Chapter 62 Do it yourself, overcome difficulties

(April 9, 1945) Zheng, Li, Chen [1]: Yin Han, Zheng Dian and Mao Dong received three telegrams [2], all of which were known. (1) It is difficult to send troops, so don't rely on them. (2) It is right for you to shift your focus to Luxi [3] and develop towards Laohekou. You can adjust the deployment of troops by yourself. (3) Finance and democracy cadres have been ordered by the Organization Department to consider dispatching them. (4) Except for food, other expenses should be changed from mainly relying on taxation to mainly relying on production for self-sufficiency, and letting each district produce for itself. This is the only way that is the most reliable.In the entire three years of 1940, April 1, and 1942, the financial difficulties in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region were worse than yours. Since 1943, we have relied on this method to solve the problem.The border region, with a population of only 1.5 million, has fed 100,000 government officials without harming the people.The difficulties in Wutai and Taihang districts are also greater than yours. The situation changed during the mass production movement last year.This year should be the year for you to launch a large-scale production campaign. Don't miss the opportunity for spring plowing. Hope to discuss it at the financial meeting. The slogan is "Do it yourself, overcome difficulties."On the one hand, increasing the public grain as appropriate will surely ensure the supply.Regarding the expansion of troops, it is necessary to expand in new development areas, and to expand the troops according to the conditions that the people there can afford.With regard to poor mass work, we should order all the Party, government, army, and people to do mass work together, combining the three of fighting the enemy together, producing self-sufficiency together, and doing mass work together.In short, all rely on the strength of the broadest masses to solve the problems, let go and hand over the responsibility of solving the problems to the various sub-districts and the masses.The leading comrades above you only summarize the outline, give calls, guidance, inspections and adjustments, and implement the principle of centralized leadership and decentralized management.Don't let all the burdens be borne by the top, so that the bottom will look at you to eat, to wear, and to find solutions. Although you are very busy and anxious, you will not be able to meet your expectations.This is a method caused by the characteristics of guerrilla warfare. I don’t know if you think it is feasible. Please consider it and hope.

Mao Zedong Uka Printed from manuscript. -------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ note [1] Zheng, refers to Zheng Weisan (1902-1975), a native of Huang'an (now Hong'an), Hubei.Li, referring to Li Xiannian, was then the commander of the Fifth Division of the New Fourth Army and the commander and political commissar of the Hubei, Henan, Anhui, Hunan and Jiangxi Military Regions.Chen, referring to Chen Shaomin (1902-1977), a native of Shouguang, Shandong, who was then Deputy Secretary of the Hubei-Henan-Anhui Border Region Committee of the Communist Party of China.

[2] Yinhan Zheng Telegram refers to the telegram sent by Zheng Weisan to the CPC Central Committee and Central China Bureau on March 14, 1945.The Maodong three-person telegram refers to the telegram sent by Zheng Weisan, Li Xiannian, and Chen Shaomin to the CPC Central Committee and Central China Bureau on April 2, 1945. [3] Luxi refers to the area west of Pinghan Road.