Order to Ambush the Enemy Invading Xiaobu[1]

(December 25, 1930)

(1) The enemy at Shima advanced to Shangxi (50 li from Xiaobu) today (the 24th), and the enemy at Zhongcun (note: both places are units under Zhang Huizan) reached the line of Yuantou, Shangchao, and Lufengling (approximately two regiments) by 11 a.m. today, clearly showing an intention to invade Xiaobu tomorrow morning (the 25th). One company of our Third Army remains at Xiaobu. The enemy at Xiaotian (Mao’s Division[2]) advanced to Wucun by noon today, and the enemy at Yinshui (Tan’s Division[3]) advanced to Dongshao by noon today. Our Political Defense Regiment has withdrawn to Matian. The enemy at Donggu reached Nanlong today but has not yet arrived at Longgang. Our troops are still deployed at Junbu.

[1] In December 1930, the Kuomintang forces launched their first “encirclement and suppression” campaign against the Central Revolutionary Base Area. Chiang Kai-shek appointed Lu Diping, Chairman of the Jiangxi Provincial Government, as Director of the Nanchang Field Headquarters of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, and Zhang Huizan, Commander of the Kuomintang’s 18th Division, as Frontline Commander-in-Chief. A force of 100,000 troops was assembled along the line from Ji’an to Jianning, advancing from north to south to attack the Central Revolutionary Base Area. Mao Zedong and Zhu De directed the First Front Army of the Red Army to adopt the operational policy of luring the enemy deep into our territory. On the 25th, an ambush was first attempted at Xiaobu in Ningdu County, Jiangxi, but failed. On the 28th, the Front Army shifted its target and advanced step by step toward Donggu. On the 30th, a successful ambush was carried out in the Longgang area, annihilating the headquarters of the 18th Division and two brigades, totaling nearly 10,000 men, and capturing Zhang Huizan alive. The Red Army then pursued the victory, and on January 3, 1931, in the Dongshao area, it further annihilated more than one brigade of Tan Daoyuan’s 50th Division. The other enemy forces fled upon hearing the news, thus crushing the Kuomintang’s first “encirclement and suppression” campaign. This is Order No. 9 of the First Front Army of the Red Army, issued by Mao Zedong and Zhu De at Huangpi in Ningdu County, Jiangxi. The original document is marked with the time “1 a.m. in the latter half of the night of December 24,” but it was actually 1 a.m. on December 25, 1930. Therefore, all references to “tomorrow” and “tomorrow morning” in the order should be understood as “today” or “this morning,” and “today” should be understood as “yesterday.”

[2] Mao’s Division refers to the 8th Division of the 6th Route Army of the Kuomintang forces, commanded by Division Commander Mao Bingwen.

[3] Tan’s Division refers to the 50th Division of the 2nd Column of the 9th Route Army of the Kuomintang forces, commanded by Division Commander Tan Daoyuan.

(2) The Front Army is determined to first annihilate the enemy invading Xiaobu tomorrow (the 25th).

(3) The Third Army Corps shall serve as the right wing, attacking the northeast and east of Xiaobu (i.e., the high ground south of Nufeng, the high ground north of Shubei, and the line from Younaoshang and Niaoshan to near Hewu). It shall set out tomorrow morning (departing around 6 or 7 a.m.) and halt by 10 a.m. at a point about 10 li from Xiaobu Street (taking care to conceal its position). It must allow the enemy advancing from Yuantou to enter Xiaobu, then cut off their route of approach from Yuantou, and thereafter launch a fierce assault to annihilate them.

The Third Army shall serve as the left wing, attacking the west of Xiaobu (i.e., the area around Fujiangping and the high ground south of Shukeng). It shall set out at 8 a.m. tomorrow morning and halt by 10 a.m. at a point about 10 li from Xiaobu Street, taking care to conceal its position. It must allow the enemy advancing from Shangxi to enter Xiaobu Street, then cut off the enemy’s route of approach from Shangxi, and thereafter launch a fierce assault to annihilate them.

The Twelfth Army shall serve as the center, attacking the south of Xiaobu (i.e., the line from the high ground south of Hewu to the high ground northwest of Shui). It shall set out from its current position at 7:30 a.m. tomorrow morning and advance to attack Xiaobu. If the enemy has not yet reached Xiaobu, it shall halt at a point about 10 li in front of Xiaobu (i.e., the southern end of Xiaobu).

The Fourth Army shall serve as the general reserve. It shall arrive at Tiandongshi (on the way from Diaofeng to Xiaobu) by 10 a.m. tomorrow morning and halt there, awaiting orders (the general reserve shall be positioned here).

The Political Defense Regiment of the Central Revolutionary Military Commission shall remain at Matian and shall strictly deploy security in the three directions of Dongshao, Luokou, and Nantuan, pinning down the enemy at Dongshao and Wucun to ensure a complete victory for our main force’s assault.

(4) The heavy baggage of all armies shall be positioned near Huangpi, under the command of the Deputy Chief of Staff of this headquarters.

(5) All units shall carry one meal for lunch.

(6) The General Headquarters, along with the Central Revolutionary Military Commission, shall move from this location at 8 a.m. tomorrow morning to the position of the general reserve at Tiandongshi.

Supplementary Notes:

1. For positions, use the sketch map of the vicinity of Xiaobu surveyed and drawn by the Staff Department of the Third Army and issued by this headquarters, as well as the route map of Ningdu printed and distributed by the Staff Department of this headquarters.

2. Each army shall designate its own dressing station location. The temporary field hospital shall be at Laijiaping.

3. Telephone lines shall not be dismantled for now. If the enemy is detected at Matian, the Political Defense Regiment may dismantle them if withdrawal is necessary, but must immediately notify all units.

4. The Third Army Corps shall pay attention to security in the direction of Nantuan.

By order of the Right:

Commander-in-Chief Zhu De

Political Commissar Mao Zedong