To Wang Yizhe
(August 1936)

For your honorable inspection, Army Commander Dingfang:

As the invasion of the Japanese bandits becomes more and more intense, it
would be well for your side and ours to intensify our preparations for national
salvation so as to be of the greatest benefit to the national salvation front. Since
you, elder brother, have always shown great foresight, I trust that you are of the
same mind. At present the international and domestic situations are getting
tenser. On the one hand, the aggressors have mobilized their invading fronts, and
on the other, the anti-aggressor forces have mobilized the broad popular masses
to form a front for peace and national salvation. Although the forces of the
Chinese traitors are increasing day by day (for example, the faction that talks
about using Japan to deal with Chiang, using the government to deal with the
party, and using the regiments to deal with the army), the forces opposed to
Japan and to the Chinese traitors have also gained strength. Several new changes
in Mr. Chiang's policies and the beginnings of the formation of a Left faction
within the Nanjing Guomindang are some of the most recent encouraging developments. If Mr. Chiang and the Guomindang can resolutely cast aside their past
policies, restore Mr. Sun Yatsen's three policies of uniting with the Soviet
Union, the Communists, and the peasants and workers, stop attacking the Red
Army, and lift the ban on other parties and factions, your younger brother and
the rest of us are eager to cooperate with them and jointly shoulder the great task
of fighting Japan and saving the nation. Negotiations between our two sides are
now about to enter a more concrete stage, and even though it is not known when
this will be accomplished, the hope is there. If this can truly be accomplished, it
will naturally be of enormous benefit to the cooperation between our two sides.

Rumor has it of late that Mr. Chiang will attack the Northeastern Army after
the Southwest problem is solved, and it is said that he will use the policy of
provoking splits, which would be unfavorable to Deputy Commander-in-Chief
Zhang [Xueliang]. If this is indeed true, it means that Chiang has not given up his
insidious policies of dissension and eliminating dissidents. If his policy is actually
carried out, your younger brother and the rest of us dare say with assurance that
Mr. Chiang will face ultimate failure, because Deputy Commander-in-Chief
Zhang's and your advocacy of uniting with the Soviet Union and the

We have translated this letter from Mao Zedong shuxin xuanji, pp. 49-51, where it is
reproduced from a copy in the Central Archives.

Communists and fighting Japan is not the proposition of a handful of people, but
is, rather, one supported by all patriotic people of the entire nation; it is not the
insincere and impure proposition of Chen Jitang and others, but rather one that is
sincerely in the interests of our country and the nation. If anyone opposes Deputy
Commander-in-Chief Zhang and you, my elder brother, not only will the Red
Army under our command give their all in denouncing the criminal actions of
Mr. Chiang and the rebel elements within the Northeastern Army, but all patriotic people throughout the country and international revolutionary forces will
staunchly refuse to tolerate the outrageous acts of Mr. Chiang and others. As for
the determination of the great majority of Northeastern Army officers and soldiers to fight Japan and to recover our territories, and their solid organization,
these too will by no means allow the few elements without integrity do what they
intend to do and let them commit the extremely vicious and selfish acts of
betraying their country, their native place, and their units. At present Chiang and
his faction have also begun the policy of uniting with the Soviet Union and the
Communists. You, my elder brother, along with Deputy Commander-in-Chief
Zhang, were actually the original advocates and implementors of this policy, so
how could you reject it, considering it at fault?¹ In regard to this, your younger
brother sincerely hopes it is merely rumor, or the conspiracy of a few Chinese
traitors surrounding Chiang, and not the opinion held by Mr. Chiang and the
majority of people of conscience within the Guomindang, all of whom have just
begun to make various changes. But you would do well to remain strictly vigilant, to solidify unity within your own group, to prevent some evil-intentioned
elements in the Northeastern group from stirring up trouble, and then, given the
favorable situation in the whole country and the Northwest, plus the combined
strength of the Northeastern Army and the Red Army, there will be no reason to
fear any external disturbances. The autumn winds are fierce; please take care of
yourself for the sake of the nation. I have expressed myself in haste herein.

Respectfully wishing you all the best in
your affairs,

Mao Zedong

1. As noted above in the Introduction, Wang Yizhe participated in Zhang Xueliang's
conversations of April 1936 with Zhou Enlai, which constituted the first formal contacts
between the Communists and the Northeastern Army.