Camping Positions of the Two Army Corps

Take Facilitating the Attack on the Advancing Enemy as the Principle[1]

(February 28, 1936)

Lin and Nie, Xu and Cheng:

A. Since the enemy has already retreated into Zhongyang, the two army corps shall assemble and rest in the area north and south of Guanshang[2] and to its east, waiting for the enemy to advance again before destroying them.

B. The camping positions of the two army corps shall take as the principle facilitating the attack on the enemy advancing from Zhongyang toward Guanshang, or the enemy advancing from Fujiata toward Pushanzhuang, and also facilitating the attack on the enemy advancing from Damaijiao[3] toward Shuitou[4]. This shall be differentiated and assigned by Lin and Nie.

C. Dispatch units to conduct guerrilla reconnaissance along the five roads toward Damaijiao, toward Xiaoyi, toward Zhongyang, toward Fujiata, and toward Liuyu.

D. The cavalry company of the Fifteenth Army Corps remaining at Shuitou shall conduct daily guerrilla operations toward Damaijiao, and reconnaissance must also be carried out in the direction of Shikou.

Peng and Mao
18:00, February 28

[1] This is a telegram from Mao Zedong and Peng Dehuai, Commander of the First Front Army of the Red Army, to Lin Biao, Corps Commander of the First Army Corps of the First Front Army, and Nie Rongzhen, Political Commissar, and to Xu Haidong, Corps Commander of the Fifteenth Army Corps, and Cheng Zihua, Political Commissar.
[2] Guanshang, a village located in the southern part of Zhongyang County, Shanxi Province.
[3] Damaijiao, a village located in the northeastern part of present-day Jiaokou County, Shanxi Province.
[4] Shuitou, a town located in the northwestern part of present-day Jiaokou County, Shanxi Province.