Final answer:
Mao Zedong believed that to win the war against the Nationalists, the Communists needed the support of the Chinese people, especially the peasantry, who were promised land redistribution and wealth equality.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Mao Zedong in his 1934 speech, for the Communists to win the war against the Nationalists, what was paramount was Option 2: The support of the Chinese people. This strategy was evident as Mao rallied the power of the peasantry, capitalizing on shared grievances against both the Nationalist government's shortcomings in resisting Japanese invasions and its destructive retreat strategies. Through his compelling oratory and promises of a government reflecting the will of the people, Mao attracted a significant following that grew from a few thousand survivors to over a million by the end of World War II.
Although military support from the Soviets and financial resources were important factors, Mao Zedong emphasized the decisive role of public support. He understood that the majority of landless and poor farmers sought hope and change that the Communist ideology appeared to offer, particularly with its promises of land redistribution and wealth equality.