Conversation with Zhang Jiafu[1]

(December 1942)

You are about to return to Jin-Sui. The situation in Jin-Sui has changed, and the situation across the whole country has changed as well. Our Liberated Areas, that is, the base areas behind enemy lines, were very small at the beginning, later expanded greatly, and have now shrunk again. This is the situation in base areas all over the country, and the Jin-Sui base area is even more serious.

After the outbreak of the Pacific War, Japan and Yan Xishan secretly colluded and engaged in many schemes, such as the so-called 49 percent and 51 percent surrender inducement plan, which has had considerable effect on the landlord class. Now the enemy has squeezed your territory very small. So, why can’t you squeeze the enemy out? The enemy’s social base is nothing more than the landlord class. You should meet them head-on, mobilize the peasant masses, and arm the peasant masses.

As for the landlord class, if they are anti-Japanese, then work with them, protect their lives and property, and you may also invite their representative figures to serve as councilors. As for those reactionary landlords who are utterly devoted to following the Japanese, resolutely eliminate them as traitors and rid the people of this scourge.

You must grasp the essentials. The leadership must focus on major issues, clearly define the principles and policies, hand them over to the lower levels to carry out, and mobilize the masses to solve concrete problems. Do not try to attend to each and every detail, grasping at everything all at once.

[1] After the establishment of the Jin-Sui Sub-Bureau, the Central Committee transferred Zhang Jiafu to work in the Jin-Sui Sub-Bureau. Before his departure, Mao Zedong had a long talk with Zhang Jiafu, lasting from 8 o’clock until 12 o’clock. This is a part of the conversation between Mao Zedong and Zhang Jiafu.