The Forces Thrusting Straight at Zhangzhou and Quanzhou Must Be Even More Rapid and Concentrated[1]

(April 2, 1932)

Comrade Enlai:

1. I arrived in Shanghang yesterday to discuss arrangements for responding to the enemy. I plan to go to Baisha on the 7th to link up with Lin and Nie.[2]

2. Since a portion of the enemy has already entered Fujian, our forces thrusting straight at Zhangzhou and Quanzhou[3] must be even more rapid and concentrated; otherwise, the enemy will seize the initiative, and our army will be caught in a dilemma. The entire Fifth Army Corps must set out immediately, take the most direct route by forced march to Junmenling in Huichang, passing through Xiangkeng and Guanzhuang in northern Wuping, and Baisha, and arrive at Longyan on the 14th.

3. The Central Bureau and the Military Commission[4] should move to Changting.

4. As for the movements of the Third Army Corps, I await telegraphic instructions in all matters.

Zedong

2nd

[1] This was a telegram sent by Mao Zedong to Zhou Enlai, Secretary of the Central Bureau of the Soviet Area of the Communist Party of China, while leading the Eastern Route Army of the Central Red Army (composed of the First and Fifth Army Corps) on the march to attack Zhangzhou.
[2] Lin and Nie refer to Lin Biao and Nie Rongzhen, who were then respectively the Commander and Political Commissar of the First Army Corps of the Central Red Army.
[3] Zhangzhou and Quanzhou refer to the cities of Zhangzhou and Quanzhou in Fujian Province.
[4] The Military Commission refers to the Central Revolutionary Military Commission of the Chinese Soviet Republic, established on November 25, 1931. Thereafter, the leadership organs of the First Front Army of the Red Army were ordered to be abolished, and its subordinate units were collectively designated the Central Red Army, directly under the leadership and command of the Central Revolutionary Military Commission.