To Lin Biao, Nie Rongzhen, and Others

(November 4, 1935)

Lin and Nie, Ye, Peng and Li, and pass to Zhou:[1]

1. The enemy Dong Yingbin led the 108th, 109th, and 111th Divisions to Dabaizhen on the you day. Because of replenishing grain and awaiting his 106th Division, they remained inactive at Dabaizhen on the 2nd and 3rd. Wang Yizhe’s 117th Division is advancing toward Fuxian today. 2. Our army shall continue advancing southward to annihilate this enemy. (A) The lower column shall cross the river at Wangjiaping tomorrow, the 5th, take the small path via Kelao and Jiuniuta, advance to the line of Qiaojiazhuang, Maojia’an, Ta’ershang, and Laorencang to camp, and prepare to advance the day after tomorrow to the line of Angou, Bailinggou, and Linjiagou. (B) Ye, leading the directly subordinate unit, shall follow the 2nd Column headquarters tomorrow and advance to Xiasiwan; the entire 2nd Column shall advance to the line of Xiasiwan and Wangjiaping to camp. The day after tomorrow, Ye, leading the directly subordinate unit and the 2nd Column, shall follow the 1st Column’s route and advance to the line of Qiaojiazhuang and Laorencang. (C) We arrive at Qiaojiazhuang today and plan to go to Daozuopu tomorrow. 3. It is imperative to bring a full seven days’ grain; no errors in this matter shall be permitted.

Peng and Mao

1900 hours, the 4th

[1] Peng and Li refer to Peng Xuefeng and Li Fuchun. Zhou refers to Zhou Enlai.