Speech at a Meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China[1]

(October 22, 1935)

The Shaanxi-Gansu Detachment has marched two thousand li since setting out from E’jie, and the task of reaching this region has been accomplished. Now the national revolutionary general headquarters has arrived here, making this place the center of the counterrevolutionary offensive. The enemy’s pursuit and interdiction have had to come to a temporary halt; now it is the enemy’s “encirclement and suppression.” Our task is to defend and expand the Northern Shaanxi Soviet Area and to use the Northern Shaanxi Soviet Area to lead the national revolution. The three provinces of Shaanxi, Gansu, and Shanxi are the main regions for development. For now, with Wuqi Town as the center, in the first phase we shall advance westward, later southward, and after the Yellow River freezes, we can move eastward. We must pay great attention to relations with the comrades in the Northwest and should meet them with a happy and cheerful attitude. At present, the world revolution has entered a new stage, and imperialism is in conflict everywhere. Japanese imperialism is monopolizing North China, the anti-imperialist movement is surging, an anti-imperialist revolution is brewing nationwide, and the masses in Northern Shaanxi urgently need revolution—these are favorable conditions for smashing the enemy’s “encirclement and suppression.” Smashing the enemy’s “encirclement and suppression” also requires good leadership.

We have concluded a year of long-distance marching and have begun a new mobile warfare with a rear area. Raising combat effectiveness, expanding the Red Army, and solving the problem of material supplies are the central tasks of the troops at present. We must strengthen coordination with work in the White areas, work among the White troops, and guerrilla operations. We must respect the opinions of the local masses and not suppress them out of arrogance. Mobilizing the masses depends mainly on local work; without relying on them, there is no way.

[1] The meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China was held in Wuqi Town. Mao Zedong delivered a report on the current policy of action and made concluding remarks at the meeting. Part One here is an excerpt from the report; Part Two is an excerpt from the concluding remarks.