By employing a democratic deliberative approach to engage the rank-and-file soldiers, units would conduct discussions before, during, and after combat on how to break through enemy positions, annihilate the enemy, and accomplish the mission. Particularly in the heat of battle, party branches at the company level and small groups within platoons and squads were given full rein to deliberate repeatedly on methods for overcoming the enemy lines, with remarkably effective results. The experience of capturing the positions of the Nationalist Army’s 167th Brigade, 1st Division, at Panlong in Northern Shaanxi was similar. At that time, one regiment had been fighting for several days when higher command judged further resistance futile and ordered a withdrawal. However, the company leadership and the men themselves believed they could still prevail and refused to retreat. The soldiers organized into small groups to discuss the situation, devised a plan to continue the attack, and ultimately secured victory. In Northern Shaanxi, this practice came to be known as “military democracy,” while the “complaint-lifting” campaign and the “three inspections and three rectifications” were referred to as “political democracy” and “economic democracy,” respectively. Such democratic practices within the army are entirely beneficial and should be implemented in all units.