Letter to Yan Xishan

(July 17, 1937)

Mr. Baichuan, honored to receive your guidance:

Comrade Peng Yufeng has returned and fully recounted your great virtue, also mentioning that your political health has been unwell. May I ask whether you have fully recovered in recent days? Taking good care of yourself for the nation’s sake is all the more necessary at this critical moment of national calamity. Regarding the Red Army’s coordinated operations, yesterday we dispatched Zhou Xiaozhou to hasten to pay his respects. We have now ordered Peng Yufeng to return swiftly to Taiyuan to seek further instructions. The Japanese brigands are launching a massive offensive, and the whole of North China is in the gravest peril. Mobilizing all forces to resist to the very end, arousing the masses, and supporting the work of the righteous armies truly brook no delay. We hereby have several comrades from our side who guide work in North China and intend to reside in Taiyuan. We beseech you, Sir, to grant them convenience. Regarding your esteemed side’s policy of unconditional war of resistance, our side fully supports it and has already ordered Party members to cooperate closely with the authorities of Jin and Sui to jointly salvage the critical situation. As for new measures on your esteemed side, we pray you will inform Peng Yufeng at any time to relay them to our side. Let us mutually and jointly advance the genuine unity and oneness of the entire nation, upper and lower, army and people, to resist this great foe. Furthermore, our side intends to print a number of necessary documents in Taiyuan. These documents will not go beyond the scope of the common program of the united anti-Japanese front. We also pray you will grant convenience in this matter. Regarding aspects of international liaison, if you, Sir, have any opinions, we also pray you will inform us. Our side meets you, Sir, with sincerity. Under the current situation, closer unity is all the more necessary, and we trust you, Sir, surely share this same heart. With respect, I extend

Salutations for victory in the War of Resistance against Japan!

Mao Zedong, handwritten

July 17