(November 25, 1938)
Comrade [Peng] Dehuai:

The result of our consideration is that we think it suitable for Chen [Guang] and
Luo [Ronghuan]¹ to lead the division headquarters as well as the main force of the
Chen brigade (the two main-force regiments) to Shandong and northern Anhui.
For the time being, the Chen brigade's supplementary regiment will be left in the
area of southwestern Shanxi; also, all the guerrillas will be brought together, organized into one regiment, and put under the command of Chen Shiju,² following
which a detachment from the 129th Division will be transferred to relieve them.
While moving east, Chen [Guang] and Luo [Ronghuan] should spread out in the
large area between the old and new beds of the Yellow River, including to the east
and west of the [Tian]jin-Pu[kou] railway line and to the north and south of the
Jiao[zhou]-Ji[nan] railway line. [Yang] Shangkun and [Deng] Xiaoping believe
this to be feasible. What is your opinion? Please let us know.

Mao [Zedong] Wang [Jiaxiang] Teng [Daiyuan]

Our source for this text is Mao Zedong junshi wenji, Vol. 2, pp. 441-42, where it is reproduced from a copy in the Central Archives.
1. Chen Guang and Luo Ronghuan were at this time the acting division commander and
political commissar of the 115th Division.
2. Chen Shiju was the chief of staff of the 343rd Brigade of the 115th Division.

To Deng Baoshan¹

(December 5, 1938)

My dear friend Baoshan:

In recent days, word has again been spreading of an invasion of the Northwest by
the enemy; I expect that you, sir, have already learned of this. The enemy's planned
invasion will come sooner or later, so not the least negligence in preparation may
be countenanced. I expect that a wise man such as you, sir, must have the same
feeling. We are sending Comrade Chen Qihan² specially to report to you, general,
on our defense plans and to submit to you the report, resolutions, declaration, and
such documents of our humble Party's Sixth Plenum, for your reference. I entreat
you please to convey to Qihan any instructions you may have.
I respectfully wish you serenity in times of war.

Submitted by your younger brother, Mao Zedong

Our source for this text is Mao Zedong shuxin xuanji, pp. 132-33, where it is reproduced
from the manuscript.
1. Deng Baoshan (1896–1968) of Tianshui, Gansu Province. During the War of Resistance against Japan, he was commander of the Guomindang Twenty-first Army Group, as
well as commander of the New First Army, and commander-in-chief of the Shanxi-Shaanxi-
Suiyuan Border Region.
2. Chen Qihan (1897-1981) was born in Xingguo, Jiangxi Province. At the time he was
the Suide garrison commander in the rear army corps of the Eighth Route Army.