Telegram on the Discussions of Political, Military, and Other Issues at the Meeting of the Central Political Bureau[1]

(March 28, 1936)

Lin and Nie, Xu and Cheng, and for information to Zhu and Guo:

A. The meeting of the Central Political Bureau has concluded. The three issues of politics, military affairs, and foreign affairs were fully discussed. The comrades attending the meeting express profound solicitude for and congratulations to the chiefs of all army corps of the Front Army and all commanders and fighters on their heroic combat and the great victory in expanding the Red Army.

B. On the political issue, an analysis was made of the current situation in North China, and it was decided that striving for a rapid prosecution of the war against Japan is the important task of the Party and the Red Army.

C. On the military issue, the proposals of the Military Council were approved:

1. Under the policy of striving for a rapid prosecution of the war against Japan, the basic strategic policy for the first period shall be to operate in Shanxi. Under this policy, operational leaps into the three provinces of Hebei, Henan, and Suiyuan[2] for combat are permissible.

[1] This is a telegram from Mao Zedong and Peng Dehuai, Commander of the First Front Army of the Red Army, to Lin Biao, Corps Commander of the First Army Corps of the First Front Army, Nie Rongzhen, Political Commissar, Zhu Rui, Director of the Political Department, and Xu Haidong, Corps Commander of the Fifteenth Army Corps, Cheng Zihua, Political Commissar, and Guo Shushen, Director of the Political Department. From March 20 to 27, 1936, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China held an enlarged meeting in the western Shanxi region to convey the resolutions of the Seventh Congress of the Communist International, analyze the international and domestic situation, discuss issues of politics, military affairs, and the development of the anti-Japanese united front, and determine the strategic policy of striving for a rapid prosecution of the war against Japan and seeking consolidation through development.

[2] Suiyuan, name of an old province, encompassing the central region of the present-day Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, abolished in 1954.

2. The principle of seeking consolidation through development was decided upon. At present, the tasks are to universally destroy the reactionary foundation, universally mobilize the masses, vigorously expand the Red Army, and destroy the enemy piecemeal.

3. Expand the Red Army by 36,000 before the October Revolution Day, with the front undertaking 30,000, striving to exceed this number.

4. Complete the organization of three armies, nine divisions, and twenty-seven regiments within four months, with each regiment having 750 men.

5. Complete the organization of four local Red armies within three months, with each army having 1,500 men.

6. Develop guerrilla warfare in Shaanxi-Gansu and the five provinces of North China.

7. Raise the political and military levels of Red Army cadres, ensuring excellent and firm leadership in the Red Army's warfare.

8. Political work shall ensure the unity and solidarity of the Red Army.

Peng and Mao
28th, 01:00 hours