Directive on the Formation of the New Fourth Army[1]

(October 1937)

After careful consideration by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, it is deemed possible to strive for the establishment of the New Fourth Army with an organizational structure of two divisions, four brigades, and eight regiments. The leading personnel may be selected as follows: Ye Ting as army commander, Xiang Ying as deputy army commander, Chen Yi as director of the Political Department, and Zhou Zikun as chief of staff. The army headquarters shall be temporarily stationed in Wuhan, with liaison offices set up in Nanchang and Fuzhou.

[1] In late October 1937, Ye Ting left Nanjing and arrived in Yan'an via Wuhan and Xi'an. This is part of the conversation between Mao Zedong and Ye Ting during his stay in Yan'an regarding the formation of the New Fourth Army.