Old Xie:
I have read your letter of the 6th. The dead are already dead,1 but those who are still alive should take care. Now, you and Mr. Lin2 need to adjust your lives and work, and arrange them properly. Don’t overwork yourselves, and don’t write too many articles, either.3 Please think this over!
Best wishes!
Mao Zedong
P.S.: Luo Mai4 has been transferred to work in the government, so many things can be left to his care.
Our source for this text is Mao Zedong shuxin xuanji, p. 201, which is based on a manuscript copy.
1. Mao is referring to Wang Lingbo (1882–1942), who was Xie’s fellow provincial and good friend. At the time of his death, Wang was vice dean of Yan’an’s Administrative College.
2. Lin Boqu (1885–1960) was at this time chairman of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region Government.
3. Xie had been writing a commentary in Jiefang ribao. See above, note 2 to the text of August 17, 1942.
4. That is, Li Weihan (1896–1984), who had been working as vice director of the Central Committee Propaganda Department, was transferred in September 1942 to serve as head of the Secretariat of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region Government.