To Zhou Enlai and Lin Biao[1]

(January 1, 1943)

Zheng Yanzhuo has been in Yan’an for two weeks and will return to Chongqing tomorrow. I talked with him twice, and his performance was fairly good. He visited many places and talked with several dozen people. He said: his impressions and observations were entirely different from what is seen outside. When the conversation turned to the Border Region, I said the region should maintain the status quo and personnel should be given appointments. When it turned to the army, I said it should be reorganized into four armies and twelve divisions. In addition, the cessation of arrests, beatings, and blockades, and the issuance of pay, ammunition, and medicine were also mentioned. When it turned to the Three Principles of the People, I said that at present we should implement the principle of people’s livelihood with 70 percent capital and 30 percent feudalism, and the principle of democracy with a parliamentary system. When it turned to socialism, I said it would be implemented in the future, but conditions do not exist now. He requested that I give Chiang a letter, and I agreed.

[1] This is the main content of Mao Zedong’s telegram to Zhou Enlai and Lin Biao regarding the situation of his talks with Zheng Yanzhuo.