To Sun Yat-sen[1]

(June 25, 1923)

We must not follow the same policy of the feudal warlords in seizing political power and capturing territory by armed force, for this would give people the impression that we and the warlords are cast in the same mould. To build a new China with old methods and old armies is not only illogical but absolutely impracticable in practice. The old armies have forces ten times as large as ours, and we can only use new methods, adopt new policies and build up new strength. As for the citizens, we should unite with the merchants, students, peasants and workers and guide them under the Party's banner. A new army built up from among the people will defend the Republic with new methods and a new spirit of friendship.

We ask you, sir, to leave Canton and go to Shanghai, the centre of public opinion, and convene a national assembly there (as you have expounded in the "Constitution of Three Powers", not limited to mass demonstrations). In this way, a centralized army to solve the national problems can be built up, a centralized army of the national revolution can be built up. If we do this, we will not lose our leading position in the national revolutionary movement.

[1] On June 25, 1923, Mao Zedong, Chen Duxiu, Li Dazhao, Cai Hesen, and Tan Pingshan, in their capacity as members of the Kuomintang, wrote to Sun Yat-sen, suggesting that the Kuomintang "establish a strong executive committee in Shanghai or Guangzhou, with a view to jointly promoting the activities of Party members and carrying out extensive propaganda." This is the main content of the letter.