Central Military Commission Order

1. Tomorrow, the 6th, the seven regiments of the Xiao-Xie-Xi Division of the Lie-Si-Zhou Column will advance from Changganshan toward Fengxiangba, while the six regiments of the detached division will advance toward Changganshan. The three regiments of the enemy He Zhizhong’s unit will advance from Shikenglongkou toward Daheishui.

2. The Sixth Army has the task of first annihilating the Xie-Xi Division. Tomorrow, the 6th, the deployment is as follows:

A. The First Army and the Cadre Regiment will serve as the right column. At dawn tomorrow, the 6th, they will take the route via Changtian to attack the area between Changgan and Fengsheba. The First Division should detour to the area of Ceshui Licun to strike at the main force’s tail, while the Second Division will launch a flank attack on the enemy in the Qingkeng area. The Cadre Regiment will follow the Second Division and be under its command.

B. The Third Army will serve as the left column. Its main force of three regiments will bypass the Wenshui Mountain via Wenshuibo, then attack from south to north at Ceshui, Qingkeng, and Nongmashui. One regiment will hold the front at Jiuhang Tupingba to pin down the enemy. This army should also dispatch a small unit to Taipingchang to deter and contain the He Zhi enemy.

C. The Fifth Army will serve as a strategic reserve and move to the vicinity of Bailaba to await orders.

3. Tomorrow, the 6th, all units must resolve to destroy the enemy Xiao-Xie-Xi Division with fierce action, so as to continue operations on the following day.

4. The logistics base is in the area from Longxi Chongshantian to Jianxian.

5. The Forward Enemy Command authorizes the entire First Army to advance. Tomorrow, the 6th, it will be at Bailaba.

Note: For communications, use county lines. When the time comes, the signal cannon code is as follows: Three piles for a great victory, two piles for a minor victory, one pile for a stalemate or entanglement.

Commander: Zhu De
Political Commissar: Mao Zedong

Operational order issued by Mao Zedong and Zhu De in the Yaxi area of Zunyi.

Diagram of the Red Army’s Four Crossings of the Chishui River.

One of the Red Army’s crossing points during the Four Crossings of the Chishui River: Taiping Ferry.

*Four Crossings of the Chishui River* (oil painting)