with international imperialism as its ultimate ruler.
Given the inherent contradictions among these imperialist powers, the warlord governments they patronize are bound to disintegrate.
Therefore, the current semblance of stability in China is merely a prelude to a large-scale civil war among the warlords.

The Emergence and Existing Problems of Soviet Governments The fact that Soviet power can take root and persist even under the rule of White forces is a distinctive characteristic of the Chinese revolution.
As China is a semi-colony, its ruling classes are inherently fragmented and incapable of achieving unity.
Consequently, Soviet power arises precisely from this very fragmentation.
If the divisions among the ruling classes continue unabated, Soviet power will likewise endure.
Over the past year, the proliferation of Soviets across various regions has confirmed this principle.
Moreover, the ongoing territorial divisions along the borderlands underscore that the continued existence of Soviet power depends on the following four conditions: (a) a resolute Communist Party capable of waging relentless struggle; (b) a broad, organized base of workers and peasants; (c) a well-equipped Red Army and Red Guards with sufficient strength; and (d) terrain conducive to fighting with fewer forces against superior odds.

Current Political Tasks: Hunan–Jiangxi Border Region Throughout history, this region has experienced intense revolutionary currents, resulting in a relatively deep-rooted mass base.
Each of the border enclaves thus bears the responsibility of influencing revolutionary movements across the two provinces.
Accordingly, the task of the Bolshevik Party within the Fourth Red Army is to lead the masses in expanding the democratic revolutionary movement, deepening the land revolution in areas under Red Army control, and working to further fragment the ruling classes by exerting pressure in all directions.

(3) Resolution on Party Work: Party organizations at all levels within the Red Army should refrain from openly handling routine administrative matters and strive to restore a state of secrecy.
Party organs may be established within the ranks of the soldiers’ committees, with Party officials concurrently serving as committee members.
External authority of the soldiers’ committees should be enhanced, and Party groups should be formed to provide command and direction.
At the same time, military organs must be strengthened to ensure they possess the capacity to execute the Party’s revolutionary directives.
It is imperative to rectify the past practice of Party bodies directly managing day-to-day affairs while treating military organs and soldiers’ committees as mere formalities.

(2) The Fifth Military Commission had resolved to reinforce the regimental committees, leaving the Military Commission solely responsible for political guidance.
As a result, it lacked clear oversight of lower-level units, and the regimental committees operated independently, leading to inefficiencies and a lack of central coordination.
Going forward, the Military Commission must be reorganized to maintain constant awareness of the work being carried out by each branch.

(3) Having endured numerous major battles, the Party ranks have suffered severe attrition.
Henceforth, the Military Commission should regularly organize political training sessions to cultivate personnel competent in Party work.

(4) Membership should be actively developed among combat troops, with the proportion of Party members reaching at least one-half.

(5) The company-level branch secretariat should be renamed the company branch committee, and the number of committee members expanded to allow a majority of comrades to participate in leadership and guidance roles.
The company branch committee must truly serve as the core of the Red Army, with a membership of five to seven individuals.

(6) As the central organ of Party work within the Red Army, the company branch committee designates a Party representative to oversee its activities, who simultaneously assumes responsibility for planning and supervising public political work.
In practice, the current system of Party representatives should not be abolished.

(1) Establishment of Military Bases: (a) Construct robust fortifications around the Five Great Wells; (b) Stockpile ample food supplies within the base; (c) Build hospitals, barracks, and a memorial hall for the Red Army at the base.

(2) Troop Organization: Each company shall be equipped with seventy-five rifles; each battalion shall consist of four companies; and each regiment shall include a special service company with an equal number of rifles as the infantry companies.
Regiments may also establish machine-gun and mortar companies.
Each company shall have forty rifles, the regimental headquarters shall have eight, and the battalion headquarters shall have four.
A special service battalion may be created at the army level, structured similarly to regular combat battalions.

(3) All firearms and ammunition shall be centrally managed by the army headquarters; no free distribution shall be permitted at the regimental, battalion, or company levels.

(4) Each company may retain no more than six pistols, a battalion no more than three, a regiment no more than five, and the army headquarters no more than six.

(5) In tactical engagements, the Red Army shall swiftly annihilate smaller enemy forces with its main formations.
Against larger adversaries, it will encircle them on all sides using mass mobilization, exhausting their strength before delivering a decisive blow.
The Red Army shall endeavor to avoid direct, head-on confrontations.

(6) Military training should be intensified, with greater emphasis placed on improving the methods of commanding lower-ranking officers and enhancing the overall combat effectiveness of the Red Army.

(7) Special attention should be given to strengthening the intelligence, medical, and stretcher-bearer units within the army.
Stretcher squads may be established at the battalion level, and modern accounting practices should be adopted for economic management and reporting.

(8) A comprehensive history of the Red Army’s campaigns and biographical sketches of fallen comrades should be compiled, along with the collection of their last wishes and personal belongings as memorials.

(9) The following aspects of Red Army political education require particular focus: (a) Strengthening the soldiers’ committees so that they can effectively represent the interests of the troops, participate in unit administration, uphold discipline, conduct political education for soldiers, and engage in mass outreach; (b) Conducting phased literacy campaigns for soldiers; (c) Raising class consciousness among soldiers, enabling them to understand the key issues of the revolution and acquire basic political knowledge; (d) Organizing various recreational activities to encourage voluntary participation and provide soldiers with cultural enrichment; (e) Forming propaganda teams of at least three members at the company level to conduct continuous propaganda work both during wartime and peacetime; (f) Standardizing slogans and mottos issued by the Military Commission to ensure uniformity and prevent confusion. (10) Party organizations at all levels must consistently plan sabotage operations against the enemy. ‘(n) To expand the Red Army, it is necessary to recruit workers, peasants, and revolutionary elements. (U) The Military Commission must immediately begin to strengthen the First Battalion of the Thirty-Second Regiment. (5) Resolution on Economic Issues: The army’s supply department and the logistics units of each regiment are required to prepare a detailed monthly economic report, which, after review by the soldiers’ representative assembly, shall be made public to ensure full transparency regarding the Red Army’s financial affairs. (6) Resolution on Disciplinary Matters: During the November 10th battle in Xincheng and Yongxin, four detachments of the Ninggang County Red Guards, along with a group of local farmers, failed to advance to the front lines to seize enemy weapons or perform duties such as transportation, medical assistance, and search-and-rescue operations.
Instead, they remained near Xincheng, collecting draft cattle and other miscellaneous items.
Such behavior constitutes a serious violation of revolutionary discipline and infringes upon the interests of the peasantry.
This congress hereby requests that inquiries be directed to the Ninggang County Party Committee and the county government, urging that similar incidents be prevented in the future.
The confiscated draft cattle should be fully returned, and a public statement issued to explain this error and clarify the matter for the general populace. 1) Strengthen the stretcher-bearer unit; 2) Reinforce the reconnaissance unit; 3) Enhance the military-political school; 4) Provide preferential treatment to veterans; 5) Recruit new soldiers; 6) Purchase firearms and pharmaceuticals; 7) Dispatch liaison officers to the Fifth Army; 8) Uphold strict military and Party discipline; 9) Stockpile food supplies in the rear; 10) Issue a manifesto for the democratic revolution; 11) Prohibit indiscriminate burning and killing; 12) Protect the interests of small and medium-sized merchants; 13) Restore political power and development in the Luoxiao Mountains; (M) The Red Army shall adopt the organizational structure of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom; (2) Promptly establish a roster detailing the personnel and weaponry of the Red Army; (16) Private trading within the army is strictly prohibited; (n) Strengthen the soldiers’ committees; These seventeen proposals, due to the early adjournment of the congress, were not subjected to detailed discussion and have been handed over to the new Military Commission for consideration and implementation.
Issued in Xincheng on November 16, 1918