Hu [Fu] and Chen [Yi], Peng [Dehuai] and Zuo [Quan], Chen [Guang] and Luo
[Ronghuan], Ye [Ting] and Xiang [Ying]:

The situation in Central China is very critical. We will not be able to deal with
large-scale campaigns unless we organize shock units in reserve. Therefore, we
agree with what is suggested in the telegram of the 21st from Hu and Chen, to
organize all troops in northern Jiangsu into two columns. Huang Kecheng's troops,¹
the Peng-Zhu Detachment, the two regiments of the Fifth Brigade of the 115th
Division, and Tian Shouyao's Detachment³ should be organized into one column,
with Chen Yi serving as commander, Huang Kecheng as political commissar, and
Lai Chuanzhu as deputy commander. The New Fourth Army in northern Jiangsu
should be organized into the other column, with Su Yu as commander and Liu Yan4
as political commissar. Division of the four military districts and the appointments
of Zhang Aiping, Chang Yuqing, Ye Fei, and Wei Guoqing as the respective commanders of these military districts are to be done according to what has been
planned. It is hoped that Chen and Luo will immediately notify the Fifth Brigade
to submit to the command of Chen and Huang, in accordance with this regrouping.
After the reorganization, the troops are to undergo consolidation and training for
one to two months, and fully prepare everything necessary to deal with the attack
of Chiang [Kaishek] and the Guangxi forces.

4. Regarding Liu Yan, see the note to the text of May 9, 1941.