Rebirth: I am in Jin-Cha-Ji

From now on, we should gradually promote the development of rural mutual aid groups and cooperatives nationwide. When China's industrialization requires rural cooperation, we will not be in a rush. We will not return to the situation we experienced from 1958 to 1962. "The cooperative model has another advantage."

Gao Gang spoke.

He said, "Currently, many rural areas, especially the newly liberated areas, are experiencing problems with public grain collection. This is because the living and production environments of farmers in many areas are scattered, or because clan power is too strong in rural areas, greatly affecting state grain collection. This includes state grain procurement, and the small-scale peasant economy of rural households, which makes grain procurement a complex and energy-consuming task. However, if we develop mutual aid groups and cooperatives, we won't need to work with each household individually. These tasks can be handled internally by the mutual aid groups and cooperatives. Whether it's collecting public grain or purchasing grain, we can work directly with mutual aid groups and cooperatives. Financial institutions like banks can also work directly with rural mutual aid groups and agricultural production cooperatives. At the same time, the existence of mutual aid groups and cooperatives can suppress clan power in rural areas and prevent the restoration of landlord power. Comrade Xiuyang hasn't done any specific work in rural areas, so it's understandable that his opponents are not familiar with these issues."

After Gao Gang expressed his opinion, he did not forget to satirize Comrade Xiuyang.

Comrade Xiuyang emerged from the workers' movement during the Great Revolution and later served as a Party representative in the White Areas. During the Yan'an Rectification Movement, he represented the correct line in the White Areas, which led to his rapid rise in Party status. After the Seventh National Congress, Comrade Xiuyang was responsible for Party affairs and rural land reform. However, during this period, the rise of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei region, or rather the Wei Red Army, gradually took over national land reform efforts. Furthermore, during the pre-liberation Rural Work Conference and the Second Session of the Seventh Central Committee, Comrade Xiuyang was criticized by the North China and Northeast Bureaus for his work on rural issues.

As a result, after the Second Session of the Seventh Central Committee, Comrade Xiuyang was basically no longer responsible for rural work.

Therefore, Comrade Xiuyang really has no experience in actual frontline work in rural areas. In comparison, Wei Hongjun and Gao Gang have both personally handled rural work on the front line. However, even so, no one would say this to Comrade Xiuyang's face.

Only Gao Gang would have spoken so openly at a Central Committee meeting. Wei Hongjun frowned, feeling discontent. They had been discussing work, and Gao Gang's previous remarks had been excellent, straightforwardly outlining the benefits of the cooperative. But his final words directly diminished the weight of his earlier remarks.

Many cadres would think that Gao Gang was venting his personal anger.

However, given Gao Gang's current position, few of the officials present were in a position to criticize him directly. The Commander-in-Chief was a quiet man in meetings like this, and the Premier wasn't the type to criticize or even argue with someone directly. Even Comrade Xiuyang, being the person involved, couldn't say anything. Chen Yun and Marshal Nie weren't the type to argue with Gao Gang in such a situation.

The Chairman, with a stern face, continued, "Comrade Gao Gang, the Fourth Session of the Seventh Central Committee has just emphasized the importance of unity within and outside the Party, especially within the Party. Opinions should be raised directly, not with sarcasm. This is not a good work style."

"Yes."

As soon as the Chairman spoke, Gao Gang quickly admitted his mistake and said, "Comrade Xiuyang, I was a little excited just now." The Chairman admired Gao Gang, but he was also angry.

It goes without saying that Gao Gang is truly capable. He's not only familiar with rural affairs but also understands industry. During his time in charge of the Secretariat, he's handled the daily work of the Central Committee and has done a good job in Party affairs. However, Gao Gang's temper is a major taboo in leadership.

In particular, there had been a constant illicit affair between Gao Gang and Comrade Xiu Yang, which the Chairman could not tolerate.

After all, Gao Gang and Comrade Xiu Yang are both key cadres in the current Central Committee. If they don't get along, it will not only affect the work of the Central Committee, but also a large number of cadres. That's why the Chairman criticized Gao Gang.

Then he said, "Comrade Xiuyang just said that without tractors and fertilizers, we shouldn't rush to establish agricultural production cooperatives. This is a kind of utopian rural socialism. However, I think it is wrong, or at least one-sided. Western capitalism has a sub-stage of workshop handicrafts in its development, a stage before the adoption of steam-powered machinery, but relying on the division of labor in the workshop to form new productive forces. China's agricultural production cooperatives, relying on unified management to form new productive forces and to shake the foundation of private ownership, are also feasible. We cannot wait for tractors and fertilizers to be in place before developing a rural cooperative economy. Instead, we should develop the cooperative economy first and prepare for the arrival of tractors and fertilizers."

The Chairman's words are almost the final word.

Of course, this wasn't because the Chairman's words were final. Rather, it was because the central leadership had divisions of labor, and rural work was Wei Hongjun's responsibility. The decision had already been made at the National Rural Work Conference, and it was supported by Gao Gang, General Secretary of the Central Committee, who was in charge of the Secretariat and handled the day-to-day work of the Central Committee. Although Comrade Xiuyang objected, he wasn't in charge of rural work himself, and his voice in rural affairs wasn't necessarily greater than Gao Gang and Wei Hongjun's.

The other people did not express any further opinions on this issue because it was not their responsibility.

Finally, with the Chairman's words, the matter was settled. The Central Committee approved the proposal adopted at the National Rural Work Conference, supporting the development of agricultural production cooperatives. Next, it was time to review Wei Hongjun's proposed land reclamation report.

Wei Hongjun proposed that agricultural reclamation should not be a patchwork, but rather should be planned and developed in a unified and coordinated manner, with the establishment of a large-scale agricultural reclamation corps directly under the central government, which would become the most important pillar of Chinese agriculture. Of course, this was only a preliminary proposal.

Wei Hongjun proposed establishing large-scale agricultural reclamation bases in Xinjiang, Heilongjiang, Hainan, Suiyuan, Inner Mongolia, and Chahar. These bases would be used to support the development of agricultural technology.

Wei Hongjun hoped the Central Committee would approve the establishment of a Farmland Development Committee within the Rural Work Committee to survey the national situation and determine the locations of large-scale farmland development bases. The specific development of large-scale farmland reclamation corps would be discussed after the preliminary work was completed.

There was no objection to Wei Hongjun's proposal.

The Central Committee approved the establishment of the Agricultural Reclamation Development Committee under the Rural Work Committee and also approved the establishment of the Rural Work Policy Research Office.

830 Great Northern Wilderness

After the Fourth Session of the Seventh Central Committee, and after some adjustments, everyone's work became clearer.

The specific responsibilities of each leader are becoming increasingly clear, unlike the chaotic situation at the beginning of the People's Republic of China. After nearly two years of adjustment, the various ministries and commissions of the State Council have also made many adjustments.

The Ministry of Forestry and Reclamation was renamed the Ministry of Forestry, which was responsible for forestry management. All the reclamation work previously managed by the Ministry of Forestry, with the exception of forestry-related land reclamation such as forest farms, was transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture.

The agricultural reclamation is formally under the leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture.

Of course, agricultural reclamation primarily refers to arable land and, more importantly, food security. The rubber industry, which the central government is currently vigorously developing, including the South China Reclamation Bureau established for this purpose, is still under the leadership of the Ministry of Forestry.

Wei Hongjun holds many concurrent positions, but his current work is mainly divided into three categories.

One is the work of the Rural Work Committee, which is responsible for the overall management of rural work across the country. It is not just responsible for agriculture, but also for many aspects of rural work. The other is the work of the National Compilation Committee, which is currently mainly responsible for

It is responsible for the establishment of various departments across the country, cadre grading and salary plans, national party member and cadre personal property statistics, formulation of retired cadre benefits plans, archive management, etc.

The last one is the daily work handling of the State Council departments under my charge.

As for other posts held by Wei Hongjun, they have been gradually abolished. Of course, it is not the dismissal of Wei Hongjun's posts, but the direct dismissal of departments. After the Fourth Session of the Seventh Central Committee, the Central Committee formally decided to abolish the North China

Bureau and the North China Affairs Department, which completely solved the problems left over from history in North China.

Although the North China Bureau and the North China Affairs Department actually have no power and have basically become decorations, they are, after all, the local central bureaus and local regions. Therefore, the organization and staffing are still preserved.

The two departments were abolished this time, and the staff were dispersed, some of whom went to the central government and some to various provinces in North China.

The abolition of the North China Bureau and the North China Affairs Department this time is actually a signal.

The North China Bureau and the North China Affairs Department can be abolished, and then other local central bureaus and local administrative committees can also be gradually abolished. The central government is sending a signal to everyone that the mission of local central bureaus and local regions is to slowly

Slow end.

Then came the position in the North China Military Region.

Wei Hongjun is now the commander and political commissar of the North China Military Region, but he has less and less time to manage the affairs of the military region. Wei Hongjun wrote a report to the Military Commission, wanting to resign from his post in the North China Military Region. However, the Military Commission did not approve it.

The Central Committee currently has no intention of adjusting Wei Hongjun's position in the North China Military Region, because the Central Committee is preparing to adjust the military regions across the country.

But the central government is still considering how to make adjustments.

The General Staff submitted several plans, and the Central Committee has been considering them. After all, the Third Session of the Seventh Central Committee had just made adjustments, so the formal adjustments would not be made until after the Eighth National Congress. Therefore, the Central Committee meant that Wei Hongjun's

He would have to hold the post of commander of the North China Military Region for a while. After the Eighth National Congress, the national military regions would be adjusted, and Wei Hongjun would then give up his post in the North China Military Region.

After the National Rural Work Conference, Wei Hongjun established the Agricultural Reclamation Development Committee within the Rural Work Committee.

Wei Hongjun proposed that He Weizhong, currently serving as the Deputy Director of the Logistics Department and the Director of the Finance Department of the Southwest Military Region, be appointed as the Director of the Agricultural Reclamation Development Committee of the Rural Work Committee. Wei Hongjun named He Weizhong because He Weizhong is a famous

He is one of the famous designers and persons in charge of Nanniwan.

This is He Weizhong’s most brilliant political achievement.

Although Jin-Cha-Ji also launched a vigorous "big production" campaign, it was mainly focused on agriculture and animal husbandry. It was also relatively scattered and limited in scale, and was carried out by each unit on its own. Of course, there was another reason.

On the Rural Work Committee side, Wei Hongjun has already used a large number of former Jin-Cha-Ji cadres. It is impossible for all positions to come from Jin-Cha-Ji or North China. Wei Hongjun needs to be open to all parties and mobilize those with

Talented people.

Wei Hongjun attaches great importance to the experience of Nanniwan.

Because the development of Nanniwan at that time was not only about reclaiming wasteland for farming, but also developing supporting animal husbandry, industry and commerce, and the development in all aspects was very outstanding. Moreover, Nanniwan was a comprehensive development of nearly 300,000 mu, which was considered to be the

This was the first attempt at such large-scale agricultural reclamation, and it was relatively successful. The experience gained in land reclamation, the supporting development of animal husbandry and industry and commerce, and the financial experience of agricultural reclamation like Nanniwan are all invaluable.

That is why Wei Hongjun proposed that He Weizhong be appointed as the director of the Agricultural Reclamation Development Committee.

Wei Hongjun's proposal was passed smoothly.

The work of the He Weizhong Agricultural Reclamation Development Committee is to inspect various parts of the country and formulate agricultural reclamation development plans. Formulate various agricultural reclamation systems and provide decision-making basis for the Central Committee and the Rural Work Committee.

It was already the end of April 1950 when I arrived in Beijing.

After He Weizhong came to the Rural Work Committee, with the support of Wei Hongjun, he quickly mobilized cadres from various places to form the Agricultural Reclamation Development Committee.

He Weizhong came to the Northeast and northern Heilongjiang.

"Comrade He Weizhong, take a look. This is the Sanjiang Plain, a large plain formed by the confluence of the Heilongjiang, Wusuli, and Songhua rivers. At the end of the Anti-Japanese War, our troops began to establish a base in the Northeast.

There are already troops reclaiming land here. Comrade Xia Houwen, right?"

"Yes."

When Wei Hongjun came to the Northeast, he was accompanied by Xia Houwen, the second deputy secretary of the Northeast Bureau, Zhao Dezun, the secretary-general of the Northeast Bureau and Minister of the Northeast Rural Work Department, and some leaders of the Heilongjiang Provincial Party Committee.

Xia Houwen said: "When we first opened up the base in Northeast China, the local people were not familiar with us and it was difficult to open up the base. So our troops opened up the wasteland on their own. Later, Comrade Gao Gang and Zhang Wentian

Comrades were carrying out land reform in North Manchuria. In order to provide food for the troops, they chose to open up wasteland and build farms here. However, the scale was not large. The largest farm, Tongbei Mechanical Farm, had only about 100,000 acres of arable land. The farm's tractors,

The cars were all abandoned by Japanese pioneers."

"How big are all the farms here combined?"

"About 600,000 acres."

"How many acres does this whole area have?"

Xia Houwen did not answer directly. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Secretary Wei, we haven't calculated this yet. But judging from the map, this large area should be no less than 50 or 60 million mu, or even 70 or 80 million mu.

Wei Hongjun nodded.

He turned to He Weizhong and said, "Comrade He Weizhong, you have not only developed agricultural reclamation in Nanniwan, but you have also been responsible for this work in the southwest. You should understand that areas formed by river alluvial deposits are most suitable for farming.

This place has tens of millions of acres of land, but most of it is currently swamps, and there are also many woodlands. This is a natural agricultural reclamation base, but we have only reclaimed hundreds of thousands of acres of arable land, which is really a waste.

If we can create tens of millions of acres of fertile farmland here and turn it into our important granary, how many people can we feed and how much food can we provide to the country?

Wei Hongjun is about to start preparing to develop the Great Northern Wilderness.

But the development of agricultural reclamation on the scale of Beidahuang is not comparable to simple rural land reclamation. Agricultural reclamation on this scale requires consideration of many aspects.

That's not a simple matter.

Therefore, Wei Hongjun considered a lot when developing the Great Northern Wilderness.

Wei Hongjun established the Agricultural Reclamation Development Committee within the Rural Work Committee in order to develop agricultural reclamation in an orderly manner. The Great Northern Wilderness needed to be developed in a planned and step-by-step manner.

"Comrade He Weizhong, the next most important task for the Agricultural Reclamation Development Committee is here."

"Yes."

"Comrade Xia Houwen, your Northeast Bureau must support the work of the Agricultural Reclamation Development Committee."

"Do not worry."

Xiahou Wen nodded.

Zhao Dezun said from the side: "To develop agricultural reclamation here, it would be best to have agricultural machinery like tractors."

"Yes. We are negotiating with the Soviet Union to establish a tractor factory of our own."

Many state farms now want tractors.

But where are the tractors in China now? A small number of tractors were either imported from the Soviet Union or used by the Japanese. However, in order to change this situation, China and the Soviet Union have begun negotiations to establish the Chinese

Own tractor factory.

The State Council has already begun to consider where to build the tractor factory.

While Wei Hongjun was inspecting the Great Northern Wilderness and some farms here, someone from Jiamusi arrived. The Central Committee had sent a telegram to the Northeast Bureau, asking it to notify Wei Hongjun to end his trip in the Northeast and return to Beijing as soon as possible.

Because there was a war on the Korean Peninsula.

831 Prepare Yourself

Fighting broke out on the Korean Peninsula.