On the Occupation of Ji’an and the Establishment of the Jiangxi Soviet Government
|| | Joint Communiqué No. 1 of the Joint Meeting of the Front Committee, the Western Jiangxi Special Committee, and the Military Committees of the Fifth and Sixth Armies || February 14, 193— Resolution of the Joint Meeting on the First-Step Action Plan for the Jiangxi Struggle:
(1) Based on the joint meeting’s resolutions regarding the political situation and the Party’s tasks, a fundamental plan is hereby established.
(2) The overall objective and central slogans of the current campaign are as follows: capturing Ji’an constitutes the overarching goal, while the following six slogans serve as the immediate focal points. Advance to Ji’an and annihilate all reactionary forces;
2. Advance to Ji’an and establish the Jiangxi Soviet government;
3. Advance to Ji’an and carry out a thorough land distribution;
4. Advance to Ji’an and expand the workers’ and peasants’ armed forces;
5. Advance to Ji’an and put an end to the warlord conflicts;
6. Advance to Ji’an and arm ourselves to defend the Soviet Union.
All units, government organs, and mass organizations must immediately present these six slogans publicly to the workers, peasants, soldiers, and other oppressed masses (including small merchants and students) and conduct extensive propaganda campaigns (on all available walls for workers and peasants, as well as urban poor; among the troops, they are to be used as daily roll-call slogans).
Only in this way can we mobilize the broad masses to achieve our political objectives, prevent the concealment of political aims, and ensure effective propaganda work.
(3) Assessment of the enemy situation and the significance of capturing Ji’an:
The enemy situation: The Guangdong–Guangxi War remains deadlocked; a coup has broken out in Fujian; Hunan is engaged in military operations against Zhou Lancheng and Wu Shang; Hubei witnesses struggles between the Xia faction (Xia Douyin and Xu Yuanyuan) and the Ou faction, as well as a standoff between the Laozhu faction (Li Shichen and Li Yiliao) and the Chiang Kai-shek clique. Meanwhile, Chiang Kai-shek is actively preparing for a major north–south conflict.

The struggle among workers, peasants, soldiers, the urban poor, and vagrants is spreading widely. Under these circumstances, the Chiang clique has no immediate capacity to reinforce its forces in Jiangxi. In eastern and northern Jiangxi, at least three enemy divisions can be tied down—the Third Division in Ganzhou, the Second Division in Nanchang, and the First Regiment in Fuzhou. Zhang Xueliang’s forces can only deploy three regiments against us in western Jiangxi, Tan Daoyuan’s division cannot be redeployed, and Jin Hanjie’s troops are constrained by the peasant uprisings in western Jiangxi, while also being required to participate in the Fujian campaign, making it difficult for them to move quickly to the west.

Regarding the deployment of various units: Two regiments of Zhu De’s brigade, along with additional detachments and garrison troops, are positioned as follows: Ji’an is defended by two companies of the Nationalist Guard, armed with 150 rifles. Furthermore, there is one company of mobile strike force operating across the counties of Fenyi, Xinzhou, and Xinyu. Fenyi also has 30 rifles belonging to the Jingwei Troops, Xinzhou possesses 300 rifles held by both the local militia and the Jingwei Troops, Xinyu has 60 Jingwei rifles, and Xiajiang County hosts a regimental headquarters along with seven companies and 85 Jingwei troops equipped with fortifications. Three companies from Quzhou are conducting guerrilla operations within Ji’an’s three districts. Jishui County is garrisoned by two newly formed companies and 68 Jingwei rifles, while Xinjian has only 35 Jingwei troops. Xingguo and Wan’an both maintain garrison forces defending their respective towns. In all these counties, the enemy troops and the ruling class are deeply apprehensive. Our own situation: In western Jiangxi, together with Xingguo, Duodu, Ningdu, and Nanfeng counties, there are approximately 1.15 million red supporters. The county seats of Ningling, Shuixin, Lianhua, Shuizhan, Le’an, and Ningdu are already under our control. Only the county seats of Taihe, Ji’an, and Jishui remain in enemy hands, while the surrounding rural areas are firmly in our grasp. Anfu, Xinjian, Fenyi, Xiajiang, Nanfeng, and Zhendu each have portions under our control, and Xingguo comprises a large red area. Moreover, the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Red Armies have advanced into various parts of western Jiangxi, supplemented by numerous local armed forces, creating a highly charged revolutionary atmosphere.
3. Given the aforementioned balance of power between ourselves and the enemy, “March on Ji’an” truly reflects the demands of the broad masses. We have previously mobilized the people and undermined the enemy’s foundations, making this slogan entirely appropriate. However, our first step is not to storm the city of Ji’an, but rather to encircle it, with the aim of making life inside the city increasingly difficult, further eroding the morale of its inhabitants, and intensifying the crisis of white rule. Only then will we proceed to the second phase of our plan (to be appended).

(4) Troop movements and dispositions:

1. East of the Gan River: A. All three columns of the Fourth Army, together with its direct-affiliated units, are to concentrate in Wujiang City by February 13th and launch an assault on Jishui City on the 14th, determined to capture it (the Fourth Army’s Third Column is to complete the takeover of Yongfeng County before the 12th). B. The Second Column of the Sixth Army, specifically its Fourth Detachment, will depart for Zhongbao on February 13th and join forces with local masses and armed groups on the 14th to eliminate scattered enemy elements in the eastern part of the county. One company will keep Ji’an under surveillance, supporting the Fourth Army’s advance toward Jishui. C. The Central Jiangxi Soviet, in addition to deploying some of its forces alongside the Fourth Detachment to attack the eastern region, will also dispatch another contingent early on the morning of the 14th to Jishui City to cooperate with the Fourth Army in attacking the enemy within the town, destroying enemy strongholds, and undertaking demolition and bridge-building tasks. D. The Fifth Detachment of the Sixth Army’s Second Column arrived in Tuodongjiao on the 9th. The Red Guards, led by Yuan Zhenya, reached the same location on the + day to join forces with the Fifth Detachment, forming a temporary command committee responsible for directing operations in the Cha Tian area, with Yuan Zhenya serving as secretary (the list of committee members and their responsibilities will be provided separately). E. The Fourth Column of the Fourth Army and the Ningnan Guerrilla Unit will continue to carry out the Front Committee’s previous directives, expanding the red zones in Ningdu, Guangchang, and Nanfeng counties, containing the enemy forces, and raising funds. F. The significance of the Fourth Army’s decision to abandon the attack on Yongfeng and instead focus on Jishui lies in highlighting the army’s strategic objective: threatening Ji’an directly from across the river, inspiring the populace downstream to rise up, and concentrating the reactionary government in Nanchang’s attention on the western front. G.
Following the capture of Jishui, the Front Committee and the Jishui County Party Committee will promptly undertake the following tasks: @ Establish a county government; @ Found a workers’ organization in the county seat; @ Develop Party and Youth League activities within the town and set up a district-level committee.

On the Occupation of Ji’an and the Establishment of the Jiangxi Soviet Government 77
78

2. West of the Gan River: A. Actions and duties of the Fifth Army and the border Red Guards: The Fifth Army and the border Red Guards (with at least 400 rifles) are ordered to assemble in Wei Shuiyang by February 13th, using Wei Shuiyang as their operational center. They are to coordinate with local armed groups in the western region and advance near Ji’an City, while closely monitoring the retreat of enemy forces from Taihe and seizing opportunities to intercept them. All armed groups in the western region fall under the Fifth Army’s command. B. The First Column of the Sixth Army (formerly the Second and Third Columns) is to arrive at Fu Yin by February 13th, where the two units must converge simultaneously; otherwise, the Third Column may be delayed. Using Xi as the command post, this column will collaborate with local armed groups and the Jishui guerrillas to approach Ji’an from three directions—through Sanqu, Wujiang, and the riverfront. First, small detachments from the First Column will work with local armed groups to disrupt enemy positions along the Sanqu route and establish contact with the Fourth Army in Jishui. Second, the guerrilla units along the Wujiang River will harass enemy forces in the riverine area. Third, extended Red Guard detachments and regular guerrilla teams will operate from behind enemy lines, launching surprise attacks during daylight hours or firing shots late at night, thereby disrupting communication between Ji’an’s garrison and its rear echelons. Cutting off all transportation links between Ji’an and the downstream regions is also a key task for the Sixth Army’s First Column. All armed groups in the northern sector will be placed under the command of this column.

(5) Rules of Conduct and Financial Policies:

1. No unit or worker-peasant mass shall freely enter private homes or shops in any locality, especially urban areas, without explicit orders.

2. Upon arrival in any area, particularly cities, each unit must develop a detailed plan assigning specific personnel to search designated locations and apprehend those targeted for arrest.

3. The confiscation of reactionary property and the handling of captured individuals shall be directed and managed by the Political Department. Similarly, searches for remaining enemy elements and the seizure of reactionary military supplies shall be overseen by the Command Headquarters.

4. Any fines, requisitions, or disposals of captured persons must be announced publicly by the Political Department or relevant mass-government organs, accompanied by a clear statement of charges.

5. Schools and post offices must not be damaged.

6. Public institutions and all civilian property should not be destroyed unless absolutely necessary for military purposes.

7. Acts of arson and indiscriminate killing lacking political justification or popular support are strictly prohibited.

8. Financial policies: A. The expenses of the Red Army and government organs should primarily be covered by contributions from wealthy landlords and gentry, without placing an undue burden on small merchants. B. Shops with capital below 2,000 yuan need not contribute. Those exceeding 2,000 yuan will be asked to donate according to the following scale: 30 yuan for 2,500 yuan, 40 yuan for 3,000 yuan. For every additional 1,000 yuan of capital, an extra 1% of the total amount shall be donated. For example, a shop with 4,000 yuan in capital would pay 40 yuan plus 1% of 4,000 yuan, totaling 80 yuan; a shop with 5,000 yuan would contribute 80 yuan plus 50 yuan, for a total of 130 yuan; and a shop with 6,000 yuan would pay 130 yuan plus 60 yuan, amounting to 190 yuan. Capital increases beyond this threshold will follow the same proportional scheme. C. Funds should be raised from wealthy landlords under the guise of fines, while small merchants are requested to make donations. D. For shops owned by reactionaries, if their merchandise has garnered sympathy from the general public through prior propaganda efforts, they may be confiscated; otherwise, such confiscation should be avoided. Reactionary shop owners who have seriously antagonized the masses should be arrested and fined. E. River traffic may be subject to inspections when militarily necessary, including temporary restrictions on vessel movement or the detention of ships. However, cargo or other property aboard vessels shall not be seized.

(D) Mobilization of Party Members and the Masses:

1. A Great Political Task: Only by mobilizing all party members and the broader masses can we rectify the past mistake whereby, in many places, only a handful of leaders were aware of the campaign objectives while the general public remained uninformed. This practice must be resolutely abandoned.
2. Upon receipt of this communiqué, all local Party committees and mass organizations are to promptly convene meetings or assemblies to thoroughly explain the international and domestic political situation, the prospects for the struggle in Jiangxi—including the potential for a revolutionary outbreak as workers and peasants seize control of the province—and the objectives of the current campaign (the six central slogans). Simultaneously, rules of conduct (all provisions outlined herein) must be announced, and the Red Army and government bodies are to distribute leaflets and issue notices to ensure that the masses fully understand our goals and actions.
3. Internal Party Mobilization: A. All levels of Party leadership bodies are to convene discussions on this communiqué and subsequent related announcements. B. Activist conferences are to be held, with reports delivered by Party officials; military units are to organize sessions at the regimental, brigade, or battalion level, while local branches are to hold meetings at the district level. C. Branch-level meetings are to be convened to disseminate the contents of the communiqué and mobilize all Party members.
4. Military Mobilization: A. Military-political staff meetings are to be called to brief participants on the political situation, the outlook for the struggle, the campaign objectives, and the rules of conduct, discussing methods of implementation and encouraging soldiers to take proactive action. B. Soldier gatherings featuring speeches on the political situation and other matters are also intended to inspire and strengthen their fighting spirit.
5. Mobilization of Workers and Peasants: A. Meetings are to be convened at all levels of mass organizations and with worker-peasant cadres (that is, holding meetings of various committees and organizing mass rallies at the district level). B. These mass rallies are to be titled “District-Level Assemblies Celebrating the Success of the Campaign to Capture Ji’an,” and must be held within three days of receiving this communiqué, with adequate preparation beforehand and a report submitted to higher authorities afterward. C. In addition to the aforementioned six central slogans, the central slogans of these mass rallies will include the following six (for a total of twelve slogans).
We welcome the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Red Armies to help eradicate reactionary forces;

We approve of the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Red Armies assisting with land distribution;

We rejoice in the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Red Armies helping to establish the Soviet government;

We endorse the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Red Armies contributing to the expansion of workers’ and peasants’ armed forces;
We applaud the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Red Armies for suppressing warlord conflicts;
We celebrate the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Red Armies arming themselves to defend the Soviet Union.
Presidium of the Joint Conference Selection of Historical Materials from the Central Revolutionary Base Area (Part II) Jiangxi People’s Publishing House May 1982 On the Occupation of Ji’an and the Establishment of the Jiangxi Soviet Government One