Reply to Liu Ding[1]

(May 7, 1936)

It is extremely necessary to hold talks again. Please ask Zhang Xueliang to decide the time, the sooner the better.

The topics for discussion are: (1) Zhang Xueliang’s political, military, and economic issues; (2) the issue of establishing a united front with the seven forces of Yang Hucheng, Yan Xishan, Ma Hongkui, Deng Baoshan, Sheng Shicai, Wang Jun[2], and Mao Bingwen; (3) the issue of the future course of action for the Northeastern Army and the Red Army.

[1] Liu Ding was then assigned by the Chinese Communist Party to carry out liaison work between the Red Army and the Northeastern Army. In a telegram of May 4, Liu Ding reported that, upon learning here that the Red Army had crossed westward, Zhang Xueliang requested an early meeting with Zhou Enlai for discussions. This is the main content of the reply telegram from Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, and Peng Dehuai to Liu Ding for immediate transmission to Zhang Xueliang and Wang Yizhe.

[2] Sheng Shicai was then serving as the Border Defense Commissioner of Xinjiang Province under the Kuomintang. Wang Jun was then serving as Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the First Route Army and concurrently Commander of the First Column and Commander of the Third Army of the Kuomintang’s Northwestern “Bandit Suppression” General Headquarters.