Commentary on the Education Campaign [I]
(August 17, 1965)
Comrade Shaoqi (21) has reviewed this document and returned it to Comrade Luo Ruiqing 131.
Please have the Central Military Commission discuss the following: (1) Whether this document can be circulated throughout the entire army for reference; (2) That all officers from platoon leaders upward, except those who are very old or seriously ill—such as Guo Huazuo (4J), who despite his illness still went to Zhejiang to participate in a session of the socialist education campaign in the countryside with great benefit—he submitted a report to me summarizing ten lessons—
[1]
This commentary was written on a report dated July 22, 1965, from the Political Department of the Military Engineering College of the People’s Liberation Army, addressed to Luo Ruiqing and concurrently sent to the General Political Department, the Science and Technology Commission of National Defense, and the Heilongjiang Provincial Party Committee. The report stated that, in accordance with Chairman Mao’s instruction that the principal lesson of class struggle must be mastered, our college organized 1,072 graduating cadets and cadres to participate in the rural socialist education campaign in Acheng County, Harbin Region, Heilongjiang Province, from late November last year until the end of June this year. During the campaign, everyone adhered to the principles of “three togethers” and “four cleans,” conscientiously completed all assigned tasks, underwent practical training and testing, and the vast majority of comrades performed very well, achieving significant results both in their own ideological transformation and in carrying out their work. Through this campaign, the cadets not only strengthened their class consciousness, labor consciousness, mass line orientation, and dialectical materialism but also experienced a marked change in their class sentiments, while simultaneously improving their thinking methods, policy understanding, ability to work among the masses, and capacity for social activities.
[2]
Shaoqi refers to Liu Shaoqi.
[3]
Luo Ruiqing was at that time a member of the Standing Committee and Secretary-General of the CPC Central Military Commission, as well as Chief of the General Staff of the People’s Liberation Army.
[4]
Guo Huazuo was then the First Deputy Commander of the Nanjing Military Region of the People’s Liberation Army.

(II). I am now sending it to you for review. I believe it could also be forwarded for the reference of senior comrades. This comrade’s thinking has always been somewhat at odds with mine over the decades. Now, however, I see that he has come around.) All personnel, without exception, should be dispatched in stages over a period of two years—perhaps in four phases of six months each—so that the entire army will eventually participate in the socialist education work in the localities. Please study and decide whether the above proposal is feasible.
Please inform Comrade Lin Biao 121 by telephone.
Mao Zedong
August 17, 1965
[1]
Refers to the ten points of reflection mentioned in Guo Huazuo’s report dated July 31, 1965, addressed to Mao Zedong, concerning his five-month participation in the socialist education campaign in the Liming Brigade of the Jingjiang Commune, Xiaoshan County, Zhejiang Province. The main contents are: ① Follow the Chairman’s words and act according to his instructions; when the Chairman calls for going down to the countryside, go down—to correct the past mistake of not being very obedient. ② Observe the new appearance of the countryside over the past fifteen years and take the first step toward getting closer to reality. ③ Draw close to the poor and lower-middle peasants, rekindle class feelings, and slightly reduce the danger of becoming detached from the masses. ④ Step onto the front line of class struggle in the socialist period, participate in a round of class struggle, and gain experience through the struggle, which will help one’s own ideological transformation. ⑤ Participate in collective production labor, working happily in the fields alongside the poor and lower-middle peasants as an ordinary worker, engaging in cordial conversations; the masses began to regard us as one of their own. From this, we truly came to understand that labor is not only enjoyable but also essential to life. ⑥ One can learn experience in the struggle for production by “laying aside one’s arrogance and willingly becoming a student,” seeking advice everywhere from the poor and lower-middle peasants, thereby acquiring much production knowledge. ⑦ Obtain an internship opportunity to participate in drafting the five-year construction plan of the people’s commune, where there are many problems that one could never imagine while sitting in the office. ⑧ Learn directly from local cadres; this time, I learned many fine work styles from local workers and also gained a preliminary understanding of the work of grassroots cadres in the countryside. ⑨ It is beneficial for cadres to give a good account of themselves and thus gain a voice—not just empty talk. Comrades transferred from various units to write military strategy texts were very concerned to hear that I had gone down to live and work among the villagers, saying, “If he can go down to live and work there, we certainly should go too.” After returning from such a stay, it will also be helpful for the army’s socialist education. ⑩ It is good to set an example for one’s children and thus gain a say in educating them. Having learned a bit about class struggle, it is now easier to carry out socialist education within the family to supplement the shortcomings of school education.
[2]
Lin Biao was at that time Vice Chairman of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission.

Archival Photo
On August 17, 1965, Mao Zedong met with representatives of the units that had distinguished themselves in the August 6th Naval Battle.

“Glory to Mao Zedong”