Does this bureaucratic state exist only in Licheng County, or just in Shandong Province? Not necessarily. It is very likely to be found everywhere. I urge each of you to investigate one county and one city (in large cities, focus on a single district) to get a clear picture. The method for overcoming the “five excesses and five deficiencies” can be modeled after what was done in Licheng. The root cause of such bureaucracy does not lie solely at the county level; it also resides in the provincial and central authorities. Please pay close attention to addressing issues at the provincial (city, autonomous region) level. As for the central government, we will take appropriate measures. It seems that we should discuss this issue of the “five excesses and five deficiencies” at least once, and preferably twice, each year. Several years ago, the Central Committee issued instructions on this matter[1], but subsequently did not follow up (primarily concerning the excessive number of meetings and documents/reports). We ourselves are not free from bureaucratic tendencies; we cannot simply blame others. This document and its accompanying materials should be published in the Party journal.
Central Committee
March 30, 1960
This document is hereby sent to Comrades Liu, Zhou, Zhu, Peng, Yang Shangkun, Xi Zhongxun, Tan Zhenlin, Liu Lantao, Li Fuchun, Bo Yibo, Li Xiannian, and Lu Dingyi for their review.
[1] Refers to an instruction drafted by Mao Zedong on March 19, 1953, on behalf of the CPC Central Committee, regarding the resolution of the “five excesses” problem in district and township work.
[2] Liu refers to Liu Shaoqi. Zhou refers to Zhou Enlai. Zhu refers to Zhu De. Peng refers to Peng Zhen, who at the time was a member of the CPC Central Political Bureau and a secretary of the Secretariat. Yang Shangkun refers to Yang Shangkun, then a candidate member of the CPC Central Secretariat and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee. Xi Zhongxun refers to Xi Zhongxun, who served as Vice Premier of the State Council. Tan Zhenlin refers to Tan Zhenlin, a member of the CPC Central Political Bureau, secretary of the Secretariat, and Vice Premier of the State Council. Liu Lantao refers to Liu Lantao, a candidate member of the CPC Central Secretariat. Li Fuchun refers to Li Fuchun, a member of the CPC Central Political Bureau, secretary of the Secretariat, and Vice Premier of the State Council. Bo Yibo refers to Bo Yibo, a candidate member of the CPC Central Political Bureau and Vice Premier of the State Council. Li Xiannian refers to Li Xiannian, a member of the CPC Central Political Bureau, secretary of the Secretariat, and Vice Premier of the State Council. Lu Dingyi refers to Lu Dingyi, a candidate member of the CPC Central Political Bureau and Vice Premier of the State Council.
If there are any comments, please make amendments accordingly.
We aim to dispatch this via telegram by April 5; Yang Shangkun, please handle it.
Mao Zedong
2:00 A.M., March 30th

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A partial manuscript of Mao Zedong’s draft “Instructions on Opposing Bureaucracy,” prepared on behalf of the CPC Central Committee.

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March 1960
Mao Zedong shakes hands with Wang Guofan, a member of the Presidium of the Second Session of the Second National People’s Congress.

Archival photo
In March 1960, on the eve of the Second Session of the Second National People’s Congress, Mao Zedong once again met with national labor model Meng Tai.

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In April 1960, Mao Zedong conversed with Li Shunda, a national agricultural labor model.

Archival photo
In April 1960, during the Second Session of the Second National People’s Congress, Mao Zedong received Deng Fangzhi, mother of Huang Jiguang.

April 1960, Mao Zedong warmly shook hands with Guo Jimu, vice governor of the Yi Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province.

Archival photo
In April 1960, Mao Zedong met with historian Zhou Gucheng.

April 1960
Mao Zedong met with Pabala Gyalrong Gyatso and Ngapoi Ngawang Jigme, vice chairmen of the Preparatory Committee for the Tibet Autonomous Region.

Commentary on the draft directive forwarded by the Central Committee regarding the Ningxia Regional Party Committee’s report on rectifying errors in Zhongning County’s work[1]
(March 31, 1960)
To be handled by Yang Shangkun[2].
[1] Refers to a report submitted by the CPC Ningxia Regional Committee on March 25, 1960, to the Central Committee and all provincial, municipal, and county party committees, concerning the serious mistakes in Zhongning County’s work and the removal of the county party committee’s leading members.
[2] Refers to the Central Committee’s draft directive agreeing with the Ningxia Regional Party Committee’s proposal to rectify the grave errors in Zhongning County’s work, addressed to the Ningxia Regional Party Committee as well as to all provincial, municipal, and autonomous regional party committees and various central government departments and party groups. The directive stated that although the problems in Zhongning County were isolated incidents, their nature was extremely serious. Fabricating achievements, concealing shortcomings, and even retaliating against those who reported the true situation constituted a grave violation of Party discipline and must never be tolerated. Any unit where such misconduct occurred should learn from Zhongning County’s experience and promptly address these issues with strictness to educate the broader ranks of Party members and cadres. Every Communist Party member must remain loyal and honest toward the Party, refraining from concealing or distorting the truth, upholding a fact-based approach, courageously reporting all genuine circumstances to the Party’s leadership organs, and resolutely combating all phenomena—both within and outside the Party—that harm the interests of the Party and the people. This second sentence was added by Mao Zedong to the directive. On March 31, 1960, the Central Committee issued this directive.
[3] Yang Shangkun refers to Yang Shangkun, who at the time served as a candidate member of the CPC Central Secretariat and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee.
It may also be published in the Party journal.