The Party Committee has the authority to educate them. As for deadbeat bureaucrats who refuse to comply, the Party Committee has the authority to kick them out. Meanwhile,
Please use this document as one of the training materials for the investigation teams.
Mao Zedong
May 30, 1961
At present, many of our leading organs have enthusiastically responded to Chairman Mao’s call and have successively dispatched investigation teams to go deep into the grassroots level. This is a very positive development. Some people have never engaged in investigative work before, and now that they are doing it, numerous problems have arisen. Until these individuals have undergone rigorous training by the sending organizations or Party committees—during which policies, attitudes, and methods are repeatedly explained—and are led by a strong team leader, mistakes, embarrassing incidents, and even disasters are bound to occur.
[ 1]
Refers to the document titled “An Investigation into ‘Investigation and Research’” written on May 12, 1961, by Qi Benyu, a staff member of the Secretariat Office of the CPC Central Committee. The document states that several comrades who had been sent down to the Changxindian Locomotive and Rolling Stock Factory used their spare time to survey the situation of various levels of leading organs conducting investigative work at the factory. They found that during last winter very few such teams came to the factory, whereas this spring they appeared like mushrooms after rain. Generally speaking, these investigation teams did help the leadership gain some understanding of the local conditions and also assisted the factory in carrying out certain tasks, achieving certain results. However, during the course of their investigations, a rather common problem emerged—the so-called “ten too much, ten too little” phenomenon:
(1) There were more cases where ordinary cadres took the lead, while fewer involved leading cadres.
(2) There were more ad hoc, unfocused investigations, whereas well-prepared ones were scarce.
(3) Many teams remained superficial, seldom delving into the lower levels.
(4) Few treated themselves as students eager to learn, most merely looked up to the sky.
(5) Most moved about aimlessly, with few actually participating in labor.
(6) Many ate in small canteens reserved for officials, while few shared meals in the main dining hall.
(7) Most stayed in guesthouses, with few lodging in workers’ dormitories.
(8) Many kept themselves spotless, whereas few got their hands dirty.
(9) More took away items than left anything behind.
(10) There were many instances of prolonged preparation (“ten months of pregnancy”), but few actual breakthroughs (“one day of delivery”). Investigation and research is arduous work, and

Comments and revisions on the article “An Investigation into ‘Investigation and Research’”
it is also a serious undertaking. To truly do it well, one must first adopt the correct attitude and methodology. Investigation and research are meant to solve problems, not simply to put on a glossy veneer. Therefore, every comrade engaged in such work must strictly follow Mao Zedong’s instructions: stay down-to-earth, delve deeply, blend closely with the masses, in order to genuinely understand the real situation and resolve practical issues.
May 27th,
In a report written by Tian Jiaying, Deputy Director of the CPC Central Political Research Office and Mao Zedong’s secretary, for submission of this investigative material to Mao Zedong, he stated: “This material raises several noteworthy issues amid the current vigorous campaign to promote investigation and research. Over the years, our ranks have greatly expanded, the personnel have become more diverse and complex, and certain unhealthy practices have crept in. As a result, some good initiatives often turn into undesirable outcomes in certain places or under specific circumstances.” This passage was written directly on Tian Jiaying’s report. When Mao Zedong approved its publication, he gave it the title “A Case Where Investigation Turned into Disaster.”
[2]
The text printed in Song typeface in this third section represents words added and revised by Mao Zedong.
[3]
Refers to the CPC Central Work Conference held in Beijing from May 21 to June 12, 1961.
In 1961, Mao Zedong was among young literary and artistic workers.

Comments on the investigative material regarding the need to revitalize rural commerce
(May 29, 1961)
To be circulated at the work conference (I). Comrades, I have read Document No. 121 concerning commerce and find it quite good; it can be distributed to both county and commune levels for discussion.
Handled by Shang Kun Pl.
Mao Zedong
May 29th
[I]
Refers to the CPC Central Work Conference held in Beijing from May 21 to June 12, 1961.
[2]
Refers to the fourth investigative report titled “Rural Commerce Needs to Be Revitalized,” written on May 5, 1961, by an investigative team composed of members from the CPC Central Organs and the Liaoning Provincial Party Committee, led by Hu Yaobang, First Secretary of the Communist Youth League Central Committee. The report states that together with colleagues from provincial and municipal commercial departments, they conducted investigations into rural commercial activities in Haicheng Niuzhuang Commune and several other communes. During this period, Anshan City also convened a financial and trade work conference, where participants raised numerous opinions. Firstly, regarding the issue of the rural commercial system:
(1) It is imperative to reform the rural commercial system. Since the establishment of people’s communes in 1958, rural commerce has shifted from a dual structure—state-owned commerce and supply-and-marketing cooperative commerce—to a single-track system; from a dual ownership structure—public ownership and collective ownership—to a single form of ownership. Consequently, rural commodity transactions, including those conducted in traditional marketplaces, have been affected.