Consolidate North China, Develop the Five Provinces of Shandong, Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan, and Hubei

(March 19, 1940)

Comrade Dehuai, and inform Zhu and Yang [1]:

Telegram received. Reply as follows:

A. It is entirely correct to expand the army by all possible means, with consolidation focused on North China. We have reviewed your plans, and they are all correct. Development should focus on the five provinces of Shandong, Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan, and Hubei. At present, please pay special attention to Shandong Province. We already have a foundation there, but it lacks a leading backbone. When the enemy launches a new offensive, please consider resolving this issue of a leading backbone. Northern Jiangsu should also be developed under the responsibility of southern Shandong. As for the development of the three provinces of Anhui, Henan, and Hubei, especially Henan, which is a pivotal zone for our nationwide protracted war of resistance, although there is currently no possibility of large-scale development, we should make every effort to prepare for it.

B. For the coming period, cadres from Yan’an should mainly be supplied to Central China, with a portion prepared for use in the Northwest, a portion for the South, and a portion for the Northeast. For North China, the supply should primarily consist of instructors and teaching materials.

C. Seeking assistance from friends for arsenal personnel may be possible, but it depends on how negotiations proceed and may not necessarily be reliable. The main reliance should be on finding them domestically.

D. The Border Region is currently developing a production campaign to achieve self-sufficiency in the most difficult times. Cao Juru [2] is now in charge at the Central Finance and Economics Department and cannot be reassigned. Li Liuru [3] can be freed up for your area,

[1] Zhu and Yang refer to Zhu De and Yang Shangkun, Secretary of the Northern Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

[2] Cao Juru was then Deputy Director of the Finance and Economics Department of the CPC Central Committee.

[3] Li Liuru previously served as Deputy Director of the Finance and Economics Department of the CPC Central Committee, among other posts.

Consolidate North China, Develop the Five Provinces of Shandong, Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan, and Hubei

but he is in poor health and needs to recuperate before coming. At the same time, we are looking for other candidates and will inform you once a decision is made.

E. It is very correct for the front to pay attention to banking and taxation, but the fundamental solution lies in production. Please consider, in certain relatively stable areas, not only mobilizing the populace to increase production but also having government organs, schools, and troops (without hindering work, study, or combat) engage in production themselves. The rear has gained considerable experience in this regard and will provide it to you for reference.

F. The study of in-service cadres is important and should be turned into a movement (without hindering work or combat). There should be organs and methods for managing study, and in relatively stable organs, a two-hour study system should be implemented. The Central Committee has established a Cadre Education Department, and the rear’s experience can also be supplied to the front.

G. Avoiding a meeting with Lu Zhonglin [1] is very correct. In dealing with such people, only by standing firm and launching resolute, unsparing counterattacks can we be effective. Shen Honglie [2] in Shandong should also be dealt with in this way. Currently, Shen is vigorously launching attacks against us; please pay attention to resolutely striking back.

H. The Political Bureau meeting of the Central Committee is scheduled for the end of April to discuss many important issues. The General Headquarters and the Northern Bureau have decided to send Zhu Rui [3] to attend. There is still over a month before the meeting; please consider whether you can come to Yan’an at that time.

Mao Zedong

March 19

[1] Lu Zhonglin was then Commander-in-Chief of the Hebei-Chahar War Zone of the Kuomintang Army and, under Chiang Kai-shek’s orders, had engaged in friction with the Eighth Route Army.

[2] Shen Honglie was then Chairman of the Kuomintang Shandong Provincial Government, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Kuomintang Army’s Shandong-Jiangsu War Zone, and concurrently Commander-in-Chief of the Shandong Guerrilla Forces.

[3] Zhu Rui was then Secretary of the Shandong Sub-Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Political Commissar of the First Column of the Eighth Route Army.