To Zhu De, Peng Dehuai, and Others[1]

(December 23, 1939)

The war to support Yan and suppress the rebels in southwestern Shanxi has achieved its first victory, but the main force of the old army still has considerable strength in southwestern Shanxi. This is a life-and-death struggle for Yan Xishan, and he will surely deal with it with all his might; please pay attention to its seriousness.

[1] This is the main content of the telegram from Mao Zedong and Wang Jiaxiang to Zhu De, Peng Dehuai, Yang Shangkun, He Long, and Guan Xiangying regarding the Western Shanxi Incident.