INVESTIGATION IN CH'ANG-KANG TOWNSHIP

15 December 1933

[Text] The actual implementation of all soviet work rests with the township and city soviets. Everyone understands this. As to how the township and city soviets should perform their work, many people do not understand. Not understanding the work of the township and city soviets will make it impossible to truly lead the work of the soviet or truly follow the principle that "all soviet work must be subordinated to the demands of the revolutionary war." We have encountered the following situation among the work personnel of higher level soviets. They issue many orders and decisions, but they are ignorant of the practical work condition of any township or city soviet. Comrades! This won't do. This is bureaucratism, a hindrance to Soviet work!

Our tasks have been proposed, and many plans, from expanding the Red Army to building bridges and roads, have been published. The question is how to mobilize the masses to carry out the tasks and plans completely and practically. The extraordinarily tense revolutionary war demands our prompt and general solution of this question. Yet such a solution cannot be produced out of our minds. We must collect all kinds of fresh and concrete experiences in the process of mobilizing the masses to implement the various tasks, bring such experiences to a greater light, and expand on mass mobilization, in order to adapt ourselves to greater tasks and plans.

Currently, such serious errors as perfunctory performance of duty and coercion have occurred in the soviet organs of many areas. The relationship between such soviets and the masses is extremely bad, greatly hampering the implementation of the tasks and plans of the soviet. On the other hand, innumerable lower level soviet work comrades in many areas have created excellent means to mobilize the masses. Becoming one with the masses, they have been very successful in their work. One responsibility of the higher level soviet personnel is to collect and arrange such good experiences and spread them over a vast area. This work must be started immediately in all the provinces and counties. The most effective means against bureaucraticism is to demonstrate by live models.


Limited by time and the material of the informants, the experiences of Ch'ang-kang township collected here only include a brief summary of the major items of their work. Nevertheless, just such summary alone is sufficient to arouse our serious attention and make us solemnly praise their work as "the model of soviet work." As their relationship with the masses is extremely close, they have produced a great effect in their work. Our goal is to bring to light such experiences and to collect more experiences to serve as concrete models to all the backward township and city soviets, so that their work will be raised to the level of the advanced, rally millions of people around the soviets, and adapt all soviet work to the demand of smashing the enemy encirclement.

I. Political Division and Census

Subdivided from Lang-mu township in the same district, Ch'ang-kang township belongs to Shang-she District, Hsing-kuo county, Kiangsi Province.

The work levels of Shang-she District were: First, Ch'ang-kang and Lang-mu; second, Yang-ch'en; third, Ho-fu, Hsiu-shui and T'ang-shih; fourth, Jen-t'ien and Shang-she.

Ch'ang-kang township includes Ch'ang-kang, T'ang-pei, Hsin-ch'i and Szu-kang, a total of four villages.

Census:

1. The township had 437 households, including 1,784 persons. Of these, 320 were away serving in the Red Army or performing work and 1,464 (including part-time laborers and district and township work personnel) resided in the township. Among the township residents, there were 1,286 middle and poor peasants, 102 workers, farm laborers and coolies and 76 landlords and rich peasants.

2. Serving in the Red Army and working out of town:

Joined the Red Army between 1928 and 1932: 80

Joined the Red Army in 1933: 139

With the guerrilla camp: 7

Transferred to the county or above: 34

Transferred to the rear hospital: 24

Transferred as full-time laborers: 36

Total: 320


3. Landlords and rich peasants:

Existing landlords: 2 households, including 5 persons

Existing rich peasants: 11 households, including 72 persons

Wives and daughters of landlords marrying workers and peasants uncovered in the August land investigations: 6 persons

36 tan, 6 tan of land were repossessed from the 6 persons. No other landlord or rich peasant was uncovered.

II. Delegates' Congress

1. The Congress

The daily agenda was always: (1) opening of meeting; (2) reports; (3) discussions; (4) others; (5) adjournment. The agenda was written on paper and posted. The concrete issues for discussion were written down by the chairman but not posted. In regard to "reports," the chairman would first report on the reason for the meeting, some 20 or 30 sentences. Then the "attending comrade" of the district soviet would make his report about the political situation and the work condition. (Someone from the district soviet attended almost every meeting, mostly department members, 5 or 6 times out of 10, seldom department chiefs, only about 2 or 3 times out of 10. The chairman and vice chairman rarely came, only once out of 10 times.) The chairman and the branch secretary would supplement his report with matters not covered by him. "Discussions" always concerned concrete issues. At the meeting on 8 November, for instance, the following items were discussed:

(1) Military mobilization. The subject was subdivided as follows:

(a) Expanding the Red Army: The Ch'ang-kang Village delegate promised to recruit 5 persons, the T'ang-pei Village delegate 5, the Hsin-ch'i Village delegate 3 and the Szu-kang Village delegate 2, totaling 15, to be accomplished by 30 November. (b) Differentiated treatment of Red Army families. It was decided that the model cultivation team and the labor mutual aid association would mobilize together. (c) Return-to-the-ranks movements: There were 7 AWOLs in the township. It was decided that the propaganda teams (township village) and the surprise attack teams (organized by Red Army wives) would carry out the work. (d) Comforting the Red Army: Each village promised to give 4 tou each quantity of yellow hemp and cloth straw-sandals. Ch'ang-kang pledged 110 pairs, T'ang-pei 100 pairs, Hsin-ch'i 90 pairs and Szu-kang 100 pairs.

(2) Economic mobilization. The subject was subdivided as follows:


(a) Economic construction public bonds: The township pledged to sell 5,456 yuan of bonds. It had received 822 tan of grain, valued at 4,110 yuan and 127 yuan in cash, totalling 4,237 yuan. It was still 1,219 yuan short of the goal. It was decided that the delegates must "devote their effort" to propaganda and fulfill the pledge by 25 November. (b) Cooperatives: Only the district had a consumer cooperative in the past, but now the township organized a branch cooperative. However, it had only collected 100-odd yuan in shares. The masses had pledged 350 yuan. It was decided that the delegates must propagandize in order to collect the money, and the propaganda team must also put in its effort. (c) The thrift movement: It was decided that more vegetables must be planted and grain saved in preparation for spring famine.

(3) Repair of river dikes and roads: It was decided that in the 10 days between 20 and 30 November, the 6 li of thoroughfare at Chiang-pei-tung must be completed, 6 ch'ih wide. Other roads, ch'ih wide, would be undertaken afterward. Five preparation committee members were elected. After the roads were completed, the 30 ch'ih wide river dike destroyed by floods would be repaired. The large wooden bridge will be repaired jointly with Lang-mu township.

(4) "Supporting the district soviet." For the masses of the entire hsiang to show their support of the third district wide soviet congress beginning 12 November, it was decided that a red tablet made with 1.4 ch'ih of red cloth with an inscription of 4 characters would be presented as a gift. On 12 November, 90 percent of the masses of the township were mobilized into teams to proceed to the soviet and set off fireworks. (Finally, 800 percent of them set off 5,000 or 6,000 firecrackers, all bought by the masses themselves.)

The two last items were discussed under "Others" in the agenda. All the subjects of discussion were proposals of voters at the election mass meeting, which were transmitted to the township soviet for discussion.

2. Inspection System

Of the two delegates' congresses, one was to discuss problems and the other to inspect work.

Before each work inspection congress, the on-duty delegates of the villages summoned the delegates under them to hold a meeting. The on-duty delegates then reported the results at the delegates' congress. Afterward, items which had not been carried out, or successfully carried out, were discussed in order to carry them out or correct them.

This method was started in Lang-mu township. Ch'ang-kang township adopted it after being subdivided out of Lang-mu township. Subsequently, Yang-ch'en township also followed suit. Recently, the district soviet called a district wide work inspection meeting and asked all the townships to adopt the method.


3. On-duty Delegates

The numbers of delegates of the villages:

Ch'ang-kang Village: Over 500 population (at the time of land division)---14 delegates.

T'ang-pei Village: Over 490 population---14 delegates.

Hsin-ch'i Village: Over 300 population---13 delegates.

Szu-kang Village: Over 400 population---14 delegates.

Work levels of the villages: First, Ch'ang-kang; second, T'ang-pei; third, Hsin-ch'i; fourth, Szu-kang.

Each village had an "on-duty delegate" by rotation among the delegates for 10-day periods. It was started in September. Before that, it was the "chairman delegate" system, and one person was designated to serve as the chairman. After 2 years, the chairman system was found defective. As the responsibilities were given to one person, the others had no chance to practice, while rotation would remedy the defect. But the on-duty system (actually 10-day duty) also had its defects. The weak delegates were unable to lead the village.

4. Standing Committee

Since the formation of the soviet, there was always a standing committee.

The standing committee included a chairman, vice chairman, secretary, Chinese Communist Party branch secretary and Young Communist League branch secretary, totalling five persons. When necessary, the on-duty delegates attended the meetings.

5. Delegates in Charge of Residents

Each delegate was in charge of over 20 to over 50 residents. Delegate Li Ch'iu-ying of Ch'ang-kang village, for instance, was in charge of over 50 residents.

Each delegate had a residents' handbook, divided into sections on adult male, adult female, male vanguard team (could serve as full-time laborers), female vanguard team (could serve as part-time laborers), male children and female children. The male adults were further divided into those serving in the Red Guard (could serve as full-time laborers) and those not serving in the Red Guard (could serve as part-time laborers). The female adults were also divided into those serving in the Red Guard (could serve as part-time laborers) and those not serving in the Red Guard (could receive preferential treatment as families of the Red Army).


6. Changes of Delegates

Before the new administrative divisions were made, Lang-mu township (7 villages, population 3,000) elected over 70 delegates and 11 substitute delegates. At the November reelection last year, totaling over 80, including 16 women and over 60 men. By the time of reelection on 1 November this year, only 5 men delegates were left. Most of them had joined the Red Army and a small number had been transferred in their work. Some 29 of them later at one time in Red May. Before leaving, every department delegate called a meeting of the masses under his charge to elect an "acting delegate."

7. Political Manifestations of the Delegates

Excellent---60 percent.

Medium---35 percent.

Inferior---5 percent (4 persons).

The four inferior ones included two men and two women. Very stupid and not positive, they attended only 4 of the 10 meetings and would not listen or express themselves at the meetings. Their attitude toward the masses was "crude." The masses did not like them and elected others to replace them in July.

8. The 16 Women Delegates

Excellent---8 of them. They looked for work to do and performed well.

Medium---6 of them. They did not look for work to do, but only did what was assigned to them. They did not do the work well, and required help.

Inferior---2 of them. They did not do what was assigned to them.

The delegates' congress of Ch'ang-kang township has many excellent creations, such as the standing committee, on-duty delegates, delegates in charge of residents, and inspection system, which all deserve emulation by other areas. The standing committee, however, should be renamed the presidium (7 members for the larger townships, 3 for the small townships). The on-duty delegate should be changed to the "chairman delegate," selecting the best delegate to serve a 1- or 2-month term. It is too frequent to change every 10 days. The problems discussed at the meetings were very practical, but the few empty items on the daily agenda should be abolished. Why not post the list of concrete issues to be discussed? The inspection system of Ch'ang-kang township is very good. It is a means for the full performance of work and speed in performance. The inferior delegates should have been replaced much sooner. Replacing them by reelection 8 months later was too long. Electing a replacement immediately upon the departure of a delegate was correct, but the replacement should not be called an "acting delegate."


III. This Election

1. The Election Committee

Nine members: Chinese Communist Party branch secretary, Chinese Communist Women's manager, farm laborers' branch chief, handicraft branch chief, poor peasants' league chairman and a member, production brigade leader, and two township delegates. The branch secretary served as the chairman. It was organized in September.

The county soviet originally decided to hold the election at the end of September, but the date was changed twice, and was finally set at the beginning of November.

2. Election Propaganda

In the propaganda, it was explained that the classes had not been clearly distinguished in the past, but now they were clearly distinguished. Therefore, there must be an election. It was also explained that, for the purpose of breaking the encirclement and for the purpose of inspecting the work and making it more advanced, there must be an election.

3. Voter Registration

All four villages made up record books for the delegates to register the residents under their charge. The books were then submitted to the election committee which compiled the lists and posted them. Those with voting rights were on the first list, those under age 16 who had no voting rights on the second list. And landlords and rich peasants who were also without voting rights on the third list. The first and second lists were red in color and the third one white. The three lists were posted at the gates of the four villages and the township soviet. The voters' books were actually completed in September, but, as the family members of workers were not classified as workers in the books, the error was rectified last month, and the lists re-published. Some people among the masses were not clear about the distinction of criteria between electing "workers" and "peasants" delegates. Less than 10 percent of the people in the hsiang correctly understood the issue of "worker leadership."

4. Election Unit

Each of the four villages was an election unit, and there was also a worker unit.

5. Work Report

Voters' meetings were held on 2 different days (19 and 20 October), 2 villages on the first day and 2 on the second.


After the chairman made reports in Ch'ang-kang and T'ang-pei villages on 2 different days. The vice chairman (who was the branch secretary) made reports in Hsin-ch'i and Szu-kang villages also on 2 different days. The reports included military mobilization, economic construction and other work, altogether three items.

After the report, the candidates' list was voted on. The masses attending the meeting were asked to criticize the work of the hsiang soviet, but no one did.

6. Candidates' List

The party branch managers' committee held a meeting on 19 October. All the villages were represented (11 persons attending). According to the ratio of workers and peasants in the villages, a list of 55 persons was distributed, exactly the number of delegates to be elected. It was then distributed to the party cells, labor unions and poor peasants' leagues of the various villages for discussion, proposed by the party members of the cells who made work reports at the voters' mass meetings, and passed, thus eliminating the procedure of preparing the list by the election committee.

The list was published by posting it at the gates of the four villages and the township soviet.

7. Election Mass Meeting

Time: 4 November.

The meetings were held, which was held at the township soviet, had a 90 percent attendance, the remainder being absent due to illness. The peasants' meetings were held separately in the four villages, with a 93 percent attendance. The meetings were started in the forenoon. Upon entering the door, a voter would write the word "present" on his own name on the list. (The list had 24 spaces, printed and distributed by the county soviet, and the names of 24 voters were written thereon). One man was posted at the door as guard. Some children loitered outside, and a few of them came in. Knowing that they had no share in the election, no landlord or rich peasant showed up.

Procedure: Reports were made by the election committee member, the township soviet chairman and the district soviet attending comrade. The voters were asked whether they had any opinion. (None). The names on the candidates' list were introduced one by one and voted on. (No vote in the negative). The proposals were discussed. "Someone proposed that all those in the township age 16 to 45 in good health should proceed to the front line. It was passed by the majority. In addition, the "military affairs," "economy" and "ditch and roads" proposals discussed at the delegates' meeting on 8 November were all proposed at the election mass meeting this time.)


The meeting opened at 1000 after all participants had arrived, and adjourned at 1600. (The spirit was very good.)

8. Delegate Components

Among the 55 delegates, 36 were most positive and 19 medium. No inferior ones were discovered.

Among the delegates, 60 percent (over 30 of them) were old delegates who were reelected to their current positions, and 40 percent were newly elected.

9. Delegates' Congress After the Election

The first delegates' congress was held the next day after the election (5 November) in the forenoon, and it elected a chairman, a vice chairman, a secretary, and the delegates to the district mass meeting (10 persons). Three comrades from the district soviet attended the meeting. The second congress was held the 8th day after the election (8 November) to discuss the proposals of the election mass meeting (see above).

The defects in the election in Ch'ang-kang township this time were:

(1) In the propaganda, it was not pointed out that the Soviet was the political power for the masses to manage their own life, and that it was the most important right of the masses. (2) The number of people on the candidates' list was exactly the same as the number of delegates to be elected when it should have been twice as many. Therefore, the masses did not express any criticism of the candidates' list. The election committee did not produce any effect in the issue of formulating the candidates' list. There was only party activity. (3) The work report meeting did not do its best to urge the masses to criticize the work of the township soviet. Aside from such defects, everything was successful.

IV. Committees Under the Township Soviet

The following were the mass organizations, divided into village and township levels. The village committees had five members, and the township commissioner served as the chairman.

Most of the township committees had 5 members, because there were village committees, but at times there were 7, 9, or 11 members.

1. Committee to Expand the Red Army

A total of 7 members, including 3 delegates, to discuss "expansion," "preferential treatment," "comforting" and "welcome." The comforting team (7 members, including a team leader and 4 delegates, 1 man and 3 women; the remaining 3 consisted of 1 man and 2 women) carried steamed bean cakes, vegetables and straw sandals to the hospitals and county seat, and once to Huang-p'o Hsiao-pu, to comfort the Red Army.


2. Land Committee

Seven members. Several meetings were held during the land investigation movement in September, and the 36 tan of land uncovered in the previous month were disposed of. No meeting has been held since.

It should be changed to the agricultural experimental farm managing committee. A farm products exhibition hall should be established in the experimental farm.

3. Land Registration Committee

Five members, 1 in each village. The chairman was regularly stationed there. Organized 4 July, it was active for 2 months. After the registration was completed, the need for the chairman was discontinued.

Method: The committee members went to the villages and gathered the information from the delegates for registration. When the delegates did not have the information, the committee members visited the households concerned. The registration was not completed in August because they did not understand the contents of the forms. It was completed after a 1-month extension.

4. Hills and Woods Committee

Five members. Besides the chairman, there was one in each village, in charge of planting and protection.

Some trees were planted, but did not flourish because of inferior soil. They should have been planted along rivers, roads, and houses.

If many trees on a private hill were to be chopped down, the owner must consult the committee member, but if only a few, he did not have to do so. There was provision as to the size of the trees.

5. Construction Committee

Five members, in charge of directing the "water conservation" and "bridge" committees.

6. Water Conservation Committee

Five members. Besides the chairman, there was one member in each village.

7. Bridge Committee

Five members, in charge of bridge and road repairs. Should be called bridge and road committee.


8. State Owned Property Committee

Five members. It was there, but what it did is unknown.

9. Granary Committee

It was in charge of the care of public bond grain and the grain of Red Army public fields.

The famine preparation granary was also under its care. The grain from the 36 tan of confiscated land, totalling over 10 tan, was stored for famine preparation.

10. Confiscation Committee

Three members, in charge of fines and donations.

From September on, the landlords paid 9 yuan in fines and the rich peasants donated 225 yuan (11 households, donating from 10 to over 40 yuan each).

In the past, the farms, hills and woods, buildings, plow animals and farm tools of the rich peasants were all confiscated, and the rich peasants were only allocated some inferior land, but no hills. Now, they had to lease plow animals and farm tools from others. As for their cash on hand, they were either "buried" in the past or are present. One could not call it donation. Currently, their living condition is even worse than the farm laborers. (It must be pointed out that Ch'ang-kang township's policy on the rich peasants is erroneous.)

11. Land Investigation Committee

Nine members. No longer in existence.

12. Education Committee

Nine members.

13. Public Health Committee

Five members. Organized in April.

14. Air and Poison Defense Committee

Five members. Organized in October; 4 or 5 meetings were held.

15. Preparation Committee

Organized for the purpose of the commemoration meeting.


The "village" committees of Ch'ang-kang township (the villages have many of the committees) have expanded the contact of the Soviet with the masses. It is an excellent creation when Soviet work has developed to a high degree. As the villages have 5-member committees, many of the township committees only need 3 members. Moreover, as 4 of the 5 members of each of the township committees serve in the chairman of the village committees, a network is formed, and it is a great help to the work of the delegates' congress. However, the comrades of Ch'ang-kang township regard the committees as mass organizations in the same category as the labor unions and poor peasants leagues. They do not know that they are a part of the Soviet. This is not proper. The "construction committee" can be abolished. In regard to the "land committee", in areas such as Hsing-kuo where the land struggle is intense, it should be changed to the agricultural experimental farm committee. "Grain," "census," "worker-peasant procurators" and "Red Alert" committees should be added. Provisions on these have been made in the "local Soviet Organization Law" promulgated by the Central Government.

V. Local Troops

1. Organization

(1) One platoon of men's Red Guards

Age 24 to 45; the township had a total of 66 men within this age bracket. Except the chairman, the secretary and the seriously ill or crippled, totalling over 20 persons, who were not included, all those of this age bracket were organized into it, totalling 46.

One platoon leader, 1 assistant platoon leader, 6 squad leaders, and 6 assistant guard leaders; one flag.

(2) One company of women's Red Guard

Of the same age bracket; the township had a total of 146 women (more than twice the number of men). Except the 20 who were sick or crippled, all were organized into it, totalling 120. One company commander, one assistant commander, one political director, three platoon leaders, three assistant platoon leaders, nine squad leaders and nine assistant squad leaders, all female; one flag.

(3) One brigade of Young Pioneers

Both men and women, age 16 to 23, were included in the brigade. The township had 21 men and 80 women (4 times the men) of this age bracket, totalling 101. Except about 15 crippled (club-foot, etc.), all were organized into it, totalling 86.


Brigade commander and assistant commander one each. Divided into one men's platoon and two women's platoons, each with a leader and an assistant leader.

2. Training

(1) Platoon drill

The village as the unit, twice a month, separating the Red Guard and the Young Pioneers, men and women drilling together.

Instructors: Women's assistant company commander in Ch'ang-kang; women's company commander in T'ang-pei. Young Pioneers had one woman and three men as instructors. Items of drill: Attention, at ease, left and right face, Ch'ang-kang training, marching, running (seldom women), dispersal, and field work (3- or 4-li distance).

Weapons: Mostly sights, some wooden guns.

Politics class: Drill first and lecture afterward. The political director lectured on the revolutionary situation, imperialism, tasks of the Red Guard, etc. No set text (lecturing at random).

Time: Afternoon, roughly 1400 to 1800, 2-1/2 hours of drilling and 1-1/2 hours of lecturing.

Attendance: Averaging 70 percent.

(2) Company drill

The township as the unit, on the 15th of every month.

Items of drill: Each platoon went through the drill to determine the superior ones. The accomplishments of the platoons in drilling were inspected.

Politics class: After the drill, the director discussed the political situation.

Time: 4 hours in the afternoon. Currently, as the weather was cold in winter and there was more time, it has been changed to the forenoon.

3. Service Work

(1) Transport

Men served as full-time laborers (those over 45 years of age and not organized into the Red Guard served part-time).


Women served as part-time laborers (some of them were selected and assigned to areas such as inside the city, Kao-shing-yu and Ch'a-ling). Women also were assigned to rescue and nursing work (some of them were selected to organize rescue and nursing platoons; in readiness; no work) and laundry detail (more than 10 from each village who were not tied down by young children were selected and organized into laundry details; sent to the replacement division and instructors team in Shao-chi-wo several times and Ch'a-ling two or three times to do laundry).

(2) Night patrol

Ch'ang-kang, T'ang-pei and Szu-kang had a total of three patrol stations, one shift per night, 5 or 6 persons per shift. The Red Guard and the Young Pioneers each sent several members to take turns performing the task, under the supervision of the squad leader or assistant leader. One person stood guard and the rest slept. The patrol would ask for the password (answer: "Ordinary citizen," followed with name, destination and purpose. Actually, the people did not know the password) and check the road slip (someone from another township passing through). No bad people have ever been caught.

(3) Daytime inspection

Three persons were responsible during the day, one from the Red Guard, one from the Young Pioneers, and one from the children's league. When anyone passed through, one would check his road slip (children's leaguer) and another would question him (Red Guard or Young Pioneer). Messages would be delivered when necessary. The T'ang-pei patrol station caught four or five deserters and delivered them to the district government. "Ordinary citizens" arrested someone without a road slip (when he took a small path in the hills), who came from another county, was very ferocious, suspected of being a spy and delivered to the county government.

(4) Air defense

The air and poison defense committee of the township instructed the masses on air defense and asked them to give their attention to the following:

They must not run around when the planes come.

They must dig air-raid caves. Several households could dig one together. In process, but not yet completed.

In case of poison gas, they must cover their noses with a handkerchief. Those returned from field maneuvers said that charcoal dust should be wrapped in a handkerchief to cover the nose.

Every village had a signal gun station, manned by two persons. When one was away, the other remained ready to fire the signal gun.


All young and adult laboring masses should be organized into the Red Guard or the Young Pioneers and given the proper military and political training, in order to defend the locality on one hand and be ready to go to the front on the other. It is an important task of the soviet in the domestic war. Ch'ang-kang township has been successful in this aspect.

VI. The Living Condition of the Masses

1. Famine was encountered this year. Some 80 percent of the masses actually had no grain before spring planting this year, and rice had to be procured from such distant areas as Tung-ku, Sha-ts'un, Fu-t'ien, and Shui-nan. The 80 percent of the masses averaged exactly 1 month of grain shortage. Each person needed 5 tan a year, or 4 tan a month. Eighty percent of the 2,500 population of the township was 2,200, and 1 month's grain for them amounted to 480 tan. The amount was procured from distant areas, and no one went hungry.

2. Though spring cultivation this year was good, the fall harvest was inferior due to insects, only equivalent to that of last year. Nevertheless, (1) the fall cultivation was good, and there was a 40 percent increase in both potatoes and beans over last year. (2) Vegetables, groundbeans, snow peas and rape were added in winter planting. (3) After fall harvest last year, the masses sold large volumes of grain to the merchants, at only 2,800 wen per tan, not quite 3 yuan. While they needed the money, they could have held less, but no attention was given to it. This year a countryside meeting was held. It was decided that grain would not be sold for less than 4 yuan, and the volumes would be smaller. (4) After fall harvest last year, much was wasted on feeding hogs and ducks and chickens, but this year, less would be used for this purpose. (5) Last year, for the public bonds of the first and second periods, 1 yuan of public bonds required 2.5 tan of grain. This year, 10 yuan of public bonds would only require 2 tan of grain. There would, therefore, be no famine in the coming spring.

3. Surplus in Oil. The peanut harvest this year was better than last, and peanuts could be made into oil. Every household had been allocated some wooded hills, and they also had some oil. Oil was ample. There was even a surplus.

4. Beans could be traded for oil, but the amount of edible salt had been greatly reduced. The bean harvest this year was poor (watering was even just past harvest; the entire crop was ruined by flood); and the price of beans was good (last year it was 3 yuan per tan; this year, it was 12 yuan). Beans could be traded for 60 percent of the edible salt needed by the township. The 40 percent remainder could be made up by trading the surplus oil (30 percent surplus in oil).

The average per capita need of salt was 4/10 ounce [Chinese unit] per day (or 3 ounces a month). It was reduced to below 1/10 in July this year--2/10 ounce (or 6 ounces a month). In November, it was a little over 3/10 ounce (or approximately 10 ounces a month). The masses used sour pickle juice and declared


that it was not much different from salt. (This was the crime of the Kuomintang. Only by breaking down the blockade would there be salt).

5. Meat eating poor peasants doubled and workers tripled. About 85 percent of the households "raised hogs," and 15 percent of them were unable to do so. They sold an average of 2 yuan's worth of hogs a year and bought about 12 yuan's worth of pork per household, leaving a surplus of 8 yuan. Before the uprising, they only bought an average of 10 yuan's worth of pork per household per year. According to the classes, before the uprising, the middle peasants bought about 12 yuan's worth of pork, the poor peasants about 4 yuan's worth and the workers about 4 yuan's worth. Now, almost all of them spent 12 yuan. (Some among them did not spend so much.) In the past, let alone market days, not much meat was eaten even for the New Year and festivals. Now, in addition to the New Year and festivals, everyone would buy some meat on market days.

6. The chickens and ducks, which were mostly sold in the past, were now mostly consumed by the peasants themselves.

7. The living condition improved, and less firewood was sold. There was no lack of firewood in the locality. In the past, more firewood was carried to the city to be sold. Now, the amount sold was 30 percent less, because many people did not need to sell it any more.

8. The amount of clothes doubled. For all wearing apparel, the average need per year per capita was one new unlined suit. The middle peasants remained the same as before, but the poor peasants and workers had a 100 percent improvement. They now had the ability to spend twice as much on clothes than they did before.

9. The living condition of the farm laborers improved. There were about 22 households of farm laborers in the township and 60 percent of them were better off than the poorest of the poor peasants, because they had been allocated things. The township had only 2 landowner households, but many things were confiscated from the rich peasants (12 households) and sent down from the cities. The living condition of the remaining 40 percent of the farm laborers was the same as the poor peasants.

10. The middle peasants remained at the same position. Generally speaking, the living condition of the middle peasants was about the same as in the past. (The soviet must give attention to improving the living condition of the middle peasants.)

11. Rest and Labor of the Masses. Each person averaged 5 full days of meetings (totalling the many meetings) a month, which served as rest periods for them. As many people had left, the area and the labor force in the township had reduced. The labor intensity of the masses was the same as before the uprising, but the significance of labor had changed.


The soviet is the organizer of the mass life. Only when it devotes all its effort to solve the problems of the masses, improving their living condition and gaining their confidence before it can mobilize the broad masses to join the Red Army, help in the war and struggle for the smashing of the enemy encirclement. We must know that the great achievement of Ch'ang-kang township war mobilization was indivisible from its achievement in improving the life of the masses.

VII. Balancing of the Labor Force and the Plow Animal Problem

1. Model Cultivation Teams

Each of the 4 villages had 1 team, totalling about 70 persons. They were organized with Red Army family members who had labor force, led by a team leader; each team was divided into subunits. The 20 or more members of the Ch'ang-k'ang village model cultivation team, for instance, was divided into 3 subunits of 3 to 7 members according to the proximity of their residences. Each subunit was in charge of several to a dozen or more households nearby, giving constant attention to their proper handling of production. The teams were organized last August at the time of rice harvesting, and their function was to balance the labor force.

Method: The labor mutual aid association helped the Red Army families to farm the land (no charge for wages), while the model team helped the masses with their cultivation (wages charged). For instance, when a mutual aid association member had to help Red Army family to cultivate while his own farm required cultivation, the model team would send someone to help cultivate his land for him, or to take his place to help the Red Army family instead, and he would pay wages to the model team member. The labor force was thus balanced. Therefore, the model team and the mutual aid association must keep in close contact.

2. Labor Mutual Aid Association

Each of the four villages had a labor mutual aid association. Except the Red Army families, 80 percent of those possessing labor power joined. The township had over 300 association members.

Among the population of the hsiang:

Persons performing full labor--10 percent (about 150 persons).

Persons performing half labor--20 percent (about 300 persons).

Persons performing half labor--20 percent (about 300 persons).

Persons performing incidental labor--35 percent (about 525 persons).


Persons performing no labor--30 percent (about 450 persons).

Most of the first two categories, totalling about 450 persons, joined the mutual aid association.

Of the 320 persons away from their homes in township (226 serving with the Red Army and 94 performing work), except for 10 or more belonging to the half-labor category, they all belonged to the "full-labor" category. Compared with the remaining 150 persons performing "full-labor" in the township, the ratio was 68 percent to 32 percent. Therefore, organized balancing of labor power became a central issue in production and the masses enthusiastically welcomed the labor mutual aid association.

The function of the mutual aid association was the preferential treatment of Red Army families, mutual aid among members and helping the "orphaned and aged." All the goals were reached. As a whole, the farms of Red Army families were successfully cultivated. The method was as follows:

Preferential treatment of Red Army families: In regard to the Red Army families in the township during busy seasons, each household required an average of about 25 work units of help per month. During ordinary times, an average of about 10 works units. The masses rendered help according to their ability. Those with more labor force rendered more help, those with less rendered less help and those without rendered no help. Women with young children seldom rendered help. Generally, during busy seasons, where 3-4 members in a household could perform labor, the household would contribute 13 or 14 work units. Where it had only 1/2 labor force, it would contribute 1 or 2 units of light work. In regard to those who rendered less help than they should, they must pay those who rendered more help. During a busy season, for instance, when household A contributed only 5 work units a month to Red Army families when it should have been 7 units while household B contributed 9 work units when it should have been 7, household A must pay household B the wages for the 2 units.

Mutual aid among members: The work units were mutually offset. Those who did less work would pay wages to those who did more work according to the number of work units.

Helping the orphaned and aged: Only meals for the members rendering help were provided; no charge of wages.

Over-all production plans with the village as the unit were formulated and the manpower balanced.

Account was settled at the end of every month and the wages computed. (More people took money in payment. Less took articles. Accounts were always cleared.)


Wages: Rice harvesting work this year was divided into three levels. The highest was 800 wen (such as threshing), next was 640 wen (such as cutting rice stalks, and carrying the stalks), and the lowest was 320 wen (such as taking the rice and bean dibbling). The above was decided at the membership mass meeting in July (attended by up to 100 members). In regard to the rice harvesting wages last year, it was 600 wen at the beginning and rose to a maximum of 1,400 wen at the busiest time.

Wage reduction: Wage reduction was supported by the farm laborers union because, with the land allocation, they were short of manpower.

Those with more labor force did not object either, because they must contribute much work to Red Army families.

The mutual aid association had five committee members, including a chairman, an organizer and a propagandist. It was under the guidance of the fall harvesting and fall cultivation committee of the township.

The great effect of the labor mutual aid association on agricultural production has been clearly demonstrated in Ch'ang-kang township. According to the desire of the masses, over-all planning of production with the village as the unit can be introduced in all areas, especially in areas where there have been many Red Army recruits. When necessary, township or even the district can be taken as the unit for over-all planning. It was what Ta-Ch'i's district, Shang-hang, did. The cultivation team may be merged with the labor mutual aid association, in order to unify the organization. There is an important issue here. Mobilizing the women to join production. The young people and adults between ages 16 and 45 in Ch'ang-kang township numbered 733. Of these, 320 left home to join the Red Army or perform other work, leaving 413 in the township, consisting of 87 men and 326 women (a ratio of 1 to 4). Therefore, Ch'ang-k'ang township relied mostly on women for its production. The township proposed the slogan that "women must learn to plow," and entire groups of women had joined the production front. It proved that organized balancing of manpower and activating women to join production are tasks which cannot be separated. That Ch'ang-kang township's production not only did not drop, but increased, was because they had successfully solved this problem.

3. Plot Animal Cooperative

Ch'ang-kang township began to organize the plow animal cooperative in September, one in each village, but had not yet completed the task. Not many people joined the cooperative. There was a five-man committee.

The average was 25 cows per 100 households. The township had a total of 110 cows.

No household had two cows.


Among those owning cows, 50 percent of the households had one cow (mostly calves, costing 10 and odd yuan per head).

15 percent of the households had one cow per two families.

30 percent of the households had one cow per three or four families.

5 percent of the households had one cow per five families (at times per seven families--large buffaloes).

25 percent of the households had no cow. Among the 437 households in the township, 109 had no cow. The plow animal cooperative had not yet discussed its solution.

No cow was permitted to be slaughtered. When an animal should be slaughtered due to illness or age, the owner must notify in advance the hsiang soviet, which would inspect the animal before granting permission. No one dared to kill a cow deliberately.

Under the current agricultural technical condition, the function of the plow animal is just below manpower. According to information of Shih-shut township Jui-chin (30 percent of the households had no cow), Ch'ang-kang township, Hsing-kuo (25 percent), and Ta-Ch'i's township, Shang-hang (20 percent), we know that peasants without plow animals constitute about 25 percent of the peasant population. This is a big problem. For its solution: nothing can surpass leading the masses to organize plow animal cooperatives and buy animals by pooling their funds. Under the voluntary principle (with the approval of the cooperative membership mass meeting), every household will contribute 2 to 3 sheng of grain per tan of land according to the amount of land allocated to it. In Ch'ang-kang township, for instance, each person was allocated 6 tan of land, and 109 households have no cow. With an average of 4 persons per household, the total number of persons is 436, and the total area of land allocated to them is 2,703 tan. At 3 pints per tan, there will be 81 tan of grain. At 5 yuan per tan, there will be 405 yuan. At 20 yuan per animal, there will be 20 head. With each animal plowing 80 tan of land, the 20 animals will plow 1,600 tan. Thus, more than half of the 2,703 tan of land will be plowed by animals. By contributing 2 sheng per tan next year, the entire problem will be solved. On the other hand, when leasing an animal to plow, the animal rent is 5 sheng per year per tan of land. The method was suggested by the masses of Shih-shui township. They have already put it to practice. We hope that all areas will follow suit. It will not only solve a big difficulty of the impoverished peasants, but produce an even greater significance in increasing agricultural production.

VIII. Sale of Public Bonds

The public bonds issuance committee consisted of five members. Every village had a chairman.


The township chairman attended the county and district meetings and undertook to sell 5,000 yuan of bonds. Subsequently, 456 yuan was added, totalling 5,456 yuan.

Upon his return, the township chairman called a delegates' meeting, and the various village delegates pledged the amount to be sold in their particular villages.

The on-duty delegates of the villages called mass meetings in their own villages. The delegates and propaganda teams propagandized to the masses beforehand, led the masses to the meetings and explained the significance of bonds. At the meetings, the delegates and the responsible persons of various organizations took the lead and made their pledges, and the masses followed. All the pledges were recorded on site.

The bonds were not entirely sold.

In regard to those who did not buy bonds or bought too little, the delegates and the propaganda teams propagandized from household to household. "Such a large amount this year." Some of the masses could not understand. The delegates and the propaganda teams compared last year's grain price (17.5 tan of grain for 2 yuan's worth of bonds) with this year's bonds (only 2 tan for 10 yuan's worth of bonds), explained the benefits of the cooperative (2 dividends would exceed the cost of the shares; those having no shares would not receive dividends), and expounded the significance of enemy blockade and economic construction.

A village-wide mass meeting was again held, and an additional amount of bonds was sold, but the bonds were still not completely sold.

Propaganda was made again.

A third village-wide mass meeting was held, and an additional amount was sold. The bonds were still not completely sold, but much was left.

At the fourth village mass meeting, all the bonds were sold.

A total of 5,456 yuan of bonds was sold, averaging over 3.70 yuan per-person for the 1,466 population of the hsiang. One household bought 45 yuan of bonds, which was the largest sale; 5 or 6 households bought 30 yuan of bonds; many bought 20 yuan of bonds; very few bought 1 or 2 yuan, only around 10 households; and none bought 0.50 yuan. Some 30 or more "orphaned and aged" households did not buy any. The masses were completely satisfied. From beginning to end, it took 15 days to sell all the bonds.


The special feature of Ch'ang-kang township in its work was to devote their entire effort to mobilizing the masses and persuading them with a great patience. As a result, their tasks were completely fulfilled and had the greatest speed. Selling public bonds was only one of the instances. The sale of over 5,000 yuan of public bonds was entirely done at the meetings, not by visiting the households; it depended entirely on propaganda and agitation, and on coercive allocation. It required four propaganda campaigns and four village mass meetings. Yet, it took only 15 days from beginning to end. Other townships while the sale was only 1/5 or 1/3 that of Ch'ang-kang township resorted to coercive allocation, and could not even complete the job after 2 or 3 months. Compared with Ch'ang-kang township it was truly heaven and earth!

IX. The Cooperative Movement

The cooperative began in Ku-lin village, Lang-mu township (Ch'ang-kang township being then a part thereof), in 1931, upon the conclusion of the third war. At 0.50 yuan per share, the homes of the village collected over 80 yuan, began to do business, and were successful. In January 1933, it was changed to the Lang-mu township cooperative. No additional shares were solicited, the merchandise was cheaper than the market, and it was popular with the masses. By September, it had gross receipts of 800 yuan and showed a profit. In September last year, the district cooperative was formed, 800 shares (at 0.50 yuan per share) were subscribed for and collected, and the Lang-mu township cooperative was merged into the district.

Staff members: During the village cooperative period, cooperative chief (Li K'ung-ying, who subsequently became the chief of the township district, and county cooperatives), purchaser (Li, who subsequently became the purchasing officer of the township district and county cooperatives), and accounting and business (Wang Jen-sen, who subsequently became the accountant of the township and district cooperatives) had their meals provided by the cooperative, but they received no wage. After the cooperative was changed to a township cooperative, it was decided to pay them 3 yuan per month each, but they refused.

Merchandise was directly procured from country stores. During the village and township cooperative period, the cooperative members and Red Army families were given a discount of 50 wen for every 1,000 wen of purchases, or 5 percent. The non-members did not enjoy the discount, but the prices were cheaper than the market. They could save 20 wen for every string of coins spent on purchases, or 20 percent. In November this year, the district cooperative changed the discount on salt and cloth to 20 wen per string of coins (because salt and cloth were expensive and not profitable), while for other merchandise, the discount remained at 50 wen. The non-members were charged market price. At this time, there was a profit of 2 yuan for every 100 yuan of gross receipt.


From September last year to March this year (6 months), the district cooperative made a profit of over 600 yuan on a capital of over 400 yuan. It designated 50 percent as public reserve fund, 10 percent as bonus to the business personnel and the managing and inspection committees, 20 percent as cultural-education expenses (stationary for the bureaus, schools, and children of Red Army families), and 20 percent as dividends. To increase the dividends and encourage the members, the education expenses were temporarily abolished (should be resumed in the future), and the dividends increased to 40 percent, paying 1 string of coins to every shareholder. At the time of dividend payment, the accounts were cleared and published by posting. After dividend payment, there was a big increase in capital. In July this year, there was a total of 2,000 shares for 1,000 yuan. In November, at the second dividend payment, each share was entitled to 0.50 yuan, but actually only 0.30 yuan was paid, leaving the 0.20 yuan as additional share. It was decided to change the share unit to 1 yuan, and no one was permitted to have more than 10 shares.

The managing committee had 11 members, and the inspection committee 7.

It was decided that the townships should establish branch cooperatives. The Ch'ang-kang township branch cooperative collected over 260 shares (at 1 yuan per share) and started business.

The Ku-lin village cooperative was the first of its kind in the entire county. Its operation was successful and it was known as a model cooperative.

The grain cooperative of the township solicited over 220 shares (at 1 yuan per share). Most of the subscribers paid in grain (at 5 yuan per tan), which was all stored in a granary in Ch'ang-kang village. It had not started business. A managing committee was organized.

Every township and every district must emulate the consumer cooperative of Ch'ang-kang township and Shang-she district.

X. Culture Movement

1. Elementary Schools

Four Lenin elementary schools one in each village, each with a principal and a teacher.

Students: 55 in Ch'ang-kang; 53 in T'ang-pei; 33 in Hsin-ch'i; 46 in Szu-kang; total 186, constituting 65 percent of all the school age children in the township. As for the remaining 35 percent, It was not because their parents did not want them to go to school, but because they would rather play than study. The students went to "catch" them. Their punishment was sweeping the floor or being shut up, or even going without meals for those "big and savage." The students initiated struggles among themselves, with "very good spirit." The mischievous children spent less time in school, than out. The parents would see them out of the door, and they would then "sneak off into the hills to fight battles." (Some of the punishments were not suitable.)


All schools were divided into A, B and C.

The age of the students was 7 to 13. There were also some who were 14 or 15 years old, but they only attended half day because of production.

Those living far away brought their lunch, and those nearby went home for lunch.

The students provided their own paper.

The teachers were volunteers. They were considered in the same category as work personnel sewed from production and from labor mutual aid association helper farm their land. The teachers themselves would not say so, but the delegates' congress decided to give them preferential treatment. (Those regularly stationed in the township soviet received preferential treatment, but the delegates and the responsible persons of mass organizations not sewed from production received no preferential treatment.) In Ho-fu and Hsiu-shui townships, the students collected rice for the "teacher," 2 tan a month. Yang-ch'en township had another method. Where there was an elementary school in a certain village, the township soviet permitted the masses to select two persons (age 50 or more who could not perform full-time labor) to work as peddlers, do some small business, and provide the meals for the "teacher." The amount was the same as the township soviet personnel (0.05 yuan a day). Meanwhile, the township soviet would not assign the two peddlers any service detail, and the two peddlers must be willing to undertake the task.

Most of the teachers were "not profound in learning."

2. Night Schools

9 in the township: 3 in Ch'ang-kang; 2 in T'ang-pei, 1 in Hsin-ch'i; 3 in Szu-kang.

Each school had an average of 32 students, totalling about 300 for the 9 schools, 30 percent men and 70 percent women. Most of the 412 young people and adults, age 16 to 45, in the township enrolled in the night school. Some few 'old comrades' over 54 years old also came to school. The masses were very pleased. They declared that "the night school is excellent!"

All schools were divided into A, B and C classes.

A small number of students brought their own lamps and some 4 or 5 persons shared one lamp. Mostly, they depended on the one wood-oil lamp furnished by the school, shared by 10 to 20 persons. Each person contributed 2 or 3 p'ien a month.

The students provided their own paper, pens and ink.

Teaching material:


Class A--newspaper reading; arithmetic.

Class B--Adult reader.

Class C--Children's reader.

Each school had a principal and a teacher. The principal did not have to be literate as long as he was enthusiastic. When the students were absent, "the principal's instruction is requested." The principal also attended the class. Most of the principals were "old commanders." Of the 9 night school principals, 5 were women. There were no women teachers of the 9 night school teachers, 7 were township soviet delegates, and all were volunteers.

3. Literacy Classes

Those tied down with children, those more advanced in age, and those with too few members in the family and too far away were organized into literacy classes.

Organization: According to the proximity of residences, as few as 3 and as many as 10 were organized into groups, and a group leader, who could read a few words, was elected. Most of the group leaders were night school students.

Teaching method: Any time, any place, any number of persons, while resting or drinking tea, one, three, or five persons. At the beginning, characters were traced on the ground. Later on, each student would have a notebook to learn how to write, beginning with such characters as "table, chair, bench, pig, dog, chicken and duck." Every 10 days, the group leader corrected the notebooks from the students for correction by a "night school teacher," and those who "wrote more and well" were praised verbally. The group leader would ask the night school teacher when he did not know how to write certain characters, and the latter, when he did not know how to write them, would ask the day school teacher.

By this method, those who did not know how to read at all before could now read 40 or 50 words, and some few of them could read 70 or 80.

This method was introduced in the summer this year, but the literacy class was started last year.

Literacy placard: One in each village, nailed on walls of houses alongside the road. Pictures and words were made on it, replaced every 2 or 3 days. Sometimes, it was replaced as often as once a day, or as long as 4 or 5 days; 2 or 3 words were given every time, accompanied with pictures. The day school teacher was responsible for it. It was very effective.

4. Clubs


The township had four clubs, one in each village. Every club had many committees such as "physical education," "wall bulletin," "evening meeting," etc. Every village ran a wall bulletin, located in the Lenin elementary school. Of the 10 articles, 8 of them were written by the elementary students and two by the masses. All the clubs presented modern plays.

Every township soviet must emulate the culture and education work of Ch'ang-kang township.

XI. Hygiene Movement

1. Method

The residents were organized into hygiene details, according to the proximity of their residences, consisting of 4 or 5, 7 or 8, 11 or 12 households per detail, mostly 7 or 8, with a leader.

Though a major sweeping every 5 days was called for, actually it was mostly once every 7 days, and at times even every 10 days. Supervision was necessary. "Without supervision, it would not be remembered, and there is so much work to do."

2. Work

(1) Sweeping: No ashes or manure was stored in hallways and bedrooms. Stagnant mud was cleaned out from ditches in front and behind. Open, level spaces were swept and cleaned. The people took turns sweeping and cleaning public kitchens and level spaces. (2) Food: They only were as far as forbidding the people to eat dead things. (3) Clothes were washed. In regard to those who failed to perform the above items, the children's league was activated to ridicule them, especially those wearing dirty clothes. The modern plays also depicted the hygiene movement.

3. Achievements

From April on, the first time was "fairly good," but it then petered out. Nothing was done in May and June. Upon discovery, the township soviet criticized the hygiene committee chairmen, held another meeting of the committees (besides the township hygiene committee, every village had a committee, all consisting of five members), and called on the villages to compete against one another "to see which ones are better." It was put into effect under supervision in July. There were great achievements in the 4 months since. It was twice as clean as before.

4. Public Opinion


"The Red Army and the Communist Party think of everything!" "The government work personnel are truly concerned about us!" But some few people also remarked: "Opening the windows! If we don't die of illness, we will die from the wind blowing on us!" More intensive propaganda was needed.

Illness is a big enemy in the soviet areas, because it weakens our revolutionary force. Activating a broad mass hygiene movement and reducing, even eliminating, diseases similar to what Ch'ang-kang township did constitute the responsibility of each and every township soviet.

XII. Social Relief

The township committee of the mutual relief association had five members (including chairman, propagandist, and organizer). The village had no committee. It had a chairman, and there were small groups under him. The association had 111 members. Only about 20 households, mostly "orphaned and aged," in the before time did not join the association. The monthly charge was 1 p'ien, which everyone paid.

Work:

1. Comforting the Red Army.

2. Soliciting donations for refugee relief and anti-imperialism. This was done twice this year. Once when over 70 refugees from Hsin-feng came to Hsing-kuo city (in the Lang-mu township period), over 20 strings of coins were collected. Another time was in aid of the Northeast Volunteer Army; also during the Lang-mu township period (the population at that time was 2,900, and the number of members about 100), when over 40 strings of coins were collected. Donations started at 5 p'ien, up to 100, 200, or 1 string. Most of them were 100, or about 60 percent of the members. Only a few persons gave as little as 5 p'ien or as much as 1 string.

3. Donations were solicited to relieve those whose houses had burned down and the unemployed workers who were sick and had no medicine. One house-hold had a fire last spring and one and one-half rooms were burned down. More than 6 strings of coins were collected and given to the owner.

4. Relief of the hungry. In the summer this year, three or four persons in Lang-mu township had nothing to eat (were beggars in the past, still very poor now) and asked the district mutual relief association for money and rice. They were given 1 to 3 pints each and every time for 3 or 4 times during the summer.

5. Relief of Red Army families. To relieve those among the Red Army families who were sick or had difficulties (no one hungry), more than 11 strings of coins were collected at one time for the owner. In April, the cooperative loaned the money for capital and several volunteers among the


masses went to purchase rice, carried it to Ch'iao-t'ou Ch'iang-pei-tung to sell, and made a profit of over 100 strings of coins for the relief of those who were sick or had difficulties among the Red Army families. The volunteers did not take any money besides their meals.

The soviet of many areas gives no attention to relief work. The mutual relief association in such areas only collects the monthly dues but does not perform any relief work. The social relief work of the township soviet and mutual relief association of Ch'ang-kang township is commendable. Ch'angkang township solved every difficult problem of the masses in the concrete and practical manner.

XIII. Women

The women worker and peasant delegates' congress had a chairman in every village. All the village chairmen and a women's director formed the presidium of the township women worker and peasant delegates' congress. The township had a total of 43 delegates, 12 from Ch'ang-kang, 11 from T'ang-pei, 9 from Hsin-ch'i and 11 from Szu-kang. It was organized in November last year. There was a reelection in March this year. The third election was held in September. There was one meeting every 7 days in all the villages, all held according to schedule, with only a handful absent every time (tied down by children). The delegates had separate responsibilities, each in charge of 5 to 10 households, mostly 6 or 7.

The township soviet delegate was in charge of the first election upon the creation of the congress. The village was the unit, and all the laboring women age 16 and above were asked to come to the meeting. An average of 60 percent of them in all the villages attended the meetings. According to the proximity of their residences, several households (not the same numbers) elected one delegate. The delegates elected at that time were slightly fewer than now. At that time, the women still did not understand the function of the women delegates' congress, they were not very enthusiastic. After the delegates were elected, some few of them were not very positive. The delegates' congress had no presidium, only a chairman. The villages did not even have a chairman.

There was a reelection in March this year. The method was the same as before, but the women's chairmen were in charge. The township soviet delegates of the villages also participated to render help. The number of households to be under the charge of the women's delegates was determined, and the township was to organize a presidium, but there was no chairman in the villages.

For the third election in September, the method was changed. No village-wide women's mass meeting was called. The women delegates called election meetings of the women in the households under their charge, and the township soviet delegates participated to render help.


During the first and second election meetings, only the delegates were elected, but no problem was discussed. At the third election, such problems as "expanding the Red Army," "comforting the Red Army," "preferential treatment of Red Army families," "women learning to plow," and "women buying public bonds with silverware" were discussed. The marriage issue was discussed among the problems brought up at the regular meeting every 7 days. The women declared: "We want the correct freedom, not vagabond freedom. We must not ask for a divorce whenever there is an argument." During the election meeting this year, the women's 'candidates' list was discussed. However, other intimate problems concerning women, such as "women's diseases," "children" and "women's education," were not discussed.

There was complete freedom of divorce in the township. The husbands seldom scolded their wives, but there were more wives who scolded their husbands. (Neither should scold the other.) Spanking of children had not been completely stopped, but it was reduced. (There should be no spanking at all.) The children had become more intelligent. In the past, when spanked or scolded by their parents, they seldom retorted, but now more of them retorted. (If the parents did not spank or scold them, the children would not be retorting.)

About 1 percent of the women married 3 times in the 4-1/2 years after the uprising. Clandestine love affairs constituted about 50 percent before the uprising, but they were reduced to 10 percent after the uprising. They were further reduced this year because of land allocation, freedom to divorce or marry, and busy revolutionary work.

Their clothes were shortened and "fancy borders" eliminated. Except "old ladies," the women cut their hair. Some "old ladies" also had their hair cut. Older women with long hair constituted about 20 percent of the women.

Among the masses, in the past (before the uprising), there were frequent quarrels and fistfights, and even more arguments. Now, there are no more fistfights, and even arguments decreased. When there was an argument in the past, no one would explain matters to the parties, and even when someone tried to pacify them, they were "not convinced in their mind." Now, the moment an argument occurs, a delegate comes out to explain matters to them, and they immediately "become convinced." Arguments mostly occurred among the older comrades. They attended less meetings and did not understand revolutionary work clearly. When asked to render preferential treatment to Red Army families, they would sometimes argue. However, the majority who did not understand, they were mostly "old ladies" who "always refused to go to the meetings."

Since last year, no old lady has worshipped the gods (burning incense and offering rice), begging the gods and bowing to the Buddha, but every village still has one or two persons who try to "summon the spirit of the dead." The reasons for such prompt elimination of superstition were (1) knocking down of local tyrants and land division, (2) the anti-superstition propaganda of the children's league and Young Pioneers and the soviet movement


to save the money on incense and candles, and (3) direct interference by the Young Pioneers (taking away the incense and candles). (Should be persuasion rather than interference). However, although they did not dare to worship the gods openly, some old ladies still believed in the gods. Most of those had no son.

The great strength of women in the revolutionary war has been clearly demonstrated in the soviet areas. In the land investigation movement and all types of mass struggles, on the economic front (Ch'ang-kang township relies mainly on them), on the cultural front (many women are in charge of rural education), in military mobilization (their movement to expand the Red Army and comfort the Red Army; their service as part-time laborers), and in the soviet organization (the effect of the women delegates in the township soviet), their heroic bearing and great achievements have been manifested. Here, the leadership and motivation of the women's worker and peasant delegates' congress are the crucial link. It must first fiercely tackle the problems connected with the intimate interests of the women masses and coordinate all political mobilizations with the mobilization on such problems. On this point, the attention of many areas is extremely inadequate, and even Ch'angkang township has not rendered it full attention. The soviet of each and every township must place the work of guiding the women's worker and peasant delegates' congress on its daily agenda.

XIV. Children

The children's league committee in the township had 5 members, with a secretary. In the villages, there was a chairman. Of the children age 7 to 15, 80 percent joined the children's league. Those who had not joined were mostly 7-year-olds (too small) and 15-year-olds (because they had joined the Young Pioneers. Ordinarily the minimum age for the Young Pioneers was 16, but some joined earlier because of their size). More boys than girls joined.

Work: (1) They propagandized on expanding the Red Army and the return-to-the-ranks movement. (Only when a person refused after three or four propaganda efforts would he be ridiculed. The township had never had a "ridiculizer team.") (2) They held competitions to collect dog excrement for the "fertilizer station" and shovel up grass roots for the "fertilizer room." (3) The members paid 1 p'ien of their dues to comfort the Red Army. (4) They promoted the thrift movement--eating less fruits and buying more public bonds, 0.50, 1, 2 or 3 yuan. Most of them bought 0.50 yuan. Sixty percent of the children bought public bonds. (5) They played games, drilled and practiced fighting battles in the drill field on Sundays. A program was formulated. (6) The majority of them were enrolled in the Lenin school.

The discipline of the children's league was very strict. Some mischievous children who defied their parents and teachers obeyed the discipline of the children's league. Punishments consisted of sweeping the floor or being shut up. They always "listen to reason and admit their errors." (Should be more persuasion and less punishment.)


In the past, 9- and 10-year-olds took care of cows for the landlords and rich peasants, but this was no longer true. In the past, whether at home or working outside, the labor time of children was always 10 hours or more, the same as for adults. They had no time to rest or study. Now, they spend the greater portion of their time studying and playing games, and only about 1-1/2 hours in the morning taking care of cows or doing other jobs. In busy farming seasons, they worked longer periods. They would ask the teachers for leave to help their parents. In the past, they were spanked and scolded by their parents. Now, they were seldom spanked or scolded.

XV. Workers

Carpenters: 30 percent unemployed; only 7 work units available for each 10 work units; daily wage 550.

Tailors: Most of them unemployed; daily wage 400.

Masons: 30 percent unemployed; daily wage 550.

Bamboo workers: 10 percent unemployed; daily wage 400.

Barbers: 10 percent increase. Each customer paid the barber 8 sheng of grain a year.

Part-time laborers: Daily wage at ordinary times 400 (2 mao); during busy time 800 (4 mao).

XVI. Poor Peasants' League

The township committee had three members (chairman, propagandist organizer) and the village committee 5 members. There were 271 members in July this year, which was increased to 386 in November.

In the past, "the poor peasants' league is called on for everything," but attention was not given to making sound its organization.

In the land investigation movement this year (July), the organization was readjusted, the village committee abolished, and the membership developed.

Before July, sometimes no meeting was held for 2 months. After July, the village poor peasants' league held a meeting every 5, 10 or 15 days, depending on the need of the work. The township league held one meeting a month. The problem discussed included "class investigation," "each member saving 0.10 yuan," "developing the membership," "making sound the organization," "developing production" and "refining and donating teams." In regards to expanding the Red Army, preferential treatment of Red Army families, economic construction and education, only reports were made to the members.


When the township congress made decisions on such matters, they were "announced" at the poor peasants' league meeting and there was no special discussion. (There should be discussion.) No monthly dues were charged. There were small groups under the village.

In all areas where the land investigation movement has not become intensive, the poor peasants' league is specially important. The township soviet must be responsible for its leadership. There should be a poor peasants' league committee in the village. The village should serve as the unit for meetings, and meetings with the township as the unit may be decreased. Ch'ang-kang township's practice is correct.

XVIII. Propaganda Teams

The township had a propaganda middle team, 7 members, 1 leader. Every village had a propaganda small team, 5 members in the large villages (Ch'ang-kang and T'ang-pei) and 3 in the small villages (Hsin-ch'i and Szu-kang), with a leader. They made propaganda for "expanding the Red Army," "economic construction," and the "commemoration festival."

Patterns of propaganda: (1) Individual propaganda, most numerous. (2) Making propaganda when the on-duty delegate gathered the masses of the village to discuss work. (3) Propagandizing to the masses when the district county held commemoration festival mass meetings; also propagandizing to the "ranks" of other township and ch'ü's.

Every 7 days, the township soviet called together the middle and small team leaders, altogether five persons, for a "propaganda meeting." The district soviet held meetings of all the propaganda team leaders in the district, at least twice a month, sometimes three times. Every meeting lasted at least 4 hours. The participants went home to eat after the meeting.

The township had a total of 23 team leaders and members, about 60 percent of them women. They were all "relatively articulate," but not necessarily literate. They were not replaced. Only in case of transfer would there be replacements. They concentrated on studying propaganda material and methods and "how to make the masses understand even better." Organizing was started in last February.

XVIII. Surprise Attack Teams

Five persons under the township soviet, one team leader. In regard to the villages, Ch'ang-kang, T'ang-pei and Hsin-ch'i had surprise attack teams and Szu-kang had none. They were organized by Red Army wives.

In any village where the work had become stagnated, the surprise attack team of another would go there to inspect and render help, explaining to the villagers the methods followed by other villages to perform the work. The township surprise attack team had the same function, inspecting and helping any village where the work had come to a standstill.


The surprise attack team performed less work than the propaganda team; it did not demonstrate a great effect. The township soviet called them together for meetings three or four times. Organizing began in August.

Propaganda and surprise attack teams are excellent. All the townships should organize them.

XIX. Revolutionary Competition

The measure of holding competitions was started during the spring cultiva-tion movement this year and the items of competition included "comparatively early," "comparatively good," and "no uncultivated land." All the township chairman, holding a meeting at the district soviet, signed a competition agreement among the townships. The district called a meeting of the village on-duty delegates to sign competition agreements among the villages. The on-duty delegates of the villages each called a meeting of the village dele-gates to sign the competition agreement in the village. There was no com-petition among the households. (Could also be signed.) The following items were included in the agreement: The maximum standards for the items of com-petition; the competing villages; the kinds and numbers of prizes: (first class, red flag; second class, 100 sheets of writing paper; third class, 50 sheets of writing paper); the period of competition; the responsible person and the referee. During the period of competition the township congress held an inspection meeting, and the on-duty delegates made reports covering the progress of the various villages. After the meeting, the chair-men (referees) made an inspection tour of the villages to verify the reports of the on-duty delegates.

In April, there was another competition. The goal was "military mobiliza-tion," divided into "expanding the Red Army," "comforting work" and "pre-ferential treatment of Red Army families." (There was no return-to-the-ranks movement, because there was no deserter at that time. This item was added in May.)

On 20 May, the hsiang congress held a summation meeting on the competition in "spring plowing" and "military affairs." Hsin-ch'i won the red flag, Ch'ang-kang 100 sheets of writing paper, T'ang-pei 50 sheets and Szu-kang nothing.

In July, competition agreements on "military affairs" and "economy" were signed. There has been no summation yet, but Ch'ang-kang is known to be the best.

To strive for speed in work, the method of revolutionary competition should be introduced in every township. The township soviet is the leader of the competition, but only the "leader," because it is mainly a competition among the masses, not the village delegates. Therefore, for the signing of every competition agreement, it must be reported to the masses at the mass meeting,


with the village as the unit, for their approval, and the agreement posted. For competition on production items, a meeting of the several dozen residents under the leadership of every delegate must be held, and the competition re-ported to them for their approval. The results of achievement inspections for any one period must also be reported at such meetings in order to pro-mote the progress of the work. Whenever a competition produces no achieve-ment, it is always because the competition agreement is put in the pockets of a few persons, and the broad masses are not motivated. A summation must be made for each competition, and the prizes awarded. As a whole, Ch'ang-kang Township accomplished all these in its two competitions. That was why they made practical successes.

--- Notes

* "Selected Works of Mao Tse-tung," Vol 1, 1947 edition


* "Models in Township Soviet Work (1) Ch'ang-kang Township" (mimeographed), published by the Central Government, December 1933


* "Struggle," Nos 42, 43, 44, 12, 19, 26 January 1934


* "Rural Survey," Liberation Press, July 1949