Lure the Enemy at Daning to Move Westward and Destroy It[1]

(April 20, 1936)

A. Our I Army Corps should make a show of building a pontoon bridge to cross westward, so as to lure the enemy at Daning to move westward and then destroy them.

B. The enemy at Daning consists of the two brigades of Liang Jiantang and Liu Guangdou of the 69th Division.[2] Of these, one battalion of Fan’s regiment of Liang’s brigade was wiped out by the XV Army Corps at Pengmen north of Xi County, and its battalion commander was captured. Yesterday, one company of Liang’s brigade was wiped out by our 2nd Division. Guo Zongfen’s brigade[3] is at Linfen.

C. Today and tomorrow, all divisions of the I Army Corps should assemble in the area west of Sangbi Township[4] and east of Qingshui Pass, remain concealed, and await opportunities. Only the 2nd Division should be ordered to send a small unit with a radio set to keep watch on the enemy at Daning. When the enemy leaves Daning and advances along the road toward Matou Pass or Qingshui Pass, we should engage and attack them in a meeting engagement.

D. If the enemy halts and does not advance, the I Army Corps should rest and train in the above-mentioned area for a number of days.

Peng and Mao

12:00, April 20

[1] This was a telegram from Mao Zedong and Peng Dehuai, commander of the First Front Army of the Red Army, to the I Army Corps of the First Front Army.

[2] The two brigades of Liang Jiantang and Liu Guangdou refer to the 203rd and 214th Brigades of the 69th Division, First Column, Second Route, Taiyuan Pacification Headquarters of the Kuomintang army. The brigade commanders were Liang Jiantang and Liu Guangdou, respectively.

[3] Guo Zongfen’s brigade refers to the 202nd Brigade of the 69th Division, First Column, Second Route, Taiyuan Pacification Headquarters of the Kuomintang army. The brigade commander was Guo Zongfen.

[4] Sangbi Township is located southeast of Yonghe County, Shanxi Province.