——() All successive calls have been received. Based on the experience in North China, under the current circumstances, even in plain areas deep behind enemy lines, conditions are highly favorable for our guerrilla operations and for establishing base areas. There, we can more freely develop and expand both our strength and our influence. As long as we avoid making serious mistakes and proceed with caution, there is little danger involved. (1) Therefore, the New Fourth Army should seize this opportune moment to proactively and vigorously penetrate into the enemy’s rear, employing flexible yet resolute actions, exemplary discipline, and effective mass work to broadly mobilize and organize the people, build local Party organizations, form and rally numerous guerrilla units around itself, thereby expanding and strengthening its own forces, securing its armaments and supplies, and establishing several model guerrilla base areas south of the Yangtze River. In doing so, it can enhance the New Fourth Army’s prestige and broaden its influence. (3) It is essential to explain to Party cadres the fundamental differences between the current struggle and that of the past; consequently, present working methods and approaches differ fundamentally from those of the past. They must, through bold outward expansion and vigorous resistance activities, broaden and consolidate the united front, win over more sympathizers, and at the same time strengthen their own ranks. Only in this way can they effectively counter slander and smears, and break down barriers and restrictions. I—74
Oo Teaching Reference Materials on the History of the CPC (II), People’s Publishing House, 1979, 1