Rebirth: I am in Jin-Cha-Ji

He said: "Secretary Wei, after the land reform in Huailai area, although the rural areas are thriving, the two problems I mentioned have become a big hidden danger, especially the problem of oxen and farm tools, which restricts the development of rural areas after the land reform. In the past, most of the land in rural areas was owned by rich peasants and landlords. As long as they had enough oxen and farm tools, there would be no such problem. Now that the land has been reformed, the land has been divided up piece by piece. The result is that even if the farm tools of the rich peasants and landlords are divided up, it is still not enough. Because every household has to farm, a lot more oxen and farm tools are needed. Later, I found that in some rural areas, several families cooperated to farm. Mainly I found it a good idea to rotate the use of oxen, as it allows for the most efficient allocation of resources. After land reform, everyone had land, but there were no longer the vast landholdings of wealthy landlords. So, a family only needed to use an ox for two days. If they didn't share it with others and only used it for their own use, it would be a waste. So, some people wanted to rent oxen from others. However, after land reform, people were a little sensitive to the word "rent." It felt like landlords renting land. So, several families came together to discuss and, under the guise of mutual assistance, share the use of oxen. Overall, it was still the same old model of renting oxen.

“Effective allocation of resources?”

"Yes."

Luo Weilin gave Wei Hongjun an example: "Secretary Wei, if a landlord had 200 mu of land, he could hire a dozen people to work it, and only use a dozen sets of farm tools. Or, to prevent damage, a family of more than 20 sets of farm tools would be enough. But after the land reform, these 200 mu of land were divided among 30 or 40 households.

After these families were allocated land, of course the whole family had to do farm work.

Then a lot more farm tools would be needed, perhaps hundreds of sets. So even if all the farm tools from the landlords were distributed during this land reform, it would still be far from enough.”

Wei Hongjun immediately wrote this sentence down.

Then he asked Luo Weilin, "Tell me, what used to take a dozen people now requires more than thirty, or even forty, fifty, or even a hundred people. Land reform changes production relations, but does this change in production relations promote productivity, or does it hinder it?"

"Secretary Wei, this is not the way to go."

"Oh?"

"Secretary Wei, I heard you're from a rural area in western Fujian, and you must have farmed as a child. The more carefully you care for the land, the higher the grain yield. In the past few years I've been working in rural areas, I've found that the more intensively cultivated the land, the higher the yield compared to less extensive land. Land reform has changed production relations and stimulated the enthusiasm of the vast majority of farmers for farming. They will surely carefully care for their land, and grain production will surely increase significantly. Therefore, land reform will definitely increase rural grain production. This is how changes in production relations drive the development of productivity."

Wei Hongjun nodded.

Luo Weilin was indeed diligent in his rural work. His family was actually a small landowner, but after years of rural work, he was very familiar with rural affairs. He was also the first cadre in the Hebei-Rehe-Chahar Military Region to distribute the property of rich peasants and landlords, including oxen and farm tools.

But Wei Hongjun still sighed and said, "We have too many farmers in China, but not much arable land. Even after the land reform, many poor peasants were allocated land. But the problem is still very serious. There are many farmers, but the amount of arable land is limited. With the advent of peace, the rural population will continue to increase, but the amount of arable land will remain the same. This is a contradiction that cannot be solved or avoided. Therefore, for the development of the rural economy, we still need to think of other ways. We should adapt to local conditions and develop agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry and fishery in an all-round way while focusing on grain according to actual conditions. Let's not talk about this. Continue to talk about the mutual aid group.

Wei Hongjun suddenly thought of the development of the rural economy.

But it's still a bit far-fetched to think about this issue.

So let’s bring the topic back.

Luo Weilin immediately said, "I've found the idea of ​​mutual aid groups to be really good. Resources can be allocated efficiently, and oxen and farm tools can be shared. So I tried to promote this idea in a few rural areas, but the situation was much worse than I expected. Those mutual aid groups were basically middle peasants looking for middle peasants, or even poor peasants who only looked for families with more labor. They excluded rich peasants and landlords, as well as families with the elderly, weak, women, and children who had lost their able-bodied labor. There was no benefit in forming mutual aid groups with them. Although the rich peasants and landlords had substantial wealth after the reform, and we didn't have a policy to completely deprive them of their political rights, their political rights had essentially been stripped away when they reached the local level. They were the targets of the current land reform, so middle peasants were reluctant to bring them along. Similarly, families with the elderly, weak, women, and children who lacked able-bodied labor would suffer if they formed mutual aid groups with them because no one would work."

Everyone has a selfish side, this cannot be denied.

Since mutual aid groups are about uniting people, you must have something compelling to attract them before they'll cooperate. The current situation of rich peasants and landlords is dire. After all, we're currently in the land reform phase. While policy doesn't specifically mandate the deprivation of their political rights, the reality is that they must be suppressed. Without suppressing them, how can we implement the land reform? Even those rich peasants and landlords who supported the Eighth Route Army or had family members in the People's Liberation Army should be taken care of. However, even with this support, they still need to be suppressed on a larger scale.

This is the general environment.

Wei Hongjun also supports it.

Changing the feudal land system in rural areas would only harm the rich peasants and landlords, so how could they possibly accept it? Even the enlightened gentry would be the same. Asking them to give up their land would be like cutting into their flesh.

Even if there wasn't too much bloodshed, the rich peasants and landlords couldn't be allowed to become arrogant. Only by beating them down would the poor peasants and hired farmers believe that the CCP really wanted land reform, and only then would they actively participate.

At this time, the middle peasants must avoid the rich peasants and landlords.

I'm afraid of getting involved with them.

The elderly, the weak, the women and the elderly have nothing, and if anyone gets sick and wants to join a mutual aid group with you, they will become a drag on the group.

"Doesn't the government take care of some military families and martyrs' families?"

Luo Weilin shook his head.

He sighed and said, "There is care for the families of soldiers and martyrs. But the government's care can only support one person at most, plus the children's schooling. However, many families of soldiers and martyrs have elderly people, wives, and children. The government's care alone is not enough for the whole family to eat and wear. They all got land during the land reform, which was originally a good thing. But even though they have land, their families are full of elderly, weak women and children, and they can't farm. No matter how hard they try, they can't farm as well as others."

"They didn't sublease the land to someone else?"

"Everyone is wary of this now. Not only is no one renting land to others, but others don't dare to rent other people's land casually. Moreover, the government at least provides some care for the families of soldiers and martyrs, but those families who lost their young and strong laborers in the war have nothing. For them, the land distribution during the land reform is a good thing. But what comes next is also a big problem. My purpose in promoting mutual aid groups in some rural areas is, on the one hand, to reasonably allocate limited rural resources and make them play their greatest role, and on the other hand, to take care of the elderly, the weak, women and children. But if there is only cooperation between middle peasants, then what is the point of this mutual aid group?

Chapter 683 Small Group 3

Wei Hongjun listened to what Luo Weilin said very carefully.

Many historical events don't happen by chance, nor are they the product of some leader's impulsive thinking. Many of these events have a clear path. For example, the mutual aid groups and small collectives that emerged in the old liberated areas before liberation were not accidental. They were choices made by grassroots cadres, including the farmers themselves, based on the actual conditions in the countryside after land reform.

Luo Weilin is an outstanding grassroots cadre and also an outstanding rural cadre.

Wei Hongjun felt this.

He has a very valuable quality, which is that he does not disobey his superiors.

He even managed to make some modifications to the "Shengxian Experience," personally developed and summarized by his immediate superior, Wei Hongjun. In China, a country with a millennium-old tradition of official-centered ideology, even the Communist Party of China is deeply influenced by this traditional culture. Therefore, cadres like Luo Weilin are truly rare and valuable.

He also possessed an exceptional ability to identify problems, the courage to act, and the ability to handle them. Wei Hongjun himself hadn't anticipated that a cadre as capable and ethical as Luo Weilin would emerge from the rural training center he had run in Sheng County. Luo Weilin had always been a disciplined worker, so Wei Hongjun hadn't previously noticed him.

So Wei Hongjun asked: "Since the mutual aid group has so many problems, have you thought of any solutions?

"Secretary Wei, my method is to stuff rich peasants, landlords, the elderly, the weak, and women into each mutual aid group. Let those mutual aid groups include rich peasants, landlords, the elderly, the weak, and women's families.

"It's a good idea, but how can you get the mutual aid groups to accept it? Even if you force them to do something, it won't work if you force it.

There will still be many problems within the mutual aid group by then.

"Currently, the most in-demand tools in rural areas are oxen and farm tools. Allowing rich peasants and landlords to join these mutual aid groups is beneficial for both sides. During the current land reform, rich peasants and landlords have had their political rights stripped away, preventing them from participating in many activities. Even the current rural public events have excluded them from participating. Many rich peasants and landlords are currently feeling anxious, fearing further repression through our policies. Our land reform work team is allowing them to join these mutual aid groups, which, in a sense, is restoring their political rights and allowing them to gradually participate in rural affairs. For these rich peasants and landlords, allowing them to join mutual aid groups can ease their worries, something they desperately need at this stage. Our land reform work team is asking them to contribute funds, either by purchasing oxen or farm tools to join the mutual aid groups. These rich peasants and landlords, bringing their oxen and farm tools, are naturally welcomed by the members of the mutual aid groups."

Wei Hongjun couldn't help but glance at Luo Weilin.

I looked up to Luo Weilin again in my heart.

Luo Weilin was asking the rich peasants and landlords to buy their safety, or rather, to pay for the opportunity to participate in rural activities. Luo Weilin looked honest and sincere, but he was very resourceful and not a cadre who was bound by rules and regulations.

Dividing the rich peasants' oxen and farm tools was definitely not as simple as Luo Weilin had suggested. Many people would inevitably demand a share of the rich peasants' and landlords' property. Although Luo Weilin didn't agree, he frightened the rich peasants and landlords. He then proceeded to insert the rich peasants and landlords into the mutual aid groups, but there were conditions for their joining.

To put it bluntly, Luo Weilin used the vast number of poor peasants and hired farmers to scare the rich peasants and landlords and then forced them to spend money to avoid disaster, making them spend money to buy safety because after they brought oxen or farm tools into the mutual aid group, the mutual aid group would protect them.

These rich peasants and landlords were not only given means of production such as oxen and farm tools, but also had to buy their own safety. However, when faced with the aggressive poor peasants, they turned around and spoke well of Luo Weilin.

Luo Weilin quietly knocked on the landlords who came with him and redistributed their property.

This is truly a very capable and skillful cadre.

Wei Hongjun likes such cadres.

Not only obey the superiors, but also have their own ideas and are able to do their best within the scope permitted by policies.

"What about the elderly, the weak, the women, and the elderly? They have nothing but farmland. If they join, will the people in the mutual aid group be willing? Even if your land reform work team forces them to accept, they will still be discriminated against and oppressed after joining the mutual aid group."

Luo Weilin replied, "Secretary Wei, the mutual aid group doesn't distribute things equally. Whoever contributes the most, whoever works the hardest, gets the most. They don't want the elderly, weak, and women involved, mainly because they don't want to be criticized. Besides working the land, the elderly, weak, and women can't contribute much. In the end, they'll definitely get very little, which would easily lead to backstabbing, as if the mutual aid group members are ganging up on them. So they don't want to bring them along. But they do have farmland, and for them, more farmland is a good thing. Especially since we promised them that if they let Elder Guzhen join, they'd get a certain amount of grain tax exemption."

“After joining the mutual aid group, the lives of the elderly, the weak, women and mothers will be guaranteed?

"Generally speaking, there won't be any problems. It's much better than having no strong laborers in their own households and not being able to farm well. After joining the mutual aid group, the food they get can basically meet their food rations. And the best thing about this mutual aid group is that they can work together to finish the farm work as soon as possible. The extra time can be used to do other things. I think the comprehensive development of agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry and fishery that Secretary Wei just mentioned is very suitable for this kind of mutual aid group. If there were no mutual aid groups, those farmers who lacked means of production such as oxen and farm tools would not have enough time to farm, let alone develop other industries. As for the lives of the elderly and women, they would become very difficult, and even having food would become a problem. With the mutual aid group, there would be a lot of extra time after finishing the farm work. In this way, the mutual aid group can be organized to do other things. Developing water conservancy projects, building roads and bridges, and developing other industries are all possible.

"Ah."

Wei Hongjun is thinking about this mutual aid group, small collective model.

I thought about it for a while.

"How is this kind of mutual aid group distributed within the system? Who is responsible for distribution? Who guarantees fairness?"

This is the biggest problem when there are too many people.

Luo Weilin said, "At this stage, it's mainly spontaneous. The most we can do is guide them to join mutual aid societies. Our work team will review the terms of the mutual aid societies, but they will ultimately formulate their own decisions."

Wei Hongjun nodded.

A small spontaneous group.

But even though it's said to be spontaneous, once it reaches a certain scale, it's no longer spontaneous. It becomes mixed with a lot of compulsion and so on.

Wei Hongjun thought carefully.

The emergence of rural collective economy initially stemmed from a shortage of oxen and farm tools, as well as concerns about providing for the elderly, the weak, women, and children. However, numerous problems subsequently arose. Wei Hongjun pondered this and said, "We are only in the early stages of land reform, and various problems will inevitably arise. In other words, our land reform is only the beginning; we are just beginning to transform rural production relations. However, we must continuously adjust production relations according to changing rural conditions, making them more adaptable to rural productivity. Of course, in addition to developing rural productivity, we must also consider rural families with the elderly, the weak, women, and children who have lost their able-bodied labor force. Small collectives based on the mutual aid society model can be tried and see how effective they are. Comrade Weilin, I hope you will carefully observe the performance of these small collectives. How have the participation of rich peasants and landlords benefited the mutual aid societies? How have the lives of rural families with the elderly, the weak, women, and children improved since they joined the mutual aid societies? I want accurate data, not general descriptions. Do you understand me?"

"Yes."

Luo Weilin was very happy.

Because he saw Wei Hongjun's attitude. Wei Hongjun not only did not blame him, but listened to him carefully and finally supported his idea.

Wei Hongjun thought about it.

Said: "Comrade Weilin, I have another thing I want to entrust to you.

"Secretary Wei, please speak."

"Listening to your words today has given me a lot of thoughts. As I said before, the current situation in rural areas is full of problems, which need to be solved one by one. However, how to solve these problems requires us to slowly find solutions, and not think that a certain method can solve these problems once and for all. There is a shortage of oxen and farm tools, and many families have lost their young and middle-aged people. We really need to consider and make overall arrangements for these. We can't completely ignore those families who have lost their labor force. I suggest you conduct a large-scale collective experiment in several rural areas in Huailai with a good mass base.

“A large group experiment?

Luo Weilin was puzzled.

He looked at Wei Hongjun. Wei Hongjun said, "Our land reform policy is very good, but the situations of different families are becoming increasingly polarized. In particular, the lives of the elderly, the weak, women, and children in rural areas will become increasingly difficult. So I'm wondering if we can change the model of mutual aid societies with a few households to a large collective model with one mutual aid society per village. A village's income would be divided into basic grain and labor grain. After paying the public grain, a village would retain seeds and feed, and establish a granary to store some grain.

The remaining grain was distributed to farmers according to the basic grain and labor grain. Basic grain was earned by completing a certain amount of labor and was considered basic food. Therefore, this basic grain had to be distributed because it was essential for survival. As for labor grain, whoever worked the most received more. By joining together, farmers could coordinate the use of oxen and farm tools, and even purchase more of them. They could also provide care for the elderly, the weak, and women.

Luo Weilin noted Wei Hongjun's words. Wei Hongjun held a high prestige within the Hebei-Rehe-Chahar Military Region. Many of the strategies Wei Hongjun had formulated since the beginning of the War of Resistance were forward-looking, and history had proven their correctness. He even submitted several suggestions to the Central Committee, which were adopted by the Central Committee.

Therefore, Luo Weilin and others are very convinced of Wei Hongjun. They believe in Wei Hongjun's ability and his judgment.

Now Wei Hongjun is going to conduct another experiment, and Luo Weilin certainly takes it very seriously.

It would be amazing if we could create another Shengxian experience.

"Of course, there are many other reasons why I proposed the large collective model. Let's talk about the issue of hospitals and schools. Although we hope that all parts of the country, including rural areas, will have hospitals and schools. But from the current actual situation, this is just a beautiful dream. With our current financial resources and talent reserves, even if the revolution is victorious and New China is founded, we will not be able to accomplish these for a long time. With the current reserves of doctors and teachers, as well as the financial strength of the government, it will be very difficult for hospitals and schools to be popularized in the districts within the next ten years. If rural areas want to have hospitals and schools, they can't rely on the government in the short term. So what should be done? The only way is for the rural areas to solve this problem themselves.

Although there have been various criticisms of rural collectivization in later generations.

But rural collectivization wasn't just something conceived out of thin air. Rather, it was a strategic move tailored to the development of the time, specifically to China's overall development. China's rural collectivization differed significantly from that of the Soviet Union. It should be said that China's rural collectivization made significant contributions to the early years of the People's Republic of China.

Of course, due to lack of experience, China's rural collectivization also took many detours.

Wei Hongjun continued, "After the large collective model was implemented, villages could establish their own health clinics and primary schools. Compared to waiting for government support, rural collectives can solve these problems more quickly."

Luo Weilin nodded repeatedly.

He also thought that he was the first to discover the mutual aid group model.

I didn't expect Wei Hongjun to have thought of this. Luo Weilin had been sketching out a new rural model in his mind.

"But this is just my idea. There are still many issues to be resolved. For example, what is the appropriate ratio between basic rations and labor rations? If the basic rations are too high and the labor rations are low, then the payouts will be similar regardless of how much work you do, and no one will be willing to work. But if the basic rations are too low, many families lacking labor will be left to fend for themselves, which is not the point of establishing mutual aid groups or large collectives. So, determining the right ratio between basic rations and labor rations is something you'll have to discover through practice. What we need is basic rations that will ensure everyone doesn't starve to death. And the labor rations must be sufficient, so people understand what it means to become rich through hard work. We're currently in the New Democratic Revolution, not the CCP era, so we can't distribute according to need; we still need to distribute according to work. Only in this way can we stimulate farmers' enthusiasm for work. With a clear division of labor, basic rations will ensure farmers' basic needs, while labor rations will inspire enthusiasm. Many of our rural areas have limited arable land, and we don't actually need that much rural labor. We can then mobilize our farmers to build water conservancy projects and then develop forestry, animal husbandry, and fisheries according to local conditions to enrich our rural economies."

Luo Weilin carefully wrote down Wei Hongjun's words.

After Wei Hongjun finished speaking, he said, "Secretary Wei, I understand what you mean. But I need to go back and think about the specific situation and discuss it with other cadres. I will report to you once I have a more detailed plan."

“There’s no rush for this.

Wei Hongjun shook his head.

He said: "This kind of thing cannot be concluded in one or two months. It takes two to three years, or even longer years of practice to reach a conclusion. So what you have to do is to mobilize more rural areas to carry out practice. Make different ratios of basic grain and labor grain to see which ratio is the most appropriate. It will not damage the farmers' enthusiasm for work and can also take care of the lives of the elderly, weak, women and girls in rural areas. Of course, according to my idea, although basic grain is life-saving food, it is to prevent people from starving to death. But the proportion of basic grain should still be slightly lower, and the proportion of labor grain should be increased. As for some elderly, weak, women and girls who really lack labor, they can be taken care of in another way. Just like in the village, they can give them some subsidies every year. In the future, I will We will report this to the central government again, hoping that local authorities will cooperate and introduce policies to subsidize them. Instead of simply taking care of them, the basic grain ratio is too high. This will severely undermine farmers' enthusiasm for work. First, test the collective model in a few rural areas to see if it works. If there are indeed many problems, you can terminate it. But if it works well, then expand it to more villages and record the actual results. Later, conduct trials in other counties, and even not just in Huailai, but throughout Jincha. Then, obtain the most accurate data. I want data, not general descriptions. Accurate data will be of great help in future national agricultural policies.

"Secretary Wei, I will definitely do this work seriously."