This is a good report.
First, rely on the masses. This is crucial. We all come from the masses! The masses are
workers, peasants, soldiers, students, and businessmen. The cadres under the General Office
of the Central Committee are all from the masses! Work should primarily be done by the
masses. Relying on a small number of leaders is neither feasible nor sufficient. Even then, we
cannot be divorced from the masses; we must have a mass perspective.
Second, rely on the army. Our army is not only capable of fighting, but also of mass work,
propaganda, and production. Many military cadres join the army at a young age and have
little education. They gradually improve their education in the army, and their thinking is
relatively simple. Unlike local governments, the army lacks land and financial power and can
move at will. Provinces have territories, but the army does not. Furthermore, the army is
well-organized and disciplined, and moves quickly. For example, the Shenyang army's
experience supporting the left, workers, and farmers—after the central government
approved it, the entire army was mobilized within 21 days. If it were passed around by local
governments, action would be much slower.
Third, rely on cadres. The vast majority of cadres are good. Many things should be left to
cadres, and policies should be implemented by them. Some provincial Party secretaries
should be released quickly and asked to reflect on their actions. Some provincial Party
secretaries made mistakes because they harmed the masses and mobilized some of the
masses to protect them, which ultimately harmed them.

[1] This was Mao Zedong's directive after he listened to Lin Biao's speech at a meeting of
cadres at the army level and above on March 20.