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
must be strictly disciplined. Less important cases should be criticized
and serious ones punished. We certainly cannot condone them
or, to use a flattering term, “have a liberal policy”. These are the
three work styles for rectification in economic work. We must carry
them out without the slightest delay.
The third shortcoming is that in the production activities of many
army units, official organizations and schools, the cadres responsible
for administration and control do not take many pains. A minority
even pay no attention at all and merely entrust every thing to
the supply organ or to the general office. This is because they still
do not understand the importance of economic work. And the reason
they still do not understand it is because they have been poi-
FROM MARX
TO MAO
soned by the deceitful corrupting words of metaphysicists like Dong
⋆
Zhongshu, “Conform to the requirements and do not seek gain, be
concerned with the way and do not plan for merit”, and have not yet
cast them fully aside. It is also because they consider politics, Party
and army affaires come first and are most important, while economic
work, although also important, is not important to the same degree.
They feel that they themselves do not have to divide their attention
or to give much attention by being concerned. However, these attitudes
are entirely wrong. In the present situation in the Shaan-Kan-
Ning Border Region, the great majority of people have work to do.
If you talk of revolution, NOT then in the FOR final analysis apart from economic
work and educational work (including theoretical education,
political education, military education, cultural education, technical
education, professional COMMERCIAL
education and national education) what
other work is worthy of the names central or primary work? Is there
any other work that is more revolutionary? True, there is other work
and a lot of it, but the central or primary work for the majority of
comrades in the DISTRIBUTION
present situation in the Border Region is certainly
economic work and educational work. All other work is only significant
in the context of these two. If we conscientiously carry out
these two items of work, we can consider that we have done well in
supporting the war at the front and in helping the people of the great
rear areas. Of the two, education (or study) cannot be carried out
alone. We are not in a time when “official rank lies in study”. We
cannot go and “conform to the requirements and illuminate the way”
with hungry stomachs. We must get food to eat. We must pay attention
to economic work. Talking of education or study separately
from economic work is merely using superfluous and empty words.
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