Create Base Areas for Military Operations in
the Region of Guanshang and Shuitou
(February 28, 1936, 7:00 P.M.)
To Lin [Biao], Nie [Rongzhen], and Zhu [Rui], and Xu [Haidong], Cheng
[Zihua], and Guo [Shushen]:¹
1. The line between Guanshang and Shuitou, which is the area where the four
xian of Shilou, Zhongyang, Xiaoyi, and Xixian come together, is the pivotal
point for our army in doing battle, and in terms of topography it is also the best
temporary rear base area. It is hoped that you will resolve to create a base area
for doing battle, work hard to conduct mass work within a radius of fifty li to the
north, south, east, and west of that place, make a careful investigation of the
conditions as regards the topography, roads, villages, population, economy, and
so on of the area, and inform us by telegraph.
2. The emphasis of the work should be placed on the area near this line and
on the major roads to Shilou, Nuanquan, Liuyu, Zhongyang, Fenyang, Xiaoyi,
and Damaijiao, to Shuitou, Shikou, and Chuankou, and to Shuangchi. One work
group is to be sent to each place.
3. All roads that center around Guanshang are the responsibility of the First
Army Group. All roads that center around Shuitou are the responsibility of the
Fifteenth Army Group (the Fifteenth Army Group should be prepared to send the
Third Battalion of the 224th Regiment back to Shuitou on the 2nd to work in
coordination with the cavalry company).
4. The central task at present is to do battle. The task of local work is to strive
hard to make its governing principle that of directly benefiting the battle instead
of interfering with the battle (the troops need to concentrate forces and to rest).
Peng [Dehuai] Mao [Zedong]

--- Notes

Our source for this telegram is Mao Zedong junshi wenji, Vol. 1, pp. 468-69.

1. Guo Shushen was at the time head of the political department of the First Front
Army's Fifteenth Army Group.