Strive with All Might for Victory in the East and the Disposition of the Twenty-Eighth Army’s Operations[1]
(February 17, 1936)
Zhou:
A. Whether from the standpoint of strategy, of campaigns, of wiping out the enemy in Shanxi, or of wiping out the enemy in northern Shaanxi, we must concentrate all our strength to strive for victory in the east.
B. Therefore the main force of the Twenty-Eighth Army must move to the vicinity of Wubao. The first step: take advantage of Li Shengda’s[2] withdrawal to clear out the area of Wubao, Jiaxian, Shenmu, and Fugu; the second step: in coordination with the armed forces along the river, cross the river in succession and develop the Soviet area in the region of Shanxi north of Liulin and Jundu[3].
C. To deal with the two enemies of Gao and Jing[4], the Third Regiment of the Twenty-Eighth Army plus the local armed forces will suffice. Gao and Jing are now on the defensive; if the Twenty-Eighth Army is placed here, it will inevitably have nothing to do. The Sanbian[5] area is not a focal point.
D. Should the two enemies of Gao and Jing invade, the Twenty-Eighth Army shall still move to deal with Gao and Jing. The basic tasks of the Twenty-Eighth Army and the local armed forces of northern Shaanxi remain unchanged.

E. Enlai shall temporarily shift the center of command to the seat of the Qingjian County Party Committee, directing the Twenty-Eighth Army and the troops under Yan and Cai[6], mobilizing the masses in seven or eight counties along the western bank of the river, demolishing blockhouses in seven or eight counties along the eastern bank of the river, winning over the masses, and maintaining transport and the crossing points on both the eastern and western banks of the front and rear. Such a long line without unified command will inevitably lead to disorder. Awaiting your prompt reply.

Zhang, Mao, Peng

13:00, 17th

[1] This was a telegram from Mao Zedong, Luo Fu (Zhang Wentian), and Peng Dehuai, commander of the First Front Army of the Red Army, to Zhou Enlai.
[2] Li Shengda was then commander of the Kuomintang 19th Army and concurrently division commander of the 72nd Division.
[3] Jundu is located in the western part of present-day Liulin County, Shanxi Province.
[4] Gao and Jing refer to Gao Guizi and Jing Yuexiu, who were then respectively division commanders of the Kuomintang 84th and 86th Divisions, garrisoned in areas such as Suide, Mizhi, Yulin, and Jingbian in Shaanxi.
[5] Sanbian refers to Dingbian, Anbian, and Jingbian in northwestern Shaanxi.
[6] Yan and Cai refer to Yan Hongyan and Cai Shufan, who were then respectively commander and political commissar of the Red Army’s Guerrilla Forces Along the River.