Speech at the Preliminary Summary Conference of the Anti-Japanese Military and Political University’s Production Campaign
(April 24, 1939)
[1]
Like other institutions, the Anti-Japanese Military and Political University has now completed the first phase of its production drive, which proves that the plan decided upon by the CPC Central Committee is indeed feasible. Throughout history, for thousands of years, officials have never tilled the land, nor have scholars. If, throughout the country, all Party, government, military, and educational personnel—those running the Party, those holding office—were to take up farming, would that not constitute a new China? You have successfully integrated workers, peasants, merchants, students, and soldiers. Studying is “learning”; clearing land is “agriculture”; building cave dwellings and making shoes is “industry”; running cooperatives is “commerce”; and you yourselves are also part of the military. In each of you, workers, peasants, merchants, students, and soldiers are combined into one—literature and martial arts are balanced, and knowledge is fused with labor. This can truly be called unparalleled in the world. Recently, I wrote an article stating that there is only one criterion for distinguishing revolutionary, non-revolutionary, and counter-revolutionary intellectuals: whether or not they are closely linked with the working masses. We not only organize and train the working people, but we also work alongside them ourselves; in doing so, we become even more revolutionary.

[1] This is part of Mao Zedong’s speech delivered at the preliminary summary conference of the Anti-Japanese Military and Political University’s production campaign.

Speech at the Meeting of the CPC Central Secretariat
(April 26, 1939)
[1]
We should utilize the Kuomintang’s call for a National Spiritual Mobilization to launch a large-scale campaign within the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region, opposing divisive and confused ideologies as well as cowardice and the fear of death. It should be made clear that as long as the Kuomintang continues to resist Japan, we will comply. The Central Secretariat adopted an outline to carry out a broad mobilization throughout the border region from May 1 to May 30, focusing on opposing anti-communism, anti-democracy, and compromise. Most importantly, the emphasis will be placed on combating anti-communism. By using their own rhetoric against them, we can overwhelm them. The meeting decided that Mao Zedong would deliver a speech at the Yan’an Mobilization Rally on May 1.

[1] This is part of Mao Zedong’s speech at the meeting of the CPC Central Secretariat concerning the Kuomintang’s proposal for a National Spiritual Mobilization.