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

(April 1, 1940)

The anti-communist diehard troops of the Kuomintang in Central China are attacking the New Fourth Army, and the situation is extremely grave. The Eighth Route Army has the responsibility to rapidly reinforce the New Fourth Army. Request Zhu De and Peng Dehuai to consider drawing one main-force regiment from the troops of the 115th Division in the Shandong area to immediately move south for reinforcement; the 344th Brigade should also complete its rest and reorganization within ten days and promptly set out.

[1] This is the main content of a telegram from Mao Zedong and Wang Jiaxiang to Zhu De and Peng Dehuai, with a copy to Liu Shaoqi, concerning the Kuomintang's attacks on the New Fourth Army and the issue of reinforcing the New Fourth Army.