To Liu Shaoqi and Chen Yi[1]

(October 18, 1941)

Because the communications route through Xi’an has been tightly blockaded by the Kuomintang, the source of intellectuals has been cut off. Not only is the education at the Third Branch of the Anti-Japanese Military and Political University about to come to a halt, but even the organs of the Central Military Commission and the Rear Area Garrison Troops can no longer obtain any replenishment of intellectuals. It is proposed that from the base areas in northern Jiangsu and even in Anhui, six hundred to one thousand young intellectuals be recruited who are politically pure, physically strong and healthy, and have an education level equivalent to middle school, irrespective of gender, to come to Yan’an. After you have conducted a preliminary review, they may be organized into groups and sent here in batches via northern China. It would be even better if there are skilled workers and technical personnel.

[1] This is the main content of a telegram from Mao Zedong, Zhu De, Wang Jiaxiang, and Ye Jianying to Liu Shaoqi and Chen Yi concerning the recruitment of young intellectuals from the base areas in northern Jiangsu and Anhui to study in Yan’an.