Directive on Promoting Unity with Friendly Forces and Improving the Current Situation After the Cessation of Friction in Shanxi and Hebei Provinces[1]

(March 20, 1940)

Zhu, Peng, Yang, Liu, Deng, Zuo, Huang, Chen, Luo, Zhu, Xu, Cheng, Song:

A. Jiang and Wei have transferred Ding Shuben across the river. He should be allowed to cross the river without hindrance; not a single shot should be fired at him.

B. Pang Bingxun, Yu Xuezhong, and other middle-of-the-road factions should be treated with respect, and contacts with them should be strengthened.

C. Prisoners from Zhu Huaibing’s forces should be treated with leniency, with especially lenient treatment for their officers and dependents. At the same time, attention should be paid to collecting all kinds of anti-communist orders, plans, and documents issued by the Kuomintang to this army. Such materials should also be collected from captured officers of Shi Yousan’s forces. These materials are extremely important and will be of great use in the future.

D. Carry out systematic efforts to unite with, contact, win over, and persuade the Central Army, expressing our willingness to unite with them in the War of Resistance to the end, and our support for Chairman Jiang and Commander Wei. The counterattack against Zhu and Shi this time was entirely a matter of last resort.

E. All anti-friction operations in Shanxi and Hebei provinces are to be brought to a complete halt. During this period, we shall cease all activities, keep silent, and not fire a single shot, extending friendship to all Kuomintang forces so as to restore goodwill and promote an improvement in the current situation.

Mao, Wang

[1] This was a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Central Military Commission, addressed to Zhu De, Peng Dehuai, Yang Shangkun, Liu Bocheng, Deng Xiaoping, Zuo Quan, Huang Kecheng, Chen Guang, Luo Ronghuan, Zhu Rui, Xu Xiangqian, Cheng Zihua, and Song Renqiong.