thirty li from the crossing point, fight the enemy's reinforcement
troops, and eliminate them. After wiping out the given enemy, or if
there are no enemy troops in the given area, it must seize an opportunity to take the area near Liuyuzhen on the second (that is, the
22nd) or third day (depending on the speed of the crossing and the
situation of the enemy).

Exploiting the Victory, Both Army Groups
Should Advance Swiftly Toward Shilou

(February 21, 1936, 7:00 A.M.)

Peng [Dehuai], Nie [Rongzhen] and Lin [Biao], Xu [Haidong] and Cheng
[Zihua]:

1. The main forces of both our army groups will be able to complete the river
crossing today before noon, and the crossing can be completely finished in the
afternoon.
2. Approximately two regiments of enemy troops along the river from Hekou
to Sanjiaozhen are currently held in our large-scale encirclement. We think there
is a possibility that this enemy may retreat to Shilou today.
3. Our First Army Group should advance swiftly to Xiaosuanzhen, and the
Fifteenth Army Group should advance swiftly to Yidiezhen to intercept and
pursue this enemy. Both army groups should, moreover, order their vanguard
divisions to advance expeditiously toward Shilou on the heels of victory, and
take it when opportunity offers.
4. Yidiezhen and Hekou are the communication lines between the main
forces of the Front Army and the rear. The Fifteenth Army Group should assign
a small unit to protect them, and wait to be replaced by the anti-Japanese guerrillas tomorrow or the day after.

Mao Zedong

Our source for this document is Mao Zedong junshi wenji, Vol. 1, pp. 447-48, where it is
reproduced from a copy in the Central Archives.