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Mao: The Unknown StoryThe Reds had been in some frontal engagements during the Japan war, but mostly against weak Nationalist units. They had not faced the cream of ChiangБЂ™s forces, who, as one top Red commander wrote to Mao, were fresh, well-trained, БЂњUS-style troops,БЂ«and battle-ready. The CCP troops were not only badly trained, but also poorly motivated. After the Japanese war, many just wanted peace. The Reds had been using a propaganda song called БЂњDefeat Japan so we can go home.БЂ«After JapanБЂ™s surrender, the song was quietly banned, but the sentiment БЂ” letБЂ™s go home БЂ” could not be quenched as easily as the song. When Red troops were marched to Manchuria, mainly from Shandong, pep talks focused not on high ideals but on material enticements. Commissar Chen Yi told officers: БЂњWhen I left Yenan, Chairman Mao asked me to tell you that you are going to a good place, a place of great fun. There are electric lights and high-rises, and gold and silver in plenty БЂ¦БЂ«Others told their subordinates: БЂњIn Manchuria weБЂ™ll be eating rice and white flour [desirable foods] all the time,БЂ«and БЂњeveryone will be given a promotion.БЂ«Even so some officers found it impossible to motivate the soldiers, and kept the destination secret until the troops were safely on board ship en route to Manchuria ...» | Код для вставки книги в блог HTML
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