Lin Piao

Lin Piao had been a fine tactician in his early army days. But politically he often vacillated and feared for the success of the revolution. Van Ginneken quotes from a letter Mao wrote to Lin in 1930 to counter his pessimism:

"Pessimism is the world outlook of the declining landlord and capitalist classes. Those who cling to such an outlook always overestimate the strength of the people. They never have faith in the masses and do not rely on them, and they do not have faith in or rely on the Party. When they meet temporary difficulties or when the revolution is at a low ebb, they waver, run away, become traitors or resort to adventurism and putschism. When the revolution advances smoothly or is at a high tide, they often take an ultra - 'Left' stand, regard all successes as their own and push a reactionary line that is ultra 'Left' or 'Left' in form but Right in essence. Persons clinging to this reactionary world outlook will inevitably set themselves against the masses, keep back the tide of history and become reactionaries vainly trying to stop the earth from rotating". (The letter has become famous under the title "A Single Spark can start a Praire Fire").

Lin voted against Mao at the Party meeting in 1935 where he was elected to lead the Party.