Use a Unit of Our Main Forces to Attack the Enemy from the Rear, Surround Him, and Wipe Him Out
(March 6, 1936)

Lin [Biao] and Nie [Rongzhen]:
In order to be prepared to fight the second and third battles after fighting the
first, it is necessary to use one unit of our main forces to attack the enemy's rear,
surround him, and wipe him out to avoid pursuit. It is imperative to avoid
pursuit, for only thus can we concentrate our forces in one place on the same
day, will fighting the second battle be facilitated, and will we be able to deal
with unexpected changes. Although the enemy's fighting capacity is weak, his
main forces are not small in number, and we should concentrate our troops and
wage a serious battle.
Peng [Dehuai] Mao [Zedong]
We have translated this telegram from Mao Zedong junshi wenji, Vol. 1, p. 485, where it
is reproduced from a copy in the Central Archives.