Mao was a revolutionary, not a general. The early victories by the Communists in the Chinese Civil War were not due to Mao's strategy but rather that of Zhou Enlai, who would eventually dominate the CPC's foreign policy. Mao prized guerrilla warfare, which was suitable for being a thorn, but unable to actually take and hold significant territory. In addition, he was defeated several times by the KMT in their encirclement campaigns and forced to retreat to Shaanxi province in the deep hinterlands of China. His main saving grace was the Japanese incursions into China which relieved the pressure on Mao's forces.

During the war, the major Communist success was the Hundred Regiments campaign, which was a large scale operation commanded by Peng Dehuai, one of Mao's generals who would eventually become one of the top military officials in his regime, including being the commander of the Chinese intervention in North Korea which decisively undid all UN gains in North Korea. Mao had virtually nothing to do with the planning or execution of the operation. Similarly, Lin Biao, another CPC general, was responsible for the victories in the post-WWII Civil War that set the stage for the eventual Communist triumph.

Amusingly enough, both Peng and Lin Biao were criticized for being traitors to Mao and the CPC subsequently after.