The Tasks of the First Army Group
While It Remains in Southwest Shanxi
(April 8, 1936, 2:00 A.M.)
Lin [Biao] and Nie [Rongzhen]:
1. For you the problem is not hastening to leave southwest Shanxi, but rather
staying and working in southwest Shanxi as long as possible, until the enemy
situation prohibits your continuing to stay in this area, at which point you are to
leave this area and move to another one.
2. In southwest Shanxi you must complete the following tasks to the extent
possible:
a. Fight battles, collect and confiscate guns, arm new recruits, and train new
recruits.
b. Mobilize the popular masses, establish guerrilla zones, and create new
guerrilla zones.
c. Shatter a section of the blockade line along the river; accept guerrilla
forces from west of the [Yellow] River as well as their members who are
rejoining their ranks so that they will send supplies west of the river after
they cross to the east.
d. Continue to expand the Red Army.
3. Prepare at present to move to the Xiangning area. The second step is to
move to Puxian, Daning, and Yonghe.
4. For the purpose of expediting your later long distance advances to the
northeast and the east, and so that you will have ample time to initiate your work
after arriving at a new area, it is necessary to make every effort to lure the enemy
to southwest Shanxi and along the river. Especially under the condition that Hu
Zongnan enters Shanxi, it is necessary to bear this in mind. After this, victories
in the east will make it impossible for the enemy in the west to stay long.
5. Not a single soldier is to be sent to the area of Lingshi, Xiaoyi, Shuangchi,
Damaijiao, and Shuitou to attract the enemy's attention. The troops under our
direct command are operating in the area between the two xian of Xixian and
Puxian.
Peng [Dehuai] Mao [Zedong]

--- Notes

Our source for this telegram is Mao Zedong junshi wenji, Vol. 1, pp. 510–11, where it is
reproduced from a copy in the Central Archives.