--- Notes

I. The ever-rising tide of the Chinese revolution is bound to provoke a united counter-revolutionary offensive, particularly against the Red Army and the Soviet areas. However, the contradictions within the counter-revolutionary camp have become increasingly acute with the nation’s economic and political crisis and the advance of the revolution, and they are likely to erupt into war. At present, the Chinese Red Army should concentrate its forces with the utmost determination, coordinate with the armed masses, break through the enemy encirclement, secure victory in the first major offensive, establish a solid Soviet government, and expand outward.

II. The enemy’s current operations appear to be aimed at Ningdu, advancing step by step toward our forces. The situation as of today is summarized as follows: Cai’s division of the Nineteenth Route Army reached the line between Longgangtou and Jiangbeitong on April 8 and has not been reported to have moved since. The First Division of Wang Jinyu’s Fifth Route Army has advanced to Xin’an and Toupi; Guo Huashou’s unit arrived at Shuinan on April 15. Hao Mengling’s division reached Baisha on April 14, while Gong Bingfan’s forces are stationed around Gupi and Futian. Gao Shuxun’s division of Sun Lianzhong’s Sixteenth Route Army has reached Wangxianwei in Le’an, with the bulk of its troops in Yihuang. The vanguard of Zhu Shaoliang’s Sixth Route Army has reached Guangchang City, with the remainder positioned between Guangchang and Nanfeng.

As a result of the enemy advance, the revolutionary masses have suffered severe devastation. Over ten thousand people fled from Shuinan, and more than twenty thousand from Xingguo. These masses harbor fervent hopes for an offensive by our forces. Armed civilians in various localities have already joined forces with our Thirty-fifth Division, employing guerrilla tactics to impede the enemy’s progress along all axes. Meanwhile, our Seventh and Eleventh Armies operating west of the river, together with the Independent Division of Eastern Hunan, are engaged in fierce fighting against the enemy in the Taihe area.

III. In accordance with the order of the Central Revolutionary Military Commission, this Front Army is determined to act with extreme speed to first annihilate Wang Jinyu’s forces, then turn to strike at the enemy’s rear along their encircling lines, aiming to destroy the enemy piecemeal and thereby fulfill our mission.

IV. The assembly points for this Front Army are as follows: The Third Army shall depart early tomorrow morning (the 10th), passing through Zuolonggang and Liangcun Market, and assemble at Longgang Market by April 11. The Fourth Army will set out on the same day, proceeding via Anfu Market, Huangpi, and Hanxia Market, and must be assembled at Shanggu by April 13. The Third Army is also to depart on the same day, moving through Jiangkou, Nankeng, and Longgang, and will assemble at Shitoukeng, at the northern end of Longgang, by April 13. The Eleventh Army will start simultaneously, following behind the Headquarters Direct-Affiliated Unit via Jiangkou and Nankeng, and must reach Huilong in Shanggu by April 13. The Front Army’s General Command and its direct-affiliated units will accompany the Central Military Commission, keeping pace behind the Third Army, and will assemble at Longgang by April 13. The Thirty-fifth Army is temporarily placed under the command of the Third Army and will advance and withdraw accordingly. The Thirty-fifth and Seventh Divisions have separate assignments.

V. The Third Corps, the Fourth Army, and the Third Army are each to dispatch a company-sized advance guard to lead their respective columns, tasked with repairing bridges and roads to facilitate the march.

VI. By the time the Third Corps reaches Longgang on April 22, the Twelfth Army and other units traveling along the same route should have arrived at Junbu, while the Fourth Army should have reached Hanxia. On that day, all units are to exchange liaison officers to maintain close contact. Note: All units must purchase rice locally for consumption during the march and are prohibited from using any provisions they have brought with them. This order is issued only up to the division level.

Commander-in-Chief Zhu De, Political Commissar Mao Zedong