Original text of "Serving the People"

Serving the People (September 8, 1944) Mao Zedong Our Communist Party and the Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army led by the Communist Party are revolutionary teams. Our team is entirely dedicated to liberating the people and works completely for the interests of the people. Comrade Zhang Side ⑴ is a comrade in our team. People are always going to die, but the meaning of death is different. In ancient China, a writer named Sima Qian said: "Everyone is destined to die, and it may be heavier than Mount Tai or lighter than a feather." ⑵ To die for the interests of the people is heavier than Mount Tai; to work for the fascists, to exploit the people and Those who oppress the people are worth less than a feather. Comrade Zhang Side died for the interests of the people, and his death was heavier than Mount Tai. Because we serve the people, if we have shortcomings, we are not afraid of criticism from others. It doesn’t matter who it is, whoever points it out to us. As long as you are right, we will correct it. The method you suggest is good for the people, so we will do it. The idea of ??"better troops and simpler administration" was put forward by Mr. Li Dingming⑶, a non-party person. His suggestion was good and beneficial to the people, so we adopted it. As long as we stick to what is good and correct what is wrong for the benefit of the people, our team will surely prosper. We all come from all over the world and come together for a common revolutionary goal. We still need to follow this path with the majority of the people in the country. Today we already lead base areas with a population of 91 million, but this is not enough. We need a larger base to liberate the entire nation. When our comrades are in difficulties, they must see the results, see the light, and increase their courage. The Chinese people are suffering, we have the responsibility to save them, and we must work hard. If there is a struggle, there will be sacrifices, and death often happens. But we think of the interests of the people and the suffering of the majority of the people, and when we die for the people, it is a worthy death. However, we should try to minimize unnecessary sacrifices. Our cadres must care for every soldier, and all members of the revolutionary ranks must care for each other, love each other, and help each other. From now on, no matter who dies in our ranks, whether he is a cook or a soldier, as long as he has done some useful work, we will bury him and hold a memorial service. This needs to become a system. This method must also be introduced to the common people. When someone from the village dies, a memorial service is held. In this way, we express our condolences and unite the entire people. Note: This is Mao Zedong's speech at the Central Guard Corps of the Communist Party of China's Central Guard Corps' memorial meeting for Zhang Side. [1] Zhang Side, a native of Yilong, Sichuan, is a soldier of the Central Guard Corps of the Communist Party of China. He joined the Red Army in 1933, experienced the Long March, and was injured. He was a Communist Party member who faithfully served the people. On September 5, 1944, he was burning charcoal in the mountains of Ansai County, northern Shaanxi Province, and died when the charcoal kiln collapsed. [2] Sima Qian, a famous writer and historian during the Western Han Dynasty in China, wrote 130 chapters in "Historical Records". The quotation here can be found in the "Report to Ren Shaoqing" in "Hanshu·Sima Qian Biography", the original text is: "Everyone is destined to die, and death may be heavier than Mount Tai, or lighter than a feather." [3] Li Dingming (1881- —1947), a native of Mizhi, Shaanxi Province, an enlightened gentleman. He put forward the proposal of "better troops and simpler administration" at the second council meeting of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region in November 1941, and was elected vice chairman of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region government at this meeting. (4) This refers to the total population of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region and the anti-Japanese base areas in North China, Central China, and South China at that time. (5) Taishan: The name of the mountain, in Shandong Province. The ancients used Taishan as the representative of high mountains, and it was often used as a metaphor for admiration People and important and valuable things. (6) Hongmao: the hair of wild geese, metaphors for things that are insignificant. (7) Reducing the organization and streamlining the personnel. People who serve in the revolutionary ranks come from all over the country and from all directions. (9) Death in a worthy manner: describes a meaningful and valuable death. (10) Memorial: refers to the memory of the deceased and expresses condolences. "Serving the People" was written by Chairman Mao Zedong. Speech delivered at the memorial service of Comrade Zhang Side on September 8, 1944.

At that time, the Anti-Japanese War was at a very difficult stage and there were many difficulties that needed to be overcome. In response to this situation, Chairman Mao Zedong explained the principles of serving the people and called on everyone to learn from Comrade Zhang Side's spirit of serving the people completely and thoroughly, unite and defeat the Japanese invaders. "Serving the People" is a speech, which belongs to the category of essays. The article has clear arguments, careful discussion, and in-depth explanations. The language is popular, natural and simple. At the beginning of the article, the purpose of the Communist Party of China and the Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army under its leadership is clearly stated - to serve the people completely and thoroughly; and then combined with the current reality, it explains from three aspects how to serve the people completely and thoroughly. Serving the people: First, establish the outlook on life and death that "dying for the interests of the people is more important than Mount Tai"; second, treat criticism correctly, stick to what is good and correct mistakes for the benefit of the people; third, do a good job in unity, overcome difficulties, and Improve courage, love each other, and unite the entire people. Mao Zedong's relevant remarks on "Serving the People" State agencies implement democratic centralism, state agencies must rely on the people, and state agency staff must serve the people. ——Mao Zedong, "On the Correct Handling of Contradictions Among the People" (February 27, 1957), People's Publishing House, page 4. We should be humble. Be cautious, guard against arrogance and impetuosity, and serve the people wholeheartedly... ——Mao Zedong, "The Destiny of Two Chinas" (April 23, 1945), Volume 3 of "Selected Works of Mao Zedong" Serving the People Wholeheartedly To serve the people, we will never be separated from the masses for a moment; everything should be based on the interests of the people, not on the interests of individuals or small groups; the oneness of being responsible to the people and to the party's leading organs; these are our starting points. ——Mao Zedong, "On Coalition Government" (April 24, 1945), Volume 3 of "Selected Works of Mao Zedong" All our cadres, regardless of their position, are servants of the people. Everything we do, We are all serving the people. What bad things are we reluctant to throw away? ——Mao Zedong, "The Tasks of 1945" (December 15, 1944), Yan'an "Liberation Daily" on December 16, 1944. Understanding of sentences. ① Our Communist Party and the Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army led by the Communist Party are revolutionary teams. Our team is entirely dedicated to liberating the people and works completely for the interests of the people. Comrade Zhang Side is a comrade in our team. The topic is stated at the beginning of the article. The entire paragraph shows that serving the people wholeheartedly is the fundamental purpose of the Chinese Communist Party and the revolutionary army. Comrade Zhang Side is one of the examples of an ordinary Chinese Communist Party member who strives to practice serving the people. When teaching, teachers can guide students to communicate their understanding of this passage by combining previously learned texts with revolutionary historical themes and examples that students know. ② Comrade Zhang Side died for the interests of the people, and his death was heavier than Mount Tai. Teachers can guide students to understand this sentence in conjunction with the "information bag" after class. Comrade Zhang Side participated in the revolution in 1933. After the Long March, he was injured. He was a Communist Party member who faithfully served the interests of the people. On September 5, 1944, he led his soldiers to perform a charcoal burning mission in Ansai County, northern Shaanxi. The charcoal kiln that was about to be dug suddenly collapsed. He died to save his comrades. Comrade Zhang Side kept in mind the purpose of the revolutionary team, worked for the interests of the people while living, and sacrificed for the interests of the people when he died, embodying the spirit of serving the people completely. Because he died for the benefit of the people, although he did not do anything earth-shattering in his life, his death was meaningful and valuable, so he is said to be "heavier than Mount Tai." ③Because we serve the people, if we have shortcomings, we are not afraid of criticism from others. It doesn’t matter who it is, whoever points it out to us. As long as you are right, we will correct it. The method you suggest is good for the people, so we will do it. There are three sentences in the above passage. The first sentence means that we welcome criticism, the second sentence means that we welcome criticism from anyone, and the third sentence means that we accept criticism from anyone as long as it is correct. There is a close connection between sentences and the meanings progress layer by layer.

By analyzing the related words in this passage, we can further clarify: there is only one criterion for measuring whether criticism is correct or not, and that is whether it is in the interests of the people. There is only one purpose in accepting criticism from anyone as long as it is correct, which is to serve the people. ④ Today we already lead base areas with a population of 91 million, but this is not enough. We need a larger base to liberate the entire nation. The "base area with a population of 91 million" refers to the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region and the anti-Japanese base areas in North China, Central China, and South China at that time. At that time, the combined population of these base areas was 91 million. This sentence means that we must expand the anti-Japanese revolutionary base areas in order to achieve the liberation of the entire nation and all of China. The common goal of serving the people at that time was to defeat the Japanese invaders and liberate all of China. ⑤When our comrades are in difficulties, we must see the results, see the light, and improve our courage. This sentence means that the revolutionary struggle will not be smooth sailing and will inevitably encounter difficulties and hardships. However, for the benefit of the people and national liberation, we must not be afraid of difficulties. We must see achievements and bright future, build confidence and muster up courage. ⑥ Our cadres must care for every soldier, and all members of the revolutionary ranks must care for each other, love each other, and help each other. This sentence means that the people in the revolutionary team come together for a common goal. Therefore, whether it is cadres versus soldiers or soldiers versus soldiers, they must care for, love and help each other. Only in this way can we unite better, work together, and achieve our goals.

Please accept it, thank you!