Red Army
Mao Zedong
Zhu De
Telegram from Mao Zedong and
Peng Dehuai to Wang Yizhe and
Zhang Xueliang
(April 6, 1936, at noon)¹
1. The representatives of our humble side, Comrade Zhou and Li Kenong,2
will arrive at Fushi³ on the 8th, to meet with Mr. Zhang Xueliang and discuss
matters of vital importance concerning national salvation. They are scheduled to
set out from Wayaobao on the 7th, and arrive before 6:00 P.M. on the 8th at
Chuankou, 20 li east of the town of Fushi, in the expectation that Mr. Zhang
Xueliang will send people to Chuankou to guide them into the city. As regards
their security after entering the city, Mr. Zhang is kindly requested to make
suitable arrangements.


2. Our humble side makes the following proposal regarding the issues to be
discussed by the two parties:
a. The question of the cessation of all civil war, and of all armies in the
country, Red or White, uniting as one to resist Japan and save the
nation.
b. The question of the Red Army from the whole country concentrating its
forces in Hebei to resist the advance of Japanese imperialism.
c. The question of concrete steps towards organizing a government of
national defense and a united anti-Japanese army, and their political
programs.
d. The question of forming an alliance with the Soviet Union, and of selecting representatives to send to Moscow.


We have translated this telegram from Dierci guogong hezuode xingcheng, p. 92, where it
is reproduced from the original document in the Central Archives. It can also be found in
slightly different form in Mao Zedong ji. Bujuan, Vol. 4, p. 273.

--- Notes

1. The Chinese character used to indicate the hour means between 11 A.M. and 1 P.M.

2. Li Kenong (1899–1962), a native of Anhui, had joined the Chinese Communist
Party in 1926, and had played an important role in security and intelligence matters since
1928. After participating in the Long March, he became head of the Liaison Bureau of
the Central Committee, and it was no doubt in this capacity that he accompanied Zhou
Enlai on his visit to Yan'an. As indicated above in the Introduction, he was the only
Communist participant in the talks of April 9, 1936, with Zhang Xueliang and Wang
Yizhe, apart from Zhou himself. Li also served as secretary general of the Chinese
Communist Party delegation sent to negotiate with Chiang Kaishek at the time of the
Xi'an Incident.

3. Fushi was the old name for Yan'an.