To Zhu, Peng, and Yang, and to Liu and Deng [1], with copy to Zhu, Xu, Chen, and Luo [2]: With regard to any forces within Hebei and Shanxi provinces—whether they be Nationalist troops, the Jin-Sui Army, or Shi Yousan’s [3] units—if they launch an attack against the Eighth Route Army’s areas, we should, on the principle of self-defense and under rational and advantageous conditions, resolutely resist and completely annihilate them.


We should call upon all units of the Eighth Route Army and the entire population of the two provinces to firmly strike down anyone who attacks from behind the anti-Japanese front. Public and widespread propaganda should proclaim: “Those who attack from behind the anti-Japanese front are traitors”; “Down with the traitors who attack the Eighth Route Army”; “Down with the traitors who attack the Death-Defying Corps”; “Down with the traitors who sabotage the anti-Japanese base areas.”


Only by arousing a sweeping tide of resistance among all soldiers and civilians against traitors and aggressors, and by delivering a crushing blow to those who carry out such attacks, can we put an end to the schemes of conspirators and adventurers, split their ranks, deter wavering troops from joining the offensive, and effectively coordinate with intensified efforts to build the united front within the army (a task that must be greatly stepped up).


This policy applies equally to Shandong; it is hoped that Shandong will also act with equal firmness.


Printed on January 30 by the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, based on Mao Zedong’s manuscript.


Notes [1] Zhu refers to Zhu De. Peng refers to Peng Dehuai, then Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Eighth Route Army. Yang refers to Yang Shangkun, then Secretary of the Northern Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. Liu and Deng refer to Liu Bocheng and Deng Xiaoping, respectively serving as Commander and Political Commissar of the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army. [2] Zhu and Xu refer to Zhu Rui and Xu Xiangqian, respectively serving as Political Commissar and Commander of the First Column of the Eighth Route Army. Chen and Luo refer to Chen Guang and Luo Ronghuan, respectively serving as Acting Division Commander and Political Commissar of the 115th Division of the Eighth Route Army. [3] Shi Yousan (1891–1940), from Changchun, Jilin Province, was at the time Commander of the Nationalist Army’s 69th Army and Chief of Staff of the Chahar Guerrilla Force under the Ji-Cha War Zone Command.