(March 1959)
In 1955, it was said that it would not take long to complete the socialist transformation. This statement now appears to be incorrect... The relations of production include not only ownership but also the mutual relations among people, the superstructure, ideology, political and ideological work, and so on. The reactionaries oppose communism and oppose the people; they have their own worldview, seek restoration in political relations, and aim to overthrow us.
At that time, we did not anticipate the coming of an anti-Stalin wind, the "opposing rash advance" of 1956, or the rightist offensive of 1957.
It does not matter if a saddle-shaped pattern emerges. Advancing in waves is an objective law. The mistake lay in not having "opposed rash advance"... In 1957, there was a saddle-shaped pattern, and stockpiles were large. Only then could 1958 leap upward... As long as there is no "opposing rash advance," the emergence of a saddle-shaped pattern is not a mistake. A saddle-shaped pattern is always bound to occur... It cannot be a high tide every day... Things always advance in waves. When airplanes and automobiles move forward, they all produce the sound of waves. Light, electricity, and water all have waves; this is the form of motion. Things always advance wave upon wave.

(March 1959,
April 1959)
Speech of March 25
The people's communes have several problems.
The problem of organizational regulations. Communes, brigades, and teams should all have regulations. Conduct a nationwide discussion.
Partial ownership by the small team.
What about eating without paying? This needs to be studied. The supply system must be combined with distribution according to labor. Adopt the principle of distribution according to labor to handle the issue of eating without paying.
The problem of settling accounts. In the past, it was said that accounts would generally not be settled; now this must be changed—accounts should generally be settled. I stand on the side of the account-settling faction.
The problem of electing commune committee members. The appointment system is dangerous; people with production experience should serve as committee members. It must be stipulated that decisions cannot be made if certain people are not present.
Levies must be handled as absolute figures. Discuss the amount somewhat. Too much is disadvantageous.
Should the county accumulate funds? I think it is better not to. Some have already grabbed some. Their hands are very long. They lost money running industries. Grabbing with both hands—grabbing from the Ministry of Finance and from the people; is it not better to stop grabbing from the latter?
Bank loans. All loans are to be recovered; the purpose is to sabotage the communes, violating the policy of earmarked funds for designated uses.
Investment, how should the 100 million yuan investment be distributed? Into whose hands should it be entrusted, and how should it be used? Some commune cadres, in the name of communism, practice departmentalism in reality. It must benefit the people. Benefiting

the people benefits the state.
Agricultural targets must be based on seeking truth from facts; targets must not be set too high. Leave some leeway so that those below can exceed them, and let the masses tap the potential.
Interjection while listening to a report
Could plans also involve subjectivity?
Only after ten years of experience did we know that preparations must be grasped set by set!
It is said you are very busy and cannot sleep. What are you busy with? The more you do, the less it is implemented.
Veteran cadres running industry. I think it is even worse than [name redacted]; if it continues like this, how can it end!
Last year, [name redacted] engaged in [redacted] thousand kilowatts of power generation equipment, yet they did not even know alloy steel pipes were needed!
The mass line should be upheld for ten thousand years. Why not hand it over to the masses for discussion? When you hold meetings, you only look for factory directors and industry secretaries, not workshop directors; there is no opposite side.
Our Party has a mass line. It seems that industry still does not have it now; they always say it is insufficient. What does insufficient mean? It is the bureaucratic tone of a scholar.
Observation of affairs has deepened further; there are priorities within priorities, urgencies within urgencies—this formulation is very good.
Next year, a saddle-shaped pattern, accumulate strength, and the year after, a great leap forward! "Heaven increases the years, man increases in age"—the years have passed. Experience has yet to be summed up. I have devoted myself to industry for nine years, and only now do I know that power generation equipment requires seamless steel pipes.
Engaging in industry, [redacted] items. If it cannot be accomplished, why do more! Dispersing strength is a method of sabotaging the great leap forward.
Insufficient transport capacity. What is meant by short-distance transport? How short?
There are two kinds of barter: one is the normal exchange of needed goods, the other is not good.
Be ruthless, seek truth from facts. You are not ruthless, therefore you are not practical.
Grasp steel on one side, grasp grain on the other. Do both simultaneously; grasp ruthlessly, grasp tightly, grasp