Instructions to All Troops Concerning Yan Xishan’s Offensive Dispositions[1]

(March 4, 1936)

Lin and Nie, Xu and Cheng, and for the information of Liu Zhidan and Xiao Jinguang[2]:

A. The situation: 1. According to a report from Liu and Xiao, this morning one battalion of the enemy at Fujiata attacked our security company at Tuhuxu. After two hours of fighting, the enemy occupied Tuhuxu and constructed fortifications; our security company withdrew to Wannianbao. 2. A report from the Second Section: Yang Yaofang states that the 101st Division is concentrating in the Zhongyang area and can reach Shilou within two or three days; the Xing Regiment at Shilou is still ordered to hold fast and await reinforcements. 3. Yang Chengyuan’s army headquarters moved into Xi County on the 2nd. 4. According to a report from Lin and Nie, the 66th Division has moved from the Fenglingdu area to the Jiexiu area. B. It is judged that Yan’s offensive dispositions are already complete. His main force, four regiments, will advance from Zhongyang, Fujiata, and Liuyuzhen toward the Guanshang–Nuanquanzhen line; his auxiliary force, about three regiments, will advance from Xi County toward Shuitou or Shilou. Another force will advance from the Jiexiu–Xiaoyi line. The general offensive appears likely to be launched within two or three days. C. With the aim of awaiting the enemy’s advance, ascertaining the situation, and then rapidly concentrating our main force to destroy one or two of his attacking columns, our dispositions are as follows: 1. All divisions of the First Army Corps of the Red Army and the Fifteenth Army Corps of the Red Army shall remain in place tomorrow (the 5th) without moving, assemble and rest, send out guerrilla detachments, and return to their original positions the same day. 2. The First Army Corps of the Red Army shall continue to reconnoiter

the situation at Zhongyang, Fenyang, and Xiaoyi; the Second Division shall pay special attention to the enemy at Tuhuxu and Zhongyang city. 3. One regiment of the Fifteenth Army Corps of the Red Army at Nuanquan and Gancun shall pay special attention to the situation at Xingjialing, Shanzhuang, and Liuyuzhen. The troops at Shikou shall reconnoiter the situation at Xi County. 4. In addition to carrying out local work in the vicinity of the encampments, intensify the troops’ combat preparations.

Peng and Mao

22:00 hours, the 4th

--- Notes

[1] This is a telegram from Mao Zedong and Peng Dehuai, Commander of the First Front Army of the Red Army, to Lin Biao, Commander of the First Army Corps of the First Front Army, and Nie Rongzhen, its Political Commissar, and to Xu Haidong, Commander of the Fifteenth Army Corps, and Cheng Zihua, its Political Commissar.


[2] Liu Zhidan was then Commander of the Twenty-eighth Army of the Red Army. Xiao Jinguang was then Commander of the Twenty-ninth Army of the Red Army.