Order to Occupy Niuhang Railway Station[1]

(July 29, 1930)

(1) One regiment of Dai Yue’s[2] forces moved from Xinyu to Xingan on the 25th, and the 107th Regiment of Zhu Yaohua’s[3] forces moved from Chongren to Zhangshu on the 26th. The 108th Regiment has also been ordered by Zhang Huizan[4] to redeploy to the provincial capital, suggesting a rush to Nanchang to defend against our army. According to sources from Zhangshu today, Zhu Yaohua is leading the 103rd and 107th Regiments, along with one regiment of the 13th Division (Deng Ying[5]), by boat from Zhangshu down to Nanchang.

(2) With the original mission of advancing to occupy the Nanchang-Jiujiang Railway[7] on the occasion of the August 1st International Anti-Imperialist Demonstration Day[6] and the anniversary of the Nanchang Uprising in China, in order to expand political influence, this Army Corps has decided on the second-phase advance plan for the second step of the northward movement. It is planned that on the 30th, the entire Army Corps will advance to the vicinity of Wanshou Palace and Shizileng, and seize the opportunity to occupy Niuhang Railway Station.

[1] This is an order issued by Mao Zedong and Zhu De to the First Army Corps of the Red Army at Gao’an, Jiangxi. In late June 1930, in accordance with the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China’s directive to capture Nanchang and Jiujiang, the First Army Corps of the Red Army entered Jiangxi from Changting in western Fujian. On July 24, it captured Zhangshu and annihilated part of the 18th Division of the Kuomintang army. Subsequently, Mao Zedong and Zhu De convened a meeting of the First Army Corps’ cadres and decided not to attack Nanchang, but only to target the occupation of Niuhang Railway Station, firing shots across the river toward Nanchang as a demonstration on “August 1st” to commemorate the third anniversary of the Nanchang Uprising.

[2] Dai Yue’s forces refer to the 52nd Brigade of the 18th Division of the 9th Route Army of the Kuomintang army, with Dai Yue as the brigade commander.

[3] Zhu Yaohua’s forces refer to the 54th Brigade of the 18th Division of the 9th Route Army of the Kuomintang army, with Zhu Yaohua as the brigade commander.

[4] Zhang Huizan was then the commander of the 18th Division of the 9th Route Army of the Kuomintang army.

[5] Deng Ying was then the commander of the newly organized 13th Division of the 9th Route Army of the Kuomintang army.

[6] In July 1929, the Tenth Plenary Session of the Executive Committee of the Communist International designated August 1 as International Anti-Imperialist War Day.

[7] The Nanchang-Jiujiang Railway refers to the railway from Nanchang to Jiujiang (formerly known as Xunyang), now part of the Xiangtang-Jiujiang line.

(3) The 12th Army shall immediately, on the afternoon of this day (the 29th), move toward the direction of Nanchang and select a camping site about 30 li from the city. Tomorrow (the 30th), it shall dispatch one column to occupy Shengmi Street and, as the opportunity arises, occupy Niuhang Railway Station, while the rest shall station at Wanshou Palace (the camping grounds and security arrangements at Wanshou Palace shall be assigned by Acting Army Commander Luo[1] of the 12th Army).

The 3rd Army shall, tomorrow (the 30th), set out from here, pass through Yangjiafang, Li Village, and Chitu Street, and arrive at the vicinity of Shizileng, where it shall rest in place and await orders on the 31st.

The directly affiliated units of the headquarters shall accompany the Revolutionary Military Commission and the 4th Army, setting out from here tomorrow (the 30th), passing through Xiangfuguan Street and Liang Village, and arriving at Wanshou Palace to camp, where they shall rest in place and await orders on the 31st.

(4) Upon reaching their destinations, all units shall immediately mobilize the masses and vigorously raise funds.

(5) The troops dispatched by the 12th Army to occupy Shengmi Street shall, immediately upon occupying Niuhang Railway Station, destroy the Nanchang-Jiujiang Railway (pay attention to destroying the iron bridge) and nearby telegraph lines.

(6) During the operation, I shall move with the headquarters.

Order to the right.

Additional Notes:

(1) The departure time and marching sequence for the headquarters and the 4th Army tomorrow (the 30th) are as follows:

A. Departure time: The headquarters, directly affiliated units, and the Special Service Battalion of the Revolutionary Military Commission shall rise at 1:30 a.m. and set out at 2:30 a.m.

The 4th Army shall set out at 3:00 a.m.

B. Marching sequence: Proceed in the order of the headquarters’ special service unit, the headquarters, the Revolutionary Military Commission and its special service battalion, the communications unit, and the 4th Army. The baggage of the directly affiliated units shall march behind the communications unit.

C. March security: The 4th Army shall assign a rear guard.

(2) The route to Wanshou Palace is as follows:

From this town, pass through Leng Village—Wang Village—Wukou Bridge—Zuojiashan, Xiangfuguan Street—

[1] Acting Army Commander Luo refers to Luo Binghui.

Xiongpi Bridge—Pengloupu—Zhaoshan—Liang Village—Wanshou Palace.

(3) The route to Shizileng is as follows:

From this town—Liancheng Bridge—Xiejialeng (Songjia)—Yangjiafang—Xiaogang (Beiyi)—Hu Village—Li Village—Chitu Street—Luowa—Shizileng.

(4) The 3rd Army must pay attention to ascertaining the marching route to avoid intersecting with the 4th Army.