Directive on the Guiding Principles for the New Fourth Army’s Actions After the Southern Anhui Incident

(January 28, 1941)

(1) The Yan’an Military Commission has publicly announced the leading personnel of the New Fourth Army, issued a statement denouncing Chongqing, and on your behalf released a declaration of assumption of office and a manifesto condemning the pro-Japanese clique. Have you received all of these? It is hoped that they will be widely distributed.

(2) Following the Southern Anhui Incident and Chiang Kai-shek’s January 17 declaration that the New Fourth Army has mutinied, we should adopt a change in policy toward the big landlords and big bourgeoisie represented by Chiang Kai-shek, namely, shifting from the policy of alternating blows and inducements to a policy of completely isolating him. We must do our utmost, both inside and outside the Party, to expose his reactionary schemes. However, so long as Chiang has not declared a total rupture (by declaring the Eighth Route Army and the Chinese Communist Party to be in mutiny), we shall temporarily refrain from raising the slogan of opposing Chiang, and shall use the term “the authorities” or other veiled references in place of Chiang Kai-shek’s name. Nevertheless, all policies concerning the implementation of the three-thirds system and those set forth in the Central Committee’s directive of December 25 shall remain unchanged, and the principles of the united front shall remain unchanged.

(3) With regard to the scattered forces in Southern Anhui, Zhang and Deng should find ways to send personnel across the river to provide guidance. At present, in addition to those crossing the river, a portion should also be gathered to conduct anti-Japanese activities in the Wuhu area, so as to facilitate a future southward advance and to disrupt the rear areas of the Kuomintang.

(4) Guerrilla warfare should immediately be arranged in Western Anhui, Eastern Hubei, and the Henan region. In the areas of Cheng, Shucheng, and Qianshan in Western Anhui, Zhang and Deng are responsible for strengthening the forces of the guerrilla columns so that they will not be able to advance toward the Dabie Mountains. In the areas of Xishui and Huangmei in Eastern Hubei, and in the areas of Western Henan currently under enemy attack (the enemy has already occupied Biyang), Xiannian is responsible for making arrangements. Xuefeng should prepare two crack guerrilla units so that they can be dispatched to operate in Western Henan at an opportune moment. With regard to Southern Jiangsu, it is hoped that Hu and Chen will speedily [1] gather the forces that have moved eastward from Southern Anhui, have them operate temporarily in Southern Jiangsu, and prepare for a future advance to the Tianmu Mountains.

Mao, Zhu, Wang

Jianshen

[1] Hu and Chen, i.e., Hu Fu (Liu Shaoqi) and Chen Yi.