Persist in Protracted Guerrilla Warfare in the Daqing Mountains[1]

(November 24, 1938)

To Zhou and Gan, forward to Li Jingquan:

(1) The Daqing Mountains[2] are bordered by Outer Mongolia to the north. The enemy is currently attaching importance to this area. Guerrilla warfare in Chahar and Rehe[3] has not yet been launched, and the region is relatively isolated. It is impossible at present to establish a base area there of the Hebei-Chahar-Shanxi type, but it is entirely possible to persist in protracted guerrilla warfare and establish guerrilla base areas, and this is the central task.

(2) Therefore, all policies there should take the nature of protracted guerrilla warfare as the point of departure.

A. In organizing the defection of puppet troops, premature and unnecessary sporadic outbreaks should be avoided. However, when it is estimated that the sentiment for defection cannot be suppressed, or when it has already erupted, or when militarily necessary, it should be carried out resolutely. But work in general should conform to the principle of protractedness.

[1] This is a telegram from Mao Zedong, Wang Jiaxiang (Vice Chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission), Yang Shangkun (Secretary of the CPC Northern Bureau), He Long (Commander of the 120th Division of the Eighth Route Army), and Guan Xiangying (Political Commissar of the 120th Division) to Zhou Shidi (Chief of Staff of the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army) and Gan Siqi (Deputy Director of the Political Department of the 129th Division), to be forwarded to Li Jingquan (Commander and concurrently Political Commissar of the Daqing Mountains Detachment). On May 14, 1938, Mao Zedong instructed the Eighth Route Army Headquarters to establish a guerrilla base area along the Daqing Mountains range north of the Beiping-Suiyuan Railway. At the end of July, the 120th Division dispatched Li Jingquan, Political Commissar of the 358th Brigade, to lead the Daqing Mountains Detachment northward from northwestern Shanxi. They arrived in the Daqing Mountains area in September and launched anti-Japanese guerrilla warfare in central Suiyuan.

[2] The Daqing Mountains are located north of the Tumochuan Plain in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and belong to the middle section of the Yin Mountains range.

[3] Cha refers to Chahar, an old province name, formerly encompassing areas in present-day northwestern Hebei Province and the Xilingol League of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. In 1949, its jurisdiction was changed to cover areas in present-day northwestern Hebei Province and northern Shanxi Province, and it was abolished in 1952. Re refers to Rehe, an old province name, encompassing areas in present-day northeastern Hebei Province, southwestern Liaoning Province, and southeastern Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. It was abolished in 1955.

B. Before and after defection, they should be made aware of the difficulties in material conditions and the arduousness of the struggle. After defection, generally, efforts should be made to have them placed under the designation of the Eighth Route Army command, and they should be reformed or reorganized in the course of the struggle. It is best to strive for them to move closer to northwestern Shanxi or the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Border Region, but without compulsion. Doing things for others' benefit only increases difficulties later.

C. Regarding large bands of bandits or spontaneous anti-Japanese armed forces of a semi-bandit nature, we should adopt upper-level liaison and influence, and promote and help them progress. Do not create antagonism, which would increase difficulties for our guerrilla forces and local work. Scattered bandits can be eliminated, but they must still be treated with courtesy; do not kill indiscriminately.

D. Regarding Yu Jingyi's[1] Self-Defense Army, taking into account his relationship with Fu,[2] we should adopt upper-level liaison and help promote its progress, and not adopt a policy of division and disintegration.

(3) On the Suiyuan[3] question, we must give consideration in every respect to the united front with Fu Zuoyi. The tactics regarding the local upper-level united front in Suiyuan and regarding the puppet regimes should not contravene the characteristic of protracted guerrilla warfare.

(4) Another basic task is: to unite the Mongolian and Han peoples to jointly resist Japan, to use our correct minority nationality policy to change the erroneous traditional policies of China's past, and to make ourselves a model to promote and influence the Guomindang, primarily Fu Zuoyi's, transformation.

A. Taking into account the national consciousness of the Mongolian people and their faith in the princes and dukes, we should still adopt a tactic of winning over Prince De,[4] and continue to implement the slogan demanding that Prince De turn back and resist Japan.

B. Regarding the Mongolian people's demand for the return of land encroached upon by Han people, the Han people should be made to pay a commensurate price to

[1] Yu Jingyi, also known as Yu Cunhao, was then Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Guomindang Suiyuan People's Anti-Japanese Self-Defense Army.

[2] Fu refers to Fu Zuoyi, who was then Chairman of the Guomindang Suiyuan Provincial Government, Commander-in-Chief of the Northern Route Front Enemy Forces of the Guomindang Army, and concurrently Commander of the 35th Army.

[3] Suiyuan, an old province name, encompassing areas in present-day central Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. It was abolished in 1954.

[4] Prince De, namely Demchugdongrub, a prince and duke from the Plain White Banner of the Xilingol League in Inner Mongolia. In May 1936, under the planning of the Japanese invaders in China, he became President of the puppet Mongolian Military Government. In October 1937, he became Vice Chairman and concurrently President of the Administrative Council of the puppet Mongolian League Autonomous Government, and in May 1938 became its Chairman.

Persist in Protracted Guerrilla Warfare in the Daqing Mountains

purchase the land or establish tenancy and tax payment arrangements. Local governments should handle matters impartially according to specific circumstances, with the principle of uniting the Mongolian and Han peoples to jointly resist Japan.

C. Respect the customs, habits, and religion of the Mongolian people, and promote their culture. Do not infringe upon the interests of the Mongolian people, especially in the purchase of horses. The troops must be effectively educated on this.

D. Absorb intellectuals from among the Mongolian people, train Mongolian cadres, and carry out work among the Mongolian people.

(5) It is necessary to develop and carry out work toward the Suiyuan-Chahar border and south of the railway, to multiply local guerrilla units, and to train local cadres and mass leaders.

Mao, Wang, Yang, He, Guan

Jiong (24th)