Speech at the Meeting of Principal Cadres at the Provincial, County, and District Levels Convened by the Gannan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (October 15, 1934)

In this offensive against the Soviet area, the enemy has adopted the blockhouse policy, fighting all the way to the gates of our Central Soviet Area, attempting to cut off the water and catch the fish, to completely annihilate the Red Army. Our main force of the Red Army must break through the enemy’s blockade lines, go to the enemy’s rear, strike at the enemy, and destroy the enemy.

You cadres working in the localities must remain in the Soviet area, unite the people, and launch guerrilla warfare. You must not be afraid, and you must not think that the revolution has failed just because the main force of the Red Army has left. You must not see only the temporary difficulties; you must see that the revolution has hope, and the Red Army will certainly return!

[1] On October 15, 1934, the Gannan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China convened a meeting of principal cadres at the provincial, county, and district levels at the Xie Family Ancestral Hall in Yudu County. This is part of Mao Zedong’s speech at the meeting.