This Central Work Conference has been conducted somewhat better than previous ones, and everyone’s thinking is clearer.
For example, regarding the issue of combining “cold” and “hot” approaches, in the past we tended to be insufficiently “cold” while being overly “hot.” This time, however, the balance has improved; there has been analysis of the problems, and a more thorough understanding of the situation has been achieved.
Of course, at present, even at the central and provincial levels, there are still many aspects that remain poorly understood.
We are moving in the direction of gaining a solid grasp of the facts, which represents progress.
Do the secretaries, standing committee members, and other officials of the provincial party committees—along with the first secretaries of the prefectural party committees—actually conduct such investigations? If they did, there would be no problem.
Nevertheless, it must be said that we have made some progress compared with the past: steps are being taken, and pilot projects are being used to gain insight into the situation.
I urge all comrades, upon your return, to engage in investigative research. Set aside minor matters and devote part of your time, accompanied by a few assistants, to studying one or two production teams and one or two communes.
In urban areas, thoroughly investigate one or two factories and one or two urban people’s communes.
A provincial party secretary who is responsible for both rural and urban affairs will need to make careful arrangements to carry out these investigations.
The purpose of conducting such investigations is to ensure that you have a firm basis of knowledge; without it, you cannot take effective action.
To understand the situation, you must observe with your own eyes, inquire with your mouth, and record information with your hands.
During conversations, it is also important to engage in dialogue, otherwise you may be misled.
You should assess whether the people appear pale and emaciated. Is there a severe shortage of food, or is there just enough—or even an abundance? These things can be discerned through observation.
Over the years, our comrades have largely neglected investigative research.
If we fail to conduct such studies and instead rely solely on imagination and conjecture, our work will lack a solid foundation.
Therefore, I urge all comrades to vigorously revive the practice of investigative research upon your return. Always proceed from reality, and do not make decisions unless you are fully confident.
Investigative research does not require excessive effort or resources. It is not necessary to examine a large number of units.
For instance, in rural areas, focus on one or two production teams and one or two communes; in urban settings, concentrate on one or two factories, one or two stores, or one or two schools. In total, this amounts to roughly ten sites.
It is not essential for each individual to personally undertake every single investigation.
In rural areas, one or two personal visits will suffice; likewise, in urban areas, one or two on-site inspections will be adequate.
Instead, establish dedicated research teams and guide them in their work.
Take, for example, the Jiangshiwo investigation in Baodi County. That study was not conducted directly by the central authorities but rather by the Central Rural Work Department. In my view, this was a significant achievement on their part.
The materials from Tonghaikou in Mianyang County were compiled by comrades in Hubei Province; the Xinyang survey was carried out by the Xinyang Prefectural Party Committee; and the Lingbao County investigation was undertaken by officials of the Henan Provincial Party Committee.
Investigative research is of paramount importance. We must train all provincial party secretaries, members of the provincial standing committees, leading officials at the provincial level and in various departments, as well as prefectural and county party secretaries and commune party secretaries, in the methods of conducting such studies.
Without proper investigation, the true state of affairs remains unclear.
Even the party secretaries of people’s communes may not be fully aware of internal equalization practices within their respective communes.
On average, a commune comprises around thirty production teams. How could any one person possibly keep track of so much? It is simply impossible. However, there is a practical solution: by surveying just three teams—one representing the worst conditions, one moderate, and one excellent)—one can gain a reasonable understanding of the overall situation.
When we speak of clarity in understanding, firm resolve, and sound methodology, these three elements must be present. First, clarity in understanding.
This constitutes the foundation of all our work. Without a clear picture of the situation, we have no basis for action. Therefore, it is imperative to ascertain the facts through investigative research.
Second, firm resolve.
This conference has lasted for over twenty days. Over this period, our understanding of the situation has gradually deepened, and our resolve has grown stronger. Nevertheless, the degree of resolve varies among comrades.
Some comrades have spoken of declaring bankruptcy to settle debts. While this phrasing may not be particularly palatable, its essence is indeed to address debt obligations through bankruptcy proceedings.
At the county and commune levels, if bankruptcy becomes necessary to repay debts, then a fresh start can be made from scratch.
The proletariat must not deprive workers—neither peasants nor urban small producers—but only those who exploit others. This is a fundamental principle. The bourgeoisie and landlord class have deprived the working people, driving small producers into bankruptcy and thereby creating the proletariat. Their methods of exploitation are, in some respects, more sophisticated than ours. They systematically accumulate debts and push small producers toward insolvency, whereas we sometimes resort to outright seizure of property. Such an approach is entirely unsuitable for establishing public-owned or state-owned economies. For example, the practice of purchasing agricultural and sideline products at artificially low grades and prices is deeply inequitable, excessively harsh, and alienates the masses.
While it is easy to talk about upholding principles, many of our comrades understand this in theory. Putting it into practice, however, proves considerably more challenging.
Now, do all provincial party secretaries truly possess the resolve to declare bankruptcy and settle debts? I believe this remains to be seen.
In the future, we will likely witness uneven progress across provinces, reflecting the inherent law of imbalance. It will be crucial to identify which provinces are genuinely prepared to declare bankruptcy, provide full restitution, and thereby unite the peasantry around them.
Even within a single province—whether containing dozens or over a hundred counties—variations in approach are bound to emerge. Third, sound methodology.
During the War of Resistance Against Japan and the Liberation War, we conducted investigative research with greater diligence, always prioritizing a practical, fact-based approach.
Through thorough investigation, we gained clarity, strengthened our resolve, and adopted appropriate methods. Methodology encompasses the specific measures and means employed to implement guidelines and policies. A coherent set of methods is indispensable.
These three elements do not include mention of guidelines or policies because we already have sound guidelines and policies in place. Even with robust guidelines and policies, if our understanding remains unclear, our resolve is weak, and our methods are flawed, the result will be essentially the same as having none at all.
The guidelines and policies adopted at the Zhengzhou Conference [2] were correct, except for one point: the decision to refrain from settling old accounts. The Zhengzhou Conference concluded in early March.
Drawing on the experiences of Zhejiang [3] and Macheng [4], the Shanghai Conference held in April formulated eighteen resolutions [5], decisively resolving to settle all outstanding debts. My commentary on this matter [6] was issued relatively early. Over those two months, I penned more than twenty thousand characters in response to various documents. However, engaging in rhetorical disputes—even with such extensive writings—has little effect. Whether it be twenty thousand characters or twice that amount, it ultimately achieves nothing. Faced with blockades imposed by lower-level counties, communes, and production teams, what recourse remains?
At the provincial and prefectural levels, we did not yet share the unified understanding that exists today. One comrade remarked that the Zhengzhou Conference was characterized more by coercion than persuasion. Indeed, there was a gap in our collective understanding at the time.
As for agriculture, I will limit my remarks to this point. What about industry? We have begun to gather some information and will continue to do so.
Broadly speaking, this year’s plan calls for shortening the frontiers of capital construction, industrial development, and heavy industry. With the exception of coal, timber, mining operations, and railways, all other sectors are to be scaled back. Particular emphasis should be placed on curtailing new capital projects: this year, we will only proceed with ongoing or urgently needed initiatives. Even among these, certain projects will be deferred, allowing them to remain unfinished for now.
As for long-term planning, we are not yet in a position to formulate detailed plans. Another ten years will be required before we can do so.
At present, it appears that there is no urgent need to rush socialist construction. Excessive haste only leads to failure; the more hurried we are, the less likely we are to succeed. It is far preferable to adopt a measured, wave-like approach to progress.
This parallels the way humans walk: after a period of activity, rest is necessary. In military marches, there are both major and minor rests, balancing exertion with recuperation. Periods of respite are also scheduled between successive campaigns.
Our current meeting has spanned more than twenty days, undoubtedly tiring, yet we did not convene every morning, afternoon, or evening. Although this gathering was quite intense—not a “carefree symposium”—it was not excessively so, and the volume of documentation was relatively modest. In the past, when we held meetings, numerous resolutions would be passed, often under the assumption that they would prove highly effective. However, the efficacy of such resolutions does not necessarily correlate with their number. Whether many or few, the key lies in achieving clarity of understanding, demonstrating firm resolve, and employing sound methodology.
Today, I came across a report stating that West Germany produced 34 million metric tons of steel last year, while the United Kingdom’s output stood at 24 million metric tons. France, meanwhile, manufactured 1.6 million metric tons two years ago and 1.7 million metric tons last year. All of these figures reflect decades of sustained effort.
I believe we should proceed at a more deliberate pace for several years and then reassess. Let us focus on solid, steady progress over the next three years, avoiding the pursuit of empty prestige that could lead to real harm.
Our efforts should center on consolidation: improving product quality, expanding the range and specifications of goods, enhancing management standards, and increasing labor productivity.
In summary, our understanding of domestic conditions remains incomplete, our resolve is insufficient, and our methods are not yet optimal.
We should systematically investigate the situations in all provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions—twenty-seven localities in total—dividing the work by province, city, and autonomous region. Shall we designate this year as a “Year of Seeking Truth from Facts”? In Hebei Province, there is a county called Hejian, where a prince named Hejian Xianwang was enfeoffed during the Han Dynasty. Ban Gu, in his Records of the Grand Historian—specifically in the biography of Liu De, the Prince of Hejian Xianwang—describes him as “seeking truth from facts,” a phrase that has endured to this day.
Proposing a Year of Seeking Truth from Facts does not imply that we have never practiced this principle in the past. Our Party has a long-standing tradition of integrating the universal truths of Marxism-Leninism with China’s concrete realities. However, since the founding of the People’s Republic, and especially in recent years, our engagement with actual conditions has waned, likely due to the growing ranks of high-ranking officials. As someone who has risen through the ranks myself, I now undertake far fewer investigative studies of the kind I once conducted in Jiangxi.
This year, I intend to devote some attention to this task. Following the conclusion of this conference, I plan to visit a particular location and conduct investigative research. Otherwise, we risk remaining ignorant of the true state of affairs. It is unacceptable to operate without a clear understanding of rural communes, urban communes, factories, schools, shops, or military units. In fact, gaining insight into just a handful of such entities would go a long way.
At present, we are beginning to see a path forward: a renewed commitment to embracing the spirit of seeking truth from facts.
Printed based on the transcript preserved in the Central Archives.
Notes [1] This is an excerpt from Mao Zedong’s speech delivered on January 13, 1961, at the CPC Central Work Conference. The conference was held in Beijing from December 24, 1960, to January 13, 1961.
[2] The Zhengzhou Conference refers to the expanded meeting of the CPC Central Political Bureau held in Zhengzhou from February 27 to March 5, 1959.
[3] Refers to the Ten Provisions (Draft) issued by the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee on March 22, 1959, concerning the rectification of people’s communes. Provision 10, addressing “accounting issues,” stipulated: “In handling economic relations between communes and production teams, all outstanding debts must be settled in accordance with the principle of equivalent exchange.”
[4] See note [4] on page 37 of this volume, and refer also to note [3] on page 36.
[5] See note [3] on page 165 of this volume.
[6] Refers to Mao Zedong’s annotation dated March 30, 1959, on Tao Lujia’s report regarding the situation at the Shanxi County-Level Cadre Conference. See page 34 of this volume.