Opinion on Reform and Training of the
Central China Forces1
(August 22, 1944)
Rao [Shushi], Zhang [Yunyi], Lai [Chuanzhu]:2
We have received your telegram of the fourteenth.
1. The training of the Central China forces should emphasize the four
categories of drilling, troop management, troop maintenance, and strategy, of
which drilling is the most crucial. You can consult Zhang Zongxun’s3 full report
on drilling during the winter. The experiences therein incorporate mass movement drilling methods of using soldiers to teach soldiers, officers to teach
soldiers, and soldiers to teach officers in a new creation that is a historical
breakthrough. Every area in Central China should command all active cadres of
the rank of regimental leader or higher to take about ten days to discuss this new
training method that they should master, thus ensuring the achievement of
outstanding training results. The content of the training should emphasize
improving combat skills and the mastering of the four basic skills of throwing
hand grenades, shooting, bayoneting, and excavation work. At the same time,
cadres should discuss new methods of troop management, creating new ways to
organize this task. When discussing troop maintenance, find ways to ensure
increased production, improved wages, and increased body strength. When
discussing strategy, strengthen leadership methods in battle. These four
considerations are urgent; if we can solve them within a year, the combat
capacity of our army will be increased several times over, and we will be better
able to meet the changing needs of the battlefield. Hold meetings about training,
either within army headquarters or in local branches, and do so immediately.

Responsible division and brigade cadres should personally preside over these
meetings.
2. On cultivating regimental leading cadres, army headquarters can organize
regimental-level training teams or military affairs rectification classes. Attract
off-duty brigade and regimental cadres, and select outstanding battalion cadres to
participate as well. The classes should not be very long. The curriculum could
include studying five major subjects: the art of war, weapons, siege, topography,
and management education (troop management, drilling, troop maintenance, and
other military and administrative affairs), always taking the improvement of the
cadres’ leadership skills to be the central idea. With regard to studying military
tactics, the best method is a rectification forum, with mutual criticism of past
battle experiences. Students will report their own experiences in battle or raise a
few questions and ask the other students to give their opinions. After discussion,
the group should summarize what has been said. This sort of enlightening,
concrete learning based on reality is most in accordance with the needs of our
army’s cadres. The old method of reading line by line from a book is not only
difficult to pay attention to but also is difficult to apply to reality. In Yan’an, the
Anti-Japanese Military and Political University is preparing to hold a training
session for its teachers this winter. First, it will train the teachers, who four
months later will return to train their students. Its curriculum is the same as that
outlined above. Teachers, no one will now be sent to you; you yourselves must
bear the responsibility of being teachers. Select and cultivate teachers from the
ranks of students; or use the new method of students teaching students, giving
free rein to and studying everyone’s special abilities; or else train qualified
personnel in the old army and use them as teaching assistants. We feel that the
Yan’an army lacks trained personnel, and we therefore rely entirely on you to
solve this problem.
3. Special-grade soldiers, such as worker-soldiers and so on, may enter a
training course at Resistance University. For the time being, we will not
emphasize teaching the use of new weapons and skills. If we form a deep and
solid tactical foundation of teaching drilling, troop management, troop
maintenance, and strategy, then when we get new weapons, we will still have
time to teach the soldiers how to use them.
Please carry out the above ideas as actual circumstances demand.
Mao [Zedong], Liu [Shaoqi], and Chen [Yi]
Notes

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Notes

Our source for this document is Mao Zedong wenji, Vol. 3, pp. 203–5, where it is reproduced from a copy of
the document preserved in the Central Archives.
1. This telegram was drafted by Chen Yi, with some modifications by Mao Zedong.
2. Zhang Yunyi (1892–1974) was at this time vice commander of the New Fourth Army.
3. Zhang Zongxun (1908–1997) was at this time commander of the 358th Brigade of the 120th Division of
the Eighth Route Army.