Reply to Zhou Enlai and Lin Biao[1]

(December 18, 1942)

(1) Under the condition that legalization is permitted, we may agree to the Kuomintang establishing party organizations in the Border Region and behind enemy lines.

(2) The military demand is for the reorganization of four armies and twelve divisions, including the New Fourth Army. (3) The Border Region may be changed to an administrative region, with personnel and territorial boundaries both remaining unchanged (please pay attention to the point that territorial boundaries remain unchanged). (4) Troops south of the Yellow River are confirmed to move north of the Yellow River after the war, but at present only preparatory work can be done, and the movement cannot be carried out. This is entirely restricted by factual circumstances, and it is absolutely impossible to move.

[1] This is the main content of the telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in reply to Zhou Enlai and Lin Biao.