Comrades and fellow students, Shaanbei Public School is a microcosm of the whole of China.

Students come from different regions, different professions, and different social strata, yet they share one common inclination—the inclination to build a new China.

You are progressive elements, the very ones who will create a new China.

Therefore, Shaanbei Public School represents the united front of the whole country and is a miniature picture of China’s progress.

There was once Huangpu, where a certain vitality was manifest—a vitality that also represented a certain direction. Huangpu, like Shaanbei Public School, brought together students from all over, who later dispersed to various places. At that time, Huangpu aimed to overthrow the warlords and imperialism; it was the epitome of China’s progress at that time.

The direction of our Shaanbei Public School is to overthrow Japanese imperialism and establish a new China, and we must persist in this direction. Whoever goes against this direction violates the purpose of Shaanbei Public School. We fellow students should help one another and supervise one another.

Today, the enemy seeks to attack Wuhan, Xi’an, Changsha, Nanchang, and other places. China will inevitably face unavoidable difficulties. In the face of these difficulties, some people may waver—this is highly possible. When students graduate and go out into the world, it is as if they are scattered into a river. It is possible that a few may be swept away by the tide, but the majority will be able to overcome the tide, keep to the general direction, and reach their intended goal.

To follow this direction, one must have a firm will and a spirit that fears no sacrifice in arduous and bitter struggle.

The current situation is different from the past. Today, there are three united fronts in the world—the international, the Chinese, and the domestic Japanese—that can defeat Japanese imperialism. These three united fronts, coordinating and cooperating with one another, share a common goal. We firmly believe that they will change the situation, and that China will surely move in a new direction.

A comrade from Wuhan said, “There now exists a common formula regarding our war of resistance beyond our borders: ‘Since the Lugouqiao Incident, China is bound to win the final victory.’” This statement is correct, but there is a missing paragraph in between. That missing paragraph is the question of how to achieve victory. This is a critically important question. We must answer it, and we must write that intervening paragraph well.

Things are constantly changing. It is impossible today to describe everything that will happen in the future in full detail. Such a demand is almost like utopian socialism. We do not approve of fabricating a utopia out of thin air. To view matters scientifically is not like that.

How does one go from the old China to the new China? The concrete content cannot be fully described today, but the general direction can be pointed out. The protracted nature of the Chinese revolution is determined by the course of historical change. Based on our experience over the past six months, we can say these two phrases: “First defeat, then victory; from weakness, turn to strength.” This is the prospect of our protracted war of resistance.

Over the past six months, China has seen much progress: resistance against Japan, cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, alignment with the Soviet Union, the beginnings of freedom of speech, and the initiation of political work in the military. These things did not exist before, and they are the content of the path we are compelled to take by the enemy’s aggression.

On what track does this path proceed? We answer: “It proceeds on the track of hardship and bitter struggle.” If places like Wuhan and Xi’an fall, then large swaths of land will be in Japanese hands, while smaller patches remain in ours. Would that then be the end? No, absolutely not.

China’s geographical conditions are different from Spain’s. Spain’s territory is too small—there are not many places to go. After the thirty-fifth stratagem is exhausted, the thirty-sixth has nowhere to be applied; therefore, they adopted the strategy of holding fast in Madrid. China is different; we can maneuver and have plenty of places to go. It is extremely difficult for Japanese imperialism to occupy all of China. China’s territory is as large as seventeen or eighteen Frances, and its population is several times that of France. Even if the greater part of Chinese territory is occupied by Japan—a possible scenario—we will still have solutions, because we have two areas that can deal a fatal blow to the enemy: interior lines and exterior lines. These are two zones of operation. The interior lines consist of Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Hunan—by and large, the areas under the jurisdiction of the central government. The exterior lines are the forward areas of that large swath of land occupied by Japan.

We must vigorously work for the prospect of the anti-Japanese national united front based on cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, improve political and military conditions, create a new Chinese army, coordinate with aircraft and artillery, and attack from both inside and outside. Only in this way can we drive the devils out of all China.

To achieve this goal, many difficulties will arise. For instance, if Wuhan falls, problems of vacillation, compromise, and doubt about whether the war of resistance should continue may emerge in both the front and the rear. At that time, it will require political parties with far-sighted vision to assess the direction of the current situation.

Let us now examine the history of the Kuomintang. The history of the Kuomintang has seen many failures and successes; it has been arduous and tortuous. The 1911 Revolution failed, and it was only after reorganization that the Kuomintang ushered in the new phase of the Great Revolution. As a result of the Northern Expedition, the Kuomintang and the Communist Party split, and the gains were reaped by feudal forces and imperialism. We believe it is more likely that the Kuomintang will take the direction of continuing the war of resistance, because surrender offers no way out. On the Communist Party’s side, this problem does not exist: from beginning to end, it is resolute in resistance, and the vast majority of the people are also opposed to surrender.

Now, many people recall the situation during the Northern Expedition and hope that the Kuomintang, the Communist Party, and the people—all three—will advocate carrying the war of resistance through to the end. The fall of Wuhan—this trend is possible. All of you will go down from this “mountain,” and you may all encounter this kind of situation. Once Wuhan falls, the situation will certainly become very grim; those who advocate peace will certainly emerge. Yet overcoming these difficulties is entirely assured. In addition to persisting in the war of resistance domestically, we must also count on favorable international conditions. Although Germany openly assists Japan, has recognized “Manchukuo,” and refuses to sell arms to China, and although the attitude of the British cabinet has also changed, this is only one side of the situation. The people of the world, who represent the general direction of the world—especially the Soviet Union—will encourage and aid China. The Soviet Union will certainly help China; one day, the Soviet Union will become Japan’s direct adversary. The United States will also step in. All of this gives us confidence that Japan cannot swallow China. In which year did the “Heavenly Hound” swallow the moon? That is the first point. The second point: even if it is swallowed, it will not last long. This judgment is built upon an analysis of both domestic and international conditions. Japan’s military strength is insufficient; it cannot sustain itself for long. From this, we conclude that the overall direction of China’s war of resistance is inevitably victory.

At present, our general policy is to defend Wuhan and defend Xi’an. The method is to prepare for retreat, but we must wear down the enemy and buy time. Even if we fail in the battle to defend Wuhan and Xi’an, it does not matter. As we have already pointed out, striking outward from the interior lines and achieving victory is still possible. That is one aspect.

On the other hand, since the enemy occupies large swaths of territory, we can then create “articles” in the small nearby patches. This is the intermediate paragraph that must be written before the conclusion of final victory. For example, in all of North China, parts of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui—if Wuhan cannot be held, there are many places where such “articles” can be written. A youth wrote from Changsha, saying: “China is doomed to perish. If Wuhan falls, then large patches are all lost—what other way could there be?” I say, the students from our Shaanbei Public School will certainly find a way once they go out. That way is to draw “tofu blocks”—draw “tofu blocks” near the main roads. Along the edges of these “tofu blocks,” we have no way for the time being, because those are the main roads and big cities, occupied by Japanese forces with superior weaponry. This is to say: “China does not face national subjugation, but the loss of the roads.” Japan gained the main roads and cities through a war of quick decision; by the same token, it has gained a protracted war in the villages and small paths. For example, if Yan’an in Northern Shaanxi is occupied, we will then fight a protracted war in other small patches, in countless villages, and on countless small paths. Japan can win the war of quick decision in the cities, but we will win the protracted war in the villages.

This time, after graduation, you will be assigned to work in two areas. One part will develop mass mobilization work in the rear, and the other part will go into the “tofu blocks.” Perhaps some of you are afraid to go and draw “tofu blocks.” Let us cite the example of Nie Rongzhen, and you will no longer be afraid. Nie Rongzhen built a large force of twenty-five thousand men in the Wutai Mountains—this is not even counting those who are not separated from production. We must tell this example to the people in all occupied areas or areas about to be occupied throughout the country, so they can see the method of resistance and the way forward. We firmly oppose the notion that there is no way in the occupied areas. In this regard, we can also recount many experiences from the ten-year civil war period.

Shaanbei Public School has many aspects that are not entirely satisfactory. What matters to us is not following textbooks chapter by chapter like other schools, but learning a style, a direction. The principal and the faculty of Shaanbei Public School have all come through arduous and bitter struggle. Therefore, here at Shaanbei Public School you can learn a direction—a political direction—and at the same time, learn a style—a work style.

You must go and work in all the places occupied by the enemy. In Shanxi’s “field”-shaped configuration, viewed from the main roads, the enemy surrounds us; conversely, since we hold many “tofu blocks” near the main roads, we surround the enemy. Viewed from an international perspective, although Japan has surrounded China, the world’s anti-fascist countries have surrounded Japan.

The war between China and Japan will not be concluded in a few days. At present, the strength of the Kuomintang and the Communist Party is still not great; Japan’s strength is greater than ours. If the united front had not been ruptured ten years ago, the situation today would certainly not be as it is. This also determines the protracted and enduring nature of the Sino-Japanese war. International conditions are likewise pointing in this direction. The time for the world’s people’s movement for opposing aggression and seeking liberation is drawing near. China is not isolated; it is linked with the struggle of the world’s people for liberation. The world cannot be divided; the revolution cannot be divided; victory cannot be divided. As events develop in this way, China’s victory is beyond doubt. Comrade Stalin has said: Socialist construction can be completed within one country, but so long as world capitalism exists and encircles the Soviet Union, the ultimate victory of socialism requires the success of the struggles of the world proletariat and the colonial peoples.

China’s unity + world assistance + Japan’s internal difficulties = China’s victory. This formula is meaningful. Of course, the slogan of self-reliance is correct, but we must also note that China cannot remain isolated.

After graduation, fellow students, you must work even harder. On the one hand, do not be lazy—this tendency toward opportunism is unacceptable. We must work actively and struggle arduously. On the other hand, we must also oppose the rash haste that seeks victory in a single day and uproot such a mentality.

In the face of today’s difficulties, we must solve problems by integrating fundamental principles with actual conditions. Take the Xi’an Incident, for instance. If it had not been resolved peacefully and had caused a civil war, it would have given an opportunity to the counter-revolutionaries. When you go out to work, you must solve problems according to this principle. Another example: if you go out to organize guerrilla units and the provincial government wants to seize the guerrillas’ weapons, our principle is to avoid a fight, so as not to give Japan an opening to exploit. The best example of resolving such issues is the Eighth Route Army. Some people want the Communist Party to withdraw from the Eighth Route Army—that is absolutism and will not work. The united front is relative, and within it, the Communist Party must maintain its own relative independence.

In short, our principles are revolutionary, but they are concrete, not abstract. We must solve problems by integrating them with actual circumstances. That is all for today’s parting words.

What you have learned here is mainly direction, principles, and work style. After you graduate and go out—whether at the front or in the rear, on interior lines or exterior lines—you must all strive to create countless anti-Japanese base areas, large and small, from building the Wutai Mountains of Shanxi to building the Wutai Mountains of all China, and fight for the final victory.