Chapter 25 Hard work is our political nature[1]

(November 15, 1956) I have always advocated that the army should work hard and be a model.When we held a meeting in this place in 1949, one of our generals advocated that the army should increase salaries. Many comrades agreed, but I opposed it.The example he gave was that the capitalists eat five bowls, while the PLA eats salt water and a little sauerkraut. He said this is not acceptable.I say that's precisely the good thing.You are five bowls, we eat sauerkraut.Politics and role models emerge from this sauerkraut.The people's Liberation Army won the hearts of this sauerkraut, of course, there are others.Now the army's food has improved, and it is already different from eating only sauerkraut.But the fundamental thing is that we must advocate hard work, hard work is our political nature.Apples were grown in Jinzhou. During the Battle of Liaoxi, it was autumn. There were many apples in the homes of the common people, and we soldiers didn't take any of them.I was very moved when I saw the news.On this issue, the soldiers consciously believe that it is very noble not to eat it, but it is despicable to eat it, because it is the apple of the people.Our discipline is built on this self-awareness.This is the result of our party's leadership and education.People need a little spirit, and the revolutionary spirit of the proletariat comes from this.If you don’t eat an apple, will anyone die of starvation? No, there is still millet and sauerkraut.Comrades here should live in sheds when necessary.When we lived on the grass, we could live without a shed. Why can’t we live in a shed now? The army has been meeting these days. They are impassioned and willing to self-denial and save.The army is like this, and other people have to work harder.Otherwise, the army will kill your army.Those present here have literature and martial arts, and we use martial arts to match literature.The People's Liberation Army is a good army, and I like this army very much.

Published based on the transcript of the speech kept by the Central Archives. -------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ note [1] This is a passage from Mao Zedong's speech at the Second Plenary Session of the Eighth Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.