I. The Zhiluo Town Campaign 1. The Severity of the Enemy’s Recent Offensive Following our victories at Laoshan and Yulin Bridge, the enemy’s main force advanced from the west, aiming to establish an east–west blockade along the Hulu River and then move north to reinforce Ganquan and Yan’an, thereby creating a north–south barrier across the Luo River. Had we not won at Zhiluo Town, our southward expansion would have been constrained, and the Soviet areas already under our control could not have been fully consolidated. 2. The Reasons for Our Victory (i) The convergence and unity of two corps—this was fundamental; (ii) The seizure of strategic and operational key points—the Hulu River and Zhiluo Town; (iii) Thorough combat preparations; (iv) The solidarity of the masses with us. These four conditions determined our victory and the enemy’s defeat. Without the first condition, we could not have achieved such a momentous triumph, nor could we have routed Dong Yingbin’s five divisions—four on the western flank and one on the eastern—causing their main formations to collapse after the annihilation of their vanguard 109th Division. Subsequently, during the pursuit, our forces destroyed a regiment of the enemy’s 106th Division, forcing the 108th and 111th Divisions to retreat into Gansu province. Meanwhile, the 117th Division, which had penetrated as far as Banquan on the eastern front, was compelled to withdraw from Fucheng County. Had that initial condition been lacking, we would not have secured this victory, and the enemy would have retained control of both the Hulu River and Zhiluo Town. Were it not for the third condition, the troops would have lacked rest and training, preventing morale and combat effectiveness from being raised to such high levels. If the five or six local militia units entrenched in Zhangcunyi and Donglin had not been eliminated or driven out, it would have been impossible to conceal our main force and facilitate operations. Moreover, without topographical reconnaissance and detailed mapping conducted by officers at regimental level and above, we could not have deployed our forces so effectively or fought so brilliantly. And without the fourth condition, it would have been impossible to successfully conceal the main body, evacuate the wounded, or supply provisions. These four factors were the decisive elements behind this great victory. Furthermore, the Central Committee and the Military Commission’s overarching strategy of “fighting southward” and “concluding the encirclement campaign by early winter” has been fully realized thanks to the resolute execution by commanders at all levels of the Front Army and by every soldier. This battle teaches us that, for future engagements as well, we must strive to secure these same four conditions: (1) Further strengthen the unity of the two corps; (2) Seize strategic pivots to plan campaigns and operational centers to organize battles; (3) Ensure comprehensive military training and political work prior to combat; and (4) Intensify local work to win over the support of the populace. None of these four conditions can be dispensed with. 3. The Relationship Between This Victory and the Next Having decisively ended the third encirclement campaign, the enemy will now need to redeploy and reorganize its forces before launching another offensive against us. This provides us with the necessary time, resources, and territorial advantages to prepare for defeating any new encirclement. Time and space are of paramount importance to us; we must make full use of every minute and every square kilometer gained to carry out all essential tasks between successive encirclement campaigns. 4. The Impact of This Victory (i) It has further solidified the unity among the Southern, Central, and Northern Red Armies, which had just united. Today, everyone recognizes that this unity is not only beneficial and necessary but also an indispensable prerequisite for defeating the enemy. (ii) It has enabled us to rapidly expand the Red Army—a task of utmost urgency. Under the influence of this victory, more individuals are joining the ranks, and those responsible for expanding the army are working with renewed vigor. (iii) It has strengthened the Soviet areas. The local population is jubilant, firmly supporting the Red Army, and their enthusiasm for aiding the war effort has undoubtedly increased. There is widespread acclaim: “The Central Red Army and the Fifteenth Corps are truly outstanding!” (iv) It allows for a vigorous expansion of the Soviet zones. The guerrilla and white areas in central Luochuan, Yijun, Yichuan, Hancheng, and eastern Guanzhong could all be transformed into Soviet regions. Inspired by this victory, the people in these areas will undoubtedly become even more active. (v) While Japanese imperialism is bombarding North China and attempting to annex the entire country, and the Kuomintang is convening a traitorous congress in Nanjing, our triumph sends a clear message: We will not allow Japanese imperialism to destroy North China or the whole nation, nor will we permit the wicked Kuomintang to continue betraying the country. The traitorous Kuomintang should step aside; the Red Army and the Soviets, as saviors of the Chinese people, will join hands with the masses to overthrow Japanese imperialism, the traitorous Kuomintang, and its supreme leader, Chiang Kai-shek, through armed struggle and bloodshed. The people of China, especially those in the five provinces of North China and the coastal regions, are currently under threat from Japanese artillery fire and subjected to brutal coercion by the Kuomintang, which seeks to turn them into slaves through bayonets, whips, and deceptive propaganda. In the absence of assistance, our victory reassures them: Comrades, do not fear—we are here to help you. Once our victorious news is disseminated, imagine how delighted they will be! (vi) It complements the successes of the Red Army and guerrilla warfare nationwide. As you can see, we have finally crushed the enemy’s third encirclement campaign in the north! The Central Red Army, which completed the Long March of twenty-five thousand li, has joined forces with the Fifteenth Corps and the Shaanxi–Gansu Red Army on the battlefield and captured the enemy division commander. Press forward with courage! (vii) The Central leadership has established a vast base area in the northwest—an epicenter for the national anti-Japanese, anti-Chiang, and all other anti-imperialist revolutionary struggles. This victory marks the laying of the foundation for that base. (viii) Japan is not only intent on conquering China but also plans to invade Soviet Siberia and overthrow the Mongolian People’s Republic. Our victory conveys to them: Should Japan attack you, we will strike its flanks and rear. We are your brothers and sisters; we will hold a vital line of defense. Comrades, the impact of this victory is immense. We must build upon these effects by thoroughly explaining them to every Red Army soldier and by clearly communicating with personnel at the front lines, in the rear areas, within the Soviet zones, in the white areas, and even to officers and soldiers of the Nationalist forces, so that they may understand and sympathize with our cause. I. What Is the Current Situation? 1. Globally: The contradiction between imperialist powers is escalating toward a world war (in both the East and the West). Meanwhile, the proletariat and the masses are rising up in opposition to imperialist war. Witness the massive demonstration of 400,000 people in France on July 14th, the unprecedented labor strikes in the United States this year, the democratic revolutions in Spain and Greece, and the revolutionary movements unfolding across various countries.

|| Anti-imperialist movements in colonial territories (the Ethiopian national war, China’s revolutionary movement in Gaoyao, independence movements in British and American colonies)

|| Soviet achievements (surpassing all imperialist nations in industrial output, completing the Five-Year Plan ahead of schedule, and the Red Army’s new missions)
Victory is assured; the only question now is whether we can exchange small, incremental gains for a major breakthrough. The Red Army is currently conducting intensive technical and tactical exercises.

|| The volatile and rapidly changing global situation heralds a new era of revolution and war.

2. In China:

|| Japan’s aggressive actions (a grave crisis threatening China’s sovereignty)

|| The rivalry among imperialist powers in China (Britain, the United States, and Japan)

|| Internal strife within the Kuomintang (the conflict between Chiang Kai-shek’s faction and his opponents)

|| The three main Red Armies led by the Shaanxi–Gansu force (our Second and Sixth Corps, and the Fourth Front Army)

|| The revival and expansion of guerrilla warfare

|| New anti-imperialist uprisings (simmering and poised to erupt)

| | The situation in China is undergoing rapid and profound changes, ushering in a new phase of great revolution.

3. In Northwest China A: The Enemy’s Zhiluo Town Campaign in Relation to the Current Situation and Tasks II Seven
Twenty-four people
| | The destruction of Zhang Xueliang’s three main corps (Wang Yizhe’s army, Dong Yingcheng’s army, and He Zongguo’s cavalry)
|| Yu Xuezhen and Wan Fujian’s two armies’ culpability
|| Liu Duquan’s jade army
|| Yang Hucheng’s defensive position
|| Yan Xishan’s supporting role
|| O Jiashi’s standby unit
|| Thus, the third encirclement campaign was completely shattered.
Z: On Our Side
|| The Red Army is no weaker than before (do not assume our forces are smaller than previously)
|| The development of guerrilla warfare (of strategic significance)
|| The enthusiasm of workers and peasants (demonstrating their strength and resilience)
| | Correct Party Leadership (Central Committee)
|| Sympathy from the white-area populace
|| Sympathy among Nationalist soldiers and junior officers
|| Support from ethnic minority groups Therefore, we possess strong positions and a broad mass base, enabling us to advance. Four Key Issues

| | Our expansion poses a significant threat to Japanese imperialism

| Our expansion threatens the Kuomintang’s traitorous government

| | Our advance unsettles Zhang Xueliang

| | Our advance leaves Yang Hucheng, Yan Xishan, and Ma Guanglian deeply uneasy (particularly Yan Xishan, who, alongside Zhang Xueliang, remains one of our primary adversaries; during the fourth encirclement campaign, Yan Xishan will inevitably launch an offensive from Shanxi into Shaanxi).

What, then, are our new tasks?

1. From this moment onward, we must exert maximum effort to amass sufficient strength to meet and utterly crush the enemy’s next large-scale encirclement campaign. We should extend our Soviet areas into the provinces of Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu, Suiyuan, and Ningxia, completing the integration of these regions with the Soviet Union and neighboring republics. By doing so, we will be better positioned to counter Japan’s inevitable and imminent invasion of China—and its subsequent assault on the Soviet Union—as well as the Kuomintang’s attempts to launch an unprecedentedly massive attack against the Northern and All-China Red Armies. Our ultimate goal is to achieve a great victory for the Soviets across seven or eight northern provinces and several southern ones, elevating the anti-Japanese resistance to its highest possible level.

2. Vigorously develop guerrilla warfare

|| Expand guerrilla operations extensively into Shanxi, Gansu, Suiyuan, Ningxia, and Shaanxi. The Zhiluo Town Campaign in Relation to the Current Situation and Tasks II Nine
Twenty-five O
|| Double the size of the guerrilla forces within four months
|| Introduce greater planning and structure into the development of guerrilla warfare The Front Army’s mission is to continue eliminating enemy forces within the Soviet zone while drawing in reinforcements to annihilate them, thereby replenishing our ranks and consolidating the Soviet areas.
The Front Army will vigorously expand its ranks, aiming to double in size within four months (each unit will recruit from the local population, while the Central Bureau and Military Commission will recruit in the rear, with a particular focus on attracting young soldiers). We reiterate that this is the most important, most urgent, and most critical task.
He has been diligently training himself, raising the Front Army’s combat readiness to a very high level. Emphasis is placed on shooting and tactical training, as well as basic political education and literacy programs. However, our shooting skills and command capabilities still have significant shortcomings; our combat command remains quite rudimentary. A thorough transformation is imperative: both theoretical understanding and political awareness must be elevated. Commanders should be able to issue clear orders and interpret situations, while rank-and-file soldiers should be able to recognize at least three hundred characters and grasp the fundamental principles of revolution. Education must begin with the cadres; only by improving their military and political proficiency can we effectively enhance the capabilities of the fighting men. To achieve this, we must cultivate many new cadres—this is an urgent task facing the Red Army.
Vigorously expand the Soviet areas to create favorable conditions for combat.
Local Party and government authorities will cooperate with us in this endeavor. Red Army commanders and soldiers must respect the leadership of local Party and government organs; adopting an authoritarian attitude toward local officials is entirely inappropriate.
G Vigorously undermine the enemy. Transform this work into a mass movement involving both the Red Army and the local population. Revise our policy toward captured officers: once they lay down their arms, we shall not only refrain from executing them but also treat them with respect—offering them food, clothing, and medical care (except in cases of necessity), and providing them with psychological support through the Political Department. Such measures have significantly influenced Nationalist officers, leading many to join us in resisting Japan. As for captured soldiers, they must be treated exceptionally well; regardless of how fiercely they fought, once they surrender, they are to be regarded as comrades, and retaliatory actions against them are strictly prohibited.
Therefore, eliminating the enemy, expanding the Red Army, strengthening its ranks, spreading Soviet ideology locally, and undermining the enemy constitute the Front Army’s five concrete tasks and lines of action for the foreseeable future, with the expansion of the Red Army serving as the central focus. It is worth noting that the task of eliminating the enemy does not hinder, nor should it impede, the completion of the other objectives (especially the expansion of the Red Army). We should avoid seeking unnecessary engagements or venturing too deeply into enemy-held territory. Although these tasks and activities are routine for the Red Army, given the current inter-campaign period, they carry unique significance and content.

4. We will utilize these efforts to crush the enemy’s next offensive, to assume leadership of the nationwide guerrilla warfare and the anti-Japanese, anti-Chiang resistance, and to make concrete preparations for direct combat against Japanese invading forces. We are leading the charge to arm ourselves and confront Japanese imperialism as it invades North China, attempts to swallow up the entire nation, and targets the Soviet Union. Our sacred duty requires every comrade to devote extraordinary effort to fulfilling their responsibilities. As long as we do so, great success will surely be ours.
O Teaching Reference Materials on the History of the CPC (Volume VI) A Work of the Documentation Office of the Department of CPC History, Renmin University of China The Zhiluo Town Campaign in Relation to the Current Situation and Tasks II One Hundred and Fifty-One