(December 5, 1937)

Zhu [De] and Ren [Bishi]:

As far as the enemy troops that are attacking the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Border
Region are concerned, apart from our telegram of the 29th of last month and your
own telegram, you should also pay attention to the following;
1. Avoid frontal resistance; make a surprise attack on the troops in the enemy's
rear.
2. Maneuver both in the enemy's distant and immediate rear, so that the enemy
will still be encircled by us even if he advances.
3. You must also operate actively along the Tongpu and Zhengtai railway lines
to cooperate strongly with your present operations.
4. Pay attention to sabotaging the puppet organizations and puppet troops in the
enemy's rear.
5. Intensify the work of disintegrating the enemy troops.
6. Under the condition of assured victory, it is necessary to concentrate considerable strength to wipe out part of the enemy forces, impose a forceful blow upon
the enemy, and increase the enemy's fear and their difficulty of attack. You should,
however, be very careful and cautious.

Mao [Zedong] Peng [Dehuai]

--- Notes

Our source for this text is Mao Zedong junshi wenji, Vol. 2, pp. 126-27, where it is reproduced from a copy in the Central Archives.