Each year, at the junctures between spring and summer, summer and autumn, autumn and winter, and winter and spring, we are accustomed to changing our attire. Unfortunately, many people fail to make these transitions smoothly, often resulting in discomfort or illness. This habit exerts a powerful influence over our daily lives.

Currently, the conditions in the base areas compel us to bid farewell to heavy winter clothing and don lighter garments for combat. Yet, we persist in wearing bulky, ill-fitting outfits, leaving ourselves vulnerable to fatigue and imbalance.

What, then, would happen if we were to adopt a more streamlined approach, akin to Sun Wukong’s encounter with the Ox-Demon King? The Ox-Demon King is undoubtedly a formidable foe, yet Sun Wukong, transformed into a tiny insect, manages to penetrate the demon’s heart and weaken his power.

Similarly, the Tiger-Rooster Sect once posed a serious threat, as depicted in the classic tale. However, the sect’s ultimate demise came not from the tiger’s prowess but from the cunning of a small donkey. The story underscores the importance of leveraging ingenuity and resourcefulness to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

In our march into Guizhou Province with the New Fourth Army, did we truly embody the spirit of Sun Wukong, transforming the mighty tiger into a more manageable force? By harnessing our collective creativity and resourcefulness, we can tackle complex problems in innovative ways. However, this transformation inevitably involves relinquishing certain entrenched advantages or confronting long-standing rivalries.

The Central Committee’s proposal to streamline the armed forces rests on these fundamental principles. It is a critically important policy, and its full significance can only be appreciated through a deep understanding and resolute implementation. Further details regarding the relationship between the streamlining policy and the Party’s other policies, as well as specific considerations for its execution, will be addressed in a separate article. (Yan’an, July 7th)