Rest and Training in Preparation for Undertaking New Tasks[1]
(January 13, 1936)

Peng, Zuo and Nie, Xu and Cheng, Chen and Peng[2]:

A. Zuo and Nie should be able to reach Luosheng Town today. The Fourth Division has already reached Wuzhuang Town.

B. All units of the First Army Corps and the Fifteenth Army Corps should immediately assemble in Luosheng Town, Xiangu Town, and their adjacent areas. They must not move far away. Emphasis should be placed on resting and regaining physical strength, training in offensive combat, and politically raising the morale for resisting Japan and punishing the traitors who sell out the nation to the highest degree. Do not divert attention to other work.

C. The Fourth Division should stay close to the main force and be under the command of Zuo and Nie.

D. Prepare to carry out new tasks starting from the 18th. Arrange five days’ worth of good provisions in preparation for use during the march.

E. Three medical stations have been dispatched to Qiaojiazhuang and Bailonggou. Request Peng immediately check whether they have arrived, and order them to immediately take in the wounded and sick personnel, and relieve the field hospitals and army depot hospitals. They are required to move to Mazijie before the 19th.

F. Regardless of whether Gansu is captured or not, the current tasks of the Eighty-First Division and the First Regiment must be completely concluded on the 19th in preparation for new movements.

G. If Gansu is not captured, one regiment of the Twenty-Ninth Army, which is now assembled, shall be assigned to besiege the city. Request Peng immediately order this regiment to move to Gansu.

H. Any unfinished rear-area affairs of the two army corps shall be concluded immediately. Personnel who can accompany the army are required to assemble at Mazijie on the 19th, but those at Linzhen Town shall not move.

Mao

13th, 20:00 hours

Rest, Train, and Prepare
to Take On New Tasks
(January 13, 1936, 8:00 P.M.)
To Peng [Dehuai], Zuo [Quan] and Nie [Rongzhen], Xu [Haidong] and Cheng
[Zihua], Chen and Peng:¹
1. Zuo and Nie should be able to reach Luoshengzhen today. The Fourth
Division has already arrived at Wuzhuangzhen.
2. All units of the First Army Group and Fifteenth Army Group should be
concentrated in Luoshengzhen and Xianguzhen and the nearby areas. They are
not to go far from these places, and should emphasize rest and physical strength,
training in offensive battle, and politically raising to the highest level feelings of
resistance to Japan and condemnation for the Chinese traitors, and are not to be
distracted by other work.
3. The Fourth Division should remain close to the main force, and should be
commanded by Zuo and Nie.
4. Be prepared to carry out a new task beginning on the 18th, securing
enough good food for five days to use during the march.
5. Three clinics have already set out for Qiaojiazhuang and Bailonggou. Peng
is requested to check and see whether they have arrived, and to order them to
begin taking in wounded soldiers at once so as to relieve the field hospital and
the troop station hospital. They are to reach Mazijie by the 19th.
6. Whether or not Ganquan comes into our hands, the current tasks of the
Eighty-first Division and the First Regiment must be brought to completion by
the 19th, and preparations made for new operations.
7. If Ganquan is not taken, the one regiment of the Twenty-ninth Army that is
already concentrated is to be responsible for surrounding the city. Peng is requested to order this regiment immediately to set out for Ganquan.
8. The two army groups are to terminate all unfinished matters in the rear
immediately. All personnel capable of moving with the troops must concentrate
at Mazijie by the 19th, but those in Linzhenzhen are to remain where they are.
Mao
Our source for this text is Mao Zedong junshi wenji, Vol. 1, pp. 432-33, where it is
reproduced from a copy in the Central Archives.
1. Chen and Peng are Chen Guang and Peng Xuefeng, respectively commander and
political commissar of the Fourth Division of the First Front Army's First Army Group.

--- Notes

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


[2] Zuo and Nie refer to Zuo Quan and Nie Rongzhen, who were then respectively Chief of Staff and Political Commissar of the First Army Corps of the First Front Army of the Red Army. Xu and Cheng refer to Xu Haidong and Cheng Zihua, who were then respectively Corps Commander and Political Commissar of the Fifteenth Army Corps of the First Front Army of the Red Army. Chen and Peng refer to Chen Guang and Peng Xuefeng, who were then respectively Division Commander and Political Commissar of the Fourth Division of the First Army Corps of the First Front Army of the Red Army.