Reply to Ye Ting and Xiang Ying [1]

(September 11, 1940)

Given the defensive conditions in northern Jiangsu and the geographical separation, the Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army can only provide strategic coordination; it is not possible to expect them to carry out operational coordination. All units of both armies should prepare for independent operations. None of the units should attack Han, but when Han attacks us, they should destroy him piecemeal. The various units of the Eighth Route Army in northern Jiangsu are both dispersed and complex, making it inadvisable to alter their command relationships. It is appropriate for eastern Anhui to remain under the command of the Central Plains Bureau, and Chen Yi may be placed directly under your command.

[1] This is the main content of the reply telegram from Mao Zedong, Zhu De, and Wang Jiaxiang to Ye Ting and Xiang Ying regarding the issue raised in their September 9 telegram about temporarily unifying the military operations of the various New Fourth Army units and a portion of the Eighth Route Army currently in northern Jiangsu under the command of the New Fourth Army headquarters.