To Liu Shaoqi and Chen Yi[1]

(January 7, 1941)

Under the general policy of guerrilla warfare, the Peng Xuefeng area (i.e., both banks of the Wo River) and the Tan Xilin area (i.e., east of the railway) must not be abandoned. The two units under Tan Xilin and Luo Binghui should still persist in guerrilla warfare between the Jinpu and Huainan railways, strictly guard against reckless battles, and fight only when victory is certain. This anti-communist upsurge should be regarded as an opportunity for us to lay the foundation in Central China, just as the previous anti-communist upsurge laid the foundation in North China. Although the struggle in Central China is a protracted one, and Chiang Kai-shek will never let go until he encounters more and greater difficulties, the possibility of our laying a foundation does exist.

This is the main content of the telegram from Mao Zedong, Zhu De, and Wang Jiaxiang to Liu Shaoqi and Chen Yi.