Cooperate with the _Guomindang_ Army in the
Conduct of Operations, and Strive to
Improve the Current Situation

(September 9, 1941)

To Peng [Dehuai], Zuo [Quan], and Luo [Ruiqing]; Chen [Yi] and Liu [Shaoqi];
and Chen [Guang] and Luo [Ronghuan]:

The enemy is attacking northern Hunan and also attacking Zheng [zhou] and Luo
[yang]. The Guomindang is gathering its forces to resist the enemy, and all of our
forces in the Eighth Route Army and New Fourth Army should launch every possible attack on the important communication lines so as to cooperate with the
Guomindang in its campaign. Meanwhile, all offensive operations against the various Guomindang troops in the enemy’s rear should be halted, and defensive measures adopted only when they attack us. At the same time every unit of the
Guomindang troops should be issued notification asking for coordinated action
against the enemy. The aim of all guidelines mentioned above is to try and improve the current situation.

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

This comment was first published in _Jiefang ribao_, September 14, 1941. Our source is _Mao
Zedong xinwen gongzuo wenxuan_, p. 58. The same text is reproduced in _Mao Zedong ji_,
Vol. 8, p. 25.

806
Our source for this text is _Mao Zedong junshi wenji_, Vol. 2, pp. 665–66, where it is reproduced from Mao’s handwritten manuscript preserved in the Central Archives.