Telegram to Peng Dehuai[1]

(May 14, 1941)

According to reports, the Japanese army has considerably reinforced its troops along the Yellow River and is boasting that it will cross. It is also rumoured that the Japanese army forced a crossing at Pingmin a few days ago, causing great panic among the people along the river. Grain prices in Xi'an have also soared, and an evacuation is underway; the people are gripped by fear. At this moment, it is necessary for our army to strike at the enemy's flank and rear in order to bolster the Kuomintang's morale. We await your views on this.

[1] This is the main content of a telegram from Mao Zedong and Zhu De to Peng Dehuai.