Directive on the Battle of Zhiluo Town

(November 23, 1935)

A. As the troops move west, ensuring fifteen days’ grain supply is of the utmost importance. Please discuss face-to-face with Ye and Yang and mobilize transport methods.

B. Before December 10, request that the rear area deliver 3,500 sets of cotton-padded coats and trousers and 3,000 new recruits, ensuring they actually reach the front and are directly integrated into the units for training.

C. The Shaanxi-Gansu Provincial Committee can only administer the area south of Xiasiwan. Bao’an, Zichang, and Anzhai should immediately be placed under northern Shaanxi to facilitate work.

D. Please inform the Provincial Committee to expand propaganda on Zhiluo Town. Please inform Jinguang to swiftly order the Zhongyi Independent Battalion to harass the enemy’s communication lines in Zhongyi, and order the guerrilla forces at Yangquan Daozuopu to press close to Fuzhou.

Contain and harass the enemy, and propagate that the Red Army is about to attack Fuzhou. Also, have Jinguang establish a communication station at Hanjiahe and communicate with us once daily.

E. Please inform Shangkun and Ruiqing to complete the reorganization of the 1st Red Regiment within one week and reassign political commissars, in order to carry out new tasks. Report back on how this is to be done. Lin, Nie, and I will move to Hanjiahe this afternoon.

23rd, 11:00 hours

A. The enemy at Heishuisi shows signs of retreating toward Taibai Town.

B. The 1st Army Corps is now pursuing in the direction of Taibai Town.

C. The 15th Army Corps should immediately dispatch its main force on a forced march via Mengjiayoufang directly to the area of Taibai Town and Heshangyuan to intercept this enemy and, in coordination with the 1st Army Corps, annihilate them.