(November 24, 1938)

1. According to our assessment of the future development of the situation in
North China, the central task of the Central Hebei region is to consolidate the
existing armed forces, rely on the power of the masses, and persist in protracted
guerrilla warfare.
2. In order to carry out the above tasks, we have made the following decisions:
a. We will send Comrade Cheng Zihua to lead a group of cadres to Central
Hebei; Zihua will serve as political commissar of the Lü column.¹ Strength-ening the regularization of this unit is a central task at this time.
b. We have decided to send He [Long] and Guan [Xiangying], leading one unit,
to Central Hebei, to strive to expand the 120th Division.
3. Upon arrival in Central Hebei, one unit of the 120th Division can push forward and influence the process of regularization of the local forces in particular,
and the Party in Central Hebei should devote its utmost strength to helping expand
the 120th Division. The specific plan will be decided on according to the actual
situation after Guan has arrived at Wutai and discussed it with Nie [Rongzhen]
and Peng [Zhen].
4. After He and Guan have arrived in Central Hebei, Lü's unit will come under
their command, but the organizational system will still be under the supervision of
the Nie region.²

Mao [Zedong]
Wang [Jiaxiang]

2. Yu Jingyi (also known as Yu Cunhao) was at this time deputy commander of the
Guomindang's Suiyuan Anti-Japanese Self-Defense Army of the Popular Masses.
3. Regarding Demchukdonggrub (1902-1966), commonly known in Chinese as De Wang
or Prince De, see above, the relevant note to the text of November 16, 1937.

Our source for this text is Mao Zedong junshi wenji, Vol. 2, pp. 439-40, where it is reproduced from a copy in the Central Archives.
1. The reference is to the Third Column of the Eighth Route Army in the Shanxi-Chahar-
Hebei Military Area, commanded by Lü Zhengcao.
2. The reference is to the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Area, of which Nie Rongzhen
was commander and political commissar.