Conversation with Cheng Yuechang[1]

(1940)

Not being accustomed to living in cave dwellings is unacceptable. In Yan'an's cave dwellings there is Marxism-Leninism. Yan'an's cave dwellings can direct the anti-Japanese struggle throughout the country. We must not look down upon our own earthen cave dwellings. Without a large number of cadres who truly master the revolutionary theory of Marxism-Leninism, it is impossible to accomplish the proletarian revolution.

[1] Mao Zedong received Cheng Yuechang, commander of the 16th Regiment, in a cave dwelling at Yangjialing. Cheng first confessed to Mao his mistaken thinking of being unwilling to settle down to study at the Party School and wanting to return to the front. This is part of the conversation between Mao and Cheng.