Report at a Meeting of Cadres of the Rear Military System[1]

(December 8, 1938)

The Sixth Plenary Session pointed out that the Japanese army is still attacking, we have many difficulties, and our strength is still insufficient, but we can stop the Japanese army’s attacks. Under the general directives of the Sixth Plenary Session, rear-area work must overcome difficulties and increase strength. In reviewing work, reviews must be conducted in five areas, namely work, study, production, the united front, and Party life. Production means the production campaign. At present, although we have little money, we still have some; although the food is not good, we have millet. We must think about what to do if one day there is no money and no food to eat. There are no more than three alternatives: first, starve to death; second, disband; third, neither starve to death nor disband, in which case we must engage in production. Let us launch a mobilization, let us tens of thousands of people make a resolution to get our own food to eat and make our own clothes to wear, to solve the problems of clothing, food, shelter, and transportation entirely by ourselves. I see this as a possibility.

[1] This is part of Mao Zedong’s mobilization report at a meeting of cadres of the rear military system on carrying out the directives of the Sixth Plenary Session of the Sixth Central Committee to review work.