Introduction to a Letter [1]
(July 3 and 30, 1958)
Comrade Zhao Ziyang, Secretary of the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee, recently led a Northern Route Inspection Delegation to Conghua County. After four days of work, he wrote a letter to the Provincial Party Committee, raising three issues: first, views on early rice production; second, the mass line; and third, the issue of big-character posters. These are all important problems of nationwide significance, worthy of careful study by leading comrades at all levels, from the central authorities down to the grassroots. The semi-monthly journal Red Flag should publish more such correspondence. The style of this letter has shed the intellectual tone, making it a pleasure to read. In recent articles and news reports, there remains quite a bit of that same intellectual jargon, which needs to be reformed. This letter was originally published in an internal party publication in Guangdong and then distributed in Beijing by the Xinhua News Agency as an internal document. In fact, communications or articles of this kind could very well be made public, which would greatly benefit both local comrades and the entire Party. I concur with Comrade Zhao Ziyang’s view that yielding 300 jin per mu for the early rice crop would already be excellent—representing a 50 percent increase over last year’s 200 jin—and there is even hope for 350 to 400 jin. The original target of 800 jin was too high.
[1]
This piece consists of three annotations written by Mao Zedong in response to a letter dated June 8, 1958, sent by Zhao Ziyang, Secretary of the Secretariat of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, to the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee. The title was proposed by Mao Zedong above his first annotation. Zhao Ziyang’s letter was later published in the sixth issue of the journal Red Flag, released on August 16, 1958, under the title “Four Days in Conghua—A Letter to the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee.”
[2]
The early rice crop, also known as the spring rice or upper-season crop.

Introduction to a Letter
However, the necessary conditions—fertilizer and deep plowing—could not keep pace. This was due to a lack of experience; they will gain experience in the second half of the year. The comrades in Conghua feel keenly about this, and it is precisely this sense of unease that will spur them to acquire the needed experience, enabling them to make substantial progress. The question of the mass line remains one that deserves the attention of the entire Party. The approach should be to assess all counties across the province and all townships within each county, classifying them into three broad categories: those that have implemented the mass line very well; those in an intermediate category—neither particularly good nor particularly poor; and those that have done a poor job. By comparing these groups and guiding the second and third categories to emulate the first, organizing field meetings in the best-performing counties and townships, this problem can be gradually resolved. Moreover, this issue exists not only in rural areas but also in cities, making it a matter of concern for the entire Party. It still requires the methods of “great airing of views, great debate, and big-character posters” to be effectively addressed.
Mao Zedong
July 3, 1958
Comrades Xiaoping, Peng Zhen, Zhenlin, and Boda:
Do you think this letter should be published? In my view, there would be no harm in doing so. Please telephone the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee to inquire whether the letter has already been published in an internal party journal, issued as a separate document to the various counties, or has not yet been circulated at all. Also, inform them that we intend to publish it in Red Flag and ask for their opinion. I look forward to being informed of the outcome!
Mao Zedong
7:00 a.m., July 3rd
Please return it to Chen Boda by the afternoon of the 7th.

Comrade Chen Boda:
Please handle this matter; I do not have time to deal with it myself.
Mao Zedong
July 30th