(July 13, 1937)
To defend Beiping and Tianjin, to defend North China, to defend the whole
country, and to fight resolutely to the end against Japanese imperialism—this is
now the basic orientation in our fight against Japan. The method for putting this
orientation into practice is to mobilize and make efforts in all respects. Any
vacillation, wavering, passivity, and failure to make an effort will not do at all.

Mao Zedong

Our source for this text is Mao Zedong ji, Vol. 5, p. 235, where it is reproduced from a
collection published in Yan'an in 1938.
1. The time of dispatch of this telegram is indicated by a character signifying from
9:00 to 11:00 P.M.
2. Regarding Song Zheyuan, see above, the note to Mao's letter of August 14, 1936.
Zhang Zizhong (1891-1940), a native of Shandong and a lieutenant general in the
Guomindang army, was at this time mayor of Tianjin. Liu Ruming was chairman of the
Chahar provincial government, and commander of the 143rd Division of the Guomindang
Twenty-ninth Army, stationed in Zhangjiakou. Feng Zhi'an (1896–1954), a native of Hebei,
was chairman of the Hebei provincial government and military commander in Bao'an.
Our source for this inscription is Mao Zedong ji. Bujuan, Vol. 5, p. 81, where it is
reproduced from a collection published in China in 1959.