Order to the First Army Group of
the Red Army to Launch a Forceful Attack on
Changsha City
(September 10, 1930, 9:00 A.M.,
at General Command Headquarters in Tianxinqiao)
I. We have received the following order from the Commander-in-chief and
the Political Commissar of the Front Army:
a. The enemy He Jian's forces are still holding the city of Changsha and are
resisting us by relying upon their fortifications. Luo Lin's division is now
in the Leigongling area.
b. It has been decided that the Front Army will take the said enemy by storm
and seize the city walls. A general attack on the enemy in the area of
Erlipai, Wumeiling, and Huangtuling has been set to take place at 8:00
tonight.
c. The Third Army Group (minus the Sixteenth Army) is in charge of the
attack on the right wing. At around 3:00 P.M. today it should move from its
present location (the Banzhutang and Panguba area) to the area near Litang,
and must complete its movement by dusk. Tonight it should promptly (at
8:00 o'clock sharp) attack and advance toward the enemy's stronghold in
Erlipai, and position its reserve forces near Litang.
d. The First Army Group is in charge of the attack on the left wing. At around
3:00 P.M. today it should move from its present location (the Zhujialing and
Tianxinqiao area) to the area of Wumafeng (several li beyond Xujiachong),
Guitang, and Tiaojiling, and must complete its movement by dusk. Tonight
it should promptly (at 8:00 o'clock sharp) attack and advance toward the
enemy's stronghold in Wumeiling, and dispatch troops to feign an attack
on the enemy's stronghold in Huangtuling, positioning its reserve forces
near Tianjiling behind Xujiachong.
e. The Sixteenth Army should move this morning (the 10th) from its present
location (near Banzhutang) and advance to the area near Langlishi by way
of crossing the river in Dongsigang, to pin down the enemy in Leigongling.
f. The heavy baggage of the Front Army is to be concentrated in Dongsigang
520
MAO'S ROAD TO POWER
(under the direction of the head of the military supplies section of the Third
Army, Fan Shude). The First Army Group's mess unit will be positioned on
the road between Dongsigang and Xujiachong. The Third Army Group's
mess unit will be positioned in Dongshan.
g. During the general offensive tonight we will be on Wumafeng Mountain in
front of Xujiachong.
Addendum:
a. Along the way each army group's advance troops attacking the city should
pay attention to destroying the enemy's advancing security forces.
b. Darkness is taken to fall at precisely 7:00 o'clock.
c. When attacking the city, all officers and soldiers must march ahead with
full courage. Anyone who shrinks and retreats from the battle shall be dealt
with by military law.
d. When there is the possibility of attacking an enemy's stronghold, a torch
should be lit as a signal.
e. All army groups are to communicate with General Command Headquarters
(on top of Wumafeng) by telephone. All armies and army groups, in turn,
are to communicate through orderlies or special signals.
f. Command positions at all levels are to be indicated according to originally
stipulated torch signals.
g. All night attacks are to be carried out through hand-to-hand combat.
2. According to orders, this army group will take the enemy's stronghold in
Wumeiling by storm, and has made the following arrangements:
a. The Fourth Army constitutes the force attacking the city. It should move at
2:00 P.M. today from its present location to the area of Guitang and Shiba,
and promptly launch a fierce attack on the enemy's stronghold in Wumei-ling.
b. The Twelfth Army will be the reserve force for the attack on the city. It
should move from its present location at 4:00 P.M. today and advance
following the Fourth Army. Tonight it should dispatch forces (roughly the
equivalent of a company) along the main road in Dongjingpu to feign an
attack on Shimapu and Huangtuling.
c. The forces attacking the city and the reserve forces for the attack on the
city are all under the command of Attack Commanding Officer Lin Biao
and Political Commissar Luo Ronghuan.
d. The Third Army constitutes the reserve force of this army group. It should
move at 4:30 P.M. today following General Headquarters to the reserve
forces position near Tianjiling behind Xujiachong. It should also post a
strong security force to stand guard in the direction of places such as
Mojialong and Shipailing.


SEPTEMBER 1930
521
3. The army group's heavy baggage and the mess units of its combatant
forces should halt at the positions designated in the Front Army's aforementioned order and begin cooking.
4. During the general offensive tonight we will be atop Wumafeng Mountain.
Commander-in-chief
Zhu De
and
Political Commissar
Mao Zedong

--- Notes

Our source for this order is Jiangxi dangshi ziliao, Vol. 6, pp. 122-24.
519