According to an agreement between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, the Red Army and guerrilla forces in the eight southern provinces were reorganized into the New Fourth Army. Ye Ting was appointed commander of the army, Xiang Ying, deputy commander and Zhang Yunyi, chief of staff. The New Fourth Army fought Japanese troops to the south and north of the Yangtze River and established the Central China Anti-Japanese Base Area.