Chapter 46 Opinions on the training of Central China troops [1]

(August 22, 1944) Yao, Zhang, Lai[2]: Reported on the 14th. (1) The training of Central China troops should focus on the four major items of training, leading, raising and employing troops, with training as the center.You can refer to the summary report of Zhang Zongxun [3] on winter training.Among them, the experience, breaking the stereotypes and adopting the military training method of mass movement of soldiers teaching soldiers, officers teaching soldiers, and soldiers teaching officers, is a new creation that breaks through history.All over central China, the cadres at the regiment level and above should be ordered to have about ten days to discuss this new method of military training, so that they can learn how to train troops and ensure excellent military training results.The content of troop training focuses on improving combat skills, focusing on the four basic skills of bombing, shooting, assassination, and soil work.At the same time, cadres should also discuss leading troops to create new management methods; discuss raising troops to ensure increased production, improve pay, and strengthen physical strength; discuss using troops to strengthen combat command methods.These four issues are urgent tasks, and if they can be resolved within one year, our army's combat effectiveness can be increased several times, making it easier to meet the changing needs of the war situation.This kind of military training meeting, whether held in the military headquarters or divided into groups in various places, should be done as it is, and the responsible division and brigade cadres should personally preside over it.

(2) Regarding the training of regiment-level cadres, the military department can set up a regiment-level training team, or a military rectification class, to absorb resigned brigade and regiment-level cadres, and select a group of outstanding battalion-level cadres to participate. The time should not be too long. The curriculum can be divided into five major categories: tactics, weaponry, fortification, topography, and management education (military administrative matters such as leading troops, training, and raising troops), with the focus on improving the command art of cadres.Regarding the study of tactics, it is best to adopt the rectification discussion method of summarizing past battles and criticizing each other, that is, asking students to report their own combat experience, or asking a few questions for students to express their opinions, holding a debate, and then summing up.This kind of heuristic specific learning based on practice is most suitable for the needs of our army cadres.In the past, the method of following the scriptures was not easy to inject, and it was difficult to be practical.The Yan'an Anti-Japanese University is preparing to start a training class for teachers of the Anti-Japanese University in winter. First, teach the teachers well, and then go back to teach the students after four months. The courses are also the above-mentioned courses.Teachers, no one has been sent here, and you should be responsible for being teachers yourself, or train and select teachers from among the students, or use new methods of teaching students, making use of their strengths, and learning their strengths, or use old military personnel in Central China, To be transformed, as a teaching assistant.There is also a lack of qualified personnel for the Yan'an military education, so it is entirely up to you to solve the problem yourself.

(3) With regard to special forces personnel, such as engineers and the like, training classes can be held in various anti-Japanese universities.Regarding the education of using new weapons and mastering new technologies, we will not emphasize it for the time being. If we thoroughly consolidate the training, leading, raising and tactical foundation of our troops, we will have time to learn and use new weapons when we have new weapons. Please implement the above proposals according to the actual situation. Mao, Liu, Chen[4] not raised Printed from transcripts kept at the Central Archives.

-------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ note [1] The original draft of this telegram signed by Mao Zedong, Liu Shaoqi, and Chen Yi was drafted by Chen Yi who was in Yan'an at the time.Mao Zedong made revisions during review.After the revision, he wrote to Chen Yi, discussing some opinions: "The use of soldiers in the central training instructions, of course, cannot be emphasized this year, and training should be the main focus, but it should be mentioned. The training instructions also stipulate that the one-year training mainly depends on this winter Finished, because not only will the training be impossible after the arrival of spring plowing next spring, but also the current situation may change rapidly, so cadres above the regiment level should not discuss the training methods for too long. It only takes five days to discuss the five-day exercise in the winter border area, and the training and mobilization is completed. Also, the duration of the advanced training class should not be too long in order to cope with the current situation."

[2] Rao, referring to Rao Shushi, who was then acting secretary of the Central China Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and acting political commissar of the New Fourth Army.Zhang, refers to Zhang Yunyi (1892-1974), a native of Wenchang, Guangdong (now part of Hainan), who was the deputy commander of the New Fourth Army at that time.Lai, refers to Lai Chuanzhu (1910-1965), a native of Ganxian County, Jiangxi Province, who was then the chief of staff of the New Fourth Army. [3] Zhang Zongxun, born in 1908, is from Weinan, Shaanxi.At that time, he was the commander of the 358th Brigade of the 120th Division of the Eighth Route Army.

[4] Chen, referring to Chen Yi, who was the acting commander of the New Fourth Army at the time. He had already gone to Yan'an to attend the Seventh National Congress of the Communist Party of China. He was commissioned by the Central Committee to guide the work of the New Fourth Army in central China with Liu Shaoqi.