The Domestic and International Situation and the Condition of the Red Army[1]

(November 28, 1936)

Chiang Kai-shek still occupies a middle position. Toward Japan, he continues to seek compromise, though he has become considerably more resolute than before. Toward us, he strives with all his might to reduce the Soviet areas and strike at the Red Army, but has already found this difficult. He has permitted his subordinates, the Two Chens,[2] to negotiate with us. Pan Hannian has gone to Nanjing twice, but the distance remains very great, and it will not be easy to achieve results for a time. Our policy is, on the one hand, to generate a movement from among the people, from the anti-Chiang warlords, and from within the Kuomintang; on the other hand, for the Red Army to destroy Chiang’s forces—to work along both lines simultaneously and compel Chiang to compromise. The task of the Soviet areas and the Red Army is to persist in striking at Chiang, without the slightest relaxation.

[1] This is the main content of a telegram from Mao Zedong to Peng Dehuai.

[2] The Two Chens refer to Chen Guofu and Chen Lifu.