The Fourth Front Army Must Strive to Attack Pingwu and Songpan[1]

(June 18, 1935)

Comrades Guotao, Changhao, and Xiangqian[2]:

A. Muping[3] has already been abandoned, but Daqiaoqi and Yanjingping south of Jiajin Mountain remain in our hands. Our field army is now along the line of Daqiaoqi, Dawei, Maogong[4], and Fubian, and plans to rest for two or three days. Xiannian[5] has been ordered to send two regiments to occupy Chonghua, Suijing, and Danba, and to control the Greater Jinchuan River. Dongshan[6] has already advanced toward Shuimogou.

B. Under the present circumstances, we must concentrate great strength to first break through Pingwu, making it the pivot for our northward shift. Those units that have already passed Lifan[7] should quickly proceed via Matang to outflank and attack Songpan, striving with all effort to succeed. Otherwise, for a large force such as ours to enter Gansu and Qinghai via Aba and the grassland nomadic regions will entail tremendous difficulties, and may even prove impossible.

[1] This was a telegram from Mao Zedong, Zhang Wentian, Zhu De, and Zhou Enlai to the leaders of the Fourth Front Army of the Red Army.

[2] Guotao, i.e., Zhang Guotao, then serving as member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Vice Chairman of the Central Government of the Chinese Soviet Republic, and Chairman of the Northwest Revolutionary Military Commission. Changhao, i.e., Chen Changhao, then serving as General Political Commissar and concurrently Director of the Political Department of the Fourth Front Army of the Red Army. Xiangqian, i.e., Xu Xiangqian, then serving as General Commander of the Fourth Front Army of the Red Army.

[3] Muping, i.e., the county seat of Baoxing County, Sichuan Province.

[4] Maogong, old county name, i.e., present-day Xiaojin County, Sichuan Province.

[5] Xiannian, i.e., Li Xiannian, then serving as Political Commissar of the 30th Army of the Fourth Front Army of the Red Army.

[6] Dongshan, i.e., Han Dongshan, then serving as Commander of the 25th Division of the 9th Army of the Fourth Front Army of the Red Army.

[7] Lifan, old county name, i.e., present-day Li County, Sichuan Province.

The Fourth Front Army Must Strive to Attack Pingwu and Songpan

To advance southward toward Ya, Ming, Qiong, and Da,[1] even if temporarily successful, would offer little prospect for continued advance. Therefore, striving to attack Pingwu and Songpan is the principal move at this moment. It is hoped that you will immediately make this resolve.

Zhang, Zhu, Mao, Zhou

18th, 21:00

[1] Ya, Ming, Qiong, and Da refer to Ya’an, Mingshan, Qionglai, and Dayi in Sichuan.