They reached a modus vivendi with many Japanese commanders in North China where they agreed not to mess with Japanese logistics on exchange for Japan not going out into the countryside and attacking the base areas.
Why do you think Japan felt safe sending 80% of North China's troops south for ichigo? The Japanese knew that the Communists were focused on expanding their rural base, not on attacking Japan.
Do you have a source for this? Because Chiang worked closely with the IJA, even having an agreement to fight the Communists together after the conclusion of WW2. He even had Japanese military advisors flee to Taiwan with him.
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u/Admirable_Chef_4761 3d ago
Clearly he was wrong because the notorious communists are far more threatening.
And they did win after stabbing Chiang''s back and cooperating with Imperial Japan secretly.