Zhou [1] together with Hu Fu and Shang Kun, also informed Zhu, Peng, and Ren [3]:  A. The entire work in North China should take guerrilla warfare as its sole direction. All other tasks—such as mass mobilization and the united front—should be organized around guerrilla warfare. If conventional warfare in North China fails, we shall bear no responsibility; but if guerrilla warfare fails, we must assume grave responsibility.  B. In addition to the deployment already arranged in Shanxi, the Party organization in Hebei should be instructed to devote all its strength to guerrilla warfare. Leveraging the prestige of the Red Army’s War of Resistance, the Party throughout North China (including Shandong) should mobilize the masses, incorporate scattered soldiers and weapons, and systematically yet broadly establish guerrilla units. To this end, it remains for Zhou to decide whether another round of talks with Feng Zhijian, Huang Shaohong [4], and others would be advisable.  C. For these purposes, priority should be given to the assignment of senior cadres and to the establishment of independent collective organs of the Party, government, and military capable of exercising leadership. We must envisage a situation in which, even after the enemy has completely occupied North China, we can sustain extensive and effective guerrilla warfare. It is imperative to inform the entire Party—and to mobilize both within and outside the Party—that henceforth there is no other task save guerrilla warfare. To this end, the Red Army should provide every possible assistance.  D. Please submit a comprehensive plan for the deployment across all of North China.

Printed on the 25th day by Mao Zedong, based on a copy preserved in the Central Archives.

Notes:  [1] Zhou refers to Zhou Enlai.  [2] Hu Fu is Liu Shaoqi. Shang Kun is Yang Shangkun, born in Tongnan, Sichuan, in 1907, who at that time served as Deputy Secretary of the Northern Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. Zhu Rui (1905–1948), from Suqian, Jiangsu, was then Secretary of the Military Commission of the Northern Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.  [3] Zhu refers to Zhu De. Peng refers to Peng Dehuai, who at the time held the post of Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Eighth Route Army. Ren refers to Ren Bishi, who at the time served as Director of the Political Department of the Eighth Route Army.  [4] Feng Zhijian (1896–1954), from Gucheng, Hebei, was then Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Nationalist Army’s First Group Army and concurrently Commander of the 77th Army. Huang Shaohong (1895–1966), from Rong County, Guangxi, was at that time Minister of the First Department of the Nationalist Government’s Military Commission.