Comrade Lin Biao [2]:
I think this document is very good. Please discuss with Comrade Huang Yongsheng [3]
whether the entire army should conduct a long-distance camping training during the winter.
Each army can be divided into two groups (or not), each group for two months, to promote
unity between officers and soldiers, and between the army and the people. Those in the
three supports and two armies are not included. However, can university, middle school, and
elementary and middle school (senior grades) students also conduct a one-month camping
training during winter vacation? Can factories select a small number of workers (for
example, a quarter, but production cannot be reduced) for camping training? Please discuss
this with the comrades in the Central Committee.
If we do not train in this way, we will become pampered soldiers.
Published as requested.
Mao Zedong
November 24th

[1] This report, submitted to Mao Zedong and others by the Beijing Garrison of the Chinese
People's Liberation Army on November 17, 1970, stated that from July of the previous year
to August of this year, the Garrison had organized 13 regiments in four batches to conduct
1,000- and 2,000-mile combat readiness field marches. Simultaneously, six regiments were
stationed in mountainous rural areas. Combined with combat readiness evacuations, these
field marches focused on training in "hiding" and "fighting." Building on combat readiness
education, these field marches promoted the revolutionary and combat-oriented
development of the troops, strengthened their combat readiness awareness, and enhanced
the cadres' organizational and command capabilities and the troops' combat effectiveness.
Parts 1 and 2 of this report were included in this report; Part 3 of this report is a comment
on the draft Central Committee notice submitted by Zhou Enlai on December 8th, regarding
the implementation of Chairman Mao's important instructions on implementing field
marches. The draft central notice specifically urged that "people of all ethnic groups



throughout the country should take Chairman Mao's important instructions of November 24
as their guiding principle and immediately launch a wave of 'implementing field training.'"
[2] Lin Biao was then Vice Chairman of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Chairman of the
Central Military Commission.
[3] Huang Yongsheng was then a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee,
head of the Central Military Commission's working group, and chief of the General Staff of the
Chinese People's Liberation Army.