Reply to Xu Xiangqian and Others[1]

(November 18, 1936)

If the eastern area is prematurely occupied by Mao Bingwen, the Red Army’s room for maneuver will be narrow and disadvantageous. In our opinion, stay in the present area for a period, using one part to control the strategic passes of Gulang, keeping Mao Bingwen at a distance. At the same time, intensify military training, restore physical strength, examine political work, teach every commander and fighter how to conduct mass work, establish good relations with the people, strictly rectify political discipline, and set up accounting and supply systems, so that when later meeting comrades from afar, everything will take on a fresh and new appearance.

From Suzhou[2] to Anxi there are eight days of bad roads, sparsely populated; Anxi is also desolate and remote, and in the future only one part can go there.

[1] This is the main content of a telegram from Mao Zedong and Luo Fu (Zhang Wentian) and Zhou Enlai in reply to Xu Xiangqian and Chen Changhao, with information sent to Zhu De and Zhang Guotao.

[2] Suzhou refers to Jiuquan.