To Peng Dehuai and for Transmission to Lin Biao[1]

(December 21, 1935)

Under the circumstances of Japan’s encroachment and occupation of North China, guerrilla warfare in southern Shaanxi cannot be elevated to a position more important than guerrilla warfare in places such as northern Shaanxi; in reality, the latter is more important. In particular, guerrilla warfare must not be elevated to a position that appears even more important than the main force of the Red Army (for instance, proposing that key cadres of the Red Army be assigned to guerrilla warfare). Such a formulation is inappropriate. Lin’s views on certain issues diverge somewhat from ours, and the Central Committee deems it necessary to explain this to him face to face. At present, the military situation at the front is not tense; therefore, we still hope that Lin will come to the Central Committee for a visit and stay here for a period of time. This will be beneficial to Lin.

[1] This is the main content of the telegram sent by Mao Zedong and Luo Fu (Zhang Wentian) to Peng Dehuai and for transmission to Lin Biao. According to *The Memoirs of Nie Rongzhen*: “Before the convening of the Wayaobao Conference by the Political Bureau of the Central Committee, opinions on strategic issues were solicited from leading cadres of the army corps. In a letter, Lin Biao formally proposed to the Central Committee that he go to southern Shaanxi to conduct guerrilla warfare, stating that this was more important than consolidating and expanding the base areas in northern Shaanxi, and further requested that key cadres of the Red Army be transferred out and led by him to conduct guerrilla warfare in southern Shaanxi.”