Overcome Difficulties to Establish the Ji-Re-Cha Base Area[1]

(September 26, 1938)

To Nie, for transmission to Song, Deng, and all comrades of the East Hebei Special Committee:

A. Given the favorable situation of persisting in the War of Resistance nationwide and the widespread guerrilla warfare in North China, coupled with the coordination of the Eighth Route Army from both near and far distances, the support of the broad masses, the presence of the great mountain ranges of Wuling Mountain[2], Yan Mountain, and Wulong Mountain[3] stretching over a thousand li from east to west, which facilitate maneuverability, and the considerable foundation of the local Party in East Hebei—based on all the above conditions, it is possible to create the Ji-Re-Cha[4] border area base and to create a considerably large army. However, the environment is severe and the work is difficult. It is necessary, with a high degree of Bolshevik spirit, to overcome all difficulties in the struggle, uphold the principle of the united front, establish confidence in resolute and protracted victory in the War of Resistance, and overcome the inevitable complex and serious phenomena within the newly risen volunteer forces.

B. Seize the gap while the enemy’s main forces are attacking Wuhan and the space between the Ping-Han and Tong-Pu railways to strive for

[1] This is a telegram from Mao Zedong, Zhu De, Peng Dehuai, and Hu Fu (Liu Shaoqi) to Nie Rongzhen, Commander and Political Commissar of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region of the Eighth Route Army, for transmission to Song Shilun, Commander of the Fourth Column of the Eighth Route Army, Deng Hua, its Political Commissar, and the East Hebei Special Committee of the CPC.

[2] Wuling Mountain, located northwest of present-day Xinglong County, Hebei Province, is the main peak of the Yan Mountain range.

[3] Wulong Mountain, suspected to refer to “Wuzhi Mountain,” located east of present-day Xinglong County, Hebei Province.

[4] Re refers to Rehe, an old province name, covering the northeastern part of present-day Hebei Province, the southwestern part of Liaoning Province, and the southeastern part of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region; abolished in 1955. Cha refers to Chahar, an old province name, originally covering the northwestern part of present-day Hebei Province and the Xilingol League of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region; in 1949 its jurisdiction was changed to cover the northwestern part of present-day Hebei Province and the northern part of Shanxi Province; abolished in 1952.

time to use all efforts to reorganize the troops. First, establish a political system, establish the Party, enforce strict discipline, and forge close ties between the army and the people, but without neglecting necessary military education and education in guerrilla tactics.

C. Launch struggles against traitors within the troops and among the residents, expose all schemes of sowing discord and undermining unity, prevent enemy agents from infiltrating the army to carry out sabotage, and carry out planned and patient purges of the extremely bad elements within the troops.

D. In the work of reorganizing the ranks and creating the base area, there must be a plan and a focus of work. We believe that at present the main forces should be east of the Bai River in Miyun, Pinggu, Ji County, Xinglong, and Zunhua, with a portion of the forces creating a base area west of the Bai River. In terms of reorganizing the troops, attention should currently be paid to cultivating core regiments and core guerrilla units, making them models of combat effectiveness and discipline, and the core leading the struggle.

E. Forge close ties between the army and the local Party, strengthen unity within the Party, and have Song and Deng unify the command of all forces in East Hebei. Run short-term military and political training courses at all levels to train cadres by rotation.

Mao Zedong, Zhu De, Peng Dehuai, Hu Fu

Noon, 26th