September 8, 1944

[This speech was delivered by Comrade Mao Tse-tung at a memorial meeting
for Comrade Chang Szu-teh, held by departments directly under the Central
Committee of the Communist Party of China.]


Our Communist Party and the Eighth Route and New Fourth Armies led by our
Party are battalions of the revolution. These battalions of ours are wholly
dedicated to the liberation of the people and work entirely in the people's
interests. Comrade Chang Szu-teh [1] was in the
ranks of these battalions.

All men must die, but death can vary in its significance. The ancient Chinese
writer Szuma Chien said, "Though death befalls all men alike, it may be weightier
than Mount Tai or lighter than a feather." [2]
To die for the people is weightier than Mount Tai, but to work for the fascists
and die for the exploiters and oppressors is lighter than a feather. Comrade
Chang Szu-teh died for the people, and his death is indeed weightier than
Mount Tai.

If we have shortcomings, we are not afraid to have them pointed out and
criticized, because we serve the people. Anyone, no matter who, may point
out our shortcomings. If he is right, we will correct them. If what he proposes
will benefit the people, we will act upon it. The idea of "better troops
and simpler administration" was put forward by Mr. Li Ting-ming,
[3] who is not a Communist. He made a good suggestion
which is of benefit to the people, and we have adopted it. If, in the interests
of the people, we persist in doing what is right and correct what is wrong,
our ranks will surely thrive.

We hail from all corners of the country and have joined together for a common
revolutionary objective. And we need the vast majority of the people with
us on the road to this objective. Today, we already lead base areas with
a population of 91 million, [4] but this is not
enough; to liberate the whole nation more are needed. In times of difficulty
we must not lose sight of our achievements, must see the bright future and
must pluck up our courage. The Chinese people are suffering; it is our duty
to save them and we must exert ourselves in struggle. Wherever there is struggle
there is sacrifice, and death is a common occurrence. But we have the interests
of the people and the sufferings of the great majority at heart, and when
we die for the people it is a worthy death. Nevertheless, we should do our
best to avoid unnecessary sacrifices. Our cadres must show concern for every
soldier, and all people in the revolutionary ranks must care for each other,
must love and help each other.

From now on, when anyone in our ranks who has done some useful work dies,
be he soldier or cook, we should have a funeral ceremony and a memorial meeting
in his honour. This should become the rule. And it should be introduced among
the people as well. When someone dies in a village, let a memorial meeting
be held. In this way we express our mourning for the dead and unite all the
people.

## Notes

[1] Comrade Chang Szu-teh was a soldier in the Guards Regiment
of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party. A member of Communist
Party who loyally served the interests of the people, he joined the revolution
in 1933, took part in the Long March and was wounded in service. On September
5, 1944, when making charcoal in the mountains of Ansai County, northern
Shensi, he was killed by the sudden collapse of a kiln.

[2] Szuma Chien, the famous Chinese historian of the 2nd
century B.C., was the author of the Historical Records. The quotation
comes from his "Reply to Jen Shao-ching's Letter".

[3] Li Ting-ming, an enlightened landlord of northern Shensi
Province, was at one time elected Vice-Chairman of the Shensi-Kansu-Ningsia
Border Region Government.

[4] This was the total population of the Shensi-Kansu-Ningsia
Border Region and all other Liberated Areas in northern, central and southern
China.


Transcription by the Maoist Documentation Project.