To the Eighth Route Army Headquarters and Others[1]

(December 9, 1939)

Yan Xishan has launched the Western Shanxi Incident, his aim being to make a show of force against us and obtain concessions from us, so that he can firmly control the two areas of southwestern Shanxi and northwestern Shanxi, overwhelm the new faction and our forces, and thereby prepare a relatively advantageous position for carrying out capitulation. However, at present Yan himself seems not yet to have made a final decision on carrying out capitulation and openly opposing the Communist Party. On the whole, the current situation is a period of arranging capitulation, not yet a period of carrying out capitulation. The two areas of southwestern Shanxi and northwestern Shanxi are the pivotal link between North China and the Northwest; they must be kept in the hands of the anti-war faction, and the capitulationist faction must absolutely not be allowed to win, otherwise it will be very dangerous.

Resolutely counterattack Yan’s offensive and strive for the victory of the anti-war faction. We should take advantage of the moment when Yan has not yet made a final decision to capitulate, and we should exploit the contradictions within the old faction. It should be reckoned that the New Army may suffer some defeats and that mutinies may occur, and we must be prepared for some defeats and some mutinies. Unity and determination within the New Army, the political power, and the Sacrifice League are of the first importance; all truly unstable elements must be expelled.

[1] This is the main content of a telegram from Mao Zedong and Wang Jiaxiang to the Eighth Route Army Headquarters, the 120th Division, the 129th Division, the Western Shanxi Independent Detachment, and others, regarding the assessment of the Western Shanxi Incident.