Chapter 41 A model of survey research

Mao Zedong said: "We study Marxism-Leninism not for the sake of looking good, nor because it is mysterious, but because it is very useful." That is to say, we study Marxist theory because it can guide the practice of Chinese revolution. The dogmatists flooded in the early 1930s. Many people did not say they did not work hard to learn Marxism. They did use Marxism to guide the Chinese revolution. They subjectively wanted to make the Chinese revolution a success, but the objective effect was the opposite.The reason is that Marxism was not well integrated with the reality of the Chinese revolution.

How to combine Marxist theory with China's actual situation, the key is to have a deep, accurate and comprehensive understanding of China's national conditions through investigation and research. Mao Zedong is a model of persistence in investigation and research.This is also the "secret" of his observation of problems more keenly, his understanding of problems more deeply, and his actions more resolutely than others.For example, in the late period of the Great Revolution, when the Kuomintang rightists and landlords and gentry rampantly attacked and slandered the peasant movement, major leaders such as Chen Duxiu in the party were shaken by it, and followed suit by calling the peasant movement "very bad".After more than a month of investigation in the rural areas of Changsha, Xiangtan, Xiangxiang, Hengshan, and Liling counties in Hunan, Mao Zedong wrote the "Investigation Report on the Peasant Movement in Hunan", which clearly stated that the peasant movement was "very good!" A vigorous peasant movement was not enough to shake the feudal forces.

During the Agrarian Revolutionary War, Mao Zedong realized that investigation and research were the key for him to understand the situation and find solutions to problems. The results of his investigations in Ningkang and Yongxin played an important role in leading the rebel army to gain a foothold in the rural mountainous areas and establish the first revolutionary base.Since then, in order to solve major issues such as political power construction and agrarian revolution in the revolutionary base areas, Mao Zedong has conducted many investigations and studies one after another, such as the investigation of Xunwu in May 1930, the investigation of Xingguo in October 1930, and even conducted military research along the way. investigation.

Mao Zedong once said: "I have known the countryside myself for several years." Before investigating, I "didn't fully understand" the issue of rich peasants in China. Concepts are blurry." "Only after the Xunwu survey did I clarify the problem of rich peasants and landlords, and put forward a solution to the rich peasants." importance in the process of allocating land". Because investigation and research are so important, Mao Zedong wrote the book "Rural Investigation", and put forward the famous assertion that "without investigation, there is no right to speak".

After arriving in Yan'an, Mao Zedong was able to conduct investigations and research not only in the countryside, but also at a higher level and in a wider range. Mao Zedong sent people to conduct investigations and research in the border area, and wrote very important investigation reports for reference, including "A Preliminary Study on the Land Issues of Suide and Mizhi", "Investigation of Yangjiagou in Mizhi County", "Suideyan Jiachuan Economic Survey", "Dangjiagou Social Survey and Research Materials", etc. He also instructed the Chongqing office and offices across the country on many occasions to widely collect political and economic information in various places. In May 1941 alone, he called Zhou Enlai in Chongqing and requested more than a dozen types of information.

According to statistics, he also widely subscribed to as many as 30 or 40 kinds of newspapers and magazines across the country to obtain information.Such as "Ta Kung Pao", "Yi Shi Bao", "Business Daily", "Central Daily", "World Knowledge", "Economic Construction Quarterly", "Financial Review", "China Rural Areas", "Cultural Magazine", "Democracy Weekly", "Sichuan Economic Reference Materials", "Sichuan Agricultural Information Report", "Southwest Industry Newsletter", "Japan's Economic Work on China", "Military Strength of Great Powers", "Chinese and Foreign Economic Annual Report", etc.This shows that although Mao Zedong lived in a corner of Yan'an, he could know the affairs of the world.

Talking with Mao Zedong not only paid attention to the investigation of the basic situation, but also paid great attention to the investigation of the dynamic situation of social development. At that time, Yan'an was an open Yan'an. Some domestic political leaders, people from various parties, celebrities from all walks of life, democrats without party affiliation, enlightened gentry, overseas Chinese and foreign friendly people went to Yan'an one after another.Mao Zedong met with people from all walks of life at home and abroad, answered their questions, and also had extensive conversations with them to understand their situation and opinions.American writer Smedley recalled that when she visited Mao Zedong in 1937, Mao asked her "thousands of questions".

With the development of the revolutionary cause, and in order to overcome dogmatism, investigation and research should not only be the monopoly of a few people. During the rectification movement, Mao Zedong decided to promote the investigation and research style in the whole party. In March 1941, Mao Zedong published the book "Rural Survey" written during the Agrarian Revolution, and wrote the preface and postscript for it.He pointed out: "Now our comrades still retain a careless and careless style of thinking, and even don't understand the situation at all, but they are there to guide the work. This is an extremely dangerous phenomenon."

Looking back on those years, Mao Zedong was not without emotion. He wrote: "The phrase 'no investigation, no right to speak', although it was once ridiculed as 'narrow empiricism', I still do not regret it. Not only do I not regret it, I still It is impossible to have the right to speak without investigation.” He called on everyone to conduct investigations in the society, to have enthusiasm and desire for knowledge, to have the determination to look down, and to put down the stinky airs and be willing to be a primary school student. The researchers went deep into the countryside to conduct investigations.The picture shows Cai Chang in Yan'an. In August 1941, Mao Zedong presided over the release of the "Decision on Investigation and Research". We should collect all kinds of materials and study them, and consider them as direct assistants in the work of the central government.”At the same time, "mobilize the whole party, the whole army, and all government agencies and all comrades, focusing on the investigation and research of the situation of the enemy, friends and us."

In September 1941, a women's life survey team jointly composed of the Women's Committee of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Northwest Bureau went to the rural areas of northern Shaanxi to conduct social surveys.When the investigation team set off, Mao Zedong came to see him off and delivered a speech "On Rural Investigation".He said: "China needs investigation and research work. First of all, we must understand what China is (China's past, present and future). It is a pity that many comrades are subjectivist and self-righteous, and do not pay attention to investigation and research work. Investigation is long-term, and today needs Investigation, in the future our sons and grandsons will also conduct investigations, so that we can constantly recognize new things and gain new knowledge.” He also introduced the methods of investigation and research to comrades, and encouraged everyone to work hard to do this work well.

In December, Lin Boqu, Chairman of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region Government, was one of the respected "five elders" in Yan'an. People's investigation team went to Ganquan and Fu counties to conduct social investigations. On the 20th, when a commoner-clothed elder holding a horse in his hand and traveling around led a group of people in Ganquan County, the local people all showed surprise and admiration when they learned that the white-haired old man was the famous Lin Boqu.Under Lin Boqu's kind inquiry, everyone knew everything and talked endlessly. At the beginning of 1942, Zhang Wentian, who was called the "Ming Jun" of our party by Mao Zedong, also led his investigation team to set off in order to make up for the lesson of investigation and research.He stayed in the countryside for more than a year and a month, traveled all over Shenfu, Suide, Mizhi in northern Shaanxi, and Xingxian County in northwestern Shanxi, and made serious investigations on dozens of villages.After returning to Yan'an, Zhang Wentian wrote the report "Departure and Return". With an open mind that does not care about personal gains and losses, and a scientific attitude of seeking truth from facts, he strictly dissected himself.He said that through personal investigation, he deeply felt that he knew too little about China.For an intellectual party member, it is very necessary to break through the cage of dogma and soar into the vast, vivid, free world full of light and heat. Zhang Wentian's performance set an example in correcting dogmatism, which led to the improvement of the ideological understanding of comrades in the whole party. Under the guidance of Mao Zedong's thoughts on investigation and research, the whole party vigorously promoted the style of investigation and research.It is precisely on the basis of investigation and research on an unprecedented scale that the Chinese Communist Party has gradually achieved glory.Some scholars put it well: "Investigation and research is a bridge that combines the theory of Marxism-Leninism with the reality of the Chinese revolution. Through this bridge, Mao Zedong blazed a path of Chinese-style democratic revolution and socialist revolution, developed Marxism-Leninism, and created a science suitable for China's national conditions. The guiding ideology of Mao Zedong Thought."