Our Army’s Present Policy Is to Establish Operational Base Areas[1]

(February 23, 1936)

Comrade Dehuai, and inform Comrades Lin, Nie, Xu, and Cheng[2]:

A. The enemy under Yan[3] appears quite panicked and disconcerted by our sudden crossing eastward and is now deploying defenses. It is assessed that this enemy will still find it difficult to concentrate large forces to attack us within a short period.

B. Sanjiao Town, Liuyu Town, and Yidie Town[4] have all been captured by our forces. The defending troops along the river from Sanjiao to Xinguan have all collapsed and retreated. The crossing points at Sanjiao, Zhuanjiao, Laoyaguan,[5] and Xinguan are all in our hands. The masses have shown welcome for the Red Army, and the slogan of overthrowing Yan Xishan has won broad sympathy among the masses. However, Shilou has not been taken, there is no report from Zhongyang, and it is unclear whether the defending enemy along the river south of Xinguan has withdrawn.

C. Regardless of whether cities such as Zhongyang and Shilou can be captured, and regardless of the strength and timing of Yan Xishan’s attacks against us, the basic policy of the Front Army at present is to exert the utmost effort to establish operational base areas in a zone spanning two hundred li in length and breadth, encompassing Zhongyang, Shilou,

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

[2] Lin and Nie refer to Lin Biao and Nie Rongzhen, who were then respectively Commander 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 Commander and Political Commissar of the Fifteenth Army Corps of the First Front Army of the Red Army.

[3] Yan refers to Yan Xishan, who was then Vice-Chairman of the Military Affairs Commission of the Nationalist Government and Director of the Taiyuan Pacification Office.

[4] Sanjiao Town is located in the southwest of present-day Liulin County, Shanxi Province. Liuyu Town is located in the south of present-day Liulin County. Yidie Town is located in the west of Shilou County, Shanxi Province.

[5] Zhuanjiao is a town located in the northeast of Shilou County, Shanxi Province. Laoyaguan is located in the east of Qingjian County, Shaanxi Province.

Yonghe, Xi County, and other areas, to serve as the starting point for turning the whole of Shanxi Province Red and as the battlefield for meeting Yan Xishan’s attacks against us. The center of all work is to be placed on the foundation of larger-scale battles.

D. It is planned to position one army corps in the vicinity of Liuyu Town, Nuanquan Town, Shuitou Town, Pingdi,[1] and Zhongyang city; the main force of the Fifteenth Army Corps in Yonghe and Xi counties, with the task of seizing the two cities when the opportunity arises; and a portion of the force near Shilou city to control the Yellow River, securing over two hundred li from Sanjiao Town in the north to Matouguan[2] in the south in our hands. The above disposition is to be implemented starting from the 25th.

E. All comrades’ opinions and any military, political, or mass-related information obtained are to be reported immediately.

F. The directly attached units of the Front Army will encamp today between Yidie and Shilou and will remain in place there tomorrow.

G. Request Peng[3] to lead the 81st Division to the vicinity of Shilou tomorrow.

Mao

23rd, 20:00 hours

[1] Nuanquan Town is located in the southwest of Zhongyang County, Shanxi Province. Shuitou Town is located in the northwest of present-day Jiaokou County, Shanxi Province. Pingdi is located in the north of Shilou County, Shanxi Province.

[2] Matouguan is located in the northwest of Daning County, Shanxi Province.

[3] Peng refers to Peng Dehuai.