To Nie Rongzhen¹

(August 12, 1943)

Supporting the government and cherishing the people has been a fine tradition since the Red Army days, and it must be implemented in every region. You must now thoroughly carry out the policy of supporting the government and cherishing the people. In particular, a certain arrogance and haughtiness among army cadres toward the Party, government, and people must be deeply examined, and self-criticism must be launched. Only thus can the army become one with the Party, government, and people and better deal with the enemy.

¹ This is the main content of a telegram from Mao Zedong to Nie Rongzhen and the comrades of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Sub-bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.