The Offensive Posture of the Japanese Army and
Our Policies Toward the Guomindang
(February 2, 1941)¹

Peng [Dehuai] and Zuo [Quan], Liu [Bocheng] and Deng [Xiaoping], Hu [Fu, or
Liu Shaoqi] and Chen [Yi], [Peng] Xuefeng, [Huang] Kecheng, [Zhang] Yunyi,
Zhu Rui, Chen [Guang] and Luo [Ronghuan], Li [Yu] and Luo [Shunchu], [Li]
Xiannian, Zhou [Enlai] and Dong [Biwu] (in Chongqing):

1. It is possible that the enemy will take Luoyang, and it is possible as well that
the main forces of Tang [Enbo], Hu [Zongnan], and Wei [Lihuang] may be scattered. The two forces of Hu and Wei in the Zhongtiao mountains, and the Guangxi
Army forces in the Dabie mountains² may all end up in a very difficult situation.
One unit of Hu's troops in the northwest may go to assist Henan, and the anti-Communist high tide may recede. The contradictions between China and Japan
remain the main thing.
2. Our overall policies:
a. With respect to the political aspect, continue the offensive, tit-for-tat, chase
closely from behind, insist on the twelve demands,³ do not let up with regard
to the Southern Anhui Incident of January 13 and the reactionary order of
January 17. Under appropriate circumstances, we will not refuse to compromise, but we definitely will not back down at present (Zhou and Dong are
responsible for this aspect of things).
b. With respect to military matters, the Eighth Route Army will remain where it
is, without relaxing in its preparations, and the New Fourth Army will spare
no effort in striving all out toward Henan. (Kecheng should immediately
switch to the designation of the New Fourth Army; the New Fourth Army
has become an army with a highly honored reputation among the people of

the entire country, which is something won with the price of the Southern
Anhui Incident.)
3. As for the united front, Peng and Zuo and Liu and Deng with regard to the
various armies in Zhongtiao, Xuefeng with regard to the troops in Henan, and
Xiannian with regard to the forces in Hubei and Henan, should all pay great attention to developing friendships and together beating back the Japanese bandits'
invasion. This is a rare opportunity not to be missed to respond to evil with good.
4. In the two provinces of Jiangsu and Shandong, we will not attack anyone
unless we are attacked, but we will resolutely destroy anyone who does attack us.

Mao [Zedong] Zhu [De] Wang [Jiaxiang]

--- Notes

Our source for this text is Mao Zedong junshi wenji, Vol. 2, pp. 629-30, where it is printed
from Mao Zedong's handwritten original, preserved in the Central Archives.

1. It is indicated by a conventional character that this telegram was dispatched between
9:00 and 11:00 P.M.

2. Refers to the forces of the Guomindang Army's Twenty-first Group Army, stationed
in the Dabie mountains at the time.

3. See above, the text dated January 20, 1941.