Mao Zedong, Zhu De, and Wang Jiaxiang to
Ye Ting and Others to the Effect That
Ye Ting Is to Command the
New Fourth Army

(January 12, 1941)

We are greatly relieved to know that you have led the main force of the army in
successfully breaking out of encirclement. We hope that morale will be strengthened and that you will persevere to the end. Get to southern Jiangsu rapidly. Xiyi
[Ye Ting] is to make all decisions within the army, with Xiao Yao [Rao Shushi]
assisting him. The whole army is to obey Xiyi's orders. As for Chongqing, we are
in the midst of negotiations. But you must not pin your hopes on this. In everything you must depend upon yourselves.

Our source for this text is Mao Zedong junshi wenji, Vol. 2, p. 609, where it is reproduced
from a copy in the Central Archives.


Our source for this text is Mao Zedong ji. Bujuan, Vol. 6, p. 259, where it is reprinted from
Wannan shibian.