Conversation with Liu Xiao and He Changgong[1]

(June 1934)

We should take advantage of this favorable opportunity and exploit the infighting among the enemy to develop and strengthen our own forces. We must not only know how to "keep the enemy out of our national territory" through deadly and relentless combat, but also make use of the contradictions among the reactionaries and intensify our united front work. On the one hand, we must rely on the masses, mobilize them, organize guerrilla units, and wage guerrilla warfare; on the other hand, we may send additional small squads in disguise to infiltrate the areas under Chen Jitang's control to propagate the principles of resisting Japan and saving the nation and of directing our guns against the common enemy, so as to prompt Chen's troops to oppose Chiang Kai-shek and resist Japan. In light of the situation at the front, we may pull back the troops from the Junmenling area for reorganization and training, thereby easing the situation at the front and building up our forces in preparation for unforeseen circumstances.

[1] This is part of Mao Zedong's conversation with Liu Xiao, Secretary of the Guangdong-Jiangxi Provincial Party Committee, and He Changgong, Commander and concurrently Political Commissar of the Military Region, upon his return to Wenwuba after conducting investigations in Zhantang and other places.