Hu Fu [Liu Shaoqi], Chen Yi, [Huang] Kecheng, [Peng] Xuefeng, and [Zhang]
Yunyi:

1. We have taken note of both Hu Fu's and Xuefeng's telegrams.
2. At the moment the focus is on northern Jiangsu and, secondarily, on Huaibei
and eastern Anhui. Therefore, Chen's and Huang's troops, as well as the additional
two regiments of the 115th Division, should all concentrate in northern Jiangsu
now, intensify reconsolidation and expansion, and work hard to strengthen the
base areas in northern Jiangsu. They should, moreover, be prepared to get rid of
Han Deqin first when Chiang Kaishek really begins to attack us in Huaibei and
eastern Anhui (the Central Committee will make the final decision) and only as a
second step march to Huaibei and eastern Anhui. This was suggested in Hu Fu's
last telegram, and we think that it is appropriate.
3. At the moment Huaibei and eastern Anhui must be sustained by Xuefeng's
and Yunyi's troops alone. Whether the enemy or the diehard troops attack, they
should all be handled with guerrilla warfare, and no reinforcements or assistance is
to be expected. In North China reinforcement is impossible; nor is it appropriate.
4. Before Chiang Kaishek truly surrenders, a large-scale attack on us is impossible, since he does not have a convenient battlefield. Therefore, on the one hand,
you should seriously prepare for Chiang Kaishek's attack, never relaxing for a
minute your own preparations. But, on the other hand, you should also be aware of
Chiang Kaishek's difficulties. He has numerous difficulties, among them the lack
of a convenient battlefield, and with the enemy's occupation of Woyang and
Mengcheng, this difficulty has increased. So you may well take advantage of this
opportunity to prepare everything actively, including expanding and reconsolidating the troops, and strengthening and developing the base areas.
5. As your forces become more expanded, better trained, and stronger, and
your base areas become more developed and consolidated, no attack need be feared.

In this way, careful expansion and reconsolidation of the troops and careful development and consolidation of the base areas constitute reliable capital in shattering
any attack.
6. At present the enemy is attacking to the west of the Wohe River, and this
presents a favorable opportunity for Xuefeng to expand his area and reconsolidate
the troops, and to develop and consolidate the base areas. In the eastern Anhui
region, aside from using one strong unit to deal with the invasion of Mo Dehong's
troops and also sending capable personnel to take command, arrangements should
also be made according to these overall guidelines.
7. To recruit soldiers and consolidate the base areas, it is necessary to mobilize
the ordinary masses and to mobilize the ordinary masses it is necessary to bring
some benefit to the masses and necessary to suppress the reactionary elements.
This task has two aspects to it. One aspect is that it is necessary to pay attention to
the united front policy with regard to parties and society and to be on guard against
ultraleft tendencies. The other aspect is that, toward reactionary elements who
stand in the way of our mobilizing the ordinary masses, it is necessary to apply
resolute suppression (which of course does not mean to kill every one of them), as
otherwise it would be impossible to mobilize the masses and consolidate the base
areas. As for the local bandits, they must be suppressed and eliminated.

Mao [Zedong] Zhu [De] Wang [Jiaxiang]