The Protracted War in Politics
(December 15, 1938)
[1]
The protracted war against Japan will be a long one, undergoing numerous changes. To defeat Japan, we must also wage a protracted political struggle. Therefore, every revolutionary must possess political endurance, be prepared to face various twists and turns, and ready to overcome difficulties. In the world, nothing proceeds in a straight line; everything follows a curved path. This issue boils down to whether one takes a “zigzag” route or a “straight” line. In fact, all matters follow a zigzag course rather than a straight path, and taking such a zigzag route is the fundamental principle governing the development of anything in the world. Our War of Resistance Against Japan will go through three stages: defense, stalemate, and counteroffensive—this, too, is following a zigzag path.

[1] This is part of Mao Zedong’s speech to the students of the Eighth Detachment (the Women’s Detachment) of the Anti-Japanese Military and Political University, who were about to be assigned their posts, on the topic of the protracted war in politics.

Reply Telegram to Zhang Jingwu et al.
(December 27, 1938)
[1]
Zhang, Li:
It would be appropriate for your unit to be designated as a subordinate detachment under the Eighth Route Army Shandong Column, and the command post should be named the Command Post of the Eighth Route Army Shandong Column.

Mao Wang
27th

[1] This is a reply telegram sent by Mao Zedong and Wang Jiaxiang to Zhang Jingwu and Li Yu.