Deployment of the First and Fifteenth Army Corps[1]

(November 23, 1935)

Comrades Peng and Zhou:

A. Under the basic policy of encircling Heishuisi[2] and completely wiping out Dong Yingbin's[3] forces, it has been decided to move the main force of the First Army Corps to the area of Hanjiahe, Gangoumen, and Wangjiazhuang, and to have Rongzhen[4] lead the First Regiment, the Thirteenth Regiment, and the reconnaissance company to Longyiwan, Wangjiajiao, and the area to their north, all to arrive by this afternoon.

B. The Fifteenth Army Corps should use a part of its forces to encircle Zhiluo Town and ensure the destruction of the enemy there, while its main force should set out at 1:00 a.m. tomorrow (the 24th), secretly leave its current position, and move to the area of Xiawafang, Mengjiayoufang, Shuimoshang, Mengpingsi, Yueliangshan, Ershilipai, and Maqusigou, to coordinate with the First and Thirteenth Regiments in seizing the area of 30 to 40 li between Heishuisi and Taibai Town[5] and prepare to strike at enemy reinforcements coming from the west.

Mao

8:00 a.m., the 23rd

[1] This is a telegram from Mao Zedong to Peng Dehuai, commander of the First Front Army of the Red Army, and Zhou Enlai.

[2] Heishuisi, a village located in the western part of Fu County, Shaanxi Province.

[3] Dong Yingbin, then commander of the Seventh Column (57th Army) of the Second Route of the Kuomintang's Northwest "Bandit Suppression" General Headquarters.

[4] Rongzhen, i.e., Nie Rongzhen, then political commissar of the First Army Corps of the First Front Army of the Red Army.

[5] Taibai Town, located in the northeastern part of Heshui County, Gansu Province.