The Recent Tasks of the First Army Corps of the Red Army[1]

(April 10, 1936)

Lin and Nie:

A. Li Shengda and Yang Yaofang, together leading fourteen regiments, are pursuing southward from Fangshan, Xingxian, and Linxian; Xu Cheng and Liu Song are quite urgent. They have been ordered to gradually move to the areas of Chemingyu, Guanshang, Nuanquan, and Liuyu, to use the terrain to hold the enemy in check, drawing the three forces of Li, Yang, and Sun into this narrow area, so as to later shift again to northwestern Shanxi, or together with you move toward southeastern Shanxi. Because the Jin army is more active than the Jiang army, and at the same time Xu Cheng’s command is not very strong, this time going to northwestern Shanxi did not achieve great results; the march was too fast, and the expansion of the Red Army was very small. It is estimated that it will also be difficult for them to stay long in the area between Zhongyang and Shilou, and it is also impossible to break through a gap from the Sanjiao area to establish communication with the rear. B. You must, within one week, break through a gap from the direction of Yong, Da, and Ji, and complete the task of establishing communication with the rear. This is precisely the moment when Jiang has ordered Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng to launch a joint attack on the Northern Shaanxi Soviet Area, and our concrete negotiations with Zhang and Yang are also taking place within these few days. Enlai is entering Fushi City today to meet with Zhang, and at the same time to contact Yang’s representative (who set off for Xi’an three days ago). Your action to break through the blockade line of Yong, Da, and Ji will inevitably make the enemy suspect a crossing of the river into Shaanxi, which can provide substantive assistance to the current diplomacy.

Peng and Mao

April 10

[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, Political Commissar.

[2] Yong, Da, Ji refer to Yonghe, Daning, and Jixian.