Urgent Mobilization and Deployment of Actions in the Central Soviet Area and All Soviet Areas Should Be Carried Out[1]

(September 30, 1932)

To the Central Bureau, for urgent relay to the Central Committee:

Your telegram received.

(1) Under the current political situation, with the West Hunan-Hubei Soviet Area suffering setbacks, the Red Army in the Hubei-Henan-Anhui Soviet Area at a disadvantage, and the Central Area[2] Red Army unable to open up a larger situation after moving north, we estimate that the enemy is about to throw its full strength into a large-scale offensive against the Central Area and has already begun destructive attacks first on Northeast Jiangxi and Hunan-Hubei-Jiangxi.

(2) The enemy currently attacking the Central Area is adopting the tactic of holding strongpoints, carrying out guerrilla harassment against the Soviet Area, and using group armies of three divisions or more to block our sorties. This is precisely the enemy’s active preparation for a large-scale offensive against the Central Area.

(3) We already feel the urgent necessity for emergency mobilization throughout all Soviet areas and for deploying coordinated actions among the Central Area, Hunan-Jiangxi, Hunan-Hubei-Jiangxi, and Northeast Jiangxi Soviet Areas. We have proposed convening a plenary meeting of the Central Bureau at the front, which can be held in four days. The military action plan will also be decided at this meeting.

Zhou, Mao, Zhu, Wang at the front

[1] This is a telegram from Zhou Enlai, Mao Zedong, Zhu De, and Wang Jiaxiang to the Central Bureau of the CPC Soviet Area and for relay to the Provisional Central Committee, analyzing the enemy situation and proposing measures to respond to the enemy.
[2] Central Area refers to the Central Soviet Area.