Summary of the Speech at the Founding Meeting of the Rear Area Garrison Corps[1]

(December 1937)

The army is the indispensable armed force on which the base areas rely for their existence. The task of guarding the rear area must be regarded as equally important as resisting Japan and saving the nation on the front lines. The Rear Area Garrison Corps must be set on the path toward regularization in army building as quickly as possible.

[1] In December 1937, the Eighth Route Army Rear Area Garrison Corps was formally established. Mao Zedong delivered an important speech at the meeting, and this is a portion of Mao Zedong's speech. This meeting also determined that "strengthening combat readiness, regularization of the troops, education on the united front, enhancing troop discipline, and close unity with the people" would be the main tasks of the corps for this phase.