(June 5, 1930)

In the past, the political departments of the army and columns have done some
miscellaneous work of assistance, neglecting their main task, which is to direct
the political work of the entire army or column.

The political departments at both the army and column levels are, at the same
time, temporary organs of mass political power. In the past, this duty has not
been carried out well either. For example, requests of the masses have not
received a good response, and mass organizations and local political organs have
not been helped to formulate well-rounded plans, so that when the Red Army left
they would still be able to carry out their work effectively.

I. Guidelines for the Work of the Army Political Department

1) Grasp well the plan of Red Army political tasks for each period, and carry
it out in political work. For example, as regards the task of overthrowing the
western Fujian warlords and expanding Red political power in western Fujian,
plans [should be made] for rousing the enthusiasm of the entire army, both
officers and men, helping them understand the significance of this task, and
heightening their sentiments of struggle.

2) Plan, supervise, and inspect the political training of the entire army, both
officers and men. [This should include], for example, (a) special training for new
recruits and captured troops; (b) special training for young soldiers (school for
young soldiers); (c) general soldier training (ordinary classes); (d) lower level
cadre training (special classes); (e) providing political training materials;
(f) specifying slogans for the morning and evening roll call; (g) various kinds of
assembly talks, and so on.

3) Guide and inspect the organization and work of the All-Army Soldiers'
Association.

4) Plan, supervise, and inspect the propaganda work of the entire army. For
example, (a) provide main propaganda materials; (b) inspect and also direct the
propaganda materials and methods of the individual units; (c) supervise the

Our source for this text is Mao Zedong ji. Bujuan, Vol. 3, pp. 107-14, where it is
reproduced from a documentary collection published in China in 1979.

organization and training of the propaganda teams of the various individual
units; (d) organize and inspect propaganda in makeup.¹
5) Supervise and encourage the political organs of the various units, in
coordination with the military affairs organs, to uphold the three articles of
discipline and proper military conduct generally.
6) Supervise and encourage the political organs of the various units, in
coordination with the military affairs organs, to uphold the items on special
treatment for wounded soldiers.
7) Supervise and encourage the political organs of the various units, in
coordination with the military affairs organs, to uphold the various policies governing the army, such as the ban on corporal punishment, the ban on executing
deserters, and so on.
8) Prepare and distribute forms for socioeconomic surveys, provide guidance for the various units in actual survey methods, and also supervise each unit
in calculating the figures, and turn them over to the political department of the
army to be totaled.
9) Plan and supervise mass propaganda for organizing mass organizations.
10) Plan and supervise assistance to the masses in setting up local political
organs, such as revolutionary committees and soviets.
11) Plan and supervise assistance to local political organs in establishing
local armed forces, such as uprising squads, Red Guards, and local Red Armies.
12) Plan and supervise the various units, or assist the local political organs, in
eliminating reactionary forces.
13) Plan, and also guide and assist the mass organs in carrying out, the
confiscation and distribution of land.
14) Plan, and guide the various units in running, leadership training classes
for the masses.
15) Guide and supervise the various units in helping the local political organs
to carry out various kinds of construction tasks such as schools, cooperatives,
health clinics, and so on, so that they take root among the masses.
16) Deal with and also reply to requests from the masses.
17) Plan, and provide direction to the various units and to the highest mass
organs in carrying out, the raising of money for Red Army supplies and for
expenses for mass work.
18) Guide, and also supervise and encourage, the various units and mass
organs in upholding well the policies toward towns and cities.

II. Guidelines for the Work of the Column Political Departments
1) Grasp well the plan of political tasks for each period, as provided by the
higher levels, and carry it out in political work. For example, as regards the task

1. As indicated in earlier notes, this refers to propaganda carried out through the
medium of skits and theatrical performances.
of overthrowing the western Fujian warlords and expanding Red political power
in western Fujian, plans [should be made] for rousing the enthusiasm of the
entire Army, both officers and men, helping them to understand the significance
of this task, and heightening their sentiments of struggle.
2) Plan, supervise, and inspect the political training of the whole column,
both officers and men. [This should include], for example, (a) special training for
new recruits and captured troops; (b) special training for young soldiers (school
for young soldiers); (c) general soldier training (ordinary classes); (d) lower level cadre training (special classes); (e) providing political training materials;
(f) specifying slogans for the morning and evening roll call (when detached for
guerrilla actions, on work away from the army political department); (g) various
kinds of assembly talks, and so on.
3) Guide and inspect the organization and work of the All-Column Soldiers'
Association.
4) Plan, supervise, and inspect the propaganda work of the entire column.
For example, (a) provide main propaganda materials; (b) inspect and also direct
the propaganda materials and methods of the individual units; (c) supervise the
organization and inspection of the propaganda teams of the various individual
units.
5) Supervise and encourage the political organs of the various units, in
coordination with the military affairs organs, to uphold the three articles of
discipline and proper military conduct generally.
6) Supervise and encourage the political organs of the various units, in
coordination with the military affairs organs, to uphold the items on special
treatment for wounded soldiers.
7) Supervise and encourage the political organs of the various units, in
coordination with the military affairs organs, to uphold the various policies governing the army, such as the ban on corporal punishment, the ban on executing
deserters, and so on.
8) Supervise and guide workers at all levels in doing real social surveys, and
also supervise each unit in calculating the figures, and turn them over to the
political department of the Army to be totaled.
9) Plan and supervise mass propaganda for organizing mass organizations.
10) Plan and supervise assistance to the masses in setting up local political
organs, such as revolutionary committees and soviets.
11) Plan and supervise assistance to local political organs in establishing
local armed forces, such as uprising squads, Red Guards, and local Red Armies.
12) Plan and supervise the various units, or assist the local political organs, in
eliminating reactionary forces.
13) Plan, and also guide and assist the mass organs in carrying out, the
confiscation and distribution of land.
14) Plan, and guide the various units in running, leadership training classes
for the masses.