Dig deep holes, store up food, and do not seek hegemony.

[1] On December 10, 1972, the CPC Central Committee forwarded a report from the State
Council on the grain issue, which said: "Chairman Mao recently pointed out again that the
current domestic and international situation is very good, and leading comrades at all levels
should be modest and prudent, and not get carried away by victory. Chairman Mao told a
historical story from the "Ming History: Biography of Zhu Sheng". Before the founding of the
Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang summoned an intellectual named Zhu Sheng and asked him
what to do under the circumstances at the time. Zhu Sheng said: 'Build high walls, store up
grain, and delay claiming the throne.' Zhu Yuanzhang adopted his advice and won the
victory. Based on the current good domestic and international situation and the socialist
system and proletarian standpoint we uphold, Chairman Mao said: We must 'dig deep holes,
store up grain, and not seek hegemony'. Chairman Mao's instruction has made the great
strategic policy of 'preparing coal, preparing for famine, and serving the people' more
concrete." The draft of the Central Committee's comments was sent to Mao Zedong for
review, and Mao Zedong wrote: "Do as instructed." On January 1, 1973, This directive from
Mao Zedong was conveyed in the New Year's Day editorials "New Year's Message" published
in Red Flag magazine, the People's Daily and the Liberation Army Daily.