K. This is the 1st working draft of vol. VI. It still ... - From Marx to Mao

ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL PROBLEMS IN THE ANTI-JAPONESE WAR
regulations could the store reduce waste.
(xii) To help stabilize the currency, in 1940 the store changed
Guanghua banknotes.
(xiii) Comprehensive preparations, correct and lively application
of trading policies, staying within the scope of non-prohibited
goods, selling local products and selling necessities solved difficulties
in the supply of goods for the army and provided a profit.
(xiv) With the aim of earning money, after January 1941 all the
brigade and regimental co-operatives became part of the Daguang
Store. The organization took Suide as its centre and set up branches
in Suide, Mizhi, Jiaxian, Wuqi, Anding, Yanchuan and Yanchang.
The brigade had the Daguang Store, and the regiments had the
branches.
FROM MARX
TO MAO
(xv) Most personnel in the shops were soldiers given payments
⋆
according to their jobs. Employees were paid a wage according to
their ability, strengths and weaknesses.
(xvi) Most of the goods were bought from northwestern Shanxi
during 1941. Afterwards because of the enemy’s mopping-up campaigns
and the economic blockade (the decline of the nationalist
currency and the use of the puppet currency), commodity prices rose.
In addition because of our problems with capital, we could not get
much money to buy goods. Therefore using the slogan “resist the
NOT FOR
COMMERCIAL
enemy’s goods and sell local products”, we sold the cloth we wove
ourselves, and the leather shoes, woollen towels and cloth shoes we
produced ourselves. We also sold Daguange soap in even greater
quantities. To prevent unprincipled merchants from raising market-
prices and to promote the Border Region currency we changed
Guanghua banknotes, and lowered the rising market-prices. For
example, the salt we extracted ourselves we sold at 2 jin 4 liang per
DISTRIBUTION
yuan compared to the market-price of 1 jin 4 liang per yuan. Thus
we enabled the ordinary folk to buy at cheaper prices. So we can
say that in a certain period our aim was not to earn money but to
stabilize prices and secure the people’s livelihood.
(xvii) “If you knew what would happen in three days’ time, you
would be rich for thousands of years.” It seems as if trading is a
question of finding the right way by accident. If you find a good
opportunity, then you can earn money. In fact it is not so. Trading
relies entirely on correct estimation, understanding of the situation
locally and elsewhere, and understanding the difference between
imports and exports. Then you can forecast the rise and fall in com-
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