On the Question of Leadership in the New Fourth Army[1]

(January 11, 1941)

We have received the report forwarded by you from Ye and Yao. Ye and Yao are completely correct. We hope you will assist them at any time as circumstances permit and give them encouragement. However, the point regarding Xiang Ying’s dismissal from office need not be raised for the time being. It is essential that separate instructions be forwarded immediately to Ye and Yao.

[1] This is the main content of a telegram from Mao Zedong, Zhu De, and Wang Jiaxiang to Liu Shaoqi and Chen Yi concerning the question of leadership in the New Fourth Army.