The Creation of a Base in the Hebei-Rehe
Border Region Is of Strategic Significance
(October 2, 1938)

Nie [Rongzhen], Song [Shilun], and Deng [Hua], and the Committee of the Hebei
and Rehe Border Region:

1. Building a base for the resistance to Japan in the Hebei-Rehe Border Region
is of very great strategic significance. The column led by Song and Deng, and all
the comrades in the Hebei-Rehe Border Region, must struggle resolutely for the
accomplishment of this task. At present, when the enemy's main force is still attacking central and southern China, and the Eighth Route Army in Eastern Hebei
is uniting with the whole Party and carrying out the correct policies and the correct
strategy and tactics, it is entirely possible to create a base in the Hebei-Rehe Border Region. The present difficulties, as well as bad phenomena, such as the laxity
in discipline among the guerrilla forces, can be overcome.
2. Nevertheless, the development of guerrilla warfare in Hebei and Rehe constitutes the greatest threat to the enemy. The enemy has controlled Hebei and Rehe
for a relatively long time, and a relatively large number of Chinese traitors have
been trained and organized. Apart from waging fierce attacks on the guerrilla detachments with armed forces, the enemy will necessarily order the traitors and
spies to sneak into the guerrilla detachments, the Eighth Route Army, and even our
Party for the purpose of instigating all kinds of plots and sabotage. It is particularly important, therefore, to maintain unity and consensus in the whole Party and
the Eighth Route Army. Any potential clashes or incidents that manifest a lack of
unity within the Party and the Eighth Route Army will naturally be utilized by the
Japanese bandits, the Chinese traitors, and enemy spies, and will cause the most
serious damage to us. For this reason, we issue the following calls:
a. Comrades Song and Deng must cooperate closely with each other.
b. The cadres of the Eighth Route Army must maintain close unity with the
comrades in the local Party organizations and the guerrilla forces.
c. All military operations must be subject to the unified command of Song and
Deng.

Our source for this text is Mao Zedong junshi wenji, Vol. 2, pp. 367-68, where it is reproduced from a copy in the Central Archives.
d. The guerrilla forces led by the local Party organizations must be enlisted into
the Eighth Route Army as soon as possible.
e. Establish an atmosphere of unity and harmony among our comrades. Any
criticism of the leading comrades in the Eighth Route Army and the local
Party organizations must be extremely cautious. Any disagreement can only
be discussed within the leading organs or be reported to a higher level for a
solution. It cannot be discussed or struggled over outside the leading organs.
In particular, the members of the Communist Party must not criticize the
Eighth Route Army and the Party organs among the masses.
f. Strengthen discipline in Party organizations in the army and in the localities,
call on the entire Party to unite together, and carry on an arduous struggle.
3. As regards our work, we must immediately expand the Eighth Route Army,
draw local guerrilla forces into it, run short-term training courses, reform the guerrilla units, and heighten discipline in the units. Organize and develop the Party in
the units, establish the government, and reestablish order. Launch a large-scale
mobilization within the Party and the army.

Mao [Zedong]
Peng [Dehuai]
Hu [Fu] [Liu Shaoqi]
Zhu [De]
Wang [Jiaxiang]
Yang [Shangkun]