The Military Commission’s Guidance Only Sets Forth the General Policy

(March 8, 1938)

Zhu, Peng; Chen, Luo; He, Xiao, Guan; Liu, Xu, Deng; Nie[1]:

A. The Military Commission’s guidance only sets forth the general policy, with Zhu and Peng making specific dispositions based on this policy and the current situation. The Military Commission occasionally puts forward specific operational suggestions, but these are advisory in nature; whether they suit the circumstances must be determined by Zhu and Peng in light of the current enemy situation and conditions, and the Military Commission shall not interfere.

B. Regarding our and the enemy’s positions, operational situations, and so forth, in addition to the General Headquarters[2] reporting to the Military Commission at any time, telegrams of reports sent by the various divisions to the General Headquarters shall simultaneously be sent in one copy to the Military Commission, so that the Military Commission is fully informed of the situation.

Mao Zedong

8th, 16:00

[1] Zhu and Peng refer to Zhu De and Peng Dehuai. Chen and Luo refer to Chen Guang and Luo Ronghuan, who were then respectively acting division commander and director of the Political Department of the 115th Division of the Eighth Route Army. He, Xiao, and Guan refer to He Long, Xiao Ke, and Guan Xiangying, who were then respectively division commander, deputy division commander, and political commissar of the 120th Division of the Eighth Route Army. Liu, Xu, and Deng refer to Liu Bocheng, Xu Xiangqian, and Deng Xiaoping, who were then respectively division commander, deputy division commander, and political commissar of the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army. Nie refers to Nie Rongzhen, who was then commander and concurrently political commissar of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region of the Eighth Route Army.

[2] General Headquarters refers to the General Headquarters of the Eighth Route Army.