Use Guerrilla Warfare to Support Friendly Forces in Combat[1]

(October 16, 1937)

Comrade Lin Biao, and inform Zhu, Ren; He, Guan; Nie; Xuefeng[2]:

1. According to Peng Xuefeng, a certain Japanese invading army is advancing rapidly from Tianzhen toward Guangling, and the Kwantung Army[3] is advancing rapidly from Yu County. Yan of Shanxi[4] intends to concentrate fourteen regiments for a decisive battle with the enemy and hopes our 115th Division will participate in the fighting.

2. Our army should adhere to the established policy of using guerrilla warfare to support friendly forces in combat. This policy was decided upon in Nanjing with Jiang and He[5], and Zhou and Peng[6] further confirmed it in person with Yan in Shanxi. This policy should fundamentally not be shaken.

3. Please telegraph immediately your assessment of the current situation and your views on how to support friendly forces in combat. Thereafter, report by telegraph in a timely manner.

4. Where is the 115th Division now?

Mao

16th

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[1] This is a telegram from Mao Zedong to Lin Biao, commander of the 115th Division of the Eighth Route Army.

[2] Zhu and Ren refer to Zhu De and Ren Bishi, director of the Political Department of the Eighth Route Army. He and Guan refer to He Long and Guan Xiangying, who were then commander and political commissar, respectively, of the 120th Division of the Eighth Route Army. Nie refers to Nie Rongzhen, then political commissar of the 115th Division of the Eighth Route Army. Xuefeng is Peng Xuefeng, then director of the General Staff Office of the Eighth Route Army Headquarters and concurrently director of its office in Shanxi.

[3] The Kwantung Army refers to the Japanese invading forces then occupying Northeast China.

[4] Yan refers to Yan Xishan, then commander of the Second War Zone of the Kuomintang.

[5] Jiang refers to Chiang Kai-shek. He refers to He Yingqin, then commander of the Fourth War Zone of the Kuomintang.

[6] Zhou and Peng refer to Zhou Enlai and Peng Dehuai.