Soliciting Opinions from Various Strategic Units in North China
on the Construction of Military Districts[1]
(August 21, 1941)
To all stations in North China:
In the current stage of the War of Resistance, in order to persist in the anti-Japanese base areas behind enemy lines and prepare the main forces for new mobile operations, the construction of military districts has become even more important. At the same time, because the conditions for constructing military districts in the plains and in the mountainous areas differ in various ways, and for the purpose of studying military district work, we hereby solicit the opinions of the leading organs of the various strategic units on the following questions. We hope you will study them and reply to us by telegram.
(1) What are the main criteria for distinguishing between regular forces and local forces?
(2) In certain plain areas where mobile warfare is no longer possible, is it necessary to have regular forces? What should be done with the regular forces still in those areas?
(3) How should the command organs of the military district and the regular forces be related (concurrent or non-concurrent)?
(4) How should the organizational structure and command relationships of the military district's armed forces (apart from the regular forces) be arranged?
(5) Is it necessary for a military sub-district in a plain area to command two types of troops (regular forces and military sub-district armed forces)?
(6) In plain areas, should the command of military operations of county and district guerrilla units be vested in the military sub-district or in the Party and government organs of the respective county or district?
(7) Regarding the organizational structure of troops in plain areas, which is better, the large regiment system or the small regiment system?
[1] This was a telegram from Mao Zedong, Zhu De, Wang Jiaxiang, Vice Chairman of the Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee, and Ye Jianying, Chief of Staff of the Military Commission, to the various strategic areas in North China.

(8) What special characteristics should the political work system of local forces possess?

(9) How should the political work organs of local forces be organized?

(10) What are your opinions on implementing a conscription system?

Mao, Zhu, Wang, Ye

(August)