Order to the First Army Group of the Red Army
to Attack Zhangshu1
(July 22, 1930, 7:00 P.M.
at General Headquarters in Maixie)
1. At present, there are no enemy troops in the town of Zhangshu. The town
of Nanchang has one battalion each of artillery and espionage, and one regiment
each of garrison and reserves. There is the possibility of their advancing to
Zhangshu and stubbornly resisting our forces.
The rest of the intelligence about the enemy is as reported today by the staff
office of this General Headquarters; there is no enemy in Xin'gan.
Today our Fourth Army has already dispatched troops that have taken the
town of Xin'gan.
2. This army group has decided to launch an assault and take Zhangshu,
according to the original third period plan for northward advance.
3. As the left wing forces, the Fourth Army should enter Xin'gan by tomorrow morning and clearly ascertain the enemy situation in Zhangshu. If it is true
that there are no enemy forces, they should all advance toward the town of
Zhangshu and take it (as soon as it is taken, sentries should be posted to Nanchang, and a way should be found to block the public road between Nanchang
and Zhangshu; a floating bridge should be quickly built leading to Gaoan, or
boats should be gathered). If it is found that there are enemy troops in Zhangshu,
then [the Fourth Army] is to advance from Xin'gan to the area around
Xiazhuang, Liuzhuang, and Huangzhuang, which are on the right of Yongtaijie,
encamp, and wait for the order to attack.
The rest constitute the main force of the right wing army, and their distribution is as follows:
a. The Third Army should dispatch one column as the vanguard, to set out
tomorrow promptly at 1:00 A.M. from its present encampment, march to
Our source for this order is Jiangxi dangshi ziliao, Vol. 6, pp. 61-62.
1. Zhangshu was a market town in Qingjiang xian, located some 50 miles southwest of
Nanchang on the Gan River. Generally speaking, in the orders from the summer and
autumn of 1930 which appear below, Zhangshu refers specifically to the town, and
Qingjiang to the xian as a whole, or to its administrative center. Subsequently, Zhangshu
increased in importance until it became an urban district which swallowed up the whole of
Qingjiang xian, so only this name will be found on recent maps.
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JULY 1930
467
the Yanghuzhuang area by way of Mixiang, Miaoxia, Hepo, Zhangshuxia,
Lijiang, Yujiafang, Sangzhuang, and Tanjiafang, and encamp there (60 li).
b. The rest constitute the main force of the right wing army, to advance
according to the following order: the Third Army (minus one column, to set out
tomorrow at 1:20 A.M. from its present location and follow after the
vanguard), the General Command Headquarters and its espionage team, the
espionage team of the Front Committee, the Transport team (to arise at 1:20
A.M. tomorrow, and to assemble and set out at 2:20 from the mouth of the
street here), and the Twelfth Army (minus one column, to set out tomorrow
at 2:50 A.M.), plus the baggage of the right wing army (to advance according to the marching order of the troops).
c. The Twelfth Army is to dispatch one column as rear guard to march after
the baggage and provide protection.
d. Yang Zhicheng, chief of the Adjutants Section of the Twelfth Army, is in
charge of all matters relating to setting up camp for the right wing army.
e. As for the baggage of the right wing army, the main person in charge is
Fan Shude, head of the baggage team of the Sixth Army's second column, and
second in command is Yang Lisan, chief of the supplies section of the
Twelfth Army. Each unit's baggage is to follow its own personnel in the
marching order designated.
4. While marching, we will be at the head of this unit.
Addendum:
1. When setting out tomorrow morning, each unit must be strictly punctual.
2. Prior to departure, each unit must be clear about the road out, so as to
avoid crossing paths with other forces.
3. Wounded and sick soldiers are to advance along with the large baggage.
4. If there is no way to gather together the baggage of all the troops, it should
be stopped at the side of the road and wait until all the personnel of the unit in
question have passed before being moved ahead. The person in charge of baggage in each unit is to be held fully responsible.
5. The left wing troops must be in close touch with this unit.
Commander-in-chief
Zhu De
Political Commissar
Mao Zedong