(1)
I fully agree.
(2)
Zheng Weishan [3] should join the leadership group
(3)
The leadership group should hold regular meetings to summarize experiences
and correct mistakes.

Mao Zedong,
August 5, 1968, 10:00 PM

[1] Mao Zedong's latest directive refers to the key points of his conversation on July 28,
1968, with Nie Yuanzi of Peking University, Kuai Dafu of Tsinghua University, Tan Houlan of
Beijing Normal University, Han Aijing of Beijing Institute of Aeronautics, and Wang Dabin of
Beijing Institute of Geology regarding stopping armed conflict. Mao Zedong said: "Today I
have called you here to discuss stopping armed conflict in universities. The Cultural
Revolution has been going on for two years, and you are now: first, not fighting; second, not
criticizing; and third, not reforming." Fighting is fighting, and a few of your colleges and
universities are engaging in armed conflict. The workers, peasants, soldiers, and residents
are unhappy. The majority of students are unhappy, and even some who support your
faction are unhappy. You have alienated yourself from the majority of workers, peasants,
soldiers, and students. Some schools have engaged in struggles against gangs, but they are
far from enough, precisely because they have split into two factions and are preoccupied
with armed conflict. There are so many free-spirited people now, and instead of engaging in
struggle-criticism-reform, you're promoting struggle-criticism-to-leave and struggle-criticism-to-disband. I said universities must continue. We've talked about science and
engineering, but not liberal arts. But the old system and methods are no longer effective.
The school system must be shortened, and education must be revolutionized. We still need
cultural struggle, not armed struggle. I said you're divorced from the masses; the masses
simply don't want civil war. Some people say, "The Guangxi proclamation only applies to
Guangxi, and the Shaanxi proclamation only applies to Shaanxi; it doesn't apply here." So,
let's issue a national proclamation. Anyone who continues to violate these proclamations,
attacking the People's Liberation Army, disrupting traffic, killing people, or setting fires, will
be punished. I hope you won't divide into heavenly and earthly factions. Just be one faction.
Why create two? The two central proclamations refer to the July 3, 1968, proclamation



issued by the CPC Central Committee, the State Council, the Central Military Commission,
and the Central Cultural Revolution Group (the Guangxi proclamation) and the July 24, 1968,
proclamation issued by the CPC Central Committee, the State Council, the Central Military
Commission, and the Central Cultural Revolution Group.
[2] This comment was written on a report submitted to Mao Zedong and others by the
Beijing Municipal Revolutionary Committee and the Beijing Garrison of the Chinese People's
Liberation Army on August 4, 1968. Zhou Enlai revised the report. The revised report pointed
out that Beijing and the troops stationed in the capital should learn from the experience of
Guangxi. In promoting Chairman Mao's latest directive on July 28 and the two central
government notices, the army should not only create momentum and public opinion, but
more importantly, conduct painstaking and meticulous ideological work among students and
the masses. Based on Chairman Mao's instructions and drawing on the experience of
Guangxi and other places, we have proposed the following arrangements for the next step:
First, the Beijing Garrison and the Beijing Garrison have organized propaganda teams of tens
of thousands to 100,000 people to go deep into universities, factories, streets, and rural
areas, mobilizing the masses to publicize and implement Chairman Mao's latest directives
and the two central government notices. Second, propaganda work should be integrated
across a wide range of areas, with a focus on universities and several factories, government
agencies, and guesthouses with numerous problems and significant impacts. Third, we
should establish exemplary models. Fourth, mobilize the three armed forces to adopt
appropriate means to vigorously support the Workers' and Peasants' Mao Zedong Thought
Propaganda Team. Fifth, the Municipal Draft Committee and the Garrison Command jointly
form a leading group to strengthen leadership. Sixth, this mass movement should be
integrated with public security efforts in preparation for National Day to ensure the
continued security of the capital and revolutionary order.
[3] Zheng Weishan was then the deputy director of the Beijing Revolutionary Committee and
deputy commander of the Beijing Military Region of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.