The Red Army and the Troops of Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng Should Advance and Retreat Together[1]

(January 30, 1937)

Zhou, Bo, Luo, Wang, Peng, Ren[2]:

Our opinions are as follows:

A. Peace is our basic policy, and it is also the basic policy of Zhang and Yang.[3]

B. However, we and Zhang and Yang form a trinity, advancing together when advancing and retreating together when retreating. We must not act alone and lose Zhang and Yang.

C. Express to the two units of Zhang and Yang that we will always stand together with them. Before they agree to withdraw the troops, we will not act independently, and we will assist them in striving for more favorable conditions.

D. Use the above attitude to strive for final peace.

Mao, Zhu, Zhang

30th, 24:00

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[1] This was a telegram from Mao Zedong, Zhu De, and Zhang Guotao, General Political Commissar of the Red Army, to Zhou Enlai, Bo Gu (Qin Bangxian), and others, who were sent by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China as representatives to Xi'an.

[2] Luo refers to Luofu, i.e., Zhang Wentian, who was then in Xi'an. Wang refers to Wang Jiaxiang, who was then Director of the General Political Department of the Red Army. Peng and Ren refer to Peng Dehuai and Ren Bishi, who were then respectively Commander-in-Chief of the Red Army's Front Forces and Political Commissar.

[3] Zhang and Yang refer to Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng.